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“Yeah Whatchoo think I lare shifted back to Little D “Now, ah?”

I turned to look at Little D, who had locked eyes with Tina’s father “D,” I said “Is this true?”

The front door flew open, banging against the wall Startled, I yelped Little D flinched and turned to face Tina’s uncle, the portly William Jackson The stink of booze rolled off him in waves

“You knew,” he bellowed at Fisher “You knehat , but you didn’t care Her own father!”

Fisher’s face contorted “Whatchoo talkin’ ’bout? You seen my Tina?”

“Yeah, I seen her” Jackson staggered toward Fisher Little D and I stood between them “She’s safe, wit’ me I intend to take her far from you and your filthy bid’ness” He pointed at Little D “He tole’so you can make a little money on the side!”

I gawked at Little D, but he looked away

“But I dunno nuthin’ ’bout that,” Fisher whined “I swear”

“Did you set it up with them white boys?” A drop of sweat etched a line down Jackson’s cheek “Did you set it up so irl would be a ho’ for them dirty videos?”

“I didn’t set nuthin’ up,” Fisher muttered “He came to me”

“Who?” I asked “Beaufort? One of the white guys?”

“It weren’t no white guy” Fisher shifted from foot to foot “I dunno his name He never said”

In seerabbedme with his body I heard two shots Fisher cruain, and Little D released ain— beneath him

People e The air was pungent with cordite and the odor of lye-based hair straightener Women from the beauty parlor—beauticians in pink aprons and ladies with damp, half-combed hair—screamed and swooned Men mumbled and shook their heads

“You see that mutherfucker run outta here?”