

God Helps Those...

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By Alan Cramer

NOT CHRISTIAN LITERATURE  
The year is 1983, Marcus Dupree is on his way to the top. He has it all, the great job, the girl of his dreams and a chance to live the truly good life. But Marcus has a secret, a secret that soon becomes to big to hide. He struggles to keep his family together, but it looks like it's all about to come crashing down. Only God can save him...

This is not a fairy tale, there is no happy ending.

Copyright 2011 by M. Abdul-Malik

All rights reserved.

Also by Alan Cramer

Only God Can Judge Me

Two Wrongs

Don't Make a Right

&

 The Life

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or persons living or dead is coincidental.

### CHAPTER 1

"Hurry up," Marcus said to the taxi driver.

The traffic light turned yellow and the driver hit the brakes.

"The yellow light doesn't mean stop you know," Marcus said.

The cab driver ignored him.

"You have to drive faster," Marcus demanded.

He had to get there before his mother. The light turned green and the driver slowly pulled off.

"Yo my man, you have to speed it up."

"They have traffic laws," the driver said.

"Yeah I know, if you go any slower you'll get a parking ticket," Marcus replied.

Marcus looked at his watch. His mother was going to get there before him. This taxi driver was ruining everything.

After a few more minutes of driving, the taxi finally reached the destination, the Wakefield Manor Ballroom. It was on the corner of Boston Road and Allerton Avenue. Boston Road was a main street. It was eight o'clock at night and traffic was heavy, that was the norm for this street that ran from the South Bronx, across the city line and into the New York City suburb of Westchester.

"Five dollars," the taxi driver said.

"Yeah ok," Marcus replied.

He looked outside the taxi window, to see if he saw his mother. There she was with Earl, their backs facing Marcus. They were crossing the street, not more than ten feet from the taxi.

Marcus ducked down, if she saw him, things would definitely be ruined. The taxi driver saw Marcus slump down in the seat and became scared.

"What are you doing," the driver asked.

"Just chill out," Marcus responded. He watched his mother and Earl cross the street.

"I'm going to call the police," the driver shouted.

Marcus sat up.

"I need to call them so they can arrest your non driving ass," Marcus said.

He handed the driver a five dollar bill. He didn't want to pay him at all. Because of his slow driving he would miss the look on his mother's face, when she walked in on her surprise party.

Planning the party had stressed Marcus out. He had found a new job, moved back to New York and planned his mother's party all at the same time. The only thing that kept him going was the idea of how happy this would make his mother. Her name was Sarah and she would be forty eight in two days.

"It's really quiet in here," Sarah said.

"It's a retirement party," Earl said. "You know old folks don't like a lot of noise."

He opened the door.

"It's dark in here," Sarah said.

"Surprise!"

"Oh my god," Sarah said. Startled, she jumped. The crowd of about one hundred started singing happy birthday. Sarah had to struggle to hold back the tears.

She was going through a mid life crisis. Earl, her boyfriend, had suggested the surprise party.

"How old are you now, how old are you Sarah, how old are you now."

She didn't want to answer. She looked at them wondering how she could avoid saying it.

"Come on Sarah, tell us how old you are," a female coworker yelled.

Suddenly someone yelled, "She's as young as she feels."

It was Marcus.

"Yo DJ play the music," Marcus yelled to the DJ.

The DJ started playing "Happy Birthday" by Stevie Wonder.

"Happy birthday ma," Marcus said as he hugged her.

"Thank you Little Man," Sarah said, calling him by his nick name.

"Who's that," one of Sarah's female coworkers asked.

"That's her son Marcus," a neighbor replied.

"He's kind of nice looking," the coworker said.

"He's real smart too, he just graduated from law school."

The coworker squinted to get a better look.

"He looks more like a drug dealer."

Marcus was wearing a herring bone colored, crushed linen suit. He had bought it on sale two years ago. This was only the fourth time he had worn it. When he had it on, it made him look like he had money.

"Marcus I see you've already been drinking, so don't drink too much tonight," Sarah said.

"What makes you think I've been drinking ma," Marcus asked.

Sarah gave him a, you must be kidding look.

"Marcus, you just yelled, DJ play the music, in front of all these people."

Marcus just looked at her and smiled.

"I know my boy. You would never raise your voice in front of this many people unless you were angry or drinking. And you don't look mad to me," Sarah said.

"Don't worry ma, I just want you to be happy and have a good time," Marcus said.

"I'll be happy when you start acting like an adult. You're a lawyer now. But you're walking around trying to look like a thug. You'll never really be happy, pretending to be something you're not. I don't care how much you drink."

"That's your brother over there talking to your moms," the girl asked.

"Yeah that's him," Paula said.

Paula was Marcus's sister.

"I thought you said he was a book worm," the girl said.

"He is," Paula said.

Paula sipped her drink.

"Well he's the finest bookworm I've ever seen," the girl replied.

Don't let the look fool you, it's just a front," Paula said.

"Introduce me to him," the girl asked.

"Alright," Paula replied. She then finished her drink.

"Who's paying for all this," Sarah asked.

Marcus gave her the, who do you think look.

"You know it wasn't me," Marcus said. "I'm so deep in debt, when I put my card in the ATM, hands come out the machine and go through my pockets."

Earl, who had been silent the whole time started to walk away.

"Earl, how much did this cost," Sarah asked.

"Don't worry baby, you're worth every bit of this and more," Earl said.

"And that's my cue," Marcus said.

He walked away from his mother and Earl. He headed over to the table with the food on it and put a couple of pieces of chicken on a plate. He took a couple of bites. He looked over at his mother and Earl, they had started dancing. He put the food down and headed for the liquor.

He had poured himself some scotch and soda, when his sister and her friend approached.

"Marcus, this is my friend Cassandra," Paula said.

"Hi, how are you," Marcus said noticing Cassandra had large breasts.

"Hi," Cassandra said.

Marcus sipped his drink.

"This is a nice party," Cassandra said.

Marcus nodded his head. He wanted to say something cool, but couldn't think of the words to say. Cassandra looked at him and smiled. He took another sip of his drink. He then tried to play it cool, by looking around the party.

"I'm going outside to smoke a joint," Paula said. She walked away.

Marcus was about to ask Cassandra, how long she knew his sister. He looked at her. Cassandra smiled at Marcus. He couldn't get the words out.

"Let's dance," Cassandra said. She grabbed Marcus by the hand.

Marcus panicked. He couldn't dance well. Friends said he danced like a white boy.

"Let me finish my drink," Marcus said. He emptied the contents of the plastic cup. His heart was racing as she pulled him onto the dance floor.

She started to dance. Marcus played it cool by clapping his hands and swaying his upper body in time with the music. It looked as if he was trying to warm up before he really started dancing. Then the DJ saved his life.

"We have a special request by the birthday girl," the DJ said. He then started playing a slow jam.

Relieved, Marcus asked Cassandra, "You still want to dance."

And to his surprise she said, "Yes."

He moved in close and put his arms around her. She did the same. Marcus smelled her neck. She smelled like cinnamon. Scents that smelled like food always turned him on, this time was no exception.

While dancing herself, Sarah watched as Marcus danced with Cassandra. She wondered why Marcus always chose the wrong girls to be with. He had a college guidance counselor, but he chose girls who had a state parole officers.

At present she didn't worry too much about girls like Cassandra. Marcus didn't have any money yet. And once they realized he was some what of a nerd, they usually dropped him. What worried her were Marcus's feelings and poor judgment.

"So where do you live," Cassandra asked as they danced.

"In the Bronx," Marcus replied.

"Me too, maybe we can hang out sometime," Cassandra asked. She then rested her head on Marcus's shoulder.

"So what are you doing next weekend," Marcus asked.

"What ever you want," Cassandra replied

Marcus could feel the excitement growing between his legs. Cassandra was his sister's friend, birds of a feather flocked together, and she was probably easy.

After the song finished the DJ started playing a fast song. Marcus and Cassandra separated.

"I'm thirsty, you want a drink" Marcus asked.

"Yeah," Cassandra answered.

As they walked back over to the table that contained the liquor, Cassandra grabbed a hold of Marcus's arm. Marcus hoped he wasn't misreading the signal she was sending.

"What are you drinking," Marcus asked.

"Whatever," Cassandra said. She noticed Marcus's mother staring at them.

Marcus poured a shot of scotch into a plastic cup and handed it to her. He then filled his cup.

Cassandra saw that Sarah was headed over to them. She pulled Marcus in front of herself, so that his back was to his approaching mother.

"So what are you doing after the party," Cassandra asked Marcus.

"No plans," Marcus replied.

Cassandra looked over to Marcus's mother. She had been stopped by a lady who was congratulating her on her upcoming birthday.

"Let's go outside and smoke a joint," Cassandra said. She put he drink down and led Marcus towards the door. As Cassandra pushed Marcus out the door she looked back. She saw Sarah coming after them. Cassandra slammed the door behind her.

"Let's go to my house," Cassandra said to Marcus. "Where's your car?"

"I don't have a car," Marcus replied. He sipped his drink.

Cassandra pulled him towards the curb. "Taxi," she yelled. As if on cue a taxi pulled up.

"Only in the Bronx can you flag down a cab this quick," Marcus said.

Cassandra ignored his statement as she pushed him into the taxi. She got in and slammed the door.

"Bronx Park East and 233rd Street, she told the taxi driver. As the taxi pulled off she looked out the window. She saw Marcus's mother looking up and down the block for them.

Cassandra's apartment was a mess, and smelled of cat urine. When she cut the light on Marcus watched a herd of roaches scatter. He sipped the last of his scotch. He was so drunk and horny he didn't care how the placed looked, but he was defiantly going to shake his clothes out before he left.

"It's hot in here," Marcus said.

"I would open the window, but my cat likes to jump on the window sill," Cassandra said.

"That's alright," he replied.

"Have a seat," Cassandra said, pointing to the sofa.

Marcus sat down. The sofa sank in as he sat. His knees were actually higher than his behind. Marcus felt like he was sitting in a bucket.

Cassandra sat down next to him. She went into her purse and pulled out a bag of marijuana and some rolling papers. She put everything down on the coffee table.

"You live alone," Marcus asked.

"No, me and my son," Cassandra said as she poured some weed into the paper.

"He's here now?"

"No he's at my mother's house."

She then took some folded aluminum foil out of her purse. She opened it. Marcus saw what looked like clumps of raw sugar.

"What is that," he asked.

"Freebase, she replied.

"Freebase as in freebase cocaine," Marcus asked.

"Yes," Cassandra said.

Marcus didn't care if she was a base head. In fact he figured this would make it easier for him to get what he wanted. He watched as she sprinkled the base on the marijuana.

"You're putting it on the weed," Marcus asked.

"Yes," she replied, her voice showing a little agitation. "I ain't no crack head."

"I don't know the difference," Marcus said without thinking.

She looked at him, her irritation was obvious.

"When you smoke it like this," Cassandra paused to light the joint. "It's like sniffing cocaine and smoking weed at the same time. It's not one of them base head speedy highs."

"I here that," Marcus said.

"Plus it makes me horny," Cassandra said. She looked him in the eye as she blew out the smoke.

I'm already horny, Marcus thought. He fantasized about rubbing his face against her big breasts. He looked down her blouse.

"You want some," Cassandra asked passing the joint towards him.

"Yeah why not," Marcus replied. She didn't have a crack head look about her, so maybe it was ok to smoke weed laced with base, he thought.

He kept saying the wrong things and she was starting to get defensive. Maybe if he smoked some she would calm down.

He took a drag off the joint. It tasted kind of funny. He took another pull and passed it back. He couldn't explain what he felt, but it felt good. It was like a rush of adrenalin. He wanted more.

Cassandra finished the joint.

"You have any more," Marcus asked.

"No but we can get some," Cassandra replied. "How much money do you have?"

"Maybe two dollars," Marcus said.

Cassandra's head jerked in surprise.

"So what were you planning to do tonight," She asked.

"I don't know," Marcus answered. He could tell she was changing her mind.

"So you're all dressed up, with no money and no where to go," Cassandra asked.

"Well that depends on you," Marcus said as he attempted to put his arm around her neck.

She jumped up.

"I have to go get my son," she said. "So I'll talk to you later."

By the time Marcus walked out her door he was in a state of depression. He remembered what his mother said to him at the party about pretending to be something he was not. He felt like he let her down.

He wasn't being true to himself. He liked museums and libraries, while girls he went after liked clubs and after hour spots.

He was going to change. He would try to date more intellectual girls, maybe even stop drinking and getting high.

He did want to try that freebase and weed mixture one more time though, when he was sober. It didn't seem as habit forming as crack and it put a nice edge on the weed high.

Marcus started walking home, he was glad he didn't live far.

### CHAPTER 2

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Marcus stepped off the elevator on the eighteenth floor. It was his first day at work. He noticed the girl at the receptionist desk had her back to him, holding a pitcher, watering two big plants that stood in front of the desk. Marcus noticed she had the most perfect ass he had ever seen.

She turned around. Marcus looked her directly in the eyes, hoping she hadn't noticed him staring at her body.

Her face was even better than her body. She's beautiful he thought.

He was staring at my ass, that's just what we need around here, a perverted stalker, she thought as she put the pitcher down.

"Can I help you," she asked, as she stepped behind her desk. Her name was Monique Bell.

"Hi I'm Marcus Dupree, a new attorney here," he said as he leaned on her desk.

"That's nice, your office is back there," she said as she pointed with her thumb behind her.

He was confused by her response. "Uh thanks, uh, what's your name," Marcus asked.

"Ms. Bell, she replied. The look on her face said back up.

"Well thank you Ms. Bell," Marcus said.

As he moved away from her desk he accidentally knocked over the pitcher.

"My bad, Boo," Marcus said without thinking as he reached for the pitcher.

"What did you just call me," Monique asked.

"I said, my bad Ms. Bell," Marcus lied.

She watched him as he walked away.

He was kind of cute she admitted to her self. To bad all the Black attorneys are more stuck up than the white ones.

She was fine, but she has an attitude, Marcus thought. He still wasn't sure where he was supposed to go. He figured he'd head to his office, and hopefully he'd find someone who was more helpful.

He entered the area known as the Bullpen. This is where all new attorneys had their offices.

When he entered the Bullpen all eyes were on him. He noticed a nice looking woman coming towards him, she had a big smile on her face.

He didn't think she was as nice looking as Monique but she was definitely a head turner. On top of that she was wearing a skirt that Marcus thought was a little too short for the office.

"Hi my name is Lisa Hall," she said as she stuck out her hand.

"Hi, I'm Marcus Dupree." He took her hand and shook it.

At least she's friendlier than the other one, Marcus thought.

While still holding his hand, Lisa looked him in the eyes and said, "Marcus Dupree, that's a nice name."

"Thank you," was all Marcus could get out.

"Well Marcus, oh I'm sorry can I call you Marcus?"

"Yes," Marcus said. He looked around. All the other secretaries had stopped working and were watching.

"Well Marcus if you need anything just let me know. My desk is over there, right across from you secretary's."

"Well thank you Ms. Hall."

"Call me Lisa," she said.

"Ok, thanks Lisa," Marcus said. He wanted to let her hand go, but didn't want to be rude.

"I better get over to my office now," Marcus said. He attempted to pull his hand away from hers.

"You know you have beautiful eyes," Lisa said.

"Thank you," Marcus said. He could feel the blood rushing to his head. Damn, he thought, I'm blushing.

Most people couldn't tell when a person as dark as Marcus was blushing. It seemed like Lisa could. She let his hand go and walked away giving Marcus a show in the process.

If she works it any harder, she'll break her hip, Marcus thought.

He realized he was staring at her and everyone was staring at him. This was not a good way to start off the first day on the job.

"Mr. Dupree," a voice behind him said.

Marcus turned around. A middle aged blonde woman was standing there with her hand out. Marcus shook it.

"Ms. O'Neal, I'm your secretary."

"Nice too meet you," Marcus said.

"Welcome to Coleman, Levison & Levine."

Ms. O'Neal let him into his new office.

He looked around at his new office. It was small but comfortable and had no windows. He wondered if he'd fit in here. Coleman, the senior partner who interviewed him, told Marcus the firm had three other Black attorneys.

Two patent law firms in D.C. had offered Marcus jobs, but he turned them down. He chose instead, the small but prestigious law firm of Coleman, Levison & Levine. He hoped he had made the right choice.

He knew he should be confident. After all he was twenty five years old with three degrees and a starting salary most people wouldn't see in a lifetime.

Ms. O'Neal buzzed him on the intercom.

"Yes," Marcus asked.

"Mr. Goldberg is here for your orientation," Ms. O'Neal replied.

"Mr. Dupree, it's a pleasure to meet you" Goldberg said as he shook Marcus's hand.

"It's a pleasure to meet you too sir," Marcus replied.

"Coleman thinks the world of you, I hope you live up to his expectations," Goldberg said. He had a big smile on his face.

"I hope so too," Marcus replied.

"Especially since you'll be reporting to me, if you screw up, it will make me look bad, so don't screw up," Goldberg said.

"I'll do my best," Marcus replied.

"Anyway let's head over to the conference room for the morning meeting," Goldberg said.

He led Marcus across the Bullpen. The path led right past Lisa's desk.

Lisa was watching as they approached. Marcus waved at her and smiled. She looked at him gave a quick smile and then looked back down at her work. She shook her head and sucked her teeth as if she were annoyed.

What the hell was that all about Marcus wondered, as he followed Goldberg out into the hallway.

"You have to be very careful," Goldberg said.

"What do you mean," Marcus asked.

"You don't want a sexual harassment suit. You and the firm could be sued, plus it could ruin your career," Goldberg said.

Marcus just looked at him. He wondered if it could get any worse.

Just then one of the firms Black attorneys was passing by.

"Joe," Goldberg yelled out to him.

He walked over to Marcus and Goldberg.

"Marcus Dupree, I want you to meet Joe Cooke," Goldberg said.

Marcus and Joe shook hands, and then the three of them made their way to the conference room. Goldberg explained to Marcus that the meeting was always at ten sharp.

By the time he entered the conference room Marcus was over his nervousness. There were five attorneys in the room. Goldberg ran the meeting, asking each attorney in turn to report on the status of his or her caseload.

Finally he turned to Marcus. "Now for you Mr. Dupree, one of our clients, a major investment banker needs your services," Goldberg said.

Everyone was looking at Marcus.

"They plan on getting into this mobile computer company start-up. They need you to run patent searches and file the necessary paper work so they can patent their computer stuff. I'm sorry I don't know the technical terms; I was an accounting major in school. If it's bigger than a calculator and not a cash register, I don't know what it is."

Goldberg paused while everyone laughed. "OK, your secretary has all the paper work, so with that, this meeting is adjourned."

Marcus started back to his office after shaking a few hands and promising to do lunch with a few of the attorneys.

Monique was standing by the water cooler. Marcus stopped to get some water.

"Excuse me," Monique said as she moved from in front of the water cooler.

"Take your time, get your drink on, I can wait," Marcus said. As soon as the words came out of his mouth he knew he had made a mistake.

"Get my drink on," Monique snapped.

Marcus attempted to apologize but she continued.

"You think just because you're an attorney and I'm a receptionist you can talk to me like I'm some chicken head on the corner?"

Marcus couldn't take it any more.

"I'm trying to be nice, but you keep bugging like I owe you back child support," Marcus said. He turned around and walked away.

He knew what he did wasn't cool, but he had to check her before she embarrassed him in front of somebody.

Monique watched Marcus as he walked away. His walk was kind of cool. Maybe she had been a little too hard on him.

It was about ten to twelve when Ms. O'Neal buzzed him on the intercom.

"Mr. Dupree, Mr. Cooke is here, he wants to know if you want to go to lunch with him.

"Tell him I'm coming out."

"Are you ready to eat rookie?" Joe Said.

"Yes I am, Mr. Cooke."

"Call me Joe," he said. "Listen, I know this place on Washington street, nice food and it's a quick eat."

"Alright," Marcus said as they started walking for the elevator.

Marcus heard someone say, "Enjoy your lunch Mr. Dupree."

He turned around to see Lisa smiling and waving. With all the secretaries looking at him he was too embarrassed to say thank you, so he just waved.

As Marcus and Joe walked past Monique's desk, Marcus ignored her. The elevator opened, he and Joe got in. Just before the door closed, he noticed Monique staring at him.

"What's up with the receptionist," Marcus asked.

"Don't even ask, I've been here three years and that snooty Queens bitch acts like she doesn't even know my name."

"She's from Queens?" Marcus asked.

"Yeah, and Lisa the hoe is from the Bronx."

Marcus noticed that Joe used black slang and called her a hoe and not a whore.

"How do you know she's like that?"

"You'll find out, just be careful, that bitch will make you loose your job."

"You smoke? Joe asked as they exited the building.

"Not cigarettes," Marcus said without thinking.

"So I guess that means you smoke something else," Joe said. "Don't worry your secret is safe with me."

Great Marcus thought, now he knows I smoke. He definitely wasn't mentioning that he occasionally sniffed cocaine.

After lunch, they made their way back to the office. Marcus finished up in the office, then informed O'Neal that he was headed over to the library on 34th Street to start the patent search. At first Marcus wasn't sure if he had to come back to the office, but then Ms. O'Neal said, "See you tomorrow."

"You have a good evening Ms. O'Neal," Marcus said..

"Thank you," she replied.

Lisa wasn't at her desk when he passed by. He was glad, because her pushiness made him nervous. He felt she'd be easy to sleep with. Monique on the other hand seemed too angry. He wondered what her problem was.

As he walked past Monique's desk she said, "Have a nice day Mr. Dupree," with somewhat of a smile on her face.

"Thanks, you too Monique."

He immediately realized that he had used her first name by mistake, but she just kept on smiling. He was glad the elevator was opening up as he approached.

He caught the subway uptown to the library.

After a few hours at the library he headed for the subway home. As he walked towards the subway station, he remembered, he promised his mother he'd stop by her house for dinner.

Marcus jumped onto the train as the doors were closing. He accidentally bumped into a young man who was standing by the door. He was much bigger than Marcus.

"Excuse me," Marcus said.

"Yo you stepped on my new Jordan's."

"I'm sorry."

"Sorry don't clean my new joints," Big Man said.

"I said excuse me."

Big Man raised his hands as he moved towards Marcus. Marcus threw a punch, a right hook. It caught Big Man midway between the eye and the temple.

Big Man twisted like a cartoon character as he started to fall backwards. He landed sitting right between a female passenger's legs.

She couldn't believe what just happened. She looked down at Big Man, whose arms were draped across her legs. He looked up at her.

"Is my eye black?"

That's when she realized he had pushed her skirt up and her red lace panties were showing.

"Get off me," she screamed. She looked up just in time to see Marcus adjust his tie and then move on to the next subway car.

"How was your first day at work, Little Man," Marcus's mother asked, as he came through the front door. Her name was Sarah.

He hated the name Little Man. His deceased grandmother had given it to him when he was about three years old. She coined it because he spoke so well at the time; she said he was like a little man.

"Like frosted flakes, it was great," he responded.

"So when's your first court case baby? I want to be there."

"I don't know when that's going to be. Right now they have me working on a patent search and application."

"What exactly does that mean?"

"Well basically, my client is investing money in a new corporation. This corporation will make and sell computers. To make sure no one else copies and sells copies of their invention, they apply for a patent. If the government grants this patent, my client will have the legal right to be the only maker and seller of this invention. It sort of like only General Motors can sell Cadillacs."

"And they're paying you all that money to do that? Damn," she said. "Anyway I need you to run down to the liquor store and pick up a bottle of Anisette to celebrate your new job."

"O.K." Marcus said. This would give him a chance to smoke a joint. Even though his sister smoked in the house Marcus didn't, out of respect for his mother.

When he returned from the liquor store, his mother and sister were at the dinning room table setting the plates for dinner. Marcus put the bag with the bottle in it on the table.

"You just brought that bag in from the street, could you please get it off my mother's dinning room table," his sister Paula said. "All them years in college and they didn't teach you common sense."

"The hell with you," he said.

"Don't use that kind of language at my table," Sarah said.

"See what I mean mama," his sister said. "They didn't teach him no common sense at that college. What a waist."

Marcus instantly became depressed. His sister had this affect on him. He felt he should have known not to put the bag on the table. He told himself that it was a stupid mistake. All those years in college and he made this stupid mistake.

"When they find out that you don't have common sense they're gonna fire you from that law office. The first time you say, I object, the judge is going to say, shut up stupid, because you ain't got no common sense."

In his mind Marcus agreed with her. Who am I fooling, he thought. Once these people get to know me, they won't like me.

In a strange way, he wished he could be more like his sister, the social butterfly.

Once Paula had seen that he had completely lost his good mood, she stopped her tirade. Marcus, now in full scale depression, just sat there as they put the food on the table.

"So mama, you and Earl still going on that cruise next week," Paula asked.

"Yes we are," Sarah answered.

"Earl's a really down to earth guy," Paula said.

She then looked at Marcus. She knew that her every word irked him. She really got off on doing this. She would never admit it, but she was jealous of his intellectual abilities.

She would attack him with comments like no common sense, friendless and anti social. These types of comments would affect him, because of his low self esteem.

Marcus on the other hand would attack her with comments on her promiscuity, her short lived romances and the character of her friends.

Once dinner was served Paula and his mother sat down.

"A toast," Marcus's mother said. "To my Little Man, the soon to be big time lawyer."

Marcus's sister sighed as Marcus and his mother raised their glasses. Marcus put his glass to his lips and drank half the contents. He stopped to catch his breath. He then finished the rest of his drink.

"So, Little Man, when do you think you're going to finish you computer invention thing?" His mother asked.

"I should be finished with the search by tomorrow afternoon."

"Computer invention, what are you a lawyer or a mad scientist?" his sister said. "I'm telling you as soon as they hear you talking that computers and robot shit they're going to fire your ass."

Marcus tried to ignore her. "Any way how was your day mama?" he asked.

"It was rough," she said referring to her job as a social worker at a New York City public hospital.

"One of the patients gave birth to a Heroin addicted baby today. I had to call Child Welfare. You know I just hate breaking up Black families. The girl seemed like she wanted to keep her baby, but the law is the law. Anyway it was probably best for the child, being that the mother was on Heroin."

"Wow that's sad," he said.

"Yes it is," Sarah said. "Marcus will you please say the grace."

"Ah come on mama, you know I hate saying grace."

"I'll say it," Paula said. "Lord, bless this table and everything on it. Oh lord bless all those seated, at this table you have prepared for us. Lord, help us to remember the less fortunate; and lord help us to not be conceited so we don't look down on the less fortunate." She said, "Amen", as she looked at Marcus, who was looking back.

Marcus just smiled. He was feeling the effects of the Anisette. Paula's words no longer bothered him.

The next morning Marcus arrived at work about twenty minutes early. When he stepped off the elevator Monique was standing by her desk sorting papers. When she saw it was him she smiled and said, "Good morning Mr. Dupree."

Marcus was shocked.

"Good morning Ms. Bell."

"Please call me Monique." she said.

"Ok, good morning Monique."

"I want to apologize for yesterday, it was my mother's birthday, she died ten years ago," Monique stated.

"Oh man, I'm sorry to hear that."

"Anyway how was your lunch yesterday?" She asked as she looked directly into his eyes.

"It was ok."

"That's nice," she said. "Where did you go?"

"We went to this place called the Washington Street Bistro."

"Oh yea, sometimes I go there. It seems to be a favorite with the attorneys."

"What else do they have to eat around here?" He asked.

"I usually go to a little place over on Nassau Street," Monique said.

"Maybe you can show me where it is," Marcus said, looking to see her reaction.

"No problem. You just let me know when," she replied.

"How about today," he said. "Twelve o'clock."

He suddenly remembered he had to go to the library. "Instead let's make it one o'clock."

"One o'clock is good," she said.

"So it's a date?"

"Yes it is," she responded.

"Ok I'll see you later," he said as he started to walk away. He felt good as he made his way down the hall towards his office. He even started to swagger like one of the thugs from his neighborhood. When he realized how he was walking, he toned it down a little. Thinking to himself, I'd better play it cool. This girl works for a prestigious Wall Street law firm, she's got class.

Then he thought; wait a minute, I'm a lawyer at a prestigious law firm. It had just dawned on him the position and responsibility he now had. He couldn't remember the last time he felt this good.

He went to his office. He placed his brief case on his desk and sat down. He realized that he had nothing to do. He would finish the patent search today. Damn I'm good, he thought.

Marcus picked up the phone to call his boyhood friend Vincent Page. They had been best friends since second grade. Vincent went into the Marine Corps after high school. He was now a New York City corrections officer.

"Hello," the sleepy sounding voice said into Marcus's ear.

"What's up Vee," Marcus said.

"What?" Vee replied. "What time is it?"

"It's 8:53," Marcus said. "I'm in my new office. Yo, check this out; I got two fine secretaries..."

"Nigga is you crazy" Vee interrupted. "You woke me up to tell me you at work? What I look like, your bitch? Yo home boy, you gotta call me later."

The next thing Marcus heard was a click followed by a dial tone.

After the ten o'clock status meeting, Marcus headed uptown to the library.

He had a hard time concentrating on his work in the library. It seemed he couldn't get Monique off his mind. After an hour the search was complete. The only thing he had left to do was file the papers.

When he stepped of the elevator Monique was talking to a client. Marcus noticed she had a serious look on her face. When she noticed him, the look turned into a big smile. He gave her a little wave and smile as he walked past.

He told Ms. O'Neal to send off the patent applications. He then went to the rest room. He washed his hand and face after he relieved himself.

He looked at his reflection in the mirror. He hated mirrors. He thought maybe I am likable. Then he looked at his mustache and goatee. He remembered how Cooke said he should shave it because it didn't look business like.

Thinking about it made Marcus feel a little stressed. He wanted to make the right impression, but he didn't want to shave.

When he got to Monique's desk, he saw her talking to one of the secretaries from the Bullpen.

"So I should be back by two, Mary," Monique said.

"O.k., enjoy your lunch Monique."

"Ready for lunch?" Marcus Asked, as he approached Monique's desk.

"Yes I am," she said.

"So where are you taking me?" He asked.

"Do you like Italian?"

"Spaghetti, Ravioli and Ziti," He said.

This made Monique laugh. They headed towards the elevator.

"Do you know the song; 'You can ring my bell'?" Marcus asked making a joke about her last name being Bell.

"Yes I do," she said while laughing. "Why do you like it?

"What the song or bell ringing?"

"Oh so you're a comedian. So you plan on being the next Richard Pryor?"

When the elevator opened up it was crowded. They stepped in. When he turned around he noticed the secretary who was covering Monique's lunch break had a strange look on her face. It was almost as if she was jealous.

When the elevator door closed, Marcus noticed a girl staring at him.

"How you doing girlfriend," she asked Monique.

"I'm all right, and yourself?" Monique replied.

"Are you still messing with Larry?" She asked.

"No," Monique said. "I told you that the last time I saw you Stella."

Marcus noticed a slight hint of anger in her voice and her facial expression also reflected it.

She then tapped him on the shoulder. When he looked at her she asked, "so we're going to eat Italian right?"

"Yeah" he said, while thinking, I want more information on this Larry character.

They went to a small Italian restaurant around the corner from the office. Once they were seated Marcus asked Monique, "So where are you from?"

"Queens," she replied, "And yourself?"

"Originally from the Bronx, but we moved to Mount Vernon when I was seven. So Monique, can I ask you a question?"

"Yes."

"Why are all the black women from Queens so beautiful? It's like Queens is full of beautiful black queens."

"Ha ha, I bet you say that to all the girls."

"I tried, but the girls from Brooklyn get mad when you call them queens from Queens."

Monique laughed again. "You really got jokes, don't you?"

She looked into his eyes and noticed his scar for the first time.

"How did you get that scar," she asked, as she pointed at it.

"A guy from my neighborhood was scared to fight me hand to hand, so he hit me with a beer bottle."

"Usually lawyer types don't get into fights," Monique said.

"As a kid, people said I talked like an Uncle Tom. I got tested a lot, so I had to show and prove," Marcus said.

"You know you're not like all the other attorneys."

Marcus just shrugged his shoulders.

The waitress approached. "Are you ready to order yet?"

"Yes," Monique said. "I'll have the veal parmagon."

"And you sir?"

"I'll have the same," he said.

"Are you married? Well I know you're not married. Do you ah...Do you have a girlfriend?"

"No I don't," he replied.

"Do you have a man? I overheard the girl in the elevator ask you about some cat named Larry."

"Larry's my ex."

"How long since you broke up?"

"It's been about six months."

Yeah right, Marcus thought.

"I know you have an ex in the background somewhere," Monique stated.

"I've been dating and what not, but good women are hard to find. Actually I haven't been in a committed relationship in over a year," Marcus replied.

"So tell me about her" Monique stated.

"She was somebody I messed with for about eight months down in D.C. She left me for some dude that ended up in prison. I heard it was a liquor store holdup. When I asked her what she saw in him, she told me he had charisma. I don't understand it."

Monique did, Larry had just been paroled when she met him. There was something about the thug type that she was attracted to.

