Page 46 of Creole Kingpin
Moses
Iopen the gate to face a man I would have pegged as a cop, regardless of whether Magnolia had told me he was one. His wrinkled suit, the way he stands, and the air of confidence that comes only from carrying a badge gives him away.
“Good morning. Can I help you?” I ask as I open the gate.
He tries to hide the surprise on his face when he sees me. He wasn’t expecting a man like me. Six-three, light-skinned, but definitely black somewhere in my Creole lineage, muscles with enough bulk to show I hit the gym regularly. Unlike the cop, I’ve got confidence ingrained in me that comes from knowing Iwillhandle any fucking situation that might crop up. Including a detective making a house call to an address he shouldn’t know shit about.
He measures me up and down. “Who are you?”
“Shouldn’t I be asking you that, considering you’re ringing my bell?”
“Your bell?” He breaks eye contact, looking up and down the street before his narrowed gaze lands on my face again.
“You were expecting someone else, I take it?”
I have to give the cop some credit, he recovers from the surprise of me in a hurry. “Yes, actually. Sorry to disturb you. What did you say your name was again?”
Grinning, I catch the old trick. “I didn’t. Just like you didn’t. But feel free to introduce yourself anytime. And if you want to tell me who you were looking for here, you can do that too.”
The cop rocks back on the heels of his beat-up dress shoes that haven’t seen a shine in way too long. After a moment’s deliberation, he pulls his shield from the inner breast pocket of his suit and flashes it at me.
“Detective Cavender. I’m looking for Magnolia Maison. You know her?”
Yeah, I know her, man. I listened to her come last night, wishing I was buried inside that sweet pussy.
I ignore his question and reply with one of my own. “And why are you looking for the woman here?”
Cavender’s lips press into a hard line. “Can’t disclose that information. Police business.”
This time, I chuckle. “Ahh ... I get you. Well, either way, you won’t be talking to Ms. Maison today or anytime in the future.”
The cop jerks his head back. “So you do know her.”
“Sure do. She’s my woman.” I reach into my pocket and pull out my billfold. One flick of my thumb pulls out what I need. “And if you have any questions for her, you can call this gentleman right here. He’ll make sure you get the appropriate responses.”
I hold out my lawyer’s business card to the cop, and he snatches it from my hand, looking down at it before staring back at me.
“Who the hell are you?” He rocks from foot to foot, entitled and waiting.
“Moses Buford Gaspard, and I’d appreciate you not bothering me at my residence again. Have a good day, Detective.”
I shut the gate in his face.
Twenty-Nine
Magnolia
Ishouldn’t be turned on, but I am.Damn it. I overheard every word Moses said to the cop, and I was floored by how he dealt with the situation. He had my back. Protected me and shielded me. Handled Cavender like a boss.
Goddamn it, why does Moses have to be so fucking capable?
All my life, I’ve had to cope with shit alone. Every step of the way. If I wanted something to happen, I had to make it happen. If I had a problem, I had to solve it. Not since those two weeks fifteen years ago have I had someone I could lean on to share my burdens.
And Moses didn’t think twice about it.
First with Rocco, and now with Cavender. He’s stepping up without even being asked.
Goddamn it all.
