Even More Wifey Status

by Racquel Williams

  I spoke to Mom-dukes, and she was so heartbroken when I told her I was locked up. She cried through the entire conversation and told me she will be there for my trial. I ain’t going to front; when I got back in my cell, I broke down. I hate to hear my mom cry, and it was harder now because I wasn’t there to console her.

  The rest of the day went by slowly, as usual; exercise, cards, and rapping with the homie was an everyday routine. Lights were out at eleven as usual. Whenever the block got quiet, my mind tends to race, and that night was no different.

  I heard the guards holla “count time,” and keys started to rattle. These motherfuckas never care if niggas were already asleep. They barge up on tier loud and disrespectful. I closed my eyes so I could let my mind wander far away from all the chaos. I heard my cell door pop open. I jumped on my feet but was blindsided by the bright lights from several flashlights. I felt a sharp jab in my left rib; a couple of others followed. Tape was placed over my mouth. I tried to fight back, but I was in no shape, and I was outnumbered. I began to lose lots of blood.

  Shayna Jackson

  The feds were riding my ass about getting more information about Sierra. They wanted something they could go after her with and also for me to get information about Alijah’s money. The bitch barely spoke of her personal life, so how did they expect me to get that information? I had my own plan, though; I just had to figure a way to execute it without getting caught.

  The other day I was alone, as usual, so I got to snooping. I was always curious about why the basement door stayed locked. I waited until Sierra left for work. I was happy that I knew how to pick locks, so I quickly opened the door and made my way down the stairs. I looked around; nothing was out of the ordinary. It was a finished basement. I was turning around to leave when I saw what looked like a door that was in a weird place for a closet. My curiosity got the best of me, so I opened the door—and there it was—a built-in hidden safe. I took a closer look and realized that unless I had the code, it was humanly impossible to pop it open. I had a feeling that was where Alijah had the majority of his money hidden. I closed the door and hurried back upstairs. I needed to figure out a way to get in that safe.

  Sierra made it home, and I was eager to leave. I needed to get in my hotel where I could sit back and figure out a way to approach the situation. After all, I was still the legal missus, and I deserved everything that man owned—not that ho and her li’l bastard. We chatted for a little while before I left. Then I got into my car. I planned to go back the next day bright and early with a plan.

  I arrived at the hotel, and, as usual, I had to call and check in with them. That bitch Rozarrio was still breathing down my neck like I was not doing enough.

  “I need you to dig deeper in her life,” she yelled.

  “I don’t know what you want me to do. I try talking to her, but she doesn’t say much.”

  “Mrs. Jackson, I don’t think you understand that it’s either you or her, and I would want to think that you would choose the latter to go down.”

  “Listen, I’m tired of you holding that shit over my head. Why don’t you get your ass in there and get whatever it is that you want for your damn self? I’m done dealing with you, so do whatever the fuck you want,” I screamed.

  “Lower your voice,” Rozarrio fired back. “This is an order! I will throw your ass in jail and won’t think twice about it. You have one damn week to get in there and get me the information about where all Alijah’s money is and how much information she knew about his business. You have until five o’clock Friday evening,” she said and hung up the phone.

  That bitch done lost her mind talking to me like that. I will be calling her damn supervisor. I won’t tolerate her or anyone else disrespecting me. I was not going to get her shit. I had my own plans for Sierra, and handing her and Alijah’s money over to them was not my intention.

  I poured a glass of wine and got Mr. Mandingo out of the drawer and put some K-Y Jelly on him. Then I opened my legs wide and fucked myself for a good thirty minutes, busting all over it, and then crawled up underneath my blanket. I was beat.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Sierra Rogers

  It was the weekend, and I decided to stay home. I was trying to find someone else to watch Azir. There was something about Ms. Sadie that rubbed me the wrong way. I picked up she was lying about not getting my letters and her accent being switched up between the North and the South. She portrayed herself as that sweet old lady, but when I watch her walk, she walked like she has no ailment. I was waiting for her to come in that Monday so I could sit down and have a talk with her. I needed to get to the bottom of why she was disguising herself. I prayed to God she had an explanation because I would hate if I had to hurt that woman.

