Manolo Blahniks are a Girl's Best Friend!

I watched four men emerge with weapons. One in particular stood out to me. Mike Walker. I knew his stature. The puzzling thing is, why would he be after me? I called out to him. “Mike, what’s up with this?” He put his hand over his eyes to shade them from the sun. “Piggy?” Drell nudged me. “You know these motherfuckers?”  “I know him.” I heard Mike Walker tell the goons behind him to stand down. Mike Walker dropped his weapon. I gave mine to Drell. Mike Walker and I started walking towards each other. It was unusually hot this morning, even for Houston, Texas. I heard Drell ask me if I was ok. I kept walking towards one of the most serene men I knew walking the earth. Obviously Mike Walker was here to do dirt but even in all black and the .50 he had in his hand, there was something so spiritual about him. He took my hand and kissed it. “What you doing here, Mike Walker?” “I’m on a hit, you know that. What you doing here?” Hmm. Interesting. So he wasn’t after me. Then who? “You on a hit for who?” I knew that Mike Walker sometimes subcontracted his services for different made niggas. Wonder who his client was today? “I’m doing a hit for Monet. Came through this morning around 6 a.m.” He pulled an envelope from his back pocket. Inside of it was a picture of Milton Spivey, his car and distinguishing characteristics about him. “Mike Walker, why does Monet want Drell dead?” I turned to look at Drell unsure of how to read him. “Lil one, I don’t know all of the details. She just said that he was no longer needed. You know in our world that that is explanation enough. Why are you with him?” Why all of a sudden, Monet puts a hit out on Drell? I mean she had just saw us together this morning. Ohhh ok. That’s why. I had marked him. Well, she couldn’t have this one. “Mike Walker, I’m about to ask you to do something that’s unthinkable.” “I’m listening, Courtney.” I turned to look towards Drell who was posted up. Arms folded across his chest. “I need you to fall back. Let this one go. She ask, tell her you lost him.” Mike Walker and I were staring into each other’s eyes. The same darkness. I saw in his and he saw in mine. Looking at me, he called back to his men, "Hey, we let this go. We gotta other stuff to take care of." He moved closer to me. "I hope he's worth it but more importantly I hope you know what you're doing." I nodded. Mike Walker got back into his vehicle. "What the fuck was that about, Courtney?" I didn't say anything. He wrapped his arms around me. I took in his scent and my thoughts were now clouded. I wanted this to be so bad. I did. Like I could see us seriously dating, getting married and being together. We had just reconnected from years ago and I was already planning to spend the rest of my life with him. I had to slow down. I could feel my veins pulsating. I needed a fix and I needed it fast. "Courtney, what's wrong with you?" Now he would see a side of me only a few have. "Help me to the car, Drell. We gotta get back to either the hotel or take me to Baker's shoe store." He seemed confused at first and then he thought about it. "Let's go back to your hotel. You don't look too good." We headed back to the DoubleTree. On the radio playing was Just Friends by Musiq Soulchild. I smiled because it took me back to simpler times. Drell turned it up and I thought about how maybe things would have been different had Milton and Courtney been MORE than just friends back in the day. I shook my head to clear the thought from my mind. I tried to live in the now. Text message on my phone alerted me that Symone was okay with her travel arrangements. Well so far things seemed to be going okay. "So are you going to tell me what that was all about back there?" His voice brought me back. I lick my lips and looked at him. He kept his eyes on the road but I saw him shift in his seat. We got back to the Double Tree and the satin Manolo Blahnick black mules that I had ordered were waiting for me on the king sized bed. "Nice room." I sat my purse on the counter and when I saw the box I started to shake. I knew that Milton was probably freaked out. "Look, if you want you can go. I know you may not want to see this." He sat down in the recliner. I stripped down to my bra and panties. I slipped my foot into the right shoe and I was transformed. I was no longer a rogue, Houston cop. I wasn't a King or Queenpin. I was more than just a beautiful woman with insecurities. Naw. I was HER. I was sitting on top of the world. I took the left shoe and placed it sole down onto my throbbing vein. I could smell blood. Seated on the bed in front of the mirror, I saw that my nose was starting to bleed. Blahniks always caused my body to react like this. I had completely forgotten that Milton Spivey was in the room. I wiped the blood away and wiggled my toes into the silk material of this finely crafted shoe. I saw colors in shades and hues of reds, purples and pink. I was high as shit. I then put the other shoe on my foot and unclasped my lace bra. My addiction was heightening. You see these Blahnicks were three thousand dollars. I was still trying to hide the money that we had collected at Albro's. I would do it. I figured that after all I had accomplished I deserved a recreational hit. Sadly though I was beginning to see that it was more than that. I got up and sashayed over to Drell. Straddled him in the recliner. "Still feel the same about me now?" He didn't say anything. We kissed and I felt rolls of pleasure down my spine. This Mississippi boy had knocked me off kilter and I was okay with it.

