By 8:30 a.m., I was dressed and on my way out the door. I was the first person up in Courtroom A, where Alijah’s case was on the docket. It seemed like forever for his name to be called. Even though he had on a bright-ass orange jumpsuit, baby boy still looked sexy. I gave him a big smile, even though I was hurting to see him like that. They had my baby shackled like he was an animal.
A young black brother stood up when Alijah walked in. I knew right then that he wasn’t no court-appointed lawyer by the way he walked with arrogance, and he spelled money from head to toe with his expensive suit and gator shoes. He resembled a young Johnnie Cochran. I scooted up closer on the bench. I was trying to catch every piece of info that Judge Shakes was spitting out. His lawyer was also thorough with his words, but the prosecutor wouldn’t let up. They went blow-for-blow. In the end, his bail was denied.
I saw the disappointment on Alijah’s face. I got really heated when I saw the faggot-ass DA smiling with his partner. I wanted to cuss him and the judge out. My man was innocent. How could they do this to him? Luckily, I caught myself. I had to keep a straight head. I couldn’t get in trouble too. I had to stay focused. I had to be strong. That’s what a bad bitch did for her man.
I stayed back and had a talk with his lawyer.
“Hello, I’m Sierra, Alijah’s girlfriend.” I stretched my arm out and shook his hand.
“Hello, I’m Keith Johnson.”
“Let’s get to the point. What they have on him?”
“Well, I just got a call by Brother Saleem this morning, so I really didn’t get to talk to Alijah or the DA as yet. All I know right now is that he’s been charged with multiple counts of murder.”
“So, by when will you know something?” I asked. I hated that I was coming off as arrogant, but this wasn’t the time to get all cordial. I just needed to know what was really good.
“Well, it’s still early. I’ll be staying behind so I can meet the DA and get all the details and get a copy of the charges. Give me your number. I’ll give you a call as soon as I learn something.”
“I need to get your number also,” I demanded.
In my mind, all lawyers were crooks who got overpaid to use their mouthpiece. The way I was good with mine, I should’ve went to law school.
I left the courtroom feeling broken. Every hope that I had that morning when I left the house had vanished. I felt like crying. I really thought the judge would’ve given him a bond. I totally forgot that it was the commonwealth state. They made up their own damn rules.
I stood by the elevator waiting to go to the parking garage. People were standing around me talking. I felt out of it until I heard two voices behind me. When I looked back—I be damned—it was the little homo DA who stopped my man’s chance of walking out today.
I wasn’t just saying he was a faggot to be funny, but I been around Charley long enough to recognize one of his homies. He had on a tight burgundy suit with what seemed like a pair of Payless loafers, and his hair on his head was slicked down going to the back.
The little faggot had the nerve to smile at me when we got on the elevator. Sure, I smiled back, because without him knowing, he just gave me the perfect idea to help my man. I walked off the elevator feeling rejuvenated. I had to hurry home so I wouldn’t miss Alijah’s phone call.
I sat by the phone waiting on him to call. See, a bitch like myself should’ve been out shopping or getting my nails done, but instead, I was sitting in the house feeling sorry for myself.
The phone finally rang. I pressed five and accepted the call. I thought he would’ve sounded down, but instead, he sounded sexy as usual. I knew him. He was true to the game. I was shocked when he asked me to three-way him to that bitch Shayna, but I didn’t trip. I knew the fucked-up situation that he was in. It was not the time to get all jealous.
I swallowed my pride and dialed her number. There was no answer. I wondered what was going through his mind, because in my mind, I wondered where the fuck that bitch was at in a time like this, when my man’s life was on the line. I knew he was disappointed when she didn’t answer, but I wasn’t going to speak about it. Plain and simple, it wasn’t my business.
We talked for a while, all along being very careful what was said on the phone because we both knew that the folks were listening.
I hung up and went to the shop to check in on Mo’. I gave her what little details I had. She encouraged me to keep the faith. She offered to come over and keep me company, but I turned her down. Not that I didn’t want to chill with her, I just needed some “me time” to get my head straight and put all the pieces together.
