Page 10 of Motown
The same delivery guy has been to the shop three times in the last couple of hours.The van he’s driving looks legit.I called the number on the van to make sure it was a reputable delivery service company, and it all checked out.And yet my gut tells me something’s not right.
I learned from an early age that if you get a sour feeling in your stomach, then something’s going to happen, and, in my experience, it’s never been good.I don’t want to freak Motown out, just in case I’m wrong, but I think it’s time to meet Tessa in person.
I cross the street and enter her store, where several other ladies are shopping.Tessa divides her time assisting them and answering their questions with a smile.Motown has great taste.Tessa’s a natural beauty.I see the boxes stacked on the counter, unopened.Tessa hasn’t had a chance to see to them yet.
The hairs on my neck stand up, and I know shit’s about to get real.Police are driving through the neighborhood.In most cases, this is a sign of cops doing their job.However, I know that cops who are patrolling the street do not park and get out of their vehicles unless they’ve been called.I grab the boxes off the counter and beeline for the back door.
“Hey!”Tessa shouts.
“Motown sent me.Trust me,” I say, not waiting for a response.I run out the back and into the alley.Immediately, I rip the address off the packages and hide them in the dumpster.If they’re found before we can get back here, I don’t want Tessa’s address to be on the boxes.
Next, I dial Motown’s number.
“Get over here and bring Hawk.Something’s going down,” I say as soon as he picks up.
“Tessa—”
“Fine for now, but the cops are here, and I don’t think it’s a ‘welcome to the neighborhood’ call,” I tell him.“I’m going to go back inside to back Tessa up.”
“Be there in five,” Motown practically shouts into the phone, and I can hear the thunder of footsteps before he hangs up.
“Miss Honeybush, we’ve had an anonymous call from someone stating that they believe your shop is a front for drug dealing,” I hear as I come through the front door.I ran around the building and came back in the main door to hopefully throw the cops off from looking out back.Two very large police officers have Tessa cornered.She’s gaping in stunned surprise.
I push between the two officers and stand next to Tessa.I hope Motown gets here in a hurry.Someone’s trying to set Tessa up.
Chapter7
It’s War
Tessa
“Pardon?”I manage to choke out.Me, a drug dealer?They must be joking.But they don’t look like they’re joking.The two police officers standing in front of me look very serious.
“Drugs, ma’am.We’ve had a tip that you’re selling more than candles,” the older officer says.
“Officer…” I prompt him for his name.
“Coven.Officer Coven.This is Officer Danychuk,” he offers, nodding to his partner and placing his hands on his waist, just above his holster.
“Officer Coven.I have never and would never use or sell drugs.This is a simple gift shop.”I pick a candle up from the shelf.“A candle and nothing else.”I push past them to the scented sachets.“A sachet, with no added ingredients.All the packages are sealed when they arrive.”
“Do you mind if we take a look around your shop?”Officer Danychuk asks.
I open my mouth to tell them to go ahead, but the man who ran past me and out the back door, and who is now standing like a bodyguard beside me, quickly says, “Do you have a search warrant?”
This rubs Officer Coven the wrong way, and he steps in closer, trying to intimidate the man next to me.“Do we need one?”
“You do if you want to waste your time.Tessa is a small business owner.The shop has only been open for a couple of months at best.She’s new to town and has no prior ties to anyone related to the drug dealers.The fact that you’re following up on an anonymous lead is a bit of a mystery to me, because this should go through narcotics.The protocol is to conduct surveillance and determine whether there’s any indication that a warrant would be necessary to search the premises.You’re skipping a step, gentlemen, and this makes me think that you’re doing a favor for someone,” my bodyguard tells him.I can see the police officer’s face going red, and his feet shifting.
“If you’ve got nothing to hide, then we’ll just do a quick search and be on our way,” Officer Danychuk says directly to Tessa.
“What the hell is going on in here?”Motown’s voice booms as he comes straight for me.My bodyguard makes room for him.
A pile of men is now in my place.I thought I had a decent-size shop, but with all these men in it, it’s looking awfully tiny.
“This is crazy.The police think I’m smuggling drugs,” I tell him.
Motown puts a protective arm around my waist, and his eyes don’t waver as he glares at Officer Coven.“Based on what?”