Courtney's Ride in the Cutlass

I told him everything. About my addiction to fabulous shoes. I told him about my work with the Houston Police Department Narcotics Division. I told him about Shannon Monet and how we had been beefing. I went into it fully about what I did to Ivory Albro. I told him about my plans for the shoe and dope industry of Houston. I told him about Arnissha Lynn. Lastly I told him about how I missed my daddy. I told him everything and there was something in the pit of my stomach. I was waiting on him to put me out his car, to tell me where to go, hell I knew he would now have nothing else to do with me. Strangely, he didn't do any of that. "Courtney, I know that was hard for you to do. I figure either you told me all of that because you really trust me or because you're planning to kill me right now." I looked up at him and he had the biggest grin on his face. I laughed. "No, I'm not planning to kill you, Milton Spivey. I don't know. It's just something about you that make me want to be honest about EVERYTHING." He sat next to me just smiling. "What you grinning about so?" "I can't believe that I am sitting next to the grown Courtney Coyle." I rolled my eyes. "I'm sitting next to the grown Milton Spivey. Tell me you don't want to run in the opposite direction." He shook his head. "Courtney, you're grown and you got it. You may not feel like you got it together but you do. I'm not a square. Seemingly you would run a square off but that ain't me." Savannah Jackson or Whitney Houston, I exhaled. I believe that was the sexiest thing I had ever heard a man say to me. I leaned back and looked at the backseat of his Cutlass. I bit my lip and then looked at him. I didn't know what would ultimately happen between Drell and I but it would be epic. I kissed him soft and slow. I then climbed in the back seat of his car. He shuffled tracks on the radio until he came to Zro's I Can't Leave Drank Alone. I love this shit is what I'm thinking. I watched him watch me in the rearview mirror. I spread my legs and rubbed between my legs. I still had my jeans on mind you but it was the visual effect of it all. The windows were tinted so I took my air max off and unbuttoned my jeans. "Pretty panties, Piggy." I smiled. I kneeled on the back seat and faced the back window. Let him get a view of my ass in black lace boyshorts. He bit my left ass cheek. He then got out of the front seat and into the back. He pushed the front seats forward. Now we had enough room. He undid my ponytail. "Your hair smells good, bae." He pulled my blonde locks on top of my head and kissed my neck. He raised my shirt up over my black lace bra. I moaned. This was kind of fast for me normally. But this was long overdue. My body needed this. We kissed for what seemed like hours and I couldn't get outta of my jeans fast enough. In my bra, panties and socks I gave Drell the best blow job ever. He grew inside of my mouth and I smeared my lip gloss all over it. "Courtney, you the bomb." I giggled. I took the condom from him and before I put it on I massaged it over and over. He pulled my hair hard and bit my cheek. Kissed my lips again. I rolled the condom down onto his beautiful manhood. No baggy Magnum here. Can we say Yaay.com? I faced the windshield and rode him while he rubbed my back. He would squeeze my ass and I would buck harder. Obviously this wasn't my first rodeo. Milton Spivey was sending my body into maximum overload. It was good. I rode him and guided his hands across my breasts. He fingered the jewelry that was in my clit and I exploded from the inside out. We came simultaneously. I lay back and I could hear and feel his heart beating. Sweat drenched both of us. I turned to face him. Feeling the sticky mess we had just made. "You have the prettiest eyes, with your fat ass." I laughed. "So you compliment me and then insult me." I shake my head. "Shut up, I don't want nobody else calling you fat." I smiled. "Nobody else does." I went into my Gucci dump and pulled some scented wet naps. I wiped us both down. "Damn, where you been? You all attentive to a nigga." "Where we going next?" He shrugged his shoulders. "Show me around Houston, red." He helped me dress. I pulled my locks back into a ponytail. Reapplied some lip gloss. "Alright bae, let's hit the Museum District." He grabbed my hand and kissed it. Held it as we backed out of the parking lot and onto the highway. My cell rings. It's Tameika. "What's up chick?" "Nothing, Texas Tea, getting chocolate wasted." "Oh yeah. We ain't all able." I looked at Drell. This was crazy. I was really feeling him. "So what's on the agenda, Piggy." "Lynn. We got to get her. I'm calling her today to see if we can meet up. She gone get down or lay down." Milton smirked. "Gangsta bitch." "Alright, let me know what happens. I'm off today. Gotta make treat bags for my baby's class." "I feel you girl. Next week, it'll be my time to be room mama. Look let me hit you back Texas Tea, got another call coming in." I clicked over. "This Coyle." "Coyle, we going out tonight. You need to be available." I groaned. Yeah, I was still employed and had duties. "Alright, where we going tonite?" "Small task. We hitting Briar Gate." Mo City, lawd here we go. "Ok, what time we going?" "Probably around midnight." I hung up. I stuck my lip out. "What's wrong with you?" "Bae, I gotta go to work." "Well take your fat ass to work then." He laughed. "You not funny."
