Ghetto Girls 6

by Anthony Whyte

  “Okay, bitch, break that shyt down while I count how much is in this bag,” Kim said, emptying the shopping bag of money.

  “It’s all there, ten thousand dollars, ho’.”

  “I’m still counting this shyt.”

  “I should’ve taken some of that money for paying all your tabs, ho’.”

  “Bitch, lemme hear what we have to do for this?”

  “First of all it ain’t we—it’s you, ho’. You have to put this listening device in his apartment,” Tina said, reaching into the second bag.

  “Huh-uh, who the hell wants to spy on this man, now…?”

  “Max said he’s been trying to get Eric to call his ex-fiancée, and Eric been refusing to do it. So he just wanna keep an eye on Eric because he’s been actin’ kinda tough, and now he doesn’t even wanna return Max’s calls, and they have to work on this for the court case.”

  “There has to be a reason for Eric not calling him back. And as for his ex, shyt I read the newspaper. That bitch just turned on him.”

  “How you know, ho’?”

  “It’s all over the news, bitch!”

  “Shut your face, ho. A lot of that shit is pure gossip. I just wanna hear about stocks and bonds,” Tina said, grabbing Kim’s ass.”

  “Shyt bitch! Stop pinching my assets,” Kim said.

  “Exactly, use all that assets to complete the mission. Get this device planted in Eric’s place.”

  “How bitch…?” Kim asked.

  “Well, ho’, you’re friends with his niece and artist. How ’bout you think like you’re a good singer, lie and tell her you wanna be on her track?”

  “That’s not a lie. I’d love to be on a track with Coco, produced by Eric Ascot. Shyt that would be a dream come true,” Kim said.

  “Don’t wet your panties, ho’,” Tina laughed, passing Kim the blunt.

  17

  Eric sat quietly in the studio replaying the song over and over. He drank black coffee like he had been up all night. His frustration wedged deep into the lines above his brows. Eric turned to something stronger than caffeine to ease the thoughts. He poured from the bottle, then raising the glass to his mouth, he flung the heavy liquid to the back of his throat. He repeated the action over and over.

  He left the bottle of Louis XIII Le Jeroboam and staggered away with his cell phone held tightly in his hand. The rich taste of cognac did nothing to erase his thought of calling her. It remained like a stain on his mind, still there after wetting his whistle. Eric wanted to skip this episode, but it seemed like the more he tried, the more he felt trapped in a web. Sophia had betrayed him and that was it. Ignoring the wish of his attorney and his better sense, Eric steadfastly refused to call Sophia.

  The attorney warned him that her testimony could be damaging and jeopardize his defense. Eric winced at the thought of his freedom being taken away based on statements by someone he helped through law school. He shrugged to the irony and flipped a switch. A heavy bass guitar solo banged loudly. Eric let the rhythm fill the air before adding kettledrum and handclaps.

  “Oh yeah, Houston I think we have a liftoff that makes me feel real charged… Wanna rip this to shreds, and bring it to y’all…” Coco sang, walking into the studio.

  “I think we’re ready for it. Not a lot of people can do something with this beat right here. Maybe you can. Are you ready, Coco?”

  “Yeah, let’s get it, yo. I’m amped.”

  Deedee smiled at the pair. Watching them working closely together, she realized that her uncle had found a real protégé. Coco went with all his beats—good and bad, his hiccups—she was now learning from his unique experience. An excellent student, Coco sang, rapped and started feeling full confidence in her ability.

  “Lift off taking my coat off gotta go off into my zone

  lifting off my coat I gotta get up into my zone…

  this Harlem swagga is rolling back,

  gotta let you think renaissance swing made it back again live

  I live it daily writing like Langston Hughes in my verses,

  Zora eyes watching ’em not ba,d huh?

