by India
“Man, real talk on my word.” Sam hesitated. “From what I saw Mario, it ain’t looking too good. She was shot in her head man, amongst other places.”
Silence filled the air. Suddenly without warning, Mario slammed my phone several times against the dashboard. The battery popped out, the screen shattered, and a few buttons fell out too. Finally, acknowledging that he could do no more damage, he then tossed the phone into the backseat.
He was full of rage, anger, hurt, and frustration, It would only be a matter of time before he blew up. I knew this was the calm before the storm. Mario hadn’t cried since his father walked out on him and his mom when he was fourteen. After his tears dried-up, he became the man that he is today, not backing down and taking no shit. I knew once Mario got himself together, it would be some serious bloodshed behind this. Somebody had fucked with the wrong one.
I pulled up to the hospital and gave the keys to the valet. Mario was walking so fast; I was barely able to keep up with him as we made our way through the lobby. “Yes, can I help you.” A middle-aged woman asked from behind a white desk with the title, receptionist on the front of it in black.
“We need to know what floor Nikki Wallace is on please.” I said when Mario said nothing. I watched as she typed, searched the computer monitor with her manicured index finger, then looked back up at me with concern in her eyes.
“Uhh, Mrs. Wallace is still in surgery. You can wait in the lobby until they place her in a room, okay.” She pointed to the chairs behind us and that’s when I noticed Sam. He was in a corner all by himself with his head buried in his lap. His hands were covered in blood, so were his clothes for that matter. Mario noticed him too. He hustled over to him and sat down in an empty chair.
“Mario dog, I tried, man I tried!” Sam was beginning to get hysterical. Seeing his emotion really got the best of me so I began to silently cry again. Now I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not always a Nikki fan, but I know she didn’t deserve this. My mind raced as I thought about her and how she could’ve possibly felt as those bullets pierced her body. Did she scream; did she cry out for someone to help; did she think about her baby?
“CODE BLUE…CODE BLUE…CODE BLUE…CODE BLUE.” We all looked up as a team of doctors ran towards the stairs, responding to the code blue alarm sounding over the loud speakers. A few doctors must’ve been coming from the cafeteria because they were tossing food in the trash can left and right. I looked at Mario. He jumped up from his seat and I pulled him back down.
“G let me go man that’s my wife they talking about.” He hollered.
“No Mario it’s not. This a hospital and that code sounds off all day okay. They aren’t talking about Nikki. Please calm down.” I begged.
“Yeah G, they are talking about her. I feel like she just left me ya’ll.” He plopped back down in the seat. Then the flood gates opened. “Nikki just died. I can feel it in my heart. She gone and she ain’t coming back! So it don’t even matter if those doctors tell me she made it out of surgery. I know in my heart that my wife is gone!”
Chapter Forty-Two
Chloe
I woke up this morning and knew something wasn’t right. I had left the club early last night because I had come on my period and I needed to get home to my tampons. I didn’t even attempt to wait up for Sam. I knew it would be a long night for him. I had to get used to it. I knew going forward this was just the beginning of late nights. I looked at the clock on the nightstand and it was noon. “Damn that’s what I call sleeping in.” I stretched and turned over expecting to see Sam but to my surprise he wasn’t there. I stood from the bed and searched my apartment hoping to find him asleep on the couch but again he wasn’t there. I reached for my phone and noticed I had almost twenty missed calls and a boatload of text messages. One said, “baby call me.” The other said, “we had an emergency and we’re at the hospital.” The last one simply said, “baby I need you!”
I pulled on my grey and pink Reebok running suit while simultaneously dialing Sam.
“Hello?”
“Baby are you okay? What happened?” I put on my Reebok running shoes and was walking down the stairs before he had even answered my question.
“Nikki got shot last night.”
I stopped and my heart hit the bottom of my stomach, then flew up into my throat. “What?…Where?” By this time, I had begun to descend the steps, taking them two at a time as he recalled the night’s events. I couldn’t believe this had happened to her. As I got into my car, I couldn’t believe that there had also been a shootout at the club last night.