"I ain't going nowhere bae, do your thing." Cool. We rode and listened to the radio. Coming up under 45 South I got a real good look at him. He was tailing us. Drell saw him too. I pulled my .45. "Yeah he got behind us when we left the restaurant." "Its a lot of people wish I was dead." "Me too, bae." Drell turned down Scott and so did the Tahoe. I figured we could go on to the museum and ignore this muthafucker or corner him and get him before he get us. I decided to do what's right. I looked to Drell. "Baby, make a left on this street. Its a dead end." I took my gun off safety and Drell followed suit. "Can you shoot, Courtney?" I didn't even respond to that. When I heard the first shot, I let the window down and blasted. "Drell, we gone count bodies." He kissed me and fired his Beretta. Wasn't no turning back now. God, he was so fucking hot. And in the middle of it all, Piggy was having that itch. I would definitely need to get high after this.

Somebody Rings Piggy's DRELL

My dreams go back to the Mississippi Delta and my adolescence. Those were the days of the Leflore County Tigers. Temple Specials. Faygo soda. NYSP. Milton Spivey and my fifth grade year in Ms. Magee’s class. Back to the days where I was innocent. I think I was in love with Milton Spivey the first time I laid eyes on him. Then he opened his mouth. The class clown. He poked fun of me and everyone else too. But still I looked forward to going to school every day just to get a glimpse of him. Here we are fifteen-twenty years later. On cue at about six thirty a.m. he calls. “Wanted to know what you sound like in the morning.” I sit up in the hotel bed and laugh. “So what I sound like?” He was quiet for a second. “Good, make me wonder what you sound like when you whispering nasty things.” We both giggled at that. I thanked him for waking me up. Told him where I was and that I would meet him down in the hotel lobby. I had bought a change of clothes with me but I wanted to keep it simple. He had seen me jazzy. Now he would see me comfortable. I put on a pair of tight Levi’s, a t-shirt and a pair of Nike Airmax. I put my blonde locks in a ponytail. Washed my face really good. Brushed my teeth and put on clear lip gloss. I touched my Mattie Mae’s cross and threw on the DSW pendant. Diamond stud earrings. I was ready. My cell rings. It's Drell letting me know that he was downstairs in the hotel lobby. I grabbed my Gucci dump with my .45 at the bottom. Nothing against Drell. He was a d boy so I'm sure he would be strapped too. It was just that I was now a marked woman. Couldn't be too careful. Drell was in the lobby dressed in some jeans and a black Tshirt. Black airmax. No jewelry but he smelled great. I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him on the lips. He seemed taken aback by that. "Damn, I guess that was some conversation last night." I licked my lips. "I guess it was." He grabbed me by the hand and escorted me outside. Drell was in a Cutlass. Black. I love it. I got in and thought about being his hood ornament. There was something between him and me. It was strong and I couldn't fully explain it. I gave him the directions to Frank's. Frank's was the best breakfast spot in Houston. It was small and to some raggedy but they made the best pork chops and eggs in town. I turned to face him while he drove and I studied him. There was this deep insatiable feeling that I was having to want to jump him. His skin, beard, hair, the way he steered his car with one hand and held a Black and Mild cigar in the other. He looked at me watching him. "Courtney Coyle, why you watching me like that?" Hmmn. "Maybe I like what I see." "There you go, gasing me up. I like to ride on empty ok?" I laughed. How country was that? I bat my eyelashes at him. "Yeah so that's how your fat ass got these Texas niggas wrapped around your finger huh? Batting them pretty eyes." I started laughing and couldn't stop. "Who does that? Did you just call me fat?" He smiled. "Haven't I always called you that? I mean since we kids. What make you so special now?" I just looked at him. He had just called me fat and I was feeling some kind of way about it. "You know what make me special now." He shook his head. "Who would've thought that I would run into Courtney Coyle." We got on 610 and took it to Telephone Road. Frank's was packed as usual but they always made space for Houston cops. Drell opened the door and I walked in. Harriet had been working at Frank's since it was first put there. "Piggy! How ya doin? Ain't seen you in a minute." I smiled. "It ain't been that long, Harriet. I bought my friend in here so he can have a real breakfast." "Well