Relentless by Shawn Wilson

Author:Shawn Wilson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oceanview Publishing
Published: 2019-01-15T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

BRICK GRABBED HIS phone the instant it rang. He was relieved to see Ron’s number pop up. “How’s Jasmine?”

“She’s fine, we’re back home.” Ron exhaled loudly. “A false alarm, but the doctor says she’s going to need bed rest until she delivers. Her mother and sister are moving in as we speak.” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “Just shoot me now.”

Brick laughed. “Any chance you can get away for about an hour? There’s a couple of things I need to talk to you about and I’d rather it be in person.”

“Only an hour?” Ron sounded disappointed. “How about Ike’s in forty-five minutes?”

“Works for me.” It’d been a while since he’d had a chili dog. Might as well have the best D.C. has to offer.

It was just after sunset when Brick exited the U Street/Cardozo Station along with a crowd of dressed-for-success young men and women. He guessed that most of them heading to their luxury condos or apartments were too young to appreciate how the neighborhood had evolved. Like the mythical phoenix, it had risen from the ashes of burned-out shells that remained after the ’68 riots following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. But it was a long time coming. For many years drug dealers sold heroin in open-air markets. Then construction of the Metro’s Green Line turned the area into a sixty-foot hole. Most of the business in the area closed, some overnight, but through it all, Ike’s Chili Dog not only survived, it thrived.

Brick arrived first. It was always comforting to see that Ike’s hadn’t changed much over the years despite the recent influx of boutiques, high-end home furnishing stores, and trendy restaurants. He nodded to a young man behind the counter before heading to one of the booths in the back. The photos on the wall were an eclectic mix of familiar faces—politicians, local celebrities, musicians, and athletes. Brick was happy to see a couple of Nats players had earned a spot. With the team wrapping up a six-game road trip to Milwaukee and Chicago, they’d be back home by the end of the week. Brick figured he owed it to himself to finally take in a couple of games.

“Sorry I’m late—had to pick up a prescription for Jasmine.”

Brick looked up as Ron eased into the opposite side of the booth. “No problem. I’ve been checking out some of the new photos over there.”

“Cool.” Ron got up, walked over, and took a look, then returned to the table. “Did I ever point out my father’s picture?”

“No.”

“That’s him next to Roberta Flack. He was good. Some critics even compared him to Thelonious Monk.” Ron shook his head. “Probably could have been great if the drugs hadn’t killed him first.” He sat down again. “Guess I’ll have to bring the twins in here when they’re old enough to understand. So, what’s up?”

“I quit, Ron.”

“Smoking … that’s good.”

A sad smile crossed Brick’s lips. “I turned in my badge this morning.”

“Why … what … is this a joke?”

“No.

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