She knew that Marcus wasn't a thug. Still, there was something about him. If she'd had met him at a party she would never have guessed he was a lawyer.

"So if I knocked on your door at three in the morning there wouldn't be an enraged dude in boxer shorts asking me what the hell I was doing?" Marcus asked with a smile on his face.

"Well actually there would, I live with my father. My mother died ten years ago of a heart attack in her sleep."

"Sorry to hear that," Marcus said.

"Thanks, I'm sort of over it now, but it took a long time. I was the one that found her. It was Easter Sunday morning. I tried to wake her so we could go to church. When she wouldn't wake up I started screaming ma get up. It took me ten minutes to call 911. I uh, I uhm..."

He noticed that she was becoming emotional.

"You're a strong person, to be able to deal with that," he said as he took her hand.

"So what do you do with your spare time?" He asked, changing the subject.

"Nothing much, I'm a homebody."

"O.K. lets pretend it's Saturday morning. What's the first thing you do?"

"Well the first thing I do is go down to the number spot and play my numbers." she said.

"You sound like my mother," he said. "She loves her numbers. She hit big and that's how she got the down payment for our house."

"That's what I'm talking about," Monique said with a big smile on her face.

"What does Marcus Dupree do on Saturday morning?"

"I usually go get a bag of weed down on the corner, smoke a joint or two then go back in the house."

Marcus said this for two reasons; One, to let her know he smoked; two, to find out if she did.

"I don't smoke anything" she said. "I drink on special occasions."

This is cool Marcus thought, she's the kind of girl you bring home to meet mom.

After lunch, they made their way back towards the office. He asked her if they could exchange telephone numbers, and she agreed. He then asked if they could get together this weekend, again she said yes.

When they stepped off the elevator at the office, they both had big smiles on their faces. When Marcus got to his office, Lisa was there talking to Ms. O'Neal.

"How are you doing Mr. Dupree," Lisa said.

"Fine and your self, Miss Hall."

"I told you, you can call me Lisa, anyway maybe one day we can do lunch?"

Marcus didn't know what to say. As cool as it would have been to date two women from the same office, he knew it wouldn't be good.

"We'll see," he said as he walked into his office.

As soon as he sat behind his desk, Ms. O'Neal buzzed him on the intercom.

"Yes, what is it Ms. O'Neal?"

"I have a lease for you to look over."

"Bring it in."

"Here you go sir," Ms. O'Neal said. "The client is a printer. He's moving to a bigger space. When you finish going over it, I'll tell Mr. Coleman. He'll probably ask you some questions about it before we send it back to the client for signing."

"O. k," he said as he took the envelope from her.

"Will you be needing anything else Mr. Dupree?"

"No that will be it."

Marcus laid the envelope on his desk and leaned back. He really dug Monique. It was going to be a great weekend.

Marcus sat on futon/sofa in the living/bedroom room of his fifth floor studio apartment watching the new on TV. The phone rang.

"Hello," Marcus said.

A recording came on. "You have a collect call from," then a human voice said, "Michael."

The recording continued, "An inmate at a New York State correctional facility, press one if you will accept the call."

Marcus pressed one.

"What's up Uncle Michael," Marcus said.

"What's up first nephew?"

"Did you get the money I sent you for commissary," Marcus asked.

"I got it, and I wish you wouldn't have sent it."

"Why what happened?"

"Come on Little Man I know you can't afford it. At least not yet, so how is the new job working out?"

"So far so good, you know I'm going to hold things down and keep it real."

"What did I tell you about talking like that," Michael said, his tone of voice suddenly becoming angry.

"Listen, Uncle Michael..."

"No you listen, I remember when you came to me crying, talking about how the other kids teased you because you talked proper.

"I taught you how to fight, how to throw a hook off the jab, how to land solid combinations and what not. I didn't do that to change you Marcus, I did this so you could stand up and protect who you are. Stop pretending to be something you're not."

Marcus started to say something when the recording came on, "You have ten seconds left for this call."

"I call you some time next week," Michael said. "I love you Marcus."

"I love you too Uncle Michael."

### CHAPTER 3

Even though it was Saturday morning, Marcus was up early. His mother and Earl had gone on a cruise. Marcus promised her he'd check on the house while they were gone.

"Yo Marcus, Vee is here," Paula yelled.

"Tell him I'll be right down," Marcus said.

"What I look like nigger, Harriett Tubman; I ain't your slave," She said still yelling. She then looked at Vee and said, "He's in the bathroom, you know how slow that nigger is."

"I heard that," Vee said. "So what you been up to Paula?"

"Same old, same old."

"I heard that," Vee said again. "So where's your moms?"

"She went to get her hair done," Paula said.

It was a rainy Saturday morning. Vee wanted Marcus to go with him to check out an investment opportunity. Marcus didn't want to leave the house; he wanted to be fresh tonight for his date with Monique.

"I got to work this afternoon," Vee had pleaded. So Marcus relented and said yes.

The owner of the dry cleaners were Vee took his uniforms had convinced him to go in as a partner in a video rental store. They planned on specializing in hard to find Black movies. From what Marcus had heard it seemed like a good investment.

He thought about trying to get his mother to loan him the money to invest, but then he came to the conclusion that Vee was too volatile.

Vee's real name was Vincent Page. He was six feet two inches tall and weighed two Hundred twenty five pounds. He was all muscle. This plus the fact that that he had very dark skin gave him an ominous appearance.

When he accidentally bumped into people, they would apologize to him. People were scared of him, especially the ones that knew him. Because they knew that he had no problem using a weapon.

"What's up Vee," Marcus said as he came down the stairs.

"What's up," Vee said. "You ready homeboy?"

"Yeah let's do this."

As they walked out the house, Paula said, "Later Vee."

"Later," he responded. He then turned to Marcus, "Your sister is still cool."

"Yeah right," Marcus responded. To him this meant the Vee wanted to have sex with her again. Even though neither one of them admitted it, Marcus knew that Vee and his sister Paula had been intimate at least once.

Vee's BMW was parked in Marcus's mother's driveway.

"You need to get you one of these, so you can pull some freaks," Vee said.

"Who wants a freak?" Marcus said looking at him like he was crazy.

"Get with it man, that's what they calling the ladies in the eighties." Vee said as he pointed the alarm remote at his car. There was a loud chirping sound.

"Get in the door's unlocked."

Marcus opened the door and got in. As soon as he sat in the plush leather seat he knew Vee was right about one thing, he had to get a car.

"So you boning your new secretary yet?" Vee asked as he settled into the driver's seat.

"Yo man, first of all she ain't one of them freaks you be pullin into your BMW here. And second of all she's the receptionist, not my secretary"

"Listen homeboy," Vincent said as he backed the car out of the driveway. "All these freaks is bitches and hoes. If they fucking you they a hoe; and if they fucking everybody else but you, then they a bitch."

"Why she gotta be a hoe?" Marcus said. "Why can't she just be a nice girl?"

"Hold up!" Vincent said. "Does she speak English?"

"Of course she does." Marcus responded.

"And she's over eighteen right."

"Yeah" Marcus replied.

"Then the bitch is fucking," Vee said as if it were a matter of fact, as he started driving down the street.

"That's the craziest thing I ever heard in my life," Marcus said. "So are our mothers in this category too?"

They got pregnant didn't they? You gotta be getting boned by somebody for that to happen, unless you was adopted and you real mama's a virgin named Mary."

"You're Crazy," Marcus said. And he meant it; but what really made him mad was, in a sick way Vee kind of made sense. Still, Marcus didn't want to think like Vincent. He wanted to respect woman.

"Anyway we have a date tonight," Marcus said. "I could be home right know resting for it."

"I don't know why you need to rest. You ain't getting no pussy, you're too nice."

"Shut up," Marcus said. He was starting to get angry. "Why don't you just chill out."

After about a minute of silence Marcus finally spoke up. "I should charge you standard attorney fees for this, sixty dollars an hour."

"I ain't rich yet nigger. But let this cat think I'm paying you that much. That way, he won't try nothing slick."

Suddenly the car in front of them cut them off to avoid a double parked car. Vee hit the brakes and yelled, damn asshole.

"You see, knuckleheads like him ain't supposed to have no license."

"Cool out" Marcus said. "We don't want to get into a car accident. I have a date tonight."

When they got to the next red light, they pulled up in the left lane right beside the car that had cut them off. It was a late model Nissan Sentra. Marcus was right beside the driver. He appeared to be a Rastafarian. There were three other men in the car. Only one didn't have Dreadlocks. Marcus sensed trouble. He had to distract Vee.

"So Vee.."

Vee cut him off. "Yo home boy you got to be more careful,"

"Blood clod, what ya talkin?" The Rasta man said.

"You cut me off back there," Vee said, as Marcus took a deep breath.

The Rasta went off. The only words that he said that Marcus understood were; pussy clod Yankee. He turned to Vee to keep him calm, but when he looked his way, Vee was already out of the car.

Marcus looked back towards the Rasta and his passengers, they were getting out also. Damn, I could have been in bed, he thought, as he started out of the car too.

Marcus was out of the car when he noticed that the Rasta had a small machete in his hand. He was beating his chest with his other fist, while yelling something Marcus couldn't understand. Damn, Marcus thought, I'm getting to old for this shit.

Suddenly the Rasta was silent. Marcus heard some girl who was standing on the corner say, oh shit.

It was Vee. He had a gun in each hand.

"Put the knife down bitch," he said to the Rasta.

The Rasta obeyed.

"Yo Marcus, watch his boys, if any of them moves let me know so I can kill them."

Marcus was speechless. All he could do was just look at Rasta man's boys and try to look tough.

"Yo star, me ment no disrespect," the Rasta started.

"Shut up !" Vee yelled, as he put one of the guns away and pulled out his badge. "I'm the poe-lease. So when you see me you show respect. You dig what I'm saying you Bob Marley wanna be?"

The Rasta nodded his head.

"Now I want you all to walk down the block and think about what you just did. Don't turn around until you get to the corner. If you do I'm going to have to bust you for the knife and the weed I know ya'll got stashed in the car."

They looked at Vee and then at each other; then as if on cue, they all turned at the same time and started walking towards the opposite corner. The sight of it made Marcus laugh, it was like some kind of sick comedy.

Marcus could tell that Vee was getting off on this. He didn't know if Vee was a good correction officer, but he was a good friend to have around if you had any trouble.

"Yo Marcus lets break camp," Vee said.

Marcus didn't say a word. He just got in the car as fast as he could, without making it look like he was trying to hurry. Vee on the other hand rushed into the driver's seat. As soon as he sat down he sped off with the tires screeching.

"You have to do something about your temper Vee. We're getting to old for this type of stuff."

"You sound a little hypocritical homeboy. If I had a dollar for every time you lost your temper and had a fight I'd be able to retire."

"It's about change Vee," Marcus said. "I'm a grown man now, not a teenager."

"Listen, I'm not going to let people run all over me," Vee said.

"I dig that." Marcus said. "But you have to find a middle ground. Compromise!"

"Listen, if you give people an inch, they take a foot. And if you give them a foot, they'll take your whole damn leg."

"Come on Vee, I've learned most people will compromise if you appeal to their needs and desires."

"Like Stacey did," Vee said. "Give them an inch and they'll take both feet, your shoes and your socks."

The words cut through Marcus like a hot knife through butter. If Marcus would have killed himself over any woman, it would have been Stacey.

They met at Mount Vernon High. It was love at first sight. His senior year, Marcus pursued her with a zeal that bordered on obsession. Stacey on the other hand led Marcus along.

They dated for about two months. The whole time she may have kissed Marcus on the lips no more than a few times. As far as tongue kissing, they did that once. Needless to say they were never intimate.

He was warned, his mother, his grand mother, his sister and Vincent. They were jealous, he thought. They just don't want to see me happy he told himself.

About a week before school ended Stacey called Marcus crying. It seemed she didn't have the money to go to college in September. Marcus who had worked after school jobs for the last four years had fifteen hundred dollars in savings. He told her he would give it to her, after all he had a full academic scholarship and his tuition was already paid for. The only person he told was Vincent, who went berserk.

" That bitch ain't going to no damn college, prostitutes get on the blow job training," he told Marcus.

This only made Marcus defend Stacey, which in turn made him love her even more.

But after he gave her the money things changed. Actually it wasn't much of a change, because Stacey never was his 'girl'. In the past she never really called him, and would be out but not tell Marcus where, or with whom.

The real change was, she wouldn't even answer Marcus's calls. He would call her house, her mother or sister would answer, ask whose calling leave the phone, come back and say, she's not here or she's sleep or in the shower or...

Fifteen hundred dollars down the drain and I never even had sex, Marcus thought. If that would have been the end of it, it might not have been that bad. It's what happened latter that devastated Marcus. One night after drinking and smoking weed with Vincent, he decided to go to her house.

He could see that the lights were on and he could hear loud music. He rang the bell, after getting no answer, he started banging on the door.

Finally Stacey's sister came to the door. She let him in and told him Stacey was in her room. He busted into Stacey's room; what he saw literally put him into a state of shock.

The first thing he noticed was the smell of marijuana, then he looked at Stacey's bed. Stacey lay on her back, her legs up in the air and some butt naked black dude between them. The dude was pounding away. Each time the dude pushed in, Stacey would let out an ooh sound.

Then she noticed Marcus staring at her. At first Stacey just stared back at Marcus. Then she sorted of smiled, said ooh when the dude pushed into her, then said, "what are you doing here? Get out!"

Then the dude looked at him and said, "Who the hell are you?"

Marcus just turned around and started walking out. He could hear the dude and Stacey yelling something as he made his way down the stairs.

When he finally got out the front door he felt like he was going to pass out. His legs were shaky and he felt like throwing up.

Every time he thought of the incident he would get mad at first, then depressed. He was angry now at Vincent for bringing it up.

For the rest of the ride neither Marcus nor Vincent spoke. Vincent turned of the radio and they both just listened to the tunes from WBLS.

When they got to the dry cleaners the owner was outside. Vincent introduced him and Marcus. They then went inside so Marcus could examine the partnership agreement. After he found that everything was in order, Vincent took him back home.

### CHAPTER 4

Marcus took a forty minute shower. He was determined to be prepared if he scored with Monique. He then went into his bedroom to dress.

On his bed lay a brand new pair of Jordace jeans. Outside of his suits for work, all Marcus wore were jeans. He was glad Monique had mentioned that she liked to see men in jeans.

He listened to the radio as he got dressed. When the Dee jay announced the weather Marcus listened intently.

"It's 93 degrees and humid, with occasional showers this afternoon." Marcus didn't care about the rain; it wasn't going to stop his parade.

He really felt good. In fact the last time he felt this good was when he graduated undergraduate school. In spite of all his accomplishments, Marcus wasn't a generally happy person, but he had a good feeling about Monique.

His only regret was that he didn't have a car. He had to take the bus and subway to meet her. Monique was going to get the Q44 bus from Queens, and meet him in the Bronx at east Tremont avenue at six o'clock.

Marcus called a taxi to take him to the subway station. He timed it, so he would be there to meet her fifteen minutes early. His plan didn't workout though.

The subway train he was on had mechanical problems. A twenty minute ride took almost an hour. On top of this it started to rain; he just knew that Monique would be gone.

As soon as the doors opened at his stop he ran off the train. He made his way down to the street. As soon as he turned out of the subway entrance he saw Monique standing under the awning of a donut shop. She hadn't noticed him yet.

She was wearing a short beige dress. Even though it was flared at the bottom, it was tight and form fitting at the top and around her waist. It accentuated her small waist, voluptuous hips, and nice ass. The top tied around the back of her neck, leaving her back out. From this distance Marcus could see her firm breast fighting to free themselves from the tight but elegant dress. Her hair was done in Shirley Temple type curls.

He decided to sneak up on her. He made his way across the street and started towards her. She still hadn't seen him. When he finally got right behind her he said with a rough voice, "give me your money."

"Ah," Monique said as she jumped.

When she saw it Marcus, who was smiling at her she said, "what are you trying to do, give me a heart attack?"

"Just testing your reflexes," Marcus said. "You gotta sharpen them up."

"Shoot, this is the south Bronx, you almost got cut with my razor," Monique said with a smile.

"Don't hurt nobody," Marcus replied with a laugh. "Anyway how are you?"

"I'm o.k.," Monique said, as she reached out to give him a hug and a kiss.

This surprised him. He didn't expect her to kiss him. He told her how nice she looked in her dress.

He could barely keep his eyes off her body in it. He forced himself to stare directly into her eyes. After some more small talk they caught a taxi to the Bronx-Whitestone Theater.

They had planed to see this new movie called Friday the 13th. It was supposed to be very scary. Monique had mentioned that she liked scary movies. She also told Marcus to expect her to be all over him if the movie was really scary. Marcus hoped it would scare the hell out of her.

When they got to the ticket window Monique offered to pay. Marcus attempted to rebuff her but she insisted, claiming that she hit a number today and had some extra money. He finally relented.

Monique let Marcus decide where they would sit. He chose to sit towards the back. He didn't want to sit all the way in the back, but he noticed a lot of hoodlum types in the theater, and he wanted as less of them behind him as possible.

As soon as the first scary scene happened, Monique grabbed his arm. He then took his arm and put it around her shoulders. She smiled at him and leaned her head on his shoulder.

Marcus wanted to make out, but every time he prepared to make a move, there would be some action on screen. This was not a make out movie he thought.

He looked at Monique and wondered; would he get a chance to put the moves on her. Suddenly she turned and caught him staring.

"What's up?" She asked.

Thinking quickly Marcus said, "you have something on your eye."

He then leaned towards her. She brought her face closer, expecting Marcus to remove something from near her eye. When Marcus got close enough he kissed her. It was a long kiss, his tongue slipping into her mouth. She didn't resist.

When they finally separated Monique said, let's watch the movie we can always do this later.

Yes! Marcus thought. I'm in, like Flynn. He could no longer concentrate on the movie. The only thing he wanted to do now was make love to her.

After the movie they decided to go to the Howard Johnson's that was across from the theater. It had stopped raining, but it looked like it would start back up at any time.

"So I guess you really like scary movies," Marcus said as they walked towards the Howard Johnson's.

"Yeah, and action movies too."

"I hear that," Marcus said.

Stopping to let a car pass he looked at Monique.

"You know, you have pretty eyes," she said, staring at him.

Marcus leaned in to kiss her, she responded by bringing her lips to meet his. He then started to feel her backside. She pulled her head back as she pulled his hand off her behind and said, "Not in the street like this."

"Let's go to a hotel," he said.

"Oh Marcus, I can't. This is our first date."

"I really want to make love to you Monique. I want to lick you all over, from head to toe and especially in between."

"But it's our first date, you wouldn't respect me if I slept with you on the first date."

"Yes I would," Marcus replied, as he started to suck on Monique's neck.

He could feel her starting to breath hard, and he was pretty sure she could feel his excitement growing between his legs. He looked her in the eyes as he held her tightly to him.

"I think you're the bomb diggity and the whole bag of chips," Marcus said, as he held out his hand to flag a taxi.

Almost immediately a cab pulled up. Marcus took one hand and opened the door, with the other he gently pushed Monique into the car. She didn't resist.

"To the nearest hotel," Marcus said to the driver, a middle aged black man.

"That would be the Capri," the cabbie said. "It's kind of expensive."

"That's alright, just take us there."

"Listen..." Monique started, but he interrupted her by pressing his lips to hers. She was torn, she wanted him as much as he wanted her. Still she worried that if she was too easy he would make her a one night stand.

The taxi had an air freshener with a cherry smell. The aroma coupled with her growing desire for Marcus was almost intoxicating. She couldn't stop now if she wanted to.

When the taxi pulled up in front of the hotel he paid the driver. As he and Monique exited the taxi he wished he had some marijuana. It was starting to rain again so they ran towards the awning. Monique waited under the awning as Marcus went inside to check in.

Marcus came out of the office with the key to the room and said, "we have room fifteen."

"That's part of my number," Monique said.

"Huh?"

"My number that I always play. It's 150. I hit the fifteen Bolita today for a hundred dollars," she stated.

Marcus knew that the Bolita was either the first or last two numbers of the three digit combination that made up the daily number.

"You sound just like my mother," Marcus said. "I can't wait for you to meet her."

Upon hearing that Monique smiled. That statement made her feel a little more relaxed about sleeping with him on the first date.

"The clerk gave me the number to a Chinese restaurant that delivers to the hotel," Marcus said. "We can order something a little later if you want."

Marcus noticed that the room was very clean. It was carpeted, and had a king size bed to one side. Across from the bed there was a desk with a chair in front of it. On one side of the desk there was a TV.

"I have to use the bathroom," Monique said. She then entered the bathroom closing the door behind her.

Marcus didn't know whether to undress and get in the bed, or play it cool and keep his clothes on. He opted to play it cool. He went over to the television and noticed it also had a radio on it. He sat on the edge of the bed and cut the radio on. He moved the dial around until he found a station he liked.

Marcus was sitting there nodding his head to the music when Monique came out of the bathroom. All she had on was a towel.

He stood up, and said "damn baby," as she came towards him. He gently caressed her shoulders as she pressed herself against him. He kissed her lightly on the lips. He then stepped back, unloosening the towel as he did.

"You won't be needing this," he said as he tossed it onto the desk. He then looked at her completely naked body. She was by far the most beautiful woman he ever saw.

He moved towards her, kissing her again. This time he slid his tongue into her mouth. The excitement was almost more than he could bare.

He pulled back and looked her in the face. He wanted her on the bed, but he wanted to be cool and didn't know how to get her there. She solved his problem.

"How long do we have the room?" Monique asked as she pulled him onto the bed.

"Twelve hours," he said as he laid her back and began kissing her breast. She let out a soft moan, it was almost a grunt.

She started breathing hard. He could tell her excitement was growing. He slowly worked his way down towards her navel. Each time he kissed a new spot she would let out that soft moan/grunt. When he reached her navel her breathing became even more intense. He went lower, the groans went louder.

Her body started to shake, and her thighs locked onto his head like a vice. He could hardly breath, but he didn't care about air, his only concern was to continue manipulate her with his tongue.

When she could take no more, she grabbed his head and pushed it away. He then kissed her navel. He moved up and kissed her chest between her breasts.

When he reached her mouth she opened her eyes. She looked deeply into his eyes. She wanted him in her. He obliged her.

Marcus lay on his back, breathing hard. The TV radio was playing a song called "Now that we found love." Wow that's apropos he thought. Monique pulled up close to him. He extended his arm so she could lay on it.

"What are you thinking about Marcus?"

"Just digging the moment baby," he replied.

"I hear that," Monique said. "It's so nice to have someone that I can have a decent conversation with."

"I know what you mean baby," he replied.

They continued with the small talk for about an hour. They then made love again. After which they ordered some Chinese food. They ate, talk and laughed for about an hour and a half. Finally Marcus called two taxis, one to take her to Queens and the other to take him to home.

As he road in the taxi home, Marcus thought about his date with Monique. I dig everything about her; her face, her body, the way she does her hair the way she talks and the way carries herself. Damn, he thought, I even dig the way she smells. Damn! Marcus said to himself, I'm in love.

### CHAPTER 5

It was Monday morning and Marcus felt great. He couldn't remember the last time he felt this happy. His thoughts kept going back to the past weekend and what he experienced with Monique.

After making love on Saturday, they spent seven hours Sunday, on the phone. He called her three times that day and she called four.

Commenting on this, Vee said, "You're a stalker and she's needy."

Marcus didn't care; he honestly believed he was in love. To Marcus those seven hours meant that they were compatible. As far as he was concerned that was the most important thing in a relationship.

When Marcus arrived at the office at 8:57 Monique was already there. As he walked past her desk they both smiled at each other. Marcus didn't notice that Joe was checking them out.

At the ten o'clock meeting Marcus was assigned his first court case. He was going to work with Goldberg. The case involved their client, a mid level electronics manufacturer, suing a competitor for a Patent infringement violation. Goldberg told Marcus that they would go over the details after lunch.

After the meeting Marcus went to Monique's desk.

"What's up baby?" Marcus asked.

"You, boo," she replied.

Marcus laughed. He then took her hand and said, "Let me read your palm." First he gently caressed the palm of her hand. He then stroked one the lines in her hand and said, "This line means, you are going to meet a tall dark stranger and he is going to love you."

Then he rubbed the center of her palm and asked, "Do you know what this means?"

"Yes I do," she said. "It means you're horny." Lowering her voice so that know one could hear.

They looked into each other's eyes and laughed, as far as they were concerned they were the only two in the room. What they didn't see was Joe staring at them.

"I was assigned a court case today"

"You go boy," she said, shaking her head the way that Black girls do.

"I'm going to head back to my office. I'll see you at twelve for lunch."

"I'll be waiting," she replied.

Marcus was sitting in his office talking with his mother on the phone when Ms. O'Neal buzzed him on the intercom. When Marcus answered her, she said that Joe Cooke was there to see him.

"Send him in," Marcus said, he then told his mother goodbye.

"What's up Joe," Marcus said as Joe walked into the room.

"Nothing I just came to congratulate you on landing your first court case."

"Thanks," Marcus replied. He noticed Joe had a smirk on his face.

"A bit of advice," Joe said. Marcus noted a look he could only define as hate/jealousy. "Remember we are just tokens here," Cooke continued.

"Excuse me," Marcus interrupted.

"What I'm saying is these white folks will just use us to satisfy their own needs."

"Listen I'm busy," Marcus lied

"O.k. I'm out of here," Joe said. "Oh yeah, one more thing; I noticed your trying to put the moves on Monique. Take it from me. She'll just try to use you, spend up your money and you won't get anywhere."

Let me shut this fool up Marcus thought. "I already hit it Joe."

"Huh?" Joe said. The smirk was gone. Marcus noticed he now had a hurt look on his face.

"We spent Saturday in a hotel getting our freak on."

"Damn," Joe said. "She gave it up so quickly? You probably had to spend a lot of money."

"All I paid for was a hotel room and Chinese food."

That ought to shut this mother fucker up Marcus thought.

"I hear that," Joe said. He then turned and left Marcus's office.

It suddenly dawned on Marcus, that Joe Cooke didn't come to talk about the court case. He came to find out what was going on with Monique and him. He was a better lawyer than Marcus realized.

Monique was at her desk thinking about how she was going to get her hair done this weekend. She wanted a style that Marcus couldn't sweat out so easily. She didn't even notice Lisa and another secretary from the Bullpen approach.

"Let me tell you," Lisa said. "I have to know a guy at least a couple of weeks before I sleep with him."

Monique immediately looked at them. The other secretary was looking at Monique with a, I know what you did look.

Lisa continued, "And when I do sleep with a guy, it's not going to be for Chinese food and a movie."

Lisa then looked at Monique and raised her eyebrows as if to say, I'm talking about you bitch.

Monique was devastated. Oh my god, she thought. He's telling everyone he slept with me. They're all going to think I'm a whore. Suddenly she couldn't catch her breath. She didn't want Lisa to see her struggle to breath, so she tried to breath slowly. Still she felt as if she couldn't get enough air. It felt as if she was going to pass out. She didn't realize it, but she was having a panic attack.

She watched them as they made their way back towards the Bullpen. They were talking low so Monique couldn't hear them, but before they turned the corner they both turned and looked at her.

How could he do this to me, she thought. She looked at Lisa and the other secretary, and fought back tears.

At 12:00 noon Marcus approached Monique's desk.

"What's up Boo, you ready for lunch?"

"Not with you mother fucker!"

"Huh?" Marcus replied. He looked at her with confusion on his face.

"Get away from me, you fucking bastard!"

Marcus had never met his father and his mother had never married, so her words cut through him like a knife. When he regained his composure he asked her: "What are you talking about?

Monique screamed, "Get away from my desk," at the top of her lungs.

Marcus looked around and noticed a few people looking at them. He decided it was best to just walk away.

As he turned towards the elevator he noticed Joe coming towards him.

"What's up, playboy? Joe said.

Mother fucker, Marcus thought. Joe must have said something to Monique. He wasn't going to say anything to Joe until Monique was out of ear shot. Marcus just waited silently for the elevator.

When the elevator door opened up he stepped in and Joe followed. He was quite all the way down to the lobby and he never looked at Joe. He kept thinking Joe was going to pay for this. When the elevator opened up on the lobby floor Marcus stepped out and headed towards the revolving doors that led to the street.

Joe was a few feet behind him, he was starting to sense Marcus's anger and it made him laugh behind Marcus's back.

When Marcus got outside the building he stopped and waited for Joe to exit the building.

"Did you tell Monique what I told you?" Marcus asked as soon as Joe stepped out of the building.

"I didn't say anything to her," Joe replied. "Maybe Lisa said something to her."

"So you told Lisa?"

I might of mentioned something about it to her," Joe said with a smirk on his face. He didn't notice that Marcus's right hand was clenched into a fist.

"Listen, if she gave it up that easy the first time, she'll probably give it up agai..."

Joe never finished the sentence; he never saw the right hook that Marcus floored him with either. By the time he realized what was going on, people were helping him up and asking him if he was alright.

Yes, he lied. He wasn't alright at all. He was afraid Marcus was going to hit him again. But when he looked around he didn't see him anywhere. Thank god he thought.

He was going to fix Marcus. He was going to get him fired. He'd show him.

"You'd better put some ice on that before it gets any worse," an old man said pointing at Joe's eye.

Joe touched his left eye and then realized it was swelling shut. Oh shit Joe thought, I can't go back to work like this.

Then Joe heard Spanish lady say to no one in particular, "I dono what he say to him. But he no like it."

"Word up home boy, he hit you like a runaway slave," a young Black man said. He looked to be a bicycle messenger. This angered Joe even more. Joe gave him a dirty look.

"You better save that dirty look for the nigger who gave you that eye jammy," the messenger said. "Nigger trying to look all tough with a black eye. Nigger I just seen you git knocked out."

Joe was about to tell the messenger and the small crowd how he was going to get Marcus fired when realized he didn't know exactly where Marcus was. He might have been standing in earshot. If he got hit in the other eye, he might not be able to drive home.

Around the office Joe Cooke pretended to be streetwise and tough. It never dawned on him that Marcus really was.

Marcus walked away from Joe feeling a little better. The sight of a semi conscience Joe laying on the pavement waving his arms like an epileptic, made Marcus chuckle to himself. He figured he probably lost his job, but it was worth it. Besides, he had his degrees, he'd have no problem finding another one.

The whole episode with Joe made him loose his appetite. He needed a joint and a drink instead.

Down the block from his office was a corner liquor store. He decided to go inside and get a bottle. He asked the man behind the counter for the smallest bottle of Southern Comfort they had. The old man reached high up on a shelf behind him and pulled down a half pint. Marcus paid for it and walked out.

Now to get some weed. He had heard someone mentioned that some teenagers sold it in Battery Park near the Staten Island Ferry.

He quickly found someone who was selling some.

He sat down in the park rolling a joint while sipping the Southern Comfort straight from the bottle.

He thought to himself, you can take the boy out the hood, but you can't take the hood out the boy. He had been on the job one week; and already he had a failed romance and lost his job.

What Marcus didn't know was that Joe wasn't going to get him fired. Joe had originally planned to get Marcus arrested and then fired. Then he realized the scandal this might cause for the firm.

There was also the fact that Marcus had been assigned to an important case with Goldberg. The final thing he thought about was the embarrassment of everyone knowing he got his ass kicked. On second thought Joe Cooke was going to keep this to himself. At least that was the plan.

What neither Marcus nor Joe had realized was another person had become involved. Her name was Eloise Swartz. Her nickname in the office was Echo-eze. She repeated everything she heard. She happened to be standing in front of the building gossiping when Marcus knocked Joe out. She immediately forgot about lunch and headed back up stairs to the office.

When Marcus stepped off the elevator he noticed Monique was not at her desk. The secretary who was covering her desk stared at Marcus with strange look.

"How're you doing Mr. Dupree?" She asked as Marcus neared the desk.

"Fine, thanks," Marcus answered.

He also felt that her tone of voice was more respectful than normal. He couldn't exactly explain why he felt this way. He figured she sounded like this because he was about to be fired. He made his way towards the Bullpen.

When he entered the Bullpen, all eyes were on him. He noticed Goldberg and Ms. O'Neal standing near her desk talking. He started walking towards them. Some of the Bullpen secretaries were smiling at him when he made eye contact, others had a similar look to the one the secretary at the front desk had. When Lisa noticed him she waved and smiled a big smile. Damn Marcus thought I can see all of her teeth. Still he couldn't figure out what was going on.

As he approached Ms. O'Neal and Goldberg, Goldberg noticed him first. He smiled at Marcus, then O'Neal turned and looked at him, she too was smiling.

What the hell was going on, Marcus wondered. Were the laughing because he was about to be fired?

"Marcus, our clients are here for the patent case we discussed this morning, but we have to talk first."

As Goldberg said this he motioned towards Marcus's office with one hand, put the other one on Marcus's back and gently pushed him towards the office.

Marcus realized he wasn't fired. In fact they were treating him like a celebrity. It seemed they knew about the fight, and some even seemed to be pleased about the outcome. It looked like Joe Cooke rubbed a few people the wrong way.

