***
I got to the courtroom extra early, and as usual, a bunch of niggas were crowded in the holding cell, trading stories, and most of them were just lies. Prison was definitely the place where people could pretend to be a big shot when in reality they were nobodies. After being in prison, I was tired of hearing the same old stories. I closed my eyes and leaned back against the wall. I started daydreaming about my freedom and the first thing I was going to do if I walked out of there.
“Clarke, let’s go!” the bailiff hollered and opened the cell.
I jumped up and eagerly walked out of the cell. God, please help me in the courtroom. I promise, God, I am a changed man, I silently prayed. The courtroom was kind of empty, but I immediately spotted mom-dukes. That was my first time seeing her in over a year. She waved at me and blew a kiss. I smiled back at my queen. No matter what, she was always there to provide support.
Leon was already sitting down. I sat beside him. “Whaddup, man.”
“Ain’t nothing. I’ve got everything ready to present to the court. You ready, partna?”
“Hell yeah! I’ve been waiting on this day for a long time now.”
“All rise. The court of Criminal Division is now in session. The Honorable Judge Morales is presiding.”
“Be seated,” Judge Morales commanded.
I almost pissed in my pants when I heard the judge’s name. I looked up and realized that she was one of my old flings. We didn’t end on good terms, so I had no idea how things were going to play out.
“Your Honor, this is first on the docket. Docket number 67721-63. The State of New York vs. Hassan Clarke.”
My lawyer got up, and boy, that nigga showed out. It was nothing like my first trial. That nigga was on point. He provided reasons why I couldn’t have killed Imani and also told the court that my ex-wife, Destiny, had set me up so she could get rid of the woman that I was cheating with. In the process, she also got rid of me so that she could get my money. He provided witness statements, phone records, and he emphasized that there was no DNA evidence to link me to the crime. On the second charge, of conspiracy to commit murder, a charge that they claimed, I confessed on tape to. My lawyer dug right into it by saying that I was drugged by a woman that was out to get me, and I was coaxed by her trying to frame me.
“How did I do?” he asked when he sat down.
“Man, you did damn good.”
The overzealous DA interrupted my seconds of happiness. I felt like that bitch had it out for me because although the evidence was given to her office, she still persisted on trying to keep a nigga locked up. I swear, that bitch just wanted this dick.
“Your Honor, I know that Attorney Smith just gave us a whole speech on why the defendant could not have committed those murders, but the defendant tried to kill the victim a few weeks before her death. He was arrested and charged for that crime. He was angry that Miss Gibson did not want to drop the charges that would definitely cause him to lose his law license. He was also having an affair with the victim, and he was scared that she was going to tell his wife, which would result in his wife leaving him and taking their daughter. Another reason why the defendant should not be granted a new trial is because he tried to kill his now ex-wife. The police officer and his ex-wife both testified in the previous trial. His best friend is dead, and he was caught on tape testifying that he ordered the hit. Your Honor, this man is a menace to society, and if you let him out, God knows who he is going to hurt next. He deserves to stay behind bars for the remainder of his sentence.”
“Thank you, DA Johnson.”
“This case is not an easy one, but as a judge, I can’t get my personal feelings involved. I have to hear both sides of the story and make a decision based on evidence. When I walked out here today, I was ready to make a ruling, but as I listened to both sides, I need more time to review the new evidence that was presented in these motions today. I will make my ruling in fourteen days, which is the 28th, at 9 a.m. If there is nothing else, the Court is adjourned.”
I looked at Leon, and he had the same puzzled look on his face. I turned around and saw the sad look on my mama’s face. I wished I could walk over and hug her, but that was impossible. I mouthed ‘I love you.’ They cuffed me and walked me to the back.
I waited until I was back in the holding cell to let all everything register. What the fuck just happened? I thought. I quickly put on my lawyer hat. It wasn’t bad news. I think the judge actually believed what my lawyer was saying. Two weeks was too fucking long to wait on those fucking crackers, but there wasn’t shit that I could really do about it.
