Solace

[Rita sits behind her long dark red conference table typing on a laptop, flanked by TV screens. Three large screens show CNN, FOX, and MSNBC on one side; on the other side are The Bloomberg Terminal, WRAL’s Local Crimes web page, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, along with a bank of CC TV screens.]

“So let me get this straight. Tony has a crushed wrist and broken jaw. Big Pip has a broken jaw and arm, and all three of them have been arrested. What the hell is going on with NDX?” Rita was perplexed.

“Tony and Pip got simple possession charges and carrying without a license. The Grip only got discharging a firearm within city limits,” Cut explained. “The Lawyer said it was JET and two others involved, but they were nowhere to be found while the police arrived and made arrests. The cops found Tony and Pip laid out behind the store and called ambulances for them.”

“This JET boy is workin’ my last nerve!” Rita said.

“Say the word…” leered Cut.

“We agreed — that wouldn’t be smart… and we have to be smart. I want to avenge my brother too, but Lotto wouldn’t want us to risk messing up the operation just for that satisfaction.

“You said there are three of them now?  Are they Karate-kids too?”

“We don’t know that yet, but Big Pip said the girl ran halfway up a wall, and The Grip swore he shot both of the guys point blank. You know he doesn’t miss.  He said the bullet just bounced off one guy and the other guy dodged a bullet — literally — before they both  jumped on top of the roof.

“The bullet bounced off…?” Rita asked.

“Bounced off,” Cut replied.

“Dude dodged…” Rita demonstrated “…a bullet?”

“Dodged it,” Cut replied with a grin.

“Jumped from the ground… to the roof of a building?” Rita asked.

“From the ground to the roof of a building,” Cut replied.

“What the #$$*(! is that?” Rita yelled, and pushed back from the table.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think The Grip was smokin’ some serious *product*,” Cut said.

“Right?!” Rita replied. “What is going on!  Every time I hear about this boy ‘JET’, something CRAZY is going on.

“Talkin’ ’bout ‘serious product’, what’s the Chemist say about our *new* product?”

Cut explained, “Animal trials are underway with promising effects. Mice on the product experience complete relaxation while remaining conscious. When I say complete relaxation, I mean they sit down, then lay down on their side and their breathing is slow and steady. The problem is it only lasts about five minutes, after which they run around the cage like they’ve lost their minds before falling asleep for three hours.”

“Is that what he was going for?!” asked Rita.

Cut said, “He calls it ‘Solace’ because it produces a sense of soothing calm.”

“Until they go bat-$^*# crazy,” Rita quipped.

“So far — pretty much. He thinks its a matter of balance, tweaking the dosage, delivery, and a combination drug —  said we could try adding it to pot to be smoked. He plans to try that with rats today.”

“Alright, what about the NDX operations.  All three sectors doing well?” Rita asked.

Cut answered, “They were gearing up well until The Grip got arrested. He’ll probably get off with a slap on the wrist then get back in there.”

“Let’s make sure that he does. I’m going to have a talk with this JET boy,” mused Rita.

“Didn’t you just say…” began Cut.

“Just a talk… I doubt he’ll recognize me without my riding suit. I’ll be cool,” Rita said as she looked at the CCTV footage of JET’s front yard.