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  I was used to spending that in one day. My house mortgage was $6,500 a month alone. Not to mention me and the baby had to eat, plus the light, gas, and other expenses we had. This little-ass bit of money wouldn’t last no time. I took a deep breath and realized that I would have to wait on Todd to tell me what to do next. I was hoping he had some money stashed somewhere outside of the house. After calming down, I found a copy of the fucking search-and-seizure warrant and the arrest warrant lying on what was left of my granite countertops. Those motherfucking cops had finally gotten their wish and got something on Todd. In my assessment, since Todd told me he had gone legit, those pigs had to have made something up on my husband.

  Satanya was good enough to go pick up Lil Todd for me while I stayed and tried to make sense of all this shit. I paced the floor up and down trying to think of all the places Todd would have money. First I looked in the exercise room under his weights; they had gotten the little stash he kept there. Then I looked outside in the fertilizer bin; they had gotten that one too. The more I searched, the more I realized that $5,000 was what I had to my name right now. They had taken all of my jewelry, both Rolexes, Todd’s diamond Jesus piece, and basically anything worth a lot of money. Those crooked-ass cops probably pocketed all that shit. I didn’t even have enough fucking money to call that expensive-ass attorney who got Todd off the last time. That bastard had a $5,000 retainer up front, not to mention what he would want after he went to just one court appearance. If I gave him that, how the fuck would me and Lil Todd eat?

  My cell phone rang and I raced over to it. “Hello?!” I breathed hard into the phone. My shoulders slumped when I heard Satanya’s voice.

  I thought for sure it would be Todd. Satanya had gotten the baby and was taking him to her house. She said he didn’t need to see the house in that condition, and she was right. I found it strange that the word hadn’t gotten out on the streets yet and that none of Todd’s boys had contacted me yet. I knew sooner or later, Todd would get his one phone call, and he would definitely be calling me. I was sure he would be able to tell me where he had hidden some more money. So I waited. And waited.

  Todd

  “Yo, straight up. Y’all niggas got the wrong dude if y’all think I’m speaking to y’all asses without my lawyer,” I barked. These fucking cops didn’t know who they were fucking with. They had me in this interrogation room talking that let’s-make-a-deal shit. These motherfuckers were crazy! First of all, who the fuck would I snitch on?

  I am my own boss. They wanted to know who I got the weapons from. “What fucking weapons?” was my question back to them. As far as I knew, I didn’t have no weapons; that was my story and I was sticking to it. They weren’t fucking with no little corner dude who would be running his mouth before his lawyer showed up.

  That big white boy sergeant, Labeckie, hated my ass. He got so mad at me that he banged his hands on the little metal table until his shit was swollen. It was obvious that somebody in a high place had told that motherfucker that he’d better get me to roll or else his ass would be back on the beat.

  I kept asking for my phone call every time they came in and out of the room. They knew they couldn’t hold me longer than sixteen hours without a call, and it was coming close to that time. I was hoping that Shannon remembered the codes I had taught her for the phone conversation in case something like this ever happened again. We hadn’t practiced those codes in a long time. I couldn’t trust talking on no fucking precinct phone, so we had developed some codes for an emergency just like this.

  I had my head in my hands when Labeckie and his little asskissing cronies came back into the room. I knew they had been watching me through the blacked-out glass that looked like a mirror. I guess they thought a nigga was stressed, so they came back to make their move.

  “So, Todd Marshall, here’s the fucking deal—if you don’t play, you stay. In other words, talk and you might walk. This is your final offer,” Labeckie said as he flexed his jaw. The sergeant was angry. I watched his chest swell and his jaw flex a million times a minute.

  He was on the edge, and I knew it. I wasn’t bending over so these crooked-ass cops could fuck me with no lube—hell no!

  “Yo, I need my phone call. Y’all got ten minutes,” I said calmly, looking over and leaning my head toward the institution-style clock above the steel door. The sergeant knew all too well that I was fully aware of my rights, and it just pissed him off even more.

  “Andrews, take this pantywaist for his phone call. Then you can go fuck his wife right after—” Labeckie spat, smiling wickedly.