***
Stress is a motherfucker that I really didn’t need. Those motherfuckas knew that I had the fucking bug, and stress wasn’t good for me mentally or physically.
“All rise. The Honorable Judge Morales is presiding.”
“Please be seated. Will the defendant and his attorney remain standing? I said two weeks ago that this was not an easy case. I’ve reviewed the evidence that the state presented in the original case. I’ve also thoroughly reviewed the new evidence presented to me two weeks ago. I’ve heard the passionate pleas of the District Attorney, and I’ve heard the argument presented by the Defense Attorney on behalf of the defendant. After going through the evidence thoroughly, I am very disgusted by the way that the previous defense attorney handled this case. He didn’t provide proper counsel to his client. That’s my first issue with this case. Secondly, there is proof that Mr. Clarke was nowhere near the victim’s house when the victim was killed.
“But, Your Honor,” the DA interrupted.
“No, ma’am. There’s no interruptions during my ruling.”
“Mr. Clarke, I’m hereby throwing out your convictions on the murder of Imani Gibson and the conspiracy to commit murder against Corey Griffin. I am also granting you a new trial on the attempted murder of Destiny Clarke. I am setting your bond at one hundred grand.”
“Thank you, Your Honor,” I blurted out without thinking.
“Please remain quiet, or the bailiff will remove you from the court.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I mumbled under my breath.
“While you’re out on bond, you’re not allowed to go within one hundred feet of the victim, Destiny Clarke, or her residence. You’re not to break the law while you’re out on bond, and if you do, your bond will be revoked immediately. Do you understand these terms, Mr. Clarke?”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
“That’s it. If there’s nothing else, court is now adjourned.”
“Thank you, man.” I hugged my attorney.
“Don’t mention it, man. I’m just happy it worked out for you.”
I walked out of the courtroom feeling like new money. I was so geeked up that I totally forgot that I was a broke ass nigga who didn’t have any money to pay my bond. The bitch said my bond was a hundred grand. Where the fuck am I gonna come up with that kind of paper? I thought. Mama had some money that she was holding for me, but it was nowhere close to that amount. Since I got locked up, that bitch, Tanya, spent all of my damn money, and the niggas that I knew with that kind of money stopped rocking with me a long time ago. My happiness was dimmed by sadness as I realized that I might not be able to make bond.
***
Three days later, I was still in Rikers, waiting to get shipped back to prison. There was no way that I could come up with that kind of money. I tried to call Tanya, but the bitch didn’t pick up.
The next morning, I was up early. I was ready to get way from those fuck niggas. Jail niggas behaved differently than prison niggas. In jail, they were loud and spent all day running their mouths. In prison, niggas had real time to worry about, and most niggas had jobs so the unit wasn’t noisy during work hours.
I decided to do a few push-ups to occupy my mind. That was one of the days when I didn’t feel drained from all of these damn pills.
“Clarke, Hassan, grab your things. You’ve made bond.”
I thought that I was trip
ping, so I continued doing my push-ups and counting. I was finished and decided to take a quick shower.
“Hassan Clarke, gather your things, and let’s go!” the CO yelled over the intercom.
Oh shit! I stopped in my track. I wasn’t tripping, I heard him correctly the first time.
“Who the hell posted my bond?” I asked the CO as we walked up the ramp.
“I have no idea. You’ll have to ask the front desk.”
As I walked beside him, I prayed that it wasn’t a joke, and my bond was really posted.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Destiny
Josiah Clarke. That name just kept playing over and over in my head like a broken record. Amaiya was so wrong, and Hassan did have a little bastard with Imani’s ass. See, Amaiya didn’t know about it because I tried to shield her from all of the drama that was going down. I wondered what happened to him after his mother died. I’d never seen him or knew what he looked like.
