Chapter 18

 

Jahad was on ‘‘The Rock” (as Riker’s Island was referred to by the inmates), thirteen days and still hadn’t informed anyone he was locked up. Highly disappointed with himself, he knew his family would be disappointed, especially Koran. He couldn’t blame them; he had let them all down. To keep his mind off of it he spent his time getting to know his new friends, researching his case in the law library, and mostly feeding his hatred for the Coco Twins and Janet. Surprisingly, it ran way deeper for Janet than the Coco Twins. Not only did she betray him, she broke his heart and came close to breaking his spirit. Nights alone in his cell the pain of thinking about her being with another man, the same man who destroyed his dream, murdered his friends, and attempted to murder his family made him want to take his own life, just to put an end to his suffering. What made him hold on was the love for his family and his confidence that one day he would make Janet and the Coco Twins pay for every ounce of pain he felt.

Already a plan was forming in his mind. A plan with a lot of variables, but a plan just the same. First, Tony would have to do whatever it took to make amends with the Coco Twins. If that could be accomplished it would open the door for phase two of his plan. Gathering information, one of the most important things involved. The last phase depended on beating his charges. So far they didn’t really have anything, Cream was his only worry. So basically, everything was in the hands of his friends, Tony mostly, since he was the thinker. Without their help he didn’t stand a chance.

~~~~

“Jahad Copeland! Jahad Copeland! Report to visitation!”

When the announcement came booming through the dorms intercom system, Jahad was laid back on his bunk reading Sun Tzu’s, ‘The Art of War’. Placing the book aside, he sat up confused. No one knew where he was so who could be coming to see him he thought. Unless... he let the thought trail off, refusing to stress himself more than he already was.

“Ayo Jah, they just called you to the dance floor Sun.” Sha’ said, stopping in his cell, dressed in a wifebeater and two pair of boxers.

“I heard. I wonder who in the hell it is tho’.”

“Whatcha’ mean? Most likely it’s your family. If you think it’s the cops bringing you more charges, they do that shit during the weekdays.”

“I hope you right.”

Since he hadn’t bothered to call anyone he had no idea what was going on with Razor. He hadn’t been indicted for the murders in the park, so evidently Razor had kept his word. Still, Jahad thought he would have bumped into him by now. Every time he went to the law library, he asked about Razor being there. That was the only time he could see inmates from other houses, but no one heard of him, which was impossible if he was at Rikers Island. Razor would have been chopped somebody up. This sparked the thought of him being in the mental ward or Bellevue, which was definitely possible.

Focusing back on his visit, he grabbed a black and white Gucci sweatsuit to wear but Sha’ shook his head, “Nah Sun, you can’t rock that on the dance floor, jumpsuit only. They don’t want our families to see how fly we get up in here. We should all be out there with you soon. My mans an’ dem comin’ through to bless me with some new shit they got out there called Purple Haze. It’s supposed to be better than dro.”

“Word?” Jahad said pulling on his jumpsuit as Prince stepped in his doorway, freshly dressed for his visit, “I’m sayin’, it don’t get too much better than dro.”

“I’m tellin’ you Sun, my man said the Purple Haze shit makes dro seem like regular weed. We gon’ see tho’.” Sha’ said, turning to Prince with a grin, “What up homey, your wifey comin’ through with Candy today?”

Prince laughed, “Yeah, but I already told you, Candy ain’t feelin’ your bubbly. You too gangsta for Ma.”

“Yeah right. Knowing your slick ass, you probably fuckin’ Shorty too.”

“Nah, but if I could get away with it, I would.” Prince winked, handing Jahad a small bottle of Muslim oil, “Put some of than on Sun.”

“What is it?”

“Black Coconut. It’s gon’ be mad bitches out there. You might get lucky.”

“Shit, that’s the last thing I need.”

“Oh, you on some fuck a bitch shit, huh?” Sha’ laughed.

“More like kill a bitch.” Jahad replied bitterly as he walked out his cell.

~~~~

Entering the visitation area, a wave of excitement could be felt stemming from families going so long without seeing, touching, or having their loved ones around. Father’s held their children, mother’s held their sons, and wives and girlfriends kissed their husbands and boyfriends passionately without a care in the world of who was watching. Little kids raced through tables like they were at a playground trailed by Correctional Officers playing the role of babysitters. Other Correctional Officers thinking they were real cops, watched everybody with hawk eyes in hopes of busting someone passing contraband, some plainly being assholes because it was in their nature to harass people.

