Ghetto Girls Too. Anthony Whyte

      A car screeched to a stop in front of her barely avoiding Coco’s feet. Two detectives jumped out of the car and grabbed the alarmed teen.

      “Hold on, yo. What y’all doing? I ain’t done nothing wrong, yo. What’s this all about, yo? What da fuck! I don’t wanna go anywhere with y’all. Leave me alone. Why am I in cuffs? You gonna tell me?”

      “Just shut up and listen. Now you can be an accomplice to murder or you can tell us right here and now what really went down up there?” Detective Kowalski yelled in her face.

      Despite her protest, Coco was thrown into the backseat of an unmarked police car. There she sat with a vicious stare clamped onto the faces of the two detectives, one black and one white. She had seen them earlier. Coco kept her mouth shut and her eyes shot daggers.

      “So you’re gonna play tough girl, huh?” the detective continued.

      Coco looked out the window in time to see Eric, Deedee, and Sophia driving away in their green Range Rover. I should’ve caught a ride from them. Man, what was I thinking? she wondered then her mind refocused on her present condition.

      “Look, I don’t know anything else. The guy walked in to rob everyone and Eric was in the bathroom and must’ve heard the ruckus or sump’n. He shot the guy after homey shot ah... the girl ...ah, Kamilla. That’s all. Now, let me go,” Coco said and sat up in the seat.

      “Now let me say this to you. Did you see how those rich people drove by without us touching them? They think they’re big fish and they can get away with everything. That leaves you and me, the small fish, to account for their shit. For some reason, you’re supporting them. Think they would support you?” As the detective spoke, Coco casually listened without saying anything. “They would send you down the river without a paddle. I want you tell me what was your business with them and what was going on up there?”

      “I’m working with Eric Ascot. He’s producing some songs.”

      “What, you’re a singer or a rapper?”

      “I’d like to go now, please.”

      “Listen here, girlie, those rich fucks, they don’t give a shit. They’re the type of people who’d sooner leave you holding the bag for all these murders, you hearing me? Why don’t you let us take you home while you tell us everything?” Kowalski asked. Coco stared him down. He didn’t budge. “Where do you live?”

      “I’d like to leave right now,” Coco replied firmly. The officer pretended as if he was going to swing at her. Coco didn’t even blink.

      He released the handcuffs and kept talking. “You think you’re a tough girl, huh?” He was in Coco’s grill. The teenager bit her tongue while the look she wore shot daggers at him.

      “See you around, Coco,” Hall said as Coco released the handle and jumped out of the car. She stood watching as it screeched off.

      “Fuck y’all,” Coco yelled as she fished for another cigarette and lit it. She began to walk when she saw a cab. She hailed it and it stopped. “One-tenth and Lennox,” she said then continued smoking. The cabbie refused to move. Coco looked at him indifferently. The cabbie pointed to the sign.

      “Can you read the sign back there, Miss?” the cabbie insisted. Coco looked at the sign. It read ‘No Smoking’.

      Coco squeezed the last suck out of the cigarette before she flicked it out the window. She leaned back and looked at the cabbie.

      “Ahight, you happy now, my man?”

      “Good to go,” the cabbie replied as he sped off. Coco could not shake the thought of what had just happened.

      She was sure Lil’ Long was there to murder someone but why? Coco made a promise to herself to catch up to Rightchus when she got back to the hood. He would bring the 411, she thought as light ruled the skyline of the city. “Right here is good.” She paid the fare and exited the cab.

      The chill of the cool night hit Coco. She popped her collar as she made her way to her building. She knew that when the story broke in the hood, there would be further questions. Right now, she didn’t want to do any talking.

      Coco raced upstairs foregoing the ‘Now Working’ sign on the door of the elevator. She tried to hurry past Miss Katie’s door without too much noise but the old lady was waiting and called to her as she attempted to go by.

      “Coco, Coco, girl, I was hoping you were all right. I haven’t heard from you and got worried. Did you see the news today? I think those men you were talking about, ah, Busta and Eric Ascot, they involved in killings and murders and Lord knows what else. Child, you listening to me? I’m concerned.”

      “Miss Katie, it’s all right. Give me a couple minutes and I’ll come by and talk to you, okay?”

      “Okay. Have you eaten?” Miss Katie asked. Before Coco could reply, Miss Katie continued. “By the way, your mommy done called at least six times trying to find you. She sez you called sounding disturbed. Are you all right? You know you can tell ol’ Miss Katie anything now, girl. God will work it out. There’s no problem on this earth that He can’t fix. Bless His name.” Coco cut the old lady off before she could build a full head of steam.

      “Miss Katie, I’m gonna be right back. I promise,” Coco said looking for any way out of talking. She wanted to be alone and added before she quickly sped off, “We’ll pick up where you left off, okay?”

      “All right now. Don’t go inside and go to sleep without coming and getting something to eat. I made some chicken smothered in bacon grease with sweet yams and cornbread.”

      “Hmm, sounds yummy. I’ll be right back, Miss Katie.”

      “Hurry back Coco, I’ll tell you ‘bout them crazy people up in apartment 6F.”

      “See you in a minute.”

      “All right, child. If your crazy mother calls again, she done called about ten times...anyway, if she calls again, I’ll let her know you’re okay. But don’t you go falling off to sleep without you first getting something to eat, you hear?” Miss Katie said and watched Coco disappear into her apartment. She called after her again but it was too late. The teenager had made good her escape to the quiet of her mother’s apartment. The older lady thought of going after her but decided to wait until later to let Coco know about the visit by the police.

       TWELVE

      Behind the renovated door of her mother’s one bedroom apartment, Coco went to the window and tried to shut the world out. She felt like her every move was being watched. Were eyes trained on her? she wondered. Coco moved around the apartment trying to cover up the different angles from which someone might be spying on her. She wound up pulling all the curtains shut then sat down on the sofa and flipped on the television. Coco saw flashes of the news and finally settled on music videos. She laid down and closed her eyes for a few minutes, still attempting to shut out the world.

      Mental images kept invading her attempts. First, Kamilla then Lil’ Long going down in a hail of gunfire. She, holding a gun in her hand, gawking at the surprised look on Deedee’s face then the argument that ensued. Was it wrong for Eric to cover up the truth? Was it the right thing for him to do? Who knew? I mean he could’ve definitely have shot Lil’ Long. That mug deserved to die. He already caused enough grief. I wonder what he’s gonna do? The question came with no relief. I’m sure he’s gonna come back at us if that sucker lives. Was that what had made her feel upset at Deedee? No. Deedee was out of bounds. She had no business criticizing anyone’s neighborhood. That was that.

      The knock at the door stirred her from her semi-coma back to the real world.

      “Who is it?” Coco asked slowly rising from the sofa.

      “It’s me. Deedee is on the phone. She wants to know if you’re alright.” It was Miss Katie. For a moment, she considerd asking her about the conflicted feelings