Ghetto Girls IV

by Anthony Whyte

  “Hi, I’m sorry about flipping like that last night but…”

  “Look I don’t care about shit but if it’s Eric you came to see, he’s not here,” Kim said, greeting her with a suspicious stare.

  “Okay, but can I go check for myself?”

  “No way. You’re not supposed to be up in here and those were strict orders. But we can’t help because you were bitten by a teenage love bug and now you—”

  “We don’t do this normally but we’ll let you slide because you were cool with us on our first day,” Tina said with a wink. “Go take a look for yourself, girlfriend.”

  Josephine walked around the studio, checking the listening room twice and speaking to Reggie. She went into Eric’s office and sat at his desk. Tina walked in.

  “Okay, you gotta go now hon,” she said, showing Josephine the door.

  “I guess you’re right. He’s not here,” Josephine said getting up and walking out. “I see you’ve been doing overtime,” she sneered at Tina.

  “So what? We just doing all the boss wants, baby doll,” Tina said with a smile.

  “Give it up, lil’ sis, you’re too young for him. Men like Eric with all that money are nothing but players. This game for grown ups. You keep hanging around and you’re gonna get hurt, kid,” Kim said.

  “That’s why you’re fucking him? I’m pregnant for him, okay?” Josephine said, walking away.

  Kim glanced at Tina for a second. They nodded to each other. Kim wrestled with the temptation of bodily throwing Josephine out.

  “Please leave,” Kim requested. Josephine smirked as she walked out the front door and headed to the elevator.

  “Why you want us to be so nice to that bitch?” Kim angrily asked Tina.

  “Because that bitch could tell Eric that she saw us in his apartment fucking around with homeboy and homeboy may just say we brought that bag the DA gave us to leave at Eric’s house. D’uh!” Tina snarled.

  “Whatever, bitch. I wanna forget ever doing that shit again to anyone,” Kim said.

  “What? You getting cold feet, Kim. It’s piece of cake. This shit will soon be over and Mike is already looking for a buyer for the diamond,” Tina smiled.

  “Who the hell is Mike?”

  “Kowalski…”

  “You told him bout it?”

  “Hell to the muthafuckin’ no you fool. Why would I? You and I are the only ones who knows I got that shit.”

  “You should’ve still let me put my foot up in that bitch’s ass. Who she think she talking to?”

  “Forget about that bitch. She’s got that puppy love shit,” Tina said.

  Josephine was trembling with pent up anger and decided to wait downstairs for Eric. Fueled by her emotions, she sat in a nearby Starbucks sipping a latte, waiting. She glanced at the time. It was a little after two. The early afternoon sun was in full bloom along with flowers and birds chirping. Spring filled the air.. Lovers strolled, holding hands and stopping to kiss everywhere.

  Couples were walking hand in hand, chatting on the busy sidewalk, all reminding her that she was alone. Josephine sat thinking about how to make up with Eric. She would make him laugh. He used to think she was funny. Her cellphone rang. Josephine checked and saw her mother’s digits.

  She was about to answer but ignored the call when she saw the black Maybach pulling into a parking spot. Lucky devil, she thought, smiling and putting away her cellphone. Only Eric could find parking on this busy street, Josephine thought as she got up and waved. He looked pass her as if she was invisible. She ran after him waving.

  “Eric, Eric,” she shouted, hurrying to catch up to the fast moving man.

  “There goes da muthafucka right there,” one man said, watching the scenario Josephine was causing. “Let’s get this muthafucka, now.”

  “What about da bitch?”

  “Fuck da bitch. She gets in da way, she gets hit up too. Let’s creep on they asses.”

  Josephine was spitting curses to the man’s back without paying any attention to what else was going on in the busy lunchtime sidewalk. She didn’t see two men steadily creeping behind.

  “Why you going by me like you don’t know me? Dag! Can you at least help me with my bag? A few days ago you were getting blowjobs and fucking me, now you acting all new? Get da fuck outta here, Eric. I ain’t one them ho’s you fucking up in the studio. You a sex fiend. Its ménages in your apartment? That’s what it is Eric? I’m just a jump-off, another notch under your belt…?”