“Haha, you’re trippin’. That monkey may be somebody’s foster child or is up in somebody’s jail.” A little voice interrupted my seconds of craziness. I wish for once that I could ask Hassan what the boy’s name was, but I would die first before I speak to that bastard ever again. Speaking of Hassan, I remembered him telling Amaiya that he was appealing his case. I wondered how that worked out for him. His ass was too cocky and thought that he could con his way out of every situation. Not that time, buddy. His ass wouldn’t see the streets until he was old as dirt.
***
“Amaiya, you need to get fitted for your dress. Tomorrow is Thursday, so we can do it then.”
“Why do I have to wear a special dress?” She frowned up her face at me.
“Because it’s my wedding, and you’re one of my bridesmaids. The color is Fuchsia.”
“If I tell you that I don’t want to go, would you be upset?”
I turned around to face her. Did I hear her ass right?
“What did you just say to me?” I was ready to slap the shit out of her ass.
“See, I knew you were going to be upset. That’s why I keep quiet.”
“You know what? That might be the best thing for you to do. You’ll be there, whether you like it or not.” I walked out of the room in a hurry.
I rushed to my room and got under the covers. Where in the hell did I go wrong? Amaiya and I used to be so close, but all she did now was give me an attitude. I loved my daughter and just wanted the best for her, but it seemed like all I was doing was driving a wedge between us. I didn’t want that, especially now that I have full blown AIDS. I had no idea how long I would be here. I needed my only child to know that her mama loved her. I burst out crying as I thought about losing her.
“Baby girl, you have no idea how much your mama loves you. Please, let’s make this right before it’s too late,” I mumbled before I dozed off.
JOSIAH
It was 8.30 p.m., so I picked up the phone and dialed my bitch’s phone. I hoped she picked up the phone because everything that I was about to do relied on her love for me.
“Hello.” She answered like she was asleep,
“Hey, babe. Whatchu doin’?”
“Just lying here, thinking about you.”
“Shit, I’m on the same shit. I need to see you.”
“I told you that her ass put me on punishment, and I can’t leave the house.”
“Baby, listen. I can come and see you.”
“Boy, you trippin’. You know she’ll go the hell off if you come to the house.”
“Listen to me. She ain’t got to know. We can wait ‘til she’s sleep, and then I can sneak in.”
“I ‘ont know, Jose. My stepfather is working late tonight, and I don’t want him to come home and see your car in the driveway.”
“Baby, stop and listen to me. I won’t park in the driveway. I can park on the other side of the street. I can call you, and you can let me in. Trust me; she won’t know. I just really want to see you, babe,” I pleaded.
“Okay. Just call me when you get up here, and please, be careful.”
“I love you, babe. See you in a little while.”
I hung up the phone and jumped in the shower. My adrenaline was rushing as I washed my body. I had waited for this day, and I was ready to make my mama proud of her only baby boy.
***
Twenty minutes later, I was on the road to White Plains. I popped a few of my Xanax and swallowed them with a bottle of water. I turned the music up loud as Plies’ Runnin’ My Momma Crazy blasted through the old speakers.
Shit killin’ me to know I’m runnin’ my momma crazy.
Goon to the streets but to my momma I’m still her baby
Raised a street nigga by yaself you a hell of a lady
Shit I’m doin’ now got nothin’ to do wit’ how you raised me.”
I kept repeating that verse right there while the pills took effect on my mind, body, and soul.
I cut the music down once I got on the street that they lived on. I also cut my lights off as I cruised toward the house. I pulled up and parked across the street in front of the neighbor’s house. After I grabbed my gun, I stuck in it in my waist and also grabbed my ski mask just in case I needed it.
“I’m here. I’ll be at your door in five seconds.”
I got out of the car, looked around, and walked toward the door. It was a quiet area, so everyone was inside of their homes. As soon as I got to her door, she opened it. I stepped inside as she took her time closing the door behind us. She was careful not to alarm her mother that the door had been opened.