“Jahad!” Someone called out over the busy chatter that echoed through the spacious visitation area.

Turning his head in the direction of the voice he saw Michelle, waving her arms from where she sat at a table near the snack machines, positioned along the front wall. Latrice, Tony, and Koran sat with her all smiling, except Koran, who had a twisted scowl on his face. It wasn’t until that moment did he realize how much he missed his family. In order to stay focused and think straight, a lot of things he had to push from his mind, like his craving to be with them. Something a lot of inmates did just so they could cope with their time.

“What up Ma-Duke?” Jahad’s crooked smile beamed as he approached the table with a warm feeling spreading through his chest.

Michelle stood to hug him and burst into tears once he was wrapped tightly in her embrace, “Why . . . Why didn’t you call. . . call me? I thought. . . I thought you were dead.” She sobbed against his shoulder.

“I’m good Ma.” He rubbed her back in an effort to soothe her, “I’m okay. I ain’t want to tell you I was locked up until I figured how to get out.”

She pushed away from him frowning, “I don’t care where you were, you should have called me. For three damn weeks, I’ve been worried sick, and when I heard what happened to our apartment I. . .” Sobs racked her body again.

“My fault Ma. I’m sorry.” He held her, feeling deeply ashamed for causing so much stress.

“What happened to your face?” Latrice asked, standing to hug him, her brown eyes on the fading bruises, under both his eyes.

Jahad smiled, hoping to break the tension, “I got my ass beat by like thirty Puerto Ricans. Worst ass whipping I ever took in my life. I’m a’ight tho’.”

“I’m glad you got beat up.” Koran said with the same twisted scowl on his face.

“What you mean you glad?”

“That’s what you get for lying to me. I wish I was big enough to beat you up.” He kept his head straight, refusing to look at Jahad.

Jahad sighed and pulled out a chair, sitting so he faced Koran, “You know, I understand why you heated. I would be heated too if somebody broke a promise to me, but sometimes certain things can’t be avoided. It ain’t like I meant to lie to you. Believe me, this is the last place I wanna be. Would you rather have me here tho’ or in a coffin?”

Koran didn’t answer, although his expression softened a little.

“It ain’t like I’m a be in here forever,” Jahad continued, I’m coming home.”

“When?” Koran asked quickly, finally turned to look at Jahad.

“As soon as I go to trial, they can’t keep me in here for holding down the crib. So like I said, I’m coming home. What I need you to do is fallback and keep your grades up like we talked about.”

“How can I when I ain’t in school?”

“You will be soon. Tone is gon’ make sure everything is good at home first. We still got the same deal too. Keep your grades up and you get the shopping spree; you dig?”

“How you. . .”

“I already know what you gon’ ask, and don’t stress that, stress your grades. I’ll handle my end, “Jahad said turning to Tony, “What up Baby Paw?”

Tony stood and gave Jahad a hug, “Ayo, why you ain’t let niggas know what was going on? If it wasn’t for Budda, we still wouldn’t know you got bagged?”

“Word you saw Budda? So he told you what was up, right?”

“Yeah, it’s still hard for me to believe tho’. But yo...” Tony grew silent for a few seconds, his eyes mirroring a deep sorrow, “Razor... Razor is gone Jah.”

“What you mean he gone?”

“The homey is dead. Po-Po bodied him at the precinct. Said he tried to escape.”

Jahad’s legs buckled and he flopped hard back down into his chair. Overwhelmed by grief, tears ran freely from his eyes, staining the front of his jumpsuit. Along with his grief, was an intense rage that burned in the pit of his stomach, and eased its way to his heart, yearning to be released. For a while he sat staring off in space, picturing the last time he saw Razor’s face.

“You alright Jahad?” Michelle asked, taking hold of his hand.

“Nah, I... I...” He shook his head unable to think straight, “If ya’ll don’t mind let me build with Tone a minute in private.”

Michelle nodded, and then led Koran and Latrice to the snack machines.

“Ayo Tone, I never meant for any of this to happen Man, word up! It’s gone too far man and now it ain’t no turning back for real. I want you to find out who the cops were who bodied Razor so...”

“What! I know you ain’t talking ‘bout...”

“Listen!” Jahad snapped, looking around before speaking, “I’m a make all this shit right when I touch the bricks, but I’ma need your help, yours and the rest of the clique. You with me or what?”

“You know I am, but killin’ cops Jah. C’mon!”

