Hot Fudge

By LH Haggerty

Follow the vision and aspirations of five friends whom invested, challenged and conquered against the Conglomerate Wolves of finance. Gathering combined wealth Nationally and Internationally. Wealth and security beyond their dreams until the heart wrenching death of a loving friend and founder arises with the attention of a Global Conglomerate whose tentacles of corruption and razor edged death can erase all boundaries to elicit complicity by those whom are seated in the highest Sanctums of Boardrooms and the Wings of Justice around the Globe. Headed by a Family whose lineage goes back over a thousand years. They will destroy all those who would stand against them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: LH Haggerty
• Release date: May 17, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005297282

LH Haggerty

How many times have you brought a Book, read a Book and no nothing about the Author...She or He is a great read adynamic writer...I believe a book has its opportunity to mean more to the reader than just a story. A great experience in reading is to feel that in some moments within the story the Author has a real grasp, a period in time in which She or He has experienced what you hold in your hands...I grew up in a middle class neighborhood until my parents painful break up. Afterwards I moved into the 'Hood' of South Central LA. Good, Bad it shaped me it was a time when choices were thrusted upon me then where short roads in any direction existed. I enjoy writing greatly. Comic Books taught me to read, write and appreciate the written language and to escape. When you read what I have written you will get a sense of it's realness... none of the Books from me to you are pasted lines they have a depth of realness which cannot be invented...I Graduated from 'The University of Kansas with a degree in Psychology. I am a mature gentleman in age, a Grandfather. I am submitting 'Screenplays'(At the moment) and I am starting on my sixth book which will end? the three (3) Book series of 'Hot Fudge' 'Dark Rendezvous' 'In the Noon Day Sun'. It is my pleasure to bring excitement, pain, pleasure, a great experience into your moments no matter where you are.

Book preview

Hot Fudge

By

LH Haggerty

Copyright© 2021 by LH Haggerty

All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, by any means (electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the author.

Table of Contents

Hot Fudge

Present/Charles

Tasha and Charles

Past/

Then/

Chicago

Lori/The Past

Los Angeles

Jenete` Enterprises/The Present

Chicago

Phil Sr./The Past

Los Angeles

Consella/The Past

Las Vegas/Charlie/Phil

Past/

Los Angeles/Charles/Fudge

Then/

Los Angeles/Lonely Girl

Present/Special Agent Sheila Lane aka Lonely Girl

Las Vegas/Jade

Los Angeles/Lonely Girl

Las Vegas/Jade/Charlie

Barstow/Tasha & Sandy

Los Angeles/Charles & Fudge

Las Vegas/Big Nate

Los Angeles/Phil & Jade

Las Vegas/Consella

Los Angeles/Tasha

Las Vegas/Charlie

Los Angeles/Charles

Las Vegas/Charlie

Los Angeles/Charlie and the Gang

Las Vegas/Lonely Girl

Los Angeles/Invitations

Las Vegas/Lone Girl & Charlie

Lake Tahoe/Don Giacomo

Los Angeles/Nicky & Sandy

Las Vegas/ The Menu

Los Angeles/Hot Fudge

Las Vegas/A Dish Served Cold

Los Angeles/Sandy

Las Vegas/Dessert

Family Reunion

Los Angeles/Eulogy

Epilogue

HOT SUNDAE BOOK II

Palms Springs/ Sandy

Prelude

Los Angeles/Charles and Fudge

France/Nicky

Chicago/Jade

China/Another Flight

Los Angeles/Charlie, Sal, and Nicky

Topanga Canyon/Jade

Las Vegas/Testa Estate

Palms Springs/Jacque

Las Vegas/Another Door

Topanga Canyon/A View

Interlude

Las Vegas/Testa Estate

Chicago/Chow Lei

Palm Springs/Sandy

Chow Lei/Rendezvous

A Hot Sundae

Testa Estate/Sundae Evening

Palms Springs/

Las Vegas/

Palms Springs/Jade

Epilogue

A special preview of LH HAGGERTY’S - DARK RENDEZVOUS BOOK III

Yen and Yang Li/Los Angeles, Metropolitan Detention Center/

Sal

Enjoy the rocky, on edge beginning which turns quickly to a dramatic experience of heart wrenching sorrow. An unfathomable murder which weaves the hearts of each individual character into a bond for survival and retribution. Shattering their life’s as leaves in a windblown storm…The pieces left over as embers will reignite to burn a path to heights never imagined…

Present/Charles

Sweat clung and drenched his jogging outfit by the time he reached the front door of the House. The sweet relaxing sound of a jazz rendition by Freddie Hubbard washed away the residue of tension when he entered the door after the five-mile run through the Neighborhood streets.

