Boss Bitch (Bitch Series) Page 5

  “Are you okay?” Lorenzo came over and asked me in the midst of all the chaos.

  “I’m fine. I just don’t know how much longer I can take my daughter being locked up.”

  “Your daughter is where she belongs,” Chantal said walking up on us.

  “Chantal, that’s enough. You need to go.”

  “Lorenzo, why are you defending her? Her daughter killed a man and tried to murder Justina. Precious doesn’t deserve sympathy.”

  “Why don’t you go over there and be with your husband because we’re having a private conversation that you’re interrupting.”

  “Why don’t you take your own advice and go be with your husband.” I glanced over in Supreme’s direction quickly and saw he was still in a deep conversation with Genesis.

  “Lorenzo, I’ma go but I’ll talk to you later.”

  “Call me if you need me.”

  “I will . . . thanks.” As I walked away I could hear Chantal still running off at the mouth to Lorenzo and I didn’t even know the two of them knew each other. But knowing Chantal they didn’t she just wanted everybody to be #teamjustina and against Aaliyah. She was probably over there trying to convince Lorenzo of just that.

  “Precious, hold up a minute,” I heard Nico say before I reached Supreme.

  “What’s up?”

  “That girl we were looking for has finally resurfaced.”

  “Are you serious?” my eyes widened in anticipation, wanting to believe all hope wasn’t lost.

  “Yes. I just had a chance to check my voicemail and my investigator left me a message. He knows exactly where she is and I’m going to get her.”

  “I’m coming with you.”

  “I don’t know. If you tell Supreme he’s gonna want to come too and I think we need to keep the number count low.”

  “I’ll handle Supreme. Just wait for me. Give me five minutes and we can go.” It worked out perfectly that Supreme and I arrived in separate cars so all I would have to do was come up with an excuse as to why I wasn’t going straight home.

  “A’ight. I’ll be in my car. Call me when you’re ready.”

  I couldn’t believe we finally found her again. While I was in the hospital Nico broke the news to me that the one person who could get Aaliyah out of jail had fell off the radar. It was like she vanished and nobody could find her anywhere. That shit had me depressed for the last few weeks. At the time I was relieved I didn’t tell Supreme about the possible lead because when it fell through I knew he would’ve found a way to blame me. Now that Nico was able to locate her again I wasn’t letting anything fuck it up.

  “Hey, not to interrupt but I wanted to check on my husband.”

  “We were just finishing up. I know this is tough for both of you but hang in there. Trust me you have all of our support.”

  “I appreciate that, Genesis. I know this must be hard for you especially since T-Roc is a friend of yours.”

  “I’ve known Aaliyah since she was a little girl and yes she is her mother’s daughter but I also know she is not a killer. I put that on my own life.”

  “Thank you for saying that.”

  “It’s the truth. I don’t know what happened that night in the hotel room but what I do know Aaliyah didn’t pull the trigger. We’ll get to the truth. I just pray it will be in enough time to save Aaliyah,” Genesis said, before rubbing my shoulder and walking away.

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’ll be fine once our daughter is out of jail. Until then no I’m not okay.”

  “I feel the same way but we’ll get through this and our daughter will come home.”

  “I hear you,” he huffed. “Listen, I have a few things to take care of. I’ll see you at home later on.” Wow that was much easier than I expected. I didn’t even have to bother trying to come up with an excuse because Supreme was off doing his own thing anyway I thought as I headed towards my car.

  When I reached my car the first thing I did was call Nico. A few minutes later he pulled his car up and I followed behind him anxious to get to the final destination. When we got on the Brooklyn Bridge I realized the girl was no longer staying in the City and wondered if she was hiding out. We eventually got on Flatbush Avenue until we reached Park Slope. We turned down a quiet tree lined street that seemed more appropriate for a suburban family trying to escape the big city instead of a girl who facilitated in helping someone commit murder.

