QR Code Murders: Seventy Thousand Views

“I told you I didn’t care about the coke. I’m strictly homicide. Those alphabet boys play by different rules, though,” Kim explained to Tall K. He looked slimmer, more at ease in the jail. He had gained some weight even.

“I know, I know. Hey, how’s my shop holding up?” Tall K asked.

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. There’s a bit of a disconnect.”

“How so?”

“Your artists aren’t producing the same quality as you,” Kim suggested.

“Really? My guys? I taught them. They should know better,” he shook his head.

“We found another body with the QR ink and it looked smudged.”

“Oooh,” Tall K winced. “I won’t allow it. Whatever I gotta do to get through to them to do a quality job is my first order of business while I’m in here.”

“Kenton, you can’t just ‘run things from the inside.’ It doesn’t work like that anymore. You took a plea deal didn’t you?”

“Yes. I have to serve at least two years because of my past but that’s the cap because I told. I would’ve been looking at sixty years or more for those two kis.”

Kim blew a breath that lifted her ebony hair. “Look what you did was the right thing. It’s sad you’ve got to be locked down like this but you’ll be happy to know that you might be able to get out even sooner.”

Tall K brightened. “You mean, I could be outta here in months?”

“It’s possible but you’re going to have to do more than just tell.”

Tall K’s face turned into a question mark. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’re going to have to wear a wire––”

“Great.Can do.”

“Let me finish.”

Okay.”

“At your shop and during peak hours. There will be an arrangement, the executive producer of one of the rival rap groups will enter into the shop. You’ve got to get him to talk about the murders––”

“But that’s suicide!”

“Let me finish. We will be ready to burst in at any time. Your code word is Blue Hen if things get dicey.”

Tall K looked at his wrists. The lines from the cuffs still marred them. He looked at the glass surrounding this visiting area. He looked into Kim’s eyes.

“If I do this, I have to be sure that there won’t need to be a reason for anybody to burst into the place.”

“We’ll do everything we can to ensure your safety. You can count on me for that. There’s no sense in just throwing to the viper’s pit and you not being protected by gear. We’re going to be the firewall against any attack against your person or your family and friends. Plus, you will be compensated.”

“How much?”

“Twenty thousand dollars.”

“That’s how much I was going to make for one of the kis.”

“You can take the deal or leave it.”

“Alright, alright. My arm’s sore already. You don’t have to keep twisting.”

Kim grinned. “I’ll get back to you on the specific details. You will be fine though. Just take the necessary precautions while you're here.”

“I feel safe already,” Tall K retorted.

Yawquisha Hudlin uploaded the files onto the computer. Though it wasn’t the same as doing it via the air, she felt a certain satisfaction when the progress bar read one hundred percent. She reviewed her footage and was pleased with most of it. In the interviews, she appeared to be taller. That pleased her. Her red claws clasped the microphone in just the right way. She looked professional in her demeanor while still being relatable to her base.

Once the video uploaded, she felt empowered at the fact that in six minutes, she had already garnered seventy thousand views.