you know you brought him to the right place then girl." She seated us in the back. I mean we were literally sitting under the air conditioning unit. Drell looked around. "So you mean to tell me they got good food here?" "They really do. I know its tiny but don't let that fool you. And why you sittin across from me?" I was half teasing but his scent was intoxicating and I wanted to be up under him. He got up and scooted right next to me in the booth. "You wanted me to sit by you all you had to do was ask." God help me. He continued to stare into my eyes. Again that was rare. I carried a darkness in my eyes that made many shy away. Mike Walker didn't. Tameika Benford didn't and now Drell didn't either. "Courtney, you not about to turn me into no square, ok?" I giggled. "Now what do you mean by that?" I licked my lips. He took a sip of water. Laughed. "It's that shit right there." Waitress comes and takes my order. Pork chops, eggs over easy, cheese grits and wheat toast. He ordered the same except with scrambled eggs. We continued to talk and then TK Soul's Ring my Bell is played on the Jukebox. "Aww shit, what y'all know about TK Soul down here?" I rolled my eyes. "We listen to blues dine here too." He put his arm up on the back of the booth. "Sooo, you dine here and single. Why?" "I'm a cop and niggas dine here are not into that, bae." He shook his head. "You see I don't get that. You what a nigga really need. I'm still tryna figure out how you became a law. Smart as you was. Still is. Why a cop?" "Just something I've always wanted to do. I think people just expected me to be a teacher or an engineer but I've always wanted to go into law enforcement." He moved a strand of hair from my eye and his touch brought waves of tingles across my body. This was crazy. We sat there in the restaurant staring at each other like it was just me and him. The waitress brought our food back. "Sooo when you going back to Itta Bena?" "In a day or two. I don't want to but you know Mehki still there. Gotta get back to him." I understood that. I think a part of me was already sad that he was leaving. "Well, why don't we spend the day together. Show you around the H." He sprinkled salt and pepper on his grits and fed a forkful of them to me. Best thing I'd ever tasted. "We can do that, Courtney Coyle." I was grinning on the inside like a little girl. "I mean, you don't have to feel like you're obligated to because I ask... He dismissed the thought. "It's cool. I want to." We had breakfast and we continued to talk about everything. He was telling me about life on the road and his side business. He really wanted to leave Mississippi for good. No opportunities there. Standing by his car outside of Frank's, I asked him what he wanted to do now. He guided me by my hips and bent down and kissed me. Drell's kisses made the world stop. It was surreal. I could hear myself moan. "That's what I've been wanting to do." "Naw now Drell, don't be gassing me up. I like riding on empty too." Out of my peripheal I saw Shannon Monet and her entourage pull up. Guess everyone was having breakfast this morning. Drell spotted her as well. "Bae, I got somebody you need to meet." When Monet spotted me, she opened her jacket so that I could see her .9. I pulled that .45 out of my purse. Nine times five equaled 45. Drell stopped in his tracks. "Hey what the hell was that about?" So I'm here now weighing my options. It is a strong possibility that I have fallen in love overnight. Something about Drell made me want to change things. I wanted to be here for him. I knew no matter what, I wanted him to make love to me. I wanted to hold him. I wanted to be his Bottom. Bottom Bitch that is. I considered having his last name as my own. I was now at a crossroad. I could begin whatever type of relationship with Drell and leave out many pertinent details about my life or I could lay out all my cards on the table and risk him not wanting anything to do with me. Think Courtney. What are you going to do? I want this man. Did I want him more than the city of Houston? Think. Make a decision. I let my heart do the thinking. "Drell, let's go. We need to talk." His eyes told me he already knew as they were fixated on the pendant around my neck. "Do you trust me, Drell?" "Normally, Courtney, no. But something in my gut tell me I can. I need you to do the same for me." I shook his hand and we got in the car. Left the restaurant. We all love and lose but maybe things would be different. In just a day in a half, I knew that if nothing else I wanted to EXIST in Milton Spivey's world. So I opened up. Disrobed and put everything out in the open, Johnnie Taylor.