  * * *

  The phone rang once, rang a few more times, and I ignored it, thinking the person would get the drift. Obviously, they did not get the memo, because they kept calling. I rolled over and snatched the phone off the nightstand. “I’ma cuss this motherfucker out,” I mumbled under my breath as I picked up the phone.

  “Hello,” I answered in a high tone.

  “Sorry to wake you up, Ms. Rogers, but I want to inform you that there was an incident at the jail, and Alijah was hurt.”

  The caller had my full attention now. I jumped up out of bed onto the floor.

  “What the fuck you mean? Is he all right? Is he dead?”

  “I don’t have the full details. The U.S. attorney called me since Alijah’s my client. He is in serious condition and is on the way to MCV as we speak.”

  “Oh my fucking God, this can’t be happening again,” I said, then hung up in dude’s face.

  I was already crying by the time I hung up. My memories took me back to when he got shot. I was feeling the same kind of emotions. The difference was, this time, I was not beside him holding his hand. He was locked up, and I was out here. My thoughts were bundled, and I couldn’t think straight. I need to get to MCV ASAP, which might be a waste of time because he was locked up, and I am pretty sure that they would have him under high security.

  I was pacing back and forth like a dopefiend. I need to know what to do. I dialed Mo’s phone. There was no answer. I know she was asleep. I looked at the time. It was a little after 2:00 a.m. I didn’t know who else to call. I scrolled to Jeanette’s number and dialed it. After the first ring I was tempted to hang up, but I needed her like no other.

  “Hello,” she whispered into the receiver.

  “Hey, sorry to wake you. I’ll call back later.”

  “Sierra, what’s wrong? You’re crying.”

  “Yes, something bad happened to Alijah at the jail.”

  “What you talking ’bout, chile? Have you been drinking?”

  “No, Mama.” The word slipped out of my mouth, and I only realized it after it was too late.

  “Baby girl, I’m here for you. Are they sure it’s him? I mean, how could that happen to him?”

  “I don’t know anything,” I said with aggravation in my voice.

  “OK, Sierra, I’ll be over there after my NA meeting this morning, but if you need me, don’t hesitate to call me.”

  “Right,” I said and hung up.

  I dialed Mo’s number again, but still no answer. Then I dialed the lawyer’s number.

  “Ms. Rogers, I was just going to call you back. The jail confirmed that he was stabbed multiple times and was transferred to the hospital. I tried to reach the U.S. attorney but was not able to. I have to be in court this morning with another client, so I’ll be heading to the hospital after that.”

  “So is he alive? How bad is it?”

  “Not sure. The hospital is not giving out any information on him.”

  “OK, this is bullshit. They acting like he don’t have no fucking family. I hate this fucking system.”

  “I understand, but I want you to know I’m on top of it and will get back with you as soon as I know something.”

  I hung up the phone and grabbed my pillow
. Lord knows my heart can’t take any more. I hope he makes it. I don’t want to lose him. My son needs his father. I cried out loud, tears flowing down. I just can’t take any more of it. My strength is gone. I wanted to die!

  Alijah Jackson

  Everything around me was bland. I was going in and out of consciousness, but I tried to get an understanding of what was going on around me. I knew I got stabbed a few times with a sharp object. The first thought that came to mind was it’s a hit on my life; however, I was confused why they didn’t just kill me. I wasn’t sure who was behind the attack, but I wasn’t a fool. It was an inside job. It wasn’t like it was daytime and I got into it with another nigga. This was in the middle of the night, and the cell was popped. The guards were the only ones that could pop a cell from their office.

  I didn’t recognize the faces of the niggas that stabbed me, or I was too confused to make sense of it all. I knew I was in an ambulance and somebody was patching me up. They had my eyes blindfold at this point, so there was nothing I could see.

