Baltimore Chronicles by Treasure Hernandez Read Free Book Online Page A

by her hair. She could picture herself shaking her until her damn brain stem came loose. She was just that angry.
    Finally, Rodriguez rationalized that it would be way too dangerous for them both, because the Dirty Money Crew weren’t afraid to kill a cop. Feeling totally helpless, she pulled out and drove off. Her new mission was to save her sister before it was too late.
    Â 
    Watching from across the street, the person trailing Sticks witnessed the whole scenario that just played out. When Scar was in town running the Dirty Money Crew, he had a shadow trailing him and plotting to take him down. Now that he was missing in action, the shadow was now following Sticks, the apparent heir to Scar’s empire. It was surprising to see Rodriguez at the warehouse. The shadow figured she would have been at the courthouse watching to see the outcome of the case against Detective Fuller.
    As Rodriguez drove off, the shadow thought, Apparently no one has any loyalty in B-More. Is anybody on the straight and narrow in this city? Making a mental note to find out what shit Rodriguez was into, the shadow stayed put to stake out the warehouse. The main focus right now was to take down the Dirty Money Crew.
    Â 
    Tiphani lowered her head as she heard the news reporter’s words.
    â€œToday, former Maryland state trooper DES Detective Derek Fuller was found guilty of first-degree murder of DES officer Christian Archie. Fuller’s sentencing will be held next month. The prosecutor’s office is seeking the death penalty in the case.”
    Tiphani, torn between a whirlwind of emotions, had a frail smile on her face. She thought about her life with Derek and how hard he’d tried to please her. She felt slightly guilty and responsible for his entire downfall. Then she thought about her kids. How would she explain all of this to them? Tiphani felt horrible that they would grow up without Derek, that their only memories would be of the media reports that their father was a crooked cop and a murderer.
    Tiphani closed her eyes and tried to make herself feel better. It was hard. She tried to think of negative things about Derek. Then she remembered that he’d tried to take her children from her. That was enough for the moment. She clung to that one thought because it helped ease her guilt.
    She thought about the way she was going to look in her judge’s robe when she returned to Baltimore. That alone made her feel much, much better. She was finally smiling. Then she let out a small laugh. “He just got what was coming to him,” she whispered. “That’s all.”
    Tiphani looked over at Scar’s sleeping form, watching him as he took each breath. She felt all dreamy inside. She sometimes couldn’t believe that she was really in love with Scar. The time on the boat had proved him to be more attentive and charming than she thought he could be.
    While with her, he had put aside the tough-guy exterior that he displayed on the street, doing little things for her, like rubbing her feet, or making her little animals out of paper to cheer her up when she was missing her kids. He would hold her when she cried, stroking her hair gently, and kissing the top of her head to comfort her. Tiphani felt that Scar was more than just some street thug that killed people. He was the man she was in love with. She often thought about what it would be like if she could have an open relationship with him, or if they could get married. Tiphani wanted to be with Scar all of the time for the rest of her life and could only hope he felt the same way.
    Tiphani reached over and turned the TV off. She slid into the bed and eased her body behind Scar’s. Then she threw her arm around him and hugged him. This was where she wanted to be forever.

Chapter 4
The Return
    Six Months Later
    Tiphani stumbled into the emergency room at Baltimore General Hospital. “Help! Help me!” she screamed, her eyes wide and dazed, blood