by Honey
“Yes, I remember, Mink. Anyway, I’m hanging up now. My supporters are partying without me. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“You mean to tell me you’d rather party with—”
Josiah leaned back in his chair and looked up at the ceiling after hanging up on Mink. He didn’t want to hear another word of her bullshit. Out of anger and frustration, heavy teardrops escaped from the corners of his eyes. Mink was so fucking selfish. The reelection bid her drug addiction could have very well ruined for him meant nothing to her. Hell, her daughters obviously weren’t important to her either because she didn’t even ask about them. Mink, Mink, Mink . . . Everything was all about her. No one and nothing else mattered. Josiah hated to admit even to himself, but Mink was like poison. She was a dangerous woman. Because of her, a man was dead, Treasure was emotionally fragile, and he had damn near had a heart attack.
Josiah wiped his eyes dry and sat up straight in the chair. It was his night, damn it! He had busted his ass to win a second term as mayor while working for the citizens of Atlanta and taking care of his daughters. If anyone deserved a strong drink and a couple of spins on the dance floor, it was him. So, he left the office and returned to the big room in the headquarters where the music was still pumping, and folks were dancing. There was plenty of good food, and the bar was still open. Electricity was in the air, and Josiah wanted to enjoy every minute until the end.
* * *
“Hell nah! I ain’t pleading to a damn thing. I didn’t kill nobody and—”
“Shut the hell up, Mink!” Josiah slammed his palm hard on the table. He leaned over and through gritted teeth, growled, “Your bloody fingerprints were all over the dead man’s back pocket and wallet, which means you removed it and took cash from it after he had been assaulted. What you should’ve done was called an ambulance and the police. But because you chose to rob a severely beaten dead man instead of reporting the crime, you now look guilty of accessory to murder and aiding and abetting—at the very least.”
“Your husband is right, Mrs. Bishop,” Attorney Cassius Wyatt confirmed. “It’s your word against Brett Searcy’s. He said you killed Mr. Murchison, but the evidence indicates otherwise. Your fingerprints were nowhere on the murder weapon or any of the stolen items recovered from the stolen duffle bag found in the motel room in Buffalo. Therefore, I’m confident I can successfully defend you against the murder charge and armed robbery. But the conspiracy, accessory to murder, and aiding and abetting charges will be much harder to beat.”
“So, what does that mean?” The sound of Mink’s fingernails scraping against her scalp, chin, and neck was annoying as hell.
“I’m sorry, but you’re going to serve some time in prison, Mrs. Bishop. I’ll do my damnedest to try to get the charges reduced to the minimum based on your cooperation with the DA to help nail Searcy’s ass, but you’ll serve some time in the end.”
“For what? I didn’t do anything.”
“Mink, you participated in a drug deal. That’s a crime of possession. Corey Slade, the guy who sold you the drugs, has already confessed and made a deal with the prosecution. He’s going to testify to the fact that when he left Murchison’s apartment, you were on the sofa and Brett Searcy was in the back rummaging. You can’t deny it because video footage confirms that Corey Slade left the apartment building twenty-nine minutes before you did and Searcy left sixteen minutes after you, carrying the duffle bag found in the motel room in Buffalo.”
“So, I bought some drugs. Okay, I’ll plead to that. What else?”
Mink’s attorney cleared his throat. “You witnessed a murder, and instead of reporting it to the authorities, you chose to leave the scene of the crime with the murderer, who, by your own admission, didn’t threaten or force you to do so. And then you assisted him in flight and stayed in hiding with him until the Buffalo authorities apprehended you as a person of interest in the murder and armed robbery committed in New York City. You committed a long list of misdemeanors too, but you only need to be concerned with the heavy stuff.”
For the first time since Josiah and his law school buddy, Cassius, had arrived at the jail, Mink seemed cognizant. The reality of the seriousness of her situation had finally struck her like a powerful bolt of lightning. Josiah saw it in her eyes the moment realization finally settled in, and with the realization came a heavy flow of tears.
