by Baker, T. N.
By the time Keisha finished getting processed it was too late to stand before a judge. Although it was late she decided to use her one phone call to call Mrs. Wright, she was certain she'd reach her. She explained her situation to Mrs. Wright and told her that she wouldn't know anything further regarding her release until the morning, which meant she had to spend the night in the bullpen. Keisha had never experienced such filth in her life, locked up with prostitutes, drug addicts, boosters and God only knew what else. It was a tight squeeze in the over-crowded cell. With one dingy stall in the corner, the men in the other cell directly across could see everything. The idea of having to stay in a place like this turned her stomach. There was one long wooden bench up against the wall that was so full, women were stretched out in the remaining three corners and all over the floor. With no place to rest, she though she'd be standing in that one spot for the remainder of the night.
"Here honey, come sit next to big Doris." A woman said, patting a small space next to her on the bench. Detecting Keisha hesitation she continued, "Come honey, I ain't gon' bite you, shit I got daughters your age." That made Keisha feel a little more at ease, hopefully Big Doris wasn't on no lesbo shit. She proceeded towards her.
"Thanks," Keisha said sitting down.
"No problem honey, what you in here for?" Big Doris asked.
"Ahhh ...I had a fight with this backstabbing bitch that stole my man." Keisha was still bitter. All of a sudden she noticed all the track marks and sores on every visible part of Big Doris's body.
"Honey you are too nice of a good looking girl to be fighting over some damn man. And I'm a tell you just like I tell my own girls 'if you got to fight over a man then he ain't yours.' Now look you in here and he's probably with that heifer." Keisha explained to Big Doris that the situation was much deeper, because they had a child together. Big Doris told her she understood and advised that if a situation calls for her to move on, then that's what she should do. Keisha revealed how Lea had betrayed her and that's when Big Doris changed her tune. "You should beat that bitch with a bat every time you see the hoe!" Keisha was enjoying her conversation with Big Doris, she had a great sense of humor, plus she knew a lot of shit about life.
Talking to her made the hours go by a little faster despite the fact that she would nod off for at least thirty seconds in between each sentence and pick at the nasty scabs on her arm and neck exposing the tendencies of a true dope fiend.
Finally, morning came and Keisha's name was called to stand before the judge. As soon a she entered the courtroom she spotted Mrs. Wright seated, hopefully waiting to take her home.
No doubt she was happy to she her, but she was also expecting Tucker to be present as well. Unfortunately that didn't happen and she couldn't hold back her tears from the pain she was feeling. The judge released her on her own recognizance and scheduled for her to appear back in court in three weeks.
CHAPTER 42
C-god continued to school his new student, Alpo, about the hustling game. Even though C-God was still getting high as kite, the two became kind of close. Alpo looked at him as somewhat of a mentor, while C-God viewed Alpo as his prodigy; he had heart, will and a hunger that could take him far. C-God wanted to help him prosper, but he needed something done for him first.
Alpo was down for C-God's revengeful plan. He ran the necessary questions by Alpo--had he ever caught a body before and whether or not he was afraid too. C wanted to personally see to it Ness's suffered, he also needed to know that if Alpo had to pull the trigger he wouldn't bitch up. Alpo assured him that he had his back. All C-God had to do was say when and how he wanted the shit to go down. C-god mapped out the whole thing weeks ago. Next, all he had to do was get a hold of Reggie, who was still ducking C-God calls, even though he left messages that it wasn't about money but rather another very important matter.
Reg figured he somehow got word that he and Tanya were in a relationship and he wasn't ready to face C with that yet. Once again he'd betrayed C-God, this time falling in love with one of his baby mothers and he didn't know how he was going to explain that. C-god asked him to look after her and now they were living together. In order for his plan to be carried out C-God was willing to ignore Reggie's shitting on him. He needed him as an inside connect and felt Reggie owned him that much.
