Heaven and Earth

by J. M. Benjamin

  “I know I just dropped some heavy shit on you, my G,” Monty said, bringing the man back to the present. His facial expression let Monty know he was in deep thought. “But it’s better to find out now than later, or never, and you’d be paying for it a different way. Chicks come and go, but you only got one life, ya dig?” Monty ended.

  The man did not particularly care for Monty but could not deny that he spoke the truth. In the game they both played, they knew you could not allow feelings and emotions to dictate their better judgment. Trust was one of the most important rules of the game, and the man lived by those sets of rules. He knew if he couldn’t trust someone or something, he had no problem walking away from or eliminating whatever it was, if need be. Distrust was a sign of betrayal in his book, and one of the penalties for that was death, but as the new information he was given played in his mind, he wondered if he had really been betrayed.

  “But, yo, I’ma ’bout to get up outta here, my dude,” Monty announced, breaking the man’s thoughts for a second time.

  The man nodded.

  “I hope everything works out for you with that, tho.” He then extended his hand. “And I know I don’t have to say this, but I’d appreciate it if you keep me and my people’s name up out of it,” Monty added as the two of them embraced.

  “You’re right, you don’t have to tell me that,” the man retorted, taking offense.

  “That’s what’s up.” Monty knew he had offended the man but could care less. His only concern was that he had accomplished what he set out to do. Both men were about to go their separate ways, each in their own thoughts, when they were stopped in their tracks by the sudden presence of another.

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  Heaven cruised down the block once upon a time known as Macy’s Boulevard. She couldn’t help but to reflect back remembering how the particular hood had gotten its street moniker. Back in the mid-eighties and early nineties, Macy’s was considered to be a place to shop for any and everything for those who had plenty of money and willing to spend it in order to frequent the legendary department store. Although there were different versions of how the area received its name, the story Heaven knew of was how old-school money getters such as Shalik, I. B., Wild Style, P-God, and some others, made sure, just like the department store, the notorious drug block had every product available for consumers. They saw to it that plenty of money was being spent for what they had for sale.

  Heaven cracked a short smile after her brief trip down memory lane. She wondered where the days had gone, when hating didn’t exist and there was enough money for everybody. The thought angered her because she knew at the end of the day, that was what all of what had transpired had been about, money, and now because of greed, Heaven knew the only way to put an end to the situation is by ending the life of the one behind it all: Monty. With that being her thought, she rode down the avenue. She noticed heads of hustlers spread throughout both sides of the street of Troop Avenue turning as she passed by Comstock and Hale Street. She recognized a few familiar faces that attempted to peer inside the whip she drove.

  As she continued down the block, she saw someone who she was sure would recognize her, squinting his eyes, as if he wore glasses, to get a better view into the stolen Aurora. Heaven slightly dropped her head as if she was focusing on the radio station while driving past him. As she made her way toward the corner of Handy Street, she was convinced that she had gone unnoticed by the guy she had known by the name of Life. Between the light-tinted windows, the NJ fitted that once belonged to Earth she sported low, and the move with the car’s radio, she was sure she had deceived him. He was one of the few money getters of the town and the only one from the block she drove down that she really dealt with, but right now, she was on a mission, and there was no room for error or mistakes, so she was glad he hadn’t noticed it was her.

  As she approached the intersection at the end of Feaster Park, Heaven waited for the ongoing traffic to pass. It was her intent to hook a left on Handy Street in search of the perfect parking spot until her mind was changed by what she saw to the right of her.

  Heaven did a quick scan of the area and noticed that aside from what she was witnessing, the park was nearly empty where Monty and the unidentified person were located. She knew it was either now or never, unaware of how long Monty had actually been at the park. She made the right onto Handy Street and slowly searched for a parking space. As fate would have it, a burgundy Sebring pulled out of a space and sped off. Heaven wasted no time occupying the spot a short distance from where Monty and the man stood. Had she gone up a few more car lengths, she may have recognized one of the parked vehicles and questioned its presence in the area.

