Smooth Jazz Ch. 10

He wasn't stupid. He knew she was using him. Yet he hoped that she would give him what he wanted. Now it seemed as if he would have to take matters into his own hands. He knew what he had to do. He would set Ellen up for failure.

Once she was all set up to do the robbery he would ditch her, and let her be taken to jail. Leaving a note that he had fled, and once everybody thought everything was fine. He would make his move. He slowly slid away from the door and out of the office.

He was tired of Ellen telling him what to do, and reaping all of the benefits. Now it was his turn to get what he ultimately desired. Once Ellen was out of the picture, he would be able to make his father his puppet.

*

Connor and Marcelo talked to Black on the phone reviewing the plan. They made sure the robbery was still in motion for tonight and then let him go on to play his role. Jazz could not stop pacing in nervousness. She didn't know what would happen.

She was worried that something in the plan would go wrong. Ellen never planned on doing the robbery but Black managed to convince her to carry a gun, and use it if she needed too. Connor and Marcelo hoped that in the heat of the moment Black would order her to pull her gun on him, as Mr. Pennington played dumb.

"Are you sure this is the only way to get him? Mr. Pennington couldn't ID his own son?" Jazz stopped pacing when she was grabbed by Connor, and he rubbed her stomach. She was 12 weeks now and starting to get a little bump already, which surprised her but the doctor said every woman shows at their own pace.

"He doesn't know anything about the kid. He goes by different alias. Changes appearances, apparently he is the real deal. All we got was medium height, possibly blue or brown eyes, maybe a natural brunette, and maybe goes by Martin and or Tom."

"We know he's white, but we can't get a concrete ID nabbing him is the only way." Connor assured her.

"And are you guys sure you can trust this Black character?" Marcelo placed a hand on her stomach as well.

"I don't know. Why don't you tell us what's in your crystal ball forming." Jazz swiped his hand away.

"You guys can make fun of me all you want but this is serious. I don't want you two to be putting yourselves in danger for me. It's bad enough you got into a fight a Black's place."

"A fight would imply that they actually landed a punch." Marcelo said and he and Connor laughed.

"I'm over you too." Jazz went back to packing to go over to James for the night, or at least until they returned.

"We're just telling you that you have nothing to worry about baby. We're taking extra precautions. Our job is to keep you safe, and it's important to get this guy off the street for all women. This is bigger than us. This could be huge, maybe we can get some women to come forward."

"I'd testify in a heartbeat." Jazz said and Connor and Marcelo looked at her.

"Are you sure?" Connor asked.

"Yes, who's to say if you nab him he'll be put away. I'd be willing to testify. I was one of the lucky ones. Plus, I have you guys behind me."

"Of course, and I honestly think at this rate William would be willing too. As much as it kills me to say, he's been helpful. He's hell bent on doing his time. Maybe he can change his life around." Marcelo finished tying his boots.

"I guess it took him hitting a big low to realize how crazy he was being." Jazz zipped up her bag and Connor picked it up before she could swing it across her body.

"Sometimes you have to hit a low before you can build back up. Come on we gotta get a move. It's about midnight."

Connor and Marcelo dropped off Jazz at James, and then took the guns out the glove compartment to make sure the clips were full.

"Remember we lead, once we give the signal they'll go in." Marcelo reminded him.

"I won't forget. I only have one issue." Connor admitted.

"And what's that."

"Not to shoot him on sight when I see him."

"Well think of it this way, he'll be locked away forever once we get through with him. Then it'll be over."

"I hope you're right because for some reason it doesn't feel like it.

*

Ellen looked around in disbelief. Martin was supposed to be here right now. She sat in the car with Black.

"Hey just go in without him. He said he would be running late anyway." He urged knowing Connor and them was waiting around back.

"Who's going to give you the signal?" Ellen was starting to get angry. His stupid ass was supposed to be here to take the fall.

"Don't worry about that. He wouldn't dare not show his ass here, go in and do what you need to do so we can get this money you promised me. Unless you flaking on some scary shit. Either you gone ride or not?" Black remarked and Ellen shook her head.

"Of course I am. Your right, he'll show." Ellen couldn't break the deal now. She couldn't let him know she was getting nervous. Martin was supposed to be the one to pull the trigger as well on Black.

