Authors: Shareef Jaudon
Tyce snatched the phone away from his face.
He spoke even toned keeping his voice steady, “Daphne. I have your husband and you have someone I want.”
“Who? What is this all about? Who are you!?” She yelled into the phone.
“Never mind who I am. You have a woman named Angelique on your trash crew don’t you?”
“What?” Daphne sounded flustered.
“Bitch listen! Is a woman named Angelique on your trash crew? Don’t say what again or I’ma take my frustration out on your husband’s face!”
Daphne paused to regain her composure. “Yes I do.”
Tyce continued, “Good, are you workin’ the crew tomorrow?”
“Yes. We’re working a section of the 101 highway tomorrow morning. ” Her voice was seasoned with worry.
“Good. Now listen. Tomorrow after the shift is over you’ll take all the girls back to jail except for her. Leave her behind. Do you understand?”
“Yes.” She said quietly. “Just don’t hurt my husband.”
“Daphne, if you do exactly what the fuck I say. I won’t hurt one little thin hair on his bald head,
but
if you fuck with me, or call the police. I’ll shoot his ass in the fuckin face…and your little dog too.”
“Oh my God! Please don’t hurt my dog.” She began to cry.
“Fuck yo’ dog! I’ll kick a field goal with her puny ass if you fuck with me.”
“I’ll do whatever you want. Just don’t hurt my husband, or my dog please.”
“Leave Angelique on the highway, and don’t do anything stupid and I won’t have to hurt em.”
“Ok.” She sniffed into the phone.
Tyce hung up the phone and glared at George as he sat crying in his chair.
“You better hope you married a smart bitch.” Tyce and Sway left the room leaving George and the dog in the dark.
Cellmates
It was eight hours into the night in the hole and Tasha and I were talking. It was awkward at first, but the conversation was starting to trickle. We still had our backs against opposite walls and we both still had our guards up but at least we were passing the time with a little chitchat-but don’t get it twisted though, I still didn’t trust the bitch.
“What was that all about out there?” Tasha slanted her eyes at me.
I sucked my teeth, “Oh that? That was jus’ some jealous bitches’ tryna steal my shampoo to use on their dry ass naps.”
Tasha let out a little chuckle at that last comment.
“Them ratchet ass bitches was ugly, especially the short manly lookin’ one. Did you see her lips? They looked like they were stained with grape juice.”
“Oh shit, you startin’ to sound like me. I thought I was the only one that cracked funny ass jokes about people’s looks.” I slapped my knee.
“I guess we have that in common, cuz I stay bustin’ on ugly funny lookin’ chicks.” Tasha rolled her neck.
“Shit me too!” I consigned, “But I draw the line when it comes to handicapped people, old folks and babies.”
Tasha put her hand up, “Now hold on a minute, I’ve seen some ugly ass babies.”
I nodded my head, “Yeah, there are some unattractive babies out there, but the parents swear up and down their child is jus’ the cutest little thing.”
Tasha and I spent the next half hour talking about the various ugly people inside the jail before the conversation switched to a more serious direction.
I stretched my legs out crossing them on the cold floor.
“I gotta admit you’re the last person I expected to see walk in my cell. What did you do to get put in here anyway? Last I heard you booked to Vegas with some dude.”
“You talkin’ bout Ace. That nigga is the reason I’m in here. He stole all the money I stole from Omar…trick ass nigga. I heard he was out here livin’ it up, so I came out here to find him. When I did he found a bullet in his back!”
My eyebrows raised up slightly. “You killed him?”
Tasha sucked her teeth. “Naw, that nigga aint dead. He’s in the hospital recoverin’ and I’m in here for assault with a deadly weapon. I’m hopin’ they don’t take it further and charge me with attempted murder. My lawyer seems to think they won’t since he tried to kick my ass before I shot him.”
“Damn, that’s fucked up.” I shook my head back and forth. “Did you get any money back?”
“He only had a couple hundred in a duffle bag, so I grabbed that. I think he hid the rest.”
“Now that’s a sorry ass nigga.” I looked at her.
“Tell me about it.” Tasha licked her lips.
During the dialogue my attention turned to a roach that crawled along the wall until it found a little crack and disappeared into it. I watched the little insect find a way out of the cell and wished I could trade places with it. I wanted to so bad to find a way out this hell hole even if it meant crawling on all fours.