  Heaven killed the engine of the Aurora and drew her weapons. She released both safety locks, then one by one, cocked them back, causing a bullet to lodge in each chamber of the twin sixteen shots. Before exiting the vehicle, she checked all mirrors and windows for stragglers in passing. Seeing that the coast was clear, she shoved her weapons back into their respective pockets of her down jacket and reached for the car door’s handle. Out of force of habit, when she reached the sidewalk, she did another quick scan of the area. So far so good, she thought as she headed in Monty’s direction.

  As she neared, her adrenaline heightened, and her heart rate increased. The moment of truth, she thought. She was sure after this she would be able to sleep better, the nightmares would end, and her friend could rest in peace. Heaven reached inside her down jacket to retrieve her weapons. She had every intention on making both Monty and whomever he was indulging in a conversation with lifeless. Leave no witnesses behind was Earth’s and her motto, and the rule applied now. Just as she was about to draw on them, Monty and the stranger gave departing handshakes and hugs, giving her first-time visual access to the second party. The sight of the unmistakable face over Monty’s shoulder nearly took Heaven’s breath away. She shook her head and did a double take, not wanting to believe what her eyes had just revealed to her. In an instant, her mind was overloaded with so many thoughts. Not knowing what to really make of what she saw, Heaven pulled out her two Glocks and beelined it over to the two intended dead men.

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  Monty was the first to see Heaven with the twin Glocks pointed in his direction. Instantly, he drew his .44 revolver despite her already having the drop on him. A surprised Chill drew his own .45 semiautomatic reflexively. At first, Chill had no idea of the identity of the person sporting the fitted and down jacket with weapons aimed at him and Monty. Upon the realization, despite the news just given to him, Chill lowered his gun, which he had locked on the NJ that sat atop of the fitted Heaven wore. Visual daggers were thrown in the triangle. Monty, Chill, and Heaven all stood stoned face. Each pair of eyes spoke volumes. In an instant, before any true clarity could be shed on the matter, the loud voice of a fourth party was the trigger that sent bullets flying. When the shots ceased and the park became silent, two people were left wounded while another lay where the individual once stood, fighting for dear life.

  Chapter Fifty

  The realization of what just transpired hours ago had yet to set in as Heaven sat in the bullpen waiting to be processed in the Middlesex County Adult Corrections in North Brunswick. Her bloodstained clothes began to stiffen as the cold air poured out the vents, attacking her from every angle like the arctic winds while she sat motionless on the hard steel bench, images of the incident flashed through her mind like those of a slide show while she watched them play-byplay. The first picture she saw was Monty and Chill together. It was that image that had sent her over the top and off the deep end. Betrayed would be the best word to describe how Heaven had felt at that moment after finding out Monty was behind the attack on her and Earth with the help of Le Le. Seeing these two men together left Heaven no other choice but to believe Chill was in on it. She cursed herself for not wanting to discuss the streets and know where Chill was really from in New Brunswick. It was evident to her that he was a part
of Monty’s camp the way the two were shaking hands and exchanging hugs. Her first instinct was to draw her weapon and let the bullets fall where they may, but her feelings for Chill overpowered her decision. The fact of the matter was, she not only loved Chill but also was in love with him. Guilt overswept her at the time. Had the shoe been on the other foot, lover or not, Earth would not have hesitated gunning down all parties involved.

  The picture in Heaven’s mind changed to the standoff between her, Monty, and Chill in Feaster Park. Four weapons were now drawn, one in Monty’s hand, another in Chill’s, and two in Heaven’s. Both Monty’s and Chill’s weapons were drawn on Heaven. Heaven noticed Chill lowered his, recognizing her, while Monty’s weapon stayed locked on her. The smirk on Monty’s face and dazed look on Chill’s confused Heaven, but his words put things back into perspective. The words, “That was you who shot up Remsen,” rang loudly in Heaven’s ears. He stated it rather than ask, thought Heaven, remembering his tone and facial expression. For the first time, she remembered why Chill had looked so familiar, and the first time she’d actually seen him. The image of him shooting at them the day they gunned down his friend Twan as they scurried up the block in the stolen Cherokee appeared in her mind. Heaven knew she’d never forget the love Chill once had in his eyes whenever he looked at her—that now was replaced with pain and anger when she didn’t respond.

