PRL Serials

Previously on Old Man Young and the Bronx Avenger

The father of Yuri James, a man named Anatoly, worked as a janitor at a bus station in Knoxville, TN before his mysterious disappearance in his forties. No remains of the man were ever found and he seemed to have blinked out of existence. Anatoly had immigrated from Russia in search of American fortunes he learned could be obtained through nefarious means as seen in movies like Scarface and The Godfather. He was aware of the dangers associated with the lifestyle portrayed in those movies, but as a poor immigrant to America who lacked the patience to obtain wealth through slow and hard work that would only allow him to give more to the children he was sure to have while he toiled everyday at backbreaking labor, Anatoly was eager for effective shortcuts. So he scraped up the money to make it to America and he never looked back. He settled in TN by accident; he missed a bus connection while en route to Miami, FL from New York, NY and had no money to purchase a ticket to continue his planned journey. So he found work at the bus station and soon found connections in the drug business that eventually introduced him to Yuri’s mother, and was most likely the reason that he disappeared without a trace.

Yuri was always intrigued by his father, but all his mother really knew of the man was that he was Russian and living in the US illegally, and he had ties to scary men that she did not bother to ask about. Yuri would eventually do detective work on his own to uncover the story of Anatoly and had to look no further than his uncle, the man called Fire by everyone who feared and/or respected him as the conduit through which all illicit drugs made their way into the southeastern US. 

“Forget that man,” Fire told Yuri when he was still a quiet teenager deciding where his future would take him. “Thank him for that good head of hair you got, that’s all he ever gave you. I took care of my sister, and you, since the day you was born. I tried to help that Russian piece‘a shit but he got caught up doing the shit he was supposed to be selling. If you only remember one thing I tell you, I want you to remember this; just because we was born here, just because we live here, don’t mean we ain’t no better than the trash out here in these streets. I don’t ever feel bad about slangin’ shit to these sad motherfuckas cause they gonna find that shit even if I ain’t here. You know what I decided? I decided to turn they weakness into my strength, I’mma take what they give and put it all together until I’m the most powerful man in America. Don’t ever let nobody tell you who you is. Can’t no man tell you that but you. And just cause a nigga come around talking with a accent, don’t make him no better than nobody else. Your mama fell for that shit with your daddy, thought he was special, but that nigga was just a dope fiend like the rest of these sad motherfuckas out here. He wasn’t ever gonna be shit because he wasn’t strong enough. It’s sad he had to come all the way over here to figure it out. I guess they ain’t got good dope in Russia.”

Yuri internalized the harsh words from his uncle, though he embraced the difference inherited from his father to attract girls who thought his light skin handsome. But he would follow the example of his uncle to become more of a man than his father had been able to become.

This week, in TN:

Yuri James is perceived to be a nice guy to most of the people he interacts with. He doesn’t have be Kingpin Yuri in most of his daily interactions, he can just be a normal guy. When he took his girlfriend, Cheryl, on a weekend getaway to the mountains, he was nice to everyone he talked to; he didn’t have to pistol whip anyone to maintain his respect, his money clip was substantial enough. Everyone called him sir as he checked into his hotel and at the restaurant where he spent more for a bottle of wine than he’d spent on the shoes he gifted Cheryl before whisking her away to the mountains. It was shaping up to be a nice evening.

And now, just as he and Cheryl are settling into a nice movie that neither of them intend to watch because they are more interested in making use of the king sized bed, the cops show up to interrupt them. There is pounding on the door and Yuri knows who it is before the yell; “KPD, open up!” He sighs and apologizes to Cheryl who looks frustrated and leaves the bed to put on clothes. When Yuri opens the door of the room, he expects to see Detective Young and he is honestly disappointed that he doesn’t know any of the officers who push their way in and handcuff him.

“They sending the B squad for Yuri? That’s a insult.” Yuri says.

“We got a warrant for your arrest. You’re wanted for questioning in connection with a murder.” The officer says evenly as he leads Yuri out in cuffs.

“Yea, yea. Cheryl, take the weekend, babe. I’m sorry about this, but everything is paid for. I’ll call you when all this mess is done.” Yuri is nonchalant, hiding his disappointment that he won’t be able to enjoy Cheryl’s fit body that looks amazing in the dim lights of the hotel room. 

After hours driving, Yuri smiles at Detective Paul Young in an interrogation room at the KPD station. Yuri had no idea about the body that was found with IDs that had his name but the victim’s picture, he has been focused on cementing control of the drug syndicate in TN, NC, and SC; and he’s been taunting Detective Young. 

Now, in the interrogation room, Young questions him about the IDs and Yuri just laughs, “I bet you got excited when you thought it was me.”

“I don’t want you dead, son, dead is too permanent for you.” Young says smiling. “I want you to rot in jail like all the other boys whose life you ruin.”

Yuri rolls his eyes, “What kind of sense that make? An officer of the law should be all about rehabilitation, ain’t that what the system you serve supposed to stand for? But nah, it ain’t really about that is it? You stackin money just like me, using the same boys you claim you want justice for to fill up your retirement account. You are close to retirement right? Or is that just the stress making you look 75?”

“Just tell me what you know.”