“Okay baby, I’m on my way.” I closed my phone, said a small prayer for those that lost their lives last night, and that Nikki would come home safely.
When I arrived in the hospital lobby, nearly thirty minutes later, I felt sick to my stomach. There were too many somber or grieving faces of those that were waiting to see their loved ones. The hospital always reminded me of death. It’s where I lost my mother to cancer years ago. As I approached the group in the small corner, so did an older Caucasian man. He was dressed in royal blue scrubs and a lab coat. I knew he must’ve been the doctor.
“Mr. Wallace.” He called out and everyone stood to greet him. “I’m Dr. Meridian.” He introduced himself. I thought Mario was about to pass out as the color drained from his face but he regained his composure and kept it together.
“Yes, I’m Mr. Wallace. Doctor is my wife okay?”
I held my breath, praying for the best but also bracing myself for the worst.
“To be frank with you Mr. Wallace, your wife is hanging on by a thread. She made it out of surgery but the next few days will be critical. To be candid - life-threatening. Nikkita has lost a lot of blood from the injuries she sustained. She had to have an emergency blood transfusion. The gunshot to her arm caused it to break. The gunshot wound to her thigh shattered her pelvic bone and we had to reconstruct it. If she comes out of this, she might have a very noticeable limp. The gunshot wound to her chest barely missed her heart by less than an inch. The gunshot wound to her head only grazed her temple; we’re extremely thankful for that miracle.”
“When can I see her doctor?” Mario asked in a relieved tone. The doctor hesitated for a second, then looked around the group.
“For today, you’re the only one that can see her.” He said sternly. “We have to make it a short visit, probably no more than five or ten minutes. Like I said, this is a crucial time Mr. Wallace. I know you want to stay here with Nikkita, but she needs all the rest she can get. The best thing you can do for her is to go home.” He turned away from us, then quickly turned back like he had forgotten something. “Also, because this looks like a professional job, we put security on her room just in case someone tries to finish what they started.” He added in a hushed tone. Mario nodded, then he walked away with the doctor, leaving the rest of us silent but grateful.
“Did you hear that shit, a fucking professional! It’s going to be some smoke in Detroit behind this! Mario ain’t letting this go. Hell, I ain’t letting this go. Muthafuckas know better than to fuck with family.” Gucci started pacing the floor.
“Naw man, this was personal.” Sam added causing both of us to look in his direction.
“What you mean youngin’?” She stopped right in front of him.
“When I pulled up, I saw the blue and black Marauder speeding off. So I figured that whoever did it, must’ve known we would be there. Maybe they thought Mario was the driver of that truck. No professional would’ve been that sloppy. They would’ve been on rooftops or hidden in the warehouse or some shit like that!” Sam scratched his head.
“Black and blue Marauder huh?” Gucci damn near yelled and Sam nodded. She grabbed her purse and bolted for the door.
“What’s wrong?” I asked damn near yelling myself, causing people to look in our direction. A few of them had even made the shhh sound.
“Roscoe drives a blue and black Marauder!” She yelled over her shoulder. I knew exactl
y where Gucci was headed.