  Heaven’s own eyes transformed from warm to glacier ice cold when she asked Chill if he had anything to do with the hit ordered on her and Earth, and he chose to stand there in silence. Had he answered, the outcome may have been different, she thought. Everything could have been different.

  Images of smoking guns appeared in Heaven’s mind. Everything seemed to be happening so fast, she thought, yet it all had unfolded like a slow motion scene in a movie. The word “Freeze!” was the word that changed lives forever. It was the word that acted as the starter pistol that sent runners off and running in a marathon race. The same word which caused the shots to ring out.

  The sound of gunplay echoed in Heaven’s head in surround sound. Bullets spiraled and whizzed in the air at what seemed to be one mile per hour, lodging and ripping through any and everything, from trees, cars, to flesh. When the smoke was clear, Heaven sat cradling Chill, who had fallen from the impact of the first wild shot she had let off after being grazed by the one shot Monty let off that hit her. The other shot that plunged into him was from Monty’s gun that continued to fire in succession. Heaven let off three of her own in Monty’s direction as she saw him fleeing on foot. She was sure one of the three had hit him judging by the way she saw him holding his left arm as he vanished up the block. The tears of anger that began to form in her eyes made it difficult to see which way Monty had gone once he made it up Troop Avenue. But her mind was not focused on Monty as she raced to Chill’s side. The final words he spoke before taking his last breath pierced Heaven’s heart like thorns. “I didn’t have anything to do with that,” he uttered hoarsely. Heaven knew he was referring to the hit on her and Earth. She encouraged him not to speak with tear-filled eyes, but her request was disregarded. “I love you,” were the words Heaven could never forget that Chill managed to say right before his eyes froze and his soul exited his body. His words had her in such a daze that she never noticed Detective Saleski standing over her, calling her name and ordering her to drop her weapon.

  “Jacobs.” Heaven finally heard her last name being called. The sound of the Middlesex County female correctional officer calling her name brought her back to the present. Unbeknownst to her, it was the third time she’d called her. Heaven stood up and made her way out of the bullpen. It had been many years since she’d been in the county jail, but although things seemed different, she knew the process was all the same.

  “Don’t I know you?” the brown-skinned female officer whose name tag read Brown asked as Heaven approached the desk.

  Heaven shrugged her shoulders. She knew who the officer was. She was actually one of the ones who had treated her and the other female inmates fair, but she was not in the mood for a reunion, especially not this one.

  “You’ve been her before?” Officer Brown asked, disregarding Heaven’s nonchalant attitude. Being in corrections as long as she had, she understood. It always saddened her to see women, black women at that, come, go, and come back into the place she worked, especially those who were mothers. It was bad enough, thought Officer Brown, that the facility was overpopulated with black men who were fathers. She always thought about the impact having an incarcerated parent had on a child. She often questioned if both parents were locked-up, then who was on the outside raising the youth? Officer Brown credited incarceration as being one of the main contributors to the demise of the young people and destruction of families. Which is why every chance she got, she preached and tried to educate and encourage as many men and women as she could to stay out once they got out. She was sure Heaven was one of the ones she had tried to reach in the past.

  “When’s the last time you been here?” she then asked, convinced that she had been.

  Judging by Heaven’s appearance, Officer Brown could see that she was no heroin or crack addict, but possibly a dealer or some dealer’s girlfriend.

