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. Zack 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.