“Who you callin’?”
“I’m callin’ to find out what’s goin’ on wit’ my sister! Who else would I be callin’?” she snapped. Ke’yoko turned her ringer all the way down as she pretended to be talking to someone at the police department. “Okay, thank you,” she said sullenly.
“What they say?” Ja’Rel inquired.
“The CO told me to call back in the mornin’ and they can tell me more. I’ll just go down there in the mornin’,” Ke’yoko said as she lay back.
“Good. Let me know what they say. If she need some bail money, I got her, on the strength of her bein’ your sister,” Ja’Rel said.
You sure it ain’t on the strength of her bein’ ya baby momma? Ke’yoko wanted to say badly, but got herself comfortable instead. “Thanks.”
“No problem, baby. You know I love your sister just like you do. Shit, she’s my family too. And you know Aiko is my li’l dude. I love him like he was one of my own,” Ja’Rel said.
Ke’yoko instantly got heated. She wanted to spit in Ja’Rel’s face, ol’ slick nigga, but decided not to because his time was about to end, just like Ka’yah’s.
“Good night, Ja’Rel,” Ke’yoko said while rolling her eyes before closing them and drifting back off to sleep.
Chapter Thirty-one
Ka’yah had been trying to reach Ke’yoko and Ja’Rel for the past two days, but neither one of them had been answering their phones. She didn’t know what the hell was going on. Ke’yoko had already been acting funny toward her before this mess had happened, but she’d thought she and Ja’Rel were on the same page. Ka’yah was blowing her mother’s phone up every chance she got. She hadn’t talked to her mother this much in her entire life, but she didn’t have a choice since she was the only one who would answer and accept the calls.
Ka’yah was stressed all the way out because she’d been told by her mother that when she had called the automated system, it was saying her bond was set at $1 million cash. The police weren’t telling her anything and she hadn’t even been to a hearing yet. The COs kept telling her there were too many people in front of her going, but she would get her turn eventually.
Ka’yah got up from her bunk and walked over to the empty phone and was about to call her mother when a big, burly female they called Bones walked up and stood real close behind her.
“I was about to use that, fresh meat,” she said, putting her hand on top of Ka’yah’s.
“I was here first.” Ka’yah frowned, snatching her hand away.
“And what that mean?” Bones asked, while lifting up a piece of Ka’yah’s hair and putting it up to her nose, sniffing it.
“Look, I don’t know how you get down, but by the way you look, it wouldn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out; but I don’t get down like that,” Ka’yah snapped as she swung her head around.
Cell block B was in an uproar. They were cracking up about what Ka’yah had just said to Bones, the block bully. Ka’yah had said what everybody else was afraid to say. The inmates were loving it.
“Bitch, who you talkin’ to like that?” Bones asked, embarrassed. She got all up in Ka’yah’s face.
“No disrespect, but they do sell toothpaste in the commissary; you should try to buy you some on store day.” Ka’yah took a step back, making the block laugh even harder.
“You think you funny?” Bones asked.
“I ain’t tryin’a be,” Ka’yah responded.
“Bitch, I will fuck you up!” Bones snarled.
“You might fuck me up; then again, you might not. Let’s just say I haven’t forgotten much of the twelve years I was forced to study karate.” Ka’yah quickly stood in an Okinawan shiko-dachi stance.
Bones looked at Ka’yah and thought twice. She would never live it down in here if she got her ass whooped by this little-ass girl. She knew she could fight, but she had never gone head-to-head with somebody who knew karate. Bones knew if she tried Ka’yah and lost, she’d have to give up her prison throne and reputation and she wasn’t willing to do all that.
“Cho, you got a hearing. Let’s go,” the CO yelled into the block.
Ka’yah remained in her stance, not trying to chance Bones grabbing her from behind.
“Cho, let’s go,” the CO yelled again.
“Don’t worry, bitch, I’ll see you in prison. It’s a small, revolving world in there and, when I do, I’ma make you my bitch.” Bones smirked.
“Don’t count on it,” Ka’yah said and turned to walk away with her heart beating like two snare drums. She couldn’t believe her fake stance had gotten her out of yet another ass whooping. Ka’yah didn’t know the first thing about karate, but people always thought because she and Ke’yoko were part Japanese that they automatically knew karate, which had saved her from a lot of ass whoopings all through school.