  The ambulance came to a stop, and I lay there scared to breathe. I had no idea what was about to happen. I heard niggas talking back and forth.

  “OK, this is it right here,” I heard a nigga with poor English yell out.

  “Yeah, the boss said pull over right here,” another one answered.

  I whispered a prayer to God. I knew this was the end for me. My son, my mama, and Sierra flashed across my mind, and silent tears rolled down my face. I then felt someone approach me.

  “Youngblood, get yo’ ass up.”

  I immediately recognized Saleem’s voice. He took off the blindfold and the duct tape my mouth. I could barely move, but I stood up in the ambulance. I went to rush him with the little strength I had but fell short.

  “Yo’ pussy hole snitch bwoy, what the fuck going on? Why am I here?”

  “Easy, brother. I know you tight with me, but we do not have the time to catfight. We have to go now.”

  “I ain’t no fuckin’ fool. You is an informant that I trusted with my life. Why the fuck you think I would trust you now? Hell, nah.”

  “I don’t give a fuck ’bout you trusting me. You can stay and go to prison for life, or you can take your chances and bring yo’ ass to the plane that’s waiting to take us out of the country. The choice is yours.”

  At that moment I was lost as fuck. I wanted to go, but how can I trust this nigga? He’s the law.

  “Man, you wasting time; here, take the phone. Call Sierra and let her know that Shayna is working undercover as the nanny. Do it now ’cause we need to get rid of the phone,” Saleem commanded as he pushed the phone in my hand.

  I snatched the phone and dialed Sierra’s number. He threw my arm over his shoulder. He was giving me support because I was still in pain from the stabs. The phone rang and rang, but no answer. I ended up leaving her a voice mail in hope that she would check it. How the hell did Shayna pull that one off? Then I remembered the fucking law was behind it all.

  We made our way through a long-ass tunnel. All kinds of crazy thoughts invaded my mind. This nigga was the feds. Why was he helping me to escape?

  “Yo, B, you the motherfucking law, so why you doing this to help li’l ole me?”

  “Brother, I told you from day one, I gotcha. You will never understand it now, but when we get to our destination and things are settled, I will explain everything; then, you will understand better. Now, let’s go. We have less than a minute.”

  We made it to the end of the tunnel, and I saw that a one-engine Cessna was waiting in the field. He let me go, and I tried to hop on my own. Out of nowhere, a big helicopter flew over us. Feds came out of every corner with guns drawn.

  “Alijah Jackson and Agent Coleman, don’t move!”

  We both looked at each other. No words were needed. We were going to make a run for it. We sprinted off; Saleem was ahead of me because of the severe pain that I was in.

  “I said don’t fucking move!” a voice yelled before shots were fired.

  I saw Saleem get shot, but it didn’t stop him. I was just thinking a few more steps and I will be free—free of all the drama. I would be in a new country.

  The first bullet hit me in the leg, but I continued to run.

  “Come on, brother, I got you.” He grabbed my hand, and we both made a run for it.

  The second bullet hit me in my lower back. I still didn’t go down. I tried to drag my leg one more step to freedom.

  A few bullets flew by my ear and hit Saleem’s body. He went down in slow motion. I tried to drag him with me. He looked at me and shook his head no.

  “Go on!” he barely mumbled.

  I tried to take a few more steps to the plane. Five more bullets ripped through my slender body, and one lodged into the back of my neck. I tasted blood in my mouth and fell to the ground.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Sierra Rogers

  I cried all morning and waited to get a phone call about Alijah’s situation. I called the jail and the hospital but couldn’t get anything from them. They were behaving like it was classified information. It was around 6:00 a.m. I decided to take a shower. I needed to take my ass to MCV and ask to speak to a supervisor. Ms. Sadie was scheduled to watch Azir, and even though I was going to have a serious talk with her, it would have to wait until I see what’s going on with Alijah.

  I showered, got dressed, and waited. She walked in five minutes to nine.

  “Good morning, my dear child.”

  “Good morning. Azir is asleep, and I have some errands that I have to run. I’ll be back in a few,” I said and hurried out the door.

