Almost as soon as she stepped outside, her phone rang. She glanced down at the screen and saw that it was Matt. “Hello.”
“Hey, Kali, it’s Matt. I just wanted you to know that I made a few calls and, unfortunately, I won’t be able to represent your boyfriend.”
“Why not?” Kali bucked.
“It’s too late. He already took a plea deal.”
“A what?” Kali had trouble comprehending that. “Bird would never do that.”
“Well, he did.” Matt sighed. “He was facing life without parole, Kali. The deal he took is for a twenty-five-year sentence.”
Kali felt as if the wind had been knocked right out of her. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “I need to see him. Can you make that happen?”
“I’ll see what I can do, but no promises.”
“Thank you.” She dropped the phone and laid her head on the steering wheel. Her day had taken so many turns that she was beginning to feel nauseous. Just when she thought she had everything figured out, here came another curveball.
CHAPTER TWENTY
FLY
“I wonder what’s going on.” Fly peered out through the window as Jamaica drove down her block. There were about ten police cars and two ambulances on the block.
“Girl, anything could’ve happened. Just last week two guys attempted a home invasion on the neighbors down the street.” Jamaica didn’t live in the safest neighborhood; therefore, she wasn’t too concerned with the scene. Things like this unfolded all the time.
“Girl, I think they are at your house.” Fly squinted down the block. “Yeah, your door is open.” She pointed.
“Shit!” Jamaica slammed on the brakes and parked the car right in the middle of the block. Without a word to Fly she jumped from the car and ran toward her house. “What happened?” she screamed. “Where is my mother?” Panic set in as Jamaica roamed the sea of faces standing on her lawn.
“Do you live here?” a female officer asked.
“Yes, I live here with my mother. Where is she?” Jamaica ducked under the crime tape and started toward the house.
“Ma’am, you can’t go in there.” The officer tried to stop her, but Jamaica forced her way up the stairs and toward the doorway.
“Sorry, but you can’t come in here.” Another officer blocked Jamaica from entering the house.
“Oh my God!” she screamed. “Momma, get up. Please get up.” Jamaica went into a fit when she saw her mother lying in the entryway to the kitchen. Ms. Margie was riddled with bullet holes and covered in blood. “Is she dead?” Although she already knew the answer, she still needed someone to confirm it.
“Yes, ma’am. I’m sorry for your loss.” The officer wrapped his arms around Jamaica and cradled her as best he could.
“I can’t believe this,” she screamed.
“That’s my friend. Can I go up there?” Fly tried to catch her breath as she spoke to a female officer. Braxton was breathing heavy too. They had both run up toward the house.
“I’m sorry. I can’t let you in.”
“I understand.” With tears, Fly watched from behind the yellow tape as her friend’s world changed forever.
* * *
Shortly after the coroner came to remove the body, Kali pulled up. She stood with Fly and Brax on the lawn until the police cleared the scene and allowed them to enter the house. The hallway was covered in blood.
Jamaica was sitting on the sofa with her arms wrapped around her knees. “They said it was a drive-by.”
“Do they know who did it?” Kali sat down beside her.
“Not yet, but the next-door neighbor was outside when it happened.” Jamaica sniffed. “He got hit in the head with a stray, but if he makes it hopefully he’ll have some information.”
“I’m so sorry this happened to your mother.” Fly couldn’t even begin to imagine her pain.
“She called me earlier to tell me that someone in a black car had been sitting across the street all day.” Jamaica looked at her friends. “Do you think they did it?”
“Maybe, but then again maybe not.” Kali shrugged. “Let’s let the police have a crack at it before we start jumping to conclusions.”
“You’re right.” Jamaica wiped her face. “I need to get out of here.”
“Grab some things, and we’ll all go stay at a hotel.” Kali knew the last place they needed to be was Jamaica’s house, especially now.
“Kali, we don’t have any money right now,” Fly reminded her.
“Yes, we do.” Kali tossed her book bag on the coffee table. “I already sold two pounds.”
“How much money is this?” Fly couldn’t believe her eyes.