Piggy Giggles and Reminisces....

We sat at a table big enough to accommodate our egos and unequivocal beauty. Tameika Benford, my raven beauty, had only mascara and lip gloss on but she would put any Cover Girl to shame. Skin flawless. Yulonda, the exotic beauty of my heart who sported a magnificent halo of natural hair. It was soft and framed her face like Glory, as a woman’s hair should be. Mychelle sat directly across from me in a black Roberto Cavalli halter top. Her ample bosom sat up and were the envy of many. Michelle’s smile made something as beautiful as a Texas sunset seem insignificant. The sultry laugh of Alicia Brown caused you to pay attention. And here I was in the center of it giggling like I was sixteen. Don’t get me wrong, I knew what was at hand, but I couldn’t get Drell off my mind. I get a text. Was so good seeing you, Courtney. Yeah, I can admit that I hadn’t felt like this in a long time. I responded likewise. I had the waiter bring another bottle of Merlot and also a bottle of Christal. Why not? We would work hard and play even harder. Tameika took a sip of water and then cleared her throat. “Okay King Piggy, how do you plan we take Arnissha Lynn down?” I tilted my head to the side and bit my bottom lip. “That’s why we here today. I mean I have some ideas but I think that we together as an Embassy can come up with something big.” They all nodded in agreement. While this organization would be ran by me, I didn’t want to be a tyrant. I knew that sometimes tyranny was necessary but I didn’t want it to be a constant necessity in my circle. I felt that each one of these ladies brought something remarkable to the table. All of them did however know who I was. They all knew that respect was something I demanded. All of them demanded it too. I knew that there were no such thing as friends in the life I lived, but I wanted a camaraderie amongst us. None of us had sterling backgrounds and that was the way I preferred it. The waiter came and took my order. I was in the mood for something homestyle I guess. I ordered chicken fried steak with country gravy, steamed green beans and mashed potatoes. Texas Toast. “Chile, please this place ain’t got shit on me. I could’ve whipped us all something up at the restaurant, Piggy.” We all laughed. Alicia was particular about where she ate. I loved soul food like the next but I figured it wasn’t nothing wrong with having dinner and drinks in an elegant setting. “We know can’t nobody cook like you AB. I just wanted us to get out somewhere different.” The waiters brought back our food. I had also arranged for us to have desert and coffee in the conference room. We ate and talked a lil shit and then we moved our gathering into our rented room. Crème Brulee, coffee and cognac was already set up for us. I could hear Johnnie Taylor's Disco Lady coming from the loudspeakers. I laughed because I saw some of the white patrons tapping their foot, off beat of course but tapping nevertheless. We all assembled into the conference room. I had a projector put together with a topography map of the Bayou City. We went over Big Lynn's territory. Threw out ideas about what kind of market she cornered. Most importantly we talked about the offer we'd give her that she WOULDN'T or COULDN'T refuse. "Big Lynn is something else, CC. I mean we took Ivory Albro, but Big Lynn been at this for years." I sat back in the big comfortable chair. Propped my feet onto the conference table and contemplated what Mychelle had just said. "Chelle, I ain't tryna to hear that. Fuck her. She gone get down or lay down. Hell, we just took over the baddest. Arnissha Lynn ain't gone be shit. I mean she living on her mama's legacy anyway. We ain't talkin about 1970 something. This is 2011. Sitting at this table we have MBAs, two doctorates and a heffa that can bake a Sock it to Me cake that'll make you slap any body's mama." We went from serious to silly just that fast. "Seriously, we can do this. I'm thinking we set up a meeting at her headquarters in three days. I'll start contact with her in the morning. Her time is over too." Michelle took a sip of her coffee. Cleared her throat. "Pooh-I mean Piggy, what you gone do about Monet? She getting out of hand wouldn't you say?" I glared at her. Michelle knew I had outgrown the nickname Pooh but she and Yulonda insisted on calling me that. "Well Carrie-I mean Michelle, let me handle Shannon Monet. She's a bigger