“If a cop bodied somebody in your family without a reason and you had a chance to get at him, would you do it?”

“Hell yeah, but...”

“No buts, Razor was family and if one of them cops bodied him without a reason, then they deserves to die. Razor would do the same for you. What you need to do is find out if there’s any truth to what they’re screaming. If so then we’ll fallback, if not you know what time it is.”

Tony nodded.

“Now check this, you might think I’m buggin’ when I say this too, but I want you to start working for the Coco Twins again.”

Tony shot up in his chair, “Yeah, you buggin’! After all that bullshit we went through with them dudes, you think I’m gon’ rock with ‘em like that? They must got you on medication or something in here.”

“Hear me out first Sun...” Jahad explained what he had planned step for step. By the time he finished, Tony had a wide grin on his face.

“I’m feelin’ that. Word up, I’m feelin’ that.” Tony’s eyes glistened.

Jahad laughed, “I though you would. I gotta get outta here to make everything work and that depends on you too. Something gotta be done about Cream, Sun. Po-Po talking ‘bout they got an eye witness and he was the only nigga up there when that shit popped off. His gay ass ran off before I merked those two Germans tho’, so he didn’t see shit. Lying bastard! I know Mrs. Harris didn’t rat me out...O-yeah, I got some coke and money stashed in Mrs. Harris’ crib, get that. I’m a need you to flip the coke and get me a lawyer.”

“I’ll get it soon as I get home, shit is crazy around the way now tho’. Ain’t nobody making no money. The police be posted up in the park like they live there.”

“It’ll cool down eventually. Think you can get back in with Hector?”

“I’ma try. I’ll probably have to throw dirt on your name tho’. How I wasn’t really feelin’ you like that, so forth and so on.”

“Do what you gotta do. I was reading a book by this Chinese dude, Sun Tzu, and he said some deep shit. ‘All warfare is based on deception.’ So I don’t care what you have to do, just as long as you get back in with him. That’ll open the door for what I told you about.”

“Don’t worry I...”

“Ayo Jah!” Prince called out from across the room as he walked up with two females, one on each arm.

Turning his head, Jahad locked eyes with the woman on Prince’s right. She wore her hair fashionably short, similar to the Halle Berry style, which suited her heart shaped face perfectly. Her complexion, the color of a Hershey’s bar, matched her large chocolate eyes that held Jahad’s from under long curly eyelashes and arched eyebrows. His eyes moved slowly over her face, pausing at her plush pouty lips did up with pink lipstick, then further down over her apple-sized breast, slim waist, and pear shaped hips in the white Chanel bodysuit she wore. Not once did his eyes waver towards Prince or the strikingly beautiful Dominican woman on his left arm.

“What up Jah,” Prince gave Jahad a hug, then turned to the two women, “this is my wifey Karen.” He nodded towards the beautiful Dominican of his left, “and her best friend Candy. Candy, Karen, this is my man Jah.”

Jahad gave Karen a polite nod, while extending his hand to Candy, “How you doing Miss Candy.”

“I’m fine thank you, but you don’t look too well.” She reached out and brushed her fingers lightly over the bruise under his eye.

“Oh, this ain’t nothing Ma,” A crooked grin lit up his face, “you should see the other dude.”

Candy smiled, “He’s kinda cute Prince, bruises and all.”

Prince frowned, “You telling me like I wanna get with him or something. You know I don’t get down like that.”

“Shut up.” Candy punched him on the shoulder laughing.

“Prince this is my man... Nah, my brother Tone. Tone, this is my man Prince. We hold down the dorm together.”

While Prince and Tone were shaking hands, Sha’ walked over with his three visitors.

“What the deal yo... what up Karen and beautiful.” Sha’ addressed Candy with a grin wide enough to show every last on of his gold teeth.

Karen and Candy nodded while glancing at the three guys with Sha’ who had the look of being nothing but thugs. All three wore army fatigue pants, Timberland’s and plain white t-shirts.

“Prince, Jah, these are my niggas, Crook, Black Face, and Trigger.”

Short and stocky, Crook wore his hair in a tapered knotty Afro, his complexion a dusty brown. Black Face’s name fitted him perfectly. He was so dark; his complexion could pass for well done, his features, pure African. Around average height, his nose was so big it nearly stretched across his wide face with long big purple lips to match. Trigger, the tallest of the three standing at 6’3”, was only a shade lighter than Black Face; his head bald and shiny like it had been polished.

While introductions were being made, Michelle, Latrice, and Koran make their way back to the table.