  Before he could fully get the words out of his mouth, I jumped up and pushed away from the table, sending it sliding right into Labeckie’s chest.

  He jumped up ready to flex.

  “Don’t mention my wife!” I barked.

  “Sit the fuck down!” Labeckie screamed as the two other cops slammed me into the table, knocking the wind out of me.

  When I was finally given my phone call, I dialed Shannon’s cell and hoped to God she answered. I knew that by now she would be a nervous wreck, probably crying and all fucked up over this shit. I would’ve given anything to see her beautiful caramel face with those long-ass eyelashes she loved to bat at me. Those eyes always made me melt like a stick of butter in the sun. Thinking about my beautiful wife, with her slim waist and thick hips, being out in the world alone while I did another bid was enough to send cramps into my stomach. Shannon had told me that during my first bid, so many dudes who were supposed to be my boys had tried to fuck her it wasn’t even funny. I knew that most of the street dudes in Norfolk were envious of me, especially when they peeped my wife with her long hair; clear skin; and those round, perfect D-cup tits. Damn! I was fucked up just picturing her beautiful ass right now.

  “What up, baby?” I whispered into the phone, secretly thanking God she had answered. I closed my eyes and moved the receiver away from my ear as my wife screamed out my name at the top of her lungs. It was breaking my heart to hear her in so much pain. “Calm down, baby. I don’t have that much time,” I comforted as Shannon wilded out on the other end. When she told me these fucking pigs had taken my safe, my stomach clenched and I felt like shitting on myself. Everything I owned was up in that safe, including my get-outta-jail-free lawyer stash. Shannon was crying so hard I knew I couldn’t fall apart now, too, even though I felt like it. “Listen, listen,” I said, making sure I had her full attention.

  “Remember what we practiced?” I asked, trying to get her to calm down so I could tell her what to do next. Through her tears, she said she remembered. I told her, in code, to go to Jock, Zack, and Billy to collect on some loot all three of them owed me for recent sales and to collect on debts that they all owed me as well. Then I told her to go to the garage where I parked the trucks for the business; there was a small stash in a lockbox in the office. Shannon sounded like she finally started to breathe easy. I knew that between what my dudes owed me and what I had up in the garage, she could at least pay the bills on the house for two months and get a retainer up for my attorney. It was a solid plan. The only other person who knew about the garage stash was my dude Jock.

  “I love you, Shannon, and I’m gonna get outta this shit,” I said to her before getting ready to hang up.

  She told me over and over again how much she loved me too. She held on to the phone as long as she could; then these fucking assholes were breathing down my neck, telling me my time was up. I told her that I had to go, and it was probably the most painful thing I have felt in a while. It just sounded so final. I knew my wife wasn’t made for the streets, so I prayed real hard that she was able to handle the tasks at hand before my first court appearance.

  Shannon

  As soon as Todd told me what to do, I set out on a mission to get the money so I could try to get a good lawyer and be prepared for Todd’s arraignment. My first stop was to see Zack, since he lived closer and since, through code, Todd had made it seem like Zack owed him the most money. Zac
k was much younger than Todd, and I remember Todd taking him under his wing and showing him the ropes on the street.

  So I was sure collecting from him wouldn’t be a problem.

  I pulled up to the corner of Church Street and Johnson Street, where I knew Zack had his trap house. There were a bunch of niggas out there, gambling and standing around waiting for their customers. I hadn’t been to this side of town in so long I immediately got disgusted. All the run-down buildings and crack fiends running up and down the streets. Even though I grew up around here, it was a place I wanted to forget.

  At the corner I spotted Zack.

  “Zack!” I called out the window. All of those niggas turned around like they were ready to flex. They were all staring at me like I was crazy. Zack put his hand up to his eyes and moved his head in and out like he was having a hard time recognizing me. This nigga looked confused and shit. I called out to him again, this time bending my head down a little so I was sure he could see my face through the window. I knew damn well he knew just who the fuck I was, but I played it cool. Finally, he bopped over to the car.