I was one of the first females lined up to see my man. The room was filled with lonely girlfriends and wives trying to visit their man for half an hour. As I glanced around, I could tell the different lifestyles of the ladies. The hustlers’ wives were branded out from head to toe, hair done, nails done, and well iced out, while the other bitches were dressed in clothes from Rainbow or Marshalls. I knew I was crazy for sitting there doing some shit like that, but I was nervous and needed something to occupy my mind. For real, no matter what we had on, we were all in the same boat.
I sat patiently as one by one they got called in. I felt a lump in my stomach. I hoped that Alijah didn’t forget to put me on his visiting list. I knew I was tripping, but after seeing a young girl get turned back because her baby daddy forgot to put her on his visiting list, that couldn’t be me. I wouldn’t have left until they let me see his behind, and then I would let that no-good son of a bitch rot in hell.
I was buried deep in thought when they called visitors for Jackson. I hurried over and handed my driver’s license to the guard. I watched as he checked the piece of paper in front of him.
“Clear. Go this way.” He pointed to the double door.
I was so happy to see Alijah, even though it was behind glass. He looked tired and worn down, like he was carrying the burden of the whole city on his shoulders. I gave him the information that I found out about his boys. They were all facing the same charges for Li’l Tony and his crew. Saleem got them their own lawyers.
I cried the entire time. When it was time for me to leave, I was devastated. I didn’t want to leave him in that hellhole. I walked out of the jail with a broken heart and revenge on my mind.
Shayna Jackson
It was plastered all over the television set. They finally picked up Alijah and his cronies. I almost busted out laughing. The way everything played out, I was a little disappointed. I thought the feds were going to be handling the case, not the city police. Oh well, it was better than nothing.
I breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, a bitch can live again. I cleaned out the account. The houses were in my name. He wasn’t aware that I knew about all his other accounts. Well, I willingly passed on the information. He won’t have any use for all that money anyway. He would be behind bars for the rest of his natural life.
Sanders believed that I should go into protective custody, but I begged to differ. I knew they all thought that Alijah was all high and mighty, but with all that evidence that I gave them, that should ensure him a permanent change of address.
The police still couldn’t come up with a valid reason about why Markus disappeared. I knew Alijah had something to do with it. They searched Markus’s house and came up empty. They had no evidence of foul play. I told them Alijah had the means to make people disappear. I wasn’t going to give up until I found out something to tie him to Markus’s disappearance.
I had to admit it. I had feelings for Markus. He was one of the few people that really accepted me for me. In a crazy way, he was the only man that put up with my bullshit. It didn’t matter how badly I treated him, he always came through for me. I felt bad that I had him caught up in my greed, but, oh well, someone had to be the fool.
I got me a condo all the way up in Midlothian. I should’ve left Richmond, but I was going to see it all the way through. Plus, I had some unfinished business to take care of. The movers came and took eve
rything out of the house we had together. I couldn’t risk Alijah finding out that I set him up and send someone after me. I held on to the divorce papers until after he got sentenced.
I got me new cell phones. After all, I was still a lawyer, and I had clients that were depending on me to get them off of their charges. I wondered if my husband could afford my fees. Oh well, I will never know. Let’s see who’s laughing now. He always wanted to run the show. Well, it seemed like the only show he was running was in his cell. I’d seen the hardest of niggas go to jail and turn into another nigga’s bitch. Alijah used to call them batty boys. If I was him, I would be careful not to throw that word around freely because gang rape happened on the regular behind those walls.
Chapter Sixteen
Alijah Jackson
Holmes came and hollered at me. He told me they had an eyewitness. They were really tripping. I wondered what that fool had seen and who he was. I knew they were bluffing because the only niggas present when I merked that fool were either locked up or dead. Saleem was the only cat present who wasn’t involved, and I knew where we stood. I had never questioned his loyalty, and Chuck and Dre were thoroughbreds. They not new to the game; they were true to the game.
