Today, was a make or break moment for Cookie had been out with the other wives had been out circulating Lucious music when the police stopped them and then proceeded to arrest them when the found multiple little bags full of drugs. That Cookie and the other wives knew wasn't in their car.
Cookie and the others were promptly arrested and held in jail until they were released now here she is waiting to know her fate.
Cookie was on her knees eye level with her three oldest children while Lucious stood next to her holding toddler Hakeem. They didn't notice Jacobi and his team walking up to them.
"Hello Lucious Cookie don't worry about this the only place your going is back home I'll handle everything," Jacobi said.
"Are you sure?"Lucious asked.
"Yeah don't worry they are gonna be educated today," Jacobi replied.
Jacobi leaves with his people following behind him going into an unoccupied jury room a judge the police captain and Tariq all sat in the room confident they were going to put Cookie away for a long time but would give her a chance if she gave them Lucious and Frank Gathers. Their mood changed instantly once they locked eyes with Jacobi and his team behind him.
Jacobi and his team walk into a conference room adjacent the courtroom and judges chambers inside the room was the judge the arresting officers and the prosecutor, as well as Tariq, sat at the table none expecting to see Jacobi and his team come in the room they knew his reputation and knew nothing good would come from him being involved.
"Good morning gentlemen let's get down to business shall we I'm sure you already know why I'm here you two officers have falsified evidence to arrest Mrs. Cookie Lyon Mrs.Shanice Williams Mrs. Jackie Turner and Mrs. Rochelle, Rawlings. And you believe you're here to testify as such well there will be no conviction or sentencing because you have no case especially when you tried to use them as bait and threaten them you broke so many laws doing that but one such law is an old law put in place by the founders of this great country you see my family is apart of that founder's bloodline but so is Lucious and Tariq as well as Thurston Vernon and Marcus they are all apart of different founders line except Lucious and Tariq who because of their father Joe Walker are from the same founder's line. You see they have immunity for all prosecution whether it be false or truthful you can't touch them which also means if you do they can legally confiscate anything that belongs to the offending party in compensation for the offense committed.
Jacobi sat his briefcase on top of the table opening it up he pulls out multiple folders with copies of the information he compiled also a larger folder with copies of all the information he gathered on Frank Gathers.
Each person took a look at the folders placed in front of them. Opening them up looking through all the papers their faces grow pale as the ramifications of what that means.
"So here's what's going to happen you're going to expunge their records you are also going to make certain It's known that they all have unconditional immunity and you are going to turn your attention to Frank Gathers and his people in particular Cookies sister Carol's husband he abuses her and their children and turned her into a drug addict to cope with his abuse he and Frank Gathers need to never see the light of day I'm well aware of the circumstantial evidence you've complied thus far but I have the meat and potatoes of a case so sound he couldn't get off at all," Jacobi said.
"Alright, Jacobi you win we'll get it all done today you can let them know that we won't bother them again."The prosecutor replied.
"Pleasure doing business with you, "Jacobi said with a wide predatory smile.
Jacobi walked down the hallway seeing Lucious and Cookie still standing there still talking to the kids.
"So Jacobi what's the word?"Lucious asked.
"Let's gather everyone and discuss this in a more suitable location," Jacobi said.
An hour later they all meet up at a restaurant with a private dining room.
After everyone had eaten their food and were having conversations amongst themselves Jacobi grabbed the spare files out of his briefcase and proceeded to hand them each one.
"What's this?"Lucious asked.
"It's the start of your new lives Frank Gathers is currently getting arrested and charged with crimes he won't see the light of day as a free man again Carol's husband is going down with him your cousin that's locked up is getting released and taken to an undisclosed location for his safety and Lucious Thirsty Vernon and Bunkie all of you have the blood of the founders in your veins. Lucious your father Joe Walker, in particular, is where it comes from. So that means you will get a financial inheritance because of that as well as your record expunged and unconditional immunity it will be noted so no matter where you live or go you cannot be harassed by any law enforcement of any kind."Jacobi replied.
"Lucious you said you want to build your empire in new York and in California as well as have houses in both plays, "Roman asked.
"Yes, we even have a list of everything we want in our houses here," Lucious replied as he hands over the list from the whole group.
"Alright, we will have to go to the bank to get you all access to your inheritance but also from here on out you all are no longer pushing Frank's product's from now on your all solely selling your music from here on out," Jacobi said.