Check Out Time
Little bald man George and his mutt stayed in the dark inside an old abandoned warehouse in the city. They were locked in a windowless room unaware of their location, or who put them there in the first place. Today was the day he would either be in a box or in his bed. The choice was up to his loving wife.
After I called Gloria to check on Khari I made my way toward the highway where Angelique and the crew would be working. I couldn’t very well camp out there without drawing attention to myself, so I got off one exit down from the spot posting up in a crowded strip mall parking lot. I had a vest on underneath my black T-shirt. Blue jeans, running shoes, baseball cap, and black Work Force gloves that clung tight to my fingers finished the outfit. The getaway vehicle was the van I stole two days ago. Another car was parked on a back street just off the highway. That was the switch car. I planned to torch the van, leaving no evidence and disappear along a back route I mapped out leading to Sabrina’s studio apartment on the beach. The entire escape should take no more than 35 minutes. If Deputy Daphne didn’t do what she was told Sway was at the warehouse with strict instructions to murder George and the dog. Daphne would be all mine.
Truth be told I didn’t wanna kill anybody. I hoped for the best, but if it came down to my woman’s freedom, or somebody’s life-I wouldn’t hesitate to pull the trigger and ruin someone’s day. How the hell could I explain to Khari that I let her mother go to jail for 10 years cuz I got soft. Fuck that.
The digital clock in the van read 12:47. The crew should be finishing up in a few minutes and by one o’clock Angelique should be all alone on the highway waiting on her ride.
Another Work Day
That was one uncomfortable night in the hole, but I had to admit that Tasha’s company made it somewhat bearable. I couldn’t imagine sitting in there all night by myself. Nevertheless, I was happy when the guard came and let us out. He told me to get ready for my trash duty shift and to my surprise Tasha was now on the crew. She failed to tell me that last night and just smiled when she saw the astonishment on my face.
“What. You thought you were the only one who wanted some fresh air?”
She winked at me as we both left the cramped quarters. After my gourmet breakfast of runny eggs and dry butter less toast I put on my bullshit ass work boots in preparation for my job. Tasha did the same sitting next to me on a steel bench. The rude ass lady came and got us with the other girls from the crew right behind her. This morning she seemed especially irritated as she barked orders at us in an overly nasty tone. I just ignored her, fell in line and prepared for a long hard day’s work.
The morning started off a bit weird. First Deputy Daphne wasn’t bumping her usual rock music choosing to ride to the work location in complete silence. Normally She’d at least let us talk to each other, but today she ordered silence inside the van. She said if she heard anybody talking she would turn the van around and throw that person in the hole for a week. We all wondered what the hell was her problem. I also noticed she didn’t have her massive lunch box riding shotgun either.
As the work day progressed I noticed her attitude getting more agitated by the minute. Yesterday was completely different than today and by the afternoon I could tell something was really bothering her. I couldn’t help but notice she was staring intensely at me the whole day and as the shift came to an end she walked up to me slowly.
“You’re a real bitch you know that?” She snarled at me pointing her finger in my face.
Before I could respond we both looked to the right and saw a car with its flashers on slowing down as it approached our position. The green late model Civic pulled over behind the van and stopped suddenly. A woman with long brown hair, dark oversized sunglasses, wearing a flower print sundress got out and walked toward us carrying her purse.
“Excuse me, do you have a phone I could use? My car just died on me.” She pointed back to her crippled vehicle.
Daphne turned toward her. “No, I don’t have a phone and you’re going to have to return to your car. These are prisoners and I can’t have any civilians interacting with them for your own safety.”
The stranded stranger continued to walk toward us and now she stood face to face with Daphne and me. The other women stopped working turning their attention from the trash momentarily.
“I want everybody back on the van! Now!”
Daphne yelled loud enough for everyone could hear.
The woman continued her plea. “I know you have a phone on you. It will only take a minute to call Triple A, or somebody to come and get me.”
“I told you to back away!” The deputy pushed the woman’s shoulder.
All the girls now walked past the tense scene wondering what the hell was going on.
“Don’t stand there gawking! Everybody in the van now! The shift is over!”
Tasha and I were the only girls’ left outside. The rest of the crew followed orders and got in the hot ass van. I still wanted to know why she called me a bitch and I was planning on finding out as soon as this woman went back to her car.
“You don’t have to fuckin’ push me!” The woman’s anger showed.