"Don't forget your gun. You have five minutes and I'm running in if he doesn't show. Don't worry about the Cameras I'll mask up." Black assured her and she nodded again, still nervous.

Ellen had never felt such a bad feeling before. Ellen always felt so sure of herself. Now she didn't know. She refused to look weak as if she needed her brother to make it happen. She got a text he was on his way and breathed a sigh of relief.

"He's on his way no need. Watch for his signal. I'm going in." Ellen got out the car and opened the doors and slid in. As soon as she disappeared Black called Marcelo and Connor.

"She's inside but her brothers late."

"Its okay, play it cool he'll show." Connor told him and Black shook his head.

"Alright man. And make sure the police don't shoot my black ass." Black reminded them and clicked off the line.

He looked around, and still saw no sight of Ellen's brother. If he didn't show, then Black would have to improvise.

*

Ellen joined Mr. Pennington and chatted trying her best to distract him. She smiled on the inside knowing any minute now her brother would come, and then she would be able to set him and Black up.

"I'm not sure if I'm ready to relinquish you just yet." Ellen kept her eyes on the door and smiled when she felt movement behind it. By now the cameras should be disengaged and Black should be running in any minute now.

"Listen Ellen we had a deal. I don't need any funny-"

"Get your fucking hands up!" Black burst through the door and Ellen screamed, and Mr. Pennington hit the floor as well.

"Throw your cell-phones to the middle of the floor. Do it!" Mr. Pennington and Ellen quickly obeyed.

"You!" Black pointed his gun at Mr. Pennington.

"Get yo old ass up and hit that safe."

"What's the meaning of this? How did you get in here?" Mr. Pennington stood up preparing to play his confused role.

"Just do what he says idiot, who cares." Ellen yelled at him from the floor, wondering where the hell her brother was.

"Shut up bitch! Listen you gone open up that safe, give me all the money up in that bitch, and no one will get hurt." Black leaned more into him waiting for him to take the cue. Mr. Pennington turned around and pretended to spray Black with pepper spray.

"Ellen help! Get him!" Black ordered and Ellen didn't know what to do. She kept looking towards the door as Black circled around wildly dropping his gun to the floor.

Mr. Pennington stepped back letting Ellen grab it and turn it on him.

"Get the fucking money out of the safe!" Ellen had the gun pointed at Mr. Pennington as Black regained his sight back.

"Ellen this was you? All you had to do was ask for the money, why are you robbing me?" Mr. Pennington looked at her in disbelief, and Ellen felt torn. Her plan was falling apart.

"Get the money out the safe!"

"Ellen there is no money in the safe!" Mr. Pennington went and opened the safe door. Ellen was appalled when it was empty.

"What happen to the money?" Ellen pulled on his collar putting the gun to his side.

"You took it all! You've been sucking me dry for days."

"Lies!" Ellen threw him to the floor and Black stood up.

"What the hell? I thought you said he was loaded?" Black walked towards her and Ellen back up slowly not sure what to do.

"I don't know what he's talking about. It's supposed to be here. I haven't taken anything from him." Ellen's stomach was slowly starting turn. She felt walls caving in on her.

Black peered into her face, and Mr. Pennington's eyes were on her as well. She was starting to realize that her brother had left her. Ellen became paler if possible. Her mouth was dry and wordless.

"Then where's the money? He said he's been giving you money!" Black grabbed her by the arm.

"I didn't lie!"

"You set me up!" Mr. Pennington yelled and pushed her back and ran for the door.

"Ellen! What the hell?" Black turned around and grabbed Mr. Pennington back.

"Are you her father?"

Ellen felt herself start sweat. Where was her brother?

"Yes." Mr. Pennington said and he enjoyed watching Ellen's face lose color. She wasn't use to being caught in a lie.

"He's lying! My brother flaked out on us! We have to get out of here Black." Ellen pulled on Blacks arm.

"Naw he's your father too. You lied to me!"

"Who cares? Yes he's been giving money but nothing but scraps. He's loaded. He can give us so much more! Don't you want to be on top again?" Ellen's blue eyes were wild with desperation. She had to salvage the plan.

"Write us a check. Do it!" Ellen pointed the gun at Mr. Pennington but it was now shaking.

"Ellen this is mad. Stop this!"

"The money he's been giving you could have been given to me! You've been keeping it to yourself. Cause you're a lying ass bitch."