CHAPTER 43
Epiphany replayed that deadly night over and over again in her head for the last couple of days. It was clear now, Ness was the one responsible for Malikai's death and her being shot. Focused on noting but her newfound recollection, Wild's phone calls were the only thing that made her feel better. He would phone her whenever he got a break from the music just to let her know she was in his thoughts Their relationship was quickly growing strong and he made it clear that he wanted to take things to the next level by asking her to come live with him. Epiphany wasted no time giving him her answer, she excitingly blurted out
"Yes" without putting any thought into it. She didn't care whether or not it was too soon or if it would even work out. Love had nothing to do with it. All she wanted was to leave the hood and to live her life in a rich man's world. But first, as much as her gut was telling her to move on and put her past behind her, she just couldn't until Ness paid for what he did to her and Malikai. After putting as much thought into it as she possibly could, she phone Shana.
"What's up." Shana answered recognizing Epiphany's number from the caller id.
"Shana listen, I've been thinking about what you said and your right, that son of a bitch has to pay for trying to take my life away."
"So what, you ready to fuck with Smitty?" Shana questioned.
"Yeah if he's the one that could help me?"
"Hell yeah, he's the one, plus he got it bad for you, E. All you gotta do is get the nigga open and I'm telling you he'll probably do what whatever you want him to."
"But, if Ness is his boy, how am I gonna get him to get at 'em for me?" Epiphany asked.
"Come on E, good pussy can make a nigga do anything. This is me you talking too and I know you know how too put it down for your crown. Just manipulate the shit out of his ass and make him think you feeling him like that, then set him up for the kill."
"A'ight, I got you."
"Cool, I'ma set it up, so expect his call a'ight!"
"Okay!" Ending the call Epiphany felt jitters, she was a little nervous about the plan, 'It has to work,' she thought, 'because nobody fucks over Epiphany Janee Wright and gets away with it'.
Shana wasted no time getting on it. As soon as she got off the phone with Epiphany, she phoned Smitty and made arrangements to meet with him at IHOP for breakfast. He agreed. Shana got up, showered and dressed. On her way out the door she glance over and rolled her eyes disgusted with K.C. He was on the couch were he's been sleeping for the past couple of nights, since she began her silent treatment. When she got in her car she turned on her cell phone and retrieved the six messages that were waiting for her.
Message one: "Yeah bitch, I see you trying to front on me huh? A'ight hoe, I'ma see you!" Message two: "Yo Cream, I see your sheisty ass really ain't trying to get me outta here, huh?
Watch your back bitch!" Message three: "Shana Scott how bout this, you can ignore my calls all you want, but my peoples will be seeing you, a'ight!" Messages four, five and six were pretty much the same. Raina went from calling her Cream to her government name and admitted she knew who her man was and where they lived. Now, Shana was starting to fret. She pulled up to the IHOP, went inside and was seated. Of course, Smitty had her waiting for over thirty minutes and when he arrived he was freshly dipped in a Rocawear sweatsuit, all white uptowns, a pair of at least 4 caret diamond earrings and a platinum link chain with an iced out Jesus head on it (Shana never understood how a nigga out to do so much dirt could walk around sporting Jesus on a chain). 'Look at this character,' she thought, pissed off assuming that her money probably paid for all his shit.
"Sha-money, what up girl?" Smitty smiled as he slid into the booth next to her.
"What's up, why you always gotta keep a bitch waiting, huh?"
"Yo, what's up? Oh wait, let me order some food first--a nigga starving." Smitty looked at the menu, disregarding her attitude and her question. The two ordered breakfast before Shana began to conduct business.
"Listen, I know you heard that the police ran up in Honey's and shut shit down, right?" Shana asked.
"Nah, when this happened?" Shana knew he was lying, but didn't call him on it, she just continued on about Raina getting caught up in the sweep.
"A'ight, so why is you telling me?" Smitty questioned.
