Sugar Doll's Hurricane Blues (2 page)

“I beg your pardon Marsalas, but we have a situation downstairs which may require your attention.”

Marsalas continued to watch the game silently waiting to be told of the “situation” that would interrupt his evening. He was not a patient man often known for his violent outbursts. He liked Tony because he was as cool as a cucumber and didn’t seem bothered by his often erratic behavior. Marsalas didn’t sense the fear that Tony had for him but he knew that he was respected. More than that, he was his cousin.

“There’s a boy downstairs by the name of Karl Bouvier. He says that he used to be a runner for you. He says that he’s got information about a hit that Turner has out on you. He says that Turner is planning on taking your territory.” Tony looked at Marsalas uncertainly wondering if acknowledging the kid
was a case of bad judgment. Marsalas stirred then and looked directly into Tony’s blue eyes.

“Bring him to me.”

Tony nodded and immediately turned for the door completely ignoring the men playing poker. They were important businessmen who were always nameless and who never wanted to be acknowledged and Tony respected that line. He never crossed it.

As Tony descended the stairs, the same beautiful blond was there apparently waiting for him. She pouted her sexy lips and tugged at his sleeve. Tony glared at her in business mode, “Much later baby, like tomorrow.” The blond flared anger but stepped aside.

Tony walked back through the even rowdier crowd having to make his way back to the front door. The doorman still had Karl in a vice like grip but Karl remained unconcerned. “Let him go.” Tony growled.

The doorman released him and the quiet, patient Karl disappeared, “Told you!” he pointed in the doorman’s face.

Tony grabbed Karl’s arm lightly, “You had better know what you are talking about or that’s your ass. Now listen here boy, I’ll give you a chance to run right now. It’s the last chance you gonna get tonight.” Tony stepped aside and pointed to the door. Karl doesn’t respond but kept walking toward the entrance of the club. A place that would be forbidden to him on any regular evening, but this evening wasn’t regular; it was turning out to be downright interesting. They crossed the dance floor obvious standouts with the lanky black Karl in tow. As they approached the stairs people stepped out of the way to avoid brushing elbows with a black man. They entered the poker room but this time everyone looked up to see the uninvited
intruder. The two bodyguards immediately approached and frisked Karl roughly.

Marsalas stood and came out of the booth. The bodyguards released Karl. Marsalas came face to face with Karl, studying him.

“You remember me?”

“Sure kid, I never forget nobody.”

“Mr. Marsalas, I mean no disrespect coming to you on this holiday evening. You helped my family in our time of need and I appreciate it. Now I hear that Turner has been biting off a piece of your action in New Orleans east and there’s big talk about bumping you off….no disrespect.”

“None taken how is your father?” Marsalas asked.

“He’s dead bout one year now.” Karl bowed his head.

“I’m sorry to hear that kid. Now, who’s doing all of this talking?”

“Sonny and Ramon mostly, they are Turner’s right hand men. I did a deal with them last week so the man called me back for something else. The fat one talks a lot so I hear everything they say and then last week I was at the shipyard and I heard Turner say things himself. Like planning to get you out of the picture and stuff like that. They said that they would do it at the Fairgrounds where you play the horses on Fridays. They say that they will take you in your box and that you won’t even see it coming. They already set somebody on the job so that you would be familiar with him. He’s a big white man named Jim.”

Marsalas nodded in recognition. He remembered when Jim started working that box about one month ago, he didn’t check on him because the owner of the track said that he had screened him himself, maybe he was in on the deal.

“Anything else?”

“Yes sir, they say that you’ve got a tight lock on the Biloxi gaming as well. They want to get rid of the guy over there that is your front man and run the entire southeastern part of the country.

“Now how did you manage to hear all of that?” Marsalas asked raising an eyebrow.

“I know how to be invisible and ain’t nobody paying me no attention.” Karl answered.

“I’m paying attention.” Marsalas answered.

He was a man of few words but when he spoke the meaning was always crystal clear. Karl swallowed but looked back into the eyes of death.

“Thank you Karl. Tony, give Karl some cash here for his trouble.”

“Pardon me sir but how do you know that this ain’t a trick?” Tony asked concerned and surprised that Marsalas was taking the word of a young kid with hardly any other questioning.

I know this boy and knew his father. He’s all right.” Marsalas answered simply with no other explanations.

“Karl you stay away from Turner and that gang. I’m going to give you enough money to move on and get out of any trouble. You’ve got a talent for numbers, use it.”

“C’mon let’s go.” Tony grabbed Karl by the shoulders.

“5 G’s should cover him.” Marsalas said directly to Tony.

“I hope that you are right boss.” Tony said still worried.

