3. Deuce
DEUCE
The room was cold as hell with gray walls and one metal table with three hard ass chairs. A camera tucked up in the corner blinking like it was waiting on me to slip up. I leaned back, stretched my legs out, and looked around.
“Damn… y’all couldn’t even throw a snack machine in this bitch?”
Nobody said nothing. I looked at the one-way glass and smirked. “I know one of y’all nosy asses back there.” I smirked. “What? Y’all scared or something?”
A few seconds later, the door opened. Some white dude in a dark suit walked in carrying a folder. He looked like he’d been mad since the day he was born. I guess he was trying to act tough, but he wasn’t scaring me at all. He pulled out the chair across from me and sat down.
“I’m Special Agent Reynolds.”
I looked him up and down. “…Okay.”
He acted like he didn't even hear me. “I’m going to ask you a few questions.”
“You can ask.”I shrugged. “Ain’t saying I’m gone answer.”
“You understand why you’re here?” He asked.
“I understand y’all got me out here wasting my damn time.”
He slid a bottle of water across the table. I pushed it back toward him. “I’m good.”
He opened the folder. “Carter Trucking has been under investigation for several months.”
I laughed. “Aight.”
“We’ve gathered financial records, shipping manifests, and witness statements.” He let me know.
“Good for y’all.”
He looked up. “You think this is funny?”
“I think y’all doing a whole lotta talking.”
The room got quiet. I looked back toward the glass and I smiled. “I know your ass back there.” I pointed at the window. “Quit playing peek-a-boo. “If you got something to say…” I leaned forward. “…bring your ass in here.”
A shadow shifted behind the glass. I couldn’t help but grin. “I knew your old ass couldn’t stay back there forever.”
The door opened before Agent Reynolds could get another word out. A tall, chocolate dude in a tailored charcoal suit walked in like he paid the light bill in this bitch. Fresh lineup, rolex on his wrist and a leather briefcase in one hand. He looked around the room before his eyes landed on me.
“Damn, Deuce, they got your ass.”
I laughed. “Good to see you too.”
He walked over and shook my hand before taking the seat next to me. He looked at Reynolds. “I’m with Ellis & Ellis. Mark Ellis is tied up dealing with another client, so I’m stepping in until he gets here.”
Reynolds nodded. “Special Agent Reynolds.”
Marcus reached into his jacket and handed him a business card. “As far as I’m concerned, this conversation is over.”
Reynolds folded his arms. “We’ve barely started.”
Marcus looked at him. “And now you’re finished.”
Marcus looked over at me. “You tell ’em anything?”
I looked offended. “Man, what do I look like?”
He smirked. “I just had to ask.”
“I ain’t told them shit.”
“Good.” He turned back toward Reynolds. “My client is invoking his right to counsel. If you’re charging him, charge him. If not, take these cuffs off and let him go.”
Reynolds let out a little laugh. “It doesn't work like that.”
Marcus smiled right back. “I know exactly how it works.”
Reynolds leaned forward. “This is a serious investigation.”
Marcus didn’t move. “I’m aware.”
“We’ve spent months building this case.” Reynolds frowned.
“And?” Marcus asked.
“And we have more than enough evidence.” Reynolds spat.
Marcus shrugged. “Then present it in court.”
Marcus leaned back in his chair like he was sitting in his own office. “Anything else?”
By this time Agent Brown entered the room and Reynolds looked toward him. Brown looked like he wanted to cuss everybody in the room out. Instead, he grabbed a file off the table. “We’ll continue this later.”
Marcus smiled, “No you won’t.”
The agents walked out and the door clicked shut behind them. Marcus waited another second before turning toward me. “The hell was that?”
I shrugged. “What?”
“Are you over here clowning the FBI?” Marcus asked.
“They started with me.”
He rubbed both hands over his face. “I don’t care who started it, I got enough gray hair. Are you trying to finish the job?”
I laughed. “They were getting on my nerves.”
“They’re supposed to.” He pointed at me. “And your dumb ass walked right into it.”
“I ain’t walked nowhere, they snatched me up.”
He sighed. “That’s exactly why you keep your mouth closed.”
“I did.” I smirked.
“You called Agent Brown an old man.”
“I mean I wasn’t lying.”
Marcus closed his eyes for a second. “Lord… I see why Mark drinks when you call. Every damn time your name pops up he takes a damn shot.” He reached into his briefcase and pulled out a yellow legal pad. “Now…I need you to stop being Deuce for about five minutes.”
I looked at him. “That’s impossible.”
“I’m serious.” He replied.
“So am I.”
He shook his head. “I swear, y’all Detroit niggas think everything a joke.”
“Nah.” I leaned back in my chair. “Just the shit that’s funny.”
Marcus couldn’t help but laugh. “You know what?”
“What?” I asked.
“I actually like you, I just hate representing your hard-headed ass.”
I grinned. “That’s why Mark sent you, he knew I would’ve got on his nerves.”
Marcus pointed the pen at me. “First thing Monday morning, he gone wish he’d never had you as a client.”
I laughed again. “Probably.”
The smile slowly left Marcus’ face. “Aight…now let’s talk. They arrested you for a reason. I need to know everything, no bullshit. No leaving shit out. If I’m gonna get you through this I need the truth.”
The room got quiet for the first time since them cuffs hit my wrists. I wasn't smiling no more. I leaned back in the chair and looked at Marcus. “The truth about what?”
He let out a slow breath.
