Larceny

by Jason Poole

  Michelle: Objection, Your Honor. The prosecutor is badgering the witness.

  Judge: Overruled. She can answer the question.

  Keda: Well, yes, I love him for the fact that he’s an excellent father and he does for his child.

  Prosecutor: So, would you lie for the man you love?

  Michelle: Objection, Your Honor. Prosecution is leading the witness.

  Judge: Overruled. She can answer that.

  Keda: No, I wouldn’t lie. I wouldn’t lie for no one.

  Prosecutor: Ms. Jones, other than your testimony, do you have any proof that Mr. Price was with your son and you on the weekend of May 16th?

  Keda: Well, yes, I do. I have the stubs from the flight, and I also have a few pictures.

  Prosecutor: Well, Ms. Jones, I can see that the stubs are valid, but Mr. Price isn’t in any of these photos.

  Keda: He was the one taking them.

  Prosecutor: I see. Thank you. You may step down.

  Michelle: Your Honor, I’d like to ask at this time that her testimony be accepted.

  Judge: Well, I’m not going to accept it just yet. If the government can’t prove Mr. Price’s whereabouts, then I’ll consider it.

  Prosecutor: Your Honor, I’ll need a little more time.

  Judge: Look, Ms. White, I’m not going to be giving you all this time, but what I will do is adjourn the trial over the weekend, and you can pick back up on Monday.

  Jovan

  When I got back to the jail, I came out for recreation and went straight to the phone to call Keda. She was my gangsta, and she had come through like a soldier for me.

  When I first got arrested and Michelle came into the interrogation room, I whispered in her ear to call Keda and give her the alibi. Keda wasn’t even in Florida over the weekend. Her sister Carla took her sons to Disney World, and before they left, Carla took a few pictures of them.

  Damn, Keda was a soldier. She had lied for me and said I was the father of one of her sons. Even though I looked out for her son, I never thought she’d say I was his father. Keda did shit right, and for that I was going to bless her with something real nice when I got out.

  I dialed Keda’s number.

  Ring, Ring, Ring.

  “Hello,” Keda said.

  “You have a collect call from Jovan. If you wish to accept, dial five now,” the operator said.

  Keda pressed five and said, “Hello, Jovan.”

  “Hi, Keda,” I said.

  “Yeah, what up, boy? How’d I do?” she asked.

  “You did good. Thanks, baby. I’ll never forget that.”

  “That white lady was a bitch,” Keda said.

  “Yeah, I know. Now, look, don’t talk too much on this phone.”

  “Okay.”

  “This what I’ma do. I really, really appreciate what you did, and for that you will forever have my loyalty. You’re more real than some of these bitch-ass niggas out here.”

  “Jay, I fucked wit’ you. I know we ain’t together, but the shit you did for me and my sons, I’ll never forget, and for that, if I can do anything for you, I will.”

  “Okay, shorty, thanks again. Look, Keda, I’ma call my grandma. I want you to go over there. She’s gonna give you a gym bag.”

  “What’s in it?”

  “It’s a present for you.”

  “Okay, Jay.”

  As soon as I got off the phone with Keda, I called Grandma and told her to go upstairs and grab the gym bag, not the suitcases, and give it to Keda when she came by.

  “Okay, baby, when is she coming?” Grandma asked.

  “She should be ringing your doorbell anytime now.”

  After I got off the phone with Grandma, I called Sonya. “Hey, baby, what’s up?” I said to Sonya.

  “Nothing,” she said. For some reason, Sonya sounded upset.

  “What’s wrong Sonya?”

  “Ain’t nothing wrong with me,” Sonya said.

  “Damn, you sound like you mad with me ’bout something.”

  “Why? Am I supposed to be mad at you about something?”

  “Naw. Look, I see you got a bad attitude, so I’ll call you some other time.”

  “Oh, so now you don’t wanna talk to me no more. What, you gonna call one of your other bitches?”

  “Man, what you talking ’bout, Sonya?”

