Free Philadelphia by Treasure Hernandez Page A

stood face to face with Phareed. D’Angelo stood off to the side.
    â€œDon’t know what you talkin’ about,” Phareed said calmly.
    â€œNo? The three men all murdered days after their release? All associates of yours?”
    â€œNigga, I don’t know nothin’. I’m a legit businessman. If anyone has been murdered, that’s too bad for them, but I ain’t had nothin’ to do with it.”
    â€œReally? So it’s just a coincidence that they all have connections to you?” Walter was letting his anger seep through.
    â€œThat’s what I’m sayin’.” Phareed grinned.
    The two men stared each other down, each one waiting for the other to make a move. The tension was extreme.
    â€œWhat’s up with your bitch over there? He don’t like to talk?” Phareed motioned to D’Angelo with a nod.
    â€œI’m asking the questions. I just want you to know I’m coming for you, motherfucker, so get used to this face. You’re going to be seeing a lot of me.”
    â€œBring it on. Like I said, I’m a legit businessman. I don’t get down with the murder game. In fact, we in front of my business now. Why don’t you and your bitch take these and go in and have yourself some fun. Seems like y’all need to relax.” He pulled out some VIP passes and some Honey Trap dollars and held them out for Walter to take.
    â€œI’m coming for you.” Walter turned back to his car.
    â€œBye, ladies,” Phareed called out to Walter and D’Angelo. He and Jumbo laughed as they watched the two detectives walk back to their car.
    Walter slammed his car door. “I’m gonna get that motherfucker.”

Chapter 8
    â€œYo, meet me at the spot,” Phareed said into the phone and hung up.
    Stone tossed his cell phone next to him on the couch. He had hoped for a night in, watching the 76ers make their run to the playoffs. Stone decided he would watch the remaining five minutes of the quarter before heading out to meet with Phareed. He put his feet up on the coffee table, leaned back on the couch, and sipped his Heineken. He was in no rush to go and problem solve right now.
    The first quarter ended with the Sixers leading by seven. Stone grudgingly turned his eighty-inch HDTV off. He looked out his penthouse window down on to Philadelphia. From that vantage point he felt like he owned the city. Maybe he could never actually own it, but some days he felt like he ran it. Even though Phareed was the head of the organization, Stone felt that without him the organization wouldn’t be as strong. He was happy to stay behind the scenes as number two. The way Stone saw it, he was the brain, and Phareed was the face and muscle.
    Stone picked up his keys and headed out of his penthouse to his Escalade in the parking lot.
    He had his stereo bumping some Lil Wayne as he crossed the bridge into Camden, a shitty town just over the border in New Jersey. Phareed and Stone would meet at an abandoned warehouse along the river.
    Stone drove his Escalade into the empty space. Phareed was already waiting, leaning up against his Hummer and texting.
    After exiting his truck, Stone slid the massive steel door of the warehouse closed.
    â€œWhat’s good?” Stone said as the two men greeted each other by grabbing hands and bro-hugging each other.
    â€œAll good.” Phareed leaned back on his Hummer. “Yo, what you find out about them murders?”
    â€œWe comin’ up empty. Ain’t no one know shit.”
    â€œYou need to step your shit up then,” Phareed shot back.
    Stone wanted to say “fuck off,” but he bit his tongue. He instead said, “I got a lotta niggas out there with their ear to the ground. No one’s talkin’.”
    He hated when Phareed would question his work ethic. Stone was always making sure his business was being handled and he thought Phareed should know and respect that