  I noticed Nico motioning me to park my car and I did so a few feet away from where he had found a parking space. Before getting out I reached for the 9mm I kept in a secret compartment for emergency purposes. Hopefully I wouldn’t need it but being prepared was always a must.

  “Are you ready?” Nico asked as I stepped out the car.

  “I’m good.”

  “Glad to hear. But listen just to give you a heads up I got three of my men with me.”

  “I can understand now why you didn’t want Supreme here.”

  “Yeah, it would’ve been too much because I brought these men just in case we have to do some damage. I know for a fact the girl is in that apartment,” he said pointing to a spot three buildings down. “We’re getting to her by any means necessary so it might get ugly.”

  “I have no problem with that but remember we need her alive.”

  “True, but she doesn’t need to know that. Now you ready.”

  “Following you.” When we got to the front door, Nico’s goons were already there with the front entrance open. I didn’t even ask how they got in. All I did was watch. Nico and I had been on these sorts of missions more than once but this time the stakes were much higher. We all got on the elevator and one of the guys pushed the seventh floor. Nico and I stood in the front while the three men were behind us with their arms to the side and fist clutched. Their muscles were bulging through their black ribbed shirts and their faces showed no emotions.

  When the elevator doors opened Nico stepped to the side letting the goons know to lead the way. When we got to the apartment at the very end of the hall I was expecting one of them to knock on the door instead that two hundred and fifty pound nigga of pure muscles kicked that motherfucker open.

  “Get the fuck down and put your hands on top of your head!” One of the goons barked, as all three men pulled out their guns simultaneously. They all had a gun in each hand. I noticed two women that looked to be in their early twenties and both screamed out in fear as the weapons were pointed at them. They were sitting on the couch with the television on and seemed to be eating. But they both dropped their plates and the open cans of soda spilled on the hardwood floors from the shock.

  “Please don’t kill us,” one of the girls pleaded as they both jumped to the floor as they were directed to do.

  “Danny, close the door and keep watch out front,” Nico ordered one of the goons. The other one did a search of the apartment while the other kept his guns aimed at the women.

  “Its all clear,” the goon said after looking around the apartment.

  “Which one of you is Jessica Vasquez?” Nico asked, bending down looking both women in their eyes.

  “She is,” one of the girls said quickly.

  “Is that true? Are you Jessica Vasquez?” Nico’s authoritative voice seemed to make the girl resistant to answer. But when that gun touched her temple she admitted the truth and then the tears began flowing.

  “Please don’t kill me. I haven’t done anything wrong.”

  “Can I please leave? I don’t have anything to do with this,” the other girl begged.

  “Neither one of you are going anywhere until you tell me what I want to know. So we’re clear, if either of you lie, these men will kill you. Then we will find out who your family is and kill them too.” Nico warned without hesitation.

  “Jessica, tell them whatever they want to know. I don’t want to die!”

  “What do you want to know?” Jessica sniffled. “Who paid you off for helping them kill Sway Stone?”

  “You helped somebody kil
l Sway Stone!”

  Jessica’s friend shrieked. Jessica’s eyes became enlarged as if in disbelief that we were here about Sway.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Jessica finally said, sounding totally unconvincing.

  “This is my only warning to you and then I’m going to let these men start blasting . . . ”

  “Oh gosh, please don’t kill me,” Jessica’s friend bawled interrupting Nico’s threat. “I have nothing to do with this. Jessica answer his question. I don’t want to die!”

  “Like I was saying. This is your only warning. Tell the truth or my man here is going to put a bullet right there,” Nico said, tapping Jessica’s forehead. So the girl knew Nico wasn’t playing the goon took the tip of his gun and massaged the center of her forehead with it.

  “Okay, I’ll tell you what I know but you have to promise you won’t kill us.”

  “I’m not promising anything until you tell me what I want to know. This is not a negotiation.”

  “Would you please tell him what he wants to know!” Jessica’s friend cried out.