  “Nothing, Jovan. Nothing,”

  Sonya

  When I was in court today, everything was going good, until I saw that bitch get up on the stand and lie for Jovan. I didn’t care about her lying, but the fact that Jovan had a son and didn’t tell me fucked my head up. Now from her testimony I knew Jovan committed those murders. He wasn’t in Florida; he was at that party, and that night was the night we first made love. That was the night my soul took flight. If anybody remembered anything about that night, it would be me.

  Also, the next day Jovan was at the gym, or at least that was what he told me. He was probably somewhere laid up with that bitch Keda. But anyway, one thing I did know was he wasn’t in no damn Florida. He was at my house fucking my brains out.

  I didn’t care if Jovan was a killer or not. I knew he had things in the closet, but so did I. That’s not what I was mad about. I was mad because I was his fiancée and I told him I was down for whatever, and he still ain’t tell me he had a child.

  Jovan

  It was Saturday and visits were starting in twenty minutes. I doubted Sonya was coming, even though she hadn’t missed a visit yet. She was probably still mad I hadn’t called her since we last talked. Shit, she was trippin’ for nothing. I told her that it was a lot she’d have to deal with by being with me. If she was frustrated by the whole thing and couldn’t hold fast, then she could go ahead with her life. I needed a soldier, a gangsta who could weather the storm, who wouldn’t get mad at me ’cause I wasn’t home yet. This kinda shit took time.

  The C.O. came to my cell and said, “Price, you got a visit.”

  “Okay, thanks, C.O.”

  After I got myself together, the lieutenant escorted me to the visiting room. Sonya was sitting there, looking mad as hell, with her arms crossed. What the fuck was she trippin’ off of?

  As I entered the booth, Sonya still didn’t smile. I sat down and looked at her for a second. She still ain’t said nothin’. She was probably still mad I ain’t called her.

  “What the fuck is wrong with you? Why you looking so mean?” I asked her, picking up the phone to talk.

  “’Cause, Jovan,” she said.

  “’Cause what?”

  “Look, I told your ass I love you a million times! You act like you can’t hear me. I got on my knees in this fucking visiting room, cried my heart out to you and embarrassed myself. I asked you to marry me, and you still ain’t recognize. I done told you I was down regardless of anything, and you still ain’t realize, nigga, that I love you and will die for you,” she said, crying.

  At that moment, I was shocked by what she was saying, but nothing was making any sense.

  “Okay, Sonya, what are you getting at? And please make it plain so I’ll understand.”

  “Jovan, I was in the courtroom Friday.”

  Instantly I knew what she was mad at. “Sonya, I thought I told you not to come to court.”

  “Yeah, I know, but I couldn’t hold that back. Listen, Jovan, I’m not mad at the shit you did. I know you’re a good person, and whatever happened, happened for a reason. You gotta do what you gotta do, and the fact that you do it so well is even better.

  “I understand you don’t want me to know, and I won’t ask. That’s not the problem. I’m down with you on that part all the way to the bloody end, and will do whatever to protect you, and I mean whatever, but what fucks me up is that you got a fuckin’ kid!” she said, getting upset again.

  “Hold up, boo. See, that’s why I ain’t want you to come to court, ’cause I knew you would take it like this,” I said.

  “Well, Jovan, how else am I supposed to take it? You’re about to be my husba
nd.”

  “Look, Sonya, that’s not my son. It was part of the move. Look at you. You feel stupid, don’t you?” I said to her. Now I was getting upset.

  “Baby, I’m sorry, but I thought—” Sonya said, but I cut her off before she could finish her sentence.

  “Yeah, I know what you thought, but now you know everything, so where do we go from here Sonya?”

  “Jovan, baby, I’m still here. I ain’t going nowhere. We’re still gonna get married, have babies and all that, but now that I know about you, it’s time you know about me. We’ll both have something over each other’s heads, and forever we shall remain loyal to each other.”

  Sonya told me some shit that I would never believe even if I saw it. She told me how she killed her father for cheating on her mother, and that her little brother took the beef. She told me all about her past, and about the day we met in the courthouse. She was going to see her probation officer that day. Sonya had done time in federal prison for being a drug carrier for that bitch-ass Ray.