  “Huh? You must be crazy. I don’t know... wha da fuck?” he responded without turning around or slowing down.

  “Oh shit. Now you’re gonna play me like that? I was just fucking you…” Josephine’s voice trailed when the man turned around. That was when she realized it wasn’t Eric.

  “Who da fuck are you?” he quizzed.

  “Oh shit! You driving his whips and wearing the same clothes but you ain’t even Eric,” she said with a baffled look. “Who da hell is you?”

  Josephine’s tirade and ignorance was curtailed by a barrage of bullets chopping her in half. She fell in a heap and Eric’s panicked double ran but didn’t get very far. Another outburst flung him forward and blew his upper torso to pieces. Flesh was all over the busy pavement. Pandemonium broke loose like a firecracker and pedestrians darted all over the place.

  “I got him!” one of the hit men shouted as they made their getaway, running back to a parked car, jumping in and racing off.

  Kowalski watched and pulled his gun, racing toward the scene. He got on his knees and fired two shots, hitting the driver, who crashed into an active crane. The blades of the forklift severed the passenger’s head from his body. Kowalski pulled out his radio and spoke.

  “We just lost a potential witness against Ascot, over” he said, looking at the mangled body of Josephine lying, leaking on the sidewalk.

  CHAPTER 23

  Coco sat up in bed and squinted, trying to see who was standing around her. Her vision was all fuzzy at first but she could hear the doctor’s warnings.

  “Don’t try to strain your eyes to see, Coco. The muscles will get going. Let it come naturally. You feel funny and woozy but that’s alright. It’s the side effect from the eye drops. Don’t try to run just yet and stay away from smoky places,” the doctor smiled.

  “You hear what the doctor’s saying, cause I know how you like to smoke,” Ms. Harvey said.

  “Mother, you wanna chill for a minute?” Coco said, smiling at the faces staring at her. Deedee was there like always along with her annoying mother. Sophia came in to see her today and Eric was with her. Maybe that was the reason for Josephine’s absence. It felt really good to survive the ordeal, Coco’s thoughts were going. She heard the doctor’s voice.

  “Take these tablets and you’ll be real fine. I think you can leave us today, Coco,” the doctor continued.

  “I’ll make sure she takes them medications doc. You don’t have to worry about that,” Ms. Harvey said.

  Deedee and Sophia smiled while Eric looked on proudly. It was the first time he had been there, but the flowers he sent filled her room. It was a real good feeling and Coco wore a big smile as Deedee hugged her and presented her with a topaz and white gold friendship ring. Coco slipped it on her finger.

  “You’re like my sis and I just want you to have that, Coco.”

  “Thank you, fam,” she said holding, Deedee closely. “Oh, this is such a great day, yo.”

  “Yes, finally you can come home and let me cook for you so you could get some meat on your body. Coco, all she wants to eat is chocolate and munchies,” Ms. Harvey said and the room laughed.

  “Ma, why you putting me on front street like that, yo?”

  “Don’t start with that yo-ing street shit. Just because we in company I’ll still have to get my respect,” Ms. Harvey reminded her daughter.

  “Okay, mother. I ain’t trying to argue. All I wanna do is get outta here and get me a slice of pizza or sump’n.”

  “How about w
e get the whole pie?” Sophia suggested.

  “I’m down,” Deedee chimed in.

  Ain’t no one dumping on Jove…

  You ain’t in sanitation or sanitarium…

  What’re you crazy? Jay-Z will bury ‘em…

  The track rang out from the S dot Collection. Jay-Z’s smooth rhymes came through the speaker and jolted everyone, except Coco.

  “Turn that down. All this loud music while you’re in the hospital. Can you imagine the noise she makes when she’s home?”

  “Yes, I can imagine,” Eric smiled. “Speaking of which, stick this track in your headphone.” Eric handed a CD to Coco. “Let the beat marinate in your head. I was thinking about you when I heard it.”

  Coco already had the disc banging in her headphones. She nodded her head to it and smiled.

  “Nice beat. Tougher than dice… my name’s Coco and I’m tougher than dice…” she rapped nodding her head.

  “You best take it easy before you pass out,” Ms. Harvey cautioned.

  “Your mother is right. Maybe you should save it for later,” Sophia said.