  “I didn’t know Sway Stone was going to die . . . I swear. All I was told was that I could make some quick money if I gave them the hotel room key. It wasn’t until after the shootings did I realize what I had done. By then it was too late. Then the money just kept coming in to keep me quiet. I knew I should’ve left New York for good,” Jessica said, shaking her head.

  “I need a name. Who gave you the money?” Nico was growing impatient and so was I.

  “Tell them!” Jessica’s friend chimed in as we all waited, eager to hear the name. And when Jessica finally said it, my mouth dropped. It made no sense to me. I was more confused than ever.

  Aaliyah

  “WILL I BE TAKING THE STAND tomorrow?” I asked my attorney as we went over the witness list for the defense, which didn’t consist of much. Mr. Anderson’s argument was always that the prosecution’s case would be weak but after a week of testimony their case seemed pretty strong to me. The police officers testified that I was holding the murder weapon when they entered the hotel room. DNA was found under my nails from when I scratched Justina’s neck and lets not forget I was identified as the shooter from the actual victim. From where I was sitting the case seemed pretty airtight.

  “Aaliyah, I’m not sure if I want you to take the stand.”

  “Why not? You’ve been prepping me for the last couple weeks. I basically have my testimony memorized. I need to defend myself especially with all the lies that have been said about me.”

  “I understand your frustration but I’m afraid that on cross examination your temper might get the best of you. Trust me, the prosecutor is going to come at you hard. She will throw everything at you to shake you up.”

  “True, but what is it looking like for me right now and tell me the truth?”

  “In terms of a verdict?”

  “Yes, do you think the juror will find me guilty?”

  “Honestly it could go either way. Justina didn’t come across as completely credible. The prosecution wasn’t able to explain why there wasn’t traces of gun powder residue found on your hands or clothes . . . that’s significant.”

  “Is it significant enough to get a not guilty verdict?”

  “When I first took this case I told you I would never lie to you. When it comes to jurors you never know. Justina testifying that it was you who shot her is extremely damaging unless the jurors believe her testimony to be a lie. Although I didn’t find her credible I can’t say if they did or they didn’t. You might also end up with a hung jury.”

  “I don’t want a hung jury because the prosecutor will only retry the case and I’ll be stuck behind bars waiting all over again. I need a not guilty. So I want to testify, Mr. Anderson.”

  “Are you sure? I tell all my clients when you take the stand it’s a huge risk. It can work in your favor or end up costing you your freedom. But whatever decision you make, Aaliyah I’ll support it. Get some rest tonight. We have a big day tomorrow. We begin presenting our case so think about what you want to do. If you do want to take the stand, you’ll be the first witness tomorrow morning.”

  “I’ll make sure I’m ready. Oh, and Mr. Anderson, have you heard any news about my grandfather?”

  “He’s still in a coma. I know it’s difficult but don’t think about that right now. Your grandfather would want you to focus on this case.”

  “I know. I just wish he could be here with me.”

  “He is in spirit . . . remember that. Now I’ll see you in the morning.”

  When I got back to my cell my body was tired but my mind wouldn’t let me sleep. Soon I would know my fate and to me it seemed doomed. I had already spent one birthday behind bars and the idea of spending sixty or seventy more almost made me want to slit my wrist. The thought of Justina living a carefree life with Amir while I rotted away in prison made me want to vomit. I felt betrayed by both of them, Justina for straight up lying on me, and Amir for turning his back on me to support Justina. It made me wonder if anybody truly believed I was innocent besides my grandfather who never swayed in his belief that I was set up. My eyes began to get heavy as I thought about the what ifs and eventually I fell into a deep sleep.

  “I want to testify,” were the first words out of my mouth to my attorney when I sat down. Mr. Anderson simply smiled at me and then turned to the judge.

  “Your Honor, the first witness we will be calling is Chantal Morgan.”