  She told me so much shit that I knew for sure that I had the perfect one, the perfect soldier, a straight-up real bitch, down for the ride to the bloody end, just like Bonnie and Clyde. So, I put her down with the move, the political move, and she graciously obliged.

  Sonya

  My visit with Jovan went well. We put everything on the floor. Now there was nothing for us to hide, no more lies. I knew that one day I’d have to stop living a lie, but I couldn’t let the world know. Only my man, my love, my soon-to-be husband, who was also living a lie, and no one else, would ever know.

  Jovan

  It was Monday, and after my visit with Sonya, I felt unbeatable. I already had three bodies out the way; now I had to get this last one over with and then I was a free man. Some way I had to discredit Meeka’s testimony. If I could do that, then I was free. Michelle was doing a good job, but for real, I was just tight like that, so any lawyer who would have taken my case woulda walked straight through it.

  When I entered the courtroom, I looked in the back for Sonya. She wasn’t there. I told her she could come now since we had talked about everything.

  “All rise!” the bailiff said.

  When I stood up for the judge, I was still looking for Sonya, but I don’t see her. This was the last stage of my trial, and I needed her support.

  Prosecutor: Your Honor, you gave me an extension of time last week to meet my burden. I feel that it’s a shame for me to concede with the defense in accepting Ms. Jones’s testimony and ask to strike the other two charges, but I do not have any other witness to corroborate the grand jury testimony of Bilal Davis.

  Judge: So, Ms. White, you’re telling me to strike those charges?

  Prosecutor: Well, no. Actually, Your Honor, I’d like to ask that they stay until the end of the trial.

  Judge: Ms. White, I’ll hold these charges, but if you can’t get me a credible witness, then I’ll have to strike them.

  Michelle: Excuse me, Your Honor, I’d like to file for a mistrial on the basis that the government has no physical or material evidence that can convict my client. In all actuality, Your Honor, this is a waste of time and a defamationof Mr. Price’s character.

  Judge: I agree with you in part, Ms. Robinson. If the government cannot provide anything else, I may just consider your motion, but until then let’s proceed.

  Prosecutor: Your Honor, I’d like to call my witness to the stand who will show that Mr. Price was the perpetrator in the murder of D.C. Detective Anthony Bridges. I’d like to call Tameeka Gonzales to the stand.

  Damn, Meeka was gonna fuck the whole thing up. She was a hot snitch-ass bitch, just like her man. She walked to the stand all fat and pregnant.

  Prosecutor: Ms. Gonzales, will you please state your whole name and occupation?

  Meeka: My name is Tameeka Marie Gonzales, and I work for Geico Insurance.

  Prosecutor: Ms. Gonzales, do you know the defendant, Mr. Jovan C. Price?

  Meeka: Yes, I do.

  Prosecutor: And how do you know him?

  Meeka: Through my fiancé, Bilal Davis.

  Prosecutor: Ms. Gonzales, did Mr. Price enter your home on May 19, 1994?

  Meeka: Yes.

  Michelle: Objection, Your Honor!

  Judge: Overruled.

  Prosecutor: Can you tell me what he was doing there?

  Meeka: He was talking to Bilal about something.

  Prosecutor: Do you know what they were talking about?

  Meeka: No.

  Prosecutor: At any time did you see Mr. Davis go back and forth upstairs?

  Meeka: Yes, I did.

  Prosecutor: Did you see Mr. Davis give Mr. Price a gun?

  Meeka: No, I did not.

  At the moment, I was shocked that Meeka didn’t tell. Damn, Meeka was a soldier. She was keepin’ that shit on the street. It was Bilal the whole time who snitched. Meeka was willing to do some time for her nigga, and he was the one who snitched. Damn, that’s fucked up. I shoulda known Meeka was down. She came from a family of hustlers, and they taught her well. Damn, I respected that shit to the fullest degree.

  Prosecutor: Excuse me. I’d like for you to repeat that answer.

  Meeka: No, I did not see Bilal Davis give Jovan Price any gun. Matter of fact, I didn’t see Bilal Davis give Jovan Price anything.

  Prosecutor: No further questions.