"Whatever you say I didn't want to do this for the rest of my life anyway this will just facilitate me going into the music business sooner than later once we have our home and empire built," Lucious replied.
"Well you're well on your way now let's go take care of that other business also we should empty out the storage of the cassettes and CD's and since the storage is in Franks name. I'll send the key to the police which would add to the long list of charges Frank was already facing," Jacobi said.
By the time everything was done they went home satisfied with everything that happened and Cookie was feeling a lot better knowing she wasn't going to prison. And that she would be able to see her children grow up instead of being forced to miss their important milestones.
Frank was stopped outside his home as he was getting ready to leave he was promptly arrested telling his wife to call their lawyer as she was handed a search warrant for their home.
And Carol upset over the fact her husband was arrested and he called accusing her of snitching promised he would make her pay. Now Candace was sitting in Carol's living room trying to calm her down.
"Carol calm your ass down he can't do anything to you behind bars now you can go to rehab get your life together and raise your kids in a better environment," Candace said.
"Candace that is only a part of our problems If Cookie ever finds out we were working with Tariq to take down Lucious and Frank she's gonna disown our asses," Carol replied.
"Then we have to make certain she never finds out," Candace said.
The doorbell rings Candace goes to get it.
"Good evening Candace I didn't know you would be here I need to talk to you and Carol."Tariq greets.
"Come on in Tariq might as well join the shitshow," Carol replied.
"Listen I have news," Tariq said.
"We know my husband was arrested he called me pissed off saying I'm gonna pay for snitching on him, "Carol replied.
"Don't worry Carol I'll take care of that Frank Gathers was also arrested today and Cookie didn't get sentenced and her records were expunged so was Lucious and his crew they have unconditional immunity no matter where they go they are protected the unconditional immunity," Tariq said.
"How is that possible?" Candace asked.
"It's possible because of this," Tariq said as he slide the folder over toward them.
Candace picks up the folder Carol scoots closer to Candace looking at the contents with eyes wide and mouths agape in that moment they knew their plan to get Lucious away from Cookie was as good as dead and though they hated it they had to let it go. It wasn't worth them going to prison over it so they would cut their losses and move on.
"Thanks for letting us know, " Carol replied.
"No problem don't worry about your husband Carol I'll make sure he leaves you alone," Tariq said. As he walked out the door leaving the two sisters alone again.
Jacobi had delegated a lot of the work to his trusted guys everything had to be in motion including preparations for the big relocation and the two houses and two office spaces.
but he also was making sure that Frank and Carol's husband would be dealt with once they were transferred to prison it was no secret that the prison had a long dark history of riots inmate deaths guard deaths and the like. And Jacobi was sure that how the climate in the prison is now that sure enough another riot will set things in motion as for Frank's wife and daughter they will be dealt with if it's needed.
"Celestine please send an email to Gregory Lowe in California and send him this list of particulars for homes in the Las Angeles area and office spaces then I want you to send another email to Townsend Brooks with the same list of particulars for houses and office space in the Manhattan area. And have them contact me when they have found suitable listings." Jacobi said.
"Yes sir, right away sir," Celestine replied.
Meanwhile back at Lucious and Cookie's house the adults sat around trying to make sense of everything that happened since they came back home Cookie walked out that door that morning fully prepared for the possibility that she wouldn't be going back home even though inside she had been scared shitless on the inside she kept her composure because she didn't want Kayla Andre and Jamal to worry about whether or not she would be coming back home or not.
But also she thought about the woman she met while in Jail a woman named poundcake who was very smart despite the fact she was in jail. Cookie is so lost in thought as she held Hakeem feeding him his bottle.
While Shanice Rochelle Jackie and Patrice looked at furniture catalogs. "I told you guys rent a center furniture isn't gonna Cut it in our new houses we gotta upgrade our style," Patrice said.
"I'm not about to put no cheap shit in my house I want sturdy stuff that will last a long time," Shanice replied.
"Then if I was you I wouldn't let your kids use the couch as a trampoline," Jackie said.
"Alright, Jackie put the petty back in your purse and go back to picking out your furniture," Rochelle replied.
"Y'all need to stop your just looking we aren't buying anything out of these books we are just getting ideas on what we want our houses decorated with that's all damn," Cookie said.
"Alright, let's just focus on this, for now, we are having our dream homes built and professionally decorated something we as little girls wouldn't even think possible," Patrice replied.