fish to fry. It's personal with she and I." I had to admit that all of these ladies had some really good ideas circulating. I wanted my Embassy to be synonymous with Houston. So I wanted us to have a coming out party. The theme would be Royal and Regal: Houston's Legacy. I was seeing Purple as the color theme. It was after midnight when we all left the hotel. I was so drunk that I just checked into one of the rooms. I had Yulonda run my schedule down to me and I retired. I sent a text message. Are you thinking about me? Two minutes later. A response. Haven't been able to since we ran into one another. Call me. I got into a hot shower. I decided I would air dry. Slipped on some Hermes thong sandals and laid across the King sized bed. "Hello." "Umm I even like the way you sound on the phone." He laughed. "You crazy, Courtney Coyle." We talked that night like old friends. Talked about everything. He was single at the time. Driving trucks. One son. Couldn't halfway stand his baby mother. I was single too. Been a cop for about ten years. One son also. Me and my baby's father was more than cool. He said he couldn't wait a couple days. Wanted to have breakfast with me in a couple of hours. I agreed. Told him to pick me up at eight. It was something about Drell that made me want to tell him everything. I was so comfortable talking to him. Usually I shared the bare minimal with men. But I felt like I had poured my soul out to him. I knew that I was more than physically attracted to him but it was like Drell was the friend that maybe I needed. I had to be careful though. I knew what was at stake and I wouldn't forget it. I smile thinking about the way he say Courtney. With a drawl. Something about a country boy. I drifted off to sleep with the thought of playing in those braids of his and of my first kiss at Libertyland back in Memphis, Tennessee.

Piggy's Ties to the Mississippi Delta: Courtney runs into Drell

You know there are always signs before something bad really happens. For instance, there were all kind of things that were happening before the Feds caught up with my father. His top goon was found with his throat slashed ear to ear. He had a second heart attack. I was promoted to Sergeant amongst my team. I know what you’re thinking. My promotion was a bad sign for him but it represented change for me. Here I was now in the middle of starting my own empire and I was feeling a close cloud of despair. I needed to shake this. It was now time for to put up or shut up. I got dressed in a black Donna Karen pantsuit. I would wear no shirt under the jacket. I found a pretty Victoria Secret bra in Tangerine. Matching panties. I had a pair of round toed pumps by Qupid. Diamond stud earrings in each ear. I pinned my blonde locks into a tight bun. Lined my eyes with liner. A smudge of coral eyeshadow. Clear lipgloss. I was ready for whatever. I wondered if I was doing the right thing. I know that many of my choices was wrong but ultimately when it was all said and done, could I say it was worth it. I went under my bed and got my hand cannon. My .45 I seldom carried or used but for some reason I felt I needed it today. It was now six pm. I shook my head. Where had the time gone? Cell rings. It’s Mychelle. “What’s up chick?” “Shit, nothing. I hear you want us to meet tonight? When and where, CC?” “Double Tree Hotel. We’ll have dinner, drinks and I got us a private conference room. You need to be there in black.” “You got it. What time?” “Our dinner reservations are for eight.” “Okay, I’ll be there.” “Hey do me a favor and get in contact with AB. Let her know too. All of you get your whips valet parked on me.” “Aight, I’ll see you later.” I hung up the phone. I grabbed my Gucci dump. Turned the alarm on and jumped in my Camaro. I went through Pandora until I got to Mary J. Blige’s Seven Days. Mary would always mellow me. I jumped on 59 south and headed downtown. When I got to the Double Tree, the valet took my car and I walked into the hotel. The Double Tree was beautiful. I have always loved this hotel. I checked in on our reservations. I was of course early so I wanted to have a drink by myself in the bar. When I walked in, I noticed several men glance my way. I am very attractive but I think it is more my attitude that draws the opposite sex towards me. I unbuttoned my jacket one button. My cleavage and pretty lingerie peeked out. I sat down at the bar. “Let me have the