Sitting on the sofa to take a breather before hitting the shower. He happened to glance up at the eight by ten white ceramic scroll the old man had sent him some three years ago saying, ‘The key to success is not what you know. Success comes with who you know’. It was just like him to send a quote like that. It triggered thoughts of the coming visit with him at Soledad State Prison.

His brief reverie became blanketed by a towel thrown to cover his head and face. Pulling the towel down he is greeted by the sight of Pat standing with one shoulder against the dining room’s door. Wearing a humorous grin across her pretty Spanish face, and black bikini underwear completed the only stitch of clothing to grace her statuette body.

You okay, Carlito? Pat asked with a note of concern edging her voice, and using the Spanish equivalent of his name, Charles.

Si mi Amiga…Si. He replied and wrapped the towel about his neck.

Nicky, called while you were out jogging. She said that everything is straight and that she even sold the briefcase. Whatever that means?

He didn’t miss the look of curiosity across her face. When she saw that no explanation is about to enlighten her inquisitive mind. She pouted her lips to display her displeasure in being left out of something. Those black lined lips over a burgundy gloss brought not only a smile to his morning, but a vivid reminder of the Vixen in one of the old Batman movies whom had lips which when kissed would kill her unsuspecting victims.

When did she say she’d be returning? He asked while threading his way from the sofa to the Entertainment Center to change the CD.

Nicky, said the New York office has a few problems there. That it would probably take a day or two to straighten out. Said she’ll be back in L.A. maybe day after tomorrow. Pat went to lie across the sofa he’d just vacated.

Val, still asleep? He asked.

Like a big fat baby. Pat said after a small chuckle.

Pat and Val had stayed overnight in one of the spare bedrooms after leaving the services held at the Wilshire Apartment. He had spent the night there to more of less get away from…things. To sort out the past and its answers. He edged toward his room for a hot shower. On the way he asked Pat whether those lips of death are going to be ready in time to take him over to the Apartment. The only answer he received is a pillow from the Sofa hitting the back of his head when he opened his bedroom door.

He headed to Jenete` (Jin-nay) Enterprises which is located on the fifteenth floor of an exclusive high-rise Apartment in the Wilshire District. It is one of two Apartments the Agency owned and operated its business. The other Apartment is in New York where Nicky is at this morning.

Their Company did and didn’t have contact with its Clientele. It didn’t…in that there is no physical contact. You could not come to the Offices in L.A. or New York and ask to see a brochure or view any of the merchandise as though it existed on the premises and readily available. Although availability is a Quid pro quo in a competitive sense when existing in a market with plenty of …contact after a contract is finalized!

All connections are made through another Agency download. Then a screening of all prospective customer’s financial information and background are verified. This would allow you to become a privileged Client of guaranteed services from Jenete` Enterprises and Talent Agency. Located only on the Internet as a high-class Escort Service unparalleled and second to none with revenues of two-million annually. An idea of Tasha’s who once told him that we could do everything at home with low cost, privacy, and big returns.

He took the stairs two at a time up to the front lobby of the Apartment after giving instructions to Pat about picking up Brandy in Palms Springs, and not to drive reckless in his s550 Mercedes. Of course, her answer to his concerns are expressed by a screeching of rubber from his car’s tires when she catapulted from the curb.

Catching the elevator up to the fifteenth floor. He opened the door to a spacious living room containing only four white caned bar stools located at the kitchens breakfast counter. The only other articles in the living room were four copies of Vermeer originals hanging at various places on the walls. A beautifully crafted and patterned Oriental rug measuring about thirty square feet as the center piece of the room.