  Judge: Okay, now would the defense like to cross-examine?

  Michelle: Most definitely, Your Honor. Now, Ms. Gonzales, did you purchase a .357 Desert Eagle from a gun shop on Marlboro Pike?

  Meeka: Yes, I did.

  Michelle: And where was that gun kept?

  Meeka: Upstairs in my bedroom.

  Michelle: Now, at any time did that gun ever leave your home?

  Meeka: Yes, it did.

  Michelle: When was that?

  Meeka: Right after Jovan Price left the house. Bilal was mad that Detective Bridges had arrested his carriers with his money. This was the second time Mr. Bridges had done that, and Bilal was mad at that. He said he was gonna kill Detective Bridges.

  I tried to stop him, but he knocked me down and took the gun and left. Before he left, he told me that if I called the police, he would also kill my family and me.

  Michelle: Thank you, Ms. Gonzales. You’ve done a wonderful job.

  Your Honor, surely this is grounds for a mistrial. Not only that, but a judgment of acquittal would be the proper channel according to the law.

  Judge: Now, Ms. White, if you can’t come up with something else, I have no other choice but to rule in favor of the defense, but, Ms. Robinson, there isn’t enough material to put in for a judgment of acquittal. We still have the grand jury testimony of Bilal Davis, and according to the law, a grand jury’s testimony can still be used, even if the person is not present. It’s more like a last will.

  Michelle: I understand, Your Honor. A mistrial would be fine, and if we have to come in here again with the boxing gloves on, then we will.

  Damn, fuck a mistrial! I needed that judgment of acquittal. If I got a mistrial, that meant I had to stay in jail until another trial, and that may take about a year. Who knows? I might not even beat the next trial.

  Prosecutor: Your Honor, before you rule, I have another witness, a surprise witness.

  Who the fuck could that be? A surprise witness. Now they puttin’ shit in the game.

  I leaned over and said, “Hey, Michelle, what the fuck is going on?”

  “I don’t know, Jovan. This is all new to me. Hold up. I’ma try and do something.”

  Michelle: Your Honor, we’ve already heard everything about the case. Another witness wouldn’t help the government. I ask that you don’t let the government proceed, and that you go ahead and rule for a mistrial.

  Judge: Now, Ms. Robinson, you heard the government. They don’t just have a witness, but a surprise witness. Now, Ms. White, if this witness doesn’t help your case, not only will I rule, but you’re putting me in a spot that I may have to
rule in favor of judgment of acquittal.

  Prosecutor: Okay, Your Honor, but I believe this witness will do very well. Matter of fact, I think this witness can bring back those charges that were stricken. I’d like to call to the stand Sonya Chanel Duncan.

  What the fuck! Man, I knew Sonya wasn’t going out like that. I was fucked up. I told this bitch everything, and this bitch done flipped the script on me. Naw, not Sonya. I loved this woman. Damn, it seemed like everything I loved turned into hate.

  Prosecutor: Ms. Duncan, please state your full name and occupation.

  Sonya: My name is Kia Lynett Daniels, and I’m currently unemployed.

  Prosecutor: Hold up! Your name is what?

  Sonya: My name is—

  Prosecutor: Yeah, I heard that, but this isn’t what we talked about.

  Sonya: You asked me my name, and I told you.

  Prosecutor: You’re supposed to tell the court how Jovan Price committed these murders.

  Michelle: Objection, Your Honor! Apparently the government’s witness is a surprise to the government.

  Prosecutor: Your Honor, I’d like to strike this witness. Michelle: Before you strike the witness, Your Honor, may I have permission to cross-examine? Maybe there’s something the court needs to know.

  Judge: Somebody do something in here. I’m totally confused.

  Michelle: Ms. Daniels, who are you?

  Sonya: My name is Kia Daniels. I had my name changed in 1993 when I was released from Danbury Federal Prison for women.

  Michelle: And why were you in prison, Ms. Daniels?

  Sonya: I was convicted in 1989 for being a drug carrier.

  Judge: Ms. White, you just called a convicted felon as your Defense and you didn’t even know it?