"Why else would you have me rob someone with no money, you tryna set me up too." Ellen shook her head, and rested her arms at her side.

"Listen to yourself. I've always been loyal to you."

"No you haven't." Black told her.

"You've only looked out for you." Mr. Pennington said.

"You thought you would get over on us." Black said and Ellen's heart started to race fast as Black stood beside Mr. Pennington pointing his gun at Ellen.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Ellen's heart was beating out of her chest and she started sweating. She didn't like how things were unfolding on her.

"Naw this is real shorty. You've been doin your dirt. Fucking people over and now it's time for you to pay." Black and Mr. Pennington hit the floor right on cue when the police swarmed into the room and Ellen stood with the gun in her hand.

"Help, she's trying to rob me." Mr. Pennington screamed and smiled in Ellens face as she stood in disbelief. The police tackled her to the ground and she started flaring.

"You sonofabitch! You set me up! You framed me you bastard. Stop this or I'll tell everyone your fucking secrets! I swear to god, I swear to god!" Ellen screamed as tears ran down her face and her eyes were raccoon eyes, with black mascara smeared as she tossed and turned.

"Whose gonna believe you now? You've been convicted of robbery. You're a felon, and no longer credible Ellen. Plus, William is willing to testify against you and your brother. We've been recording you." Mr. Pennington told her and she only screamed more as it took more officers to subdue her in her crying rage.

"Where the hell is the brother?" Marcelo and Connor came into the room when they had no call in for him.

"I can take you to him! Just get me out of here! Please," Ellen pleaded with them and Connor shook his head. Marcelo made eye contact with her and her eyes widened even more.

"Anthony! I know him! I've never stolen from him."

"Tell us where your brother is Ellen." Marcelo told her.

"Get these fucking pigs off me. This is your entire fault. You made me this way, you fucked me and my mother over! I hate you!" Ellen screamed at Mr. Pennington and Connor motioned for them to get her out of here.

"No! No! Please, let me go!" Ellen was meeting her worst fear. She was losing. The burning and twisted feeling in her stomach she felt at the failure. All her dreams of being on top were crumbling down. She was losing her power and reduced to begging.

Ellen wouldn't leave like this. She wouldn't let Mr. Pennington get away with it. She took the opportunity when they laxed control, when they felt she was calm. They went to put cuffs on her and she grabbed the gun from one of the officer's holsters.

She fired a shot right into Mr. Pennington and she was immediately pulled down as he fell to the floor.

"Get her out of here!" Connor ordered them as Marcelo dialed the ambulance.

"I hope you bleed to death! I hope you die!" Ellen screamed as they got cuffs on her and wrestled her away. Marcelo saw he had been shot in the shoulder. He immediately began to put pressure on it.

"Hey! Stay awake." Marcelo slapped him on the cheeks as he was bleeding all over the place and his eyes were shuttering in shock. Mr. Pennington felt the bullet cool in his shoulder and screamed out in pain.

He deserved it. He knew he deserved it. If he died maybe he would finally be at peace. All the wrong he had done. All the evil things he had done and let happen. All of the lies he had told. All the greed felt heavy on his chest as he struggled to stay alive.

As his eyes fluttered shut once more all he could hear was sirens in the distance. He was tired of fighting. He was tired of living a lie. He was so tired of living with grief hanging over his head. Maybe if he died he could do it again.

He thought all of this as he slowly felt himself slipping away with the screams of Connor and Marcelo in the distance.

*

"Is he dead?" Ellen talked to her brother on the phone, as she was still in her jail cell awaiting trial.

"No, he's yet alive but he's in a coma. He's in no condition to testify." Martin set across from his sister still playing his role.

"I can't believe you got away." Ellen couldn't hide her envy.

"I came around back and saw them waiting in their car. I recognized Connors car right away and ran off. I thought about calling you but I didn't know what to do. I feel like this is my fault." Martin tried his best to look sad.

"There was nothing you could do but save yourself. I wish I wouldn't have shot him. They're trying to get me for attempted murder. Now that he's in a coma he can't be bribed to use his power to get me out. I fucked up." Ellen swallowed her pride with Malice.

"I wish I could help, I really do Sis. You know I can't testify. I have to lay low. I'm not even supposed to be here, I'm meeting with Connor later on this week to do the video. That's when I'll make my move." Martin smiled and Ellen finally lifted her head.