Marcus thought about Goldberg pushing towards the office and he knew immediately what that meant. Goldberg was telling him; you maybe tough, but I'm the boss.

When they stepped into the office Goldberg closed the door behind them.

Goldberg told Marcus to have a seat. Marcus was starting to get annoyed with Goldberg's orders. As he moved towards the chair, he wondered; would Goldberg be so bossy if he knew Marcus had had Southern Comfort and a fat joint for lunch.

"Listen up!" Goldberg said as Marcus sat down. "Office politics are very complicated."

Oh boy Marcus thought, he's going to give me a speech.

Goldberg continued, "To keep things simple, it's sometimes better to just not mix business with pleasure. That's all I'm going to say on the subject."

Marcus was surprised. He truly had expected a fifteen minute lecture. But Goldberg was all business. He immediately changed the conversation back to 'more' important matters.

He informed Marcus that their clients were in the conference room waiting to go over the patent case with them.

When Marcus and Goldberg entered the conference room the two clients had blue prints and technical papers and journals spread out on the long conference table.

Both engineers looked like CIA agents from Iowa.

Rich CIA agents at that, he noted after noticing that they both were wearing very expensive suits.

Goldberg introduced Marcus to the gentlemen. Their names were Carter and Banks.

He thought to himself, these guys are top of the line. Marcus realized for the first time that he was playing with the big boys. No one had mentioned how much money was involved, but it had now occurred to him it must be millions.

Carter explained to Marcus and Goldberg how their competitor had violated their patents, and was going try to produce, market and sell the new cellular telephone technology that they themselves had developed first.

Marcus then asked how they knew their competitor was 'going' to market their cell phone technology. The response was a former distributor had told them.

"A former distributor," Marcus asked.

"Yes," Carter answered. His tone indicated that he didn't feel it was important how they found out.

"Why former," Marcus asked.

"Because if they buy from us, they could lose future contracts with our competitor," Carter said.

Carter then looked at Goldberg and said, "But what difference does it make?"

Marcus was starting to feel that Carter didn't like him.

Goldberg looked at Marcus, raised his hand, palm facing Marcus. Marcus ignored him.

"The difference is; it is no longer just a patent infringement case," Marcus said.

"Huh? Carter said. His face was wrinkled with confusion.

Even Goldberg and Banks had looks of confusion on their faces.

Goldberg didn't want to say anything. He could see that Carter was becoming agitated with Marcus, but he didn't know what Marcus was talking about. Goldberg knew to keep his mouth shut, until he understood what was going on.

Finally Banks asked, "What exactly do you mean?"

"It sounds like we also have an anti-trust or restriction of trade violation here."

Both engineers immediately looked at Goldberg who was smiling. Thanks to Marcus, he would be getting a new yacht.

### CHAPTER 6

Monique could smell her daddy's cooking as soon as she opened the door. The smell of the food made her feel better. Her father was the best cook she knew, and she enjoyed almost everything he made.

She and her father had made an agreement after her mother died, that the first one home would cook dinner. It took Monique almost two years to realize that her father was always the first one home. He would always arrange his work schedule so that he would beat her home. The few times that he couldn't be there first, he would try to cook dinner the day before. In the ten years since her mother's death Monique had only cooked dinner about twenty times.

His name was Robert Bell and he was a good man. He and Monique had always been close. The death of her mother, his wife, had only brought them closer. She was looking for a man like her father.

Virtually all her relationships ended rather quickly, because every man she dated had stood in the shadow of her father.

Her last ex, Larry for instance was really cool to be with. She could even deal with the fact that he was a petty burglar, who often went to jail. She had even visited him a few times on Riker's Island.

What she couldn't deal with was the fact that he wasn't always there for his son. She knew she couldn't have a child by a man who wasn't totally committed to his child. Yes, Larry was a fun guy to be with, but he was back in the day fun. For Monique, there was no future in a guy like that. She thought Marcus could be the one. She had liked him before she even saw him.

The girls around the office had described the new black attorney that was hired while she was at her aunt's wedding in Virginia as really nice looking. Even one of the white girls had said he was so dark and nice looking at the same time. They all agreed, he looked to be the type that would sex your brains out all night long.

Monique found all that was true, but what she liked best about Marcus was, he was down to earth, there was no fronting in his game.

Her father was sitting in the living room watching the news when she came into the house.

"Hi daddy", she said as she rushed past him. She didn't want him to see her face. He would have known something was wrong. She wasn't able to explain it to him and she didn't want to tell him a lie. She figured she'd feel a little better after she washed her face and hands for dinner.

"So how was work," her father asked as she sat down at the table to eat.

"O.K.," she lied. She wanted to tell her father what happened, but she didn't share details of her sex life with him.

She held it in as long as she could, finally though she had to get it off her chest. She had a best friend, Tanya, who was always saying, I told you so. Monique wasn't up to hearing that right now, so she started to tell her father a lie.

"What do you think about this daddy?" Monique looked at him trying her best not to show her feelings.

"One of the girls at work slept with a guy there on their first date and he told people about it."

"When you say he told people, do you mean he went around bragging about it?"

"No," Monique said. "I think he told one of the attorneys and that guy started spreading the rumor."

Her farther then looked at her the way fathers do when their daughters are in pain. He then asked, "What makes you think he told this particular attorney?"

"Because he beat him up after the word got out."

He looked down at his plate. He took a piece of barbeque chicken in his hand and appeared to study it. Monique knew he was thinking hard about his response, and would probably say something that was wise and insightful.

"Well in my opinion," he said as he looked up at her. "This guy probably confided in what he thought was a friend, and the so called friend betrayed his trust."

"But do you think he used the girl," Monique asked.

"I doubt it," he said. "He probably would not have beat up an attorney, if he didn't have some kind of strong feelings. Either he feels very strongly for the girl, has a short temper, or probably both."

"How do you figure," she asked.

"He risked his job. In fact, you can go to jail for beating people up. Like I said, he has some strong feelings about something. He just needs to think a little more carefully before he speaks and acts."

This made Monique smile. Marcus probably did like her. Why else would he risk his job and freedom by beating up Joe?

"So do you think she should still deal with him?"

"That's up to her," her father said.

He put the piece of chicken down. He took a deep breath, and then looked back at Monique.

"There are three types of romantic love baby. The first kind is a one way love affair. This is when only one person is in love. The other one is not.

The second kind is when both are equally in love, and their love is balanced.

The last kind is a two way but not equal. One loves the other more than they love them back. Or ones behavior doesn't benefit the other."

He took a deep breath and let it out hard as if he just completed a hard task. He then continued. "Your friend needs to figure out if being with this man is good for her. He may like her, even love her; but is he good for her."

She thought about her father's statement. Marcus probably liked her. She just had to figure out what she was going to do.

***

It was 6:30 A.M. when the clock radio woke Marcus up. He was tired. Yesterday's episode with Monique and Joe had worn him out.

It seems it had worn out Joe also. Word got back to Marcus that Joe was taking the rest of the week off.

Marcus wouldn't have minded the whole situation if Monique would just talk to him. He tried to talk to her after the meeting with the engineers, but she again told him to stay away from her.

He really felt that he was in love with her. The sudden break up really hurt him. On the subway ride home, the couples he saw reminded him of his failed relationship. A few girls were checking him out on the train. But this only made his sadness grow, because every girl reminded him in some way of Monique. If they were light skin it reminded Marcus of Monique's dark skin. If they were out of shape it reminded him of how great her body was.

He really didn't want to go into work today. If it wasn't for the work he was doing on the patent/ anti-trust case he wouldn't have gotten out of bed. At least he had one thing to be happy about he thought.

Marcus's insight and keen observation had blown the case wide open. Originally the plan was to sue for about a million dollars. Now though, because of Marcus's observation they were going for six million. They would probably settle out of court for about three million, of which the firm would take the customary one third. This would amount to one million dollars that Marcus would help bring into the firm.

Marcus figured this would get him closer to a partnership, since Coleman, Levison & Levine only grossed twelve million the year before. In less than month on the job, Marcus would become the firm's best money maker.

After taking a shower, Marcus went to the kitchen to eat a bowl of cereal. He did this practically every morning. It was something that his grandmother instilled in him.

Marcus's grand mother was very religious. She had once read a book by a popular evangelist. In this book, the evangelist talked about moral decay. This soon became her favorite saying. Every time something happened that she didn't like or approve of, she blamed it on moral decay. It soon became a running joke when she wasn't around.

One morning his grandmother was making oatmeal for breakfast and Marcus said he didn't want any. She went on to explain how important a good breakfast was. How important it was to his schooling; and how this could prevent a moral decay.

Marcus couldn't contain himself. He burst out in hysterical laughter. He couldn't help it. The only words Marcus could get out were, "She said moral decay." After which he began laughing again.

His grandmother slapped him. She caught the side of his face and his ear.

His face stung and his ear was ringing. But what pained Marcus the most was the fact that he had hurt his grandmother's feelings.

The ringing in his ears stopped just as he was finishing the last of his oatmeal.

When Marcus arrived at the office Monique was at her desk as usual. As he exited the elevator and made his way towards his office he noticed her staring at him. When he made eye contact with her, he expected her to look away. Instead she continued to look. Marcus smiled and started to speak, but before he could, Monique frowned and turned her head away. Marcus didn't know what to make of it. I'll never understand women Marcus thought.

Once he was in his office, he tried to get his mind on work. Still his thinking kept returning to Monique. Before he knew it, it was time for the ten o'clock meeting.

When Marcus arrived at the conference room, Goldberg was already there. Marcus knew that Goldberg usually arrived after everyone else. Marcus figured this was so Goldberg could start the meeting as soon as he entered, and wouldn't have to wait for anyone.

Goldberg was sitting next to and talking with another attorney named Dobbs.

"Oh Marcus, you're here," Goldberg said when he noticed him. "You know Dobbs; he's going to handle the restraint of trade aspect of the upcoming case."

Marcus couldn't believe what he just heard. It was like a sudden blow to the stomach. The most valuable aspect of the case was just taken away from him.

"Welcome aboard," Marcus said as he reached out to shake Dobbs' hand.

He then looked around at the other attorneys and smiled. He was not going to let them know how upset he had become. He would never let them see any weakness in him.

This would have been his first chance to showcase his ability as a corporate attorney. Marcus tried to find solace in the fact that he had come up with the idea to go with the restraint of trade angle. He figured he would now have to share credit for his idea with Dobbs.

After Marcus sat down, Goldberg asked Dobbs to update them on the status of his assigned part of the case. This confused Marcus. He had only come up with the restraint of trade idea yesterday after lunch. It wasn't until four o'clock that he approached Goldberg with the results of the research he had did preparing that aspect of the case.

He knew that Dobbs was working on another case yesterday, so when could he have prepared for this meeting. Dobbs quickly cleared up Marcus's confusion.

"Well after you came to me with the particulars of the case yesterday," Dobbs said to Goldberg. "I verified the information, therefore we should be ready to file court papers by Friday."

Verified the information Marcus thought. Goldberg had taken Marcus's work and given it to Dobbs. All Dobbs had done was go over Marcus's work. And now he was talking like he had done something slick. Actually he had done something slick, Marcus thought, he stole my shit.

"Excellent," Goldberg said. He then looked at Marcus and said, "I trust the patent violation aspect will be ready by Friday also?"

"Yes," was all Marcus could say before Goldberg cut him off.

"That's excellent, Goldberg said. Goldberg then turned towards another attorney and asked him about his case load.

Marcus tried to smile but he couldn't hold it. This time he could not hide his feelings. His mouth was suddenly dry and he felt like he needed some air.

It was obvious that Marcus was uncomfortable. Marcus sat there with a sad look on his face. But this look was deceiving because, Marcus wasn't sad, he was angry.

Marcus spent the rest of the meeting trying to recover from the shock of what had just happened. He couldn't understand why Goldberg had just pulled the rug out from under him like that.

When the meeting was over Marcus made his way straight to the water cooler. He felt that if he drank some water he'd be able to think more clearly.

Monique was standing at the water cooler as Marcus approached. When she saw him she turned her back towards him.

"Excuse me," Marcus said as he reached for a paper cup.

"Wait 'till I'm finished," Monique snapped.

She then turned to face him. Marcus quickly closed his eyes and rubbed them with his hand. This was to hide the fact that he was almost in tears. He took a deep breath to regain his composure. He opened his eyes just in time to see Monique with a smirk on her face as she walked past him.

Marcus knew her behavior had nothing to do with the business that had occurred in the ten o'clock meeting, with her it was personal.

By the time Marcus was back in his office he had regained his composure. He had figured out how to pay Goldberg back. He remembered his grandmother saying, the best revenge is to be successful.

He knew what he had to do. He realized that the engineers as well as most of the clients he had serviced were actually Goldberg's. Marcus had to develop his own clientele. This way Goldberg couldn't steal and take credit for his work.

Also the quickest way to make partner was to bring in a lot of clients. Now all Marcus had to do was figure out how he was going to do this.

***

When Monique got back to her desk, she found Lisa standing there. It was obvious that Lisa was waiting for her.

"Girlfriend I got some extra invites to a record label party," Lisa said. "I was wondering if you and your man might want to come."

"No thanks," Monique replied.

"Come on girlfriend, it'll be fun. Why don't you ask Marcus if he'd like to come?"

"I'm not asking him anything, if you want him to go, you ask him," Monique snapped. The anger in her voice was obvious.

"OK I'll talk to you later," Lisa said before she walked away.

Monique watched her as she walked away and thought, the nosey bitch, she just wants to know if Marcus and I are together.

Not that it mattered to Lisa. She admitted she had slept with most of her girlfriend's husbands and men. The way Monique saw it, Lisa wasn't looking for a good man; she was looking for a few good men.

At eleven o'clock Eloise came to relieve Monique so she could go to lunch. Monique usually enjoyed being relieved by Eloise. She definitely lived up to her nickname, Echo-eze. But Monique knew that she was the center of much of the recent gossip, and she wasn't in the mood to hear other peoples business.

"Monique, did you hear what happened to Marcus Dupree?"

"What happened?" Monique responded. She couldn't hide the fact that she was worried about Marcus's well-being.

Eloise proceeded to tell Monique how Marcus had did most of the work on the upcoming patent / restraint of trade case; only to have Goldberg take credit for it.

Monique was relieved, it wasn't really bad news. In fact knowing Goldberg it wasn't news at all. It wasn't the first time he had been accused of taking credit for another attorneys work. That plus the fact that he was Coleman's son in law helped him get a junior partnership.

Actually she was kind of glad it happened. She was hoping Marcus felt as bad as she did when everyone found out about their date. Besides she thought, it would make him a better attorney.

### CHAPTER 7

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Marcus sat on the stoop of his mother's house smoking a joint, when his connection walked by.

"What's up Root Man," Marcus said to the dealer.

"What's up college boy," Root Man said in a heavy Trinidadian accent. "You know I'm selling cocaine now. Half grams sixty, one hundred for a whole gram"

"I hear that," Marcus said. "But right now I'm short until payday."

"Your credit is good with me college boy, it's not like I don't know where your mama lives."

"Not today," Marcus said.

He didn't like Root Man's statement. He also realized it wasn't a good thing that Root Man knew where he lived. Root Man sold good stuff, but he was a creep, and the more money Marcus spent with him, the creepier he became.

"Alright brother man," Root Man said as he walked off.

Marcus watched him as he took another puff on the joint. Thank God tomorrow was Friday he thought. This had been one of the worst weeks of his life. He didn't know how much more he could take. This weekend would provide a much needed break. He only wished he had some girl to spend it with. Why do the good guys always finish last Marcus wondered.

He thought about asking his sister if one of her girlfriends wanted to hang out. Maybe he could buy some cocaine, unwind and get his mind off his troubles.

His troubles, Marcus thought; they all revolved around his job. The girl he loved wouldn't talk to him, he had beaten up a co-worker, who undoubtedly was waiting for a chance to get even, and his boss was a no good snake who had stabbed him in the back.

When he finished smoking he went back into the house to eat dinner.

His mother and sister Paula were at the table eating when he sat down at his plate.

"You look a little distressed Little Man," Marcus's mother said.

"Yeah," Marcus replied. "It's been a rough week at work."

"What happened?" Paula said. "They found out you wasn't lawyer material?"

"No, they found out you're my sister."

"That should make you popular," Paula said

"Yeah," Marcus said. "They all want to fuck me."

"Whatever," Paula said.

"Stop it," their mother said. "Not at the table."

"I'm sorry mom," Marcus said. "It's just that work has been very stressful."

"What's going on baby," Marcus's mother asked.

Marcus told them about the events of the week. Both his mother and sister sat silently as he told the story. When he finished, Paula was the first to speak.

"I knew that chick was bugged out."

"What?" Marcus responded.

"You know, bugged out, crazy, insane," Paula replied. She had found a sore spot, Marcus's feelings for Monique.

"What, Marcus yelled. "What's your boyfriends name this week? Is it Tom, Dick or Harry? Oops my bad, those were lasts months many men."

"Stop it," their mother yelled. This angered Marcus; she only stopped their fights when he was winning.

Once Marcus's mother was sure they were finished she looked at Marcus and spoke.

"I don't know anything about being a lawyer, but I know a little something about office politics. Let me give you four pieces of advice. One, keep people dependant on you; never give them enough to finish the job without you.

Two, conceal your intentions; never tell anyone what you're doing or why you are doing it.

Three, always say less than is necessary.

And four, this one is real important Marcus. Don't get too high or drunk with co-workers."

Marcus sat there listening to his mother. She was a wise woman and always gave him good advice. He now had a strategy, now all Marcus needed were a few good clients.

***

When Marcus arrived at the office around five minutes to nine, Monique was at her desk as usual. She stared at Marcus as he got off the elevator. Marcus thought to himself, I'm not falling for that trick again. All week Monique would act like she wanted him to speak; but when he tried to she would either 'dis' him or just ignore him. Therefore he just ignored her.

As soon as he had settled down in his office, Ms. O'Neal called him on the intercom.

"Yes," Marcus said.

"There's a gentleman named Vee on the phone, Mr. Dupree."

Ms. O'Neal transferred the call into Marcus's office.

"What's up home boy," Marcus said.

"Same old, same old," Vee responded.

"Listen Vee, when you call you have to be a little more business like and say your whole name. I don't need them to know every time I have a personal call."

"I hear that, next time I'll say Vincent Page." Vee then told Marcus why he called. He'd be off from work next weekend and wanted to know if Marcus would go with him to a club in Manhattan. Marcus agreed since he had nothing planned for next weekend or this one for that matter.

Vee was telling Marcus about a particular club where woman got in free before twelve, when Ms. O'Neal buzzed him on the intercom. He told Vee he'd talk to him later and then answered the intercom.

"Yes," Marcus said.

"Mr. Coleman is here to see you Mr. Dupree."

"Send him in," Marcus said. He wondered why a senior partner would come to his office. At first he was scared he might be fired, but he figured they'd send Goldberg around to do that. Then it suddenly occurred to Marcus maybe he should get up and meet the boss at the door. By then it was too late, Coleman was coming through the door just as Marcus was getting up.

"Don't get up," Coleman said waving his hand at Marcus to indicate for him to remain seated. "I just came by to congratulate you on a job well done."

Marcus was puzzled, "I'm a little confused, what did I do?"

"The restraint of trade angle that you came up with," Coleman said.

Coleman explained to Marcus that Banks' and Carter's Competitor had found out that they had come to New York to prepare a patent violation case.

"They then had there attorneys prepare a defense. They contacted us yesterday and we met with them."

Marcus was starting to get angry again. They had a meeting and no one told me anything, he thought.

Coleman continued, "They came at us with their defense for the patent violation. They said we couldn't win, but they still wanted to settle it out of court and behind closed doors. It seems they were afraid it would affect their stock price."

Suddenly a big smile came over Coleman's face. He seemed to notice Marcus was a little upset but continued.

"Neither they nor their attorneys knew about your restraint of trade angle." Coleman then paused, and looked Marcus in the eyes. "When we hit them with it, they almost shit their pants. We caught them completely off guard. They settled for three million."

It suddenly dawned on Marcus that Coleman was giving him credit for the whole idea. Still Marcus wasn't sure if he was supposed to be happy or not.

"Son," Coleman said. "You're going to get a ten thousand dollar bonus."

Marcus smiled; in fact he smiled so hard he was sure his back teeth were showing.

Marcus found out later that one of the engineers, Carter, had told Coleman that it was Marcus who came up with the restraint of trade angle.

Coleman said a few more words of praise to Marcus, told him to keep up the good work and then left. Marcus looked at his watch and realized it was a quarter to ten. Marcus had to use the bathroom. He figured if he left his office and went to the rest room now, he could take his time and still get to the meeting on time.

As he was walking to the bathroom, he noticed Lisa making her way towards him.

"How are you today, Mr. Dupree?"

"Fine thanks, and yourself," Marcus said without mentioning her name. He couldn't remember Lisa's last name and because of his feelings for Monique, he didn't want to get to comfortable with Lisa.

"Mr. Dupree, I have a request of you," Lisa said.

"What's up," Marcus asked without thinking.

Lisa explained that she was going to a record label party next Saturday and wanted Marcus to come as her escort.

The first thing that came to Marcus's mind was Monique; he knew she would be even angrier if he went to a party with Lisa.

As if on cue, Lisa said, "I asked Monique if she wanted to go and that Monique said no. I even asked her if she would mind if you went, and she said no."

"I hear that," Marcus said. "But I told my homeboy I'd go with him to a club next Saturday."

"Bring him along, I got a girlfriend I can hook him up with."

Damn she's persistent, he thought while trying to think of some way to get out of it politely.

"Maybe you can pick up some potential clients at the party, Lisa said."

"What do you mean?"

"This is a record industry party. A lot of people from the business are going to be there."

I do need to pull in some clients, Marcus thought.

"I'll go."

"Well I know you're a busy man so I let you get back to work."

"Oh yeah, do me a favor, Marcus said. Don't mention around the office that we are going to this party together."

"No problem, I don't want these people in my business anyway."

Marcus walked away from Lisa feeling better than before. He now had an opportunity to acquire some potential clients. Everything was starting to come together. His only regret was he couldn't share his joy with Monique.

Marcus went to the rest room and then made his way to the morning meeting.

During the meeting Goldberg made no mention of the restraint of trade case, Marcus's bonus or the fact that the case had been settled. He assigned Marcus two leases to go over and a landlord tenant dispute to look into.

Marcus left the ten o'clock meeting more determined than ever. It was obvious now that all Goldberg was going to assign him were leases and the like. Marcus figured this was Goldberg's way of keeping Marcus from shining. If Marcus really wanted to prosper he was going to have to start finding his own clients.

While walking back to his office he came upon Monique, she was at the water cooler. This had become a regular pattern; Monique would always be at the water cooler after the ten o'clock meeting. Marcus had learned not to speak to her, because every time he did, he got screamed on. This time was different though.

"How're you doing Marcus," Monique asked as he approached.

Marcus wasn't sure if he should say something or not, he was tired of getting embarrassed.

Monique sensed Marcus's trepidation, so instead of waiting for him to reply she took his hand, looked him in the eyes and said, "I need to talk to you, could you take lunch at eleven thirty?"

Marcus said yes, but he was still somewhat apprehensive, the last time they were supposed to have lunch she cursed him out.

"Ok," Monique said. "See you at eleven thirty."

Marcus watched her as she walked away. I will never understand women, he thought.

He looked at his watch, it was eleven o'clock. Marcus figured he'd go to his office and chill out until eleven thirty. There wasn't enough time to do any real work; and besides he was so busy wondering what Monique wanted to discuss, he wouldn't have been able to concentrate on work anyway.

Marcus met Monique at eleven thirty. She suggested they go the Italian restaurant they had eaten in before and he agreed.

As they waited for the elevator Marcus asked, "So what is it that you want to talk about?"

"Let's wait until we get outside," Monique said. "The walls have ears."

"Bionic six million dollar ears," Marcus said with a laugh.

They rode the elevator in silence. Marcus noticed that Monique's anger appeared to be gone. She wasn't showing the affection she had before the Joe Cooke incident, but she seemed to be mellowing out. He really wanted to know what she had to say.

Suddenly the words, baby's mama drama, flashed through his head. Oh my god Marcus thought; she's pregnant.

His mind went wild. She's going to hit me up for child support. I'm not ready for this. I should have worn a condom. What am I going to do?

"So what's up," Marcus asked as they exited the building. He was readying himself for the news.

"I'm moving on to a new job," Monique said.

"Thank god," Marcus said.

"What!" Monique snapped.

"I'm sorry," Marcus said. "I thought it was something worse."

As they walked towards the restaurant, Monique explained to Marcus, that after Joe had spread their business, she was no longer comfortable at the firm. She told him that she started looking for a new job that same day. She had gone on an interview two days ago while on lunch, and found out this morning she would be starting in two weeks.

She told him it was a three thousand dollar a year raise for her. She spoke about the new job the entire time as they walked to the restaurant. Marcus noticed she really seemed excited.

After they had settled in at the restaurant and ordered their food Marcus told Monique how much he missed her. Even though he saw her every day, he explained, he missed communicating with her on this level.

He looked her in the eyes and said, "I love you Monique."

"I love you too Marcus."

They smiled at each other and then Monique leaned across the table to kiss him.

Marcus then told her about his bonus.

"That's great," she said. The toothy smile on her face showed that she was sharing in his joy.

"Tomorrow I want you to come with me car shopping," Marcus said. "I'll be at your house at ten o'clock in the morning, be ready."

Monique just smiled and nodded her head. She had planned on getting her hair done at that time but now chose to be with Marcus instead.

While eating their food their food they talked about the events of the past week. Monique said she was sorry she didn't tell him how Goldberg operated. Marcus responded by telling her not to worry, he had a plan; he was going to seek out his own clients. The two things he didn't mention were, Joe and the party Lisa had invited him to. As far as Marcus was concerned the party was all about getting new clients, but he knew Monique wouldn't see it that way. He knew how she felt about Lisa.

Monique watched him as he ate his veal parmesan. Marcus, her man, was on his way to the top. You could see it in his eyes, there was a fire in them that seemed to say either get with me, or get out of the way. She knew other people saw it too. She noticed how some strangers would stare at him as if they knew him; it was as if they could sense something about him too.

***

Saturday morning at ten sharp Marcus was ringing Monique's door bell. Her father answered the door and invited him in.

"Marcus Dupree," he said as he reached out to shake Monique's father's hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Bell."

"The pleasures all mine, Marcus," Monique's father responded. "I've heard so much about you. Monique thinks very highly of you"

"Well your daughter is a special girl also Mr. Bell, you must be very proud of her."

"Call me Harold," Monique's father replied as he and Marcus stepped into the living room. "Yes I am proud of Monique. She's stayed out of trouble and done pretty good for herself. A lot of her girlfriends have a bunch of kids no steady man and no job. Yes I think she came out pretty good."

"Thanks to you, I think you deserve the credit," Marcus said.

Once inside the living room he noticed Monique's father's stereo system and record collection. The system was state of the art. It was worth more than the three year old Buick that sat in the driveway. But what really caught Marcus's attention was the number of records Harold owned.

"Nice stereo and record collection," Marcus said.

"Thanks, a lot of these records are classics, this collection is practically irreplaceable."

"How many records do you have," Marcus asked.

"Over fifteen hundred," Harold responded.

The two men continued with small talk until Monique came into the living room.

When Marcus saw her he smiled. Her father turned and walked over to his record collection. He could tell that Harold didn't approve of what Monique was wearing.

It was a tight fitting denim mini dress. It clung to her body like it was painted on. The top of the dress had no back and was tied around her neck.

Marcus didn't know if she was wearing a bra, but if she was, it was well hidden.

He wanted to say forget shopping for a car, let's just find us a hotel. He was about to compliment her on the dress, but then thought about what her father might be thinking.

All the other girls he had dealt with, no matter how pretty they were, seemed to have little flaws that he noticed over time, but not Monique. Her beauty seemed to increase each time he saw her.

Monique walked over to Marcus and gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. She then looked at her father and said, "See you later daddy."

"Ok Monique," Harold said. "And it was nice meeting you Marcus," he said as he reached out to shake Marcus's hand.

"The pleasure was all mine," Marcus said.

As Marcus and Monique walked out the front door, he asked her, "You don't tell your father when you'll be back?"

"We discussed that, way before you came," she said. "Besides he's going bowling tonight and then to his girlfriend's house. He's not going to say in front of you that he'll be out all night and I'll be home alone," Monique said with a smile.

Marcus had decided the night before that he was going to buy a Mercedes Benz. She suggested that they take the subway from her house to a dealer in Manhattan that did business with the law firm. Marcus agreed.

Monique told him that she had to play her numbers before they got on the subway. The number hole was in a barber shop that they would pass on their way to the train.

As they walked Marcus mentioned to her that New York State was planning to legalize numbers and it would soon be part of the lottery. He explained, this way they can get some of that money you spend and tax you if you win.

"Tax," Monique said. "Who the hell would play a number you gotta pay taxes on if you win? I'll stick to the barber shop."

"That's the same thing my mother said," Marcus replied. "I can't wait for you to meet her."

This made Monique smile; to her this statement meant that Marcus was developing strong feelings for her.

When they got to the corner of Jamaica Avenue, Monique pointed across the street to the barber shop. Marcus told her to go on ahead and play her numbers while he waited here. He wanted to smoke a joint and didn't want to smoke in front of a number spot.

Marcus had smoked half the joint by the time Monique had finished her business. When she came back across the street he put the joint out and said, "Let's get on the train.

The car dealer that Monique had suggested was on the lower west side of Manhattan. They catered to a very high brow crowd. They also gave a significant discount to employees of their law firm.

When they arrived at the dealership it was somewhat crowded. They weren't inside more than a few seconds when Marcus realized all eyes were on them. He noticed that all of the patrons were white except two.

Marcus looked around the showroom. There were many models, more than he had realized. He didn't know much about the Mercedes Benz. He had decided on one because he felt the Germans had the best engineered cars. He liked the BMW but didn't want to copy Vee, so he figured a Mercedes would be the next best choice.

He thought it was going to be hard to make up his mind, until he saw it. It was a brown convertible 350SLK Roadster. It had a brown leather interior that seemed to match Monique's skin tone. Just by looking across the room at the floor model, he knew he had to have this car.

When Monique noticed him staring, she followed his eyes to see what he was looking at.

"OH that's hot baby," she said.

He didn't say anything; instead he walked over towards the car. Monique grabbed his hand and followed.

Marcus opened the car door and climbed inside. He pulled the door shut. He then put one hand on the steering wheel, leaned to his side like a gangster, looked up at Monique and said; "How do I look?"

"It's you baby," she replied.

"No," he said. "It's us."

Monique was about to say something when they were interrupted.

"Can I help you," the voice said. To Marcus it sounded almost hostile.

The voice came from a salesman who was standing directly in front of the car. He had his arms spread out and a facial expression that seemed to say, what do you think you're doing?

Marcus looked at him and said very slowly, as if the salesman didn't understand English, "I want to buy this car."

"Listen buddy, I don't know if we are the right dealer for you," the salesman said. "We don't take cash, you're going to have to show us proof of income and we report all sales to the IRS." He then made a face at Marcus that seemed to indicate, you know what I mean.

"You say that to say what," Marcus asked.

"Listen," the salesman said. "I don't want any trouble..."

Monique interrupted, "he's an attorney at Coleman, Levison and Levine."

The salesman just stared at her with his mouth open and his face turning red. Marcus was angry and ready to leave when another man approached.

"Bob," the second man said to the salesman. He pulled him close and whispered something in his ear. The salesman then turned and walked away.

The second man walked towards Marcus with his hand out and a smile on his face, "Michael Ragucci general manager, how can I be of service."

"I did want to buy one of these," Marcus said as he stepped out the car.

He was about to walk out when Ragucci grabbed his hand and said, "Well if everything is in order, we can have you in one in a couple of weeks."

Marcus looked at him. The man had a big smile on his face which was making it hard for Marcus to stay angry.

"I really didn't feel like waiting that long," Marcus said.

"Well you're in luck then, we need to clear this space for the new models. I can let you have the floor model for thiryt thou."

This caught Marcus's attention.

"You could have it Monday by close of business."

It took Marcus fifteen minutes to sign all the papers.

After eating lunch at a small pizzeria they hopped back on the subway to Monique's house.

When Marcus entered her room he was totally surprised by what he saw. There were at least twenty teddy bears spread around the room. They were on her bed, the two dressers, her night stand and on the trunk at the foot of her bed. Marcus noted she even had some on little shelves that were attached to the walls.

"Wow, you got a room like a white girl."

"Would a white girl do this," she said as she kissed him.

"I don't know," Marcus said. "There are a lot of teddy bears in here."

"Well would a white girl do this?" Monique pushed him on the bed, she then climbed over him and lifted his shirt and kissed his navel.

"You sure your name isn't Marsha Brady," he said with a laugh.

"Ok smarty pants would a white girl do this?" She then opened his pants and pulled down his boxer shorts. Marcus had to lift his back off the bed so she could get them down. She then kissed the area where the boxer shorts had been.

She then took hold of what the boxer shorts had concealed. She seemed to study it, as if trying to figure why it was growing larger as she held it.

