Today's Reading
"You heard me correct, Detective. 'Speedball.' A new drug is in town. Some call it 'Greenies.' Some call it 'Jellybeans.' Most call it 'Speedball.' I want you to stop it."
"What's different about Speedball from the other drugs circulating in the city?"
"I'll tell you what's different—this is the most powerful damn drug I ever seen. You take it an' you stop breathin'. That a fact, Stryker?"
"Yes, Sister Grace. Worse'n anything I ever seen, even in the joint."
"What do you expect me to do?" I ask.
"Stop Speedball! Stop the dealers. It's killing my people. And sooner or later, your people, too."
"That's not my job."
"Why, bless your heart, Detective, it's your job if I say it's your job."
"You have muscle on your payroll who can do that. They can run the dealers out of town. You do it all the time."
"These are new people. Not the usual thugs. They're organized. And heavily armed. And mean as hell."
"I've never seen a group you couldn't handle."
"Don't think I haven't tried. Tell him, Stryker."
"We've sent some of our best men to close down this Speedball market. Want to know what happened to them? They ended up dead. The dealers have heavy protection. Some kind of international security organization with trained operatives. They don't allow anybody to interfere in their business. Includin' Sister Grace. And they ain't shy about killin' people. I talked to the local dealer myself. Tol' him to leave town. I thought I was gonna die that day."
"It rubs me the wrong way to ask a cop to take care of my problem," Sister Grace says, stubbing out her cigarette. "It don't sit right one bit. I been tryin' for weeks to take care of this mess myself. Now they after me. It's personal. I'm in trouble. That's what you do, Detective—you take care of trouble. You think I'm exaggeratin'. But I'm dead serious," she says. "Stryker, you tell this policeman about Muffin."
I wonder for a moment whether "Muffin" is one of Sister Grace's enforcers. I doubt it.
"Three days ago, Muffin got out of the building," Stryker tells me. "We searched ever'where. Muffin was gone all day and night. Sister Grace made us all pray for Muffin. I was on my knees for that damn cat."
"Watch your language, Stryker," Sister Grace snaps.
"Then yesterday, some kid delivers a box. It was wrapped in brown paper, and somebody wrote the name 'Sister Grace' on the outside. An' the word 'Personal.'"
Sister Grace's hands are clenched as she listens.
"Muffin was cut into little pieces," Stryker says. "Head. Paws. Legs. It was disgustin'."
"Muffin was my life companion," Sister Grace says. "She was my best friend."
That settles the gender question.
"There was a note with what was left of Muffin," Stryker goes on. "'Tell the bitch to stay out of our business or she'll end up like the cat.' That's no way to treat a lady."
Muffin and I never liked each other, but some words of sympathy seem called for, so I say, "Sorry for your loss, Sister Grace."
She gives me a sour look.
"I'll contact the drug division in the police department," I offer. "I'll report this new drug infestation."
"Don' bother. Your drug cops know all about Speedball. They either too scared or too bent to do anythin'."
I never argue with Sister Grace about something like this. She knows more about police corruption than I do.
"I'll inform the Drug Enforcement Administration..."
"They already know about what's goin' on. We seen their guys in the neighborhood askin' 'round. They done nothin'. That's why I sent for you. You have special ways to deal with scum. Ways regular cops can't."
"You want me to kill the man distributing these drugs? You know I don't do that."
"Do whatever you gotta do. Just get this poison outta my community. Understand, Detective, this ain't just my problem. This gonna be your problem real soon. Ain't just Black folks gettin' sick and dyin' from Speedball. It startin' in the clubs on U Street. Now it's spreadin' to the bars on Fourteenth Street and around Dupont Circle. You know, the fancy parts of town. They already sellin' Speedball to them nice young kids in Georgetown an' Spring Valley and pretty soon they gonna die, too."
...