  I got into my car. I was heading to MCV, which was the hospital where the lawyer said they were taking him. I hope I don’t have to go down there and act a fucking fool. I knew I wasn’t married to him, but I had his damn child, and that should count for something.

  I got through all the traffic that was on the streets on a Monday morning. I really hated to drive behind those slow-ass school buses. If it wasn’t against the law and the little camera that they had installed on the side I would definitely go around them when they stopped. I finally made it to the hospital and parked my car. It was cold outside, and because I wasn’t thinking rationally, I ran out of the house without my jacket. I took long strides until I hit the hospital lobby.

  I approached the front desk.

  “Hello, good morning. I’m here to visit Alijah Jackson.”

  “Good morning, ma’am. Let me check that patient information for you.” His fingers pounded the keys as he looked on the screen. Once his fingers stopped, he looked at me. “Sorry, ma’am, there’s no one here with that name.”

  “What you mean? He was transferred here from Tappahannock Regional Jail earlier.”

  “I’ll check again for you.” The man banged the keys again. “Same thing, there is no patient here with that name,” he confirmed.

  “Man, you are not doing something right. I know he’s here. I need your supervisor.”

  “OK, ma’am, he’ll be in later on this morning.”

  “Man, fuck you, you stupid bitch!” I yelled out.

  I walked away from the desk. Where the hell is Alijah? I looked at my phone to see what time it was. That’s when I saw that I had over ten missed calls from an unfamiliar number. I stepped outside and called the number back. It went straight to voice mail. I tried it a few more times. I then saw that I had a new voice mail, so I dialed my voice mail.

  “Sierra, this me. I hope you’re there. That bitch that you just hired is Shayna disguised as a nanny. Get out of there now. Please protect my son. I’ll call you later. I love you and my seed. Don’t mention this call to anyone. I love you, babes.” I pressed 3 to listen to the message again.

  Then I ran to my car, jumped in, and pulled off. I almost hit a few cars as I sped out of the parking lot. I tried to dial the number the nanny gave me, but it went straight to voice mail. I thought about calling the cops, but I didn’t want to take a chance o
n her disappearing with my baby. I was confused. Alijah was supposed to be stabbed and in serious condition, but he left me a message an hour and a half ago. How did he know that Ms. Sadie was an imposter? God knows I just need to get home to my baby.

  I cut the radio on to get my mind off what I was going to do. That’s when the radio station reported that there was a sophisticated jail break at the jail in Warsaw. They also went on to say that Alijah Jackson was the federal inmate on the loose. He was armed and dangerous and should not be approached if seen. I turned off the radio as tears filled my eyes. I knew I would never see my man again. He was a marked black man out there!

  I couldn’t think straight after hearing the news about Alijah, but I couldn’t focus on him. I had to focus on my son. I knew that I was heading home with one intention, and that was to kill this bitch. This bitch shot me, disguised herself as a nanny, and was up in my house with my son. There was no other option. I will protect me and mine until I took my last breath. Something else flashed in my mind. Was Jeanette really getting high, or did that bitch plant that evidence? I hit the steering wheel. I let a bitch play me again—and I fell for it.

  I drove like a menace into the neighborhood and pulled up at the house. I tried to calm down a little so I could get in without giving off any vibes that I knew who she was. I took my gun out of my purse and tucked it in the waist of my jeans. Then I pulled my sweater down to disguise it. I opened the door and entered as usual and walked in.

  Shayna Jackson

  The weekend came and went by fast. Monday was always my best day of the week, but that Monday morning was my best one so far. I had a lot of things to get done once and for all. I woke up early and got dressed in some slacks and a nice cotton sweater. I need to feel comfortable because I never knew what might pop off.

  I called Rozzario and let her know that I was not going to work; pretended as if I was too sick. After that, I gathered my gun and bullets, just in case the situation became a bloodbath. I made sure all my things were packed; then I put them into the trunk of the car. I had no intention to go back to the hotel.