I was lucky there was no backed-up traffic this morning. I got to the courthouse about five minutes before court was scheduled to start. I parked and walked hurriedly into the courthouse. As soon as I walked through the metal detector, I spotted his mother. “Good morning, Ma. Sorry I’m late.”
“Hey, honey.” She kissed me on the cheek.
“Is the lawyer here yet?”
“No. I didn’t see anyone in the courtroom except the bailiff.”
“I had the worst freaking morning. They came and took the kids.”
“Who took the kids?” She looked at me for clarification.
“Ayana knocked on the door, asking for the kids. I told her no, and closed my door. Next thing I know the police was knocking on the door. I thought about not opening up the door, but the last thing I need is to get locked up.”
“Are you fucking serious? Please excuse my French. That bitch not gonna stop until I beat her ass. She keeps fucking with me and my damn son. I have a strong feeling she the one who set them people on Micah. I told his ass long time ago to stop fucking with her ass,” she said in a high-pitched tone. She started crying.
I moved closer and wrapped my arms around her. She held on to me. I could feel this lady’s pain because I was hurting also. I knew I had to remain strong, but right now I didn’t how!
I looked up and saw the lawyer walking toward the courtroom. “Mr. Pocasso.” I let her go and called the lawyer over.
“Good morning, Mrs. Caldwell-Brown.”
“Good morning. This is Miss Debra, Micah’s mother. I tried to reach you all yesterday, but I got no response. I even texted you a few times.”
“Yes, sorry about that. I was handling a heavy workload yesterday. But I did make it down to the jail to talk with Mr. Brown.”
“So what’s going on? ’Cause I’m lost.”
“Well, the state claims they have an enormous amount of evidence against him. I’ve yet to see what they’re talking about. I also learned there was a confidential informant who is working closely with the drug force. I will be filing a motion for discovery to get a better understanding of what evidence they have against him.”
“They ain’t got shit. I know my husband and I do know he wasn’t in them streets anymore. They’re trying to frame him for real.”
“We have to go in the courtroom right now, but we’ll talk some more after court.”
I nodded and followed him into the courtroom. Micah’s mother followed closely and rubbed my back as we walked into the room. I took a seat right behind the attorney. I wanted to hear everything that was going to be said.
I was looking down, trying to keep my emotions under wraps. When I finally lifted my head up, I saw the bailiff walking Micah out. He spotted me as soon as he walked in. He looked at me and mouthed, “I love you.”
“I love you, babe,” I mouthed back. My husband didn’t look like himself! He looked stressed out. I wished I could hug him and let him know it was going to be all right. I hoped!
“All rise, the district court of DeKalb County, Criminal Division is now in session. The Honorable Judge Preston is residing. Please be seated,” the bailiff said.
“Your Honor, calling docket number 456783: State of Georgia versus Anthony Micah Brown. Five counts of possession with the intent to distribute, drug trafficking across state lines, possession of a firearm during drug trafficking, maintaining a drug dwelling, conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine.”
I stopped listening, because it was becoming a little too much for my mind. I lowered my head and breathed slowly. I tried to tune out everything. I didn’t want to hear all the lies that were being told about my husband.
“Bond is denied,” definitely got my attention.
“What do you mean, no bond? He has a family, and he ain’t trying to run anywhere,” I stood up and blurted out.
“Ma’am, please be quiet. Bailiff, if she doesn’t sit down and remain silent, please remove her from the courtroom.”
Micah’s mother grabbed my hand. I looked at Micah. He looked at me and shook his head no. I knew he didn’t like what I just did, but I swear, I couldn’t take it anymore. I grabbed my hand away from his mother and ran out of the courtroom. I didn’t stop running until I got to my car.
I collapsed onto the seat, crying uncontrollably. I couldn’t believe they denied bond. My husband wasn’t no criminal. I knew this man; they didn’t! I laid my head on the steering wheel and just let the tears flow loosely.
Bang! Bang!