Ka’yah turned around and got handcuffed, waiting impatiently as they put the shackles around her ankles too. She didn’t know what was going to happen during her hearing. This was her first time ever being in trouble. She hoped Ke’yoko, Ja’Rel, or even her mom would be in the courtroom to support her as she shuffled down the long hall. Ka’yah was confused and surprised when the CO escorted her into a roomful of other inmates instead of a courtroom.
“What are we doin’ here? I thought I was goin’ to court,” she said with a perplexed looked on her face.
“You are about to go to court. Look into the camera and smile,” the CO replied.
“This ain’t how it is on Law & Order,” Ka’yah said.
“Well, this ain’t TV; this is real life,” the CO said smartly.
“All rise,” the bailiff came on the screen and said.
Ka’yah was a nervous wreck and was sick to her stomach. Ka’yah sat quietly as the bailiff said a few more words and the judge walked in and took his seat. She watched closely as he put his glasses on and began riffling through a pile of papers. Ka’yah nearly fainted when he read her name, case number, and charge first.
“Do you have an attorney present?” the judge asked.
Ka’yah was stuck. She wanted to reply but the words wouldn’t leave her lips.
“He’s talkin’ to you,” the CO snapped.
“Ummm, no, no, sir, not yet,” Ka’yah stammered.
“How do you plead?” the judge continued.
“I plead the Fifth,” Ka’yah responded, remembering hearing that on one of her favorite episodes of CSI.
“Do you have an attorney or would you like for us to appoint you one?”
“No, thanks. My sister is gettin’ me one,” Ka’yah said, hopeful.
“Okay, that’s fine. We’ll continue court at a later date. Your bail is denied,” the judge said and began reading off someone else’s name, case number, and charge.
“What the hell just happened?” Ka’yah asked the CO as he escorted her back to the block.
“They just continued your case until you get an attorney and he denied your bail,” the CO said, basically repeated what the judge had just said to her, but for some odd reason she understood it better coming from the CO than the judge.
“I can’t believe a fine chick like you is down for murder,” the CO said, checking Ka’yah out.
“I’m innocent. I didn’t kill nobody!” Ka’yah snapped.
“Yeah, that’s what they all say.” The CO chuckled.
“You’ll see when my sister and boyfriend come bail me out!”
“You look real familiar,” the CO said. “Did you go to Laurel high school?”
“Yeah,” Ka’yah answered slowly. “You didn’t, unless you got a sex change.”
The CO laughed. “Naw, my sister went there and I used to pick her up from school. Do you got a twin sister?”
“Yes,” Ka’yah replied.
“Okay, damn! I always thought y’all was fine.” He smiled.
“Thanks.” Ka’yah smiled back.
“Damn shame you ’bouta go to prison for murder or else I woulda asked to take you out,” the C
O said.
“I ain’t goin’ no damn prison, ’cause I ain’t killed nobody!” Ka’yah snapped.
“Yeah, yeah,” he said, shaking his head in disgust.
“Hey, do you think you can let me use the phone to call my sister? She can’t accept collect calls on her phone so I need to call her straight through,” Ka’yah said, batting her eyes at the CO.
“You tryin’a get me in trouble?”
“No, I wouldn’t do that. It won’t take long. I’m just gon’ tell her to come visit me and that’s all.”
The CO thought for a brief second before replying. “Look, if I do this, you gotta hook me up wit’ ya sister,” he said.
This thirsty-ass nigga, she thought before replying, “Bet.”
The CO smiled happily. “You can go in this office right here.” He looked around to make sure the coast was clear before unlocking the door. “And hurry up. You got two minutes.”
“Thanks.” Ka’yah shuffled over to the phone, picked it up, and quickly dialed Ke’yoko’s phone number, only to have it go to voice mail. “This dirty bitch!” Ka’yah was furious as she listened to Ke’yoko’s jolly voice on her voice mail.
“Ke’yoko, this Ka’yah. I don’t know what your problem is wit’ me, but I haven’t done anything to you. Mother told me she called you to let you know what was goin’ on wit’ me, so I don’t know why you not answerin’ when I call you. I’ll tell you what, if you don’t want Ja’Rel to find out about you and punk-ass Ross, I expect you to be down here tomorrow to visit me,” she said before hanging up the phone and shuffling back toward the door.