  I’m gonna make it live Apollo in my blood

  running down 1-2-5 black on blacks back door at Club Savoy

  struttin’ when me and Mr. Ascot connect…

  what can I say are you feeling these changes

  or are you just stuck on this champagne

  flow like delivering what you need to your home town…

  Gotta go off into my zone, lifting off my coat clearing my throat…

  I gotta get, get up in my zone…

  Over-stand Bobbie Seale inside George Jackson action

  I’ll shed blood but why die when I’d murder you several times

  my third rail flow on this track,

  activist Angela Davis wanna end lives in a revolution

  but then get a prayer fell on my lips

  I cannot go that route now spreadin’ rhymes like

  Lovin’ all my peoples living and dealing survivors of life’s struggles…

  cocaine swagger let these niggas know they outta

  they minds tryin to sway my rhymes every time I pause…

  I change time drugs coming from Madukes’ loin…”

  Coco went silent and biting her lips, she nodded her head to the rhythm of the beat. Eric watched her closely and waited for a few minutes before he turned down the volume.

  “You good…?” Eric asked.

  “Yeah, I was just thinking about what I was saying and—”

  The phone next to Deedee buzzed silently and Deedee picked it up. She walked out and closed the door of the studio then she answered.

  “Hello…?”

  “Hey Dee,” Kim said.

  “Hi Kim,” Deedee said. “What’s up?”

  “Yeah, I was wondering if I could stop by and you know chill…?”

  “I’m afraid my uncle and Coco—”

  “Coco and Eric are working together? I could stop by and watch and shyt. You know say hello to Mr. Ascot and…”

  “Okay, okay Kim come on by. You’ve got the address, right?”

  “Yeah, I can’t wait and shyt. I’ll be there soon, Dee,” Kim said.

  Tina thoughtfully stared at Kim when she hung up the phone. Kim checked her makeup and got out of the cab. Tina waved at her entering Ascot’s building. Making sure that her plan was in effect, she went off in the cab across town.

  Kim continued upstairs and was met by security’s inquisitive eyes. They nodded as she sashayed by them and went inside the apartment. Coco and Eric was busy getting the lyrics right, the collaboration was filled with creative energy.

  “Take it from the second segment. You started at ‘Gotta go off into my zone, lifting off my coat clearing my throat… I gotta get, get up in my zone…’” Eric said, humming the lyrics.

  “Okay, gotcha… Hit it…”

  Uh ha… Gotta go off into my zone,

  lifting off my coat clearing my throat…

  I gotta get, get up in my zone…

  Over-standin Bobbie Seale inside George Jackson action

  I’ll shed blood but why die when I’d murder

  you several times third rail flow on this track,

  activist like Angela Davis wanna end lives

  revolution but then get a prayer fell on my lips

  I cannot go that route now spreadin’ rhymes

  like love to all my peoples living and dealing

  survivors of life’s struggles… cocaine swagger

  let these niggas know before they utta

  minds tryin to sway my rhymes every time I pause…

  I change time drugs coming from madukes’ loin…

  Again, Coco paused. She was not being able to complete the line. She nodded for a couple of beats then she looked up, surprised by the voice. The beat was still rocking and Kim shouted above it.

  “That was sounding really good and shyt, Coco!” Kim loudly exclaimed.

  Both Coco and Eric turned
their attention to the newcomer. Deedee stood next to her and smiled, shaking her head.

  “Is it alright, Kim was, ah, in the neighborhood,” Deedee said. “She wanted to say hi to your uncle.”

  “Hi Kim,” Eric smiled.

  “Kim was singing something she said could be used as a hook to the song,” Deedee announced.

  “I didn’t know you could sing, Kim?” Eric smiled, getting closer.

  “There are a lot of things you don’t know,” Kim said, returning Eric’s smile.

  “I heard her do her thing before,” Coco said.

  “You want the beat or—”

  “Nah, I’m good. I was singing as soon as I heard Coco rhyming and shyt.”

  “Go ahead, Kim. Sing the hook,” Deedee said.

  “Huh… This is for my bitches and ho’s who been waiting for a long, long time just to get into their zone all this time been waiting for a long, long time just to get into this for long, long time…” Kim sang, snapping her fingers in rhythm. “Something like that, you know…? It’s just a lil’ sump’n and shyt,” she said.

  “It could work,” Eric said with no hesitation. “Your voice sounds just right and everything. Coco, what you think?”

  “Yeah, I mean, I’ve heard Kim’s voice before. She can blow it down. So we can do it. I’m totally with it,” Coco said.