Turning right towards the two bedrooms in which one is decorated in burgundy and the other in white. Both rooms featured king sized brass beds and a sixty-five inch flat screen television. He continued pass the two bedrooms to the end of the hall where he entered a small office which held a Tiger wood desk, three five-foot-high Fire King file Cabinets and the latest in Computer hardware and software. In one of the rooms there is a Pinarello 11 speed Bike with a small white basket resting in the front of its handlebars. What he had come to pick up is inside of the basket. A small Vase with two long stemmed red Roses. The same Roses he would place on Tasha’s Grave later this morning.

Picking the Roses up he thought about what Lonely Girl, had said to him earlier this morning about Tasha’s ability to touch people …deeply. She had been as a chip tossed into a river whose rippling effect had swept into the seas of our hearts. His heart paced along with the echoing footsteps through the garage and to her white 1953 Chevrolet Corvette where he placed the two red Roses carefully on the seat next to him. He headed out for the long drive to Forrest Lawn Cemetery with thoughts drifting as tendrils of smoke. Reminding him of how Tasha, in life and love had one day as that chip which Lonely Girl had described. Floated above water and in time had come to sink to a murky and unmerciful death…

Tasha and Charles

Past/

The sprinkling of the Sun’s rays dipping in and out of the campus trees propelled his body in the direction of the shaded grounds. Students flocked the grounds in various places on the campus similar to a sea of abundant life back dropped in green grass. The old man’s ideal of going to College was right as always, and he’ll have to go see him this weekend and bring Jenete`. She is the only woman that could get her way with him, but Grandkids can do that.

His thoughts are interrupted by a tap on his shoulder. Turning around he’d expected to be face-to-face with an admirer. Instead, he got Phil Tertle, known as Fudge. They grew up together in L.A. and had attended Hollywood High together. The white kids in school had called him Fudge because he hung out with the black guys sort of like a white Oreo. The last guy to call him that to his face took a short jab to his chin that broke his jaw. After that no one called him Fudge to his face except him.

Fudge’s Mother raised him after his Mother’s death. She is a beautiful lady whom he calls Mama Connie. Fudge is a handsome guy in a ruddy sort of way. With the chiseled features that reminded you of the many young Italian actors gracing the movie screens. The cut over his left eye added a dimension of curiosity. Which he says he got in a fight with some Hispanics. Without a doubt his Dad gave it to him.

He is wearing his Friday casuals of black lamb slacks, a short sleeved black silk shirt with a rounded collar and black lizard shoes and no socks. Fudge is wearing a white Perry Ellis jogging outfit with a white sling shot and a stylish pair of Stacy Adams tennis shoes.

Ain’t you hot with that black getup on Main Man? Fudge asked. Inquisitive as always.

Strolling casually through the campus lawns and heading towards Jefferson Boulevard while waiting for a break in traffic and their daily jay-walking exercise. He replied with great fanfare. Yours is to reason why, and not to know.

We cut a dashing duel on the Campus of U.S.C. Both of us had athletic builds on six feet two-inch frames we are natural objects of collection in an environment of higher learning from the opposite sex. Dodging a couple of close encounters with car bumpers we found our way through the Jefferson intersection to a small selection of eateries across from the campus.

Why you got to dis me and hurt my feelings, Mon? Fudge started. We always started our conversations by teasing one another.

You do realize that we are in the proximity of a Campus of higher learning…so the phrase dis is neither appropriate grammatically nor will it be entertained with a response…chapize. Real sharp today Fudge didn’t stand a chance.

Smiling and shaking his head back and forth he went on to explain that he and Melissa are considering marriage. Melissa is a nice Puerto Rican girl who has had his nose wide open for the past year and a half. A very domineering lady who not only selected his clothing but also had a bud habit that would be considered felonious for even Rasta’s. He bit down on a couple of responses and selected on wishing him luck and accepted the responsibility as best man with a pound of bud as a wedding gift which brought them to tears of laughter.

