Ghetto Girls IV

by Anthony Whyte

  “Why were you in taken in?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe the detective is a strong advocate for censorship of my music.”

  “What was the charge?”

  “No charges have been leveled at Mr. Ascot at this time or any other time. An apparent robbery attempt was made earlier today…” the attorney started.

  Eric slipped past the crowd, blinking and reaching for his shades, when he spotted someone who looked like Sophia. He stared and he felt a rush of adrenalin when he realized it was indeed his ex-fiancée.

  “Well, I see you’ve not lost all your usual charisma, Mr. Ascot,” Sophia said, smiling.

  “Sophia, what the hell are you doing here?”

  “Don’t worry. At the behest of my boss, I’m here to get your signature on some of Busta’s paperwork. Otherwise, I would not come and see you. This is strictly business!”

  The impatience in her tone drew a cautious stare from Eric. Sophia was his fiancée but after Busta was killed, he had to sure up security. Eric did so with the help of the Maruichi brothers. They were linked to organized crime. Citing fear for her life and reputation, Sophia walked away. Eric pulled up his Marc Jacobs goggles, wrapping his eyes while looking searchingly in hers. The love was there but she had lost respect for his ways. He smiled easily.

  “Business, huh?” he asked.

  “Yes Eric, business. I don’t want to know why you’re in and out of jail.”

  “I’ve been held and interrogated by the police and you come—”

  “I’m not interested in your ghetto point of view,” Sophia said, raising her hand.

  “I see you haven’t lost the nasty little attitude of yours. Do you want to discuss this business here, or should we go somewhere else where you can rake me over the fire in private?” Eric asked, looking around for a cab.

  “I’ve got the firm’s chauffeur if you want to go somewhere,” Sophia said, turning away from Eric. His eyes checked her out from head to toe. He licked his lips and felt the lump in his throat.

  “Good. Give me a ride cross town,” he said with his eyes riveted on her backside.

  “What’s across town?”

  “I have to get Deedee,” Eric said casually.

  “Oh, she doesn’t have a ride?”

  “Yes but she’s at St Vincent’s with her—”

  “What? What is she doing at the hospital…?” Sophia stared at Eric anxiously.

  “I’ll tell you about it on the way there.”

  “No,. Tell me now. What happened to Deedee?” Sophia asked, grabbing Eric’s arm. “I’m sorry, but you just can’t say something like that, especially about Deedee, and walk away. I know she was…”

  “It’s not Deedee. It’s Coco. She was shot last night.”

  “What? Coco? You mean... Coco... we saw her, I saw her performing and... Oh my God! Is she dead…?”

  “She’s holding on,” Eric said.

  Sophia waved for the car and a black Cadillac stretch pulled over to stop in front of them.

  “What happened?”

  “Let go of my arm and I’ll tell you about it on the way.”

  Sophia freed his arm and he held the door. Getting into the car, she wobbled and Eric steadied her.

  “Thank you,” she said and nervously sat. “Tell me what happened, Eric.”

  CHAPTER 3

  “Oh shit. It was on when ‘em damn Chinese bitches got up in there, Kim. The bitches sprayed the whole place and not one single shot touch me or my son. Thank you God,” Tina said, making the sign of the cross across her chest. “Cuz, if they would’ve hit me or Junior it would really be on.”

  Tina hugged herself and puffed hard on the cigarette. Under the cold scrutiny of Kim, she snuffed out the rest of the cigarette into an ashtray. They were sitting in Kim’s destroyed two-bedroom apartment. Tina was there after leaving her son at her parents’ apartment. Kim shook her head and stared at Tina with pity.

  “Bitch, shut the fuck up! If them Chinos would’ve shot you, it be over. That’s all there is to it—”

  “Why you gonna say it like that, Kim? I wasn’t part of Nesto’s mix up. He the one they were after. I mean I had no—”

  “Bitch, don’t you know I know? Those same muthafuckas roll up in this crib on my ass. They killed Carlos, right out there in the hallway. That shit had the police all up in here. Lucky thing Roshawn was with me or else… Shit! You talking bout a scared-ass bitch. I went straight to church.”

  “Kim, youwent to church? See, now I know anything is possible.”

