Chapter Three

At an apartment complex, a man steps up to a door and pulls out a set of keys. Rico unlocks his door and steps inside. He takes off his jacket and hangs it on the back of a table chair. He goes to his bedroom and takes off his gun holster and places it inside the top drawer of his dresser.

In the bathroom he starts the water in the shower, to get it hot, and goes to his closet. He pulls out a grayish-silver suit and a matching tie. He also picks out a jet-black shirt to go with it. He then goes back into the bathroom and locks the door. As he starts to undress the shower stall begins to fill with steam and he steps in.

Finally, he thinks, peace and quiet. For quite a while he hopes. He's worried about Sonny. He's never acted like this before. He hopes it's just a phase that he's going through, but he doubts it. All this worrying about Sonny starts him thinking that Trudy and Gina aren't all right. Maybe I'm just nervous, he thinks.

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Gina and Trudy are at Gina's apartment and hear the phone ring inside. Gina hurries to get the door unlocked. Just as she gets the door open Trudy rushes in and picks it up.

"I was beginning to think that you really weren't interested," says Rosella, Barton's girlfriend.

"Sorry. We couldn't get the door unlocked. What did you want?" asks Trudy.

"My boyfriend said that you two can buy from him. He says meet his seller at the Fifth Street Bridge at 7:30, tonight," Rosella says.

"Fifth Street Bridge at 7:30, got it," replies Trudy.

"Oh yeah. Bring the money."

"Can we get a description of what this guy looks like?" asks Trudy.

"You won't need one. The Bridge is under construction and he'll be the only person around for miles."

"Thanks," says Trudy.

"Your welcome," says Rosella.

As Trudy hangs up the phone she looks to Gina and says that they should call Castillo and the office so they can make sure the money's ready for tonight. Gina tells Trudy to get things ready for dinner and picks up the phone.

"Castillo? It's Gina. We have a meet tonight at 7:30 at the Fifth Street Bridge. I'm asking for no backup on this one because this is just a little meet with a little cocaine. Is that okay?" asks Gina with Trudy giving her an agreeing look.

"Okay, no backup. But be careful. By the way the money is ready and it's in my desk. You can pick it up whenever you're ready," says Castillo.

"Thank you," says Gina.

"Your welcome. And I mean it, be careful," adds Castillo.

"We will," adds Gina as she hangs up the phone. Gina goes and sits down at the table.

Trudy asks "What now?"

"Now we eat. Then we go to the station to pick up the money. Then off to the Bridge," answers Gina.

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About an hour and a half later, after picking up the money from Castillo, Gina and Trudy are on their way to the Fifth Street Bridge. They take a turn that takes them to the meeting place. When they pull up a man steps out of a cherry red '57 Corvette. Trudy stops the car and they both get out. Gina has a black briefcase in her hand. The man also has one.

"Do you have the money?" he asks.

"Yes, do you have the drugs?" replies Gina.

"Yes," he says and beckons them to step near his car.

As they are walking to his car they trade briefcases. Once they get to the car, the man lays the briefcase with the money on the trunk and opens it. Gina and Trudy turn their backs to make sure that the drugs are in the one he gave them. They are. The man starts to fiddle with something in his jacket and pulls out a gun. As he slowly turns around he turns off the safety. He fires one shot and hits Trudy. Gina turns in time to see Trudy fall to the ground. The man fires another shot at Gina. She falls to the ground, unconscious, as the man gets in his car and drives away.

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As an ambulance rushes for the Fifth Street Bridge, the phone rings on the Saint Vida's Dance. Sonny answers it. "Burnett," he says.

"Hola amigo! This is Ross Barton. Is your friend, Mr. Cooper, there?" asks Barton.

"No he went home for a couple of hours. He should be back in about an hour, though. Why?" Sonny asks.

"Because I have a job for both of you. In about three hours. It's at the Stray Cat Lounge, at 11:00. A friend of mine will be waiting for you. If you go straight to the back of the room you should see an orange and black door. Knock three times, pause, then knock three more. They will open the door; tell them you want to see a Mr. Antonio Jackson. They will know you're there for me. Tell your friend all this, okay?" Barton asks.

"Sure I'll tell him. And we'll be there," Sonny answers.

After Barton hangs up the phone, Sonny quickly dials Rico's number.

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Rico, just stepping out of the shower, hears the phone ring. He rushes to find the towel and runs to the phone.

"Man what took you so long to pick up the phone?" asks Sonny.

"I was taking a shower and I was trying to keep my towel on. What do you want?" asks Rico.

"We have a go for tonight. We meet a Mr. Antonio Jackson at 11:00 at the Stray Cat Lounge. We're the buyers and he's the seller. You want me to pick you up or are you coming over here?" asks Sonny.

"I'll come over there. I'll be there in about an hour, okay?" asks Rico.

"Yeah that's okay. See you then."

"Yeah see you then."

Rico hangs up the phone and is on his way back to the bathroom to get dried and dressed when the phone rings again. "What now?" he asks himself aloud.

"Tubbs," he says.

"Rico? It's Gina. I ne…need to tell you something," she says in a very quiet and groggy voice.

"Gina? What is it? Did something happen?" Rico asks.

"Trudy's been shot. We're both at the hospital. It doesn't look good," says Gina trying to fight from crying.

"I'll be right there! Do you want me to call Sonny?" asks Rico.

"No, I'll call him myself. Rico you might want to hurry because I don't think she's going to make it," says Gina.

"I'm on my way!" says Rico.

Rico hurries to get dried and dressed. He grabs his keys and his gun and rushes out the door. He's praying that Gina is wrong and that Trudy makes it. But he now knows that Sonny was right. And he was hoping that he wasn't.