Houstonian, please.” The bartender smiled and went to fix my drink. I check the time on my blackberry. I could see him from my peripheral. He was nice looking. Brown skin. He had to be about six feet two. Nice hair. It was braided. I turned to look at him. He lifted his drink and nodded. I bit my bottom lip and winked. He playfully put his hand over his heart. The bartender bought my drink to me. I sipped it slow. The handsome stranger sat and watched me. My cell rings. Its Monet. I swiveled the bar stool facing the entrance. “Monet, what’s going on?” “Life is. I hear you taking full advantage of it too.” I chuckled. “You should know by now that I ain’t going easy.” Handsome walked towards me. I continued to talk. “Shannon you know you will pay for your sins just as I will for mine.” “Courtney, is that a threat?” “No threat, I just want you to keep that in mind.” My blackberry alerted me to a text. I hung up with Monet. The text was from Texas Tea. She was letting me know that she was on her way. I could smell Happy cologne. He was standing in touching distance to me. “Let me have another crown and coke and whatever this pretty woman here is drinking.” He flashed a smile that made my heart flutter. “What’s your name?” “They call me Drell.” “Hmmn Drell. Drell. Different.” He looked at me and I got a different vibe from him. “You got a pretty ass voice. But then you are a pretty ass woman.” I smiled. “Thank you.” I sized him up. Confident. Handsome. He had a street side too. I could tell from his accent that he wasn’t from around here. “What part of the Delta are you from?” He smiled and raised an eyebrow. I answered his question before he could ask it. “It was the way you said woman. I know a Mississippi Delta boy when I see one.” I don’t know why but I was feeling different. This could be interesting, Courtney Coyle. "You look familiar lady. Where I know you from? It gotta be from back home." I laughed. "Milton Spivey, I guess it has been the better part of fifteen-twenty years since we last saw each other." This was my fifth grade crush. You see my mama was a  Mississippi belle no doubt, and when my father had his first bid she moved my brother and I to Itta Bena, Mississippi. Five years we called it home and I missed. it. He smiled. "Courtney Coyle. Gotdamn!!" I laughed. Milton or Drell was always a clown. I had to shake my head though. I marveled at the grown man that now stood before me. Handsome as he was the first day I laid eyes on him. "What you doin dine here, Drell?" He sat down next to me. "You Texas born and raised huh. I'm down here for better opportunities. Wasn't shit goin on in the Delta but trouble. I got a gig driving trucks. Here I am. What you doing here?" "You know I was born and raised dine here. Except for those years we spent down in Itta Bena, this was my home." I sipped my drink. His roamed up and down my body. "Grown Courtney." He chuckled. "Grown Milton." I had thought about him over the years. I was relieved to see he was doing something for himself. Many from our hometown wasn't so lucky. I then see Michelle walk into the bar. She was dressed in a black pinstripe pantsuit that accentuated all of her curves. I heard Milton whisper damn. I laughed at him. My cousin and I embraced. "Damn, CC, you look good." "You do too, Michelle. Milton this is my cousin. Michelle, this is Milton, an old friend of mine." She winked at me in approval. I'm certain he saw that. "Look give me a minute. We'll be seated for dinner." I turned to Drell and just looked at him. If he was my complexion I would've seen him blushing. "Here's my card. Why don't you call me sometime. We can hook up and talk." He took my card. "Sgt. Courtney Coyle? You the po-po?" "Yes, is that a problem?" He stood up. Kissed my forehead. "No ma'am. Imma call you bae." I sashayed to the restaurant. I had to admit that Drell was stirring up some feelings inside of me. But I was getting off task. I met Michelle at our table and Tameika, Mychelle, Alicia, and Yulonda had all arrived. Each one of these beauties were meticulously dressed in black. I ordered a bottle of Merlot and sat down. "Ladies, we take down Arnissha Lynn. Business along with Houston will belong to us." We toasted. My goons made idle chatter amongst each other and I daydreamed about a Mississippi boy that I was crazy about long ago.
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　

The Tales or Tails of Piggy....

