Page 9 of For the Love of City

I saw the light before I heard the whoop whoop of the siren and saw the cop car swoop in perpendicular to ours. I was now even more agitated, since this was the last thing I needed today. My brother had yet again come in clutch and ensured I wasn’t carrying anything on me.

“I told you to move, but nah you just had to sit your ass in the road and argue.”

“Now ain’t the time for this shit, Porsha.”

“You right. You better hope the police moonlight as taxi drivers because as soon as this is cleared up I’m about to leave your ass on the curb.”

He sucked his teeth like I was joking. “Yeah, you say that.”

“And I mean it.”

The cop approached the vehicle and it was hard to tell what they looked like because the tint was so dark. As soon as Link rolled down the window I could tell the officer smelled exactly what I had when I’d opened the car door.

Fool didn’t even have the decency to let the damn car air out.

I was holding my breath hoping that the officer would be lenient on us but I knew based on where we were and where they assumed we’d come from that thought was slim to none.

“What seems to be the problem, officer?” His tone had changed quickly from when we were arguing.

“Wonderin’ why you lollygagging in the street. You folks need help?” I knew he was trying to sound nice, but even I could hear how nervous he sounded.

“No sir, just heading out to eat with my girl.” Link reached over for my hand even though I didn’t know why. He should’ve known better than to make any sudden movements.

“You must got the munchies or something.” The officer was trying to make a joke but none of it was funny.

“I’m sorry?”

The officer motioned to the car before looking back at Link. “This whole car stinks of marijuana. Your eyes are glassy so you can’t even lie and say you haven’t been doing anything. Where you headed?”

“To dinner like I said.” Link nodded toward the front of the car like the man could guess where we wanted to go.

The officer nodded before looking across at me and then back at Link. I could already tell where this was about to go. “I need both of y’all to gone ‘head and step out of the car.”

“What is the issue, officer?” He was too damn green to not know he was the reason we were about to get into some shit. Link wasn’t going to do any of this right but I knew better than to speak a word to the police.

“I have probable cause to search the vehicle to see if there are any drugs inside.”

I looked over and noticed that another officer was at my door and already reaching for the handle.

Wordlessly, I got out of the car and just braced myself for some bullshit.

My family wouldn’t need to tell me anything else about this man, I was done.

I knew when today started that it was off.

When Link called me up needing a ride to the block I should’ve known better.

I could only think of all the decisions I’d made that led me to this point as the heat beat down on the top of my head.

“Is there anything on you I need to know about?”

I shook my head at the second male officer and he pointed me to the curb so I could sit down while they searched. Link wisely stood at the back of the car and I wasn’t shocked they’d already put him in handcuffs.

Porsha we not spending money to bail him out. We not doing visits. We most definitely not gone continue to let this nigga stunt our growth. This is the last sign in a field full of billboards that he ain’t it.

“Whose is this?”

I’d zoned out, partially from the heat and the other part from planning out exactly what I was going to say to this man to end this relationship.

When I looked up, a half smoked blunt was in the officer’s fingers and I scowled as I looked at Link.

Seconds passed as I waited on him to own up to it but he just stood in silence with his eyes off in the distance.

“No takers?” The first cop looked between the two of us and then the second one spoke up.

“Damn, you not going to confess to save your girlfriend? She might not take too kindly to that when it’s time to go to the station. Might be a lot she has to say to us just cause she’s mad at you.”

No matter how I felt about Link I wasn’t about to open my mouth and snitch. I knew that even if they took us in, at most this amount was only punishable with a ticket so this was all grandstanding. My mama and my brother made damn sure I knew the law since I was out here breaking it.

When Link just stared at me and then looked away all I could do was nod. Instead of arguing, I stood up like the real bitch I was raised to be and held out my hands.

“No fussing?”

I shrugged as he cuffed me behind my back. “For what? I know my rights.”

“Got yourself a rider over here, huh? You sure you don’t need to say something? I see the car is in your name. You’re going to bear the brunt of it.”