“Twenty thousand dollars!” Kali stated as a matter of fact. “That’s about $6,660 apiece.” She was happy to have at least a little bit of good news on such a tragic day. “There are three pounds left. We can divvy that shit up tomorrow, but tonight let’s just get a room and get some rest.”
“Thank you.” Jamaica sniffed. In that moment she was beyond grateful to be included in their friendship.
* * *
The next morning Fly hit the ground running. She called Eric and asked him to pick her up. Next, she kissed Braxton, who was still asleep in her hotel bed; then she peeked in on Jamaica and Kali. They were both fast asleep too. She took a shower, dressed in a red BCBG maxi dress and put her hair up in a bun. After slipping on her gold Coach sandals, she grabbed her MK bag and slipped out of the penthouse suite. Their room was at the Marriott in Southfield. The penthouse cost a pretty penny, but with their newfound wealth, none of them had an issue dropping the money.
“Good morning, gorgeous.” Eric was waiting outside the door at 9:00 a.m. sharp just like he promised.
“Good morning.” Fly smiled.
“Where are we headed to first?”
“I need a ride to the attorney we went to the other day, and then you can drop me off at a Buy Here Pay Here car dealership if you don’t mind.”
“You know I don’t mind.” Eric started the car, and they pulled off. “I’m actually glad you called me this morning.”
“Why is that?” Fly blushed.
“Because I have a surprise for you.”
“What could you possibly have for me?”
“Just wait for it.” Eric looked at the time on dashboard.
“What is it?” The anticipation was killing her. At 9:15 a.m. on the nose Eric’s cell rang.
“Answer that for me.”
“Are you sure?” Fly hesitated.
“Yeah, hurry up,” Eric urged.
“Hello.”
“You have a collect call from Q. Press one to accept the call.”
The minute Quinton’s voice hit Fly’s ears she burst into tears. He sounded so different than she remembered, but she still knew it was him.
“Q!” she screamed.
“Hope, is that you, sis?” Q smiled.
“Yeah, it’s me. How have you been? I can’t believe I’m talking to you,” she rambled.
“I know it’s been awhile, and my bad about that. I’ll make sure we fix that from today on. How are Momma and Braxton?”
“Everybody is good.” Fly was bursting at the seams to tell her big brother everything that was going on, but she knew better. It made no sense to give him all the bad news knowing there was nothing he could from the inside. She knew not being able to do shit about it would only torment him.
“That’s good. I heard about your boy Syn. Tell that nigga to hold his head up.” Q only knew about Syn through his sister’s letters, but he still felt like he knew him.
“I will. Love you, bro.”
“I love you too. I’ll get your digits from Chicago. When I call you better pick up.”
“I will, so you better call.” Fly handed the phone to Eric, and they conversed for a few minutes.
“How did you know he was going to call?” she asked when their conversation was over.
“He calls me every morning at nine-fifte
en a.m. That’s when they let us out of lockdown.” Eric saw the way she was looking at him, and he felt the need to explain further. “Behind the wall, Q became my best friend. We got each other through some very rough days. I promised that nigga I wouldn’t change up when I got released. I also promised to put money on his books and accept all his calls. Real niggas do real things.”
“I feel you.” Fly was satisfied with the answer, so she left well enough alone. “I would do the same for my girls if I had to.”
The remainder of the day went smoothly. Fly dropped the money off to Kenneth, and then Eric took her to a small dealership near the hotel. She walked the lot for probably an hour before she settled on a 1998 candy-apple red Lexus RX 350. The old car cost exactly $4,900, which was almost all she had to her name. However, she was just happy to be pushing a luxury vehicle.
After calling and getting no-fault insurance, her money dwindled to seventy-eight dollars, but she was still smiling. Fly told Eric good-bye and thanked him for the ride. She took her last bit of pocket change and stopped by one of her favorite boutiques. She wasn’t able to buy anything but a fifty-dollar bodycon dress, but she didn’t complain.
“What up, doe Fly!” Smoke walked into the boutique with his girlfriend as Fly was walking out. He worked for Syn and Bird.
