Page 58 of Quasim III: King Inferno

He nodded his head, as he directed me toward the elevator and told me the floor they were on. I pressed the button and leaned in the elevator while talking myself down.

No.

I wasn’t going to bust up in there and kick Sam in the chest, eat her lemon squares, and then empty my clip into her husband’s body. Things had to be done differently because these were different people, and they had friendships with the high ups.

“Come on in, Dr. King.” She smiled, as she held the pine door wider so I could come into their home.

White people invite any damn body to their homes. Well, at least these white folks did, and it was a grave mistake on their end.

“Call me Hassan,” I smiled at her while she closed the door behind me.

“Hassan.” Her cool hand touched mine as she peered up at me. “Judge Martinez is here. He and Edward have a few things to chat about, so he came early. You can sit in the living area… anything to drink?”

I sat on the cream sectional that matched the cream décor and walls. It was like they didn’t believe in color. The only color in this condo was the graduation robes of their children in the pictures that were on display. Everything was very plain and minimalist.

“We stay here for a few months out the year. With Edward, we’re always off to the next place… I want to come back this summer and truly decorate this place and turn it into a home.”

“Oh yeah? I hear the northern accent, so I assumed that you lived here full time.”

She smiled as she fixed a picture frame that wasn’t crooked. It was a picture of her and Mercer at his medical school graduation.

“We have a place in Boca… Green Acres Plantations. It’s a small golf community that Edward loves... golfing right in his backyard.” She did a slight chuckle, but I could tell the shit got on her nerves.

I didn’t know Sam at all, but being here was what made her happiest. The light faded from her eyes when she spoke on Boca.

“Oh, sounds nice and expensive.”

She snorted. “Very expensive. Our daughter is right in Tampa, and she’s pregnant with our first grandchild… a little boy.”

The vomit tickled my throat when she mentioned they were soon to be grandparents. This fucking monster didn’t need to be around any children.

“Congratulations.”

“Thank you. Let me get you some fresh juice.” She quickly scurried off toward the kitchen while I looked around the living room.

Me: In Mercer’s living room.

Corleon: How the fuck?

Me: *location pinned*

I put my phone away and looked at the story that his family’s portraits told. Vacations, accomplishments, and life. This family lived and loved life, and you could tell from the pictures. Mercer looked less like a creep when he was surrounded by his family.

“Need to find that damn kid as soon as possible.” I heard a man’s voice with an accent, and then Mercer came into view from around the corner.

His face fell when he realized that I was sitting in the living room on his couch. “Dr. King… didn’t know you were here already.”

“Parked right across the street… was quick to get over here.”

He had a tight smile. “This is Judge Martinez… Carlos, this is the young man I was telling you about. He would be a great addition to the organization. I know when I was a broke resident, I would have loved for this opportunity to fall into my lap.”

The judge smiled at me with his tanned skin, peppered goatee, and short hair. “Absolutely. Sammie, rain check on the lemon squares. Carmen would kill me if I packed on the pounds she made me lose. We’re going up to the Catskills this week to get a little rest with the kids.”

“Kids?” Mercer broke out into laughter. “Your children are grown, Martinez.”

Martinez sheepishly smiled. “Always will be my babies. Things have been rough with Lucia… you know that. Just want to cheer her up, and Carmen has the weekend planned. You know how women are.”

“Excuse you, Carlos,” Sam came into the living room with a smile on her face and swatted him playfully.

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