"Yes! That's it." She quieted down when she caught the guard's attention.

"You can avenge me. You can get them to get me out of here." Ellen grabbed his hands.

"Hey, no touching," The guard told her and Ellen released them, and motioned for him to bring his ear closer.

"You kidnap Jazz, and tell them unless they let me go that you'll rape and kill her. Jazz is the key that's what this is all about. You have to help me. I can't spend another day in here like some kind of animal." Ellen pleaded with him.

Martin smiled on the inside. Now it was her who needed him. Now it was his turn to have the power. He enjoyed watching her beg and plead for his help. He was the one in control of her destiny.

"I'll think about it." Martin said and Ellen's face turned to one of shock.

"No you won't think about it, you'll do it." Ellen spoke with a tight lip.

"I don't think you're in any position to be calling the shots here Ellen. You want my help then you'll be honest with me. You tried to set me up didn't you?" He watched her face twist in malice again.

"You don't call the fucking shots, I do. I was the one that helped you. I was the one that let you roam the fucking streets. Don't fuck with me Martin. I could easily tell your pals about you." Ellen smiled and Martin smiled too.

"That might be a little hard behind a cell Ellen."

"No not at all. They've been asking me about you and where you are. I can tell them. The only thing stopping me is that I want to see them suffer, because I want them to pay. Now either we can cut the shit and help each other or play against each other, but if I go down I'm taking you with me."

"Fine, I'll put money on your books before I leave. I'll go through with the plans. I also will be back tomorrow." Martin knew he had no choice. She was right. She could just as easily give him up.

"That's what I like to hear. You get what you want and I get what I want."

"Precisely," Martin said but in the back of his mind he couldn't help but be happy. Once he got what he wanted he would flee, and then Ellen would spend the rest of her life behind bars.

*

"Do you think you could stop worrying about it and be in the moment honey?" Jazz rubbed Connor arms. Jazz was more than happy that Ellen was behind bars.

For Connor it wasn't enough. He was still persistent on catching the brother. Jazz and Marcelo had figured he was out of dodge by now. He clearly had somehow been tipped off.

Connor was weary of Black but he promised that he hadn't said a word. Jazz believed him. He had played his part to a tee.

"I can't I know he's still out there and I leave soon. I was planning on having him put away by now." Connor took his foot off the pedal as his absentness was causing him to be pushing nearly ninety.

"Baby, I'm pretty sure he's gone by now. Black said he hadn't heard anything from him. Plus, Mr. Pennington is in a coma. As bogus as it sounds who are they going to blackmail for help. It's basically over for them." Jazz tried to reason with him but he had been on edge since everything had gone down that night.

"It's not over. He knew somehow and got a way for a reason. I don't believe he's given up. Martin's going to come over today and run the video for me. We finally figured out how to convert it. Martin has the program I was looking for."

"Am I ever going to get to meet him? He hasn't come around at all." Jazz figured Martin wasn't as good at the detective work as Marcelo and didn't want to tag along. She couldn't blame him. He didn't know her well enough to be putting himself in harm's way for her.

"He lost his job and hasn't been in contact with me for months. Plus, we had an opportunity to nab him face to face we gave up on the video. And who says the person on the video will be the real him." Connor breathed a sigh of frustration. That was the point of catching him in the act, which they had failed to do.

"Then what's the point of pursing the video then?" Jazz asked.

"Cause maybe we can get a print of the face, and run it through the system. Then there may be enough consistency in the picture to run a background check. Unfortunately, the prints from the pictures and letter didn't pop up as anything. I just feel like were so close but too far away."

"I want you to focus on us and stop focusing on this guy. He hasn't made a move in months Connor. I really think this guy has given up. If he was lying low he's really backing off now because he knows that the heat is on."

"You're right. It's about us today baby. I'm sorry. I just really wanted to get this guy so I can leave knowing you'll be okay." Connor took her hand, and kissed it and Jazz smiled.

"I will be. Now stop worrying and let's go inside and enjoy this moment. Today we're going to find out what the baby is." Jazz sung happily.

"Yeah we can finally stop calling the baby an "it"," Connor said and Jazz shook her head.

"You're the only one who calls our baby that. I feel like we should be going in with name possibilities."