“Ma, these are my man’s Prince and Sha’, and Sha’s homey’s Crook, Black Face, and Trigger. And these two beautiful women are Prince’s wife Karen, and her gorgeous friend Candy.”

Candy blushed.

“This is my family,” Jahad continued, “Ma-Duke, my sister Latrice, and my lil’ brother Koran.”

Michelle spoke to everyone then addressed Sha’ and Prince, “Will you two young men please do me a favor, and keep an eye out for my son.”

“We gotcha Mrs... Ma-Duke,” Sha’ said grinning.

Embarrassed, Jahad cut his eye at Michelle, “What makes you think I need somebody to look out for me?”

She rolled her eyes looking at the bruises on his face, “You really want me to answer that?”

“I told you I got jumped Ma. You know I can...”

“It’s time to break this up.” An old white Correctional Officer interrupted, walking up behind Jahad, “You all need to go back to your own tables.”

Everybody shot the Correctional Officer a scowl, including Koran.

“Pssss! I’m getting tired of these fake ass cops; word up!” Sha’ said angrily before walking off with his friends in step behind him.

Jahad settled back at his table and glanced over at Candy, who gave him a sexy smile and a wink as she walked off, that he returned with one of his crooked smiles. Although he swore off women, for a while Candy had definitely caught his attention a little more than he’d like to admit. He put it off on the fact that he hadn’t had sex in three weeks.

Towards the end of visitation, hours later after having to introduce his family two more times to Lord and Star, in turn meeting their family and friends, Jahad stressed to Michelle how he wanted her to move as soon as possible; if not to North Carolina, then anywhere besides the Bronx.

“You think I’m leaving you up here by yourself at a time like this? Them boys must have beaten the sense out of you.”

“C’mon Ma, you know I’ma be a’ight. It ain’t no reason for you to stay.”

“You can talk until your lips fall off, I’m not leaving.” Michelle said firmly, “Besides, I don’t have enough money.”

Jahad wrinkled his face, “What you mean? You should have more than enough.”

“I did before I got you a lawyer.”

“A lawyer!” Anger seeped into his voice, “After all the time I spent working so you could move, you blew the money on a lawyer. You didn’t have to do that!”

“I know I didn’t, but I did!” Michelle shot back, “You’re in here three weeks without letting me know what’s going on. Damn right, I hired you a lawyer. It seems like you could care less what happens to you.”

Jahad shook his head, “Ma, you know it ain’t like that, but since you already got the lawyer, I got some more dough stashed so you...”

“You don’t get it do you, I’m not going anywhere. In fact, we’re going home in a few more days. When this mess you’re in is straightened out, I’ll move.”

Jahad stared deep into her eyes and saw where he got his stubborn side from, “So it’s settle, huh? Will you do one thing for me then; give Tone a chance to smooth things over with the dudes I was beefin’ with. Can you do that?

Michelle smiled, “I guess so... your lawyer should be to see you sometime next week. Emma referred him to me. His name is Vincent Valentino and he’s supposed to be one of the best lawyers in the city.”

“How much you pay him?” Jahad asked frowning.

“Enough so that he guaranteed you wouldn’t spend the rest of your life in jail.”

“C’mon Ma.”

“Don’t worry about it. Just stay out of trouble until it’s time for you to go to trial.”

“I’m...”

“Attention! Visitation hours are now over. All visitors are asked to leave now.” The announcement came blaring through the intercom system.

Reluctantly, Jahad stood all at once, growing depressed, “Listen, don’t worry about me. I’m a’ight in here.” He said hugging Michelle, “Koran remember what I said about your grades. Tone will make sure you get your gear. And Ma, give me your word you’ll chill until Tone says its safe for ya’ll to come home.”

Michelle patted the side of his face, “I will, and the same thing you told us goes for you. Don’t worry about us, concentrate on getting out. We’ll be to see you next week, okay.”

Jahad nodded as he gave Latrice a hug, “I don’t know how many times I gotta tell you, but please stop rockin’ those weaves. Rock a bald head if you have too, they’re in now.” He laughed, ducking a slap aimed for his face.

“Don’t pay him no mind Latrice.” Sha’ said waling up with Prince, Lord, and Star, “Your weave is looking good. I’m definitely feelin’ it.”

“Thank you Sha’.” Latrice blushed, while cutting her eyes at Tony, who wore a frown.

“Ayo, fallback Sha’. Trice is off limits.” Tony grabbed her hand possessively.