They continued to look at the books while the guys, of course, were deciding how they wanted their offices decorated.
"That desk would be perfect set in front of mahogany bookshelves," Lucious said.
"Yeah but I think It's more than that the front has a lion face on it I think that's more the reason you like it," Vernon replied.
"Lions are very powerful predatory animals which is why I chose that name I wanted a name that screamed power that could drive fear into the hearts of men I want the best of the best on this journey with me people who I know won't betray me or the empire I busted my ass for this because I wanted a better life for myself and my family I know my mama did the best she could in spite of what she was facing and I can respect that but at the same time, she hurt the hell out of me when she nearly drowned me in our bathtub that was part of the reason I was sleeping on the streets. When Frank found me." Lucious said.
"Yeah well, you chose the right name to recreate yourself with," Bunkie replied.
"You could say that I guess," Lucious said.
Each group continued the talks amongst themselves having taken notes of things they were going to get or ask for when that time came.
Meanwhile, at the prison, Frank and his men had been sitting around quietly talking.
"I want to find out who snitched on me and my organization and I want them dealt with I know Lucious wife and his crews' wives were arrested but suddenly disappeared without a fucking trace and then we all get popped and then Lucious wife's other cousin I know for a fact was transferred out before I was brought I have trusted Lucious and his crew but something isn't right about how all this shit went down I want information and I want it now," Frank ordered.
Not long after he gave that order two inmates would start fighting and caused a domino effect a riot broke out and in the confusion and trying to get everything under control but would be too late for Frank and his people because in all the confusion the guards and the cameras didn't catch Frank and his men get murdered it wasn't until they got the prison under control and took a headcount that they realized Frank and his guys were missing and hours later find their dead bodies.
"Hey turn the tv up Frank's mugshot is on the news," Jackie announces.
They gather around the tv and watch as the report reports that Frank and members of his organization were killed during a riot with no video or witness statement they have no clue who killed them but an investigation into what caused the riot and the subsequent murders of Frank Gathers and his men are currently underway more will be announced as the story develops." The announcer announced.
Meanwhile, Jacobi sat at his desk with a glass of scotch his phone rings."Hello yeah I see great job by the way if everything continues to go as it should the investigation will just show that Frank and the others were collateral damage now he can't hurt anyone anymore and that other boss he killed well I'm sure his family wanted revenge and they got it by having some lifers with nothing to lose handle it as of now Philly is free of a parasite and things are going well you've done well if I need your talents again I'll call." Jacobi said as he ended the call.
In preparations for the Lyons big move, Jacobi had also arranged for the top designers and decorators who would be working once all the building specifications were in order not to mention getting all the kid's school records for their new school.
Meanwhile, Tariq once again made the drive over to Carol's house finding her kids standing over her prone figure after they had returned home from friend's houses.
Tariq called the ambulance and called Candace shortly thereafter.
"Damn it, Tariq, what the hell happened I thought we got rid of it all," Candace said as she passed having taken care of Carol's children having her son watch them while she took care of this.
"She's a junkie Candace she knows how to get more I was coming here to tell her Frank and her husband were killed in a riot and I find terrified children scared their mother is dead I then called for an ambulance and then called you, "Tariq replied.
"I'm guessing she must have heard about it on the news and went to get high to escape reality but she took her coping mechanism to far this time," Candace said.
"She is in no shape to take care of these children she needs to go to rehab where she can't check herself out and these kids need to be looked after I'm not gonna let them stay at Carol's house alone," Tariq replied.
"They won't be because I'm going to back them some clothes and they will stay with me I wasn't going to allow them to stay here by themselves either they've been through hell enough at home the need some stability and their parents can't provide that," Candace said.
Cookie stared at the television not saying a word for several minutes the mugshot of Frank and Carol's husband were on her mind though she didn't like him the first time she met him or when she'd seen Carol with a black eye and busted lip she despised him with a red hot passion that burned bright every time she'd seen them together. "Cookie earth to Cookie, "Shanice asked.
"I'm fine."Cookie replied.
"Are you sure we've been trying to get your attention for twenty minutes now we were starting to get worried," Jackie said.
"Yeah, I'm fine Jackie I was just caught off guard."Cookie replied.
"That's understandable it was quite shocking news for sure we didn't expect to hear something like that but it is what it is Frank knew this life could kill him," Shanice said.