Chapter 15 - Cradles 15

Fifteen hours later Peng drove to Pearl's house and beckoned to have a talk with Rina. After several hours of denial, he finally goes to his car and makes himself comfortable on the back seat, jet-lagged and even with bleary eyes he keeps his touch and never leaves. Rina sneaked up on him and sat on the driver's seat, "look who's sitting behind to actually beg,"

"Oh, you finally came along," Peng shockingly wakes up from his slumber and seats upright, resting his back on the seat,

"I don't know what's gotten into you but I need your help real fast,"

"Hahaha," Rina laughed and said, "humbled Peng," she continued, "so tell me, what humbled the lion,"

"Rina, can you please focus on one thing before the other,"

"And you really think my schooling is the other think we should focus on,"

"Ahh," Peng released a heavy breath. Hard as it was in Peng's head, he still sat solo in the back seat and took in the scene, "I hate you,"

"No you don't," She blinked, "you just hate the way I'm going nowadays because it's extraordinary. When mom died, I had no hope, but you showed me something I can't show myself, you went to school, read your books and other stuff like that…"

"And…"

"And now, I'm here in my twenties the best time to arrange my future and have a better life for myself,"

"Do you really think I don't want you to go to school?"

"Ahh, is this a joke, you made it clear yourself, you're not going to pay twenty thousand dollars annually for my education,"

"Ohh, ok, I'm sorry I said that but, you know how hard it has been for me this past years,"

"You're not the only person here that has lost both parents," Rina got vexed in her spirit and yelled, "you lost both parents as an adult, I lost both parents as a kid. Few years from five,"

"No need to scream, I took care of you through middle school, then high school. Now college?"

"Funny coming from someone who's done with his,"

"Rina open your eyes to reality, this society is merely not a type that good grades can inhabit,"

"Peng, why are you here?" Rina said as Peng sat back, "I'm really fed up with your dead mentality of running streets till you're dead,"

"Ahh, I know you won't like the idea but I want to break the other three out of NYPD's office and I need your assistance,"

Rina joshing, she says, "how foolish, a building with over two hundred security personnels and tons of cameras on all corners. You're really running mental,"

"Nobody said they'll be there forever,"

"Yeah, I forgot, they'll be in prison with even more guards," Rina said, "you and I know the judgement on those folks are kismet, we can't do anything about it,"

"No, you're wrong we can and we will,"

"You sneaked in we like I wouldn't notice,"

"Rina, I'm serious," Peng yells,

"I'm not the one blabbing some stand up comedy stuff,"

"You can't just take a culprit to prison no matter how serious the case is,"

Rina highlighted on "case" then said, "you're seriously not thinking about snatching them from the court guard's,"

"Exactly, that's what I'm talking about," Peng stared a little more on Rina's face, "you get the point now don't you,"

"That's a little bit more dense, I can go with that," Rina stopped talking then said immediately, "...what about the guards how will you take care of them,"

"Leave it that part to me,"

"To us, you mean,"

"Are you in or what?"

"I don't wanna end up in prison, Peng,"

"We'll get things together, you'll go to school and we'll live a life of our dream once we are done with all this shit,"

"All this shit," she mimicked, "something tells me there's something more to just breaking those folks out,"

Peng nods and Rina laughs, "what now?"

"I hate to say it but, we haven't found the five million bucks yet,"

"What five million dollars?" Rina sat confused for a minute not concerned then said, "woo, the one you stole from Lobos and lost it to Sharon,"

Peng nods and smiled, "I hate when I'm still tied to just five million bucks,"

"Hahaha hahaha hahaha," Rina chuckled more,

"Why are you laughing?" Peng said, "do I sound funny to you,"

"You're a lunk head, senior brother,"

"Are you really insulting me, or have you…"

"Five million bucks," Rina micmicked again, "so tell me. How much did they promise you,"

"Who?" Peng replied, "I'm the chief on this thing,"

"Always blabbing, I'll advise to let go of the sum, but of course I'll help you find your folks and after that, I'm out,"

"Alright, that's what I thought? You want to focus on your school, I get the point,"

"This won't be like last time," Rina looked Peng in the face, "I won't be taking any second decisions after this. I'm out - off to the next battle,"

"No way you take school like a battle, just get in there, bride those big heads and get your CV,"

"In short of what you did in school, I see"

"I'm a scholar,"

"Yeah who bridged those big heads and got your CV. What a way to grow,"

"I didn't ask for your opinion, I just told you how to make it in college,"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Around 8:00 pm that evening Willy and Pedro decide to call their new boss, Shawn [Man Power's second in command], "are you sure about this? He may get really pissed," Willy said,

"Have a better option?" Pedro turns and looks Willy full in the face. He puts face down, "yeah just as I thought,"

"Woops, I don't think this will go well," Willy said. Pedro ignored and went straight with dialing Shawn's number on his burner phone. It rang twice then a deep voice spoke through,

"Pedro, why are you calling?"