  She had seen enough cases throughout the years come through to just about determine an individual’s story. She had heard them all. She noticed the burgundy stains on Heaven’s clothing for the first time. It was dried-up blood. She hadn’t bothered to look at what Heaven had been arrested for, but after seeing the blood, thought she may have been in for stabbing or even shooting an abusive lover. For some reason, at that moment, Officer Brown sympathized with Heaven. Had she known the truth, she would feel differently.

  “2000,” Heaven answered as she followed Officer Brown to the corner of the room.

  “You’ve been out for a long time,” Officer Brown said. Normally, many didn’t last nearly nine months, let alone years. She was now intrigued about why Heaven was there.

  “What happened?” she wanted to know.

  “Shit happened,” Heaven replied dryly.

  That was all Officer Brown needed to hear. She could take a hint. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to tell her that Heaven did not want to talk about whatever landed her in the position she was now faced with. She immediately disengaged in prying but made a mental note to check her booking sheet to see why she was there.

  “I understand,” Officer Brown retorted. “Stand over there so I can take your picture,” she then instructed. “You’re not new to this. The quicker we get this over with and get you changed over, the quicker we can get you down to medical and on the unit, okay?”

  Heaven did not reply. Instead, she just went through the motions as the officer took her mug shot, asked a bunch of personal and medical questions, fingerprinted her, and strip-searched her. Officer Brown then replaced her bloodstained clothes with a green tee and pants. The officer handed her a pair of flip-flops and a bedroll. Afterward, she attached a wristband around Heaven’s left wrist with her photo, name, and inmate number printed on it before she escorted her down to the medical unit.

  After what seemed like hours in the medical unit, Heaven was escorted to the female unit along with a young, slender, Caucasian girl. The clock read 11:43 p.m. Heaven could tell the young white girl was a heroin user. Her pale white skin, sore-infested forearms, and occasional nod while they sat in medical were a dead giveaway, not to mention the back-to-back vomiting and shakes. Officer Brown studied Heaven as they walked down the corridor. She couldn’t believe this was the same female who had been charged with murder and attempted murder according to Intake. Furthermore, she couldn’t believe this was the same female whose name she had heard so many times from many of the female inmates about being one of the biggest female kingpins in Middlesex County and one of the biggest drug dealers in New Brunswick. She shook her head in pity realizing how looks could be deceiving. The officer in the booth buzzed the door as they arrived in front of the female unit known as
the Fox Trap.

  “Name?” the officer whose name tag read Hankerson, asked, looking up from the clipboard.

  “Jacobs,” Heaven replied.

  “Let me see your wristband,” Officer Hankerson then said.

  She jotted down the information from the wristband as Heaven held her wrist up in the air.

  “Okay, first cell right there,” she pointed. “Name?” she asked the white girl.

  When Heaven stepped inside the cell, she couldn’t help but sigh at the sight. Both of the bunk beds were occupied with bodies. Sleepy eyes peered up at her from the bottom bunk; then the inmate rolled back over and tossed the cover over her head.

  Heaven set her bedroll on the desk. She then kneeled down and pulled the boat-shaped plastic bed from underneath the bunk. The top bunk occupant now turned over aggressively, agitated by having her beauty rest being disturbed by the sound of the sliding of the bed boat underneath the bottom bunk. Heaven paid her no mind. If she knew what was best for her, she’d turn back over, thought Heaven. As if she’d read her mind, the girl on the top bunk sucked her teeth and put her back toward Heaven.

  Heaven tied one of the sheets onto the flattened mattress and lay down. She put her hands behind her head and stared up at the ceiling, eyes wide open. So many thoughts invaded her mind. She couldn’t believe this was what it had come down to. She knew based on the type of life she lived that prison and even death were some of the possible outcomes if she ever got caught slipping, but didn’t think either would be her final fate. There was no doubt in her mind that the charges she was in for were enough to make prison her permanent place of residency, or at least for the next twenty to thirty years. At that moment, she wished her life had ended the day her partner Earth’s had. Although she would never kill herself, her thoughts made it difficult for her to fall asleep.