She motioned for me to follow her up the stairs. I quickly took my shoes off and tiptoed behind her up the stairs and into her room. I wasted no time. As soon as I got in the room, I started kissing on her. The Xanax had me horny as fuck, and I needed some pussy right away. More than anything, I needed her to get comfortable with me.
I pulled off her little nightshirt and started sucking on her nipple aggressively. She started groaning. “Shh,” I whispered in her ears. The last thing I needed was her mother walking in on me fucking her daughter.
“Babe, you know what? I ain’t come over here for this. I just want to lay here and hold you.”
“But I want you, bae. I want to feel you inside of me,” she pleaded as she rubbed on my dick.
“Chill out, babe. We have plenty of time for that. I came out here ‘cause I miss you, so let’s just hold each other,” I said in a stern voice.
“Okay, then,” she said with an attitude.
We got under the covers. She put her head on my chest while I wrapped my arm around her. I knew that she felt my heart beating fast, but the sad thing about it was baby girl has no idea, why.
I held her close and kept rubbing her head. She slowly dozed off and then finally fell asleep. I continued lying there until I was sure that she was out cold. I took my time and eased my arm from around her. I put her pillow close by her so I could ease out without alarming her.
I put my shoes back on, grabbed her cell phone that was on the dresser, and walked lightly out of the room. I stood in the hallway, trying to make out which room I needed to go into. I didn’t see the nigga’s car parked outside, so I was banking on him not being there.
I saw the TV light coming from the room directly in front of me. I walked to the door and slightly pushed it open. Bingo. The bitch was laying in bed, out cold. I took my gun out of my waist and stood over her for a while. I touched her shoulder slightly to wake her up.
“Spencer, is that you? I’m not feeling too good.”
“No, honey. It’s not Spencer,” I said.
“What?” She jumped up as if she wasn’t sleeping.
“Who are you, and what are you doing in my house?”
I walked over to the light and cut it on. “Hello, Destiny. That is no way to greet your future son-in-law.”
I could see the shock written all across her face when she realized that it was me.
“Haha. Are you surprised, bitch? Ain’t
no need to be. I heard you’ve been doing a little bit of snooping around.”
“Where is my daughter? Amaiya!” she yelled.
I took a few steps back, closing the door behind me.
“What the hell do you want? You’re not going to get away with this.”
Blap. Blap. I slapped her ass in the face with my gun.
That bitch grabbed her face as blood spilled out from the corner of her mouth.
“You have no idea who I am; do you? Well, lemme introduce myself to the bitch of the house. You’re right; my name is not Jose’. It’s Josiah Clarke. See, we carry the same last name because my mama was screwing your husband, and I’m the bastard that came from that. Now that you know who I am, you can put two and two together.”
“What are you doing, Jose?” Amaiya’s voice startled me.
“Step in, bitch, and join the party.” I pulled her inside of the room and locked the door behind us.
DESTINY
Spencer was working late tonight, and I wasn’t feeling too good, so I took some pills and went to sleep. Any other night, I would’ve set the alarm, but I totally forgot, and that could’ve cost me my life.
I was barely dozing off when I heard someone enter the room. I just knew that it was Spencer because he was the only one who would come into my room late at night. It wasn’t until I said something that the bastard that was standing in my room replied. I only spoke to him once, but I never forgot how he sounded. I knew right then that I was in trouble.
I turned around to face the nigga that my child brought into our lives. He was standing in front of me with a gun pointed directly at me. I swallowed hard and looked around, but I didn’t see an escape in sight. I didn’t have to ask who he was, because that coward introduced himself.
I sat there, staring at him. I saw that he was jittery and possibly on some kind of drugs. That made my fear level become even more elevated. I started praying to God in my mind as he slapped me with the gun. The pain shook my body so hard that I saw flashes of light in front of me. I grabbed my face. Blood spilled out of the corner of my mouth. I also felt a tooth loosen, but losing a tooth was the least of my worries. My child was on my mind. What did he do to my daughter, and where was she? It wasn’t long before my questions were answered.
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