Free Thin Ice by K. R. Bankston Page A

couple hours earlier. That damned man is a walking damned time bomb, she thought her hands shaking as she sipped her drink. Kaitlyn arrived moments later and joined her at the table smiling.
    “Damn stranger,” Kaitlyn teased as the two embraced.
    “Girl I feel like a gypsy,” Jaleesa returned.
    “What the hell you been putting on that man,” Kaitlyn teased again as Jaleesa laughed.
    “Hey girl, you know how we do, don’t act new,” she replied as they both roared with laughter.
    The server came and took their order as Kaitlyn regarded her friend. She’d noticed the tremors and jumpiness, at first dismissing them, but now she needed to address them. Kaitlyn also needed to warn Jaleesa, tell her to the get all the money she could and get the hell out of Atlanta immediately.
    “What’s wrong,” Kaitlyn asked calmly sitting up and looking right in Jaleesa’s eyes.
    “Everything’s cool KiKi,” Jaleesa lied.
    “No it’s not, so why you tryna play me of all people, Tweety,” Kaitlyn threw back as Jaleesa sighed deeply.
    “It’s cool KiKi, let it go,” she returned knowing Kaitlyn’s reaction and the actions to follow.
    “I’ma ask you again, Tweety,” Kaitlyn started once more her tone tense. “What’s wrong,” she asked slowly and deliberately.
    “Not here,” Jaleesa replied simply as Kaitlyn nodded.
    Their food arrived and they ate having guarded conversation. After paying the check they left and Kaitlyn followed Jaleesa back to the condo.
    “Spit it out,” Kaitlyn told her after they arrived and Jaleesa was still silently holding back.
    “Evan came to see me today,” she told her friend unable to maintain eye contact.
    “What did he want,” Kaitlyn asked trying to contain the anger she felt rising, having a sneaking suspicion of the circumstances surrounding his visit.
    “To get his payback,” Jaleesa said plainly as the tear rolled down her cheek.
    “What was done,” Kaitlyn asked again as Jaleesa looked up at her knowing the tone very well.
    “Leave it alone KiKi,” she told her friend vainly already seeing the look set on her face.
    “He took it,” she asked never removing her eyes from Jaleesa.
    Looking away unable to answer verbally, Kaitlyn had all she needed.
    “I had actually planned to tell you some info I found out about his nasty ass tonight,” Kaitlyn told Jaleesa allowing the previous conversation to rest for the moment.
    “What,” Jaleesa asked simply.
    “He’s on the down low,” Kaitlyn told her as Jaleesa felt herself become physically ill thinking of the blow jobs and unprotected sex they’d had while she was with him.
    “How you know that story is true,” Jaleesa asked not wanting to believe it.
    “His lover buys weed from me,” Kaitlyn told her as Jaleesa’s mouth dropped and her eyes filled with unshed tears.
    “I found out by accident last week when he made a buy driving Evan’s car,” Kaitlyn went on to tell her. “I questioned him a bit and managed to get the information out of him,” she finished as Jaleesa began to wretch.
    Running from the room she managed to make it to the toilet before the onslaught hit and she regurgitated her earlier dinner.
    Hearing the water running finally, Kaitlyn took the opportunity to slip Evan’s house key off Jaleesa’s key ring and check the .9mm in her purse. She was going to pay that ass a little visit, and when she left his trifling, double-dealing ass, Evan wasn’t going to be a bother to anyone else ever again.
    “You OK,” Kaitlyn asked as Jaleesa came back into the room.
    “Yeah, I’m gonna be,” she told her friend as she headed into the kitchen and grabbed herself a soft drink. “I’m headed to my doctor in the morning and getting myself tested again,” she told Kaitlyn.
    “You just had an AIDS test didn’t you,” Kaitlyn threw back as Jaleesa confirmed she had. “Then you’re good till next year,” Kaitlyn replied telling her to calm down. “Did he use a condom tonight,” Kaitlyn