Chapter 3

An Old Friend

The Ballas gathered around Jackson Tracks' tombstone. They all paid their respects, one by one. Three of the Ballas, Chris, Tyrone, and Danny, walked up to the front of the group and faced the crowd. They knew about Carlos Martinez too, and they swore that the OGFs would pay for both deaths.

A black Savanna drove up and out stepped the leader of the Vagos, Jack "The Ripper" Rodriguez. A few of the Ballas advanced on Jack threateningly, but Tyrone, the leader of the Ballas, stopped them.

"Hey, back off, fools! We've formed an alliance with the Vagos. Together, we're gonna wipe out the Orange Grove Families!"

"¡Muerte a las Familias!"

Catalina emerged from the back room, brandishing a butcher knife in her right hand.

"Geez, Catalina, put that thing away. You're gonna poke an eye out." muttered Kelly.

Catalina tossed the knife onto the table.

"Shit! Don't throw it!"

"Shut up. How did the plan go, huh?"

"It went off without a hitch. I even met this poor bastard who wanted to go out with me."

"What did you tell him?"

"I told him 'Sure.' I even gave him our number. If he calls, tell him to come here. Then kill him."

"Kill him!" Catalina blurted out. "Are you crazy!"

"Hey, you know what? I could care less. By the way, do you know some guy named Carl?"

"Carl? Carl who?"

"I don't know, he didn't say. He was a black guy, looked pretty fit, about 20-something years old. You probably don't know him, though. I was just wondering."

Catalina thought for a minute. Then, she said to Kelly, "Show me this Carl."

Kelly walked over to the phone and dialed Jay's cell phone number.

"Hello? Hi Jay, this is Kelly. Hey, you know that diner in Dillimore? The one where that man was killed at? Meet me there in about 20 minutes. Bring that Carl guy, too. I wanna introduce you guys to one of my friends."

"Ok," said Jay. "We'll be right over." He hung up.

"They'll meet us at Jim's Diner in 20 minutes. I told him to bring Carl. Why do you want to meet him, anyways?" Kelly asked Catalina.

"Oh, just a feeling I have."

"So, where we going?" asked CJ. He and Jay were sitting in Jay's Cheetah, on their way to the diner.

"Remember that girl Kelly?"

"Yeah, sure."

"She told us to meet her there. She said she'd bring a friend."

"Whatever, man."

About a half hour later, Jay's car pulled up to the diner. Carl walked into the restaurant while Jay parked the car. It wasn' t even a minute later when Carl ran out of the restaurant, looking like he had seen a ghost.

"Whoa! What is it?" asked Jay.

"You know how your girlfriend said she was bringing a friend?"

"Uh-huh."

"I saw her friend, and I think I know her!"

"That's nice."

"No, man, you don't understand! I know her! I worked with her! She's a crazy homicidal bitch! She made me rob banks and steal stuff! When she sees me, she'll slash my throat and eat me for dinner! She'll eat me with a can of whoop-ass!"

"Uhhh...ok then. If you're so scared, disguise yourself. Put on some sunglasses or a big jacket so she won't recognize you." replied Jay, a little confused with CJ's predicament.

"Where am I gonna find any of that stuff?"

"Oooh! There's a jacket right there." said Jay, pointing to a jacket lying on the ground. Carl picked it up and put it on.

"Ugh! It smells like shit!"

"Sorry. It was probably used by some hobo or something. Take it or leave it."

"I'll leave it, thank you very much."

"Fine then. Let's go inside already!"

Jay and CJ entered the restaurant. Carl stood by the door while Jay walked up to Kelly and Catalina's table. Jay and Catalina introduced themselves.

"Oh," said Catalina. "Where is your friend Carl? I wanted to meet him."

"He's over by the door over there." Jay pointed to CJ. CJ coughed and waved.

"He's pretty sick. He doesn't want to come over here and get you two sick."

"Oh well then." said Catalina, who sounded more angry than disappointed. "Tell me one thing, though. What's his last name?"

"Uhhh...Johnson, I think. Carl Johnson. He said he might know you."

Catalina turned and looked at CJ with a steely glare that would have turned his blood to ice and melted his insides. Fortunately for CJ, he didn't notice Catalina looking at him. Then Catalina turned back to Jay and said, "Sorry. I don't think I know a Carl Johnson."

"That's ok. He just thought he recognized you when he walked in."

Catalina kicked Kelly in the leg, signaling that it was time to go.

"Oooh, sorry Jay. Catalina and I have to be somewhere in an hour. Nice talking to you though."

"Ok. Nice meeting you, Catalina." Jay said.

"Nice to meet you too. Tell your friend it was nice...seeing him."

Jay walked to the door. He and CJ were halfway out the door when Catalina yelled, "Bye, Carl Johnson!"

Carl wet himself right where he was standing.

"Dammit Jay, why'd you go and tell her my last name for?" CJ asked Jay angrily. They were both in Jay's car, on their way home.

"She wanted to know. Sorry. I didn't know you were so scared of her."

"Well normally I'm not scared of women. But if you met Catalina, if you saw what she was really like, you'd be scared too. Man, now I gotta go home and take a shower. And wash my piss-stained pants!"

"Sorry, sorry. My bad."

"So, Jay, what if I asked you if you still watched Barney the purple dinosaur on TV? What would you tell me?"

"I wouldn't tell you anything."

"You know why you won't tell me anything? Because YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO SAY NO! You didn't have to tell Catalina my last name at all. You coulda' said no."

"Geez, I said I was sorry. What else do you want?"

"Never mind, man. I'm sorry." apologized CJ.

The rest of the ride home was eerily quiet. Until a thought crossed CJ's mind.

"Why wouldn't you tell me if you still watched Barney? It's not like you still watch it, right?

Jay said nothing.