“What up, doe my nigga.” She gave her boy a hug. “Long time no see.”
“How are you holding up?”
“It’s rough, but I know this too shall pass.” Fly shifted. “How is the crew?”
“Man, you already know it’s a dog-eat-dog world out here.” Smoke laughed. “Some of them niggas jumped ship the minute them cats were arrested, but it’s a few of us still holding on to see what happens.”
“I’m sure both Syn and Bird would appreciate the loyalty. They worked hard to assemble the team.”
“I know, but niggas gotta eat, so once this last pack run out I don’t know how much longer we can hold on. They was the plug, ya feel me?”
“Take my number and put yours in my phone. Syn left me with a contingency plan,” Fly lied; but Smoke’s team needed product, and she, Kali, and Jamaica needed a team. The only problem was she knew those guys would never willingly hustle for women. Therefore, they had to believe the product was still coming from Syn and Bird.
“All right, for sho.” Smoke locked his number into Fly’s phone. “Call me asap, and we can get down to business!”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
JAMAICA
It took almost three weeks after Ms. Margie’s private memorial service before Jamaica began to feel like her old self. In that time, she’d missed several calls from her regulars and even some of the dancers at the club. Everyone had heard about what happened to her mother and wanted to pay their respects. They still hadn’t caught her mother’s killer, but Jamaica knew it was only a matter of time.
“I’m glad you came out with me tonight. We had a fucking ball.” She looked over at Fly, who was proudly pushing her new whip. Although Kali had given their girl a hard time about the way she spent money, Jamaica could see that Fly was unbothered. If nothing else it made her hustle harder to make sure her cash flow stayed plentiful. In fact, everyone’s pockets were thicker these days.
In such a short time the heroin business was proving to be very lucrative for the women. Fly had picked up a mass clientele at the beauty shop she worked in, and Kali worked her hand through Ahmad. Jamaica, on the other hand, was slacking; but her girls understood. Therefore, they split their profits with her.
“I’m just glad to see you’re feeling better, boo.” Fly knew nothing could ease the hurt Jamaica was feeling, but she tried her hardest to make sure her friend had a good time.
“I wish Kali could’ve come out.” Without Ms. Margie, the trio would no longer be able to party together because someone had to watch Braxton.
“She had to study for an exam anyway.” Quickly, Fly deaded that conversation before it had Jamaica in her feelings. “I’m mad you didn’t dance tonight, though.”
“You weren’t the only one who was mad.” She laughed thinking about all the regular tippers she disappointed tonight. “At least I still worked the room and got us some new customers, though.” She slapped high fives with Fly. Although this evening was more of a social occasion, Jamaica used her time out to give away sample packs of heroin to some of the dancers and regulars who, she knew, used the potent drug. Before the night was over, she had people practically begging to cop. The rapid response was so impressive that she could just about see the money rolling in.
As they came to a red light in front of a liquor store both Fly and Jamaica gasped when they saw Ray. He was just getting into his car, about to pull off. “Where is my gun?” Fly hollered.
“Fly, let’s think about this for a second. We’ve been drinking. We don’t want to do anything crazy, do we?” Jamaica immediately sobered up. She knew something big was about to go down.
“Where is the fucking gun?” This was the perfect opportunity to serve Ray the street justice they both knew he had coming.
Without another word Jamaica reached into the glove box and handed the gun to her friend. Fly stalled the car long enough for Ray to pull out in front of her and then it was on.
“What are you going to do?”
“You’ll see.” Fly waited for Ray to turn onto a side street and that’s when she bumped the back of his car. Naturally, he pulled over and got out of the car fussing and cussing. Fly cut her engine and cocked the pistol.
“Get out of the car!” Ray slapped the hood of her car. “Are you drunk or something?”
Silently Fly opened her car door and lit Ray up like a firecracker on the Fourth of July. Pow! Pow! Pow! Both she and Jamaica watched him fall to the ground.