  “Yes, I agree with both your opinions,” Deedee smiled.

  “Oh my and that’s a just a little taste—”

  “Alright it’s minimum talking, Kim. I already know you so I’m a need you to sing that hook again,” Eric said.

  Coco and Deedee walked outside of the studio. Deedee closed the door and handed Coco her cell phone.

  “Damn she come up here and jumped on the track, yo. I mean why didn’t you warn me at least?”

  “She just called then she was here. I’m sorry I had no time to warn you. You were in the midst of doing the song,” Deedee said, handing Coco a cell phone. “Coco, later for that—you’ve gotta call the hospital,” Deedee said with urgency.

  Coco could hear Kim’s voice still coming through the insulated studio. She looked at Kim then at Deedee holding the cell phone.

  “Huh… This is for my bitches and ho’s

  been waiting for a long, long time

  to get into their zone all this time been waiting

  for a long, long time

  just to get into this for long, long time…”

  Kim was singing the hook when Coco barged into the studio. Eric glanced up at her and saw the pain all over her face. There were no tears, but Coco’s breathing was coming hard like she was running a race.

  “Deedee, get her some water,” Eric shouted, rushing to the teen.

  Coco collapsed in his arms. Eric held her and Kim held the door as he carried Coco to the sofa. Deedee arrived with the water and looked down at Coco’s frame.

  “She passed out?” Deedee asked.

  “Yeah, she did the same damn shyt … Ah… thing at mommy’s place when I gave her the news about Rightchus. But we were puffin’ weed and shyt…” Kim said and let her voice trailed. “Were y’all puffin’?” she asked, looking at Deedee.

  “No we weren’t,” Deedee said, walking away.

  “Mommy used Robitussin. That’s ghetto. I don’t know if y’all got any of that.”

  Deedee returned and saw Eric checking Coco’s vital functions at her wrist. She found some smelling salts for them. She ushered her uncle out of the way and waved the capsule below Coco’s nostrils.

  The teen stirred then tried to push Deedee’s hand away. Coco shook her head as if she had just been punched out. She tried to get up.

  “I gotta get to the hospital, yo. It’s Madukes, yo. She—”

  “Oh my God…!” Kim screamed, running to her bag.

  Eric was on his cell phone dialing then calling. Deedee was comforting the weeping Coco and Kim took the opportunity to plant the electronic device the way Tina had instructed.

  “Let’s go,” Eric said.

  Eric and Deedee helped the devastated Coco as they walked out. Coco’s head was spinning so much that she thought she would pass out on the elevator. Eric held the door as Deedee, Coco, and Kim filed in. There were hushed tones filtering between Deedee and Kim, but Coco made no sound during the ride to the hospital. Jumping out of the limousine when it came to a stop, Coco raced to the entrance, Deedee, Kim and Eric were following closely behind her.

  Hospital security seemed nicer, even letting the group upstairs immediately. Coco’s expression appeared to be calm, but everyone could tell she was trapped in a current of emotion.

  The elevator seemed to move slower than usual, but eventually they reached the seventh floor. Coco watched the door slide open. She seemed confused for a second.

  “It’s the next floor, yo.”

  It took only a few minutes to reach the next floor, but for Coco and the group with her, it could have been a lifetime. They arrived and the elevator doors slid away. This time Coco jumped off and immediately saw Nurse Roberts.

  There were tears in her eyes when she embraced Coco. The teen flopped lifeless against the white uniform of the dedicated nurse.

  “It’s no use, Coco. The doctors did all they could—her system just rejected all the medications. She left us about fifteen minutes ago,” Nurse Roberts said, still holding to Coco’s seemingly lifeless frame.

  Deedee was weeping. Kim hugged her and started crying. Eric sighed and tried to help Deedee. Coco stood sobbing.

  “She passed away peacefully. There was no pain,” the compassionate nurse said.

  “Can I see her?” Coco asked, tears slowly falling from her eyes.

  “Sure, I’ll arrange it for a few minutes,” the nurse said.