“See…” He pointed the pen at me. “That’s that shit I’m talking about. You always answer a question with another question.”
I shrugged. “I learned from lawyers.”
He smirked. “Mark warned me about your slick ass mouth.”
“I ain’t slick.” Marcus looked at me like I’d lost my damn mind.
“…You serious?” He asked with a raised eyebrow.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Aight… maybe a little.”
“A little?” He shook his head. “Whatever.” He grabbed the paperwork and started looking through the paperwork they left on the table. He ain’t say nothing for a minute, just kept flipping pages. The way he was looking already let me know it was some bullshit. “It’s some bullshit ain’t it?” I asked.
He looked up. “It’s serious.”
I leaned back in my chair. “How serious?”
He slid the file toward me. “Conspiracy, money laundering, firearms trafficking. They ain’t playing with you.”
I looked through the paperwork and there were shipping records, bank statements, pictures with dates, company paperwork. Damn near my whole life was sitting inside that file. “They were watching me.”
Marcus nodded. “For a while.”
I looked back up at him. “So somebody is talking.”
“I don’t know.” He replied.
“Nah.” I shook my head. “Somebody opened their damn mouth.”
Marcus closed the file. “Maybe, maybe not. Right now, that don’t even matter. The only thing that matters is what comes out of your mouth.”
I looked at him. “I ain’t telling people shit.”
“They ask you questions?”
“Yeah of course.”I answered.
“You answer?” Marcus asked.
“Hell nah.”
He finally relaxed a little. “Good keep it that way.” He pointed at me. “Listen to me, don't call nobody talking reckless, don’t tell nobody to move money, don’t tell nobody to clean nothing up and don’t tell nobody what to say. You hear me?”
“I hear you.” I mumbled.
“I’m serious.” He responded.
“So am I.”
He stood up and buttoned his suit coat. “I’m gone handle the courtroom. You handle staying out your own damn way.”
“I can do that.”
Marcus laughed. “I’m still trying to figure out if I believe you.”
A deputy opened the door. “Carter.”
Marcus looked at me one last time. “I’ll see you after arraignment.”
I nodded, and then the deputy cuffed me up and walked me out. The county smelled like bleach, sweat and bad decisions. Every metal door slammed behind us one after another. They wanted a nigga to remember exactly where he was. They threw me in holding with three other dudes.
I ain’t feel like talking so I sat on the end of the bench and leaned my head against the wall.
For the first time all day I sat back and thought about what happened at the baby shower.
Kim done lost her damn mind. I still couldn’t believe she walked into that baby shower talking about twins in front of my whole family.
The more I thought about it the more pissed off I got.
She ain’t just embarrassed herself, she embarrassed me too.
The whole room looked at me crazy like I ain’t shit.
Then everything happened so damn fast, Shante hit the floor.
Folks were screaming. Then them damn Feds walked in.
One minute I was at my sister’s baby shower, next minute I was leaving in handcuffs.
I rubbed both hands over my face. I loved my sister always would.
She carried everybody else’s problems but wouldn’t let somebody carry hers.
She’d smile in your face while the whole world was sitting on her shoulders.
She better be alright, not just for her but my babies too.
I know the situation fucked up but they still mine, and I’m gone stand ten toes down about my kids
“Carter.” I looked up and a deputy stood at the door. “Phone.”
I got up and followed him down another hallway. He stopped in front of one of them, old county phones bolted to the wall.
“You got ten minutes.” He stepped back.
I already knew who I was calling the phone rang three times.
“What.” Alisha answered with more attitude than I liked.
I smiled without even thinking. “Damn that’s how you answer the phone for your husband that’s sitting in jail?” Nothing, no laugh, no smart comment. This wasn’t my Alisha.
“Are you still at the hospital?” I asked.
“Yeah.”
“How is Shante?”
“She is resting.” She replied.
“And the babies?”
“They good.”
I closed my eyes. “Aight.” The silence was whooping my ass. “You ain’t got nothing else to say?”
“I really don’t.” She spat.
Damn. “Li…”
“What?”
“You still mad?”
She laughed a dry ass laugh. “You asking me if I’m mad? I watched another woman walk into my best friend’s baby shower claiming she was carrying your twins. I watched my husband get arrested and you asking if I’m mad?”
I rubbed my forehead. “You know how these crazy ass obsessed women be like, you watch enough of those true crime shows.” I let her know.
“Now she crazy and obsessed, she wasn’t all that when you were fucking around with her.”
“She lying.” I lied.
“Yeah ok.”
“You believe her over me?” I asked.
“I don’t know what to believe.”
That hurt more than I expected. Alisha always believed me. Even when everybody else didn’t. “Bring Brittany to see me tomorrow.”
“No.” I frowned.
“What you mean no?”
“I mean no, I ain’t bringing her down there.”
“That’s my daughter.” I yelled.
“Our daughter.” She corrected me so fast.
“Our daughter.” I repeated.
“And right now she don’t need to see none of this.”
I looked down at the floor. “I love you.”
She didn’t answer.
“Li…”
“I need some space, Deuce.”
“Don’t do this.”
“I ain’t doing nothing, you did.” The line got quiet, click.
I stood there holding that phone like if I waited long enough she’d pick it back up but she didn’t. The deputy cleared his throat. “Time.”
I slowly hung the receiver up and followed him back to the holding cell. Kim done lost her damn mind. Shante was laid up in the hospital. My wife wasn’t talking to me like she used to. The FBI had me sitting in the county and I still didn’t know who the hell opened they damn mouth.