The CO opened the door for Ka’yah, let her out, and locked it again.
“Thanks,” Ka’yah said with a huge smile.
“Well?” the CO asked impatiently.
“Well what?” Ka’yah asked, confused.
“Well, did you tell her I wannna get wit’ her?” he asked, hopeful.
“Oh, yeah, yeah,” Ka’yah lied.
“What she say?” the CO asked with a huge smile plastered on his face.
“She told me to give you her phone number,” Ka’yah continued to lie.
“That’s what I’m talkin’ about.” He smiled as he escorted Ka’yah back to the block. “I’ma get the number from you at dinnertime.”
“Okay, I got’chu,” Ka’yah said as the CO removed the cuffs and shackles.
Ka’yah walked back into the block and headed straight to her bunk, lay back, and began reflecting on her life, wondering if karma was the reason she was in this fucked-up situation. Ka’yah pushed that thought to the side. Never in her life had she done anything bad enough to deserve no mess like this. She drifted off to sleep, taking a quick nap before dinner.
Chapter Thirty-two
Ke’yoko woke up bright and early so she could catch Nadia before she headed to the shop. She was so happy that her best friend was back to her old self again. It had taken a lot of convincing for Nadia to finally believe that she wasn’t mad at her and didn’t blame her one bit for what Ja’Rel had done to her. Nadia was relieved but still a part of her felt in some major sort of way that she owed Ke’yoko her life. One good thing that had come out of Ja’Rel’s infidelity was that it had brought Ke’yoko and Nadia even closer than before, if that was possible.
“Wassup, sis?” Nadia asked, answering the phone.
“Hey, girl, you ain’t at the shop yet, are you?” Ke’yoko asked.
“Naw, not yet. Just dropped A’Niyah off at the daycare. Why, wassup? You good?”
“Yeah, I’m good. I was just callin’ to tell you about the voice mail Ka’yah left me last night,” Ke’yoko said as she climbed out of bed.
“How she leave you a voice mail?” Nadia inquired.
“Girl, I do not know,” Ke’yoko said as she headed down to the kitchen to fix herself something to eat. “All I know is I checked my messages before I went to bed last night and here her bitch-ass is on my phone lightweight threatenin’ me.”
“Threatenin’ you how?” Nadia inquired.
“Talkin’ ’bout if I don’t come down there to visit her she was gon’ tell Ja’Rel about Ross,” Ke’yoko said, pulling the eggs out of the refrigerator.
“Whaaaaaaaat?” Nadia asked, surprised.
“Girl, yes.” Ke’yoko laughed as she grabbed a skillet off the pot rack and put it on the stove and turned on the fire.
“That bitch got a lot of nerve,” Nadia said, shaking her head in disgust.
Ke’yoko grabbed a bowl out of the cabinet and began cracking her eggs. “Who you tellin’? Bitch, yo’ ass in jail. You ain’t in no position to be talkin’ shit!”
“Right. If anything, the dumb ho should be tryin’a kiss yo’ ass so she can get some money on her books for commissary,” Nadia joked.
“Exactly!” Ke’yoko agreed, grabbing the butter and cutting a couple of slices off into the skillet before pouring her eggs in.
“Well, what you gon’ do? You gon’ go visit or nah?”
“I’ma go visit her silly-ass tonight. But not because of her threat, ’cause I can give less than a fuck about what she tells Ja’Rel. Shit, I don’t even know how she gon’ talk to him ’cause I went through his cell phone the other night and he got about a hundred missed calls from her,” Ke’yoko said, scrambling her eggs.
“Whaaaaat? I wonder why he ignorin’ her?” Nadia questioned.
“Girl, I don’t know and don’t care.” Ke’yoko turned the fire off from underneath her eggs.
“I don’t blame you. What you gon’ say to her?” Nadia asked as she pulled up into the hair shop’s parking lot.
“I don’t even know. I’ll think of somethin’, though.”
“I know you will. And I would give ten million dollars to be a fly on the wall,” Nadia said, turning off her car.
