The next morning, CJ woke up and got dressed into a blue flannel shirt and beige khaki pants with black and white Chuck Taylor sneakers and headed outside. He spotted Ryder outside leaning against the trailer.
"Yo Ryder!" CJ called to his friend. Ryder turned around to face CJ.
"What's up, homie?" Ryder replied.
"There's something I forgot to mention to you when I told you about Smoke's betrayal," CJ told him.
"Jeah? And what's that?" Ryder asked.
"When Cesar showed me Smoke selling us out," CJ explained, "we saw them reveal the Green Sabre out the garage."
"The Green Sabre?!" Ryder shouted, shocked out of his mind. "You mean the one that drove by the hood and which the Ballas did a drive-by at an attempt to murder Sweet?! Why you didn't say anything, motherfucker?!"
"I guess I was so shocked that I skipped over that detail," CJ said.
"Damn!" Ryder groaned. "So it was Smoke who tried to kill Sweet!"
"Yeah," CJ said. "It all makes sense now. Those times Smoke was acting weird, how he was acting all happy to see me return and shit, how he tried to order all that food at Cluckin' Bell last month, C.R.A.S.H. walking in and out of his house, which is in Idlewood! It all makes sense now! All of that was to mask his betrayal! He used me! He used all of us! And like a bunch of fools, we fell for it!"
"Man, that fat motherfucker really gonna pay!" Ryder snarled. "Where's my pistol?!"
Ryder attempted to storm into the trailer to obtain his weapon. But CJ squelched his movement.
"Who, slow down, Ryder!" CJ said. "Remember, Tenpenny told us we gotta stay away from Smoke. There ain't telling what's gonna happen to Sweet while he's locked up. So we just gotta play it cool, stay low-key, and when the time is right, then we can throw the punch. You feel me, homie?"
Ryder took a few seconds to think about what CJ said. While he was too impatient to wait to get even with Big Smoke, he knew what Big Smoke had planned out. So he decided to take CJ's advice instead.
"You right, homie," Ryder replied. "I'll just be inside trying to eradicate the shit off my mind."
So Ryder slowly trotted inside the trailer and closed the door behind him.
Just then, CJ heard his cellphone ring. He pulled it out of his pocket to answer it. He already knew who is was that called him. "Cesar, it's me!" he answered.
"Carl, you alright, holmes?" Cesar asked through the phone. "Your sister's been worried. I heard some shit's been down."
CJ let out a fresh breath of relief. Kendl was okay, and that was one of the few things that mattered to him. "Yeah," CJ agreed. "Los Santos is dangerous right now. We out in the middle of...I don't know...Whetstone, whatever that is."
"Don't know Whetstone too well," Cesar answered. "I got some family out there, I think. But at least you ain't in jail, holmes. Shit's fucked up with your brother, ese."
"You be careful," CJ warned, "and look after Kendl."
"Don't worry about me, man," Cesar replied. "You worry about the man who tries to fuck with my woman. I got some backup coming out to protect you."
Backup, huh? CJ thought. This oughta be interesting.
"My cousin," Cesar continued. "Real intense, holmes. Trust me. Meet them over at the diner in Dillimore over in Red County. You won't miss them."
As Cesar hung up, CJ put his cellphone aside.
"Dillimore?" he asked under his breath. "Where the hell that at?"
CJ looked around to ask for directions. He spotted a pedestrian wearing a red hat, orange windbreaker, and baggy brown pants.
"Hey, you know how I can get to Dillimore?" he asked the pedestrian.
"Screw that!" the pedestrian scoffed as he pulled out a map from his pocket and handed it to CJ. "Here's a map. You can read it and find out for yourself."
"Perfect!" CJ cheered. "Thanks, man!"
"Don't mention it, pal!" the pedestrian replied as he walked away.
CJ rushed back to the trailer and hopped inside the car. His phone rang again, and CJ took it out of his pocket and answered it
"Carl, it's me," he heard Sweet answer.
CJ was shocked to hear his brother's voice again. Sweet was okay, and CJ hoped it would stay that way for a long time.
"Sweet, what's going on, man?" CJ asked.
"Man, what the fuck you think is going on?" Sweet replied curtly. "I'm in a prison hospital, nigga!"
"I know," CJ told his brother. "You alright?"
"Hell no," Sweet replied. "You gotta do something, man."
"I'm trying, man," CJ told him. "I just gotta make sure Kendl's safe first."
"Alright man, I gotta go," Sweet said over the phone.
"Don't worry, bro," CJ said. "I ain't gonna leave you in there. Oh, and Sweet! There's something I forgot to tell you when I saw Smoke's betrayal."
"Yeah, and what's that?" Sweet asked.
"When Cesar showed me Smoke with C.R.A.S.H., they revealed the Green Sabre in the garage," CJ said.
"You mean the one that drove by our hood and sprayed our Moms?" Sweet asked in shock.
"Yeah," CJ replied. "Smoke and Tenpenny were also involved with that."
"Ah shit!" Sweet said. "This whole time, Smoke was responsible for Moms' death!"