"I'm telling you 'cause the bitch is locked the fuck up and she's making threats to snitch me out. Her bail is 5g's and I ain't got it and if I ain't got that, then you know I ain't got the money to keep paying your fucking ass for that bullshit you got on me.
Don't you think we played this game long enough? Me and K.C.
ain't working out, but I'm willing to do you a favor if you could front me the money for Raina's bail and after I pay you back we're even." Smitty laughed at her.
"What kind of favor you gon' do for me that's gonna cost me 5g's. That shit sounds funnier than a muthafucka!" He said.
"Anyway what's up with your E connect. Honey's ain't the only strip joint you could sell them shits at?"
"I know that, but my connect ain't fucking with me no more.
The last time I went to checked him he told me that that was my last play 'cause he was giving it up and moving to Vegas." Shana lied, truth be told she didn't want to do it anymore, but she knew if she told Smitty that, his greed would get in the way. She no longer cared about him telling K.C. about Chasity, besides Chasity had a man now. But, she knew that Smitty would dig up some more dirt to hold against her because he's that kind of nigga. She wanted all debts settled.
"Oh word, so if that stripper bitch ain't get knocked you still would of been ass out huh?" Smitty asked.
"Yeah I guess, but at least I would of had the doe she made for the week. Anyway, that's neither here nor there--do we got a deal or not?" Shana questioned.
"Yo, I ain't hear no deal? What I'm giving you 5g's for and why you ain't ask my man K.C.?"
"Cause he's the reason I ain't got it! Remember, ya'll little investment? Don't worry, as soon as I get my cut from him, I give you my word, I'll give it back to you. You feeling my homegirl, Epiphany, right? I could hook that up for you, you know wash my back and I'll wash yours!"
"Get the fuck out of here," he laughed. "You want me to pay you for that. Yo, she already tried that. And I'ma tell you like I told her, 'The kid don't pay for no pussy' A'ight, yo!"
"I'm not asking you to pay for nothing, are you listening? I said loan! C'mon Smitty, one good deed deserves another. You been hitting my pockets hard. There's gotta be a reason why you wanted me to hook you and Epiphany up, so what is it? You already hit it, so why don't you just step to her again?"
"Yo, shit went sour between us--that's all." "So, she don't remember shit about you." Shana said.
"For real, that shit's really true about her losing her memory?"
"Yeah."
"No bullshitting?"
"Nah, no bullshit, so that means whatever happened between ya'll don't even matter. You got a clean slate homie." Shana assured him.
"So shit, I could holla at her myself then." Smitty respond.
"Yeah you could, but she kind of leery about fucking with around the way niggas now. I'll let her know shit is cool and you'se my nigga, so she might rock with you."
"It's like that, with just your word. K.C. told me ya'll ain't rock like that no more."
"He don't know what the fuck he be talking about. First off, the nigga stay too busy fucking other bitches to know who I'm cool with. Epiphany is my girl, we been cool for over ten years.
You trying to holla at her or what?"
"Well, I don't know what you talking about as far as my man with other girls, but yeah I'm trying to swing with that." Smitty tried his best to cover up for K.C.
"A'ight cool," Shana ignored his bold face lie. "So, when you gon' give me the money?" She continued.
"When you hook that up!"
"Come on Smitty, don't fucking try to play me."
"Yo, I'm not. I'm trying to get at her." Smitty said.
"Then when you give me the money, I'll call her, so you could do that."
"What you don't trust me?" Shana didn't answer, she just gave him a look. 'Nigga that's an understatement.'
"A'ight, a'ight." He got the message. I'll have it for you later on today. When I call you be ready to meet up, a'ight? Smitty got up from the table and left, leaving her stuck with the bill. Shana just shook her head. 'What a desperate thirsty muthafucka!'
CHAPTER 44
It took everything Mrs. Wright had in her to convince Keisha not to go back over to Tucker's house and confront Lea. She told Keisha that she needed to cool out for a couple of days, then take the police over there to get her son. Keisha agreed, but the thought of her son being around another women ate away at her.
