It all took place at a diner in New Rochelle, NY. It was a rainy morning, and but that didn't slow down the breakfast crowd. People were just coming in and out with their orders on their way to work. That will leave room for others to do in deph businesses without any interuptions.
Sitting in one of the booths was Jamal Lyon staring out of the window with his shades on reflecting on the events of last night, when Cookie walks into the diner wearing all black wearing her own shades, and wearing a big church hat. She spots Jamal instantly and rushes over and joins him. As she sits firmly across from him, Jamal turns to her hesitantly and takes off his shades and smiles assurely. She smiles back at him as she takes off hers as well.
"Well, thanks for meeting me in under short notice," said Jamal. "I know things between us seem a little tense, but it looks like we have a major situation on our hands."
"We sure do, baby," said Cookie. "But we didn't have to meet all the way out here, I could've just went to your place, or you could've come to mine, you know."
"As nice as that sounds," Jamal states. "We can't be seen together, at least not yet. Dad's probably got his goons watching your every move. Besides, I figured this surburb is one of the last places anyone would look."
"True," said Cookie. "Speaking of which, it's a good thing that I drove alone."
"Good," said Jamal.
"How, are you and your brothers holding up?" asked Cookie.
"I really don't want to get into that too much," said Jamal.
"it's that bad?" asked Cookie.
"There are still reeling over the fact that I became the head of this damn company," said Jamal, shaking his head. "I can't catch a break. So yeah, they're gunning for me mama."
"I know," said Cookie. "But I'm sorry to tell you this baby but we are at war with your father, and we might have to run your over to get to him."
"Well...at least there is a greater chance for me to survive," jokes Jamal.
"True that," said Cookie.
"But just because I'm letting it slide with you, doesn't mean that you other two sons get the same favor."
"Oh, so my baby has an edgier side after all," said Cookie, rhetorically.
"All day everyday," said Jamal, proudly. "I just don't show it often."
Cookie smiles a little bit, then after a long pause a concern look on her face. Jamal sees that right away.
"Is...something wrong?" Jamal asked.
"There's something that I have to tell you," said Cookie.
"What is it?" asked Jamal, with a worried look.
"It's Vernon," stated Cookie, boldly.
"Okay," said Jamal slowly. "What about him?"
"He's dead," said Cookie, after a sigh. "Someone murdered him."
Jamal takes a second to take it all in, as Cookie tries to see what he is thinking.
"Wow, that's messed up," said Jamal, but almost nonchalantly.
"That's all you're going to say?" asked Cookie.
"Well, I'm sorry," said Jamal. "I heardly even know the guy. We were like strangers to each other."
"Well, he's your father's homeboy," said Cookie. "They grew up together."
"Yes, I understand," said Jamal.
"Look, I know it's a lot of stuff that's going on," said Cookie. "But you at least need to save your energy to run this company. I don't want you to get hurt by getting draged into this."
"Hey, don't worry about me," said Jamal. "I'm going to be fine, I've been though so much worse than this."
"Much worse?" Cookie asked with a concerned look. "What did you do that was so much worse."
"It's a long story," said Jamal.
Cookie sighs as she plays with her coffee cup.
"I just don't know," said Cookie.
"Listen, mom," said Jamal, as he grabs Cookie's hand. "I know that you have protected me my whole life. And you're going to keep on protecting me."
Cookie nods proudly.
"But this time," Jamal continues. "It's my turn to protect you. And it's my job to get you out of this mess, cause I know for a fact that you didn't snitch on dad."
"But how are you going to prove it detective," jokes Cookie.
"Well, during the seventeen years you spent in prison, I developed many skills," said Jamal.
"Has your father got anything to do with that?" asked Cookie, with a knowing smile.
"Only five percent," said Jamal. "The other 95, is what I was born with."
"My son, the trooper," said Cookie. "But I got to say, if you are willing to prove my innocence, it's going to be real difficult."
"No investigation like this is too difficult," said Jamal. "The person who snitched on him is directly in our circle, and who ever done it must have a really good intention on doing so. I really don't have to look that far."
"Yeah, I hope you're right," said Cookie.
Meanwhile in a New York jail cell, Lucious was laying on his bed stirring in his juices about what went down last night. He thought long and hard about his so called friends and family that has turned his back on him and how he was going to get his revenge. But he notices that all of his anger has clouded his logic, mixed with noise of other cell members chiming into their fate. He knew that he needs to clear his mind in order to put his evil plot in motion.
He instantly thought about Jamal, and when they had their first meditation together. That was five years ago, and they haven't done another one since. But, it was something about that day that made their former tension ease up a bit.
FLASHBACK
Five years ago on a sunny Saturday afternoon, Lucious was jogging around Prospect Park, where he decides to take a shortcut through the woods, he wasn't familiar of where the trail leads, but knows that he has to be alert. He cautiously slows down as he stays on the dirt trail. As he goes further into the woods he sees some group of guys. Guys that looks like they were doing some strange activites. He all of a sudden realized that some of the guys were doing some graphic stuff to one another. Horrified Luscious picks up his jogging speed. All of a sudden he bumps into a guy, that looks ten years younger than him.