"Boss we have a problem,"

"Before you say anything, when were you planning on telling me Lobos and his other three foolish friends attacked Willy and his family," Shawn said and Willy froze, "no way he could have known that," he whispered,

"Sir…aye," Pedro tried speaking, "that's why I called you in the first place sir,"

"You're saying I should clap my hands after you delayed a vital information that could have ruined the entire mission,"

"We made few contemplations but we're fine now,"

"Contemplations!! I hope you know what you're doing when you talk about contemplating,"

"Sir…"

"Don't…say a word, I'm not done,"

"Sorry sir,"

"Good, I hope you also understand that we are taking out everyone that'll be a barrier on our way,"

"... didn't know about that part,"

"Now you do, I hope you understand your brother isn't an exception,"

"Anything for de Desperados boss,"

"Good you're really an asset we'll use,"

"I'll cut this now boss,"

"Before you get out, take the white paper from the mall and get it to the airport," Shawn said, "do you understand the situation,"

"Most definitely sir,"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The evening was creeping in and two hours earlier IC and Lobos and TBC had been transferred to their new cell room probably for the last preparation before being taken to court. They had to liaise directly with the NYPD while in their cell, "woops, looks like we're going to prison after all," IC said, "the almighty Peng hasn't shown up with the whole ghetto army yet has he,"

"Don't mock, we would all have done the same if were in his position," T said,

"Yeah we would have, except the part where he kept his window door open," L said, "what a super power,"

"Ok guys I brought the discussion, I've taken it back," IC said , making a funny demonstration with his hands and mouth.

"Are we supposed to laugh at that?" T said and sighed, "mtcheew,"

"Keep shoot and answer all the questions you'll be asked in few minutes," IC replied

"You should thank your stars you're not a lifer, that could have been a different discussion all day," L said,

"I'm a condemned man but not in prison on the streets" IC smiled, "seriously though, something tells me we'll be getting out. I'm serious. I'm not having that weird feeling of being buck under a bench bed,"

"Someone has actually joined the optimistic team of failures," Lobos clapped, "kudos to our best mentality student,"

"Are you done?" T added, "just keep shut and wait for whoever comes through that door to ask questions,"

Ria and Kayden and Kross walks into the door, each with files and a birrow in their front suit pocket, "so, something tells me you've all agreed to the terms,"

"Yep," they all chorused while Lobos flung his hands to the empty air, "I got a new deal for us,"

"Speak for yourself man, I'm ok with my fifty years imprisonment," IC jumped in immediately,

"Lobos, we didn't discuss any of this," T said and the trio NYPD got confused for moment, "think twice before anything drops off your guts,"

"Someone is about to throw in a life raft," Kross said and chuckled, "let's hear your new deal,"

"I want Tancredi himself," Lobos said,

"Said it, total waste of time," Ria commented,

"I don't really think we have time for this," Kayden said, "Ria, why don't we get on with our separation plan, Mr. Lobos here seems not to be interested in our deal, maybe we'll make it just IC ans TBC,"

"You don't wanna miss this information. It's about de Desperados,"

"Woo, woo, hold that right there," Kross walked closer and held him on his shirt, "what do you about de Desperados,"

"The white paper," Lobos said trying to control his breathing with Kross's hands tight on his shirt, "ahh, can you leave me please and get on with the separation, something tells me you're not interested in the white papers," Lobos really dragged the papers with his lips facing Kross's face,

"De Desperados, sounds familiar," T robbed his hands on one side of his mouth,"

IC got a grip and noticed the NYPD's were all for the information, he said, "L, it seems the NYPD are not interested in what you have to say, why don't you join us for the separation,"

"Yeah, IC is right, they're really repulsive, something tells me they aren't interested," T said,

"Hey, can we have a one minute talk," Ria dragged Kayden to one part of the room, "kross have a look on them," she says, "all of them," Kayden added,

"Got you, Kay,"

"What are these folks pulling off?" Ria said in a low tone ,

"If they have an information we have to hear it," Kayden replied,

"Should we really call Tancredi for these? I mean it would look like we can't handle them on our own,"

"We didn't rush up to call him," Ria blinked twice, "he requested for the audience of the boss as part of his deal we can't say no. Even Tancredi will be angry if we did,"

"Alright, we are really information drought about such drug cartel and we have no way of getting a single information,"

"Ria, we are waiting," IC said, "I should be in prison by tomorrow afternoon,"

"I'll be there in a mo,"

"Someone is actually proud of his role in life," Kross said

"That's certainly none of you business," IC said

"Shut up IC don't let them change their mood," T said

Ria and Kayden finished their one minute talk and walked back to the boys already seated at their different corners for question, "listen up everyone," Ria said,

"Yea yes mammy," IC answered,

"We are not in the church so keep shut," Kross said,

"She asked a question you dummy," IC said and Kross had some outrageous angred motive towards IC and was immediately calmed down by Kayden beside him.

"You're gonna tell me all what you know about de Desperados and we'll make sure to relate to Tancredi, how about that,"

"Yeah, I'll start," T said, "there's this guy Willy, who was our last lead on the money, we think Shawn must be involved but we have no proof though…"

Kross cutted him short, "not about the money, de Desperados, that's what we want to hear,"

"Look guys you're actually wasting your time trying to fool us," Lobos said, "we are adults and adults loves clearity,"

"So…" Kayden said,

"So, it's either you bring us Tancredi or we go on with T's earlier description of Willy and Shawn," L said

"Go call Tancredi," Ria told Kross,

"You're seriously not taking this idiots words into consideration,"

"Do it Kross," Kayden added

"Holy shit," he ran up to the door and smacked it open, a minute later he returned with Tancredi.

"The boss himself," T said,

"Kross tells me you have important information that needs my immediate attention,"

Lobos takes a deep breath and begins the illustration.