"Yeah," CJ replied. "Now listen, just hold tight and I'll get you out soon."
As CJ put aside his phone, he started the car and checked the map.
"Okay, since I'm right here in Angel Pine, then Dillimore should be up north," he muttered.
So CJ put aside the map and drove to the freeway. The road was packed, and the cars were driving wild. A frustrated CJ, trying his hardest to avoid road rage, drove smoothly and made his way out of the exit. He drove high up the hills and finally came across a diner. As he parked in a space near the restaurant, he checked the map and read the street sign.
"This the place," he concluded. He hopped out of the car and made his way inside the diner.
CJ heard clamor inside and looked straight ahead to find what appeared to be a Latina woman wearing all black, dressed in a black tank-top over black pants and flip flops with high heels, attacking some patrons with a pocket knife. The woman had her dark brown hair tied to a bun behind her.
"You want some fatso?!" the crazy woman asked ominously, glaring at the patrons with her brown eyes. "You big streak of Yankee piss! I seen fucking eunuchs with more balls than you!"
She pulled out a knife and held it to one of the patrons. She then turned around to find CJ standing by the entrance. "What the fuck do you want?!" the woman asked sternly.
"Nothing," CJ replied. "I'm looking for a friend of mine's cousin. Mexican guy. He ain't here."
"You?" the woman asked. "But Cesar said you was a real man."
It was clear to CJ. The crazy woman was Cesar's cousin. "Lady, I'm a God fearing, peace-loving man of the people!"
"Whatever, asshole!" the woman replied, taking a few steps backwards toward CJ with the knife pointed at one of the patrons. "Let's go!" She shoved CJ towards the door.
"Damn, baby!" CJ complained. "Relax!"
Real intense, Cesar? CJ thought.
How Cesar described his cousin by the looks of it was a huge understatement. CJ was real shocked to learn how crazy the woman was. He had a bad feeling about this.
CJ and the woman walked outside.
"Where's your car?" the woman asked.
"Where's yours?" CJ asked back.
"Ladies don't drive themselves," the woman replied. "That's what men are for."
CJ then spotted a car nearby. "Oh my goodness!" CJ squealed in a very appreciative tone. "Thanks, Cesar! Appreciate this, homie!"
He and the woman hopped inside the car and CJ turned it on. He turned to the woman.
"So what's your name?" he asked. "Where we going?"
"My name is Catalina," the woman answered, "and we're gonna take this country for every stinking cent!"
"Okay," CJ answered nonchalantly. "Good plan...I guess."
"You're damn straight it's a good plan!" Catalina replied. "I cased four soft targets: a liquor store in Blueberry, a bank in Palimino Creek, a gas station in Dillimore, and the betting shop in Montgomery."
CJ's head was spinning. Having not been in the Badlands before in his life, those four places were not familiar to him, and he had no idea where any of them were.
"Hold on," CJ said. "Which one first?"
"You're the driver you dumb pig!" Catalina snapped. "You choose!"
CJ just shook his head and stared at the map. "Why are you stalling, you stupid mule?!" Catalina asked impatiently. "Pick already!"
"Relax, girl!" CJ said. "I'm reading the map! I gotta make sure where we go."
"Just gimme the fucking map!" Catalina shouted, snatching the map out of CJ's hands. She took a look at it and pointed to the northern west area. "The gas station's that direction!" she announced.
So CJ started driving. "You pretty high strung, huh, lady?" CJ asked Catalina.
"Yeah, and what are you?" Catalina asked back. "Some laid back gangbanger dude."
"I keep myself to myself," CJ answered. "That's my style."
"Cesar says you got a brother in jail," Catalina stated, "another brother dead, a mother just killed, a childhood friend by your side, another childhood friend who betrayed you, and you got a bent cop on your case!"
"I ain't listening to you," CJ said, not taking the time to stare at Catalina.
"You think that is keeping yourself to yourself, eh, amigo?" Catalina asked. "Real cool? You're just an idiota!"
"And you're real charming," CJ replied sarcastically. "A proper lady."
CJ knew he was going to have a difficult time reasoning with this woman. So he just continued driving. He spotted the gas station up ahead and pulled the car over to a stop.
As he and Catalina exited the car, Catalina pulled out a shotgun from the back seat.
"Well the hell did you get that from?!" CJ asked.
"Never mind that!" Catalina demanded. "Just get out of my way!" She headed to the entrance and pointed the shotgun at the workers. "Hand over the takings or I blow your fucking balls off!" Catalina threatened.
"This here's bulletproof glass," the owner of the store replied confidently. "So you can just fuck off, bitch, before I call the sheriff!"
"What are you doing, son?" his partner asked, sounding apprehensive. "Just give her the cash."
"Suit yourself, maricon!" Catalina responded. She headed towards the truck outside. "Change in plans, Carl!" she said. "We're taking the tanker!"
"Hey what you doing?" the owner asked.
Man, I can't believe Cesar hooked me up with a crazy bitch, CJ thought.
