Alfonzo Read Online Free Page B

shows and other landmark attractions. The intruder grinned; if only the Mayor came here to witness the squalor of some city housing units perhaps he’d allocate more funds for their upkeep. He’d been down near Lincoln Center, walked Fifth Avenue , traversed midtown down to Tribeca and everywhere you turned money stared back. Yeah, you need money to live comfortably in NYC, without it you were just like a cockroach crawling over leftovers.
    T here were visible traces of litter in the corridor. Gum wrappings, a tip of a blunt and what appeared to be fresh spit on the hard cement floor. The smell of urine mingled with a variety of culinary aromas. He proceeded down the corridor until he reached apartment 4C. T he re were voices inside. A man and woman were t alking then it became quiet. He waited a second as a set of footsteps retreated then faded. He could hear movement in the living room; someone was alone in the front. He had a fifty-fifty chance of getting his target at the door. No, he thought he had to do them all. No loose ends. Damn…… I hate doing freebies.
    He tapped on the door.
    Footsteps sounded , followed by a woman’s voice. “Yeah, who is it?”
    “ Housing, ” h e answered calmly. The door opened and a woman resembling the girl he saw leaving the building peered from behind a crack in the door. She saw…she recognized death. Too bad ! He aimed and fired then quickly stepped inside catch ing her by the arm before she hit the floor. He placed her gently on the floor and closed the door.
    Al entered the room just then, “Hey honey….” His eyes darted from the stranger to Darlene lying on the floor with blood pouring from her forehead . Like an angry bull he ran at the intruder before being hit by a hot projectile in the leg . He fell to one knee then sucked in the pain , regained his footing and closed the distance . Another explosion occurred at the center of his chest just as he reached the man and his fist struck hard across the intruder’s face. The blow sent him sliding across the floor mopping up blood as he skid.
    Adrenalin kept Al alive long enough to stoop down and strike t he intruder once more. The impact stunned the man, he hadn’t expected a struggle. Often, it t ook one shot and most men lost their fight , but this one took two and managed to keep coming. H e’d allotted a mere ten minutes for completion of this job , five were already used . Angered, he lifted his weapon then fired into the side of Al’s skull. Blood splatter ed everywhere . H e cursed aloud when his target finally slumped over and crashed to the floor. “Goddammit, now I have to clean the fuck up !”
    Ten minutes over time he appeared in the courtyard wearing a clean white T-shirt, a Yankee cap, pants and carrying a borrowed duffle bag and s trode calmly past the unsuspecting residents to the cheap rental car.
    ***
    Shanda consistently check ed her text messages on her upgraded iPhone . Her head twisted around to Selange as she surfed the net, “Hey d ig this , Rahin’s a trip . H e’s asking what I’m wearing. Doesn’t the fool know it’s Friday night and I’m far from going to bed ? I’m ‘ gonna lie and tell him I’m wearing a thong and a baby doll lace bra.” She laughed then crossed her legs thoroughly pleased with herself.
    Selange pseudo-listened , she check ed rental ads as she consider ed getting her own crib . Hanging out with Shanda was a temporary diversion . Eventually, she had to return home and confront her mother . She hit the log-out button and sat up. Maybe, she should go now and get it over with. Remorse was starting to set in. What she said to her mom was cruel, it’s only she didn’t want anyone taking advantage of her. It’s ironic the gigolo married her mom after she won the lottery, who wouldn’t be suspicious?
    Then again, Al did seem head over heels for her mom before the winnings, Selange admitted . The eyes never lie and Al’s were always filled with joy. ‘ Man…oh