“Freeze, you’re doing a great job running the organization, but I think Black made a big mistake leaving you in charge of this place. But this is where he wants you, so that’s that. Just try to understand this is Black’s baby. He worked very hard to make something of this place. He left you to run it for him. Not me, not Bobby; he left it to you to run for him, Freeze. So please, don’t disappoint him. He and I both expect you not to run it into the ground. Am I getting through to you?”

“Yeah, Wanda, damn. I understand what you’re sayin’,” Freeze said quietly. He didn’t like being punked like that by anybody, not even Wanda. But he knew she was right, so he didn’t push it.

“And isn’t that your buddy, the high-tech wannabe robber?”

“Yeah, what about him? He got a suit on, don’t he?”

“That’s not the point. What’s he doing in here, Freeze?”

“He came to give me my taste of the job he ran today.”

“Freeze, you can’t do business in here or Impressions or any other legitimate business we got. Meet them anywhere but here,” Wanda said as she started to walk away. “And Freeze, you need to start wearing a suit when you’re here.”

“Yes, Wanda.”

Wanda stopped and turned around. She walked back toward Freeze. “I heard that Nick was back in the city. Have you seen him?”

“No, why?”

“Just wondering why he hasn’t been around to see anybody,” Wanda answered.

“You know as well as I do, maybe even better than I do why Nick ain’t been around, Wanda,” Freeze said and sat back down at his table. “Don’t play dumb. You know Nick ain’t been around cause of that shit with him and Bobby.”

“Well, if you see or talk to him, tell him to call me,” Wanda requested.