  “Don’t talk like I don’t be going? I goes to church. Last Easter I went to church.”

  “Easter? That was months ago.”

  “Okay, but when was the last time you went to church?”

  “Don’t start acting and talking like you a regular and all that. If it wasn’t on account of Carlos being in here up that coochie your ass would never have gone again until next Easter.”

  “Nah, I would’ve gone on Thanksgiving and Christmas,” Kim said.

  “What? You the type that be going only on holidays?”

  “Damn Skippy, and special occasions too, like when your boy and his friends goes and steals shit that’s not theirs. I knew it.”

  “You know what?”

  “I knew Ernesto was nothing but trouble. Can’t say I never told you. And what you mean up in my coochie?”

  “Ha, ha,” Tina snickered. “I thought you didn’t hear. But your ass wasn’t telling me nothing like that, okay. You were telling me to give him one more chance—”

  “Me? I wasn’t saying no shit like that,” Kim countered. Her tone was an octave higher. “Your crotch was on fire as soon as you saw the no good bastard. Your ass didn’t even remember who your real friends was. If those bitches hadn’t put the fear of God in your ass, you’d still be home cooking damn rice and beans for the lazy ass nigga.”

  “Pipe down, Kim. You’re gonna burst a damn blood vessel.”

  “You should’ve told them Chinese bitches with the Uzi’s or whatever machine guns those was to pipe down. I bet you never say shit to them, huh?”

  “No-muthafucking-way-Jose was I opening my fucking mouth. Shit, I was in a heller shock. I couldn’t even speak if I wanted to, not one damn word…” Tina’s voice trailed and her eyes wandered around Kim’s ruined living room.

  “So why do you think it’s okay for you to come up in here and shoot your mouth off then tell me to pipe down? Answer that one, bitch.”

  “I’m saying be easy with your mouth, bitch. You gonna wake up your own son.”

  “You leave Roshawn outta this, alright? Lucky thing he’s able to sleep after all this horror.

  “Where’s he at?”

  “In his bed safely sleeping. Damn! Look at my fucking place. It’s a total wreck. Ugh…who’s gonna replace my shit after them two Chinese bitches ransacked and fucked up my damn place!”

  “You don’t have to tell me. They went through my place and pointed them same guns at me, Kim. I swear to God, I pissed right there,” Tina said, making the sign of the cross again. “I was trembling the whole time.”

  “Bitch you should’ve been shook. They had all rights to be up in your place. He was your baby-daddy and he lives with you. I know Nesto done stole their ice and shit.”

  “Carlos was involved too. You know that’s why they came here, Kim.”

  “And his ass was only visiting. They came up in here wearing motorcycle helmets and all. They just started shooting as soon as they saw Carlos. I was scared shitless. It’s your fault why I was fucking with Carlos’ pimp ass. He had too many women. He wasn’t staying here and that’s why they shouldn’t have shoot up at my damn place. Just look at it now,” Kim said, waving her arm around.

  Both glanced around the wrecked apartment. The sofa was ripped and flipped over and pillows littered the apartment. CD cases were strewn all over.

  “It’s you and your man’s, I mean ex’s fault why they fucked up my place. I was an innocent bystan
der to this. You’re gonna have to help me clean this place up.”

  “Damn girl! Let me at least mourn his death. I may have to leave town and all.”

  “Girl please, not over Nesto?”

  “I mean…”

  “Tina you know the nigga got right back into things as soon as he came home from jail. Him and his boys robbed da wrong fucking people. How I got dragged in some shit where my place becomes people’s damn shooting gallery and bitches running up in my muthafucking crib…?”

  “Look, I heard your bellyaching. Alright already. I’ll do more than help you clean up. You just remember who was there for you when your baby father was shot.”

  “Oh girl please. You leave Deja outta this one. Don’t try to play no sympathy card now!” Kim shouted. “Thank God he’s dead. I mean it like they can’t blame this one on him. You know all Nesto’s boys are snitches and they’d try to pin this on him.”