"Dammit!" spat Lucious.
"Yo, what's good homie," said the guy, getting close to Lucious, licking his lips. "What are you into?"
"Get your fruit cup ass out of my way!" Lucious shoves the guys and bolts further into the woods.
He kept running and running until he tripped on a big log and fell on his face. He stays like that for a good minute until he finds the strength to lift himself up. He discovered that he was in a big opening field by a pond. It was really quiet and peaceful, and it seemed like no one was around. He slowly walks to the pond, and just as he gets to the clip, he sees someone very familiar sitting by a nearby tree reading a magazine. It was Jamal. He was growing out a frow and had a light bushy beard. And he was wearing all black. He looks up at a distance at Lucious, then his demeanor changed as he looks back at his magazine. Lucious scoffs as he slowly walks over to his son like he owns the place.
"Oh," said Jamal, looking up from his magazine again, with sarcasm. "I knew I smelled a big overgrown sized rat from a mile away. It was too damn good to be true."
"Is that anyway to treat your old man?" smirked Lucious. "But why am I surprised, not only that you are one big ass sissy boy, you've gone rebellious too. I mean how the hell would I have a son that look me straight in my eyes and not acknowledge my presence. I just feel so disrespected."
"Oh, you're breaking my heart," joked Jamal, as he continue to flip through pages.
"Yo something is really wrong with you my brother," said Lucious. "You think that you're in the park trying to pimp yourself out like some bitch, makes you some sort of man, I don't think so."
"What do you want," said Jamal. "You're disrupting my 'me time'. And right now you don't exist."
"Well, you don't have to worry about that," said Lucious, nonchalantly. "I was just out for a jog, and I decided to take a quick shortcut."
"You took a quick shortcut," said Jamal. "So, you decided to take a quick look at the men after all?"
"Boy shut up!" said Lucious. "I thought the damn trail will lead me to where I started...but everything turned all sketchy amd this bum ass fruit cup tried to bag me. I ran for my life."
"And that's how you bust your ass on that log over there?" said Jamal. "I mean couldn't you just land on some spikes, so you can die quicker?"
Lucious hisses evily at Jamal, and looks out into the peaceful pond. Jamal sighs and does the same thing. The clouds suddenly broke apart and the sun was shinning making the water look beautiful.
"But this really nice," said Lucious, trying not to be all mushy. "It's a little more calmer than I...imagined."
"I come here, mostly five days a week," said Jamal. "To get away from everyone and everything, and just kick back and relax...And not to think about stuff that gives me stress, and misery. This is like one of my favorite spots in the city."
Then he briefly looks at Lucious and turns back to the lake.
"Well...was my favorite spot in the city," Jamal said bitterly. "Until you showed up here with your evil toxic contamination!"
"Look, I wasn't gonna stick around this wack dump anyhow!" spat Lucious, hestitantly. "I'm...just going to rest my legs for a bit...then I be out!"
"Yeah, whatever!" said Jamal as he goes back to his magazine.
Lucious slowly sits back on the freshly green grass as he continues to look out at the pond. Jamal then reaches into his backpack and pulls out a big package of sunflower seeds. He takes some of them out and pops them into his mouth and spits out the seeds. He briefly looks at Lucious, studying him like an open book. He quietly sighs and reluctantly tosses the package between him and Lucious and goes back to his magazine. Lucious turns and stares at the package and then a Jamal. He smiled a little bit, but turned back to his old self. He then slowly scooted over to the package and reluctantly digs into it grabbing out a handful. He instantly pops some into his mouth. Jamal looks across from the magizine as Lucious spits out the shell. He turns to Jamal and examines the package.
"Eh, not bad," shrugged Lucious.
Then they when back to enjoying the sunshine.
Lucious was now sitting up from from his bed now looking out angry from his jail cell. After stewing around in his thoughts, he is more than ever ready to get even. He is now in the process of putting his ducks in a row.
"One of these days," seathed Lucious. "One of these days they are all going to wish they haven't crossed me. Sons of bitches."
"Well, someone has woken up on the wrong side of the crib."
Lucious shot up from his bed to figure out where the voice was coming from. Just as he pinned himself to the bars to look out, a sort of familiar figure came walking towards him.
It was Ryan, and he had a very sly smile on his face. Lucious slowly backs up from the bar.
"What the hell are you doing here?" asked Lucious, intensly.
"Well, I came to pay you a visit," said Ryan, now standing in front of Lucious with his arms folded.
"I didn't send for you," said Lucious. "So, what do you want?...Like a star on top of your forehead and a pat on your back?"
Ryan chuckles lightly.
"Even if there's no bars thats between us," said Lucious, with an evil signature smile. "I wouldn't be interested."
"Oh, I'm afraid that you are sadly mistaken, sir Lyon," said Ryan. "But that was a wonderful guess."
The smile softened on Lucious face.
"I just came down here for a celebration," said Ryan, as he leans against the bars.
Lucious eyes widens with intensity, with a sprinkle of fear.
"Yeah, that's right," said Ryan, with laughter. "I got you where I want you!"
Lucious' blood starts to boil.