Without a single word, he begrudgingly followed Catalina and hopped inside the truck. But before CJ could start driving, the owners of the store hopped inside their car.
"I ain't losing another crappy job because of some crazy bitch," the owner said. "Come on, Derek! We gotta stop those bastards!"
"Do we have to?" Derek whined.
"Drive!" Catalina commanded to CJ as the latter started driving. "I know a guy who'll pay for this rig and its cargo!"
"If only I knew how to drive a fucking tank truck!" CJ said.
He was not very good at driving a tank truck. To make matters worse, the owners were hot on his tail and one of them was even shooting at the truck. So CJ had to drive both quickly and carefully to avoid the tank truck disconnecting. There were so many sharp turns around the road, and the truck was moving really slow.
Man I hope I don't fuck this up, CJ thought. As he came down to a slope, Catalina shouted, "Turn left here!"
CJ complied and rolled down through the bridge. As he continued driving, he spotted a shed that had the sign "RS Haul" in front.
"That's the place!" Catalina shouted. "Stop here!"
CJ pulled the truck over at the right spot, and he and Catalina exited the truck. The two gas station owners hopped out of their car, which continued rolling and eventually exploded as soon as it hit a nearby gas station, and ran away. CJ and Catalina approached a man wearing a blue flannel shirt and faded jeans.
"Hello, Mr. Whittaker," Catalina greeted.
"Catalina!" Mr. Whittaker answered, staring at the truck. "What have you brought me today?"
"A rig and a tanker," Catalina answered back. "Full to the brim with premium gas."
"Never seen it! Never saw you! Never gave you this wad of cash!" Mr. Whittaker said, handing Catalina a stack of money.
"Nice not doing business," Catalina replied, accepting the money.
"Likewise," Mr. Whittaker said. "Now get out of here before the cops come snooping. You ever want to run some freight for me, just drop right in. I've always got shit to move."
CJ turned around to spot Catalina hopping on a Sanchez. "Hey where'd you...?" CJ asked, bewildered.
"Business, Carl!" Catalina answered. "Goodbye."
She rode away and CJ just stood there scratching his head in confusing.
Damn, that girl is crazy, he thought. I don't know how Cesar could be related to that lady. If only Ryder were around. I can only imagine how he'd handle her.
CJ decided to spend the next few minutes around the Badlands. As he drove a Sanchez around the Badlands, he rode through Blueberry and spotted someone on top of the roof of the Ammu-Nation. CJ took a closer look to see who it was and saw a Caucasian girl wearing a green T-shirt over olive-colored pants. She also had short dark hair with a streak of red and was shooting at targets with her pistol.
That seem like my kind of girl, CJ thought.
So he drove the Sanchez around the back of the Ammu-Nation and hopped out of his vehicle. He saw a set of stairs behind the building and scaled them until he approached the top of the building. He finally met the woman, who faced him with her blue eyes.
"Hi there," the woman answered, wearing a smile. "My name's Helena Wankstein."
"Carl Johnson," CJ answered back. "But you can call me CJ."
"Nice to meet you, CJ," Helena replied. "You look handsome."
"Thanks," CJ told her. "I always take care of myself. You look rather beautiful yourself."
"Why thank you, CJ," Helena answered. "Err, you want to go out sometime, buddy?"
CJ felt his heart pumping. He wasn't sure if things would work out with Denise in Los Santos, so he took it anyway just in case. "Sure thang," CJ agreed, taking a card out of his pocket and handing it to Helena. "Here go the digits."
Helena took out her slip as well and handed it to CJ. "I live on a farm in Flint Range," Helena told him. "So you can come visit me there when you get the chance."
"Cool," CJ answered, and he went down the stairs as Helena continued shooting.
As CJ returned back onto his Sanchez, he was feeling rather ecstatic that he was possibly going to get his first girlfriend and hoped it was the right one for him just in case things with Denise wouldn't work out. Just then, he heard his cellphone ring. He pulled it out of his pocket to answer it.
"Yeah," CJ answered.
"Carl," he heard a strange man's voice say.
CJ was even more confused. How did that man get his number? "Who is this?" he asked.
"You know me," the man answered. "This is The Truth."
"No, I don't," CJ answered.
"Perfection," the Truth answered. "They said you were a moron."
"Who?" CJ asked.
"Okay," the Truth replied. "You can drop the act now, kid."
"You the police?" CJ asked.
"No," the Truth answered. "We have a mutual friend and business partner."
"We do?" CJ asked once again. "Who?"
"Yes," the Truth replied. "Have you killed any cops lately?"
It finally hit him! CJ learned that whoever was the Truth guy was also working for Officer Tenpenny. "Oh man!" CJ groaned. "Tenpenny! I should've know! That asshole!"
"So I've got a room at a motel in Angel Pine," The Truth continued. "Make sure nobody follows you."
CJ hung up his cellphone and slipped it in his pocket.
Who the hell is this Truth guy? he thought. And what the hell does he want from me?
Without saying another word, CJ Just started the engine of the Sanchez and rolled back to Angel Pine.