I just stared straight ahead without flinching because no matter what I wasn’t going to incriminate myself. “I have nothing to say.”

The cop closest to me looked at his partner before looking at me. “Alright, let’s get you to jail then.”

Link kept his head down as the original officer moved to put him in the car. I was annoyed that I was going to have to share space with this man, but I silently swore it was going to be for the last time. Link ain’t have shit he could do for me after this.

I tapped my foot waiting to see who was coming to get me out of this hellhole.

From the time I got picked up to the time it took for me to process, I should’ve been bonded out by now.

It had been over eight hours and no one had showed up yet.

Link had been shouting since they put my ass in the back of the squad car that he was going to bond me out.

Crazy thing was since the car was in my name, I was automatically assigned blame since he wouldn’t own up to it.

He should’ve been right behind us to get me out of here, but all this time had passed and I felt like a fool for having believed anything he’d said again.

I thought he’d have been smart enough to save face when it came to my brother.

If he ain’t have it to get me out at least call my people so they could handle it. But I was still sitting and waiting.

I’d already been processed and they’d tried that good cop bad cop shit on me to get me to say something bout Link.

They even threw out a few names that were linked to my brother and I was eager to let him know that folks had eyes on him.

He was too close to being done with all this shit to go down now.

The last thing I wanted to do was call my mama, but I felt like that was quickly becoming my only option. I didn’t have a lot of time to play because sooner or later, something had to give.

The sandwich they tried to give me was moldy, the toilet was nasty and I was more than happy to piss on this floor if I didn’t get out soon.

“Porsha?”

I hopped up from the cold ass vinyl covered metal bench they had in the waiting room. It was better than the weird plastic chairs they had in the visitors’ section, but not having any back support had my spine screaming. Especially since I’d spent all day on my feet.

“You’re free to go. You’ve been ordered to pay a fine.”

The lady processing me out didn’t deserve my anger but I wanted to scream at somebody that this was something they could’ve told me hours ago.

Me even being here this long was a miscarriage of justice but right now I was just glad to be getting out.

I’d pay this fine ten times over the amount I needed to if it meant I wouldn’t have to come back to this place.

My family might not have the cleanest track record, but none of them had ever been dumb enough to get caught and end up in cuffs.

My ass was supposed to be the smart one in the family but had now messed up our legacy.

I know my ancestors at heaven’s gate waiting with a switch.

I took my purse and my ticket before walking through the doors and glancing around.

I immediately saw the one person I could always count on and the look of disappointment on her face was enough for me to consider going back inside.

Night had long since fallen and the streetlights were illuminating her face, turning its beauty into something fearsome.

Or maybe it was just a reflection of the rage she felt and how she was about to dig in my ass.

Both was probably the right answer.

“What are you doing here?”

The way she cut her eyes told me I needed to watch my tone but she completely misunderstood what I was saying. Instead of cussin’ me out the way I knew she wanted to, she took a deep breath summoning patience when I knew I was on her last nerve. A mother’s love is undefeated.

“You thought he was coming to get you out? Like you did all those times for him? Porsha, I raised you to never have an empty purse with a wet ass or to be so dumb, but I don’t know where I messed up with you.”

Well, come through with a KO on the first punch, ma.

“Ma, Link—”

She huffed and cocked her head like she knew this was the angle I would take. “Is out on the block with the last bitch ready to lie to your face when the time comes.”

I didn’t have to say a word because I knew my mother wasn’t a liar.

She would tell me the real about the world because she never wanted me to be unprepared or sheltered when it came to anything.

I had a bunch of questions that only he could answer but none of them would’ve been good enough.

None of them would’ve justified letting me get caught up in some shit or him leaving me inside. That was unforgivable.

Ma didn’t say another word just turned and headed toward her black Benz that was running at the curb. I didn’t speak just followed behind her and got in the passenger seat. I sat down and went right back to what we had been talking about outside.

“Why would he—”