Marcus thought she was going to say something, because she opened her mouth.

Instead it was Marcus who spoke, and all he could say was, "Oh baby."

### CHAPTER 8

Marcus left Monique's house about ten thirty. He didn't want to fall asleep there, only to wake up with her father standing over him with a baseball bat.

When he got home he took a shower and went to bed.

When Marcus finally woke up it was about 12:30 p.m. He made his way over to mother's house for Sunday dinner. He knew his mother wasn't back from church yet, and he figured his sister was sleep, so he used his key to get in.

Marcus figured he'd have a bowl of cereal, while he watched TV.

As he approached the kitchen he heard a clicking sound. When he opened the kitchen door the first thing he noticed was a sweet smell. Marcus didn't know what it was, but it was distinct. The second thing he noticed was smoke. Fire he thought. He rushed fully into the kitchen.

What he saw only added to his confusion. His sister Paula and some dude he'd never seen before were sitting at the table looking scared, exited or something.

As Marcus walked over to the cabinet to get a box of cereal, he heard his sister say, "I don't know, you'll have to ask him yourself."

As Marcus turned around his sister's friend asked, "Yo money, you want a hit of this freebase?"

The question caught Marcus off guard. He remembered smoking the base and weed mixed joint with Cassandra. That was a couple of weeks ago, and he didn't feel hooked. He figured one time wouldn't hurt.

"Yeah why not," Marcus answered.

He walked over to the kitchen table to and put the cereal box down. At the same time his sister's friend pulled out a glass pipe from under the Sunday paper and handed it to Marcus. To Marcus it looked like a light bulb with two stems sticking out of it.

Paula's friend then pulled out a small butane torch and placed it on the table. The sight of the torch startled Marcus. In his mind's eye, he had a vision of a burning Richard Pryor.

He then took out a very small glass jar which contained the freebase. To Marcus it looked like clumps of raw sugar.

He tapped the jar forcing the freebase onto the table He picked up a piece and dropped it into the pipe.

He then looked at Marcus and spoke. "Put your mouth on the pipe. When I say pull, I want you to pull real slow, o.k."

"Alright," Marcus said.

Then Paula's friend lit the torch and put the tip of the flame into the end of the pipe. Marcus could see the freebase start to melt and he heard a crackling sound.

"Pull slowly," the dude said.

Marcus did. He tasted the freebase as it made it's way into his lungs.

Paula's friend pulled the torch away from the pipe.

Marcus suddenly felt a wave of excitement coming over him. He blew out the smoke. The feeling was unlike anything Marcus had ever felt. It was basically the best feeling Marcus had ever felt. The problem was by the time Marcus realized what he was feeling it was going away.

"Alright that's it," Paula said.

Marcus said thanks, forgot about the cereal and headed up to his old room. When he got there Marcus rolled a joint and lit it up. He had forgotten his rule about not smoking weed in his mother's house.

***

The following week started out relatively uneventful. No one at the office seemed to notice or care that Marcus and Monique were back together.

Joe had returned to work. The only difference in his behavior was he no longer talked to Marcus, not even hi or good morning.

Marcus now wished he hadn't hit Joe. He felt it gave the people in the office a bad impression of him, on top of that, he knew that Joe was planning to get even.

This meant that he not only had to worry about Goldberg, but now had a more serious concern with Joe. The whole time in law school he never imagined that a law firm could be so cut throat. These guys made the hoods' in the projects look like amateurs.

The most exiting thing to happen this week was his new car. When he told Vee what he had bought, Vee said, "You gonna get all the pussy now."

Marcus responded by saying he didn't want all the pussy. He was happy with Monique and didn't want to mess it up.

"Well you shouldn't have bought a pussy magnet," Vee said. "You're gonna have to beat the hoes off with your hubcaps."

He felt that Vee was over blowing the situation. As he drove the car home though, he realized Vee didn't tell him the half of it. The car was definitely bait and the fish were biting. He never had a problem attracting woman, but now they were staring like he was movie star.

If that would have been all, he would have said they were just looking at the car. But some did more than stare, they smiled, two waved and at a red light one said "How are you doing?" If he'd had been down south he would have expected this, but in New York women just didn't smile and talk to strange men.

The one thing that confused him was Lisa's behavior. She didn't mention the party she had invited him to. He figured she changed her mind because he and Monique were back together.

He wanted to ask her about the party but didn't want to look like he was desperate to go out with her. Plus if Monique saw him talking to her, she would flip. That was the last thing he needed right now. He'd have to work a different angle to pick up some clients, or so he thought.

Marcus left the morning meeting that Thursday determined to quit. The firm didn't get enough patent work to keep him busy. The rest of the time he handled routine matters. For the most part Goldberg assigned him simple real estate deals, leases and mortgage closings. But today's assignment convinced Marcus that Goldberg was trying to hold him back. He was assigned a name change.

The firm usually assigned this type of work to paralegals, or attorneys who lacked the skills to handle more complex work. As long as Marcus got these types of assignments, he couldn't show case his talents.

As he made his way through the Bullpen towards his office he noticed Lisa coming towards him. She winked and handed him a folded piece of paper as he walked pass her. He opened the paper and saw that it was a note; he quickly closed it and continued towards his office.

Marcus sat in his office staring at the door. He realized he couldn't quit. Leaving the firm after only one month wouldn't look good on his resume'. He would have to stick it out.

He looked at his desk and saw Lisa's note, he was so stressed out with Goldberg he had forgotten all about it. He opened it and read:

Dear Marcus,

I hope you still plan on going with me to the party I told you about. I got your friend a date. If I don't hear from you, I'll know you are not going. Otherwise call me tonight.

(718) 555-6462

Yours truly,

Marcus noted she didn't put her name on the letter. He knew he was taking a big chance but he had to go with her to the party.

His only concern was that Monique would find out. If she did, he'd have problems. He had already told her that he and Vee were going to hang out this Saturday. He knew now that Lisa wasn't going to mention it to her, and next week she'd be at a new job. I could do this he thought.

***

Marcus felt guilty as he and Vee waited outside Lisa's building. He'd been back with Monique one week and already he was stepping out. He kept telling himself it was business.

They were standing in front of Vee's BMW. Marcus's Benz was parked right behind it.

Lisa lived on 230th Street between White Plains Road and Barnes Avenue. It was Saturday night and the block was crowded. It was the first weekend of October, and the weather was still warm.

Marcus figured to the people on the block he and Vee looked like drug dealers. They were young, dressed nice and driving expensive rides. To top it off, Vee wore and expensive chain with a large V shaped medallion.

Marcus watched in amazement as Lisa and her girlfriend came out of the building. Lisa was wearing a metallic looking silver spandex tube top. The top was no bigger than a bra. The matching mini skirt was actually strips of material. Marcus, in fact everyone, could see she was wearing matching silver panties. Her girlfriend appeared to be wearing a bikini top with a matching mini skirt that was so short you could see her panties when she walked.

"They're wearing their fucking clothes," Vee said.

"Word up," was all Marcus could say.

After everyone was introduced, Lisa and Marcus jumped in his car; and her girlfriend rode with Vee.

The party was in a rented hall on Eighth Avenue, between 123rd and 122nd streets. It was being thrown by the B-cool record label. The label was founded by Bobby (Cool) Collins.

Cool was a one hit wonder. His disco classic, "B-cool and dance," sold over three million copies. In two years, between record sales and live performances he grossed a little one million dollars.

Cool turned out to be a smart businessman. He invested his earnings and built a recording studio in Harlem. This was the start of B-cool Records. The first group he signed, the Park Ave Boys, just had their album go gold. The party was a celebration for that gold record.

The dance hall was at the top of a narrow flight of stairs. It was divided into five sections. There was the main dance area, which included a bar, a dinning area and three private rooms. Marcus knew the private rooms were for smoking weed and sniffing cocaine.

As soon as they walked in Lisa asked Marcus to dance. After the third song Lisa said, "I'm thirsty, I'm going to get me a drink. Do you want one"

"No," Marcus said remembering his mother's advice about drinking in front of coworkers.

As Lisa walked over to the bar, Marcus heard a large commotion. He looked in the direction of the noise and saw that the Park Ave Boys had arrived.

Marcus watched as the five members of the group came into the room shaking hands and high fiving people. Then he noticed the lead singer of the group, Tony (Choir Boy) Allen.

Marcus laughed. He knew Choir Boy from Mount Vernon. He and Choir Boy were classmates from second grade through high school. Even as a kid, Marcus knew Choir Boy was different. He couldn't quite figure out what it was. Maybe it was because Choir Boy was real religious and sang in the church choir.

Vee on the other hand knew why he was different. He would grab Choir Boy in headlocks, twist his arm and say, sing like an angel. Eventually Marcus realized; Choir Boy was gay.

Marcus got up and walked over to Choir Boy. As soon as Choir Boy saw him he yelled, Marcus!

In fact, Choir boy was so excited, a few people turned to look at Marcus to see who Choir Boy was talking too.

Ah shit, Marcus thought, they're going to think I'm gay.

Choir Boy attempted to hug Marcus. Marcus used one hand to hold him back and he used the other to shake his hand. After the customary small talk about the old neighborhood, Marcus told Choir Boy he was now an attorney. Choir Boy said, "I have some people I want you to meet."

He led Marcus to one of the private rooms. The room contained three men and four women.

"Choir Boy, what's up," a light skin man said as they entered.

"What's up Cool? I want you to meet my man Marcus. He's a top notch Attorney."

"How're you doing?" Cool said as he reached out to shake Marcus's hand.

"He can help you with that Marble Hill Crew record, Choir Boy said." He then looked at Marcus and said, "these kids from Marble Hill Projects over in the Bronx are using the music from 'B-cool and dance,' without Cool's permission."

"Yeah but my lawyer is going to get an injunction and put a stop to it before the record even makes it to the radio," Cool said as he waved his hand indicating it wasn't a big deal.

Marcus saw his chance. "So your lawyer doesn't want you to make any money?"

"What are you talking about," Cool said. He was annoyed that Choir Boy had spread his business in front of Marcus.

"Is their record going to prevent you from selling more copies of B-cool," Marcus asked.

"Their record ain't gonna do nothing, cause we're getting a court order to stop it."

Marcus Looked at Cool and smiled. "If your lawyer was smart, he'd make you some money out of all this. But I bet all he's doing is charging you instead."

"What are you talking about? How could I make money off of somebody else's record?"

"Easy," Marcus said. "Let them put the record out, if it's a hit, you sue them and get a percentage of the proceeds."

"What's your name?"

"Marcus Dupree," he answered, as he handed Cool his business card.

Twenty minutes later Marcus left the private room. He had just pulled his first client. Cool had agreed to make Coleman, Levison & Levine the principal firm to handle B-Cool Record's legal affairs.

He went looking for Lisa to thank her for bringing him to the party. He saw Vee standing near the entrance to the dance area and approached him.

"Thanks for bringing me to this party, Vee said. He had a big smile on his face.

"You look happy," Marcus replied. "What's up?"

Vee told Marcus that he had run into Choir Boy. Choir Boy was talking with a small time concert promoter and introduced him to Vee. The promoter and Vee started talking. Soon they were considering forming a partnership. The promoter would provide the industry connections, and Vee would handle security and other related matters.

Marcus wasn't surprised. Vee had a way of attracting money and people who wanted to make it. Even when they were kids, a few of the neighborhood drug dealers wanted to make Vee a partner. He would always turn them down; otherwise his father would have killed him.

He asked Vee if he had seen Lisa. He told Marcus she was in one of the private rooms getting high.

Marcus opened the door to the smallest private room. He found Lisa with two other women and a man. He was surprised to see Lisa with a freebase pipe in her mouth. She was using a cigarette lighter to burn the freebase.

"Close the door," the man said.

Marcus wasn't sure what to do. Lisa helped him make up his mind.

"Are you going to hang out with me or Choir Boy."

"With you," Marcus said, not liking the Choir Boy statement.

"Then come in and close the door," the man said. "The name's Roscoe. How much blow do you need?"

"Give me a gram," Marcus said. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a roll of money. Marcus had brought three hundred dollars with him. It was mostly twenty dollar bills, two hundred and eighty dollars worth to be exact, wrapped around twenty singles. He was going to use this 'flash' role to impress Lisa. He was going to spend a couple of hundred but make her think he had lots more.

Everyone's eyes lit up at the sight of Marcus's 'bank role'.

"Hey baby what's your name," one of the women asked.

"He's with me," Lisa said before Marcus could answer. "Get a couple of grams and we can get high in my house in private," Lisa then liked her lips seductively. They didn't even say goodbye to Vee and her girlfriend on the way out.

The ride to Lisa's house seemed like the longest ride of Marcus's life. The anticipation of having sex with her was driving him wild. He felt sure that she would show him a real good time.

As soon as they walked in the door of her apartment Lisa said, "give me the cocaine so I can cook it into freebase. I need a hit."

"I need a hit first," Marcus said as he pulled her tube top down exposing her breasts. He bent down and sucked the tip of her breast into his mouth. She let out a moan and staggered back into the wall.

She then reached for his belt and started to unbuckle it. He switched breast, she pulled his pants down. He tugged at her mini skirt; she pulled his boxer shorts off.

It was like sexual ping pong, she matched him move for move. Before he knew it they were in her bed room. Marcus watched in amazement as Lisa put a condom on him without using her hands. Lisa really knew how to turn a man on.

### Chapter 9

On the ride home from Lisa's apartment, Marcus felt mixed emotions. Lisa had allowed, even coaxed him to do things to her that he had never done to any woman. Things he would never ask of Monique.

In fact, they had done things Marcus was sure some prostitutes wouldn't do. Later he would tell Vee jokingly, she kissed and licked parts of my body that I haven't touched yet. He had enjoyed every minute of it. To top it off, he enjoyed smoking the freebase cocaine.

But he also felt bad about cheating on Monique. Added to this was the fear that she would find out. Marcus had regrets. Lisa was great to get your freak on with, but Monique was the girl he wanted to bring home to moms.

There was another thing bothering Marcus. In fact it puzzled him, it wasn't the usual 'I don't belong feeling'. He felt depressed. He couldn't understand it. He had a great night, picked up a new client and got his rocks off. Even if Monique found out about his escapade with Lisa, he could deny it.

Still he had this strange feeling of depression. It wasn't the money he spent. He only spent two hundred for the cocaine. He had spent more than that many a night on a nice dinner and a good hotel. Yet for some reason he didn't feel good.

Maybe it was guilt he kept telling himself. He knew how to take care of that. His mom always cooked Sunday dinner; he would invite Monique over to meet her. This way he could clear his conscience.

It was seven o'clock when he called his mother. He knew she would be up preparing for church.

"Ma, would it be alright if I invited Monique over for dinner tonight?"

"Yes, I'd like to meet this girl you've been so worked up about."

He then called Monique and told her she had been invited to dinner. He'd be there at four o'clock to pick her up. Monique was so happy about meeting his mother; she didn't mind the early call or the short notice.

Marcus took a shower and went to bed. He slept for about two hours when the telephone woke him. It was Vee.

"Hello," Marcus said as he stretched.

"Yo what's up home boy?"

"Yo Vee it's kind of early, call me later."

"This is important," Vee said. "I need you to draw up some partnership papers."

"Come by the office tomorrow, better yet come by Tuesday."

"Listen," Vee said. "I cant afford to pay what your firm charges. Hook me up like you did with the video store."

This angered Marcus because he knew that Vee's video rental business was an immediate success.

"You're making money hand over fist," Marcus said. "You can afford it."

"Marcus, check it out. Choir Boy and his group are putting on a show for us in the Westchester County Center."

"And," Marcus replied.

"This is gonna cost money," Vee said. "We're gonna need to put down a deposit, then there's insurance, taxes, and what not."

"Vee, I told you about my situation at work. I need to bring in customers, hook me up for a change."

"Listen up home boy, do me this one last solid and from now on I'll pay the regular price."

"Alright," Marcus relented. "Call me tomorrow and give me all the information, right now I need some sleep."

He hung up the phone on Vee.

Marcus was angry. It seems he always had Vee's back. He was pretty sure Vee had his, but Marcus never really asked for anything. On the other hand Vee was always asking for favors. Marcus had even loaned him the fee to file for the corrections officer's test. A loan Marcus noted, that still wasn't repaid.

It was about two thirty when the phone woke him up.

"Hello," he said.

"Wake up sleepy head."

"What's up baby," he replied.

"I hit the first single action number for a hundred and sixty dollars."

"I hear that," Marcus said. Thinking to himself, you woke me up to tell me that.

"So listen baby," Monique said. "We have to make a slight change of plans."

"Why what's up baby?"

"Well first I got to go pick up my money," Lisa said. "And then I want to buy me an outfit for work."

"So you're not coming over here for dinner tonight?"

"Yea, I want you to pick me up at four o'clock in front of the number spot on Jamaica Avenue. I should be finished shopping by then."

"OK I'll meet you there at four," Marcus said.

After he hung up the phone, Marcus sat up in his bed and placed his feet on the floor. He noticed that his entire body ached. Damn, he thought. He knew he and Lisa had a wild time, but he shouldn't have felt like this. It felt like he had worked out every muscle in his body.

Monique was standing in front of the barber shop/number spot talking to some guy when Marcus pulled up.

"Who was that," Marcus asked as soon as she got in the car.

"One of the neighborhood drug dealers, he's been trying to get with me since Jr. High."

"Next time, we meet at your house. I don't really like you hanging on the corner like that," Marcus said.

"You don't say hi when you first see somebody. I didn't sleep with you last night."

"Hi," Marcus said. "I don't like seeing you all up in men's faces like that."

"First of all I don't hang on the corners. Second of all I was waiting for you."

"Alright," he said. "Relax."

"Don't tell me to relax; besides he was up in my face. I've known him longer than I've known you. What was I supposed to do tell him not to talk to me?"

Marcus just stared straight ahead as he drove. He realized he was over reacting. Monique was a good girl, it was his conscience that was really bothering him.

Monique could see he was upset. "I'm sorry baby," she said. "You know I only want to be with you."

"I'm sorry too, I'm just a little nervous about you meeting my moms," Marcus said.

"Don't worry; I'll be on my best behavior."

"It's not you that I'm worried about, actually it's my sister," Marcus stated. Marcus explained to Monique how she could come out of her mouth with some crazy stuff. He warned her not to take it personal.

Monique told him not to worry. What she didn't say was, she was worried enough for the both of them. She often didn't get along with her boy friend's sisters. She remembered how she and her ex man Larry's sister almost came to blows. Larry and his friend had to step in and separate them. Monique had called her every name she could think of as Larry dragged her off. This is going to be hard Monique thought.

Marcus's mom and sister were sitting down watching television as he and Monique came through the front door. As soon as his mother heard them come in she got off the sofa and went into the foyer to greet them.

"Ma, I want you to meet Monique."

"How are you doing Monique?"

"Fine thanks, nice to meet you Miss Dupree," Monique replied.

"Child, my name is Sarah, but in this house every one calls me Ma. And that includes you."

"Ok Ma," Monique said with a forced smile. It had been eleven years since her mother died and she called someone ma.

"Hi I'm Paula Jones," Marcus's sister said. "My last name's different because I got my daddy's name."

Damn, Monique thought, she is off the hook.

Marcus's mother quickly changed the subject. "Come and have a seat we're watching an old movie we rented from Marcus's friend Vee," she said as she led Monique into the living room. "Dinner won't be ready for another twenty minutes."

They were all sitting at the table eating and making small talk, when Paula said, "You're prettier than I thought."

"Excuse me," Monique said as she looked first at Marcus then to his sister.

"Well you know, you're messing around with my boring brother, I would have thought you had no one else to talk too."

Monique played it cool, smiled and changed the conversation. "They're hiring in the mail room where I work at. It's down on Eighty Sixth Street, why don't you come down and put in an application."

Monique then took a drink of soda as Paula said, "I worked already, and it's not for me." Monique stared choking as the soda went down the wrong way. It was a good thing, because otherwise she would have laughed in Paula's face.

"You know Marcus was a gifted child," Sarah said.

"No I didn't know," Monique replied.

"He was talking like a little man by three and graduated High School with honors at the age of sixteen. He even had an academic scholarship to college."

"Well he's an excellent attorney," Monique replied.

Paula sucked her teeth.

After dinner they all went into the living room. Marcus's mother told him to get the wine coolers she had chilling in the freezer. Monique, like Marcus's mother sipped at her wine cooler very slowly. By the time she had drank half of it, Marcus and his sister had finished two apiece. Marcus had soon fallen asleep next to her in the love seat they shared.

For the rest of the evening Monique tried not to say too much to Paula. She felt Paula was trying to play her. She and Marcus's mother on the other hand got along great, especially when they talked about playing numbers. Marcus's mother seemed genuinely happy when Monique told her she hit this morning and bought an outfit.

When Paula found out the outfit was in the car she wanted to see it. "Come on, go get it, let's see if you got good taste."

As she walked out to the car, Monique knew it was a matter of time before she was taking her heels off, earrings out, putting Vaseline on her face and stepping to Marcus's sister.

Monique brought her outfit inside and showed it to Marcus's mother and sister. "This is nice," his mother said. Paula on the other hand said nothing. Monique took that as a compliment.

It was about ten thirty when the door bell rang. Monique was surprised. If it had been her house her father would have cursed out whoever was ringing his bell so late.

Paula got up and went to the door yelling, "who is it?" While Marcus's mother said, "well I guess I'll be going to bed."

"It was nice meeting you...Ma," Monique forced her self to say. It was still hard for her to say that, but she wanted to please Marcus's moms. She was nice and Monique liked her. His sister was a different story.

Monique heard Paula say, "what's up Root Man," as she shook Marcus to wake him up.

Marcus rubbed the sleep out of his eyes when he heard the front door slam.

"Who was that," he asked.

"I think your sister went out."

"Oh man, what time is it?"

"It's ten thirty baby," Monique said. "You ready to take me home?"

"Yeah I guess so, boy am I tired."

"Yeah me too, I wish I could spend the night at your place," she said.

"Me too, but your father would probably kill you."

"I'm a big girl, I'm allowed to spend the night out," Monique said.

"Good you can wash out your underwear and stuff in my sink. Your new clothes are in the car, so you got changing clothes and I got some silk pajamas that you can sleep in."

"Are you serious," Monique asked.

"Yeah baby, I'm tired. Call your father and let him know you're spending the night at my place."

### CHAPTER 10

Marcus sat in his office staring at the bare wall. He felt he should put a picture on it. At first he thought about Malcolm X, but he realized that might be a little too controversial.

His mind then drifted to the past weekend. He had gotten a new client, hung out with Lisa and then Monique spent the night with him at his house. His only worry was Lisa telling Monique about their episode. He remembered his back up plan, deny everything. He then got up and made his way to the morning meeting.

The meeting went the same as usual, until Goldberg started to give Marcus a new case.

"I'll need to keep this afternoon open," Marcus stated. "I have a new client coming in."

The room fell silent. Marcus looked around the conference table at the other attorneys. All eyes were on him. All except Joe who stared straight ahead; Marcus noticed Joe had the same look on his face when he had found out about him and Monique.

"Who is this client," Goldberg asked.

"Bobby Collins, of B-cool Records."

"It must be a small independent label, where are they located" Goldberg asked.

"Their office and recording studio are on 125th Street." Marcus replied.

"That's in Harlem," Joe yelled out. He then looked at Goldberg who was chuckling. Joe started to laugh and shake his head.

Marcus was laughing too, but on the inside. None of them knew anything about B-cool Records. They didn't know the label had the number one R&B single and album. They also had two other groups that had singles in the top twenty. On top of that they were planning to introduce three more R&B acts and two new rap artist before the year's end.

"What type of work are you handling for them," Goldberg asked.

"Basically they want to put us on retainer. I figure we can bill them about five thousand a year," Marcus replied.

No one was laughing now. Marcus didn't say anything about B-cool suing the Marble Hill Boys and their label. Marcus hadn't heard the demo, but Choir Boy did. He said it was better than the original and sounded like it was going to be a hit. As far as Marcus was concerned, the song went ka-ching, and the chorus was the sound of Marcus laughing all the way to the bank.

"Well," Goldberg said, breaking Marcus's chain of thought. "We have a case for you."

Oh brother, Marcus thought. He knew Goldberg had something up his sleeve.

Marcus was angry. He would have been headed for the door, instead of his office if it weren't for the fact that Cool was coming by this afternoon. The lawsuit he had received was so ridiculous that Goldberg laughed while he was telling him about it.

It seemed, the firms oldest client, a widow with a little bit of money in the bank, was burned by hot coffee in a well known fast food restaurant. The only reason the firm didn't turn her away was, she spent a lot of money. It seemed every time she was angered by someone she was calling her lawyer. Goldberg said that Coleman had tried to talk her out of it, but she insisted on suing the restaurant.

It was eleven thirty when Marcus walked into the conference room. The client, Mrs. McDuffie, was sitting at the table waiting for him. She had a large Band-Aide covering her lip and part of her chin. Marcus had to struggle not to laugh. He introduced himself and then pulled out a chair to sit down.

As soon as he was seated, Mrs. McDuffie started to tell him how the restaurant always served her lukewarm coffee.

"One morning the coffee was almost cold," she said. She complained to the manager, who said it wouldn't happen again. He then yelled at the girl who made the coffee.

"The next day she served me piping hot coffee," Mrs. McDuffie said.

"I think we have a case."

"I know we do," she said.

It was almost twelve when he finished with Mrs. McDuffie; he then went to Monique's desk so they could go to lunch together.

In a way he'd be glad when the week was over and she started her new job. The joke around the office was he was whipped and she had him wrapped around her finger.

"Are you ready for lunch baby?"

"Yes, I'm just waiting for Eloise to come cover for me," Monique replied.

"You mean Echo-eze," Marcus said. "I'm telling you, she must be descendant from a long line of town criers."

"Shush here she comes," Monique whispered. "How are you doing Eloise?"

"Fine thanks," She replied. She then looked at Marcus and said, "I'm sorry about the McDuffie case."

"What happened," Monique asked.

"They gave Mr. Dupree a bad case. Cranky old McDuffie is suing because her coffee was too hot." Eloise then looked at Marcus, "the jokes they're making about you are unfair."

"What jokes," Monique demanded.

"You know," Eloise said. "His next case is going to be the ice is too cold or the water is to wet."

Both Eloise and Monique were now looking at Marcus. He ignored Eloise and asked Monique if she was ready to go to lunch now.

As they exited the building Monique said angrily, "How could they do this to you? You're a better attorney than everybody in that damn office."

"Don't worry about it baby. Besides I think she has good case." He then looked at her and smiled. "Plus I have that new client coming in today."

"Yeah I'm glad you brought that up," Monique said. "Where was that club that you said you met this guy at?"

Lying always made Marcus uncomfortable, and Monique had just asked a question that he knew he would never answer honestly or completely.

When they returned to the office Marcus knew he had to get to Lisa before Monique did. He told Monique he had a lot of work to do and headed straight for the Bullpen.

As soon as he entered the Bullpen he looked towards Lisa's desk. He was trying to get her attention without anyone else noticing.

He was almost to his office when she finally looked at him. Once eye contact was established, Marcus looked over to the copy room. He then looked Lisa in the eyes again and then back towards the copy room. She stood up, took some papers off her desk and headed towards the copy room. She looked back at Marcus and saw him nod his head slightly.

"What's up," Lisa said as Marcus entered the copy room.

"Listen; if Monique asks you about the party, I want you to say you had a date and I came with my homeboy."

"I ain't gotta lie for you cause your girl got you whipped," Lisa said.

"Maybe we can get together this weekend, but if she's on to us she won't let me get away," Marcus said.

He had no intentions of getting together with Lisa; he just wanted her to lie to Monique. By Monday, Monique would be at a new job and he wouldn't have to worry about Lisa telling her anything.

"Ok, if she asks, I tell her."

"Thanks," Marcus said.

Lisa then leaned over to give him a kiss. Marcus didn't want to take a chance and kiss her in the office, but he also didn't want to anger her. He looked around to make sure no one was looking before putting his lips to hers. The excitement he felt when their tongues met was increased by the scent of her perfume. He knew then, he would be getting with Lisa sooner or later.

As they separated he wiped his mouth to make sure he didn't have any lipstick on it. Just as he did this, Eloise stepped into the copy room. He was sure she hadn't seen him and Lisa kiss, but she still had that I'm going to tell look on her face.

Marcus looked Eloise directly in the eyes and said, "I'm telling you Lisa, if one more person makes a joke, or says my name, I'm going to give them a worse beating than I gave Joe."

He could see that it worked, Eloise looked panic stricken. Marcus walked out of the copy room satisfied that all the loose ends had been tied.

It was two o'clock when he pictured Cool stepping off the elevator, walking up to Monique's desk and asking for him. He then thought about Monique asking Cool if Lisa and Marcus were at the party together, or more importantly did they leave together.

Marcus knew he looked funny running through the office, but he had to get to the front before Monique could get a chance to ask Cool any questions.

Marcus slowed his run to a walk as he stepped into the receptionist area. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Cool wasn't there yet.

He noticed Joe and Dobbs standing near the elevator. At first he didn't think anything of it, but when Goldberg walked up to them, Marcus knew what was up, as the three of them stood there pretending not to notice him.

Everyone's attention turned towards the elevator as the door opened. Cool stepped out of the elevator. As soon as Marcus saw him he knew how he earned the nickname of Cool.

Bobby (Cool) Collins was wearing a fifteen hundred dollar suit. His shoes looked like they had cost more than Marcus's two best suits combined. He didn't just look cool; he looked like he was dripping money. Even his metallic briefcase looked impressive. The man had class and he carried himself like a businessman.

"How are you doing Mr. Collins," Marcus said as he reached out to shake his hand.

"I'm fine Marcus and by the way, you can call me Cool," he said as he shook Marcus's hand firmly.

"I know you're a busy man, so let's get to the conference room so we can handle your business," Marcus said. He was trying to hurry Cool to the back, before he was forced to introduce him to Monique.

Marcus turned to head towards the conference room and almost bumped into Monique. She had gotten up from her desk and came over to where he and Cool were standing.

"Hi I'm Monique Bell."

"Bobby (Cool) Collins," Cool said as he shook her hand.

"I know," Monique said. "I have your album and I saw you on Soul Train."

"It's always a pleasure to meet a fan," Cool replied.

"Yes I'm a big fan," Monique said. "So I heard you and Mr. Dupree met at a party?"

"I'm sorry I don't have the time to chat with you," Cool said "I have a lot of business to take care of today." He then looked at Marcus and asked are you ready? "Yes," Marcus replied as he started to lead Cool toward the conference room.

"Marcus! How's your first solo case," Goldberg said as he and Joe walked over towards him. "Does she still want to sue because her coffee was too hot?"

Marcus had forgotten all about them.

Goldberg had a big smile on his face and Joe was laughing and patting him on the back.

"I think she's got a case," Marcus responded. "She won't get rich, but I'll get her some money."

They both just stared at him; the smiles and laughter were gone.

As Marcus and Cool headed towards the conference room, Cool said, "Don't you just hate player haters?"

"Huh?"

"You know," Cool said, "People who hate you, just because you're successful."

"Yeah," Marcus replied. "I know what you mean.

"Oh yeah; one more thing Marcus, what story do you want me to tell your girl on the way back out?"

Marcus realized that not only did he have a new client, but he also just gained a new friend.

***

Monique sat on the bar stool sipping on a ginger ale. According to her girlfriend Stella, The Shadow was supposed to be the new in spot. To Monique it was just a big room with a lot of people dancing, dancing that to Monique looked like foreplay timed to the music.

She watched as Stella danced with some guy she had just met. The way they were touching you'd have never known that Stella was married.

Stella was Monique's best friend. This was the first time they had been together in almost a year. Stella had gotten married and moved to Atlanta a little over two years ago. She came to New York every once in a while to visit her mother.

She talked about her husband and life in the ATL as if she were happily married, but the way she was carrying on with her dance partner said something different.

Monique figured it was the alcohol that had Stella acting a fool.

After a few songs Stella and her dance partner came over to where Monique was sitting and pulled a couple of bar stools up and sat down. Stella's new found friend signaled to his friend to come over and talk to Monique.

"So what are your names," Stella's dance partner asked.

"I'm Stella and my shy girlfriend's name is Monique."

"Well my names Paul and my homeboy's name is Tony."

Monique just stared straight ahead as Tony came and stood next to her. "So how you doing," he asked.

"Listen," Monique said. "I don't feel like dancing right now, and I didn't come here to meet anybody."

He just stood there. Monique could tell she had embarrassed him but she couldn't help it.

Here she was at a club with some half drunk man up in her face, and her man was probably in Lisa's bed at this very moment. The last thing she needed right now was some dude pushing up on her, besides Stella was sociable enough for the both of them.

"How about me and you getting up out of here," Paul asked Stella.

Stella responded with, "I don't think you're wife would like that."

"What makes you think I'm married?"

"That light mark on your ring finger, besides I'm married. And if you can't help me with my mortgage, you can't help me at all."

"So what are you, some kind of dick teaser?" He then looked at his homeboy and said, "Come on yo, let's bounce."