“I didn’t kill my friend, and I didn’t call Brett and that white dude over to his apartment to kill him either. I just wanted some drugs. I never meant for Brett to kill Norm M., but I was too high to stop him, JoJo. I swear to God. And the only reason why I went with that asshole to Buffalo and hid out with him in that motel was because I didn’t know what else to do. The police were going to find Norm M.’s body soon, and I knew they would blame me for his murder. I was scared, so I ran away with Brett.”
“I believe you, Mink, but Cassius is going to have one hell of a time convincing a judge and a jury that you bear no guilt at all in the case.”
“I think I can debunk the conspiracy charge because according to Murchison’s administrative assistant, he left his office on a whim that day because, by mistake, he’d left a DVD he needed at his apartment. He told everyone he would be back in less than an hour.”
Mink’s eyes lit up. “I had no idea Norm M. was coming home in the middle of the day. I was surprised to see him. So, if I didn’t know ahead of time he was going to be at his apartment, how could I have set him up for Brett to kill him?”
“You couldn’t have,” Josiah answered.
“That’s true. As I said, I believe I can squash that charge. Accessory to murder and aiding and abetting are on a whole other level, especially since y’all ran and hid out together like Bonnie and Clyde. I’ll do my best, though, Mrs. Bishop. Now, let’s talk about your first appearance before the judge.”
* * *
Between the crying baby and the out-of-control withdrawal symptoms, Mink felt like she had one foot in the grave and the other one in a pile of shit. And the fact that she was facing the possibility of ten to fifteen years in prison was messing with her head too. Every woman on lockdown had witnessed her at her worst, but she was too depressed to give a flying fuck. Because she couldn’t keep any food or liquids on her stomach, Mink had vomited in the middle of the floor in the dining hall. A lot of hungry inmates were pissed the hell off with her for ruining their delicious dinner of Spam sandwiches, stale potato chips, and applesauce. And as if puking up an entire meal wasn’t enough, Mink fainted before she could make her way out of the dining hall and back to her cell.
Even in semiconsciousness, Mink had heard the inmates cursing and complaining out loud about how disgusting she was for emptying her belly in the middle of the floor. Some were accusing her of pretending to have fainted. If only they’d known how terrible she’d felt, they would’ve shut the hell up and finished eating the slop on their plates.
That was the last thought Mink had before her stomach churned and complete darkness covered her again.
Chapter Fifty-five
“Ethan, it’s Mink. I’ve been calling you for three days. Didn’t your sister give you my messages?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, why didn’t you call me back? I’ve been waiting by the phone all this time.”
“Mink, we just settled in the city, and I’m preparing for college. Things are a little complicated right now.”
“I know, but I’ve got enough money for my flight to Oklahoma and some extra for a cheap motel room for a few days. I’ll find a job as soon as I get there so when I move into the apartment with you and your roommates, I’ll be able to chip in on the bills. And I’ll work up until the day I have the baby. I hope I can come soon because my parents have already made an appointment at the clinic on base for me to have an abortion.”
“That might be the best thing for you. An abortion, that is.”
“No, Ethan! Why would say that? Don’t you still love me?”
“Damn it, Mink, I don�
�t know! I mean, everything was cool while I was in Germany, but things are different here. I’ll start college in two weeks, and you’re only fifteen. How am I supposed to take care of you and a baby?”
Mink recoiled like she’d been doused with ice water. She couldn’t believe the change in Ethan’s attitude since he’d left Germany. The pain in her heart was unbearable. “Ethan, you told me you loved me, and you wanted this baby. It was your idea for me to leave Germany and move to Oklahoma so we could get married and raise our baby together.”
“Things have changed, Mink, so get over it! My parents don’t want us together, and they never did. And they don’t want a black grandbaby.”
“Ethan! How could you do this to me? I believed in you. I thought you really loved me.”
“Well, you thought wrong because I don’t! Now, stop calling me!”
“Noooo! Please don’t make me! Please, Daddy! I don’t want to do it! I want my baby! Noooo!”