  She stared at Tina and saw the fear still in her eyes. They had been friends since junior high. Kim and Tina had had a horrible experience. They faced the wrath of an execution team, known as the Cali6, who were armed with orders to kill. Tina witnessed Nesto being shot down like an animal. Kim was with Carlos when he was gunned down. She feared they would turn their guns on her but they didn’t. Instead they quickly rummaged around her one bedroom apartment and disappeared as fast as they came. Kim hugged Tina.

  “Don’t get too emotional about Nesto. He was up to no good.”

  “Kim, that was some crazy shit,” she whispered.

  “Was it? Oh God, I’ll never forget it. I didn’t even know nothing. They were looking for ice,” Kim said. “What the fuck I know ‘bout some ice…?”

  She glanced suspiciously at Tina like old friends who know each other well do. The pressure was on and Tina was reluctant to respond. She walked to where she’d placed her black Campo style handbag and played with the braided straps.

  Kim watched, looking at her best friend wringing her hands, anxious to say something.

  “Kim I know sump’n about their ice. I’m trying to tell you.”

  “Don’t tell me nothing. I don’t wanna hear anything about it. I don’t wanna be involved in anything—”

  “I kept a chunk,” Tina said with a smile that immediately brought a painful grimace on Kim’s mug.

  “What?” Kim’s voice boomed. She wore a stunned expression. “Now why the fuck did you tell me that. I don’t wanna fucking know nothing. You feel me? I don’t wanna be mixed up in this scheme…”

  Kim’s voice trailed and her mouth dropped open when Tina pulled out the gleaming, huge rock. The small egg-sized jewel glistened brightly in the morning’s sunlight. Tina held it up and they stared awestruck at the stone’s size and clarity.

  “Woooooooow,” Kim said. She involuntarily whistled while carrying a wide-eyed expression. “That is some big ass piece of rock. Someone is gonna get killed.”

  They were startled by the ringing doorbell. Both gazed at the door as if they were hypnotized. “Put… put the shit back where it came from and don’t leave that big ass diamond anywhere in my apartment. I don’t want them two Chinese bitches coming back and shooting me and my son,” Kim said, walking slowly to the door, all the while keeping her eyes on Tina.

  “Oh Tina, put that shit away. Hide it, please! It’s the muthafucking super snooping detective you fucked,” Kim said, looking at Tina after peering through the peephole. “It’s the police, bitch!” she said when the doorbell rang again.

  Tina was moving too slow for her and Kim started violently waving her arms. Tina looked at her perplexed. Kim ran over to where Tina stood and shook her. “I don’t want nothin’ else going off up in here. Put that shit away,” she whispered, hurrying back to the door. “I don’t want anymore problems up in here.” Kim then opened the door.

  The detective walked in wearing a smile and looking nattily dressed in a khaki colored suit and white shirt.

  “Good morning ladies,” he said. His smile slowly changed to a smirk as he pulled out his shield.

  “Hi detective. How’re you doing?” Kim smiled.

  He walked over and gently grabbed Tina close to him.

  “Y’all need to go get a room somewhere,” Kim said with a smile that wasn’t very convincing.

  “I thought I’d find you here,” Detective Kowalski said. “What you got hiding in this expensive handbag of yours?”

  Kim felt a shudder, for she was anxious that Kowalski may have seen the diamond.

  “Looks like this place has been through a storm,” Kowalski observed.

  He put the bag down and Kim’s heart beat dropped. She sashayed over and planted herself between the handbag and Kowalski. Tina winked at her and wiggled her ass in front of Kowalski, averting his attention. He followed her to where the sofa stood flipped over. Kim picked up the bag and took it to her bedroom. She returned to see Kowalski pawing at Tina’s body.

  “Hey, hey, what’s the rush? Y’all acting like horn-toads. You get it whenever you can, huh?”

  “He’s just happy to see me,” Tina said with a grin.

  “You and him need to take y’alls happiness elsewhere,” Kim said wiping her hands across her neck. “Dead that shit! Go with the detective to brunch or sump’n. And don’t forget your bag. I put it in the bedroom.”

  “I’m too tired to eat. I’m dead ass if I get sump’n to eat. I’ll fall out and sleep right there,” Tina said, spinning her colorfully manicured nail in the air. “I’m dead ass.”