Yuri shrugs, “Obviously I don’t know nothing about who killed that boy. Why would I leave my IDs on him? I ain’t stupid, or you ain’t figured that out by now?”

“For a smart man, you living your life in a dumb way.” 

“This how you get people to help you? Insult them.”

“Usually,” Young says, “and you’re gonna tell me something. Just cause I can’t arrest you for the stuff I know you’re doing but can’t prove, don’t mean I can’t hurt you in your wallet. Trust me son, I got the full resources of the KPD at my disposal and we’ll be on those boys on the corner tighter than a stocking if I say so.”

“I’ll tell you this, man, even though you should have already put it together by now, obviously somebody playing games, and they want us to be here now. They want you in here threatening me, slowing both of us down. The question you need an answer to is this, who got it out for the both of us.”

“So who is it smart man?”

“Could be anybody, I don’t know. My enemies could fill a cell block or two, yours too. But you the big shot detective right? Quit trying to make me do your work for you. Solve this shit before I catch a charge I ain’t have shit to do with.”

“That would be funny right? Considering all the things you get away with.”

“I ain’t laughing. You lettin me go right?” Yuri eyes his cuffs.

“Yea, you know the drill too. Don’t skip town.”

As an officer takes off Yuri’s handcuffs, he says, “You didn’t have to bring me all the way back here for that.”

“I had to talk to you face to face. That was a matter of diligence.”

“So who do you think did it? I bet you ain’t got no clue.”

And lastly, in the Empire state:

Lately, Sonny has been driving Corey’s car. It is an eighties model Lincoln town car that had belonged to Darker and Corey treated it like a beloved pet. He had only recently trusted Sonny to drive it, and there was no one else in the world worthy of the honor. Tonight, Sonny drives with a clear purpose. He is filled with anxiety, with anger as he drives close to the car in front of him on the busy street, hoping to push it to go faster. Occasionally he honks and curses and when he gets an opportunity to pass, or the car moves, he is rushing the new car in front of him.

Sonny is on a mission, looking for the man who put Corey in the hospital, and though Fire hadn’t fired shots himself, Sonny knew that it was his word that almost killed Corey. And Sonny wouldn’t rest until Fire was dead and buried.

It was a mission that would no doubt anger his boss, Darker, who had told Sonny to lay low while he handled the situation, but Sonny has revenge on his mind. And it takes him to a man who has answers, a man named Smoke who had a club on the lower east side of Manhattan. Smoke is an associate of Darker who deals primarily in prostitution, so Sonny has only ever met him on a few occasions, but he knows the man’s club and he finds it disgusting tonight when he finally makes it there. Not that he has an aversion to strip clubs, only, the levity of the main room, thick with the smell of musty bodies, feels inappropriate for his grave mission. 

He isn’t there long before he spots Smoke, who sees him and greets him enthusiastically. Smoke is a very dark man and in the dim light he is just teeth and eyeballs. When he is close to Sonny, all Sonny can smell is the cigar he had recently finished and it drowns out the smell of the room.

“Big man! Good to see you down this way. Sorry about your partner, shame when stuff like that go down.” Smoke yells over the noise in the room and Sonny doesn’t appreciate the sentiment. It’s hard to convey genuine sympathy while sensual music whips a room into a lustful frenzy. Smoke sees that Sonny is looking around the room begrudgingly and he flings an arm over his shoulder. “Come to the back, let’s talk.”

Sonny is surprised by the back office that is befitting of a political official with the big mahogany desk and nice leather furniture. Smoke pours drinks and Sonny drinks his in one gulp, then slams the glass on the desk.

“Tell me where I can find Fire.” Sonny isn’t interested in wasting time.

Smoke smiles weakly, “I know you upset big man, but I’m sure the boss told you to let him handle it. You don’t need to get all upset and go get yourself hurt. Let Dark do what he do.”

“I know what Dark said. I’m asking you for information, that’s all. He ain’t even gotta know.”

“Why would I go behind the boss’s back and put another one of his boys in harm’s way? You think he want you laid up next to Corey? ‘Cause it could happen if you run off by yourself trying to get revenge.”  

Sonny inches forward on his seat. “I think you want Fire dead just as bad as I do,” Sonny says. “A business man like yourself can’t forgive a man who steal from him and kill his product.” The incident Sonny refers to occurred about a year prior in Baltimore, MD where Smoke had a brothel. The brothel had been robbed by men associated with Fire and five of his prostitutes were killed that day. Though Fire insisted that the men had gone rogue and denied responsibility, Smoke never believed him.

Smoke sits swirling the ice in his drink then says, “You really should be very careful out there big man. We play a dangerous game. Corey was lucky he survived; hell, from what I hear you lucky you didn’t catch a bullet that night yourself. But don’t think this is a movie or some shit like that. Fire is a dangerous man and he ain’t easy to get close to.”

Sonny stands and exhales, exasperated that it feels he has wasted his time talking to Smoke.

“You hot big man, I can see it. Don’t get yourself into something you can’t get out of.”

Sonny turns to leave, but before he opens the door, Smoke says, “If you really wanna find Fire, I’m sure you know somebody back home who can put you in touch with him. But don’t think anybody down south is gonna be friendly to you once they know you looking for him. Especially if they know who you work for.”

Sonny leaves the club, ready to return home to Winston Salem, NC.