  “Your Honor, Mrs. Morgan isn’t anywhere on the defense witness list.”

  “Your Honor, can I approach the bench?’

  “Please do, Mr. Anderson,” and the judge motioned for the prosecutor to do the same. I was perplexed as to why my lawyer was calling Chantal as a witness but she was Justina’s mother and he might wanted to use her to catch Justina in some lies. I looked back and saw Justina and her mother exchanging words as we waited to hear the judge’s ruling. Part of me was hoping the judge would delay letting Chantal testify because I was ready to take the stand and defend myself. I thought once the jurors heard my side of the story they would believe me and know I was not the person that pulled the trigger.

  “Chantal Morgan, please take the stand,” we heard the judge announce and I let out a disappointing sigh. I wanted to speak with my attorney about what was going on but it was as if he was purposely not making any eye contact with me. He didn’t come back to the table. He stood in the center of the courtroom until Chantal was sworn in and sat down. Chantal seemed to be at ease and not concerned in the least as to why she was called to testify. Mr. Anderson began with very lightweight questions like her relation to Justina, her marital status, shit that made me want to yawn. I had no idea where he was going with this and I felt like it was wasting time and annoying the jurors who were probably ready for this trial to be over so they could get back to their normal lives.

  “Mrs. Morgan, who were you seeing twice a week at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel from November 2010 to May of 2011.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Maybe these hotel receipts from the American Express card in your husband’s name will refresh your memory,” Mr. Anderson stated, handing them to Chantal. “Those are your signatures on the receipts . . . correct?” What started off as lightweight questioning had quickly turned heavyweight. Chantal’s cool, calm and confident demeanor appeared to be slowly falling apart.

  “Mrs. Morgan, answer the question,” the judge said looking over at Chantal.

  “I was meeting the man I was having an affair

  with.”

  “I see. You are married to T-Roc, Justina’s father, is that correct?”

  “Yes I am.” I glanced back and even from a distance I could see flames burning in T-Roc’s eyes.

  “So you were meeting your lover at the same hotel Mr. Stone was killed and your daughter was shot.”

  “Yes, it’s an ironic coincidence.”

  “There is no such thing as a coincidence in a murder tri
al, Mrs. Morgan. Isn’t it true that at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel is where you first met Jessica Vasquez?”

  “Who is that?” Chantal asked casually as if she had never heard the name before.

  “Ms. Vasquez worked at the front desk of the hotel during that time and several months after.”

  “I might’ve spoken to her in passing when I was coming in or leaving the hotel.”

  “That was the only time?”

  “Yes.”

  “So your testimony is you had no further conversations with Ms. Vasquez besides . . . ”

  “Yes, that is my testimony,” Chantal answered before Mr. Anderson finished his question. Right after Chantal said that the courtroom door opened and Nico walked in with a Hispanic looking woman. They sat down in the back. I looked back at Chantal and she had the look of death on her face.

  “Isn’t it true you gave Ms. Vaquez $10,000 in cash and for the last several months you’ve been depositing $6,000 a month in her bank account? Before you answer the question, Mrs. Morgan why don’t you take a look at these banking records and how the deposits made to Ms. Vasquez’s account match up with the cash withdrawals you made from your account.”

  “Ms. Vasquez somehow found out who I was married to and began blackmailing me. She threatened to tell my husband or go to the press about my affair so I paid her off. It’s unfortunate for my family that it has to come out here in open court.” Chantal’s testimony was getting so juicy to me that I almost forgot that I was the one on trial. But I still didn’t understand how Chantal’s scandalous affair had anything to do with Sway’s murder until Mr. Anderson gradually put the pieces together.

  “So the money Ms. Vasquez received from you was to keep quiet about your affair?”

  “Yes.”

  “I see where your daughter learned to lie so well,” Mr. Anderson commented taking a jab at Chantal.

  “Objection, Your honor, badgering the witness.”

  “Sustained!”