  “What’s up?” I asked.

  “Oh, damn, Todd’s wife—Shannon, right?” he asked, putting a little phony-ass smile on his face. I could’ve slapped the shit out of his skinny ass. How dare he act like he didn’t fucking remember me!

  “Yeah. You don’t remember staying at my crib when you first got home?” I asked, reminding that nigga just who took care of his ass and got him back on his feet when he was hungry.

  “Nah, I’m saying I remember and shit, but you look different and shit,” he said.

  “A’ight, well, I’m sure you heard about my husband, right?” I asked, not even giving him time to answer, because the way the streets of Norfolk was, I knew he already knew about Todd getting locked up. “Well, Todd sent me here,” I started again.

  “Oh, yeah, I heard he got locked up on some ol’ life-sentence shit,” Zack said. His words hit me right in the gut, and I felt like doubling over as if he had actually punched me.

  “Nah, that’s what niggas might think. He gonna get out as soon as I collect from all the dudes who owe him so I can pay his attorney,” I said with an attitude. “That is the reason I’m here. You owe Todd twenty thousand, right?” I said with more of an attitude. How dare this motherfucker put my damn baby behind bars for life before he was even arraigned! I wasn’t getting a good vibe from this nigga at all.

  “Ummm … I thought me and that nigga had settled that,” Zack said dismissively.

  “Settled it? Well, that ain’t what he told me. I really need to collect that as soon as possible,” I replied, not trying to hear this nigga right now.

  “I’ma see what I can do,” Zack said, starting to back away from the car like he was dismissing me.

  “When should I check back?” I yelled out the window. This nigga had moved fast as hell.

  “I’ll get back to you. You don’t have to look for me. I’ll get at you,” he said, turning his back and returning to his little group of corner boys. I could see them huddling around him to find out what I wanted.

  I was well aware that there were several of them who wished they could have me. I was fucking pissed. Todd was always like the Robin of the hood, helping all these little niggas out, putting them to work and shit, and now this motherfucker was acting like he didn’t owe my husband shit. I was driving with tears in my eyes. That meeting didn’t seem too damn promising. I was on the next dude.

  I pulled up to Billy’s house and blocked his driveway. He had graduated from the corners, so he lived in a pretty decent neighborhood. It wasn’t as high class as where we lived, but it was nice enough. I rang his bell, and within minutes he was at the door. He pulled back the door and was standing there in his wife-beater and boxers.

  “Wassup, Billy? I’m sorry if I woke you up, but this is an emergency,” I said.

  “Nah, I’m good. I heard about T. But you a’ight?” he asked.

  I felt like breaking down, but I held my head up and got to the point. “I’m good. Todd asked me to come by and check for some loot that you got for him,” I explained. Billy’s eyebrows went down and his face changed. He asked me in and told me I could sit down on the couch. I didn’t want to be rude, but I wasn’t there for all that sit-down bullshit. I wanted to get to the point—did he have the money or not?

  “Yeah, yeah. I owe him a few dollars. Whatchu need?” he asked.

  “I need what you owe Todd. For real, shit is crazy right about now, and I just need to get up some money for his lawyer,” I explained, feeling like I was doing too much explaining. I felt like I had to cop a plea to these niggas who owed my fucking husband money!

  “Hold up,” Billy said, disappearing toward the back of his house.

  I looked around and could tell by the flat screens, the expensive furniture, and the artwork that Billy wasn’t doing too bad financially.

  He came back with two plastic bags in his hands with some money in them. “Here is a little something,” he said, tossing the bags at me, then he plopped down on the couch beside me. My eyes immediately lit up. I was happy to see that he was coming up off the money.

  “How much is this?” I asked.

  “That’s like two g’s. I’ma have to work on the rest,” he explained.

  I wasn’t trying to be ungrateful, but I was thinking what the fuck is two g’s gonna do? I still wouldn’t be able to pay for that lawyer. Unlike that little punk-ass Zack, at least Billy came up off of something. I put the money in my bag.

