The Night Gardener

The next morning, when Regina went to the station to complain, she was told that Diego and Shaka had fit the description of two young men who had stolen a car earlier that night. 'The exact description?' said Regina. 'Or was it just two black youths?'

That night, Diego heard his parents discussing the incident.

'They're scarecrows,' said Ramone, his term for fake police.

'I do not like that neighborhood,' said Regina. 'With the bumper stickers on their cars.'

'"Celebrate Diversity,'" said Ramone. 'Unless diversity is walking down your street on a Saturday night.'

Diego and Toby went along the strip near Toby's building.

'They go

'Who is?' said Diego.

'Miss Brewster, I guess,' said Toby. 'Mr Guy said they doin an investigation. They prob'ly lookin to throw me out of school, 'cause the parents of that boy I stole are making all kinds of noise. I might get expelled this time or sent up that school they got for problem kids.'

'That was a fair fight.'

'I know it. But they lookin for evidence so they can toss my ass. My father's Kirkin out over that bullshit. He wants to sue the school.'

'My father's mad at that school, too,' said Diego.

'You ain't go

'Nah, dawg, we're straight.' They pounded fists. 'See you at practice.'

'All right, then.'

Diego walked toward the bus stop, looking back at the fake 7-Eleven. Thing was, he and Toby had shoplifted a candy bar or two out of that place in days past. But the dude with the turban didn't know that. How was he go

At the bus stop, Diego got a call from his mother.

'Where are you?' said Regina.

'About to get on the twelve. I'll probably stop at the courts, shoot around some. I got practice tonight.'

'Do you have homework?'

'I did it in study hall,' said Diego. He had done half of his homework, so it was only half a lie.

'Don't be long,' said Regina.

'Okay.'

'Love you.'

'Love you, too, Mom,' said Diego in a real low voice, so the guy sitting in the bus shelter next to him could not hear.

Just about then, the Ride On rolled up and came to a stop. Diego boarded the bus.

Ramone phoned Regina and told her he'd be out for a while longer. He asked about Alana and Diego, and she told him that Alana was up in her room and Diego was playing basket-ball over by Coolidge. Ramone was in the neighborhood, so he drove over to the courts.

Diego saw him first. His head came up as he heard the sound of the Tahoe approaching, recognizing the way it cried on its shocks. Diego was in the middle of a two-on-two, him and Shaka against the Spriggs twins, Ronald and Richard losing as usual and talking smack about their opponents and their relatives like they tended to do. Earlier, they had discussed Asa and speculated about his murder. The Spriggs boys had seen him that day, as had Diego and Shaka. No one knew a thing about the killing, but they wanted to talk. All of them felt some guilt, as in the last year or so they had turned their backs on Asa to varying degrees. In truth, he had turned away from them, too. Still, it just hurt. They considered themselves to be tough city kids, but this was the first of their childhood friends who had met death.

Gus Ramone walked up to the courts. With his Ray-Ban aviators, his dark blue suit and rep tie, and his black mustache, he looked every inch a cop. He shook Shaka's hand and said hello to Ronald and Richard, correctly identifying them by name, though they were identical twins. He could tell the difference because Ronald had more playful, intelligent eyes. He'd known this group of Diego's friends for ten years, going back to when they were little boys.

Ramone put his arm around Diego's shoulders and the two of them drifted down to the street. Diego returned to the court a few minutes later, and Ramone got in the Tahoe and drove off.

'Detective Ramone,' said Shaka. 'Man looked serious today.'

'Thought he was go

'What he want?' said Richard.

He told me to get home before dark. He asked me how school went today. He told me he loves me. The same way my mom always does before she hangs up the phone.

'Nothing much,' said Diego to Richard. 'He just told me to beat you Bamas to within an inch of your lives.'

'Your mother's a Bama,' said Ronald.

Diego said, 'Lemme see that rock.'

CHAPTER 22

Raymond Benjamin lived in a freshly built, well-appointed condominium off U Street, between 10th and 9th, in the new Shaw. All of the furnishings and electronics on display had been paid for in cash. Benjamin's IRS form stated that he was self-employed as a 'certified used-car dealer.' More accurately, he made trips to northern New Jersey several times a month to buy high-end, low-mileage automobiles at auction for clients back in D.C. With his expertise at the process, he was able to purchase a Mercedes-Benz, Cadillac, BMW, or a Lexus at up to ten thousand dollars less than it could be had on a retail lot. In exchange, he delivered the car himself, detailed and in fine ru

At a glance, Benjamin was a respected, legitimate businessman. It had been five years since he had completed his prison term on a trafficking beef. He was no longer on paper and appeared to be clean.

Benjamin's hands may not have touched drugs anymore, but they did touch drug money. He had remained in contact with the sons of his old New York co

The risks were relatively low. His assistants made the calls and spoke in a kind of code, a variation of Pig Latin that Benjamin had developed, when they were on the line. They used disposable cells, difficult if not impossible to wiretap, when conducting business over the phone. At thirty-five, Raymond Benjamin was finding life better than it had ever been.

Except for days like today. Benjamin's older sister, Raynella Reese, was in his condo, standing over him where he sat in a deco-style armchair. Raynella had one hand on her hip and was pointing a finger of the other at his face. She was a very tall woman and, like all of her siblings, was named in some ma

Also in the room was Tommy Broadus, sitting in a similar chair that was bending under his weight. Broadus stared down at his shoes.

By the door stood two Benjamin employees: Michael 'Mikey' Tate and Ernest 'Nesto' Henderson. Officially, they were employed as sales associates of Cap City Luxury Vehicles, but they served Raymond Benjamin in a variety of capacities.

'He go

'Oh, he fine, huh?' said Raynella Reese, her hyperemotional voice working against the warm colors Benjamin had chosen for the room.

'The bullet went clean through,' said Tommy Broadus.

'Shut up, fatty,' said Raynella. She turned to her brother. 'Where is Edward now? I want to see him for myself and make sure he's good.'

'He restin,' said Benjamin. 'The doctor took care of him.'

'You mean the dog doctor,' said Raynella. 'Ain't that right, Raymond?'