I wasn’t feeling what he was spitting out. That nigga fee was over twenty grand, but yet he was actin’ like he was gettin’ paid by the government.
“Mr. Jackson, things are not looking too good. The DA is telling me that they have a very reliable witness to the killings. Maybe we need to cooperate and cut a deal early.”
“What! You sound more stupid than you look. Yo, you get paid to fight this fuckin’ case and not sit on your ass talkin’ bullshit. You understand, bruh? I’m not pleading out. You tell dem muthafuckas I said it.” I got up and flipped the fucking table over.
“Mr. Jackson, I’m sorry if I said something to offend you.”
“Listen, pussy hole, do yo’ fuckin’ job. As far as I’m concerned, this meeting is over.” I got up and signaled for the CO.
I left that fool sitting there picking up his paperwork off the floor. I got back to the pod and jumped right on the phone. When Sierra didn’t pick up the phone, I slammed it down in frustration.
“Yo, bro, take your time wit’ the phone. We need it,” a flunky-ass nigga came out his mouth sideways.
I stormed toward dude but was stopped midway by a bunch of dudes. I was ready to rumble, but obviously, they didn’t want none of me. They put their hands up in defeat.
“C’mon, celly, it ain’t worth it, bro. They’ll put yo’ ass in the hole, and trust me, it’s nuttin’ nice. Believe me, I know,” he warned.
“’Bout now, I ’on’t give a fuck. It’s whateva. Niggas don’t know who they fuckin’ wit’ for real, son. I put this on e’erything; the next nigga that come at me sideways, I’ma make an example of.”
“Let’s go in the cube. You talkin’ recklessly. Niggas already know about you. Earlier in chow, a few Church Hill niggas were talking. I heard yo’ name, so I pulled closer so I could listen to them. They know you a ruthless brotha. Trust me, they know.”
Sierra Rogers
I felt alone in the house. I didn’t know something this beautiful would end up feeling so cold. I sat on the bed looking at a portrait of me and Alijah when we first met. They said a picture tells a thousand words.
Christmas was two weeks away. Every year, Neisha and I usually celebrated together, but not anymore. I guess I would end up spending it by myself unless something miraculously happened to set Alijah free. Life was not fair. This was the happiest that I had ever been in my entire life and that happiness was being threatened.
I called his lawyer every damn day. I wasn’t going to ease up on him. Shit, he was getting paid damn good, so I was going to let him work for every penny. He wanted me to convince Alijah to cop a plea. Now what kind of shit was he smoking? There was no way in hell I was going to help my man get life in prison.
* * *
I never met my grandma, but I heard a lot of good things about her. I heard she was a beautiful woman. I wished I had the privilege of meeting her. It was strange when I had a dream with her in it. I was at home in my living room sitting on the floor crying, and out of nowhere, this lady appeared and sat beside me. She gave me a warm smile; one that would warm up a cold room. I smiled back at her like we had met before. That’s when she put her arms around me and spoke in the most comforting tone I’d ever heard.
“Grandbaby, what’s the matter?”
“Nana, I’m scared for my friend.” I looked at her with eyes of a seven-year-old innocent child.
“Sugar, I see he’s a special friend to you, but you have to be strong for him. All your crocodile tears are not going to help him.”
I looked at her, trying to figure out what the hell she knew. This was back in the good old days; this was 2006. I kept my thoughts to myself, though.
“You have to be his backbone; fight for him. Put yo’ boxing gloves on. Grandbaby, sometimes you have to fight a little dirty to win the battle.”
“What are you saying, Grandmama?”
“Sugar, you are very smart young woman. You’ll figure it out.”
Before I could respond to her, my dream was interrupted by the telephone. I jumped out of my sleep, and like that, she was gone. That was some crazy shit because I had never met her. She died before I was born, but obviously, she was watching over me.
That was Mo’ blowing up my phone, but I wasn’t in the mood to talk. Instead, I sat there and pondered on what that dream meant.