  The next thing I knew, this nigga had moved real close to me on the couch. He shocked me when he put his arm around me and got close to the side of my face.

  “Yo, if you need a nigga to take care of your pretty ass, all you gotta do is holla,” he said, breathing on my cheek.

  “What the fuck is you doing?!” I screamed, pushing him away and trying to stand up. My heart was racing fast, and I was in such shock I didn’t even know what to say.

  “Don’t be acting like you too fucking good for a nigga,” he growled, holding on to my arm so tight I felt a sharp pain.

  “Get the fuck off me!” I screamed again, yanking my arm away.

  “I could take your pussy right now and nobody would know. Ya man ain’t fucking getting out no time soon. You better get with a nigga who can take care of you without getting his ass locked up every other year,” he said cruelly.

  “Fuck you, Billy!” I spat, twisting my arm out of his grasp. I ain’t gonna front; I was scared as hell, but I was mad as hell at the same time. I rushed toward the front door to get the fuck out of there. Billy looked like he was liable to rape me right there. I guess I wouldn’t be getting no more money from him. I was feeling so conflicted inside. I really couldn’t believe these niggas was shitting on Todd for real.

  When I got back in my car, my mind was racing in a million directions. This shit wasn’t going to be as easy as Todd made it seem. I slammed my hands on the steering wheel. I started to feel angry because my husband had told me he had gone fully legit. How the fuck did this happen? I asked myself as I pulled away from Billy’s driveway wondering what the fuck would happen next.

  “Think positive, Shannon, think positive,” I pep talked myself as I drove. Shit couldn’t get any worse … or could it?

  As a last-ditch effort, I was sure praying that Jock was going to hook me up with some cash. Jock and Todd had been friends since they were little kids, and my husband shared everything with him. Todd trusted him with everything, including his secrets and his business dealings. Jock was Lil Todd’s godfather, and he had been the best man in our wedding—that was how close he was with my husband. I was still wondering why the hell Jock hadn’t come to check on me yet.

  I drove to Jock’s house and he wasn’t home. I went to every place I knew he hung out and couldn’t find him. I left him three voice mails, and he had not returned my calls. I had no choice but to wait for him to get in touch with me now, because I didn’t know where
he was.

  I couldn’t even go to Todd’s garage, because Jock had the spare keys and with my house tossed up like it was, I had no idea where Todd’s keys were.

  With only an extra $2,000 to add to what I had, I went home, mentally and physically exhausted. Todd would be in court tomorrow, and I had no way to help him. As soon as I pulled into my driveway, I broke down. The tears just came flooding and didn’t stop until my tear ducts were completely dry and my mind completely numb.

  Todd

  My arraignment was quick and fucked up. They were trying to stick me with all kinds of gun charges—fucking possession and intent to distribute illegally. Since I was already a predicate felon, that fucking judge denied bail. Shannon was in the courtroom, but she hadn’t been able to get up enough money for a lawyer, so they gave my ass a court-appointed attorney. Right then and there, I prepared myself for a trip to prison. That little skinny-ass lawyer looked all sloppy and shit, papers and folders spilling out of his hand. Not the well-dressed, sharp-ass attorneys I had hired in the past to beat charges. This scrawny little bastard was acting all scared of me and shit. I knew right then and there he thought I was guilty as a motherfucker too—not a good sign. Something was gonna have to give.

  Three meetings with that little bitch-ass lawyer and he was trying to convince me to take a plea deal.

  “Ten to fifteen years! Motherfucker, is you crazy? I ain’t pleading to that shit!” I hollered at him.

  “That’s what they are offering you since you are a three striker,” he’d said, his voice cracking like a little bitch.

  “Nah, I’m taking this shit to trial,” I argued, shaking my head, but I knew deep down inside if I took the shit to trial, I would be facing life. I wouldn’t stand a chance with the evidence they found in my crib. If I took it to trial with this little fucked-up lawyer, I would definitely lose. Taking a ten-year bid would be better than getting fucking life. Leaving one of the many meetings I had with the lawyer, I knew right away I would be going down for another bid if something didn’t give.