Blocking her number she called the house. The phone rang three times before Lea answered.
"Hello."
Keisha fumed with anger when she heard that bitch answer the phone, but she tried hard to keep her composure because she didn't want to get hung up on.
"Can I please speak to Tucker? She asked grinding her teeth and breathing heavy. Lea wasn't going to hang up because she wanted the opportunity to rub her shit in Keisha's face.
"Do you mean my Tucker or your little rugrat?"
"What did you just say, bitch!" Keisha yelled.
"You heard what I said Keisha. Are you calling for my man or that fucking little brat of yours." Lea taunted.
"I know, Tucker must not be there because if he heard you talking about our son like that-- that's right I repeat our son-- your ass would be out of there so fast, bitch." "Oh, you think so? You know what, Keisha, your such a stupid ass little hoe. You fell right into my trap, dummy. I set the whole thing up. You ever wonder why you got tipsy so fast, hum?
I spiked your drink with Ez-lay and you got laid. The Damager's a male prostitute, a gigolo. It only cost me $300 to destroy your perfect little relationship."
"You fucking bitch! Why would you do that to me? What did I ever do to you besides trust you as my friend." Keisha couldn't control the sadness in her voice.
"Honestly, Keisha, it had nothing to do with you. I met Tucker way before I even knew who you were. I liked him, but he told me that he had a girl that he loved so he couldn't get down like that. At first I was pissed off, I felt rejected and I let it go. Then fate would have it, I ended up going to the same col-lege and becoming friends with you. Funny thing is, I didn't even realize who you were when you started yapping your gums about how good Tucker was and the lavish wedding you were planning. That is, until you showed me his picture. I wanted to tell you I knew him, but then you started complaining about all the problems you were having with him. That was the break I needed. And you know what Keisha, you were right, the sex is incredible. Keisha was appalled, enraged and speechless. She sat lifeless listening to Lea humiliate her. Tucker walked in and Lea switched it up, quick fast. "Oh honey your just in time.
Keisha's on the phone. Here, let me take lil' man, so you two can talk, okay baby? No honey, talk to her for lil' man's sake, you have too." Tucker must have refused to talk to her cause all she heard next was the dial tone. From that point on, Keisha realized she was up against a real live one and she needed to get her son A.S.A.P. She cried on Mrs. Wright shoulder for half the night. She could use all the motherly love and moral support she could get, since she was holding a grudge and refused to speak to her own mother after allowing Tucker to take her son. After explaining the whole scenario to Epiphany's mom, she suggested Keisha get a police escort to help her retrieve her son. The next morning she did just that, but Tucker had a surprise for her. He handed the officer court papers. He already filed for temporary custody of thei
r son citing abandonment on Keisha's part.
"Well ma'am there's nothing I can do," the officer said.
Tucker had already shut the door in their faces. Keisha wondered how she ever loved him. With the police standing right there she couldn't blackout, that would defiantly land her back behind bars. Having no other choice, she went home and cried her heart out to Tiara.
"The Lord would never put more on you then you could bear." Mrs. Wright sat on the bed next to Keisha with a box of Kleenex and her bible. "Maybe he was just a little unhappy with your behavior and this is just his way of getting your attention."
'God, Why are you doing this to me? I have nothing, no one,'
Keisha would rather be dead then to live without her son.
CHAPTER 45
Smitty kept his word. Two hours after he left her at breakfast they met up and he had the 5g's for Shana. Surprised that he really came through, Shana was even more shocked that he was going so hard at the chance to fuck with Epiphany again. If that's what it took to get Raina out of jail and keep his ass off her back she would of hooked him up a long time ago. It was time to keep her end of the bargain. She dialed Epiphany, but after a few rings her voicemail picked up. Shana ended the call and dialed her back again still ending up with the same result--her voicemail.
Smitty was starting to get a little uptight, thinking that Shana was trying to pull a fast one on him.