"You ain't right," Monique said as she and Stella laughed.

"Listen," Stella said. "Guys play us girls all the time. It's time we flipped it back on them."

"I thought you were happily married to the perfect man."

"I'm married, to a Black man," Stella said, her speech slightly slurred from alcohol. "You know most of them is natural born two timers."

"You caught your husband cheating on you?"

"No I ain't caught him yet. But if you think he's cheating, and you think you know with who, he's probably cheating."

Monique felt Stella's words hit her right in the belly. She just knew Marcus had slept with that slut Lisa. She could sense it by the way the two of them acted when she was around. Marcus looked guilty and Lisa looked at her like she knew a secret.

"If you actually caught him would you leave him," Monique asked.

"Hell no! He's an architect girlfriend. We have a three bedroom house with a two car garage, with two cars in it. Niggers like that are hard to find."

Stella looked at the four thousand dollar ring on her wedding finger then back at Monique. "Most of these guys out here can't really provide for you. Either they jobless, on parole or if they have a good job, half their money is going to child support."

She looked at Monique and shook her head. "As long as I don't see it or the nigger ain't beating my ass, I ain't going anywhere."

"That's crazy," Monique said. "If a man really loved you, he would remain faithful."

"Girl, it's a jungle out there. Believe me, there's some chick out there right now who wants your man. Sometimes the only reason she wants him is cause you want him." She looked at her ring again, and then looked Monique in the eye. Monique thought she saw a hint of sadness. "If your man got a little bit of money, you can believe a few chicks want him. Shit, if he treats them right, they won't even mind sharing him with you. So be prepared to compete with these hoes."

Monique immediately thought of Lisa.

### CHAPTER 11

"Who is it," Lisa asked from behind the door.

"It's me, Marcus."

Lisa then mumbled something Marcus couldn't understand, before she started unlocking the door. As soon as she opened it, he could smell the marijuana. He stepped inside.

He noticed a guy sitting on Lisa's couch. The guy looked younger than Lisa, maybe even a teenager. Maybe this wasn't a good idea, he thought. Lisa noticed Marcus staring at the kid seated on her couch.

"He was just leaving. Yo Kev I'll talk to you later."

"Ahh right," Kev said as he got up from the couch. He walked towards Marcus and the door.

"Marcus," Lisa said as Kev got closer. "This is my little cousin Kevin."

"Nice to meet you," Kevin said as he reached out his hand.

"Same here."

"Later cuz," Kev said as he stepped out the door.

"So what's up," Lisa asked Marcus.

"You baby," he said. He then held out his arms expecting her to kiss him. Instead she took him by the hand and led him fully into the apartment and towards her bedroom.

"You got any get high," she asked as she pushed Marcus onto the bed.

"I don't have anything on me."

"Well let's go get something. I know a spot where they sell it already cooked up."

"Hold up," Marcus said. "Can't I get a little love and affection first?"

"Ain't nobody gonna want to go nowhere after we get busy. Let's go cop first, then I'll look out for you," Lisa said.

"Yeah I guess you're right."

The spot Lisa showed him was on 225th Street and White Plains Road, five blocks from her apartment. He wanted to walk, she insisted that he drive. Even though it was ten o'clock at night the corner was busy. Marcus could see that the young boys 'working' the corner had a virtual turn key business. He laughed to himself when he thought; if I were a criminal lawyer I'd hand out business cards.

Lisa had explained to him that when the cocaine was already cooked up they called it crack instead of freebase. The kids on the corner sold it for ten dollars a vial.

Marcus wasn't to sure about this. From the moment he had arrived at Lisa's place he kept thinking this wasn't a good idea. Reluctantly he gave her thirty dollars to buy three vials and they went back to her apartment.

This is some good stuff Marcus thought as he and Lisa smoked the crack. As they were finishing the last vial, Lisa said to Marcus let's go get some more.

As they drove towards 225th Street, Marcus noticed he was not only high; he was extremely paranoid. He felt as if everyone knew he had been smoking crack. As he watched Lisa talking to the young drug dealers he felt she was setting him up. His paranoia was rapidly becoming terror. As soon as Lisa got in the car he sped off, almost colliding with another car in the process.

By the time they got to Lisa's apartment he was a nervous wreck. I'll feel better if I take another hit, he thought.

Marcus did feel better as he pulled the crack cocaine into his lungs. The good feeling didn't last long. As soon as he blew the smoke out, he wanted more. No, it was more like a need. To make things worse, each hit would make him more paranoid.

"Lets get some more," Lisa said.

"You go," Marcus said. "I'll wait here." He was too paranoid to go outside.

When Lisa returned Marcus noticed the vials weren't as full as the ones they bought before. At this point he didn't care, he just wanted a hit.

When all the crack was finished Lisa again asked him if he wanted some more.

Marcus thought about the rest of the weekend. He and Monique were supposed to spend tomorrow night in Atlantic City. He had to hold on to his money.

"No," he said. "I really don't have any more money."

"You gotta leave."

"What," Marcus said in disbelief.

"My little cousin Kev is coming back. You don't want no beef with him, he don't care if you're a lawyer or what."

Fucking bitch, Marcus thought as he walked out of her apartment. I'll never get high with her again.

Marcus had just started unlocking the door when the phone started to ring.

"Hello," he said, breathing heavy from the stairs.

"What are you doing," Monique asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Why do you sound like that Marcus?"

"I Just walked up five flights of stairs. I was just walking in the door when you called."

"I don't believe you, who's there with you, why are you breathing so hard?"

Even though he and Lisa didn't have sex, Marcus felt a twinge of guilt.

"First of all, you called my house at three o'clock in the morning to ask me what I'm doing. The real question is what are you doing?"

"Where were you Marcus, I called earlier and you weren't there."

"I was hanging out with Vee. We went to a bar and had a few drinks."

"I don't believe you Marcus."

"Are we still going to spend the rest of this weekend in Atlantic City?"

"Yes," she replied.

"Well I'll be at your house at three o'clock to pick you up, good night baby."

"Good night Marcus."

Monique held the phone to her ear listening to the dial tone for a few seconds before hanging up. She just knew Marcus had Lisa in his house. His sister had told her earlier that their mother had gone out on a date.

As far as Monique was concerned, this gave him the opportunity to bring in whoever he wanted. If Lisa was there, his sister wouldn't tell Monique; besides Paula and Lisa would probably get along real good. They had a lot in common, they were both whores.

Monique now felt she would have to take her game to the next level. She kept thinking of Stella's words, "be prepared to compete with these hoes."

Monique lied in her bed staring up into the darkness. Monday she would be starting a new job and Lisa would have access to her man eight hours a day. Her mind was made up, she wasn't going to share him.

It wasn't so much the sex that she was worried about when she thought of competing with Lisa. What concerned her more were the extra curricular activities. If your man liked football, and some girl was around him who also liked football, you'd better start liking football too. Monique knew what she had to do.

Marcus had only been sleep about an hour when he awoke to the sound of the door bell

"Who is it," Marcus yelled.

"It's me Monique."

He opened the door and was startled to see Monique standing there breathing hard with a suit case in her hand.

"What's up," he said as he backed away from the door unsure of what all this meant.

"I figured we can get an earlier start if I come here instead of you coming out to Queens."

"Ok," Marcus said nodding his head and looking at the suit case.

"Oh, these are my changing clothes," she stated when she noticed him staring at the suit case.

Before Marcus could say anything else, she stepped into the apartment. And then, without saying a word or breaking stride, she undressed and got into the bed.

Monique lied in the bed drenched in sweat. She couldn't believe what had just happened. She had come here expecting to catch Marcus in a lie. She had often heard Lisa brag about sending men home drained. Monique had expected Marcus to be too tired to make love, but instead he performed like a paroled convict.

Marcus realized he was almost busted. If he and Lisa had gotten busy, he would have been too tired to perform and Monique would have known something was up.

Monique snuggled up to Marcus's arm, for the first time she realized just how much she loved him. Part of her mind said it was just the sex, but on a deeper level, he seemed to fill a void that was in her heart; a void that had been there since her mother's death. She would do whatever she had to do to keep this man.

Just as she was starting to get comfortable, Marcus sat up and reached for the night stand.

"What's up baby?"

"I just want to smoke a joint to help me sleep." Marcus rolled a joint and lit it. After he had taken a few puffs Monique tapped him on the shoulder and said, "can I have some."

He looked at her and laughed before playfully putting the joint to he lips. When she put her lips on it and started to pull he was surprised. If she wouldn't have started coughing he would not have believed she actually inhaled.

"You're smoking weed now?"

"I want to enjoy the things you enjoy. I want us to do everything together."

"I love you baby," he said and then he kissed her.

He took another drag off the joint and then brought it near her lips. This time he instructed her on what to do, "just take a little, so you don't cough again."

After they finished smoking the joint, Monique laid her head back on Marcus's shoulder. She was high on Marijuana for the first time and it felt good.

"Maybe we can bring some of this with us to Atlantic City. It makes me kind of horny."

"Yeah I will," Marcus said. "But what I really want to bring is some cocaine." He then looked at her out of the corner of his eye and said, "But that might be a little too much for your virgin system."

"I'm a big girl; I can handle whatever you can handle."

"Well I might let you sniff some, baby powder style. The way I like to indulge might be a little to hard core for you."

"What do you mean," she asked.

"I like to smoke my cocaine freebase style."

"I'll give it a try."

"So you want to run with the big dogs baby."

"Yes," Monique lied. She really didn't want anything to do with cocaine. But she knew Lisa used it to seduce men. That was probably how she got to Marcus.

Monique's plan was simple; she would use the cocaine with Marcus and pretend to get sick. She would then tell him she was probably allergic to it. She would then ask him to stop using it because she couldn't.

The next day they drove down to Atlantic City after buying two grams of cocaine from Root Man. Once they got settled in their room, Monique was ready to put her plan in action. As she smoked the freebase for the first time, she prepared to tell Marcus that it was making her sick. But then the unexpected happened, she liked it.

So instead of pretending to get sick, she and Marcus alternated between smoking reefer, freebasing cocaine and making love for six and a half hours. Well, she thought, at least Marcus and I have a common interest now.

They got high two weekends in a row.

By the second weekend Marcus realized it was becoming a problem. The main reason he felt this way was because his bank account was going down. He felt it was time to quit smoking cocaine. He discussed it with Monique and she agreed. They still continued to smoke marijuana though.

The next few weeks passed quickly. Monique spent every weekend at Marcus's apartment. At first she would come on Friday and leave Monday morning and go to work. Then after a few weeks she started to come sooner and leave later. This continued until she just ended up living with Marcus.

***

During the six months following his decision to stop smoking freebase, Marcus's legal career expanded rapidly.

The first big break came when he sued the Marble Hill Boys for using Cool's music on their new single. The song had climbed to number one on both the R&B and billboard charts.

Marcus had found out that most of the money performers made came from live performances. He then threatened them with a court order preventing them from performing the song live. The Marble Hill Boys and their label settled out of court for one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Fifty thousand of this went to the law firm, and ten thousand of that was paid to Marcus in the form of a bonus.

The second break that boosted his career didn't bring in that much money at first. It was the hot coffee case. Mrs. McDuffie only won three thousand in the court settlement. The firm only received one thousand of that.

It was the publicity the firm received that proved to be more valuable than the money. Two major restaurant chains, a major medical insurance firm and a major amusement park chain all put the firm on high price retainers.

***

Marcus was in his office with a client, his desk was full of paper work. The client was a young Black man.

"I'm sorry we couldn't meet in the conference room," Marcus said. "It's just that I'm swamped with work."

"I understand."

"Just let me know if you need anything."

"Ok."

"So I'll see you in a few weeks," Marcus said as he shook the young man's hand.

Just as the young man stood up, Ms. O'Neal buzzed Marcus on the intercom.

"Mr. Dupree, Mr. Page is here to see you.

"Send him in."

Marcus thought about how his clout at the firm had grown. He could now have visitors and no one would question whether they were business or personal.

"What's up Vee?"

Same old, same old," Vee replied as he entered Marcus's office. "Yo, was that Daniel Murray?"

"Yeah, we're getting him ready for the NBA Draft."

"Everbody's saying he'll be the Knick's first round draft choice?"

"Yeah, Cool recommended me to him, he played on Cool's team in the Rucker's Tournament a few years ago."

"You're getting big time," Vee said.

"A little something, something," Marcus said as he gave Vee a high five.

"So what brings you down to Wall Street?"

Vee looked at all the paper work on Marcus's desk and said, "I hate to bother you homeboy. I just wanted to know if you can recommend a good criminal attorney."

"Why what happened," Marcus asked.

"Nothing, but after what happened at City College, I want to be prepared for the unexpected."

Marcus knew Vee was talking about the trampling deaths at a recent concert held at the City College of New York. The promoter was in court as they spoke.

"I have a list I collected from some of the inmates."

"Huh," Marcus said before realizing Vee meant the inmates at the correctional facility he worked at.

Vee handed the list to Marcus.

"First of all, every lawyer probably loses a case," Marcus said. "But why would you start with Lawyers whose clients you know are in jail."

"You see, that's why I came to you. You know about this stuff. I need someone who's real cool."

"Ok I'll get back to you in a couple of days with some names," Marcus said. "But as you can see, I'm very busy right now." Marcus then pointed at the pile of papers on his desk.

"We're handling three mergers right now. I've got a ton of patent and trade mark paper work. I'm working ten and eleven hour days here getting this stuff done."

"And I bet your getting paid lovely," Vee said. "Oh yeah one more thing, what's up with Lisa, she looks like a walking skeleton."

"Yeah I know. She's still smoking crack and on top of that she's about to get fired. They think she's stealing."

"Damn, and she used to have a nice body, yeah that crack kills. Anyway, I'll talk to you later," Vee said as he slapped Marcus five.

As Vee walked out, Marcus thought to himself, he's lying. Vee had just bought a new house. Actually it was a small mansion. Marcus knew that the mortgage payments were at least equal to the all the money Vee earned from his corrections job, video store and concert promotions combined.

It was no secret he had some 'other' source of income, a secret source. And now he wanted a good criminal lawyer. Marcus knew better than to try to talk Vee out of whatever it was he was doing. Still he had to do something; he didn't want to see his best friend get in trouble. The best thing to do he thought, was to get Vee a real good criminal lawyer.

Suddenly the phone rang. He knew it was either his mother or Monique, since they were the only ones who had his direct number.

"Hello," he said.

"Marcus I'm pregnant," Monique responded.

"Oh man," he replied. "What are we going to do?"

"What do you want to do Marcus?" Monique knew they never discussed having children. She wanted to have his child and always assumed he felt the same way, since they never used protection.

"I want you to be the mother of my children."

"Oh Marcus, that was so romantic, I love you."

"Oh man, this is great; I'm going to be a daddy."

"All we have to do now is get the license."

"License," Marcus said. "What kind of license?"

"A marriage license Marcus. I'm not having a baby out of wedlock."

"Oh," he replied. "Ok baby we'll discuss everything tonight. I have a lot of work I have to do. I love you."

"I love you too."

Marcus hung up the phone. He loved Monique, wanted this baby and felt that he would eventually to marry her. But he wanted it to be his choice. She had basically given him an ultimatum; no marriage, no child.

Marcus and his sister Paula sat at the table as Monique and his mother served dinner.

"So I'm going to be a grandmother," Sarah said.

"And a mother in law," Monique said.

Marcus sat there as Monique put food on his plate.

"So Marcus," Paula said. "Are you ready for your shotgun wedding?"

He remained silent.

"So have you picked out a church," his mother asked.

"Well I figure we can do it at your church ma," Monique said.

"You two will have to come with me to church Sunday, so you can talk to the pastor."

Holy Ghost Baptist, Marcus thought. He realized he hadn't been there in a while. It was two blocks from where Lisa had bought the crack that night. He suddenly had an urge to smoke some.

***

Marcus couldn't stop fidgeting. Pastor Crain was preaching about not serving two masters. But all Marcus could think about were the boys over on 225th Street, who were selling crack.

"You are either walking towards god, or you are running towards the devil," Pastor Crain said.

Marcus thought about how the people walked into the church, and how on 225th they were running up to the dealers.

"The choice is yours," the pastor said. "But remember, the devil is appealing and very inviting."

Maybe one more time couldn't hurt, Marcus thought. It seemed like the crack was calling his name.

"The devil knows your name," the pastor yelled.

This startled Marcus. He knows what I'm thinking. No that's impossible. I have to relax and stop thinking about smoking cocaine.

After the sermon Marcus, Monique and his mother went to the pastor's office.

"Long time no see," the pastor said as he shook Marcus's hand.

"I'm sorry I haven't been coming more often," Marcus said.

"It's ok," the pastor said. He sat down behind what Marcus considered an over sized desk. "I know you've been busy with law school and all."

"He works down on Wall Street now, Marcus's mother said.

"Praise the lord," pastor Crain said. "See how the Lord blesses the faithful."

This guy is full of crap Marcus thought. I haven't been to a Sunday service in almost ten years, and he's calling me faithful.

"And now you're ready to take this lovely woman as your wife," pastor Crain said. "The lord truly blesses the righteous and the children of the righteous."

Damn, Marcus thought, doesn't he ever stop preaching?

"Well," the pastor said. "The first thing we have to do is set you two up for pre marital counseling to make sure you are compatible."

"We really don't want to wait to long," Marcus's mother said.

"Well we really like to make sure the couple is compatible and evenly yoked," the pastor said. He looked at Marcus and then to Monique, who was looking at her stomach.

"Oh, I see," pastor Crain said. "I just hope our organ holds out."

"What's wrong with it," Marcus's mother said as she reached for her check book.

By the time Marcus got out of the church, he no longer felt like he wanted some crack, he felt like he needed it.

"You need to start putting together a guest list," Marcus's mother said as she drove them home from the church.

"I don't have anybody to invite," Marcus said from the back seat.

"You could invite your co workers," his mother said.

"Just make sure you don't invite your girlfriend Lisa," Monique said.

His mother looked at him through the rear view mirrow.

"When do I get to make a decision about this wedding," Marcus said.

"Why, do you want to invite your mistress to our wedding?"

Monique looked at his mother and tried to appear sad.

"That's not the point," Marcus said. "Everything has been your choice."

"So you admit she's your mistress," Monique said.

She gave his mother an I told you so look.

"Lisa has nothing to do with what I'm talking about," he said.

"If you admit you slept with her, I'll forgive you and she can come to the wedding."

"Are you crazy," Marcus yelled. "This ain't about Lisa, it's about me having a say so in my own life. You know what, I'm going to invite the whole damn job, even the janitor."

### CHAPTER 12

"Mr. Dupree, I have Mr. Carter on the line, he wants to speak to you," Ms O'Neal said over the intercom.

"Put him through," Marcus said. "Mr. Carter, How are you doing?" Marcus hadn't spoken to him or his partner Banks since he settled their restraint of trade case.

"I'm fine Marcus, but call me Ron."

"So Ron, to what do I owe the honor of this call."

"We have a job for you," Carter said. "I've been following your career and you're just the man we need."

"I'm honored," Marcus said. "But I don't know if I can relocate right now."

"We want you to head our legal department; we'll double your pay."

"You know what I'm making," Marcus said.

"Yeah we have our sources," Carter said. "Listen, before you decide, I have to say this. It may sound like a speech but I have to get it off my chest. My father was the Grand Wizard of the Klan out here in Indiana."

On hearing that, Marcus felt a shiver go through him.

"I was raised to hate Blacks, Jews and Latinos. I've mellowed out over the years and I've learned to be politically correct. But you just don't let go of what you've been taught all your life."

Carter fell silent for a few seconds. He then continued and Marcus could hear the emotion in his voice.

"Marcus, you saved my business, in fact you saved my family and my life; and I have to repay you."

A new start, Marcus thought. I've got a chance to retake control of my life, a chance to get out of my mother's house and chance to raise my child in a healthy environment.

"I'll take it," he said.

"Are you crazy," Monique said. "He told you his father was the Grand Pubah of the Ku Klux Klan, and you want to move there."

"It ain't the deep south," Marcus said. "Indiana's in the mid west."

"I don't care if it's Afghanistan in the mid east; I am not moving that far from my father."

She looked at Marcus's mother who was shaking her head no.

"He wants me to move away from my father, to the father of the Klan, oh hell no," Monique said as she got up from the dinner table and started towards the kitchen with her plate.

"Marcus, I have something I need to tell you" his mother said. "I really wanted to wait until after the wedding, but all this talk about moving is changing my plans."

"What's going on mama?"

"I've decided to move in with Earl."

"So you're going to sell the house?"

"No, that's why I need you to stay here in Mount Vernon," she said. "I want to hold on to it for at least another five years."

"Why don't you just sell it," he said.

"Because I want to retire in fifteen years and the longer I hold it, the more money I can get. Plus your sister needs a place to stay."

"You want me to stay here with her?"

"Just till she gets her act together."

"I'll call Carter back and tell him I can't take the job"

"Thank you baby."

After he finished dinner Marcus went out on the front porch. He had just finished rolling a joint when Monique joined him.

"You're going to smoke that in front of your mother's house before she goes to bed?"

He lit the joint and blew the smoke in her face before saying, "You're right." He then walked down the block towards the corner.

***

Marcus and Vee sat at the bar sipping on Chivis Regal. Marcus assumed the Dyre Bar and Grill once sold food, but those days were long gone. The place was so old and musty smelling he was having hard time even drinking there.

"Damn, they offered you twice what you make now and you're still here," Vee said.

"I'm doing it for my moms, she asked me to help her out."

"Damn, you are a mama's boy."

"Chill with that," Marcus said as he looked around to see if anybody heard. "Why did we even come here?"

"It's quiet," Vee said, "and you said you wanted to have a few drinks and talk."

He was right; Marcus thought; the place was quiet. He looked around and realized he and Vee were the two youngest in the bar. The only two other patrons had to be in their sixties. Even the bar tender had to be at least forty.

"Quiet, these guys are almost dead," Marcus said.

"You better get used to this place," Vee said. "This is where whipped mama's boys like you end up."

"I don't know what to do, ever since Monique got pregnant; it feels like I've lost control of my life."

"Yeah I know what you mean, if you don't marry her she's gonna hit you up for child support."

Marcus finished the half full glass and shivered as the alcohol went down. "I hate to admit it, but I feel like I'm between a rock and a hard place."

"You could always pay somebody to do her," Vee said.

"What?"

"I'm just joking."

"I hear that," Marcus said, but he knew better. Vee never joked. He said a lot of funny things but he always meant them.

Marcus stood up and threw five dollars on the bar. "Yo Vee, I'm out of here," he said as he slapped Vee five.

As he walked out the bar he wondered, what was going on with Vee.

Another thing puzzled Marcus, his mother statement; "I've tried not to bring any men around you and your sister, but you're getting married now. It's time for me to move on with my life."

Something about those words bothered him, but he couldn't put his finger on it.

Instead of going straight home, Marcus decided to drive around awhile. He found himself driving south on White Plains Road. As he drove past Lisa's block he wondered what she was doing now. He figured if he kept driving south towards 225th Street, he'd see her buying some crack.

As he passed 226th Street he noticed the block was more crowded than before. It was only ten thirty Marcus though, but it was a Wednesday night. He slowed the car down as he looked at the people.

As he got closer to 225th Street he started to get a funny feeling in his stomach. Soon this feeling spread from his belly to his entire body. Marcus felt excited, as if something was going to happen. His breathing started to become shallow and fast; and his mouth began to salivate.

I've got to get out of here, Marcus thought. He thought his instincts were telling him something bad was about to happen. The traffic light turned red, just as he got to the corner.

Marcus looked over at a guy who had a Mike Tyson like body. It was early April and still cool out, but all the guy wore on his upper body was a wife beater. This was the street name for a sleeveless tee shirt.

"What do you want," Tyson said when he noticed Marcus staring at him.

Marcus was ready to run the light. If Tyson made one move toward him, he was gone.

"You want weed, crack, what you looking for," Tyson said.

He's a dealer Marcus thought. "I'm alright money," Marcus said.

Damn this is a long light, he thought. Across from Tyson's corner Marcus could see a nice looking girl buying crack from another dealer.

When is this light going to change? Marcus watched as the girl opened the vial and poured the crack into her pipe.

Marcus looked back to Tyson who was now staring at him. Marcus nodded his head, Tyson returned the black power salute and said, "if you need anything, come see me."

"Ahh right," Marcus said. The light turned green. Marcus sped off, turning into the block where the pretty girl was now lighting her crack.

He watched as she pulled from the pipe. He could almost feel what she felt. Suddenly Marcus had to defecate.

***

Marcus sat in the morning meeting thinking about the close call he had yesterday. He hadn't smoked crack in over six months, and yet the urge to do so was as strong as ever.

"Mr. Dupree," Goldberg said. "Are you still with us?"

"Huh, oh, yeah," Marcus said. He noticed Goldberg didn't address him by his first name.

"We have a new client for you."

"What," Marcus said. "I'm working on two mergers and I've got that pharmaceutical start up. How am I going to find the time to do all of this?"

"It shouldn't be that hard. It's a Black hair care company, a simple incorporation and some trademark registration work."

"I'm already working ten hour days; can't you spread the work around a little bit?"

"This particular client might be a little more comfortable working with you," Goldberg said. "Like I said it's a Black hair care company."

"And what does that mean," Marcus said as he pushed his chair away from the table.

Goldberg looked at the other attorneys sitting around the table as if looking for help. He then spoke, but never looked at Marcus. "What I mean is ah, it's a ma and pop operation and ah, they need somebody down to earth like you, that all I meant."

After the meeting was over, Marcus went straight to Coleman's office.

"Can I help you," Coleman's secretary said to Marcus.

"Yes I'd like to speak to Mr. Coleman."

"I'm sorry he's busy right now, I'll tell him you came by Mr. uh, I'm sorry, what's your name again?"

"He'll know it when he sees me, cause I'm not moving until he comes out."

"What?"

"Sooner or later he'll have to go to the bathroom or something," Marcus said. "At that point you can just point to me and say that man wants to speak to you."

Coleman's secretary then picked up a magazine and started to read it. Marcus didn't have a lot of time to waste so he upped the ante, he sat on her desk.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm waiting," Marcus said.

Marcus could see the fear in her face. She stood up. When she realized he wasn't going to do anything else, her fear became anger.

Marcus smiled at her; at this point he didn't care what happened. He hadn't called Carter yet, he still had a job waiting for him in Indiana.

She walked into Coleman's office. After about ten seconds the door opened and Coleman said, "Marcus, Come on in."

Marcus stepped into the office.

"Have a seat," Coleman said.

As Marcus sat down, Coleman took his seat behind the desk.

"How can I help you," Coleman said.

"I'm being overworked."

"Yes, I've noticed you've been clocking a lot of hours."

"I'm getting married in about a month," Marcus said. "This is just too much for me right now."

"Congratulations," Coleman said as he shook his hand.

"Thanks."

"I'll tell Goldberg to team you with Dobbs; you can show him how to do the forms and other routine stuff."

"Thanks, that'll help," Marcus said.

"Also, I think it's time you got a raise, how does seventy five thousand a year sound."

"Great," Marcus said.

"Ok that settled it," Coleman said as he got up and led Marcus towards the door.

That was a little too easy, Marcus thought as he headed back to his office.

He handed the folder to Ms. O'Neal. "Call this client and schedule a meeting."

"Yes sir," Ms. O'Neal said. When she realized it was a new client, she looked at him with disbelief. "Mr. Dupree, you know the only reward for hard work, is more work."

"Yeah I know."

***

"You wanted to see me," Goldberg asked as he walked into Coleman's office.

"You know if you weren't my son in law I'd probably fire you."

"But dad, what happened."

"Don't fucking dad me, what's going on with you and Dupree?"

"Huh," Goldberg said.

Coleman brought his fist down on the desk hard, the bang startled Goldberg.

"Why are you giving him such a heavy work load?"

Goldberg recovered and then smiled. "Yeah, he thinks he's a hot shot lawyer, let's see if he can handle the pressure."

"You idiot," Coleman said. "Maybe you haven't noticed it yet, but he is a hot shot lawyer." Coleman started screaming, "He has brought in more money and clients in seven months, than you did in the last two years."

"But," Goldberg said.

"But nothing," Coleman said, his voice starting to calm. "This kid is smart and people like him. If he left and went to another firm you'd be surprised how many clients would follow him."

"That might not be a bad idea," Goldberg said. "A bunch of singers and athletes, a lot of people feel it's getting too dark around here anyway."

Coleman stood up, and walked over to the window. "That's the other thing; you have to stop that kind of talk."

"The truth is the truth," Goldberg said.

Coleman leaned in close to Goldberg and said, "If Dupree decides to sue us because of your racism and harassment, do you want to be the lawyer who faces him?"

Goldberg remained silent.

"I didn't think so."

***

Marcus sat in his office staring at the door. It had been a month since Monique had told him she was pregnant. Sunday he would be a married man.

The past thirty days had been very stressful. Cool had thrown him a bachelor party that was supposed to relieve some of that stress, but actually had the opposite effect.

At the party Vee had brought up the fact that Marcus would be spending the rest of his life with one girl, night after night. Marcus had never thought of it like that. He realized, that if his marriage was successful, Monique would be the last girl he ever slept with.

He loved Monique, but he never really thought what marriage would mean. It was a life long commitment to fidelity.

He decided to drive around a little after work instead of going straight home. He was soon driving the streets of the Bronx. After a while he found himself driving along the Grand Concourse.

He was going north on the Concourse, when he got to Burnside Avenue. He decided to check out the old block, so he swung a left at the intersection.

When he got to the intersection of Burnside and Creston, he saw a friend from Mount Vernon High named Lenny. He remembered that Lenny sold good weed back in school, so he decided to park the car and buy some.

"Yo Lenny, what's up?"

"Yo Marcus, what's up man?"

"I was just driving by when I saw you."

"That's cool man, what you looking for?"

"You got some weed," Marcus asked.

"Nah man, I'm slinging cracks now, I got nickels." He pulled a couple of vials from his pocket.

"Five dollar bottles?"

"Yeah," Lenny said.

Damn, Marcus thought; in six months the price had dropped from ten dollars a vial to five.

Just then a nice looking light skin girl in a short mini walked up.

"Yo player" she said to Marcus. "Why don't you buy a sister a couple of bottles, so I can look out for you?"

"That's alright," Marcus said. Thinking to himself that he would be married in two days.

"You look out and I'll look out," the girl said.

Marcus thought about his last time with Lisa. He knew people would say anything to get high.

"What you gay," the girl asked. She then looked at Lenny who shrugged his shoulders.

They both then looked at Marcus. He felt his manhood was on the line.

"Ok," Marcus said. "Give me four bottles."

Marcus decided to get high on crack one more time; it was going to be his last hurrah. Plus it would be his last chance to sow his wild oats.

As soon as Lenny put the little crack bottles in Marcus's hand he thought, this might not be a good idea.

"I know a place where we can smoke," the girl said.

Marcus followed her. He was starting to get that feeling in his stomach, which he now realized were urges to smoke crack. What made it worse was the sudden need to defecate.

"So where are we going to smoke," Marcus asked as he and the girl walked down the block.

"I got a friend who'll let us use his place, just give him a bottle."

Damn, he thought. He didn't want to get high in a strange guy's house.

"A whole bottle," Marcus said. "I wish you would have told me that before I'd have bought another one." As soon as he said it, Marcus knew he had made a mistake, her eyes lit up, she knew he had more money.

By the time they got to her friends building Marcus's stomach felt like he was on a roller coaster. Her friend was standing out front. He looked harmless Marcus thought.

"What am I getting out of it," the guy asked.

"He said he'd give you a whole bottle," the girl said.

"Ok come on in." He led them into the building which Marcus instantly recognized as a rooming house, filled with furnished rooms and a shared bathroom.

"Don't sit on my bed," the guy said as they entered the room.

Marcus handed the room's owner a vial of crack, which he immediately started to smoke.

"Give me one," the girl said. Marcus handed it to her. He watched as she smoked some.

"Let me use your pipe," Marcus said.

The girl sucked her teeth and took another pull before giving Marcus the pipe. He took a hit. His stomach immediately felt better.

"Come on," the girl said after they finished two of the vials. Marcus followed her to the bathroom. She took a handful of toilet paper and handed it to Marcus.

"What's this for?

"To clean your self with," she said.

Marcus took it, not quite understanding what she meant. She then opened his pants. "Are you ready," she asked as she climbed off her knees.

He just nodded as she took hold of him, guiding him. She turned her back to him. He pressed up close and grabbed her shoulders. Marcus was overcome by drugs and lust.

When he was finished he backed away from her. He looked down to adjust his zipper.

"What the hell," Marcus said. He took the toilet paper she had handed him and wiped. He smelled it. Marcus suddenly realized he had just sodomized her.

He looked at her; she glared back with a strange look. He started to say something; but she no longer looked like a girl. More like a young boy.

Marcus was overcome by a wave of nausea. He didn't even finish wiping himself before he turned and rushed out of the rooming house.

***

Fifteen thousand dollars, Marcus thought; that's how much this wedding is costing me.