I lifted my head up, quickly wiping snot from my nose. I noticed a thick-ass female standing by my window. My first instinct told me she was a bitch Ant was fucking. I swear I wasn’t in the mood. Nevertheless, I let my window down. “Yes,” I said in between sobs.
“Hi, my name is Lori. I was in the court. Mari is my boyfriend and he is Ant’s codefendant.”
I looked at her like, “Okay, so what the fuck you want?”
“I never met you, but I’ve heard so much about you. I was wondering if we could talk for a few.”
I thought about it, then agreed. I grabbed a tissue out of my bag and wiped my face. I opened my door and stepped out. I was still being cautious because I didn’t know if this bitch was a friend or a foe. “So what you want to talk about?”
“I want you to know I know exactly what you’re going through. Mari and Ant are good friends. Anyway I used to be friends with Ayana and—”
“I don’t want to discuss that bitch, so if she sent you I don’t wanna hear that shit.” I turned to get back in my car.
“No, wait.” She grabbed my arm. “I think you’ll want to hear what I have to say.”
“You got five minutes.” I turned back around and folded my arms.
“Like I said, Ayana and I were friends. A few months ago, we’re talking and she blurted out how she tried to kill you.”
She definitely grabbed my attention with that statement. I’d suspected that she did it, but up until now I had no proof. “So why are you telling me this if she’s your girl?”
“A few weeks ago, I caught her fucking Mari in my bed. We fought and she was angry. It’s kind of strange that all of a sudden Ant and his crew is locked up. They did a huge bust even at spots that no one outside of me and Ayana knew about. I know damn well I didn’t tell nobody, so that leaves her.”
As I stood there listening, something that Dominique said to me the day her daddy got locked up played back in my head.
“Are you okay?” She touched my arm.
“Yes, just thinking about something.”
“Well, like I said, I don’t think it’s coincidence. I swear that bitch better not let me catch her ass. Mari suspect it’s her ass too.”
“You really think Ayana is that evil?”
“That bitch is scandalous. She is obsessed with Ant and will do any- and everything to get him back. I think she is over the edge because she see that she can’t break you and him up. I don’t know you, but I think you should be careful. Watch your back at all times.”
“Let me ask you a question, woman to woman; and I need you to be honest with me.”
“Sure, what’s up?”
“Was my husband still in them streets? Did he do all that shit they’re accusing him of?” I looked at her.
“Well, you know, Mari kept me out of his business, but yes, Ant still was the head nigga in charge. He wasn’t doing hand to hand after he met you, but he still call the shots. I know they were out there heavily. I can’t say they did all that and I can’t say they didn’t.”
“Thank you. I needed to know the truth.”
“Ant loves you and maybe was just trying to protect you from all of this.”
“Listen, I got to run, but put my number in your phone. Call me if you need to talk.”
I got into my car and pulled off. Everything I thought about that bitch was confirmed. The hardest part was finding out my husband was lying to me. Now it made sense, all those late nights and early mornings. I thought he was c
heating on me, when all along he was still running around in them streets. I was hurting because he deceived me.
It was time to pick up my son from daycare. It broke my heart that I couldn’t bring his daddy home. What would I tell my son? I took a long sigh and pulled into the daycare.
* * *
The next day after I dropped Baby Micah off with his grandma, I made my way to the DeKalb County Jail. Luckily it was Micah’s day to get visitors. I put on a little makeup to kind of take away the dullness from my face. I also made sure my hair was done. I didn’t want him to see me looking like hell. It was bad enough he was in that hell hole. I’d never been to jail before, but I’d heard enough horror stories. I was kind of happy that I was getting the chance to see him. I needed some sort of explanation to all this madness that was going on!
I parked and walked into the lobby. I hated being here, but a bitch had to do what she had to do. I swallowed hard and walked up to the front window to show my identification. I took a glance around. I noticed there were a bunch of females along with children seated, waiting for their names to be called. I shivered inside as I silently prayed this would be my one and only time going through this.
“Hello, I’m here to visit Anthony Brown.”
“Your ID,” she said with an attitude.