  “Uncle E. and Coco are always listening to music. There has to be some kind of sound going,” Deedee laughed, hugging her uncle and Coco.

  “Well... seeing how y’all helped Coco and myself go through this. I mean because I’ve being going through a lot with this and that on my mind. And I’m truly happy that y’all stepped up the way y’all did. I mean everyone. Sophia, Deedee and Eric. Y’all stepped up real big for us. And I just wanna say thanks to y’all.”

  Eric’s cellphone started ringing loudly.

  “Thank God for cellies, yo,” Coco smiled and winked. “I really like this beat.”

  “Anyone can tell you love your uncle but you have a lot of respect for him too,” Ms. Harvey said to Deedee.

  “Yes, she’s her uncle’s girl,” Sophia deadpanned.

  “You should marry this beautiful, nice lady here,” Ms. Harvey said to Eric, who was still on the cellphone.

  “This is where I’ve got to leave,” the doctor said. “I’ll make my rounds and Coco, I’ll be back to sign your release as soon as you’re ready and packed.”

  “Thank you Dr. Gluckmann,” Coco said. She got out of the bed and made a few shaky steps toward the doctor. She hugged him. “Thanks,” she said.

  “Thank you very much, doctor,” Ms. Harvey said. “And most of all thank you God for saving my daughter. Because without you she wouldn’t be with us…” Ms. Harvey’s voice trailed as she became too emotional to continue.

  “Ms. Harvey, you better get her home and get her a lot of rest. Coco, I got some phat new beats for you to groove on,” Eric said, closing his cellphone and walking out the room with the doctor. Sophia moved in and praised Ms. Harvey’s motherly love.

  “You’re a good mother and you really do care about your daughter,” she said, hugging Ms. Harvey. “I’m happy for you and Coco.”

  “Ma, you looking sharp,” Coco observed. “What’s that Coach gear? And where is that coming from?”

  “I’ve been shopping in Deedee’s closet,” Ms. Harvey laughed.

  “For real?”

  “She’s been hanging,” Deedee smiled.

  “Oh don’t get her started, yo,” Coco cautioned. “She’s a beast.”

  They all laughed and helped Coco pack. The group walked out and headed to the parking lot. Sophia drove with Deedee inside a black Bentley Continental. Coco and her mother traveled in the Rolls Royce Phantom driven by Eric. Her mother was busy admiring the car while Coco was getting used to seeing all the people. She could smell the sidewalk trade of the city, the freshly roasting nuts and bagels. She closed the window as the cars made a pit-stop at Ray’s pizzeria and they ordered several pies.

  The mood was festive when they pulled up in the parking lot of Eric’s posh apartment building. Deedee jumped out the car and assisted Coco to the elevator. The group went upstairs and inside.

  Eric opened the door and dropped the boxes of pizzas on the floor. He stared around the apartment in pained astonishment. The place was a wreck. Television screens were all broken and glass was shattered everywhere. All were shocked and walked around the place speechless.

  “What the fuck happened!” Eric exclaimed after a while.

  “I don’t know,” Deedee answered, looking around.

  “Looks like a robbery, yo,” Coco quipped.

  “I don’t think so. There’s a message on the bathroom mirror from Josephine,” Sophia said.

  “Josephine?” Eric echoed. The doorbell rang.

  “I’ll get it,” Deedee smiled. She opened the door and three detectives strode in. They went directly to Eric and stood looking at him.

  “We have a warrant for your arrest, Mr. Ascot. You have the right to remain silent…”

  “This is harassment,’ Eric yelled.

  “Why are you so nervous, Mr. Ascot?” one of the detectives asked.

  “I should be. There are four white guys with badges and guns uninvited at my apartment. Any black man would be intimidated.”

  The detective placed handcuffs on the shocked Ascot and Kowalski went directly to a Gucci duffel bag. He casually pulled out a couple kilos of cocaine as Eric’s eyes widened in disbelief. Astonishment registered on Sophia’s face. Ms. Harvey was in shock. Coco and Deedee watched frozen in place.

  “That ain’t even my bag! What da fuck is this?”

  “If this is your apartment, you’re responsible for everything in here. We got a tip you’re holding weight but we didn’t expect this much,” Kowalski smiled.