This figure didn't even include the engagement ring and the honeymoon to the Bahamas.

I'm starting marriage off over thirty thousand in debt, he thought.

"... by the power invested in me by the State of New York, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."

He kissed Monique.

Marcus was now a married man. He looked at Vee, his best man; they shook hands and then hugged. He then turned around and looked at the three hundred plus guest. It was an impressive crowd.

The entire law firm showed up except for Joe. Even Goldberg was there, to Marcus's surprise. He soon realized why; Goldberg did not want Marcus alone with Coleman.

Cool and most of the B-Cool label was also there. Choir Boy and the Park Avenue Boys where on tour; but many other recording artist were in attendance.

Also among the guest were two players from the NBA. Marcus was not only their lawyer; he acted as their manager as well.

The wedding went off without a hitch. The reception started off good as well. Marcus had rented a large hall and hired a DJ. He brought in caterers, who served a three course meal with shrimp cocktail appetizers. There was also a full bar.

Once they were settled in at their tables, Monique's father called for everyone's attention. Once he got it he raised his glass for a toast.

"I'm not use to giving speeches," he said. "But here goes."

He paused while a few people laughed.

"To my Daughter, Monique, the luckiest girl in the world, she found the man of her dreams. A good man, and an honorable man; and from the looks of this set up a man who knows how to show a lady a good time."

Some of the guest laughed and a few applauded.

He continued, "and to Marcus, may your marriage to my daughter last a lifetime."

"Here, here," someone shouted.

"And now for the best man," Vee said.

"Oh my god, Marcus thought. He just knew Vee was going to say, now you're stuck with one chick or something crazy like that.

"I'm not use to giving speeches either." He turned and faced the newlyweds. "May god bless you with a long and happy marriage."

Again someone yelled, "Here, here; and everyone put their glasses to their lips.

Marcus watched as his mother and Earl danced. She really seamed happy with him. He had met him about a week ago. He seemed like a nice guy and he made his mother happy.

She had already moved most of her stuff either in storage or into his house; and he and Monique had taken over her old room. They were going to use his old room for the baby.

He was feeling good about everything until he discovered his sister and Lisa seemed to be good friends. He noticed them standing together. He could tell by their mannerisms, they had known each other a while.

He walked over to them. Paula was watching him as he approached. As soon as hear was in ear shot, she said, "You know what they say; the bigger the wedding, the shorter the marriage." He turned around and walked away. He knew now, that at some point either he or Monique would be kicking his sister's ass; it just wasn't going to be at his wedding.

He went to the bar and ordered straight scotch. He drank it fast and then ordered another. It's amazing, he thought, just how one person could ruin a good day.

Monique watched as her husband downed the drink. When she saw him order another, she knew something was wrong. She walked over to him.

"What's the matter baby?"

"It's nothing," he said.

She looked over in the direction of Lisa and Paula; they were laughing so loud she could hear them. Lisa eyes were on the ceiling but Paula was looking right at them.

"It's that damn Lisa," she said. "I told you not to invite her."

"It's not Lisa." He finished off the second scotch.

"Oh, now you're going to defend the hoe bitch at my wedding." She started to turn away.

He grabbed her arm. "First of all, it's our wedding; and second, it was my sister who made me mad."

Monique looked at him with tears running down her face. It took a second for his words to register, her sadness turned to anger.

"What did she say?"

"We'll talk about it later."

"I don't know if I can live with your sister."

"I know I can't," he said. "But I promised my mother."

"So what are we going to do?"

"Don't worry, I'll think of something. In the mean time, let's dance and enjoy our wedding day.

### CHAPTER 13

The first three weeks of marriage were great.

They both had taken two weeks vacation from their jobs for the weeding and honeymoon.

The first one was spent in the Bahamas. They spent most of the time in the casinos, gambling. Marcus wanted to try and find weed, but he kept thinking about the movie Midnight Express. He hadn't waited until marriage to go to jail; there's plenty of weed to smoke in New York he told himself.

The second week they spent in Mount Vernon. They rented Videos from Vee's store and lounged around the house. Marcus also smoked a lot of weed but Monique had quit because she was pregnant. He had one problem though, the urges to smoke crack. He hadn't told anyone about them, hoping they would go away. Instead they just got stronger.

During this week, Paula only spent one night in the house. She showed up on two other occasions to shower, but that was it. Marcus figured if she kept this up, he'd be able to deal with her.

The Friday of the third week, Marcus decided to surprise Monique and leave work early. He usually left the office at seven, and arrived home around eight thirty.

He figured he and Monique could go to one of the many sea food restaurants out on City Island. It would be their first time out as husband and wife since they came back from their honeymoon.

The house was quit when he walked in the door. That's strange, he thought, usually Monique has the radio playing. He climbed the stairs.

As he headed past Paula's closed room door, he heard voices on the other side. He put his ear to the door and heard Monique's voice, "hurry up, before Marcus comes home."

He pushed the door open fast, not knowing what to expect.

"Oh man, you scared the hell out of me," Paula said.

Monique was silent, because she was puffing on a small crack pipe.

He wanted to say, what the hell are you doing, but he just stared at her. As she blew out the smoke, he said, "let me get some."

Monique handed him the pipe. He noticed it was the length of a long cigarette and just a little fatter.

"What kind of pipe is this," he asked

"It's a stem," Paula said as she passed him some crack.

Marcus took a hit and then passed the pipe back to Paula. He watched her take a hit. She then put more crack in the pipe; and both Marcus and Monique reached for it.

"Hold up," Paula said. "Let me take another hit.

"You got any more," he asked as she blew out the smoke.

"No, but Root Man is selling some good coke."

He gave Paula the money to go buy from Root Man. While they waited, he and Monique went down into the living room.

"Do you think its ok for you to smoke," he asked.

"Yeah, I'm only two months and some change," she replied.

Marcus thought to himself, what difference does it make, you're still pregnant. He started to confront her on it. But realized, if he didn't let her smoke, she wouldn't let him either.

When Paula returned, they cooked up the coke and smoked it. They repeated this cycle several more times.

Seven hundred dollars later, Marcus had had enough. He had taken the five hundred out of the bank to pay his mother the rent. The rest was supposed to be used to take his wife out. And he had spent it all, in about thirteen hours.

"That's it," he said. He put his hands over his face. "I can't do this anymore."

"Come on, one more," Monique said.

Paula just watched.

"There's no more money," he said. There was money in the bank, but he wasn't going there.

Paula got up and left the house. He and Monique looked at each other for a few seconds, and then she got up and went upstairs to lie down.

I can't keep doing this, he thought. As he sat alone in his living room, Marcus tried to think about what had just happened.

At first he was angry with himself, for letting Monique smoke in her condition.

Then his anger drifted to Monique, she should have known better.

Finally, he concluded it was his sister's fault. She knew Monique was pregnant. Her only motivation, he thought, was to break up their marriage.

His anger was soon replaced with paranoia. The people at work know I'm getting high, he thought. He then pictured Eloise telling everyone, he's a crack head.

A crack head, he thought, no I just use. Then he completed the thought, I just use until I'm broke. Damn, I'm a crack head.

He went upstairs to join his wife in bed. When he walked in she was in the bed naked watching television. He sat down on the bed and leaned over to kiss her; she gave him a peck and then moved her head.

"I'm getting ready to take a shower," she said, explaining her nakedness.

"Oh," was all he said in reply. He was kind of glad, because he was jittery from the dugs and not really in the mood for love making.

He took off his clothes in preparation to lie down.

I'll take my shower when I wake up, he thought. Right now all I want to do is get to sleep.

It took him two hours to fall asleep. He woke up around two o'clock in the afternoon. His entire body ached as he climbed out of bed. The aches and stiffness were a residual effect of smoking; a crack hangover, he realized. He looked at his still sleeping wife. If she hadn't been smoking when he came in from work yesterday, he thought, he wouldn't have gotten high last night.

As he made his way to the bathroom, he felt tired. Not just sleepy, but physically and emotionally. It wasn't so much the money he had spent, that had bothered him; it was the depression that followed. It seemed, the higher you went up, the harder the crash.

When am I going to learn, he thought. I'm a failure. Every time I smoke this stuff, I feel like this. Not only am I an addict, but I dragged Monique into this as well. She was a goody, goody when she met me.

After showering, he was in the bedroom getting dressed when Monique awoke.

"Where you going," she asked.

"To my mom's house, I have to pay her the rent."

"I thought you didn't have any more money."

"I've got money in the bank; why, you want to live in the streets?"

She didn't answer. But the look in her eyes seemed to say, I don't care where we live.

"I'm out of here," he said as he walked out the room.

"Hey Little Man," his mother said as she opened the door. "Come on in."

"Hey mama."

She instantly knew something was wrong. "What's the matter baby?"

"Can we talk?"

"Marcus, you know you can always talk to me."

"I mean privately."

"Earl's not here," she said. "He works on Saturdays."

They went into the living room. He and his mother sat on the sofa as he told her what was going on. She sat patiently as he told her how he started. She listened as he explained how he had dragged Monique into it and how hooked she had become.

"I knew your sister was using that stuff," she said. "But I never would have expected for you to be on it." She buried her face in her hands, collected her thoughts and then looked at him. "What are you going to do about it?"

"Here," he said as he handed his mother an envelope. "This is my bank book and my bank card."

She took it from him. "What do you want me to do with this?"

"Hold it for me, I'll put my check in the bank and you can give me money as I need it."

"You think that will help," she asked.

"Yeah, I only get high when I have a lot of money sitting idle in my pocket."

He stood up. "Thanks mama."

"But how long are we going to have to do this?"

"I'm going to check out those twelve step meetings, I guess about six months should do it." He figured the urges would be gone by then.

"One more thing," his mother said. "Tell Monique to switch her prenatal over to my hospital."

"Yeah sure thing," Marcus said as he left.

She watched Marcus as he walked through the door. She knew her son was in trouble, and there wasn't anything she could do but wait, see, hope, and pray.

He headed home. When he arrived at the house, Monique was still sleep.

He got the phone book, sat in the living room and started looking for information on the twelve step meetings. After four phone calls, he found a meeting in upper Manhattan. He planned to go Monday after work.

Monique came into the living room. "I need some money to get my hair done."

"I only have thirty dollars," he said.

"You got money in the bank, you just paid the rent."

"You work like I work and you don't pay any bills around here."

"Your mother works too, but you gave her the rent money. You're just a mama's boy."

"Anyway," he said. "I found a meeting we can go to for help with this crack thing."

"Meeting," she said. "If you think I'm going to sit around in a circle with a bunch of alcoholics, you've got another thing coming." She then walked away.

Damn, he thought. Marriage is hard.

He planned to spent the rest of the day just relaxing and catching up on his reading.

Marcus sat in his room reading an engineering trade journal. There were two interesting articles in the magazine.

The first was about the growth and potential of personal computers. This was not news to Marcus. He had prepared the patent papers for one of the leading firms in this industry.

The second was about a network of computer networks. The article's author called it an Internetwork. The military started this internet. It was to be used in case of a nuclear war. They were now letting colleges and other civilians use it.

He immediately recognized the connection between personal computers and this network of computers. The world was about to change and Marcus had a birds eye view. He could see all the money.

Marcus knew that most of the people involved with this internet were scholarly types who liked to show how smart they were. They would give away much information for free.

To the ones who didn't want to share, Marcus would offer them legal services. This way they would pay him and then give him the information anyway.

It's amazing, he thought, how much people will tell you when they give you their money.

***

Monday, Marcus left work at exactly five o'clock. The meeting he had found started at six. It was on East 70th Street. He figured this would be a good location with a nice crowd. It was five thirty when he got uptown.

When he found the address he saw it was a church. At first he thought it was the wrong place. Then he saw an old white man hang a sign on the gate that had AA on it.

He followed the old man into the church basement. It was a large room, with two big tables up front and about a hundred chairs lined up against two of the walls.

"Help me set up the chairs," the old man said.

Marcus looked around; he was the only one there. "I don't know how, it's my first time here."

"Welcome," the old man said. He then walked over and shook Marcus's hand.

"It's real simple, just line them up here. Put five in a row and make five rows. By the way, my name is Bob."

"I'm Marcus."

Marcus started lining up the chairs. Bob walked over to a cabinet and took out a big box. The box contained signs and booklets which Bob placed on the two big tables.

As Marcus set up the chairs more people came in. Everyone helped in setting up the meeting. Nicely organized, he thought.

Once all the chairs were set Bob came over to Marcus.

"Sit up front," Bob said. "These are the best seats in the house."

Marcus followed Bob's advice.

The room suddenly started getting crowded. Marcus figured the people were waiting outside for the meeting to start.

Bob sat behind one of the big tables.

"My name is Bob and I'm an alcoholic."

"Hi Bob," every one said in unison.

This almost made Marcus laugh. He didn't know they did this in real life. He started to think about Monique. He wished she had come to the meeting with him. It wasn't that bad he thought. He figured if he stuck it out, she would finally come around. His mind drifted to other thoughts.

Someone tapped him on the shoulder.

Huh," Marcus said. He turned and faced the person who tapped him. He looked like a hippy.

"He wants you to say your name," the hippy said, pointing at Bob.

Marcus had almost forgotten he was in the meeting. He looked at Bob.

"We ask newcomers to introduce themselves," Bob said.

"Hi I'm Marcus Dupree."

"Welcome Marcus Dupree," again they all spoke in unison.

"Just the last name," Bob said to Marcus. He then spoke to the room. "The speaker for today is my good friend Mario."

The room erupted in applause.

"Hi my name is Mario, and I'm an alcoholic."

"Hi Mario."

He started to tell his story. Marcus listened intently.

"I started drinking when I was twelve years old, blah, blah, blah..."

Marcus half listened. How was this going to keep him from smocking crack? He could stand on the corner and hear more interesting drunks than Mario.

"I knew I had a problem," Mario said, this caught Marcus's attention.

"I knew I had a problem when I woke up at a Polish wedding in Boston and didn't know anybody."

The room erupted with laughter. Even Marcus laughed at this.

This is some bullshit, he thought.

"I remember it got so bad I was eating out of garbage cans," Mario said.

Marcus had had enough. He was ready to leave. He looked around and the room was packed. There were even people standing along the walls. He didn't want to stand up and leave in front of all these people, so he'd have to wait until it was over.

When the meeting was over, Marcus headed for the door. Bob stopped him.

"So what'd think," Bob asked.

"I don't know," Marcus said. "My situation is a little different."

"You're probably comparing your story with Mario's."

"My problem's with cocaine."

"Listen," Bob said. "Don't compare stories; try to identify with the feelings."

"Huh," Marcus said.

"You know how the drink or drugs made you feel, how it ruined your marriage, wrecked your bank account or cost you your job. I'm talking about pain, misery and suffering."

"I didn't think of it like that." Maybe this will work.

***

Coleman had come through on his promise. Dobbs was now helping Marcus with the patent searches. This cut out a lot of Marcus's overtime, but he used the free time to learn all he could about the Internet.

He also started gathering a list of technology companies that produced the necessary hardware.

By the end of the first week he started contacting these companies. Actually he had Ms. O'Neal send out mailings. These mailings offered three patent services.

The first was the standard patent application and related searches.

The second service was an infringement search plan. Coleman, Levison, & Levine would constantly monitor other patent applications and new products; and if their clients patent was being infringed they would take action.

The third service was a pre product development patent search. In other words, before a company invested in research, Marcus's firm would check patent records and other sources. This was to see if some one else was already working on or had completed the same product. This could save clients valuable time and money.

The following weeks he would start contacting the companies by phone. He also started contacting the internet pioneers who weren't interested in making money. He would pick their brains for knowledge. He would use this knowledge to impress the potential clients.

The real genius to his plan, Marcus thought, was no one at the law firm realized what he was actually doing.

The firm was planning on hiring three new patent attorneys; to lesson their dependence on him. But Marcus's new marketing plan would hopefully bring in a host of new clients, thus making him more indispensable.

Almost everything was going good. The only problem was Monique was still smoking.

***

Marcus watched as the technicians adjusted his satellite antenna. It was six feet in diameter and weighed almost three hundred pounds. They placed it in what used to be his mothers flower garden.

What the hell, Marcus thought. I won't be planting anything here anyway.

"One day" Marcus said to the technicians. "They'll make these antennas small enough to put on your window sill."

"Impossible, the satellite is to far away. They could never make them any smaller than this," one of the technicians said.

The man's an idiot, Marcus thought. He knew for a fact that one company was already making them smaller. But only the military was using it.

He noticed Paula coming down the block.

"What the hell is that." She asked

"None of your business," he said.

"Whatever," she then entered the house.

Monique was sitting in the living room watching T.V. when Paula came in.

"What's up Paula?"

"What's up Monique, what's your husband doing to my mother's flower garden?"

He's putting in a satellite antenna."

"What the hell is that," Paula asked

Monique laughed, "It's so he can watch different T.V. channels from all over the country."

"Why doesn't he just get cable like everyone else?"

They both laughed.

"You know your brother, he has to have the best of the best."

"You know what I'm saying," Paula said.

They both shook their heads. Paula then looked in the direction of the front door. She then said to Monique in a low voice, "You want a hit?"

"Yeah, hurry up before he comes in the house.

### CHAPTER 14

The church on 70th Street had AA meetings seven days a week. Marcus had made a meeting every day for two weeks. He still had a problem identifying with the speakers, but the urges were getting less powerful.

He told Bob he really didn't feel like coming down here on the weekends. Bob said, "why not make a meeting closer to home."

"I don't know where any other meetings are at," Marcus said.

"Here," Bob said. He gave Marcus two booklets. "These are meeting list. They have all the meetings listed in the metropolitan area."

"The two books are different," Marcus said.

"Yes," Bob said. "One is for our fellowship, and one is for the other."

"The other fellowship?"

"Yes you might like it, their approach is geared more towards Narcotics and alcohol. Whereas alcohol is our main concern."

"Thanks."

Marcus found a Saturday morning meeting five minutes from the house. It was in the gymnasium of the Holy Trinity Hospital, on 234th Street.

The meeting had already started by the time he had arrived.

Marcus struggled to identify with the speaker and not compare stories.

"...Then I started smoking crack," the speaker said. "Now you know I'm near the end of my story."

The room erupted with laughter.

Marcus didn't hear his story, but he heard something better. He finally heard something he could identify with. This was different than the AA meetings. He finally heard people mention the roller coaster feelings in the stomach, the need to defecate and then the paranoia.

Marcus was home.

"This is not a religious program it's a spiritual program," the speaker said. "To grow spiritually, you must grow morally."

To grow spiritually, you must grow morally, Marcus liked that. His mother had said his spirit was weak, and now he had foundation to build it on.

Then there was a familiar voice. Some guy in front was complaining about school.

I know that voice, Marcus thought. He couldn't see the speaker's face. He'd find out after the meeting.

Then he heard a girl complain about work. He looked in her direction. She was beautiful. She could pass for white or Black. Marcus tried to guess her ethnicity from the sound of her voice, but he wasn't sure.

When the meeting was over, Marcus found out the man in front was Lenny.

"Yo Lenny what's up?"

"My man Marcus, how long have you been making meetings?"

"This is my second week."

"Welcome," Lenny said as he gave him a hug.

"Thanks. The last time I saw you, you were slinging on Burnside."

"Ahh don't mention that," Lenny said. "I found out the hard way that monkeys can't sell bananas."

Marcus laughed. "I heard that."

"Why don't you tag along, a few of us usually go to the diner for coffee and what not after the meeting."

"I don't know," Marcus said. He really didn't feel like socializing. On top of that, Marcus still wasn't sure about that mystery girl he had sexed that day on Burnside. There was a chance Lenny could say something and embarrass him.

"Come on," Lenny said. These are the people who are going to save your life. You might as well start getting to know them."

Marcus was about to tell him no again when the girl who had talked about her job walked by. For a few second he was speechless as he watched her. Her body was like Monique's before she became pregnant.

She saw him looking at her. She spun her head to the left and to the right as if looking for someone, her long curly hair bounced in response.

Lenny saw too, he grabbed her arm as she attempted to pass them.

"Elizabeth, this is my man Marcus, he's a new comer."

"Welcome." She gave Marcus a hug.

She smelled like coconuts.

"I'm trying to get him to come with us to the diner," Lenny said.

"I'm trying to find Bertha," she said.

"I think she went outside," Lenny said.

Marcus noticed she didn't extend him an invitation.

"Nice meeting you."

"Same here," Marcus said as he extended his hand.

"We hug around here." She then reached out to hug him. This time she hugged him a little longer. She then turned and walked away.

"She's fine, ain't she," Lenny said.

"Fine ain't the word," Marcus replied.

"So you coming or what," Lenny asked.

"Yeah I'll go," Marcus said. He had to find out more about Elizabeth.

When they got outside, Marcus noticed a few people hanging around out side the meeting.

"There they go," Lenny said, as he pointed to a group that was headed up the block. They were walking to the diner which was three blocks away.

Marcus could see that there were six of them, three girls and three guys. Elizabeth another girl and one of the guys trailed behind the other three. Marcus and Lenny fell in line behind them.

He watched as Elizabeth the girl and the guy talked and laughed. He wondered if that was her man.

"There are some fine girls in the fellowship," Lenny said.

"I see."

"Like Elizabeth, I sure would have liked to run into her when she was smoking crack."

"Why," Marcus asked.

"What? She was probably giving blow jobs and the whole nine. Plus she's Puerto Rican, they know how to treat a man."

Marcus remembered now, why he didn't hang with Lenny back in the day. He was an asshole.

Lenny poked and tapped Marcus as he talked. "That's why they say you should listen to their story before you step to one of the girls in the meetings."

"It doesn't matter to me," Marcus said. "I'm married."

Lenny stopped walking and grabbed his arm. "You saying you wouldn't hit that if she offered?"

"I'm here to stay off of drugs." Marcus stated

"Yeah me too, but you like girls don't you?"

"Of course I'd hit it," Marcus said. "But I'm not going to push up on it." Marcus wondered if Lenny's statement had anything to do with the mystery girl.

By the time they got to the diner, Marcus and Lenny had caught up to the others. They went inside.

"How many," the waitress asked.

"We need two booths," the guy who was talking to Elizabeth said.

"Take these two," the waitress said, pointing at the two booths closest to the door.

Elizabeth's friend whom Marcus assumed was Bertha sat down first. "My feet are killing me."

Lenny quickly sat across from her. "Yo Marcus, grab a seat.

Marcus sat down next to Lenny. Elizabeth and the guy she was talking to were standing next to the table.

"I guess I'll sit at the other table," he said to Elizabeth. They both laughed. Marcus figured they were laughing at Lenny. He hoped they didn't feel the same way about him.

After the waitress took their orders and brought them coffee, Lenny started talking to Marcus about school.

"I'm taking up air conditioning and refrigeration," Lenny said. Lenny was talking so loud it was obvious he was trying to impress Elizabeth.

"That's a good trade," Marcus said.

"You went away to college didn't you," Lenny asked him.

Marcus didn't want them to know he was an attorney. He decided to tell them a half truth. "Yes I took up engineering.

"Are you working now," Lenny asked.

"I work down on Wall Street."

Lenny just turned his head. He could tell by the look on Lenny's face that he wasn't going to ask any more questions. Instead it was Bertha.

"So what kind of work do you do, security guard or janitor," she asked.

Marcus looked at her and then at Elizabeth. Elizabeth sipped her coffee. She was putting it down when Marcus answered.

"I'm an attorney."

Elizabeth almost dropped her cup; it fell into the saucer, spilling some of her coffee.

"You graduated from law school," Bertha asked.

"Yes," was all Marcus said.

"So you are a trial lawyer," Bertha asked.

Marcus was getting annoyed. It's time to shut her up. "I've been in court, but my specialty is patent law." He looked at Elizabeth, she was staring into his eyes. "I also do some corporate law, but it's mostly patent work, pretty boring stuff."

"So what was your drug of choice," Elizabeth asked

"Huh, Marcus asked.

"What did you get high off of," Bertha said.

"I was smoking freebase," Marcus said.

"How long you clean," Elizabeth asked.

"Fourteen days."

"Congratulations, she said. "Do you have a meeting list?"

Yes I do, Marcus said.

"Can I see it?"

He took it out his back pocket and handed it to her. She wrote her name and phone number on the back of it.

She then passed it to Bertha and told her to do the same

"I didn't go to college," Lenny said. "I had to keep it real and hold down the streets."

No one paid him any attention.

After Bertha finished with Marcus's meeting list, Elizabeth took it back. She started circling certain meetings.

"These are the meetings I make," she said. "They're pretty good."

***

Marcus sat in Cool's office examining the contracts. It had taken him a couple weeks to prepare them. Besides Cool, Choir Boy and Vee were in the room.

Vee had won the right to promote the two 'B-Cool R&B vs. Rap concerts. They would be held at the Meadowlands in New Jersey.

"Everything seems to be in order," Marcus said. "Vee, you sign both of these and Cool, you sign this one." He then handed one to Choir Boy, "And you sign this one."

"You're going to make a lot of money," Choir Boy said to Vee.

"I would have made a whole lot more if Cool would have given me the entire national tour.," Vee said.

"Sorry about that," Cool said. "But I do business with a lot of promoters, I just can't cut them off like that."

Marcus stood up and stretched. He figured Vee should have been happy, after all he stood to make almost two hundred thousand dollars. "I'll leave the rest of the papers here with you, the rest of the guys can sign them later."

After some more small talk, Marcus and Vee said their goodbyes and headed out to Marcus's car. As they were getting in Marcus said, "I can't believe Choir Boy is going solo."

"That's where the money's at," Vee said. "That's why I'm promoting these concerts on my own."

"I don't know how you do it." Marcus looked at him as he started the car. "I mean you're still working the corrections officer job, you have the video store and you're promoting concerts."

"It's easy," Vee said. "My partner runs the video store, I just go to pick up my money."

"I hear that." Money was a different subject altogether. Marcus, and everyone else for that matter, wondered where Vee got the money to put this concert together. He changed the subject. "You know those meetings I go to?"

"You mean those drugie meetings?"

"Yeah, well anyway, I met this girl."

"How does she look," Vee asked as Marcus pulled the car from the parking space.

"She's a dime piece."

"You hit it yet?"

"I'm trying to do the right thing by my wife."

Vee stared at him.

"What," Marcus said.

"You tell me you met somebody like your conscience is bothering you," Vee said. "Then you give me the, I want to be faithful to my wife speech."

Marcus shrugged his shoulders.

"So ya'll been hanging out?"

"I drove her home from the meetings a couple of times but that's it."

"You been in the crib yet," Vee asked.

"Nah, not yet, but she lives over on 225th Street."

He pulled onto the FDR heading north.

"So the meetings have been good to you?"

"Yeah, except for the leaving the wife part."

"Huh," Vee said.

"They keep suggesting that Monique and I separate."

"What?"

"They say I shouldn't be around people who get high."

"I agree with that," Vee said. "I just have a problem with a bunch of strangers giving you marital advice."

"I know," Marcus said. "I'm kind of conflicted too."

Another thing bothered him. Where did Vee get the money to promote this concert? He was spending money like he was a millionaire. For instance, Vee had just bought two jet skis and a new four by four to tow them around on; he was spending and flashing too much money.

Marcus drove Vee to the Video store. He parked the car and they went inside.

"Be with you in a minute," Vee said.

"Handle your business." Marcus walked around checking out the videos. He noticed a new bin. In it were mixed tapes. These were tapes made by local Dee Jays and featured different artist.

The recording industry had a love hate relationship with mixed tapes. They loved them because they gave the artist exposure. They hated them because they didn't get a percentage.

Vee approached him. "You like my mix tape selection?"

"I do, but I know a few people in the record industry who wouldn't."

"Well they can kiss Vee's crack."

He knew he couldn't ask Vee straight out about his money. He'd have to work his way into it.

"So what do you do on your day off?"

"Come on I'll show you," Vee said. "Get in your car and follow me."

Vee led him to a pool hall on the corner of Boston Road and Gun Hill. Marcus immediately realized something wasn't in order.

It was a small place. There was only room for three pool tables, and it was very dingy. It was like so many pool halls in so many neighborhoods. What made this pool hall different, was the crowd, specifically the women.

Most of them were wearing expensive jewelry and designer clothing. His grandmother had a name for girls like this, Gangster's Molls.

It was a thug hangout. These people were hard core. He thought of the time Vee mentioned of putting a hit on Monique. This is probably where the hit man would have come from.

"What's up Vee," an older man said.

"What's up Apple," Vee said as they made their way towards the back.

The old man was wearing a green and gold silk jogging suit. He was very dark skin and wore a gold medallion that was shaped like an apple.

As soon as he made eye contact with him, Marcus didn't like him. He looked like trouble. That's one apple that's rotten to the core, he thought.

When they got to the back door, Vee knocked. After paying twenty dollars they were let in. It was a gambling den. Five men were playing Cee lo, a three dice game.

"Yo money, you're still driving that Benz?"

Marcus looked towards the sound of the voice. It was the guy that looked like Mike Tyson, he was shaking the dice.

Yeah," Marcus said. "You still over there in the same spot?"

"What 225th," Tyson said. "I'm running that block now."

"Yo Hulk, if you're going to talk pass the dice," a heavy set guy said.

Hulk, so that's what they call him, he had lost some weight since the night Marcus saw him on 225th, but the name still fit.

"Just chill," Hulk said. "Y'all want some of this?"

"Yeah," Vee said. "Put me in for a hundred."

"What about you," Hulk asked Marcus.

"Nah, I'm alright."

"Yo Hulk shoot the dice already," Heavy said.

Hulk shook the dice, pulled his arm back to throw and said, "Wait a minute."

He reached out his hand to Vee, and said, "Welcome to the game."

Vee shook his hand and everybody started laughing.

"What's so funny," Vee said.

"Somebody said you were a slot machine," Heavy said. "Just say bet, shake your hand, and ching ching; collect your money."

"Just shoot the damn dice," Vee said.

"Yo homeboy," Hulk said to Marcus. "You sure you don't want to bet, your Benz against my new Lexus?"

"I'm chill," Marcus said.

"Just throw the dice," somebody yelled.

He did.

"Cee lo," Hulk, yelled. He started collecting money from the players.

It took less than thirty minutes for Vee to lose one thousand dollars. "Yo Marcus, let's go," he said.

Once they got outside, Marcus asked, "So what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to go to my store and get some more money."

"You need to chill."

"I'm just going to get another thousand," Vee said.

Marcus couldn't believe what he just heard. "Another thousand! You're starting to spend money like a Colombian drug lord."

Vee looked at him."You say that to say what?"

"Come on Vee, it's obvious that you're selling drugs."

"Hold up," Vee said. "Just because you're a crack head, it doesn't mean that everybody else is involved in that bullshit."

Marcus tried to pretend that Vee's comment didn't bother him. He wasn't sure if he did a good job.

Vee on the other hand showed remorse for what he said, albeit for a split second.

The uncomfortable silence was broken by Apple. "Yo my man Vee, do you need anything?"

"Nah Apple, I'm alright," Vee said.

"Well if you need anything just let me know," Apple said.

Marcus didn't even want to know what Apple was offering. "I have to get home and check on wifey."

"Later Vee said.

As he drove off in his car Marcus thought about what had just happened. He and Vee had argued before. They even had had fist fights, but they always remained friends. He knew their friendship wasn't over; but he also felt it would never be the same. I should have gone to the meeting.

### CHAPTER 15

Monique was watching TV when the phone rang. "Hello."

"Hello, can I speak to Marcus," the female caller said.

"Who's calling?"

"Elizabeth."

"Elizabeth who," Monique said.

"Elizabeth from the meetings."

"What is this concerning?"

"I'm just calling to make sure he's alright, he missed the meeting tonight. I don't want him smoking crack."

"What is your relationship to Marcus," Monique asked.

"I'm his sister from the meetings."

Monique was trying to be polite. She knew the NA meetings were important to Marcus, but she wasn't too comfortable with a woman calling to speak to her husband.

Monique was standing now. "How long have you known him?"

Elizabeth cleared her throat. "Three weeks, but that's not important."

"Huh"

"I worry about him, because I know you're pregnant and still getting high. And that's stressful for him."

Monique couldn't take it any more. "Listen bitch, don't call here anymore."

"Excuse me," Elizabeth said. "Marcus gave me the number, it's his choice."

"No it's my choice, and I choose to kick your ass if you call here again." Monique slammed the phone down.

Monique was sitting in the living room watching the television when Marcus came through the door.

"Who the hell is Elizabeth?"

At first he didn't know what to say. "Elizabeth," he asked stalling for time.

"Yes Elizabeth, she said you gave her the number."

He walked into the living room. "She's one of the people from the meetings."

"Why is she calling here?"

"That's what the people in the meetings do."

Monique jumped off the couch. On reflex Marcus put up his hands to block any potential blows.

"Why are you jumping," Monique asked. "Because you know you're guilty?"

"No it's because you are crazy, the drugs are making you delusional."

"Don't try that lawyer psychology bullshit on me, I don't want that bitch calling my house."

"First of all you need to lower your voice," he said. He walked over and turned the television off.