  There were no dry eyes as the nurse, and Deedee supporting Coco’s wobbly bop, walked to the deceased woman’s room. Eric hugged Kim against his body and she stuck with him like glue as they followed behind. They waited quietly outside the room while Coco disappeared inside.

  Nurse Roberts turned to Deedee and asked, “Do you know if she gave that man, ah—”

  “Dontay…?” Deedee asked.

  “Yes, I think that’s his name. It’s imperative that he come in and get himself checked. He’s a potential carrier of the virus. It’s our responsibility to—”

  “You talkin’ Dontay, Dontay? That fake pimp?” Kim asked Deedee. “Shyt if you talkin’ ’bout that Dontay then he already got the monster.”

  “What…?” Nurse Roberts asked.

  “He’s positive. He got AIDS,” Kim said.

  “You mean he’s already tested and knows for sure?” The surprised nurse asked.

  “Yes, he used to do this big-time pimpin’ and got caught up in the system and went down for about five or six years for forgery and embezzlement of a lot of money. I don’t know for sure what he did when he was there. Cuz them men be tossin’ each other on the reg when they in lockup. He came outta the feds with the A-I-D-S monster and shyt.”

  They were all stunned, Coco walked out with tears in her eyes and Deedee hugged the distraught teen.

  “I’m sorry, Coco,” the nurse said. “Please get her home safely. I was told you’d be responsible, right Mr. Ascot?”

  “Yes,” Eric said.

  “There are a few papers to be signed for the death certificate,” Nurse Roberts said. “If you would like to do that now then—”

  “Sure, okay,” Eric said and left the girls.

  Coco leaned against the hospital wall, banging her head. It wasn’t hard enough to knock her out, but Deedee moved to pull her form the wall.

  “Coco, don’t take out your frustration like that. Guess who was already positive while messin’ with your mother?” Deedee asked.

  Coco stared at her with a perplexed expression. She said nothing to Deedee and heard Kim joining into the conversation.

  “Dontay—”

  “He had A-I-D-S this whole time,” Deedee eagerly said. “He’s the one who passed the
virus to your mother, Coco,” she continued. “I think Tina had it all setup to happen.” Coco stood for a beat looking in the direction of her mother’s room. She saw the gurney with her mother’s body being rolled out by hospital’s orderlies.

  “What da fuck? Are you serious, yo?” Coco asked and the anguish in her tone echoed through the hospital’s corridors.

  18

  The cab stopped and the driver was still busy petting Tina’s exposed pussy. He had one hand on the steering wheel. The other was fingering Tina’s exposed clit. She leaned back smiling as he tried to keep one eye on the road, and the other on her panty-less crotch. They had almost side-swiped another driver, came close to running over a pedestrian in the crosswalk, and twice nearly rear-ended another driver.

  “Ah hmm, yes-s-s, right here is fine,” Tina said. “No not your fingers. This is my destination,” she laughed.

  The cabbie stopped the car, and drooled while licking his fingers. Tina laughed watching him succumb to her feminine powers. It was all a game to her, and she gave him one last look. Then Tina seductively wiggled her backside on the way out the cab.

  It was a humid day and her extra-short tight-fitting clothes made her desirable to any man. She could hear the trail of whistles following her. Tina flaunted her resources while walking to Dontay’s apartment. She rang the bell. After a stall, he opened the door.

  “My queen,” he smiled, swinging the door to greet her.

  She sashayed inside without saying anything. Dontay dutifully followed behind her. Tina glanced around the place and looked at Dontay.

  “Dontay, Dontay, Dontay, you’re gonna have to learn to do what I ask, and not as you like,” Tina said.

  He immediately knew what Tina was talking about. She walked close and patted Dontay’s sweating cheek.

  “She was gonna expose me. You know what kinda mouth that bitch, ah your friend has. I mean one word outta her and everything I’m building goes out the window,” he said.

  “Shut your face! You’ve already said too much. It ain’t about Dontay. This is way bigger than you and me. I keep tellin’ you that,” Tina said. “Now your bitch-ass-ness got you in trouble.

  “What you mean, Tina?”

  “You fucking up,” she deadpanned.

  “But she was gonna expose me. It would’ve been all over anyway.”