Chapter Forty-Three
Tonya
“Oh my god! Oh my god!” I repeated to myself all the way back home. I couldn’t believe that Nikki was in that truck and not Mario. Furthermore, I also couldn’t believe that someone had shot her ass for real! Before you start pointing fingers this way let me explain. As I was walking up to the truck with my gun out and pointed at my target, I was honestly beginning to have second thoughts. Like, maybe this wasn’t the right thing to do after all. Shoot, even if I was successful with killing Mario, I wouldn’t be able to take that big ass truck and hide it nowhere in the city. Then I thought about just stealing a little dope from the back of the truck, but how could I ride all the way back home with it in my car. I wasn’t made for jail time so that was out of the plans. “This shit is too fucking hot and I should’ve just let Roscoe handle it.” I said to myself and was about to turn around when I heard movement above my head. I was about to look up there to see what was going on when bullets began to rip through the truck stopping me dead in my tracks. Instantly I froze. Trying not to get shot, I ducked down so fast that I fell on my ass. I rolled over on top of the hard gravel to lay on my stomach, then closed my eyes and covered my ears. That shit sounded like fireworks. With my eyes still closed, I stood up shortly after the gunfire ceased. I heard a muffled scream. It sounded too feminine to be Mario so I snatched my mask off to find out what the deal was. I thought that it might’ve been Gucci. I turned on my heels to get out of dodge. That bitch was on my shit list so helping her stuck-up ass was not on my to-do-list. “Help me please,” I heard, as well as a faint knocking sound coming from the cab of the truck. Knowing that whomever was inside had to be in real bad shape. Against my better judgment, I went and turned around. My hands were already gloved so I reached up for the door and peeked inside. I almost threw up right then and there when I saw Nikki’s eyes staring back at me with no visible signs of life in them. “Help.” She said again and I almost pissed on myself. She was a dead woman talking.
“Nikki hold on okay.” I said as I contemplated what step to take next. Calling the police wasn’t a good decision because surely she would become state property if and when she made it out of this predicament alive. Not knowing what to do, I told her I would be back. She tried to say something but I hopped down off the truck and ran like my life depended on it. I didn’t really want to leave her hangin’ like that but a bitch had to watch her own neck, ya’ feel me. For all I knew, the shooter could still be lurking around on top of that building waiting to snipe my ass. Nikki was on her deathbed anyway. She would be out of her misery in a minute or two but I wasn’t trying to join her. I ran to my car as fast as I could and pulled off passing a guy coming into the parking lot on a motorcycle. I tried to cover my face. I hoped like hell he didn’t see me. The last thing I needed was to be a murder-witness and next on the chopping block.
I raced into the house. Locked my doors then called Roscoe like about one hundred times. It was just going straight to his voicemail. I went into the bathroom and threw cold water on my face as I dry heaved in the sink. My cell phone rang and I hit send. “Where are you?” I asked assuming it was my man.
“Bitch! I’m on my way to kick your fuckin’ ass that’s where I’m at! Now where you at so I can make sure I go to the right place.” Gucci barked so loud into my phone that it startled me and I almost dropped it. My nerves were already shot to hell so it took all I had to sound normal.
“What bitch?” I dried my face off with the burgundy hand towel hanging in my bathroom.
“Bitch I know Roscoe’s Marauder was seen leaving the place where Nikki was shot this morning. And, since I’m sure that his bitch ass is running, I’ll be there to put his ass whooping down on you! I got my nine too bitch so you better do like Antoine Dodson and hide your kids. You came for my people so I might come for one of yours…yo’ mama still live on Littlefield in that corner house?”
I looked at the phone in disbelief then hung it up knowing that shit was about to get even realer than it already was. I called my mother to tell her to come and get the kids and stay in a hotel. She answered on the second ring. “Ma, thank God you answered. Please come get the kids for me. I’m going to give you some money to stay in a hotel okay.” I said with a shaky voice as I held my stomach.
“Girl are you on dope?” She asked.
“Ma look, now ain’t the time for this. Just please come and get them.” I whined, almost in tears.
“Chile, I came and got your kids this morning when they woke up to find your behind missing. You need to get it together LeTonya because…” I cut her off.
“Ma please go to a hotel for the night. I will pay for it but please just go.” I said with urgency.
“What have you gotten us into?” I could tell that she was more nervous than she was mad. I heard a bang on the door and my heart began to pound so loud that I could hear it in my ears.
“I can’t explain now just please trust me ma. I swear on my life that I will never let anything happen to ya’ll. Please just listen to me and get out of that house and tell my kids that I love them.” I hung up and approached the door just as Gucci shot the locks off. I jumped back from the wood panel flying everywhere, and almost peed my pants for the second time today, as I stared down the barrel of her shotgun which was pointed right at my head. “Bitch start talking.”