She followed him. "You must be crazy if you think girls are going to be calling here for you."

"That's why I asked you to come to the meetings with me, so you could see what it's all about."

Monique started moving her hands like a rapper in a video. "Ok, take me to a meeting so I can give my number out. And while I'm there I can whip that hoe's ass."

"Get dressed," he said. "I know a meeting that starts in about an hour."

He knew Elizabeth didn't go to this one, and maybe it would help Monique.

"Fuck you Marcus." She turned around and went upstairs.

He wanted to tell her how much she really needed to go to a meeting. But they had been through it before, and it always went the same way. They would argue for a while, and then they would spend the rest of the night not talking to each other.

He followed her up to the bedroom.

"We need to go shopping and buy you a new outfit," he said.

"A new outfit for what?"

"I told you, Vee has the B-Cool concert coming up."

She put her hands on her hips. "Who said I was going?"

"Well, even if you don't make the concert, we can still go to the after party in Jersey."

"After party?"

"Yeah and I saw this hot tennis bracelet that'll look good on you."

"As a matter of fact," she said. "I saw this hot dress in Macy's."

Later on that night, Marcus and Monique made love. She seemed to forget about Elizabeth. He on the other hand couldn't get her out of his mind.

When they arrived at the meadowlands it was packed. Both days shows were sold out.

"Look at this crowed," Elizabeth said.

"I knew it was going to be crowded, the tickets sold out in two days. But I didn't think it would look like this. Thank god we have a private box," Marcus said.

Marcus drove his car to the area reserved for performers and staff. The security guard stopped him as he approached. Marcus rolled down the window and showed him his backstage passes. He let them through. He parked the car and they headed towards the back stage entrance.

When the guard at the door saw Elizabeth he said, "Damn." She was wearing a lime green top, which was actually a sports bra, with matching green shorts that were so tight they looked like skin. To top it off she wore a see thru black lace mini skirt.

When they got to their box, Vee and Cool were standing in the hallway. Cool was talking with the stage manager.

"Marcus," Vee said when he saw him.

"What's up," Marcus said as he shook Vee's hand.

"Check out the spread," Vee said. He led them into one of the luxury boxes. The room contained a table that was filled with different kinds of food. The caterer had supplied s selection from caviar to fried chicken to potato chips and dip.

Elizabeth grabbed a plate and started filling it up.

"I got everything you need right here," Vee said. "Even the bar is stacked, I got all kinds of liquor and the champagne is on ice."

"You know we're not drinking," Marcus said.

"Well we got sodas, fruit drinks and bottled water, so help your self." He then walked away.

Marcus fixed a plate and he and Elizabeth went to the private box.

"This is our private box," Elizabeth asked as they entered the room.

"Yes this is it, see the stage down there." Marcus pointed out the box's large window down to the stage below. In front of the window there was a couch. The room also had a refrigerator and a bathroom.

"This is nice," she said. "I'm having a good time already and the show hasn't even started yet."

She sat on the couch. Marcus joined her as the announcer came on stage. "Ladies and gentlemen welcome to the R&B vs. Rap Battle Royal," the crowd cheered. "Let the show begin." There was more cheering. "I introduce to you Tracey Andrews."

More cheering.

B-Cool's newest R&B singer, a female named Tracey Andrews, was the opening act. As soon as she started singing Elizabeth was up by the box's window dancing.

"This is my song."

Marcus sat there watching her dance. She was sexy. Three minutes into the song she came at sat next to him on the sofa. She gave him a kiss. "This is great," she said. She then kicked her shoes off, stretched her feet onto the couch, a laid her head in his lap.

After Tracey sang her second song, Choir Boy came on stage. The crowd went wild. With his new solo album blowing up the charts, he was on his way to becoming a super star.

In the back ground the announcer said, "Ladies and gentlemen Tony Choir Boy Allen."

"I just want to say a little something to the ladies," Choir Boy said. The crowed cheered. He started singing one of his new love songs.

Marcus laughed. He's probably singing to some dude.

After Choir Boy finished his song, the announcer introduced the next act. "Rap music's newest sensation, The Bronx MC." He received a standing ovation.

Elizabeth jumped up. "You didn't tell me he was going to be here."

Marcus had forgotten all about him. When the show was planned his album wasn't even out yet. So he wasn't even a headliner. By the time of the show his album had only been out about three weeks. It was already number one.

"That nigger is fine," Elizabeth said. "Look at him."

"I'm not impressed," he said. "Plus I don't like this new gangster rap." He shook his head no. "Music should be about having a good time, not killing people and selling drugs."

"He's not like you," she said. "He's from the streets, he keeps it real."

"What," he said. He knew for a Fact, that Bronx MC had gone to private school his entire life, and had dropped out of Columbia University's school of business to pursue his music career.

He started to tell her, but then the song started and she was looking out the window and dancing.

The music had a thumping reggae style beat, and Elizabeth started sexily winding her body as if she were having sex with the music.

"I like that dance you're doing," he said. He stood up and moved in behind her. She started rubbing her behind on his crotch.

Marcus looked out the window at the crowd, he wondered if they could see them. He pushed the button that closed the curtain that hung in from the window.

"Why did you do that," Elizabeth asked.

"A little privacy," he replied.

She turned around and faced him. "Oh so you want a private show."

She pushed him towards the couch.

He sat down.

She began to tease him with her dance. She stood over him, gyrating her body to the beat of the music. Suddenly she crouched down in front of him.

She put her hands on his hips and started swinging her head from left to right. With each swing she would bring her head closer to his crotch.

He could feel her hair hitting the inside of his thighs with each swing. He thought he felt her lips touch him. She looked up at him. She extended her arms up to him as if she wanted him to take her in his arms.

Marcus was enticed. He reached forward and grabbed the bottom of her sports bra/top and pulled it towards him. As it came over her head she helped by putting her arms up and moving back.

Once it was off, she stood up and restarted her dance.

"Do you like what you see," she asked.

"I need to see a little more to know for sure."

Keeping in rhythm with the music, she pulled her mini skirt down. Her movements reminded Marcus of a stripper.

All she was wearing were the tight shorts and a lime green pair of heels.

"What do you see now," Elizabeth asked.

"I don't know," Marcus said. "Your shorts are in the way."

She grabbed the top of her shorts with her finger tips and started to peel them off her body. Marcus started to undue his own pants. He was so nervous with anticipation, he was having a hard time getting them unbuttoned. Suddenly, Elizabeth's green shorts were in his lap.

He looked up and couldn't believe his eyes. She was the first woman he had been with who shaved her pubic area. All she had on were the lime green heels.

The music stopped, and the announcer's voice seemed to scream, "Are you having a good time?"

"Hell yeah," Marcus shouted as he continued to struggle with his pants.

"Let me help you," Elizabeth said.

He did.

He felt the warmness of her mouth.

The music started back up. Marcus didn't know who was singing or even care. His body started to tremble. He pushed her away.

She looked at him curiously.

"I need to be in you," he said. He reached in his pants pocket and retrieved his wallet. He took out a condom. He then stood her up and turned her around. She braced her arms up against the window, spread her legs and offered him what he wanted.

Marcus came up behind her. He pushed. She let out a soft groan. He felt freaky, he pulled the curtain back some.

"Enjoying the show," he asked.

She looked down at the crowd. Even though no one was probably looking at them the excitement of being in front of such a huge crowd was driving her wild.

She started to push back wildly. To keep from being pushed away, he had to lift one of her legs.

"Marcus, oh Marcus," Elizabeth moaned.

Her body started to shake and her arms slowly gave way. Soon her breasts were against the window. He leaned forward and nibbled her ear. She trembled again.

"It's all yours," she screamed.

Marcus looked down at the crowd and then he started to tremble.

"Here it comes baby, here it comes baby, hold on now, here it comes," Marcus said in a loud voice.

His body's spasmed. He fell against her back breathing hard. It felt good for a second. Then he thought of his wife.

He realized he had just used Elizabeth like one would use a drug. He used her to escape the pressures of life and now he was suffering withdrawal.

"Are you alright," Elizabeth asked.

"Yes," he said, lying and pretending.

Tomorrow he would be sitting in this very room with Monique.

When the show was over he rushed Elizabeth back to the car. As he pulled out she leaned her head on his shoulder.

"You need to sit up straight so the seat belt can do its job in case of an accident," Marcus said.

She sat up and looked at him. He could tell his words made her a little angry. He thought about all the times Monique leaned on him while he drove, strange, it never seemed bothered him before.

"So when am I going to see the inside of your apartment," Marcus asked.

"Anytime you want," Elizabeth said.

He needed to take a shower before he went home to Monique, so now was the time.

It only took twenty five minutes to get back to the Bronx. They spent the next fifteen minutes looking for a parking space. They finally found one on White Plains Road.

"You sure you want to park here," Elizabeth asked.

"Yeah, why not," Marcus asked.

"It's a lot of drug dealers, I figure you might be a little uncomfortable."

"Who do you think I bought my drugs from," Marcus asked as he parked the car.

"I know, but you seem like the type to send someone to cop for you."

Marcus didn't respond to her statement. He cut the car off and they got out. As Marcus came around to the sidewalk, he noticed Hulk staring at them and drinking from a forty ounce of beer. Elizabeth noticed too.

Marcus saw she had a nervous look on her face, she didn't know Marcus and Hulk knew each other.

"What's up Benz," Hulk said to Marcus.

"What's up Hulk?"

Marcus could tell Elizabeth was impressed as well as shocked.

They shook hands and gave each other a quick hug. A teenage boy came walking towards them as the completed their greeting. Marcus noticed the exaggerated gangster walk. The kid looked like trouble.

Hulk saw the kid too.

"Where's my money," Hulk asked.

"Yo check this out," the kid said.

Even as he talked his body movements said gangster. Hulk hit him with the beer bottle.

"I didn't ask you all of that," Hulk said calmly.

In fact it was too calm for Marcus.

"Yo hulk I'm out of here," Marcus said. He then looked at Elizabeth and said. "Let's go."

As they walked away he heard Hulk tell the bleeding boy, "If you don't have my money by morning, I'm going to pistol whip you and make your mother watch."

Marcus believed him. Another thing Marcus believed, Vee was in over his head, socializing and gambling with these types of people.

Marcus and Elizabeth walked around the corner. Marcus no longer wanted to go to her apartment.

"Listen, I'm just going to go home," he said.

"Ok," Elizabeth said. She leaned forward to give him a kiss.

Marcus gave her a quick peck on the lips. She moved in to hug him. She grabbed him around the waist and looked into his eyes. He could tell her feelings were starting to grow.

He could feel the excitement growing in him. He thought about the concert.

"I could really love a girl like you," he said.

She started to say something, but he put his hand to her lips.

"But I love my wife."

Her head jerked. She took her hands from his waist and folded them across her chest.

"We can still be friends and what not," he said. "You know, make meetings and stuff. It's just that I got this baby on the way."

"I understand," Elizabeth said.

He noticed her head seemed to shake in a funny way when she spoke, but he was glad she understood.

"I better get home," Marcus said.

"Whatever," Elizabeth said.

Marcus just turned and walked away. He knew he had made two mistakes tonight. He just couldn't figure out which one was the biggest; was it having sex with Elizabeth, or telling her he didn't want to be with her.

Two weeks after the concerts, Marcus, Vee, Cool, and Choir Boy sat in a restaurant on 125th Street. They had met to divide up the money earned from the two concerts.

"Here you go Vee," Marcus said as he handed Vee the check.

"One hundred and eighty thousand dollars," Vee said.

He held the check with two hands, looking at it as if it were his first born child.

Marcus handed Cool and Choir Boy their checks. Cool was going to pay the rest of the performers from his share.

"It took long enough," Vee said.

"You know how this works," Marcus replied. "The money has to sit in escrow, to make sure everything is handled properly before it starts getting spent."

"It's just slowing me down," Vee said.

"On that note gentlemen, I'm out of here," Cool said. He got up from the table.

"I got to go too," Marcus said.

"I'm going to chill and have another drink," Choir boy stated.

"So what are you going to do Vee," Marcus asked.

"I guess I'll have another before I break out, I'll catch up with you later," Vee said to Marcus.

Marcus and Cool walked out of the restaurant.

"So it's just you and me," Choir Boy said as the waitress brought their drinks. He was sitting directly across from Vee.

"Yep, just you and me," Vee said as he stared at his check.

"So where do we go from here," Choir Boy asked.

"I guess we follow are hearts," Vee said. He kissed the check and folded it.

"I always knew you liked me."

"Yeah, you're alright," Vee said as he sipped his drink.

"All those times you beat me up when we were kids, I know now it was just your way of telling me how you really felt," Choir Boy said.

"You're right about that," Vee said.

"I always wanted to feel your big blackness in me," Choir Boy said.

"Huh?"

"It's alright, I won't tell," Choir Boy said.

Vee looked at him. He suddenly realized what Choir boy was talking about.

Choir Boy rubbed Vee hand.

"Come here," Vee said as he leaned forward.

Choir Boy leaned towards him. He saw what was coming. His world lit up and he saw stars. Then the room spun. He looked up at the ceiling. He was on the floor. Vee had slapped the shit out of him.

### CHAPTER 16

"Marcus, your Uncle Michael is on the phone," Monique yelled.

"What's up Uncle Michael," Marcus said.

"Listen, I hear Vee's been gambling heavy with Hulk and his crew."

"Damn, how'd you hear about that?"

"Just because I'm locked up, it doesn't mean I don't know what's going on in the streets."

"So you know Hulk," Marcus asked.

"He was locked up with me, we're mad tight. But I want you to stay away from him."

"Why what's up?"

"He ain't no joke, and he don't play games," Uncle Michael replied.

Marcus knew that this meant that Hulk was a killer. That would explain how he took over 225th Street.

After some more small talk, Marcus and his Uncle hung up.

***

"Marcus," Monique called from the bathroom. "My water just broke."

"You sure," he said as he sat up in the bed.

"Yes I'm sure."

He climbed out of the bed and grabbed a pair of jeans out of the closet. "Come in here while I get dressed."

She walked in the room as he was pulling his pants up.

"You still have your pajamas on."

"I know," he said. "It's cold out there, so I'll just pretend there're long johns."

He was right about the cold, it was six degrees outside. When the wind blew, it felt like twelve below zero. It was one of the worst winters on record. When it wasn't extremely cold it snowed; record breaking snowfall.

"Are you going to put some clothes on," he asked.

"No, I'm going to keep on this nightgown."

She then let out a loud moan.

He looked at her. "Are you alright?"

"Yes it was just a contraction; bring me my boots and some socks."

Marcus calmly got the items she asked for. He wasn't worried about her going into labor. People had babies all the time. His main concern was did enough time pass since her last get high.

He knew that all New York hospitals drug tested the newborns. He also knew that cocaine stayed in the human body for three days.

He figured the last time she had gotten high was Saturday; it was now Tuesday evening. They would be cutting it close.

As they were on their way down the stairs, Marcus said, "let me call my mother."

"Look at you, your about to be a daddy, and you're still a mama's boy."

Marcus knew not to respond to her. She had gotten more and more hostile as her pregnancy progressed.

When they got to the hospital, they were rushed straight to the delivery room. Marcus felt that he was ready. He had accompanied Monique on all her prenatal visits.

Within forty five minutes of going into labor she started giving birth. The doctor said, "this is the shortest labor I ever dealt with."

Fearing that this was caused by drug use Marcus asked, "what does a short labor mean?"

"It means the mother is real lucky," the doctor said.

"Ahh," Monique screamed.

"It's coming," the doctor said. "Push Monique, push."

The babies head started to squeeze, no it was more like push it self out of Monique. At first Marcus was amazed how something so big could come out so small a hole.

A joke came to him. That small hole wasn't small anymore, the baby just ruined it. It'll never be the same.

Suddenly he thought about the mystery girl he sodomized on Burnside.

The baby pushed a little further. It was dark and bloody. He couldn't take it any more, he had to get out. The last thing he heard as he left the delivery room was: "You're leaving me now, after you did this to me, you bitch ass mama's boy."

When Marcus walked, stumbled into the waiting room, his mother and Earl were there waiting.

"Is everything alright," Sarah asked.

"Yeah, I just had to get out of there."

"I'm surprised you stayed in there as long as you did," Earl said. "I seen some pigs being born down south, it's an awful sight."

"Come on Earl," she said. "Humans don't look nothing like no newborn pigs."

"Yeah? Then why does he look so shook up."

The three of them laughed. Earl's joke was right on time, Marcus thought.

After a few minutes the doctor came out. He was smiling. "Mr. Dupree, you're the father of a healthy baby girl."

Marcus looked at Sarah and smiled.

"There was one minor complication."

They all looked at the doctor.

"What do you mean," Marcus asked.

"Nothing to worry about," the doctor said. "Your wife didn't fully dilate, so one of the baby's ribs was broken."

"So what's going to happen now," Marcus asked.

"Nothing really," the doctor said. "These things usually heal themselves."

Marcus just stared at him.

"Believe me Mr. Dupree, your baby's alright. She should be home in three days."

Tears started to roll from Marcus's eyes.

"Congratulations," Earl said as he shook Marcus's hand and hugged him. "What are you going to name her?"

"Marcela," Marcus said.

"Well," Earl said to Sarah. "February 14th 1984. I know you're going to play the number 214

"Excuse me," Sarah said. "I have to go the ladies room." She then headed down the hall.

"When can I see her," Marcus asked.

"They should be putting her in the nursery as we speak," the doctor said.

The sign on the door said: Laboratory authorized Personnel Only. Sarah knocked on it. The technician opened it and peaked out.

"Sarah, what are you doing here?"

"I need a favor," she said as she pushed her way into the lab.

"What's up?"

Without answering, Sarah walked over to a tray that contained four test tubes. She found the one she was looking for, it was labeled; Dupree, Baby. She picked it up, and replaced it with another.

She then turned to the tech and said, "I owe you one." She then went to see her new grand daughter.

Marcus called the job and told them he wouldn't be in today.

"I had baby daughter yesterday and I'm going to the hospital to see her," Marcus said to Goldberg.

"See you tomorrow then," Goldberg said before hanging up in Marcus's ear.

Damn, Marcus thought. Goldberg didn't have to congratulate him, but at least he could have said that's nice.

When he got to the hospital, his mother and Monique's father were already in the room. It was feeding time and Monique had just finished giving Marcela a bottle.

"Hey baby," Marcus said when he entered the room.

"What took you so long, you missed her feeding," Monique said.

"I'm sorry baby," Marcus said.

"How are you doing Marcus," Robert asked as he shook Marcus's hand.

"I'm alright dad," Marcus replied.

"Marcus, she looks just like you," Sarah said.

Marcus stood over his wife and daughter. He looked down at them. He looked at the baby and the resemblance was amazing.

"Here take the baby," Monique said.

"I don't know how to hold a baby, look at her she's too little."

"Boy you better pick up your daughter," Sarah said.

Monique lifted Marcela towards him. He reached out for her.

"Put one hand on her back and the other behind her head," Robert said.

Marcus took his daughter in his arms. She felt so light in his arms. He wanted to cry. He finally understood what it meant for some one to be your pride and joy. Marcela opened her eyes. To Marcus it seemed she looked right at him. Then she smiled.

"She looked at me and smiled," Marcus said.

Monique shook her head.

"I don't think they can focus their eyes yet," Earl said.

"It was probably gas," Sarah said. "Check her diaper."

Marcus handed the baby back to Monique.

"She told you to check it," Monique said.

Everyone laughed.

"I think if you breast feed them, they get less gas," Robert said.

Marcus looked at him and then he and Monique looked at each other. She was looking guilty. Marcus stole a glance at Robert.

Robert didn't know Monique was getting high. He now knew something was up because of the way the room got silent with his breast feeding comment.

"Robert you know, no girl wants to breast feed a baby this day and age," Sarah said.

"Yeah I guess you're right, I guess I'm too old fashioned," Robert said.

"Marcus, can I talk to you about something," Sarah asked.

"Yeah sure," Marcus said. He followed her out of the room.

"What's up ma?"

"You need to get a private doctor and have the baby checked out," Sarah said.

"Why you think it's not my baby?"

"Boy are you crazy, that baby looks like you spit her out," Sarah said. "Plus Monique has too much class for that to be the problem."

"Then why do I need to get a private doctor?"

"I switched test tubes when Marcela was born," Sarah said.

"Why?"

"So they wouldn't find any drugs in her blood, no grandbaby of mine are going into the child welfare system."

"Where did you get the blood to switch it with," Marcus asked.

"Don't worry about that, just find a private doctor, so the Marcela can have all her test," Sarah said.

"Alright ma I'll do that."

"Problem solved, Sarah said.

Marcus knew that the problem wasn't solved. In fact it looked like things were going to get worse.

***

Every morning at nine fifteen, the partners at the firm of Coleman, Levison & Levine would meet. It was just like the ten o'clock meeting but at a higher level. It included the three senior and four junior partners.

Many times cruel decisions were made; careers and fortunes were often crushed or stolen.

Today's meeting was no exception.

"What are we going to do about Dupree," Levine asked.

Goldberg smiled.

"I didn't realize he was a problem," Coleman said. "The patent aspect of our business is now at ten percent."

"That's the problem," one of the junior partners said. "Many of us are not to happy with him controlling that much of our business."

"We already discussed hiring three more patent attorneys, which should lesson our dependence on him."

"We should go a little further," the junior partner said. "We should also take away all his African American clients."

"That might cause problems,"

"Don't worry," the junior partner said. "We can give them to Joe Cooke."

"Which one is he," Levine asked.

"He's the one who talks like he's white," Goldberg said.

"He fights like a white guy too," the junior partner said.

Everyone laughed except Coleman.

"Isn't this a little extreme," Coleman said.

"Not really." It was the senior partner Levison talking. "I know Dupree is your protégé, but he has ambition. Once he realizes we'd never make him a partner he'd leave. All we're trying to do is limit the number of clients he takes with him."

"That settles it," Levine said. "All he'll gets from now on is patents, no more mergers, no acquisitions and definitely no court cases."

***

Marcus sat in his office on the phone with Monique.

"Stop crying baby it'll be alright," he said.

She stopped crying long enough to say, "But Marcus, I know something is wrong with the baby." She started to cry again.

"The baby's alright."

"She cries all the time."

"The doctor said she has Colic" he said.

"And now she has some kind of rash."

"It's probably a diaper rash; babies get them all the time." He then looked at his watch, it was four thirty and he had an hour's worth of work left. "I got to go baby."

"Marcus I'm so tired I don't know what to do."

"I told you before, when the baby's sleep, try to squeeze in a nap."

"Ok," she said. "I'll try."

"I'll be home a little late tonight; I have to meet up with Cool."

"I love you Marcus."

"I love you too baby." He hung up the phone.

He wasn't sure about Monique. Marcela was four months old and Monique showed no signs of going back to work. To others she seemed to be suffering from post partum depression.

But Marcus had an idea that crack had something to do with it; because Paula was spending a lot of time at the house while he was at work.

He also noticed his case load at work started to change. All his new assignments were patent related. He didn't think much of it; after all, he was a patent attorney.

What did bother him, were all his other clients were reassigned. The only ones they left him with were Cool and the two NBA players that he represented.

The firm knew they couldn't touch these clients, because they were personal friends of Marcus. It was easy for him too see that they were up to something. Whatever it was, he would have to deal with it later. Right now he had more pressing issues in his personal life.

Marcus found a parking spot right in front of B-cool Records.

"How are you doing Marcus," the security guard said after he unlocked the door.

"Fine thanks, and you."

"Can't complain," the guard said. "You're here kind of late tonight, huh?"

"Yeah," Marcus said. "You know there's no rest for the weary."

Marcus made his way down the hall towards Cool's office. As he walked past the label's one recording studio, the door swung open. The members of the Rap group Unlimited Power Source were coming out.

Marcus hadn't seen the five man group since he had helped sign them to B-Cool Records. But he remembered all their names.

Each member of the group took a letter from the word power and used the Five Percenter religious group's designation of it for his name.

"What's up homeboy, you're just the man we wanted to see," MC Power said to Marcus.

"What's up," Marcus said.

"We want you to be our lawyer and manager," MC Wisdom said.

"That wouldn't be a good idea," Marcus said.

"Why not," Power asked.

"Because I'm Cool's attorney."

"What, you can only be one person's lawyer at a time," MC Cipher asked.

"No, it's not that," Marcus said. "It's a conflict of interest. If I became your lawyer and you had to sue Cool, I'd have to take his side."

"Why," Power asked.

"Because I was his lawyer first," Marcus said. "It wouldn't be fair to you guys if I took your money under those circumstances."

"You see, I told you he was a straight up cat," Power said.

"We want you to be our lawyer, MC Equality said. "And we're not taking no for an answer."

Marcus smiled and said, "Thanks for the vote of confidence."

He then handed a business card to Power and said, "Call my office to make an appointment, we'll see what we can do."

After shaking hands, he continued to Cools office.

"Yo my man Marcus," Cool said as Marcus stepped into his office.

"What's up Cool, what's so important that I had too come down here this time of night?"

"Have a seat," Cool said. After Marcus was seated he spoke, "It's your boy Vee, I've been hearing rumors he's bootlegging tapes and CD's."

"Are you talking about the mix tapes."

"I wish," Cool said. "No I'm talking straight up bootlegs, counterfeit labels and the whole nine." Cool stood up and walked over to the window.

"I know he's your boy, so you need to talk to him. Some of these gangsta rappers want to step to him."

"Over some bootleg tapes?"

"He's supplying the Africans. He's selling tapes from Boston to Atlanta."

"How much are we talking here?"

"At least five thousand tapes and CD's a week."

Damn, Marcus thought. I could see why people would want to hurt him. "I'll talk to him."

Marcus hated lying to Cool, but what else could he do. There was no more talking to Vee.

Besides he had more pressing problems at home. Monique was no longer capable of watching Marcela. He had to find a babysitter. The next door neighbor had mentioned she would do it. Maybe he could ask her.

"Who is it," Mrs. Jenkins asked from behind the door.

"It's me Marcus, Mrs. Jenkins."

"How are you doing Marcus," she asked after she opened the door.

"I'm fine, I was wondering if I could ask you a favor."

"Boy, I've known you most of your life, you can ask me anything."

Marcus cleared his throat. "I need you to baby sit for me while I'm at work."

"Sure, no problem, I know what you're going through, my daughter's on that stuff too," Mrs. Jenkins stated. "I got custody of my granddaughter Jade."

"Thank you," Marcus said.

As he walked away he felt embarrassed. If she knew about Monique's drug problem, the whole neighborhood knew.

"A baby sitter," Monique yelled from the couch.

"Calm down," Marcus said.

"You calm down, and what am I supposed to do while she's watching my daughter?"

Marcus looked at her, trying not to laugh at the question.

"You can try going back to work."

"Your sister's not working, and she lives here for free," Monique shouted.

She doesn't have anything to do with us."

"You should have thought about that before you got me pregnant."

Marcus held his hands out to show his confusion.

"What does any of this have to do with you going back to work?"

"I'm your wife and you're going to take care of me. Besides I just read a magazine article about how addictive crack is. You're a big time lawyer engineer mother fucker, you should have known that before you started me smoking."

She then got up and walked out the front door.

Marcus just sat there thinking, stupid bitch, she had to read a magazine to find out she was a crack head.

Over the next six months, Monique deteriorated fast. Marcus was in a constant state of depression as he watched the only woman he ever really loved, disintegrate right before his eyes.

One evening he shared his pain in a NA meeting. One of the senior members of the group approached him. He was an 'old time dope fiend,' with fifteen years clean.

"You need to start considering a divorce," the old timer said.

"She's a good woman, it's not like she out there on the street" Marcus responded.

"But that will probably happen in time though," the old timer replied.

"My wife ain't like that."

"She's special," the old timer asked.

"Yes she is, she has some class about her self."

"So she's one of them classy crack heads," the old timer replied. He looked at Marcus with a look that seemed to say be for real.

Then Marcus heard some one say, "You reap what you sow."

He turned to the voice, it was Elizabeth. It had been over a year since he had sexed her at the concert and she was still bitter. They hadn't spoken since that night. Marcus got up and left the meeting.

"I think those NA people are right Marcus, if she continues like this, she will eventually going to drag you down or into some nonsense."

"But Uncle Michael, she's a good girl, it's just that she's going through a hard time right now," Marcus responded.

"Some times you can try to save a drowning person, but they are panicking so bad, they pull you down with them. Sometimes in order for you to live you have to kick them away and swim off alone," Uncle Michael said.

"That's a nice story, but I am not leaving my wife."

"That story is the reason I'm serving two consecutive life terms."

"Yeah well just because you'll never hold a woman in your arms again, it doesn't mean that I have to break up my family." As soon as Marcus said it, he wished he could take it back.

"Ok Marcus I'll talk to you later."

Uncle Michael hung up the phone. It was the first time in nine years that he didn't say I love you Marcus. Uncle Michael was the closest thing Marcus had to a father and Marcus just hurt him. Marcus's love for Monique had ruined his relationship with his uncle.

Marcus was angry, but he knew his anger would go away long before Uncle Michael's hurt.

Marcus made up his mind, he would no longer give Monique the money to get high. He felt she wouldn't sell her body on the street, so in time she would just stop using.

Marcus was wrong. Monique found other ways to get money. For starters she applied for Public Assistance using her father's address. Her other source of income, was to turn their home into a big garage sale.

It started a week after Marcus had made the decision to stop giving her money. He had just come home from work. As soon as he opened the door he heard the yelling.

It was Monique and it was coming from his sister's room. He raced up the stairs. He could smell the drugs as he stepped into her room. When Monique saw him she stopped screaming.

"What's going on," Marcus asked.

"She sold your engagement ring," Paula said. "And she's mad that they only gave her three hundred dollars."

What," Marcus shouted. The ring had cost him almost six thousand dollars.

Paula continued, "And now she's..."

She never finished. Monique had punched her right in the mouth. The blow caught Paula by surprise. She fell straight back. Marcus quickly grabbed Monique. He looked down at his sister, who was stunned. Even though his sister had a lot of mouth, she wasn't a fighter. Marcus usually fought her battles.

He forced Monique out of the room.

Twenty minutes later Marcus watched his sister and Monique leave the house together. They had taken some of Marcela's new baby clothes.

After that, Marcus was forced to rip price tags off of new clothes, and sometimes slice them with a razor to make them harder to sell. In the name of love he endured this for three more years.

### CHAPTER 17

Marcus was sitting in his living room with his feet on the coffee table. He was on the phone.

"Listen Vee, I suggest we take him to court."

"Fuck court, I'm gonna have to bust that nigger's ass," Vee half shouted.

"That's not going to get you your money."

"Oh that nigger is going to pay me," Vee insisted.

"You have to calm down," Marcus pleaded. He was standing now, moving his hands as though Vee were in the room with him.

"The only court we're taking this to is the court of the streets," Vee said. He then slammed the phone down in Marcus's ear.

Vee had every right to be mad. The Bronx MC had failed to show up for the first of three weekend concerts. When the crowed at the first concert realized he wasn't showing up they rioted. They tore up the Beacon Theater, and then moved out onto the street.

Store windows were broken and people were assaulted and mugged by roving bands of irate fans. The theater's management canceled the next two shows.

The money from advance ticket sales was frozen and Vee's promotion company was being sued by the theater, some local stores, and by some fans who wanted their money back. The whole thing was a mess.

At first Marcus couldn't understand why Vee didn't want to sue Bronx MC. He was worth millions, they could easily recoup Vee loses.

Then it dawned on Marcus why Vee didn't want to go to court. His bootlegging activities might be revealed. Vee was between a rock and a hard place.

The only thing Marcus could think of, was to call Cool tomorrow and see if all this could be worked out.

Marcus had another set of problems though, he was Vee's, Cool's and the Bronx MC's lawyer. This was a definite conflict of interest.

Added to this was the fact that Cool had just been elected the President and Chairman of the Board of the Society of Composers And Publishers of America (SCAPA). SCAPA was the music industries main distributor of royalty payments. They also investigated record piracy.

The next day Marcus was headed to his office when he noticed Lisa staring at him. He surprised she had lasted as long as she did. They were starting to call her Lisa Nine Lives. But now it seemed her luck was running out.

She had just come back from a two week 'illness.' This made him laugh. He knew she was running the streets with his sister getting high.

The word around the office was, if she missed any more time she would be fired. He doubted it though. He knew it wasn't luck that she kept her job. She was either sleeping with someone important or had something on them.

Marcus was in his office working and needed some copies. It was eleven o'clock and Ms. O'Neal was out to lunch, so he would have to do it himself. When he entered the copy room Eloise and Lisa were in the room talking.

"I'm telling you my back was killing me," Lisa said. "It's still a little tender; I'm going to see a chiropractor."

He wondered if Eloise even believed her. He figured Lisa was telling Eloise this, in the hopes that she would spread the story around. This way people might really think something was wrong with her back. Marcus on the other hand knew her back was stronger than most men's.

He felt something and looked up from the copy machine. Even though Lisa was talking to her, Eloise was staring at him. He started to question her on why she was looking like that; then it dawned on him. Oh shit, Lisa had exposed him.