* * *
I hadn’t been back to the International House of Beauty since the day that I left, but when I phoned Charley to ask him for a favor, I didn’t want to discuss it on the phone, so we decided to meet up at the shop. I honked the horn so he could come outside. I felt weird going up in there. Not that I had a problem, but Jazmine was still up in there, and it was too damn early to hear her damn mouth. Plus, I didn’t feel like answering all their damn questions.
“Hey, gurl, you look good.”
“You don’t look bad yo’ damn self,” I said to him.
“So, missy, what was so damn urgent? You know I’m a busy man.”
“I know, but if I didn’t need you, I wouldn’t have called you this early.”
“Gurlll, I heard about yo’ man. That’s some sad shit. You know all the niggas in Creighton was partying after he got locked up.”
“That’s a’ight. They gon’ get theirs.”
“Sierra, be careful now. I ’on’t want nothing to happen to you. You know I fucks wit’ yo’ crazy ass.”
“I know, boo, I fucks wit’ you too.”
“Gurl, I seen your friend . . . What’s her name . . . Neisha. Yea, she fuckin’ wit’ Jon Jon, and he got her all strung out on that crack.”
“What?” I asked, shocked as hell. “Stop lying. She’s not getting high. You trippin’.”
“Bitch, if I’m lying, I’m flying. You know I got it straight from the nigga’s mouth.”
I knew he wasn’t lying. Now I knew why she was acting so strangely. I didn’t tell him that I whupped her ass, so I pretended like I hadn’t seen her in a while.
I took him for a drive. I didn’t want anyone to overhear our conversation.
“Listen, Charley, I need a big favor from you.”
“What, gurl, you need to borrow some money?” He gave me a fucked-up look.
“Nah, I’m good on that end, but seriously, I know you like guys, right?”
“Yea, no disrespect to y’all females, but y’all just not my cup of tea.”
“That’s cool, but I want you to fuck somebody for me for fifty grand.”
“Bitch, what you trying to do. Set me up?”
“Nah, but I wish you’d just shut up and listen.” I rolled my eyes. If I really didn’t need him, I would say fuck him and put him the fuck out of my car.
“All right, gurl, I’m all ears.”
“Listen, I know this dude I want you to put that dick o
n, but I need you to have it taped.”
“Bitch, what? You on some real freaky shit. I didn’t know you get down like that.”
“Not really, it’s strictly business. So, I’ll give you twenty-five grand up front and the rest when you give me the tape.”
“So, you are telling me that you will give me fifty grand to do what I love to do?”
“Exactly, but you got to be careful because he’s the fucking law. If he found out we’re setting him up, we’re going down for sure,” I warned.
“How do you know he’s gay, ’cause I don’t mess around wit’ no straight dude. I’m not ready to die yet.”
“No, I’m pretty sure he’s a faggot. Trust me, ain’t nothing straight about him.”
“So, now you going to tell me why you’re doing this. Don’t you think I have a right to know what’s going on?”
“All right, it’s the lame-ass prosecutor on Alijah’s case. He’s trying to give my man life, but I can’t just sit back and watch him go out like that. I just need evidence to get leverage over ole boy. I know he’s married with three kids, one of whom is playing ball for Virginia Tech. I been following him for days, and he frequents the gay club on Chamberlain Avenue. One night he left with a younger dude, and they went to the motel down the street. Two hours later, they reappeared. He wasn’t too cautious. I watched his every move, and I even followed him home.”
“I see you have it all figured out. Sierra, I knew you since you was a baby. The whole time you been talking, I was trying to figure out why I would put myself in this predicament, but I know you would ride for me. So, it’s not all about the money; it’s about me helping a friend out. Plus, I might really enjoy it,” he said while laughing his ass off. “Sierra, one more thing . . .”
“What?”
“You can’t utter a word about this to anyone. I mean no one, ’cause, for real, I fucks wit’ them niggas. They my little homies. I wouldn’t want word to get out there that I helped an outside nigga, especially a nigga that they beefing with. You know I’m a lover, not a fighter.”
Wifey Status Page 16