“Go pay this Jim at the Fairgrounds a visit. Let him know that his job has been terminated.” Marsalas returned to the booth and picked up his Scotch. “Kid, watch yourself. I don’t forget a favor, ever.” With that he closed the curtain.

Tony walked Karl down the stairs and took him to the back offices. “Let’s set up your future Karl.” Karl stood quietly, relief flooding him. He had done the right thing for himself, for his family. He smiled slowly.

“Where did you get all of this money Karl?” Mona cried shaking her head as she watched him count it for the third time.

“I did a job and I earned it.” Karl said with a smug smile.

“Did you kill somebody for it? Is this blood money?” Mona shivered. Her tawny colored skin and long black curls inspired desire in Karl instead of aggravation.

“No girl, I ain’t killed nobody. Haven’t you told me that a man without money ain’t a man?” Karl asked.

“A man who steals is a dead man.” Mona said her mouth forming into a resolute line.

“Baby, my skin may be as black as tar but my brain is in working order.” Karl looked at her nodding his head.

“What does that mean?” Mona yelled and stood angrily.

“It means that I know that them white fellas be checking you out and you don’t have to give them what they want to get what you want. I can give it to you myself.” Karl threw money across the bed.

“I don’t know what you mean.” Mona stood shaking.

“Yes you do. Now tell me is that baby you carrying mine?” Karl put down the money.

“Yes Karl, dammit! Why would you ask me that?” She turned away from him then.

“Curious, that’s all. It seems you been going to the French Quarters more than necessary. You are going to start showing
soon. It’s time to stay home.” Karl went to her then. “I will marry you because I love you. Whatever you done before is over now.”

“It’s yours Karl.” Mona asserted.

“Time will tell.” Karl looked at the money tempted to count it again.

Chapter Two

“I don’t have no time to be babysitting no child.” Karl said to the pretty little girl in his arms. She cupped his face lovingly. There was a knock at the door. Karl looked around scared. “I told your mama to hurry up!” He hissed angrily. He put the child down on the couch. He walked to the door angrily but as he swung the door open two young black men burst in grabbing him by both arms and dragging him through the open doorway.

“Daddy, daddy!” the little girl screamed.

During the struggle Karl looked over his shoulder to shout, “Run Sugar Doll, run!” The two men began beating and kicking Karl right then and there. Sugar Doll ran to the bedroom and hid in the closet sobbing. The sounds of struggling filled the closet in a loud echo of screams and muted kicking. The little girl put her hands to her ears to hide from the sound of impending death. Finally it stopped.

The two men were whispering, “She’s just a little kid man, she don’t know us, let’s go!” She heard the men just outside the door. The door knob turned slowly and then she heard them stepping away. “Kids can be dangerous.” said a low, deep voice.

“C’mon man, she can’t be no more than 4 or 5; my baby sister can’t remember nothing you tell her. Let’s go man, Karl got what he deserved but the girl is innocent.”

“Yeah, all right man. I don’t want killing a baby girl on my conscience.” The door slammed. After several moments Sugar Doll crawled into the room to find her father’s bloodied figure lying on the white carpet. She embraced him with her little arms, then as though she were the parent and he was the child. The door opened again and as Sugar Doll looked up in fear her mother let out a scream.

Marsalas attended Karl Bouvier’s funeral. He provided limousines for the family. Mona knew that her husband had had shady dealings but the turnout alone made her realize that her husband was in quite deeper than even she had imagined. She stood at the gravesite amazed that so many whites would pay their last respects to skinny Karl. Old men passed the gravesite and in shaking her hand deposited hundreds of dollars there. Little Sugar Doll had her little black purse full of twenty-dollar bills. One would think that this was a wedding and not a funeral. Mona knew that Karl had been up to something when he’d purchased their home in New Orleans’ East almost five years ago but he didn’t talk and she hadn’t bothered to ask. She knew that he ran around with sluts and tramps but he didn’t know that she had her own secret lover and that secret had kept her in the marriage.

Marsala’s crew thought that Karl had died for saving his life. He had lost and Marsalas had won. Tony stood next to Marsalas. His rich dark hair contrasted with his flashing blue
eyes. He was not handsome, he was beautiful. He could not keep his eyes off of Mona. Her caramel colored skin drove him wild. He was the only one who seemed to be happy that Karl was dead. He could now have her whenever he wanted. When he couldn’t he would get angry and no woman wanted Tony to get angry.

Mona looked over the gravesite. She instinctively took her daughter’s hand. She could feel the heat pulsing through her veins as she felt Tony’s gaze on her.

“You could wait until after the funeral to show your lust!” Karl’s mother snapped at her. Mona dropped her gaze. She hadn’t realized that she was looking at Tony. The heat rose in her cheeks. She could still feel him looking at her, caressing her from a distance.