He hadn't gotten high in almost eight weeks. His mother wasn't holding his money and he was handling the urges. But he couldn't say the same for Monique. Instead of returning to work she had decided to stay home and be a housewife.

The problem was, she and Paula were getting high a lot. Paula had probably passed this information on to Lisa.

He finished making his copies and went back to his office. He tried to concentrate on his work, but he couldn't. He wondered what Lisa said to Eloise.

Did she tell them that I smoke? If she did, did she confess on her self as well? Otherwise how would she know what I'm doing? She could have said his sister told me. She might have even said Monique was smoking as well.

The intercom interrupted his tirade of thoughts. "Yes," he said.

"I'm back from lunch, Mr. Dupree," Ms. O'Neal said.

It was now time for him to go to lunch. He didn't want to leave the office, but he was hungry.

He got up and put on his jacket, adjusted his tie, and opened the door. He stepped out.

No one seemed to be paying him any mind. As he walked towards the elevator, he started to calm down. He started to consider what he wanted for lunch. A burger and fries, sounds good, he thought.

He stepped into the elevator and turned around. He noticed one of the secretaries talking to the receptionist. The receptionist was staring at him. It's nothing he thought. But before the elevator door closed, the secretary was also looking at him, covering her mouth as she talked.

Marcus imagined this must be how Joe felt the day he beat him up, humiliated and ashamed. As he rode the elevator down, he figured he'd he tell people about Lisa's antics.

But that wouldn't help him. The proverbial cat was already out of the bag. Besides he was an attorney, it would look even worse if he lowered himself to the level of an office gossip.

Still he felt the need to pay Lisa back. Maybe I can get somebody from that pool hall to whip her ass, he thought. No that would wrong; even though she deserved it. Besides he didn't want to get that involved with that crowd.

He would just have to ride it out. If Joe Cooke could come back to work after getting knocked out, he could survive rumors.

By the time he arrived at the restaurant he felt better. He sat down and ordered his food. As he sat there two men walked by. Marcus overheard one say to the other, "It's his wife who's the cause of all the problems."

Marcus immediately looked up. He didn't know them and he was sure their conversation wasn't about him, but the words hurt him just the same.

What was he going to do about Monique? She was deteriorating fast. She didn't seem as bad off as Lisa and Paula, but he figured it was just a matter of time.

By the time his burger deluxe had arrived, he was no longer hungry. After force feeding himself half a burger and some fries, he went back to work.

By the time he stepped off the elevator, he understood the meaning of the phrase; "The weight of the world on your shoulders." It was a struggle just to hold his head up.

He walked into the Bullpen in time to hear Eloise say to two other secretaries, "The way I heard it, they're both smoking."

When one of the secretaries saw him, she cleared her throat. Eloise stopped talking.

As he passed them he tried to look unaffected by their talk. He didn't do a good job.

Forty minutes after leaving work, Marcus found himself driving down White Plains Road. This wasn't what he planned, it just happened. It was almost as if the car had a mind of its own. He stopped at the light on 225th and White Plains. It seemed this light was always catching him.

As he waited at the light a new Lexus pulled up opposite him. The window came down, it was Hulk.

"What's up Benz," Hulk asked.

"What's up Hulk?"

"How you be?"

"I'm chilling," Marcus replied.

"Tell your man Vee if he don't have Apple's money by tomorrow night, I'm gonna crack his fucking skull."

"What are you talking about," Marcus asked.

"Vee lost a lot of money gambling. Apple loaned him the money."

"How much we talking," Marcus asked, he figured he'd pay it off.

"With interest it comes to fifty three thousand dollars," Hulk answered.

"Fifty thousand," Marcus exclaimed.

Just then the car behind him started blowing its horn. Marcus looked up and saw that the light had turned green.

"Yo I'm out of here," Marcus said to Hulk. He sighed and then drove off.

He pulled out his cell phone and tried to call Vee. He got Vee's voice mail and hung up. He really didn't know what he would have said if Vee had answered, he never knew what would set him off.

To Marcus it seemed like the world was closing in on him. It was time to take control, he would start at home. He was going to insist that Monique enter a drug program, this time he wouldn't take no for an answer.

Monique was on her way out when Marcus got home. She had just locked the door when he approached. He could tell she had been getting high.

"Listen we have to talk," Marcus said.

"I don't have time, I have too meet Cassandra, give me twenty dollars," Monique said.

"No, we have to talk."

"Talk about what, you need to be a father and go pick up your daughter."

She started to walk away. Marcus grabbed her by the arm. She spun around and looked at him.

"Get your hands off me," she said.

"You have to go to a rehab."

"Not that bullshit again," Monique said as she pulled away from him and started down the block.

Marcus followed her. He grabbed her arm again, this time he used two hands to hold on. She tried to break free. When she realized he had a tight grip she took a swing at him. He had to let go to block the blow.

"What the hell is wrong with you," she said.

"I can't take this any more, you have to go in for treatment."

"You're bugging out," Monique said. She then turned to walk away.

Marcus grabbed her by both arms and pushed her up against a parked car. He then drew back his fist. This scared Monique, she covered her face expecting him to hit her, but he spoke instead.

"If you don't go into a rehab, I'm going to have to put you out."

She looked at him, when she realized he wasn't going to hit her, she screamed, "Mother fucker." She then tried to dig her nails into his face.

He quickly jumped back, but not fast enough, she was able to put a single scratch down the left side of his face. Marcus became enraged.

He grabbed her and slammed her to the pavement. He put his knee in her chest and drew back his fist, he looked into her face, his intended target.

"No," someone screamed.

"He's going to kill her," someone else yelled.

Marcus forgot were he was. He looked around and a crowd had gathered. He climbed off of Monique. He was so angry he was shaking.

Monique knew not to say anything. She knew Marcus had a temper but she had never seen him so angry. She realized if it weren't for the crowd he would have beaten her senseless.

He walked into the house and she walked down the block.

Marcus couldn't believe what just happened. He had never hit a woman in his life.

"Why me god, why me," he yelled. Tears started falling from his eyes.

"I've tried to be a good husband, a good father and a good son, why am I being punished?"

Marcus wiped his eyes. He had to go get Marcela, but was too embarrassed to go out. A crowd had gathered out side his house. He had to get his thoughts together.

It took Marcus twenty minutes to figure out what he was going to do. He would pick up Marcela and take her to his mother's house. Then he'd go look for Monique. He still loved her and couldn't bring himself to putting her out.

Monique was standing on the corner of 241st Street and White Plains road.

"What's up Monique," Cassandra said as she approached.

"What's up girl," Monique replied. "So where is this spot we can get crack at half price?"

"Follow me." Cassandra led Monique up White Plains road.

They went into a three story small building in the middle of the block. Cassandra and Monique went upstairs to the second floor. Cassandra knocked on the door.

"Who is it," a man yelled from inside the apartment.

"It's me Eric, Cassandra."

Eric opened the door. Cassandra and Monique went inside. The apartment was a mess. There were beer cans and bottles strewn all over. Monique counted at least fifteen. There were two tables in the room.

One of the tables had a box of Chinese food on it. Monique figured it was a few hours old. There were also two empty cereal bowls on the table. And a quart of what Monique hoped was empty milk.

It was the other table that really got Monique's attention. There was a guy bottling up crack. There must have been a hundred bottles. She also noticed the nickel plated semi automatic.

"I'm not getting high in a crack spot," Monique said.

"This ain't no spot," Eric said. "I just let my man Tyrone bottle his stuff up and he pays me a little something."

"Take them bitches in the back," Tyrone said.

"Come on," Eric said as he led Monique and Cassandra to the bedroom.

The bed room was a little neater than the living room.

"How much do you want to get," Eric asked.

"Well I have twenty dollars," Cassandra replied.

Cassandra and Eric both looked at Monique.

"I have twenty dollars too," Monique stated. "So we get the crack for half price?"

"Yeah, but you have to give me a hit off of each bottle," Eric replied.

"Give me twenty dollars worth," Monique said.

Eric smiled a toothless grin and a shudder went through Monique's body. Something about the way Eric smiled gave her the creeps.

As they were smoking the last of the crack, someone knocked at the door. Eric left the bedroom to go answer it. He came back into the room with another guy. Monique could immediately tell he was drug dealer. He looked Monique and Cassandra up and down.

"Y'all want to hang out," the dealer said.

"Hang out where," Cassandra asked.

"We can go to a motel and chill for a minute," the dealer said.

"That's alright," Monique responded.

She knew he wanted sexual favors. Plus if he wanted Monique and Cassandra to come, he was into something freaky.

"I'll come with you," Cassandra said.

The dealer looked at Monique. "You going to let your friend go by herself?"

"She's a big girl," Monique replied. She then opened the last bottle of crack.

Monique started to smoke the last of the crack as Cassandra and the dealer left the apartment. When the last of the drugs were all smoked up, Monique got up to leave.

Tyrone was still in the living room. He had finished bottling up his product. He had over one hundred bottles sitting in front of him.

"You want a couple of bottles before you leave," Tyrone asked.

"Yeah why not," Monique said thinking she was getting as freebie.

Tyrone started unzipping his pants.

"No that's alright," Monique said, once she realized that he was propositioning her.

"Come on baby, I'll give you four bottles." He then picked up four vials and offered them to her.

She looked at them. Shook her head no, but couldn't move her feet. She was stuck.

"Why you rushing baby, you have somewhere to go?"

She started to say home, but then she remembered the fight she and Marcus had.

"No I don't have anywhere to go."

"Then help a business man relieve his stress," Tyrone said as he reached into his unzipped pants.

"I never did this before."

"It's easy, just suck on this pipe like you suck on the glass one."

He pulled Monique's head into his crotch. She couldn't resist, she wanted more crack. Suddenly she felt something tug at her skirt. She had forgotten all about Eric.

She stood up straight and turned around. She saw Eric with his pants down around his ankles. But before she could object Tyrone spoke.

"Don't worry about him, just take care of this." He then pulled her head back down.

Monique wanted to object. But if she did now, Tyrone might not give her anything. She felt Eric pulling her panties down. She didn't want to do this, but she wanted the crack more than ever now. She felt Eric as he entered her.

Monique fought back tears. She was hoping they would hurry. Suddenly Monique tasted something, and panic set in. When Tyrone finished he would come...she couldn't finish the thought.

She almost hoped they would never finish, this way she wouldn't have to look them in their faces.

### CHAPTER 18

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Cassandra stood in front of the building waiting for the dealer to finish talking to his friend.

"When are we going," she asked.

"In a minute, just hold on," the dealer replied.

Cassandra didn't see Marcus approaching.

"Where's Monique?" Marcus asked.

At first startled, Cassandra replied, "I don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know?"

At first Cassandra was ready to curse Marcus out. Then she noticed the fresh scar on his face and the look in his eyes. She decided it was better to tell him where Monique was.

"I left her upstairs in Eric's apartment." She pointed to the building.

"Which apartment?"

Apartment three," Cassandra said.

Marcus went into the building and up the steps. He found the apartment and knocked on the door.

"Who is it," Eric yelled.

"Tell Monique to come out," Marcus said.

Tyrone looked at Monique, "Is that your name?"

She shook her head yes.

"We ain't finish yet," Eric yelled through the closed door.

Marcus started banging on the door again, this time harder and louder than before. "Tell her to come out now," he yelled.

"That nigger must be crazy," Tyrone said as he picked up the pistol.

"No," Monique screamed. "That's my husband."

"Your husband," Tyrone said, jerking his head in shock.

"Open the door, so this bitch can get out," Tyrone said to Eric.

As soon as Eric started unlocking the door, Monique bent down to pick up her panties.

"Let me just put these on," she said.

"You can do that outside," Tyrone said as he pushed her towards the opening door.

Marcus saw the door swing open, and then a man with a gun in his hand pushing Monique out of the apartment. He was about to ask her what was going on when he noticed the panties in her hand.

"What's up with that," Marcus asked pointing to the panties.

"I had an accident," Monique replied.

Then he noticed something on her face.

"What's that on your face?"

What's what," Monique said as she put her hand to her face.

It was thick and slimy, she immediately knew what it was. All she could do was look at Marcus, who had turned around and started walking away.

"It's your fault," Monique yelled. "You got me hooked on this shit."

Marcus felt guilty as he walked down the stairs. After all he did introduce Monique to drugs. He felt like he owed her something. But then he thought about what had just happened. It brought back the memories of the incident with Stella. Guilt was replaced with anger and depression. The only thing he could think of doing now was changing his locks.

Marcus came out of the building and got into his car. He started to drive down White Plains Road. At 238th Street he noticed a liquor store and pulled over. He went inside.

"Give me a pint of Southern Comfort," Marcus told the clerk. He got back in his car opened the bottle, took a long swallow, and washed away three years of clean time. He decided to go to Lisa's apartment.

"Who is it," Lisa asked.

"It's me Marcus."

Lisa opened the door to her apartment.

"So what brings you here?"

Marcus answered her by putting the bottle of Southern Comfort to his lips. Lisa's eyes widened with excitement at the sight of him drinking.

"Come on in," she said.

Marcus stepped into the apartment. The first thing he noticed was most of her furniture was gone. All she had in the living room was the kitchen table, two chairs, and a cot.

"So what's up?"

"Same old thing, why don't you go get us a hit," Marcus replied.

Yeah right," Lisa responded. She didn't believe Marcus was serious.

Marcus put the bottle down on the table and went into his pocket. He took out his wallet and pulled some money from it. He counted off five twenty dollar bills and handed them to Lisa.

Lisa's eyes lit up as she fingered the money. "I'll be right back," she said as she raced out the door.

Marcus sipped on his bottle as he waited. He then counted his money. He had three hundred and fifty dollars. His plan was to spend maybe two hundred more. Marcus had finished half of the Southern Comfort by the time Lisa returned.

"Let's see what you got," Marcus demanded.

Lisa started dropping vials of crack onto the table. She put ten on the table.

"That's all," Marcus asked. There should have been twenty vials on the table.

"Well half is for me, right?"

"Yeah I guess so. Do you have a pipe I can use?"

"You haven't changed, you still don't have your own pipe." Lisa looked at him with an annoyed look on her face. She then went into the back. She came back with two pipes and lighters.

"Don't burn up the pipe and ruin it."

Marcus didn't answer. He picked up the pipe, emptied a vial of crack and started smoking. Lisa watched him consume the whole vial in less than a minute.

"Slow down," she said. "You're going to ruin my pipe."

Marcus threw the contents of another vial into the pipe. Lisa put a vial in her pocket. Marcus took a hit. Lisa poured a little crack into the pipe she was using.

It only took Marcus forty five minutes to finish the ten vials.

"Go get some more," Marcus told Lisa. He held out the entire two hundred and fifty dollars.

She snatched the money and was out the door.

Marcus sipped on the Southern Comfort as he waited. He was starting to get drunk. But this didn't help him forget his troubles. He sat there in Lisa's apartment thinking about how his life was going down the tubes.

This time it took Lisa a half hour to come back. She came in the door and came straight to the table. She put the vials on the table, again keeping half for herself. Marcus noticed the vials contained less crack than before.

"These look like someone took some out," Marcus said.

"You think I tapped the bottles?"

"No, I'm saying it's not as much as before."

"That's the way they sold them to me, anyway I saw your wife out there."

"I don't have a wife."

"What's up with that," Lisa asked as Marcus emptied a vial into the pipe.

"Sometimes people have to get cut off," Marcus replied.

"I hear that," Lisa said.

Marcus knew Lisa was lying about tapping the bottles, but at this point he didn't care. He wsnt worried about Lisa telling the people at work he was getting high, because Marcus knew that neither of them would probably make it to work tomorrow. For him, it wouldn't be a big thing. Lisa on the other hand would probably be fired.

Marcus took a hit.

Two hours later, all his crack was gone.

"Let me get a hit," Marcus asked.

"You had as much as I did."

"Yeah, but I paid for it."

Lisa took a hit. She looked him in the eye and said, "You know, I'm kind of horny."

Marcus was about to tell her he didn't want to have sex, when she said, "Give me some head and you can have two bottles."

Marcus stared at her for a moment. Twenty four hours ago he would have slapped her for even suggesting it. But to day was different. He wanted a hit.

"Ok," Marcus said.

"Let me go wash up." Lisa got up and went to the bathroom.

Marcus took a swig of the Southern Comfort. He looked up when Lisa came out of the bathroom. She was still wearing a denim top, but she had a towel wrapped around her waist.

She sat down on the cot. Marcus attempted to lift the towel. She knocked his hand away.

"Hold on nigger, let me take a hit first," Lisa said.

Marcus watched her smoke. The anticipation was getting to him. His mind raced. He thought about the hit he would soon take, but what really turned him on was the thought of pleasing Lisa.

Lisa took the towel off and lied back on the cot. There wasn't enough room for both of them on the cot, so Marcus had to kneel on the floor.

He then put his face between her legs.

"Over here," she said. She pushed his head, showing him where she wanted him to place his tongue.

Suddenly her legs wrapped around his head and her back arched. Then she pushed his head away.

"Here," she said tossing two vials onto the cot.

Marcus picked them up. "Let me see the pipe?"

"No!"

"What do you mean no," Marcus asked.

"Nigger, your lips ain't touching my pipe, I don't know where else they've been."

Marcus felt like the proverbial two dollar hoe as he left Lisa's apartment. He only needed two dollars to buy a pipe but didn't have any money on him. And he was too paranoid to go into a bank and use his ATM card.

So with two vials of crack in his pocket and a pint of Southern Comfort in his hand he decided to go home. Just as he pulled the car into his driveway, he saw Vee pulling up.

Marcus was so high, he really didn't feel like talking to Vee. He got out of the car thinking, what excuse he could use to send Vee on his way.

"Yo Marcus, you gotta come with me," Vee shouted as he jumped out of his car.

"I have a real bad headache, I was just about to go lie down."

"We don't have time for that, I just found out that nigger Bronx MC is over on Bronxwood and 219th," Vee said.

"So what do you want me to do?"

"Come with me, so we can get my money."

Marcus thought about what Hulk had said. If Vee didn't get the money from Bronx MC, he was going to have serious problems.

"How are we going to get money from him this time of night," Marcus asked.

"I don't know, maybe the nigger has a safe. If not we'll hold that bitch ass hostage till in the morning when the bank opens."

"Hostage?"

Marcus realized Vee wasn't just scared, he was terrified.

"Maybe you can talk to him," Vee said as he started pushing Marcus towards his BMW.

Marcus stopped arguing and got in. He tried to collect his thoughts as Vee pulled off.

He wanted a hit more now than ever. He couldn't take his mind off the two vials in his pocket.

"Stop at the corner store and let me hold two dollars," Marcus said.

"Two dollars," Vee yelled. "I know you're not asking me for two fucking dollars and this nigger owes me thousands."

Vee reached in his pocket and pulled out a fist full of bills and threw them at Marcus.

"I see you're smoking that shit again."

Marcus took two dollars and tried to give the rest back to Vee.

"Just hold it," Vee said. He stopped at a red light. He then reached down to his ankle holster and pulled out his .38 snub nose, one of the two guns he always carried.

"Here take this too," Vee said.

Marcus took the gun.

"What do I need this for?"

"It's just in case Bronx MC tries something stupid."

"Stupid like what, he's a private school punk."

"Yeah and you never know what a bitch ass nigger like him is going to do," Vee said.

"Come on Vee I'll talk to him, we can straighten this out."

"Yeah you talk to him, but if I don't get my money, I'm fucking him up."

Marcus stuck the gun in his jacket pocket. He had crack in one pocket and a pistol in the other, if the cops pulled them over his legal career would be finished. Things were defiantly getting out of control.

They pulled up to the corner of Bronxwood and 219th Street. Marcus's heart was racing.

"There goes his truck right there," Vee said.

"Ok, let's take a couple of deep breaths so we can..."

"There he goes, right there."

He had just come out of a house about twenty feet in front of them. Vee jumped out of the car. Marcus got out too. Marcus had half expected and half hoped that Bronx MC would run.

"Where's my money," Vee said as he approached Bronx MC.

"What money nigger," Bronx MC exclaimed.

"Yo Vee chill," Marcus yelled.

"You're lucky Marcus thinks we can work this out," Vee said.

"Work what out, I don't owe you any money."

Vee turned around and looked at Marcus with a crazy look on his face. "You better tell this boy something."

"First of all Marcus can't tell me anything, plus Choir boy already told me how you bootlegging my shit," Bronx MC replied.

Vee was stunned, he didn't expect to hear that. He knew now this whole thing was Choir Boy's payback for the slapping in the restaurant.

"What you can tell me is this though, how long have you been a secret agent," Bronx MC asked

"What," Vee replied.

"You know, undercover. How else would Choir Boy know your business," Bronx MC said.

Marcus knew what was going to happen next. Vee took a wild round house swing at Bronx MC. The punch would have knocked out a mule if it had landed.

But to Marcus's surprise Bronx MC blocked the blow. Bronx MC then started raining punches on Vee. Lefts, rights, and uppercuts were connecting to Vee's head and upper body.

Vee tried to block, but he couldn't stop the onslaught. For a second Marcus thought Vee looked like he was about to turn and run.

Vee tried to punch back, but as soon as his hands moved away from his bloodied face, Bronx MC caught him with a straight right top the nose.

Marcus couldn't believe what he was witnessing.

Then they suddenly started to wrestle. Vee bent down to his ankle holster. Apparently he had forgotten he had given the gun to Marcus.

Marcus felt Vee had had enough. He stepped in to break it up before Vee went for his other gun.

Vee looked at Marcus and said, "Aren't you going to help me?"

"No," Marcus said as he put his hand on the back of Vee's head to pull him away from Bronx MC.

BANG

Marcus felt the shock wave pass his face. He also felt a punch come out of the back of Vee's head. For Marcus the world seemed to get dark and move in slow motion. Vee leaned up against him.

"Let get out of here, he's got a gun," Marcus screamed. He took a step back.

At first it looked like Vee was about to follow but then he started to go down. Marcus wouldn't, couldn't accept what he was seeing.

"Come on Vee, let's go," He yelled.

Marcus looked at the Bronx MC, who was looking back. They looked into each others eyes, just before Marcus started to run.

Marcus didn't stop running until he got to White Plains road. He was out of breath.

He had to go back. As he was making his way back up the block, he didn't feel as high as before. All the excitement seemed to sober him up. He reached into his pocket and took out the two vials of crack. He threw them into the street.

There was a large crowd at the corner where he had left Vee. The people were watching as paramedics put Vee into the ambulance.

Marcus stopped about a hundred feet away. If he was connected to this it could ruin his career or worse. One of his clients shoots the other over record piracy, record piracy that Marcus knew something about. On top of that Marcus was drunk and high on crack.

NYPD had a way of twisting coincidences like these into murder charges.

Marcus turned around and went back to White Plains Road. He used the money Vee had given him to catch a taxi home.

Marcus sat in his living room not sure of what to do. He tried not to think about what had just happened. He needed to talk to somebody.

Suddenly he remembered that Vee had given him his gun to hold. He took the gun and put in the tool draw in the kitchen. Just as he shut the drawer there was a knock at the door.

"Who is it?"

"NYPD."

Marcus opened the door.

"Can I help you," Marcus asked.

"Yes I'm detective Greco and this is my partner detective Sweet."

Marcus looked at the two officers and tried to look like he didn't know what it was about.

"Do you know a Vincent Page," Sweet asked.

"Yes," Marcus replied.

"Well he was killed about an hour ago, and we'd like you to come down to the precinct with us to answer a few questions," Sweet said

Marcus could no longer hold back the tears. He knew what had happened to Vee, but wouldn't admit it too himself. But when Sweet said the words, Marcus could no longer deny it.

Marcus wiped his eyes and said let me get my keys.

As Marcus got into the detectives car he said, "I didn't know NYPD could come up into Mount Vernon."

"We have a reciprocal agreement with Mount Vernon PD," Greco said.

Marcus sat in silence the rest of the way to the precinct.

Marcus sat in the dreary looking interrogation room. He had no plans of practicing criminal law, so he never thought he'd actually be in one. The two detectives sat across from him.

The two detectives seemed friendly enough, Marcus figured he'd be home in an hour.

"So what happened tonight Marcus," Greco said with a smile on his face.

"What do you mean," Marcus replied.

"I mean with Vincent, how did he get shot."

Marcus felt his legal career depended on how he answered this question. He thought quickly but carefully before answering.

"I don't know."

Greco looked him in the face, the smile was now gone. Marcus knew they didn't believe him.

"Where were you about an hour and a half ago," Greco asked.

"I was with a friend," Marcus said.

"Can your friend back up your alibi," Greco replied.

Alibi, Marcus thought. Did they think he shot Vee?

"What do you mean alibi," Marcus demanded.

"We ask the questions Marcus," Sweet said.

Marcus cleared his throat. "I don't know, I'm married and she might not want to get involved."

"What's her name," Greco asked. He was smiling again.

This made Marcus feel that they were starting to believe him. Marcus realized that Lisa would probably tell them about the drugs, but the time frame was close enough to back up his story.

"Lisa Hall."

"I'll check it out," Sweet said. He then got up and left the room.

"Do you have a suspect," Marcus asked.

Detective Greco stared directly into Marcus's eyes.

"I need a lawyer," Marcus said.

"Why did you do something," Greco responded.

"This is some bullshit, you're trying to say I killed my boy."

"No Marcus, we're just trying to find out what happened." Detective Greco stood up. He leaned on the table with both hands. He then looked Marcus in the eyes and smiled.

"Tell me what really happened."

"I told you I was with a friend."

As if on cue, Sweet came back in the room. He looked at his partner and shook his head no.

"She told you I was with her right," Marcus said to Sweet.

"What time did you leave her house," Sweet asked.

"The same time she said I left," Marcus replied.

"She said you left two hours ago."

"She's lying," Marcus said. "Maybe she's confused about the time..."

"We have witnesses placing you at the crime scene Marcus."

Marcus thought Greco was lying. There was no one on the corner except him, Vee and, oh shit The Bronx MC.

"Who is this witness," Marcus asked.

"Why'd you grab Vincent by the back of the neck before he was shot," Sweet demanded.

"What," Marcus exclaimed. "I did that to pull him away."

Marcus realized he just admitted to being there. He sat there looking at the two detectives.

"Tell us what happened," Greco said.

"I tried to break it up," Marcus replied.

"Break what up?"

"They were fighting," Marcus replied.

"Wait a minute," Greco said. "Explain something to me. Your client and your best friend are on the corner fighting at 1:00 A.M. They're fighting over bootleg records and money. Am I right so far?"

Marcus just looked at him and nodded his head.

Greco continued, "Then your client starts pistol whipping your best friend with his own gun. Then you grab the back of your friend's head while your client shoots him in the face..."

"Wait a minute," Marcus interrupted.

"No you wait a minute," Sweet said. "We know Vincent carried two guns. We have the murder weapon. So we need to know, why did you flee your best friends murder and where is his service revolver?"

Marcus immediately thought about the gun in his tool drawer. If he mentioned it now he would look as guilty as sin. He looked at the two detectives.

"I tried to break it up."

"You owe any money Marcus," Greco asked.

"Huh."

"Do you owe any money to any crack dealers," Sweet said. "We can help you."

"Why'd you run Marcus," Greco asked.

Marcus couldn't take it any more. "I ran because my best friend was bootlegging records and killed for it by one of my clients."

"But why did you run," Greco repeated.

"Because I was high, I had been smoking crack and drinking. This whole situation could ruin my career."

"Why didn't you tell us that from the beginning? The guy you call The Bronx MC already confessed. He's claiming self defense. We just needed you to back up his story," Sweet said.

Marcus looked at him with disbelief. "If he already confessed why the fuck are you asking me all these questions?"

"It's our job, Mr. Dupree, do you need a ride home?"

Marcus shook his head yes. He didn't want to say anything else.

"Oh yeah, one more thing, let us know if you here anything about Vincent's service weapon," Greco said as they headed for the door.

It was five o'clock in the morning when Marcus got home. He decided that he would call the job at nine to tell them he couldn't make it in today. His mother would take Marcela to Mrs. Jenkins so he didn't have to worry about picking her up until after five. This way hew could get some sleep.

At one thirty the phone woke him up.

"Hello," Marcus said.

"Hello, Marcus its Coleman what happened?"

"I had some personal business to take care of."

"They're saying you were involved in a murder and record piracy."

"Who told you that," Marcus demanded.

"The police were here," Coleman stated.

"I'll explain everything tomorrow," Marcus said.

"That's why I called, the rest of the partners want to see you tomorrow morning nine thirty sharp. The drug rumors were bad enough, but this is too much Marcus I'm really sorry."

Marcus hung up the phone. He knew this meant he was fired. His legal career was probably ruined as well.

Marcus went out to the car and got the bottle of Southern Comfort. He took the bottle into the kitchen and poured himself a drink.

Marcus sat there at the kitchen table, thinking about the last twenty four hours. He had lost his job, his best friend and his wife.

It was Marcus who had introduced Vee to the music industry. He saw this coming but just watched. He thought about Vee's last words, "Aren't you going to help me?" Marcus had said no. It was the last favor Vee would ever ask of him

Marcus thought about Monique. She had given him love and in return he gave her a crack habit. She trusted him with her life and he introduced her to pain, misery and suffering.

He remembered Greco's statement about Vee's second gun. Marcus went to the tool drawer and took it out. He sat back down and looked at his drink.

"Three swallows and I'm finished, I'll never drink again," Marcus said to himself.

"One," Marcus took a long swallow. He then picked up Vee's gun and cocked it.

"Two." He took another long drink. Marcus wanted to cry but he told himself, be a man. He put the gun to his head.

"Three." He took his last drink. Marcus took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

Brring!

It was the phone. He got up on rubbery legs and answered it. He still had the gun in his hand.

"Yes," was all Marcus could say.

"Marcus, why are you home," Sarah said. "You have to come down here to Mount Vernon hospital."

"I want my daddy," Marcela screamed in the back ground.

"What's the matter with Marcela," Marcus yelled.

"It's Paula she has appendicitis."

"I want my daddy, where is my daddy," Marcela continued yelling in the back ground.

Tears started to build in the wells of Marcus's eyes.

"You know Marcela really loves you Marcus, not once has she asked for her mother."

Marcus blinked and the tears started to flow.

"I'll be there in a few."

Sarah could hear the sadness in her son's voice. "What's the matter Marcus?"

"I love you mama," Marcus sobbed.

"Marcus, what happened, what's the matter," Sarah cried.

"I want to live mama, I just want to live."

Marcus dropped the gun.

ONE YEAR LATER

Marcus sat in his living room reading the newspaper. The doorbell rang. He wondered who it could be. It was nine thirty on a Tuesday night. He got up and went to the door.

"Who is it?"

"It's me Monique."

Marcus opened the door. "How are you?"

"I'm chilling," Monique replied.

It had been over six months since he saw her last. He looked at her clothes. Her jeans were too big and the sweat shirt she wore was too small. Both were dirty. She had a baseball cap pulled down over her head. He could tell she had lost most of her hair. Marcus could also tell she was uncomfortable with her appearance.

"Congratulations on starting your own law firm," Monique stated.

"Thanks, so what brings you to Mount Vernon?"

I'm going into a drug rehab tomorrow, and I need a few dollars." She wouldn't look him in the eyes as she spoke, instead she looked down at the ground.

"You want to see your daughter, it been about eight months since she's seen you," Marcus said.

"No, I think its best if I wait until after I come back from rehab." She was still looking down at the ground.

"Ok, let me go get my wallet."

Marcus closed the door and locked it. He came back with sixty dollars. Monique took the money and counted it.

"Thanks, well let me get back to the city," Monique said. She turned and started to walk away.

"I still love you," Marcus said to her back, but he was sure she didn't here him.

Suddenly a scruffy looking man jumped out from behind a tree.

"Did you get it," he asked Monique.

"Yes," she said.

"How much?"

"Twenty dollars," she lied.

Marcus closed the door. He leaned his forehead against the door, took a deep breath and let out a long sigh. Marcus thought he heard crying. He lifted his head to hear where it was coming from. It was coming from upstairs, it was Marcela.

Marcus ran up the stairs to her room. Marcela was lying in her bed crying.

"What's the matter Snookum," Marcus asked as he entered Marcela's room.

"My mommy don't love me."

Had she heard her mother downstairs by the door?

"Why do you say that?" Marcus sat down on her bed.

"Jade said that if my mommy loved me she would come see me sometimes."

"Listen Snookum, your mommy loves you." Marcus sat her up. "Your mommy is sick, sometimes when people are sick they don't come around so they don't make you sick."

"Do you hate mommy," Marcela asked.

"Why do you ask?"

"Jade said you beat mommy up and told her to get out."

He looked at Marcela, she looked like him but had her mothers eyes. Marcus watched as tears fell from them.

He tried to answer the question but couldn't. Marcus hugged her tightly so she couldn't see the tears that were about to fall from his eyes.

"But why did you tell mommy to get out?"

"I didn't," Marcus lied.

He didn't know what else to say. How do you tell a five year old that love needs conditions? How do you teach her that life is unfair? And most importantly, how do you make her understand, that God helps those, who help themselves.

THE END

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