“You know I’ma fill you in.”
“I know you are. I can’t wait! Call me as soon as you leave the county,” Nadia said.
“Say no more.” Ke’yoko hung up the phone, fixed her plate, and sat down at the kitchen table. “One down and one to go.” She smirked before feeding her face.
* * *
Ke’yoko quickly hung up the phone as Ja’Rel walked into the bedroom before walking into the bathroom.
“Who was you talkin’ to?” Ja’Rel walked over to the doorway and asked his wife.
Ke’yoko looked at him like he was crazy. “Why?” she asked while picking up her brush and brushing her hair back.
“Because I asked, that’s why!” he said in a raised tone.
“For the past few weeks you been hurryin’ off the phone every time I walk into a room like you got somethin’ to hide!”
“I ain’t got shit to hide! And let’s not forget I’m grown, too,” Ke’yoko said, picking up her hair tie and putting her hair into a neat ponytail.
“What you bein’ grown got to do wit’ anything?”
“It’s got a lot to do wit’ it! Bein’ that I’m grown, I don’t have to hide shit, unlike some people I know,” she said smartly, while looking at Ja’Rel like he was scum.
“I don’t got shit to hide either,” he said defensively.
“Yeah, a’iiiiight,” Ke’yoko said sarcastically before brushing past Ja’Rel.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Ja’Rel asked while turning to follow Ke’yoko into the bedroom.
“Oh, nothin’,” she said uncaringly.
“It shouldn’t mean nothin’ ’cause I ain’t doin’ shit!” Ja’Rel said.
“Okay,” Ke’yoko said nonchalantly, pissing Ja’Rel off with her laidback attitude.
The way Ke’yoko had been acting lately had Ja’Rel feeling like she really did know what he’d been up to; either that or he was just being paranoid just like he had been ever since Ka’yah had gotten locked up. A few times he’d thought he was being watched by the cable guy who was parked down the street from the shop. Another time he thought he was being followed, and had pulled into the gas station to get away, and when the c
ar pulled in behind him, Ja’Rel had been relieved to see that it was an old white lady driving. He didn’t know what Ka’yah was in there telling the police. He knew she wasn’t built Ford tough like Ke’yoko. Ja’Rel knew if anything ever went down, even though she didn’t know his business, Ke’yoko wouldn’t open her mouth. Ka’yah, on the other hand, would be talking so much the police would probably have to beat her to stop talking.
“Don’t get fucked up!” Ja’Rel replied.
“Oh, don’t worry. I won’t,” Ke’yoko said while grabbing her purse off the bed, putting it on her shoulder.
“Where you ’bouta go?”
“Damn! I’m goin’ to see Ka’yah if you really must know,” she huffed.
“About damn time! I would hate to be your sister. That girl been locked up for a few days and you just now goin’ to check up on her!” Ja’Rel shook his head in disgust.
“She good. I’ve been callin’ down there checkin’ up on her. Shit, how come you ain’t been to see her? You said she’s your family too,” Ke’yoko asked facetiously.
“You know I can’t go down there. You know I’m on papers,” Ja’Rel said.
“You do everything else while you on papers,” Ke’yoko said smartly.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Ja’Rel asked suspiciously.
“Nothin’. I’ll holla at’chu later.” Ke’yoko walked out of the bedroom, leaving Ja’Rel standing in the middle of the bedroom wondering what all Ke’yoko really knew about him.
Chapter Thirty-three
Ke’yoko pulled up into the county’s parking lot and just sat there staring at the huge building. In some sort of weird way, her womb-mate being locked up was starting to affect her. Even though Ka’yah had done so much to cross her, Ke’yoko did still feel bad that her sister was probably about to spend the rest of her life behind bars. She began thinking back to when they were growing up as kids, how close they used to be. How they used to lie in bed and laugh and talk all night, sharing their dreams and goals. She remembered how, once they’d become teens, Ka’yah would always cover for Ke’yoko, taking all the heat from their dad when Ke’yoko got caught up in her lies. And, lastly, how they’d live together in the same house with their husbands and children. Ke’yoko missed their close relationship and would have given anything to get it back. For the life of her, she didn’t know what had gone wrong that had made Ka’yah turn on her the way she had.
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