“Look you got this all wrong.” I began to think of the lie that I knew I had to tell. I couldn’t admit to being there. Of course I would look guilty as hell, not even if it meant that I could tell her that someone else pulled the trigger. For now, until things were straightened out, I had to plead the fifth and hope like hell she bought it.
“Don’t fuckin’ lie to me! My boy saw the fuckin’ car leaving the scene; the same fuckin’ car that is in your drive way now! Where the fuck is your baby daddy.” Gucci snapped. She looked like she was about to go ape shit on my ass. I knew I needed a miracle to get out of this. Over the years, we’ve had our beef and I’d seen Gucci go ham at least a dozen times but nothing like this. It was almost like she had transformed into someone or something else. Saliva gathered in the corners of her lips, a vein popped out in the center of her forehead, and she was beet red.
“For real Gucci, I don’t know. He ain’t been here since yesterday afternoon. I swear.” She popped me right in the nose with the back of the shotgun. Blood began to fall everywhere. I desperately tried to cover my nose and stop the blood but it was no use. That shit was spilling out of my face like forty going north.
“Now I’m going to ask your ghetto ass one last time and you better have an answer before I get to three.” She pushed her gun into my stomach so hard that it touched my spine.
“I swear on my kids.”
“One.”
“Gucci please don’t do this. I’m begging you.” I whispered with tears coming down my face.
“Two.” She said through clinched teeth.
“Ms. Carter you home? It’s Detective Hudson and my partner Detective Swift.” I heard from the front door, causing both of us to look in that direction. I saw two men examining the door that was slightly open. Gucci stuffed the shotgun under my couch just as they took it upon themselves to step inside with their guns drawn. “Ms. Carter are you okay?” They asked moving into the foyer.
“Yes, I’m just having a nose bleed come in.” I held my head back and pinched my nose which was in excruciating pain. They flashed their badges, then asked me and Gucci to take a seat.
“I don’t know how to ask this Ms. Carter but…when did you last see Roscoe Jones?” I looked at Gucci who sat with her hands folded like she would fuck me up on sight if I had lied to her.
“I was just telling my cousin.” I nodded to Gucci, “that he got dressed yesterday and left here late afternoon. He hasn’t been back since. I’ve called him over a hundred times. Now his phone is just going to voicemail. Is he in trouble?” I thought maybe someone else might’ve seen the car at the East
ern Market and called the police.
“What was he wearing?” The older detective asked while he opened open up a small note pad and pulled a pen from his shirt pocket.
“A yellow shirt, some jeans, and some Gucci loafers.” Gucci said and we all looked at her.
“How do you know?” I asked forgetting all about the cops.
“He was at Club Vibe last night and that’s what he had on when I saw him.” She said nonchalantly. The two detectives looked at each other, then the older one jotted something down in his notebook.
“Well we have reason to believe that Mr. Jones was one of the victims at that nightclub yesterday. There was a shooting last night shortly after 2:30 a.m., Ms. Um.” He looked down at Gucci. “I’m sorry, I don’t know your name but were you there around that time?”
“No, It was so packed that I couldn’t get in. I only saw Roscoe as I walking back to my car and he was getting out of his.” She said not blinking one eye. I knew she was lying because Gucci would never be turned away from any club in Detroit - packed or not, but what could I say.
“What do you mean a victim, was he shot?” I began to worry.
“Yes he was, and unfortunately he didn’t make it. When the emergency medical technicians arrived he was pronounced dead on arrival. I’m so sorry.” He apologized and I almost fainted.
“How do you know it was him?” Tears fell.
“Well, that’s why we need you. The body we found inside the club is sort of unrecognizable.”
“What? Inside the club? I thought the shooting took place in the parking lot? That’s what the news said.” I looked confused.
“Yes a shoot out did take place outside the nightclub. However, at the same time, it appears that a small commotion went down in the men’s restroom. Therefore, a few stragglers inside the club were shot as well. We found a gentleman in the bathroom shot to death with multiple gunshots to the chest. The victim had Mr. Jones identification on him but his face appears to be…excuse the term…blown off!”