“Yeah,” Jahad said looking at Tony.

“Pardon me Sun. Just giving a compliment where one is due.”

Jahad shook his head laughing, “Yeah, you one of them slick ass Brooklyn niggas... Ma, we gon’ go ‘head and leave before I have to knock one of these rent-a-cops out. I love ya’ll, and Tone, handle what we talked about homey.”

“Don’t stress that, it’s done. Ya’ll niggas keep your heads up.”

~~~~~

Back at the dorm, after a humiliating strip search, Jahad sat on the edge of his bunk, homesick and deeply depressed with his eyes focused on a crack in his dull gray wall, as if he were in a trance. Seeing his family leave evoked the same feelings he fought hard to keep away. Feelings that clouded his thinking and left him feeling hollow inside, save for the rage, he nurtured at the center of his heart. Razor’s death fed his hatred, his rage; causing it to fester throughout his being and added another reason for making the Coco Twins suffer.

“C’mon Jah, get off that sad shit man,” Sha’ said as he and Prince stepped into the cell, “it’s happy time nigga.” He passed Jahad a freshly rolled blunt.

“Word. This that Purple Haze you were telling me about?”

Sha’ smiled, “And you know it. Crook said he paid a buck fifty for a quarter, so you know it’s gotta be that fire.”

“Shit, for a buck fifty this should make a nigga fly.” Jahad remarked, lighting the blunt. He took one pull, started choking like he was dying, and then rushed to his steel toilet to throw up. When he was done, he looked up with a silly crooked grin, his eyes nearly closed, “Ayo, take this shit Sha’, before it fuck around and kill me.”

Sha’ laughed, plucking the blunt from his fingers, “I told you. This that boom right here.”

While Sha’ took a pull, Prince pulled a slip of paper from his pocket and gave it to Jahad, “You got one Homey.”

“What’s this?”

“Candy’s phone number. She wants you to call her this afternoon?”

Jahad’s grin grew wider, “Oh word? What up...”

He was cut off by Sha’, who shoved him out the way so he could reach the toilet. “Damn! I rolled this muthafucka too fat. Here Prince, take this shit.” He said, wiping his mouth.

“Before you hit that, tell me what’s up with Candy,” Jahad said making room on his bunk for Sha’ to sit, “she one of them money hungry Harlem chicks?”

“Candy?” Sha’ looked from Jahad to Prince, “Why you askin’ ‘bout my shorty for?”

“Your Shorty? Shit,” Jahad showed Sha’ the slip of paper, “you need to put her in check then.”

Sha’ laughed, “Ah, damn, you stole my shorty... you uptown niggas man.”

“When she become your Shorty?” Prince asked as Star and Lord stepped in Jahad’s doorway.

“She ain’t know it yet, but I was gon’ put the Mack down on her. That’s dead now, since slick dick Willie here popped up on the scene. She probably would drained me for my dough anyway.”

“Nah, Candy ain’t on it like that. She’s a hood chick from the Polo Grounds, but she ain’t your average project chick.”

Jahad pictured Candy’s face as he last saw her, then quickly changed the subject when Janet popped in his mind unexpectedly, “Prince where were you getting money at?”

“I had a dope spot on Broadway and a coke spot on St. Nick. My mans still doing their thing on St. Nick. I blew the spot on Broadway up when I caught my case.”

“Pass the damn blunt Prince.” Star grumbled.

Sha’ cut his eye at Jahad and Prince grinning.

“It’s crazy hot around my way too. I know ya’ll heard about that shit then went don in the South Bronx on Story Ave. It was all over the news.”

“That was you?” Prince asked stunned.

“Say word!” Lord said in awe, “That was you bodied all them German? Now I see why they fucked you up at Central Bookin’.”

“Whoa, Whoa, Hold up.” Jahad held up his hand. Although in the passing week’s he had grown close to his new friends, he still didn’t really know them and wasn’t about to admit to doing nothing, “I never said I did shit. For the record, I’m charged with two bodies. I didn’t do that either.” He said with a sly smile.

“I feel you,” Prince returned his smile; “I didn’t body those stinkin’ ass Africans on Broadway for trying to shut my spot down.”

“Yeah, and I didn’t body them niggas in Brownsville. I was set up.” Sha’ pitched in.

“Well I can’t front, I killed the hell outta them niggas on Nostrand, ya’ll niggas better not tell on me tho’.” Lord said, and they all laughed just as Star took a deep pull from the blunt and showered them all with spittle.