At the fast food spot, the ordered ended up as the usual greasy affair and finding a seat by the window we started in on plans for his wedding. After a while Fudge shared his feelings.

I know you don’t really approve of Melissa. It’s all good… I got only one friend in this world and that’s you. Fudge paused. Through good and bad we been there for one another.

Fudge knew how to touch you. He is always sincere in his feelings and that is one of the things that you can admire about him. He is real with it and a reply is in order but he cut Charles off with the name, Silver.

At the mentioning of her name everything faded to envision a framed beauty with a caption under it that read Beauty Untold. Silver, is an exotic combination of Sri Lanka and Asian on a five-foot eleven-inch frame of one-hundred and forty-five pounds and molded with a body made by Fischer. She wore long lustrous black curled hair and she always wore silver earrings and silver bracelets on one wrist. If she asked the Campus hounds to get on the ground and bark. There would be a crescendo of bow-wows heard throughout the Campus. But no one has been able to get five minutes with her.

Coming out of a haze he caught Fudge saying. Charles, the lady has eyes for you. I caught her peeking you at the Student Lounge last week. You know she has a room here on Campus.

Every student knew that, but other thoughts started to juggle through the mind. He is starting to consider a prearranged meeting with the lady. That is with the help of his faithful friend Fudge. Who just happen to be in the same Business class with the lovely Lady. So, leaning over the table and giving Fudge his best puppy dog look. He went on to explain the highlights of his innocent and devised encounter with Silver. He suggested that Fudge should approach her with small talk about their class assignments. How difficult it’s been for him to keep up… and maybe she might agree to meet him in the Student Lounge to aid him in his studies.

All of this is met with negative shakes of the head by Fudge along with pleads of what Melissa would do if she found out that he was within ten feet of Silver. Finally, friendship won the day along with the deal that he would pay for lunch all next month. We decided to meet up in the Lounge tomorrow at lunch where he would make an entrance. Little did he realize that this little plot of theirs would thread them into a series of events which would wind them down a road of irresistible passion and unforgettable tragedy.

The Student Lounge is always filled with the quiet hustle and bustle of Campus Students and activities. All types of Campus Alumni are seen here. From the hulking jocks to small shouldered up and coming stars of NASA. Here only outward appearances are distinctive but inwardly in every person present. There existed a need for knowledge and answers to life’s unknowns.

Looking across the lounge his attention is caught as that of the innocent fly in the ointment of desire as Silver descended the few steps to the floor of the Lounge. Where she entered the imagination of every man present that afternoon. She wore faded wash jeans which looked as though they are painted on. They outlined and highlighted every curve of her sculpted body. High heeled sandals along with the sky-blue V-neck sweater completed a vision which the eyes drank in insatiably. Haley’s comet had hit the Lounge and it is heading directly for his table.

He stood just as she reached his table where she displayed a genuine smile of warmth and said. I’m Tasha, can we share this table together, Charles? Neither had the mentioning of his name without introductions had not gone unnoticed nor the sweet fragrance of strawberries tingling the senses.

Please…have a seat, Tasha. He replied as though they are friends from long ago.

Seating himself across from her he had a moment to not only savor the sweet scent of strawberries but also look closely at a woman whose beauty defies a meaningful description. Her jaw line is delicate yet strong at the softly rounded point of her chin. Her hazel eyes sparkled as they looked intently into his. All of this framed within a mane of curly soft black hair cascading down below her shoulders. His moment of fascination with this beauty is broken by her soft voice.

You know the game doesn’t start until all the players are on the field. Are you a fan or a player?

Leaning back in his chair with a smile on his lips he added. Being a fan does have its benefits. Like the fact of having a front row seat.

But a player has an opportunity to get a real feel of the game. Tasha responded quickly.

A fan would have a chance to catch a fly ball occasionally. He countered.

A fan would never get the chance to score at home as real players do. Tasha replied. A small smile across her full lips.

Getting home does not win the game always. It’s how you play that counts. He reached over to entwine his fingers within hers. She tilted her head back in laughter. She looked at him with those hazel eyes which pierced your thoughts. Tasha said quietly.