I pushed the ID in front of her. I didn’t give a fuck if this bitch was an officer; she needed some damn manners. She examined my ID, then gave it back. “Have a seat and listen for your name to be called.”
I took my ID up and walked away. I hoped she didn’t mind that I didn’t say thank you for nothing. I sat in the nearest seat available and tried my best to tune out everything that was going on around me.
Names after names were called. I was feeling anxious. I wondered what was taking so long for them to bring him out.
“Tiana Caldwell-Brown.”
“Here I go,” I said as I jumped up like I just won an award. I walked into the visiting area and anxiously looked around. I spotted my husband all the way toward the end. This shit was crazy. I couldn’t even touch him. He was behind glass, and we could only talk on the telephone. I walked over to him and grabbed the phone.
“What’s good, ma?” He looked deep into my eyes.
Without saying anything, the tears started to flow out. “Hey, boo,” I whispered in between the sobs.
“Damn, ma, you know how much I hate that! Yo, you killing me right now!”
I tried my best to control the tears. I then wiped my eyes. “Micah, what the hell is going on?” It was my turn to look him dead in his eyes.
“Ma, you know I can’t even talk to you the way I want to. But, I assure you, these charges are bogus.”
I didn’t say anything. I was good at reading people, and I was good at telling when my husband was lying to me. Only this time I couldn’t tell. All I saw in front of me was a broken man. That broke my heart more. I wished I could tell him it was going to be okay, but I couldn’t.
“Ma, listen to me! I need you to pay the lawyer and I want you to take care of you and little man. Please know your man is G, and I got this. You look like hell, so I know you been up worrying yourself to death. You need to chill out,” he said in a stern voice. “So how the girls and little man doing? I hate that they had to witness this shit the other day.”
I forgot he had no idea that bitch came and got the girls. There was no easy way to say it. “Ayana called the police and they came and got the girls,” I blurted out.
“What the fuck you mean, they came and got them?”
“You have shared custody with her, but you are locked up. I’m not related to them, so the police told me to hand them over.”
“Fuck! I’ma kill this bitch,” he yelled out as hit the wall.
“Boy, you better calm your ass down. Sitting up here talking like that.”
“Yo, B, my girls and my son are everything to me. This bitch keep playing with me. I’m already tight as fuck ’cause of that stunt that ho pulled the other day.”
“I understand all that, but you need to keep a level head so you can figure out how to get out of this case.”
“Man, these people ain’t got shit on me, B. I swear, that fuck nigga Detective Robinson been trying to pin some shit on me and my niggas for a while now.”
“I tell you what, you need to stop worrying about these niggas. You got your family; that’s who you need to be loyal to. For real,” I spat.
“Ma, chill out, a’ight?”
“Chill out? Do you have any idea how bad this shit is? You’re facing a lot of time, possibly life. And you telling me to chill out. I told your ass from day one I wasn’t with this shit.” I started to cry again.
“Ma, listen, I didn’t mean anything by that. Tiana, I love you and this shit is killing me, just seeing you hurting like this. Ma, please wipe them tears. I know this don’t mean a lot, but I want you to know I didn’t do anything to intentionally hurt you. I love you, ma, and truth is I have no idea how this shit going to turn out, but I need you to know that I love you with everything in me.” A few tears dropped from his eyes. He didn’t even try to wipe them away. Instead, he just them flow.
Seeing him like this did something to me. I knew he was hurting inside and, as his woman, I felt helpless. “I think Ayana switched on y’all!”
“What make you think that?”
“Because I do. I can’t say a lot right now, but I think so.”
“Visitation over,” I heard a guard yell.
“I love you. Please take care of yourself out there. Don’t trust none of these niggas or bitches out there. These motherfuckers are grimy as fuck.”
“I love you too and I already know that.”
“Let’s go,” another guard yelled.
“A’ight, ma. Kiss my li’l man for me.”
I walked off in a rush. I swear, I couldn’t take it anymore. Something had to give!
CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR
Tiana
I lay on the carpet in the living room, finishing up my sixth glass of Moscato. That visit earlier did a number on my heart. My chest tightened up on me as I wept silently. Just a few months ago, my life was not perfect, but it was somewhat normal. I should’ve known that things were not going to stay that way for long. As I lay there thinking and indulging in self-pity, I couldn’t help but think about the bitch who started it.
Yes, that bitch Ayana. This bitch shot me and now I knew she was bragging about it. I also bet my life on it that she was the confidential informer they talked about. My body temperature started to rise and my hatred for that ho intensified. I took one last gulp of the wine. Wicked thoughts were invading my mind. I tried to block them out but I couldn’t. I thought about killing myself to stop the pain, but I couldn’t leave my baby without a mother.
“Micah, I need you, baby! I swear I need you,” I cried out.
I slowly got up and walked up the stairs. I was about to grab my gun; instead, I ran to Micah’s drawer. I wasn’t sure, but I thought he’d always kept a gun in his drawer. It was my lucky day; there was a .380 up under his underwear. What else this nigga has in the house? Now wasn’t the time to go snooping. I grabbed my oversized sun hat and a pair of my Gucci glasses.
I then ran down the stairs and looked around. Micah kept a gasoline can. I found it and grabbed the lighter.
On my way to this bitch’s house my mind was blank. My cell phone kept ringing, but I didn’t want to talk to anyone. I was on a mission.
I parked by the curb and looked around, grabbed the gasoline can, and then I got out. I ran up the driveway. I almost stumbled. I was drunk, but that didn’t stop me from making my way up the driveway. I knocked on the door, and waited.
“Who is it?”
“It’s your neighbor from three houses down. I need to talk to you about a few break-ins in the neighborhood,” I said in my best elderly voice.
“I didn’t hear about no brea—” She opened the door.
“That’s right, bitch, there are no break-
ins.” I pushed the door with all my might. I almost fell on my face.
“Bitch, what the fuck you doing at my house? You must come for another ass whupping.” She took a step toward me.
“Back the fuck up, bitch!” I pulled the gun out of my purse and pointed it to her head.
“Hold up! What the fuck you think you’re doing? Put that shit down, bitch.”
“See, that’s your problem, Ayana; you always think everything is a joke. No, bitch, this ain’t no joke.” I took a step closer to her.
“Man, T, we sisters, boo. You goin’ to let dick come between us? This me, T.”
“Bitch, you ain’t my motherfucking sister. Matter of fact, you ain’t shit to me for real.” Slap! Slap! Slap! I slapped her across her face three times with the butt of the gun. That bitch grabbed her face and fell to her knees.
“No, get up, bitch! I begged you to leave me and my man alone, but you kept bothering us.” I used my foot to kick her ass dead in the face.
“Oh my God, you trying to kill me! I swear, bitch, you better not let me live. I’m going to beat your motherfucking ass,” she said through clenched teeth and leapt toward me, knocking me to the ground. I regained my footing and aimed the gun at her.
“I didn’t plan on it!” Pop! Pop! Pop! I squeezed the trigger and fired into that bitch’s face and torso. In that split second, I went from being a wife and mother to a cold-blooded killer!
“Help me,” she managed to say before falling backward, knocking a lamp to the ground. “Help me, sister,” she said while gasping for air.
I stooped down beside her. “Nah, bitch, the only person who can help you is God.” I stood up and put the gun to her forehead and squeezed the trigger.
I quickly grabbed the gasoline can and started sprinkling gas everywhere. I was nervous, so my hand was trembling. I tried not to get any on me. I then walked into the living room and sprinkled some on the couch and the carpet. I checked her pulse; she was dead. I threw the rest on her. I then lit the fire. The smell of flesh burning quickly illuminated my brain. I needed to get out of there.
I nervously opened the door and slowly walked down the hill and got into my car. I slowly eased off her street; then I picked up the pace. I looked in my rearview mirror and I could see fire and smoke spreading. I should’ve felt nervous, but no, I felt relieved. I felt like a big weight had lifted off my shoulders.
Your Man Chose Me Page 24