Page 43 of The Fire We Make

Peanut shifted uncomfortably in his seat situated across from Ace’s desk. He moved to stand but Ace silently held a hand up, halting his movements.

He made a detour before getting to his desk to pour himself a drink at the mini bar in the corner of his office. He wanted a blunt but this would have to do until he got home.

He moved slowly, unhurried as he draped his jacket across the back of his chair before sinking into it.

After hours of standing before judges, his limbs exhaled but Ace was far from relieved.

He flipped the switch below his desk and the hidden device scrambled any listening devices that may have snuck their way into his vicinity.

He felt around his pants pockets and produced his lighter. He took a slow sip of his drink, flipping the lid of his lighter open and closed several times before acknowledging him.

“Speak.”

“Mannnn the shit was crazy—,” Peanut started but was halted again by Ace’s hand lifting.

“—Without the theatrics.”

Peanut nodded. “My fault. So boom, we in there chillin doing our thing. I was at the machine counting then all of a sudden, some motherfuckas bust in. They came in hot with they guns out and yelling and shit. We about to up on them then we realize it’s the cops but I’m not worried cause all our shit is put up. Only thing really suspicious is the money but they can’t lock me up for just that so I’m chillin.”

Ace nodded for him to continue.

“So they cuff everybody right being all rough and shit then they start pulling out our product. Don’t even have to look for it or have anyone tell them where it is. Shit was crazy, it was like they knew exactly where to go and what to look for.”

Ace paused the progression of the glass to his lips at that and looked to his left at Von. Von’s brows were already raised at him, confirming they were both suspecting the same thing.

“They grab up all our shit and the cash then they start taking us out to the cars. They brought like five of ‘em,” Peanut continued.

“Where was Blue in all this?” Ace asked, taking a sip.

“Blue pulled up while they were loading us up and he tryna figure out what’s happening. I didn’t see the rest cause they put me in a car but they knew who he was so they start putting his ass in cuffs too.”

“What did they say when you got to the station?” Ace asked. It seemed the room dropped several degrees at the cold tone of his voice. Everyone knew what Ace was really asking.

Peanut visibly swallowed, his adam’s apple bobbing. “They tried to say I was gon’ go down for a while and told me to talk before Blue did. They asked who supplied us but I didn’t say shit. You know that bullshit they be talking. I didn’t say nothing though, I was prepared to sit down for whatever but then yo peoples showed up and got me out.”

“Hm,” Ace hummed, silently observing the man in front of him for a moment. “Aight,” he said, settling back in his chair.

Peanut brows furrowed. “Aight… We straight?” he asked warily.

“Yeah we straight. I don’t need to tell you what’s gon’ happen if your story doesn’t check out. Give me an inventory of what all was taken,” Ace instructed, tilting his head to the doorway.

Peanut nodded and quickly made his exit, his marching orders clear. Sasha, Von’s right hand, exited behind him leaving Ace, Jrue and Von alone.

“Whatchu thinking?” Von asked.

Ace pulled at the hair on his chin. “This has that fuck ass detective written all over it,” he answered.

It was no coincidence that all of these issues start popping up when Detective Harris became more overt in his threats.

He was sure Harris had something to do with his recent woes but he was also sure there was something he was missing. The thought drove him mad and kept him up at night.

“I need to talk to my contact at the precinct but I need to see that warrant and figure out how they got it without my knowledge and how the fuck they were able to find the product. Sounds like they’re trying to single out Blue to squeeze information out of him.”

Von nodded in agreement. “Let my niggas take care of him,” he suggested.

Ace shook his head. “We don’t know what he knows or who he’s told. Hang tight on that. For now.”

As he and Von walked out, Ace’s mind was already running through who he needed to make bleed.