  “Well, I gotta clean up all this mess right now.”

  “I’ll help you,” Tina said quickly.

  “Now wait up. Before you ladies get busy with cleaning up the mess. The chief would like to talk to you.”

  “Tell your boss, the chief or whoever to give us a call and set up an appointment,” Tina said.

  “I don’t know—” the detective started.

  “You don’t understand—” Kim quickly cut the detective off.

  “I understand alright, but I can’t go anywhere right now. My son is sleeping and he’s been through hell. I just want him to get a little more rest.”

  “They want to see you now and you can take your son,” the detective ordered.

  Kim gave him an evil stare and was about to jump all over him but Tina intervened.

  “Hey, you know what? Let’s go down and see what the chief has to say. You can drop Roshawn off at my mother’s and she’ll—”

  “How you gonna be taking on biz for your mother like that? What if she got sump’n else to do and shit.”

  “Kim, she’s taking care of Junior. She’ll do the same for Roshawn,” Tina assured her.

  Kim looked at her for a beat then glanced back at the detective.

  “Can I at least get dressed?” she asked, sashaying with a frown.

  “Sure, just don’t take all day. The chief doesn’t like to be kept waiting,” Kowalski smiled, patting Kim’s rotund ass.

  “Okay, watch it now. Don’t let me have to go that sexual harassment route,” she said, smiling at Kowalski.

  “Don’t you ever say those words again to me!”

  Kim was startled and stared at the scowl on the detective’s face. It slowly dawned on her that the fury in his voice was real. He had taken her seriously. There was a misunderstanding.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to—”

  Kowalski was furious. He grabbed her shoulders and shook her violently. Kim’s fright showed in the white of her eyes. She gasped for breath.

  “If you even hint at this again black bitch, I’ll put my foot so far up your fat-ass-”

  “Hey be easy with my friend,” Tina interrupted, grabbing onto Kowalski’s arm. “I thought we had an appointment with your boss. You’re gonna shake the shit outta her. Let her go so she can go change. Mike, please let her go.”

  Kowalski’s body slowly relaxed and he calmed down. He let out a loud sigh as Kim slipped away from his grip. The detective pulled Tina close and kissed her hard.


  “Now where were we?” he asked.

  “Huh uh…” she fumbled for an answer.

  CHAPTER 4

  They stood outside the hospital together, Josephine’s lips lazily clinging to a cigarette while peeking beneath her Gucci frames. Deedee’s wary eyes were hidden behind shades styled by Dolce and Gabanna. She was watching for any signs of her uncle’s return. Her mind was on Coco,. Deedee shifted her weight from one hip to the next. She glanced at the bodyguard sitting and waiting for any word from her uncle. Eric had instructed him to stay with the girls.

  “Hey Deedee. Eric’s on his way,” he shouted after closing his cellphone.

  “Thanks Big C,” Deedee said perking up.

  “It’s about time them cops let him go,” Josephine said, inhaling so hard on the cigarette that her veins were bulging.

  Deedee turned to look at her and then back to the busy early morning traffic of the city street. A black stretch rolled to a stop and the rear window came down.

  “Hi Dee.”

  “Sophia! Oh my. Where did you come from?” Deedee smiled.

  Josephine smiled and her heart lifted when she saw Eric exiting the limousine. She smiled sheepishly at Eric and made a weak attempt at hugging him. His response seemed force and uncomfortable. Quickly, he dashed by her outstretched arms and hurried over to where Deedee stood flabbergasted. He hugged his niece and they walked closer to the limo. Josephine felt the rejection and made a promise to check him on his behavior later when they were in private.

  She strolled slowly behind them, caught up in her thoughts. An internal alarm was triggered when she recognized that Sophia had traveled with him in the limo. Josephine quickened her pace and quickly caught up with Deedee and Eric as a jolt of jealousy coursed through her. Josephine stood back as they spoke.

  “Hi uncle,” Dee said.

  “Dee, are you okay? Sorry to leave you waiting.”

  “It’s okay. I’m alright.”

  “Heard anything yet?”

  “They told us only family members could see her. I don’t know what’s up. They refused to talk to us. So we called her mother and I don’t know what happened,”