Mattie Mae continued to cry. I looked down on the woman I adored so much. I never wanted her to see this side of me. I helped her off of the floor and onto my sofa. Meika grabbed her a bottled water from the fridge. I sat down beside my transplanted grandmother. She looked to have aged about ten years. “Courtney, what have you done?” The strings of my heart were being pulled. I knew that Mattie Mae wasn’t completely naïve to my dealings but she didn’t know how deep I was into things. With tears in her eyes, she reached for my hand and held it. I looked at her. I looked deep into her eyes and she turned away. “Your eyes, I just noticed. They have a darkness to them. Little girl, what are you into? What just happened here?” Tameika cleared her throat. “Imma let you all talk. Courtney, I need to step out and check on my baby.” I nodded. Mattie Mae’s touch was warm and comforting to me. On the outside I was steel cold. I looked down at the dead man on my floor. I didn’t recognize him and wasn’t quite sure exactly who had sent him. Blood leaked onto my wood floor from the wound in his head. I heard Mattie chant a prayer in French. “Talk to me, Courtney.” I didn’t know where to begin. You see Mattie Mae had forced her way into my life. She had taken care of me. I’ve lived in this community five years and Mattie Mae has been a constant figure in my life since day one. My son was an infant. I was a new mother and didn’t know the first thing about babies but Mattie would come over and show me how to take care of him and would soothe Cobee to sleep when I couldn't. Now she was asking for an explanation. She deserved one. I got up to fix myself a stiff drink. “Mattie Mae, you want something stronger than that water?” In her serious tone she answered, “Little girl, don’t play with me. I want you to sit your ass down and tell me what’s going on. NOW.” I poured myself a shot of Hennessey. I downed it and sat down across from her. “Mattie Mae, I haven’t always been honest in disclosing what all I do. You know I’m a cop and I work for Tactical Narcotics. Recently I’ve gotten into merchandising. You know about my shoe habit. Some think it’s out of control. Well I got into cahoots with Ivory Albro.” She gasped and put her hands to her mouth. I put my head down. I didn’t really want to have this conversation with her but I knew that it was time she knew the truth. “Courtney, the rumor mill been buzzing around here in Houston. They say Albro been missing and most likely he dead. You wouldn’t know nothing about that now would you?” I swallowed long and hard. I looked at her and my eyes told it all. She again started to cry. “I’m in a real good position, Mattie. I run Houston now. I can’t tell you all the many opportunities this will bring me and my family.” She shook her head. “No. I’m not gone sit here and let you feed me this bullshit. My husband did everything he could to take care of our family. He worked three and four jobs and none of them involve robbing and taking from nobody. When I first saw how bad your shoe habit was I told you then to CONTAIN it. You didn’t listen. Now child you so far gone that it ain’t no turning back now.” It was hard for me knowing that Mattie Mae was disappointed in me. I also knew that I couldn't sit in my house in the middle of the day with a dead body in my living room. I needed to call Mike Walker. He could get this cleaned up for me in no time. I turned to Mattie Mae. "Mattie, don't be mad at me. You know what I do for a living and what I do on the side now. I ain't never took a life that didn't deserve it." I said that with finality. She nodded her head as if she understood. "You know Courtney, the last couple of weeks I had been trying to figure out what's so different about you. Now I know. Your soul has left you." I touched the DSW pendant around my neck. I knew that she was probably right. "You want me to walk you home?" She shook her head no. Kissed my cheek and removed the cross she had wore around her neck for forty or more years. She placed it around mine. "You don't take this cross from around your neck, you hear?" She was gone. I didn't have much time. I called Mike Walker and he said that he could be at my house in fifteen minutes. Tameika helped me in searching the dead man for any identification. He had a TDCJ ID card. Clarence  Hines. Name didn't ring a bell. A few minutes later, Mike Walker was at my door. He had two other clean up guys with him. We had located the Hines car down the road. It would have to be destroyed too. I told Mike that I wanted his car searched first. I needed to know who had sent him after me. Mike Walker looked at me long and hard. "Lil one, are you ok?" I had been staring off into space. "Yeah, why do you ask?" He rubbed his hand across his goatee. "Your body count is steady rising. That ain't necessarily a bad or good thing." I didn't know how to answer this. I mean Mike Walker has been a King in these streets. He understood. Hines vehicle turned up nothing. Mike and his guys disposed of my problem. Again Mike gave me that look that said he had been where I am and eventually it gets old. I respect him. But I needed to find out the hard way. Hard headed Piggy. Tameika and I sat down in the same area where I had just blew a man's brains out. I looked down at her shoes. She had on Manolo Blahniks. I got mad all over again thinking about mine that were missing. I would get them back. I knew this. No matter what it took. My Baltimore lady called. I gave her her flight information. She would be here in a week. It was back to business as usual. I needed some music. I put on some Betty Wright. After the Pain played loud through my home. The Houston Chronicle lay open on my coffee table and there a picture of Arnissha Lynn. I looked at Meika and said, "Big Lynn is next, Texas Tea. She gone either get down or lay down!" Meika B nodded her head. I figured that when I had got to be too much, Tameika Benford wouldn't hesitate to put me in my place. I had to respect that. I got on my cellular and dialed Big Lynn. "We need to talk." That was it. I hung up. I knew that I couldn't keep on like this. I kept feeling an impending sense of doom. You know me though. I went on like it was nothing.