“I told you, you never should’ve fucked with my brother,” she said walking closer to him. “It doesn’t feel good when you’re scared and helpless, does it?” Fly squatted down in front of Ray to look him in the eyes.
He began to gag and choke on his own blood. “I’m sorry.” He gasped for air.
“It’s too late for apologies, Ray.” With no remorse, Fly pushed the gun to the side of Ray’s head and pulled the trigger. Blood and brain matter exploded in her face, but it didn’t bother her one bit. In that moment she felt good enough to do it again; but, as soon as she heard the police sirens blaring in the distance, reality hit her like a ton of bricks.
“Come on, we have to get out of here!” Jamaica called from the car.
Nervously, Fly ran back just as two police cars whizzed down the main street. Once the coast was clear Fly popped her trunk and grabbed the gas can she’d just bought and filled up. Her fuel gauge was broken; therefore, the indicator stayed on E. The sales rep told her to keep a gas can on deck, just in case she needed it. Little did she know she’d be needing it this soon.
“Give me a lighter.” Fly stuck her head in the window, and Jamaica passed one to her. She ran back up to Ray and covered him in gas. Once the can was empty, she took the lighter and lit his shirt. Within seconds his body burst into flames. Once Fly was satisfied that she’d seen enough she sashayed back to the car feeling like Angela Bassett in the movie Waiting to Exhale.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
KALI
It took no time at all before Ahmad was pressing Kali about getting some more heroin. She sold him the little bit she had left, but she knew that wasn’t going to hold him for even a week. Between him and Smoke’s crew, the product had been depleted. Kali knew what she had to do, although she damn sure didn’t want to do it.
“Have a seat and keep your hands to yourself,” the CO informed the group of visitors waiting to see inmates.
Kali shifted nervously in her seat. She’d never gone to jail to visit anybody, so she was a little uncomfortable.
After a few minutes of silence, a metal door in the corner opened up, and men in orange jumpsuits filed out. About fifteen men came out before Bird, who lagged behind. His hair was an uncut mess, his e
yes were a mixture of yellowish red, and his belly had gone down an inch or two. He’d definitely seen better days.
“Hey, baby.” Kali smiled while forcing herself to remain seated. She was so happy to see him, but the feeling didn’t appear to be mutual. “What’s wrong with you?” she asked after noticing the scowl on his face.
“Kali, what the fuck is going on with you?”
“Excuse me?” She was taken aback.
“You heard what the fuck I said. What the fuck is going on with you? What’s this shit I’m hearing about you hustling?” Word had gotten back to him almost immediately after Fly met with Smoke. For some reason news traveled faster behind bars than it did on the street.
“What’s this shit I’m hearing about you taking deals?” Kali snapped back to let him know he wasn’t the only one with questions.
“That’s beside the point.” Bird shrugged.
“No, it’s not!” Kali hit the table. A CO glanced her way but didn’t say anything. “Tell me why, Bird! I think I deserve that fucking much.”
“The state’s attorney’s office told me they were only offering a plea deal to one person.” Bird peered at Kali. “It was me or Syn.”
“Bird, I had found you a good lawyer. We could’ve fought this.” Kali understood why he did what he did, but she would’ve preferred he take his chances.
“We wasn’t going to fight anything.” Bird shook his head. “This is my life, Kali, not yours. I had already told you what to do.”
“What kind of woman would I be if I just forgot about you at the first sign of trouble?”
“A smart one,” he scoffed.
“Why are you being mean?” Kali wanted to cry, but she dared not let a tear fall.
“I’m not being mean, baby. I’m being real.” Bird sat up in his seat. “You’re a rider now, but I’m wise enough to know that you ain’t gon’ stick this twenty-five-year bid out with me, baby.”
“Bird—”
“Stop it, Kali. You and I both know how this is going to play out, so it’s better to cut the ties now. The last thing I need to do in here is go crazy wondering why your visits and letters stop or why you quit answering my calls after a while.” Bird cleared his throat. “Eventually, you’re going to want to get married, have kids, and build a life with somebody, and twenty-five years is an awfully long time to wait to do it.”
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