You know, Charles…you could of come yourself…instead of sending your friend, Phil.

Releasing her hand Tasha reached into a small silver purse and extracted a brand new hundred-dollar bill and black Gel Pen. He watched as she wrote in a flowing hand her phone number and address on the front of the bill. She then laid the bill on the table between them and said while looking at him intently.

It’s what makes the world go around.

He reached down on the table and placed the hundred between both of his thumbs and forefingers and slowly tore the bill in half while he looked deeply into those beautiful hazel eyes of hers. What makes you laugh and cry, Tasha?

Tasha’s smile radiated a kind of glow that stilled the heart by its warmth and passion. But for a brief heartbeat her eyes shadowed with a past of long ago pains and remembered loves. As she stood to leave, she reached down with one hand and lightly brushed a finger across his face.

Tomorrow night…we’ll have dinner.

Then/

…Jenete’ and I are on our way back from visiting the Old Man at Soledad Prison. Jenete’ is growing up quickly and showing signs of early womanhood. The Old Man loved seeing her. Jenete’ reminded him of Delores, his wife. We both called her Dee, she had been the only woman Dad truly loved. Her death had left a big void in his life but that great space in his heart for moms had been filled by Jenete’. Moms had died of cancer, a slow death which neither one of us had suspected she suffered from until the day death knocked that final time at our door.

She had been a warm, quiet, and strong-willed woman while the Old Man had a tongue of honey and he never raised his voice to no one. He was always a gentleman and he kept his activities away from home. Dee would have it no other way. Jenete’ is like Dee in that she is very poised, and she would talk at you and not about you. She minded her own affairs and shaped up to be a straightforward person. The Old Man had a deep admiration and respect for her.

Hank De`Hote pronounced (De’Hot), my Dad is an intelligent man who never put any twist in the affairs he is in. He said that he honored the next man’s values and principles and hoped that the other would do the same. If this tenet did not exist in any form of a relationship, then respect for one another neither had its place nor could it exist. He also told me to tell people your likes and dislikes at the beginning of any kind of a relationship. It’s your prerogative to do so, and it will keep misunderstandings to at least a minimum, especially with women.

He had gotten caught up in a check cashing scam which was not of his making. The Parole Officer and three Deputy Sheriffs picked him up one night at our home and took me to a Juvenile Center where moms came to pick me up later that same night.

He knew through his own sources on the street who the people are. It was ironic that he had performed what seemed legitimate labor and had been paid with a check for services rendered but fate can be unkind. With his criminal history and background, he was found guilty of being in possession of a forged document.

If he would not have had a history of felony convictions, he would not have done a day in Jail. Nevertheless, association is a silent and unwritten code of legal ethics between the lines in the law books. It’s like an umbilical cord stretched between the Judge, District Attorney, Public Defender, and State Corrections in which you stand in the middle of the ring of Justice. Only to witness yourself and your rights go up in smoke with legal textbooks used to kindle the flames.

When moms died, she left us a $300,000 Insurance policy which allowed me to send the old man money every month and the two-bedroom Apartment we lived in is affordable. Jenete` had her own room there and one at her mother’s house. I have also modeled three or four times a week for the past four years. Things are good but not great. I guess the saying was true. ‘That you taste the bitter with the sweet’…

…Jenete` ate most of the food while he had a few fries and a small bowl of ice cream as they watched a video together till it is about time for him to smash out for his date with Tasha. He had decided to call his neighbor over, Nicky to watch Jenete` for him though she is perfectly able to take care of herself but leaving her alone…well.

Nicky came over in two minutes. She loved Jenete’ both gave each other a big hug when Nicky entered the Apartment. Nicky is Italian and a Blueprint Model that could grace the cover of any of the major Magazines. She had done a commercial once but loved ramp modeling instead. She had cut him into many modeling gigs and a few dates as well. She is a fine Chest Player and is teaching Jenete` the game. So, leaving the pair while they are bent over the Chest Board in an intense game. Slipping a look over his shoulder as he walked toward the front door and started to say his farewells when he is met with waving hands by the two ladies shooing him away like some stray cat. A couple feet away from the door he heard