  “Enjoy your meals, ladies,” one of the detectives said as they pushed Eric out the door.

  “They can’t do that!” Deedee screamed in aguish. “It’s not fair,” she sobbed.

  Coco walked to where she stood and touched her shoulder. They remained silent for several beats. Deedee turned and hugged Coco. They held each others’ embrace for a few minutes before letting go. Sophia and Ms. Harvey were holding hands when the girls approached them.

  “He didn’t look like any drug dealer. You can tell he wasn’t into breaking any laws,” Ms. Harvey said, hugging the distraught and disappointed Sophia.

  “What do we do now?” Deedee asked.

  “C’mon, I’ll take you and your mom home, Coco. You’ll need your rest.”

  Later when Sophia pulled to a stop, Deedee hugged Coco and Ms. Harvey.

  “I never thought I’d be happy to see this building,” Coco said, holding on to her mother.

  “He’s gonna be alright. Them cops are assholes, they just trying to frame him,” Ms Harvey said taking Coco’s bag.

  Coco and her mother waved and they walked toward the building. Several onlookers greeted the pair.

  “I’m so happy to see the sign that say out of order,” Coco chuckled as she saw the familiar signs of her apartment building and fell on the sofa. She sat thinking about how lucky she’d been. Her mother sat next to her.

  “Welcome home,” Ms. Harvey, said turning on the television. “Those people may be very rich but they have a lot of problems,” she noted.

  “Mo money, mo problems. Biggie said that,” Coco said.

  “I don’t care what Biggie say. Lemme watch some TV and get my mind off all that mess.”

  Tina was in Kim’s living room waiting confidently. She smiled and poured beer in a glass. Kim walked in as she put the glass to her lips.

  “Why don’t you just drink the beer from the bottle? You be dirtyin’ ma shit and never clean nothing,” Kim said.

  “Chill girlfriend. Soon you’ll be hiring a dozen maids and shit. Then what you’re gonna say?”

  “I’m gonna say get out of my place. And when is that crazy ass cop coming? He called you yet?”

  “This might be him right now,” Tina said. “Let’s go downstairs and talk big money. We’re gonna be rich.”

  “Where’s the ice?”

  “I got that baby right here,” Tina said, pointing to her Luis Vuitton pur
se.

  They exited and waited a few minutes for Kowalski to pull around. Tina got in the front and Kim sat in the backseat. Kowalski drove off smiling. He seemed to be in an unusually good mood. Kim eyed him suspiciously.

  “You girls did really good work,” Kowalski smiled at Tina. “It went down perfect. Our suspect is cozy behind bars and now I’m gonna buy y’all dinner.”

  “What about the money for the diamond?” Tina asked smiling.

  “That’s another matter. Let’s discuss it after dinner,” Kowalski said.

  The three ate at a small diner at Frank’s Steakhouse and Chicken, a quiet eatery with big parking lot, next to Harlem’s Polo Ground. Throughout the entire fried chicken meal, Kim kept watching Tina’s nervousness. She tried touching her leg but Tina refused to acknowledge her.

  “I’m going to the bathroom,” Kim stood and announced while staring at Tina. It was clear she wanted Tina to join her. “Don’t you need to go to the bathroom too?” Kim asked Tina. Finally, they picked up their pocketbooks and walked away together.

  “You gave him that fucking diamond didn’t you? Just tell me the truth, Tina,” Kim pleaded when they were inside the ladies room. Tina didn’t answer and tried to avoid Kim’s cold stare. She fixed her make-up. “We went and set up someone and he don’t even wanna talk about the diamond and I knew it, I knew it… you gave that cop the rock, didn’t you?”

  “We’re gonna get paid,” Tina said confidently. “Let’s finish and later we’ll find out how much.”

  They went back and finished having their meals. Kowalski paid the tab and by the time they left a cloud of tension hung over the three.

  “Mike, tell us how much we getting,” Tina said anxiously.

  “I was told twenty thousand dollars,” he said. “Ten for me and here’s your ten right here.”

  He handed Tina an envelope with the money and Kim whistled a loud sigh. Kowalski started the car and glanced at her.