“Wake up, Mrs. Bishop. You’re having a bad dream. Everything is okay now. Open your eyes, sweetie. Wake up.”
Mink’s eyes fluttered open and focused on the woman standing above her cot. Through tear-filled eyes, she made out her face. She had the most beautiful blue eyes, and her straight, blond hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail.
“I’m Libby Jordan, the nurse practitioner on call here. You’re in the jail’s infirmary. Tell me what happened in the dining hall this afternoon.”
“My stomach was upset, but I was hungry. So, I ate dinner and drank some water. It made me feel worse. I tried to run when my stomach started bubbling, but I wasn’t fast enough. I threw up and passed out.”
“Your body is responding to the absence of drugs. I saw the track marks on your arms. How long have you been addicted to heroin, and when was the last time you used it?”
“I’ve used on and off for almost three years now, but I haven’t had anything but alcohol in my system in four days.”
“Would you like to speak with a counselor and attend NA meetings while you’re here?”
“No. I’m leaving Friday. My husband is going to pay my bail to get me out of here, regardless of how high it is.”
“Okay. I’m going to run an IV to get some fluids and nutrients in your body and keep you in here overnight for observation. Hopefully, you’ll feel better in the morning.”
* * *
“When are you coming home, Daddy?”
“Tomorrow night, sweetheart.”
“Are you going to bring surprises for Treasure and me?”
“Of course, I’ll bring special treats for my two favorite girls.”
“Thank you, Daddy. I love you.”
“Daddy loves you more. Now, put Miss Gypsie back on the phone.”
“Okay.”
“Hello?”
“Hey, Gypsie. How are the girls doing with home studies?”
“Gem is doing well. Treasure is struggling because she’s not happy. She’s missing her friends. I’m going to call their parents to see if we can get the gang together for a play date.”
“That’s a good idea.”
“I thought you would approve.”
Cassius walked into his office with an iPad in his hand. Jack, his, paralegal followed him inside and closed the door.
“Mink’s lawyer just walked in, so I’ve got to hang up now. I’ll check in with you and the girls this evening.”
“Okay, Josiah. We’ll talk later.”
He ended the call and put his cell phone on vibrate before he placed it inside his breast pocket. “What’s going on, Cash Money?”
Cassius sat behind his desk. “We just left the district attorney’s office, trying to come to an agreement on the case. It’s not looking too good for your wife, JoJo.”
“I’m listening.”
“The DA wants Searcy’s ass bad, and he has no problem sacrificing Mink to get him. He’s willing to throw everything out the window on her except the aiding and abetting charge. If Mink will plead guilty to that and cooperate with the DA, he assured me she’d only serve seven years.”
“And if she refuses?”
Cassius exhaled out loud with obvious displeasure. “He’ll go after her for accessory to murder and aiding and abetting a felon. That means she can do twenty-five to life, JoJo. No less. I expect him to ask the judge for the highest bail possible. And Mink can forget about leaving the state of New York before her trial. No judge will allow her to leave the state. The worst of it is I can’t guarantee you a win. I’m a damn good defense attorney. Shit, I’m the best, but this case is complicated.”
“Damn!” Josiah rubbed both hands down the length of his face. “Mink is so freaking stubborn and explosive. And to top it off, she’s a chronic, hard-core heroin addict. I can’t imagine her humbling herself to take the plea deal.”
“Why not?”
“Because she’s selfish as hell! She’ll expect me to bail her out, rent a place for her to stay in up here while she awaits trial, and bankroll her defense. I can’t do that, Cassius. It would break me, and that’s not fair to my little girls. And what if she violates the terms of her bond? I’ll lose even more. I can’t risk it, man, I just can’t.”
“Then don’t.”
Cassius and Josiah looked at Jack after he spoke up for the first time.
“Tell your wife she doesn’t have a choice but to take the deal. If she refuses, make it clear to her that she’s on her own. That’s what my family had to do with my cousin. We stepped back and let him hit rock bottom when he kept dragging us through the mud with his cocaine addiction. And when no one was around to help him, he had to help himself. Now, he’s been clean and sober seventeen years. Dude is married with three great kids and pastoring a church in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.”
“I’ll give it my best shot to convince Mink to take the deal, but if she decides to go to trial and fight, she’ll do it without my help. As her husband and the father of her children, I’ll give her all the emotional support I can. But I can’t invest any more money or resources, especially not on a legal gamble. I’m all tapped out.”
Cassius stood up. “Let’s roll. Jack made a three o’clock appointment for a client-attorney meeting with your wife at the jail. I’ll explain the terms of the plea deal, but you’ve got to persuade her to take it.”
* * *
After giving Mink a very thorough and detailed rundown of the plea deal the DA had offered her, Cassius stood from the table and looked down on her with sympathy in his eyes. “I’m going to leave you and JoJo alone to talk. I’ll see you in court in the morning.”
Mink wiped her eyes and blew her nose on her husband’s monogrammed handkerchief before she nodded her head. “Fine.”
A teary-eyed Josiah stared at his wife from across the table. He felt like a failure and less than a man because he hadn’t been able to save her from herself. She was his soul mate, his babies’ mama, and his partner for life. He’d sworn to protect her and take care of her until death, but he had fallen short, and it was sucking his soul out of his body.
“Mink, the plea deal is your best option. Believe me. It really is.” He reached across the table to hold her hand.
“It’s the best option for who?” She snatched her hand from Josiah’s grip. “You want me to spend seven years of my life in prison away from you and my babies like I’m off on a goddamn extended vacation? Fuck that! If you were a real man and a devoted husband, you would stand by my side and fight for me! I am your wife, JoJo! Whatever happened to love and cherish in sickness and in health ’til death do us part, huh? Who are you trying to get rid of me for? Some bitch you’ve been fucking while I was trying to get my life together? You’re a dirty, low-down motherfucker! You ain’t shit!”
“Mink, I have been faithful to you our entire marriage, and I’ve supported you 110 percent through your drug bullshit. You have no idea how much money I’ve shelled out on rehab centers, therapy, and medications for you, Mink.” He wiped tears and mucus from his face wi
th his palm. “When Treasure cries for her mommy, I comfort her. I attend school meetings when other children tease Gem because you’re on drugs. I have done everything I can do for you, and I’ve given you my all. There is nothing more I can do or give, Mink.”
“You ain’t broke, nigga. Put up the house! Hell, take out a loan. You’re supposed to do any and everything in your power to help me. I’m your wife!”
Josiah shook his head with tears streaming down his face. “I’m sorry, but I can’t do it. I can’t.”
“Well, don’t bring your black ass to court tomorrow then. If you ain’t coming with your checkbook ready to bail me out, don’t show up at all. I don’t want to see your face if you ain’t willing to make the sacrifice to pay my lawyer to take me to trial and fight for my innocence! You know damn well I didn’t do anything wrong. Humph, but you want me to take a goddamn plea deal. Get the fuck out of here!”
Josiah stood up, pushed his chair under the table, and walked toward the door.
“That’s right! Take your raggedy, selfish, cheap ass home! Run on back to Atlanta where you belong! You care more about your voters than you care about your own damn wife. I gave up my career so you could rise in politics, and you pay me back by letting me go to prison for seven motherfucking years. I hate your punk ass! I hope you die!”
Once he made it outside the room and closed the door on Mink’s vulgar rant, Josiah broke down. Regardless of the pain in his heart, he knew he had done right by Mink. She hated him now, but one day, she would have to confess to herself if to no one else that she had married a faithful and loving man who had done his best to honor his wedding vows to her and had committed his life to raising their two children. She would realize someday. He knew she would.
Chapter Fifty-six
Mink jumped in her seat when the van door slammed closed.
The woman sitting next to her laughed. “Don’t be scared, honey. The sound of gates and doors closing and jingling chains is a normal thing in this world. If things don’t go your way with the judge today, you’ll get used to it.”