But right now, I need to get my brother out of jail. And you're just the man that's gonna make that happen."
Tyree's jaw clenched. He walked around to lean against his desk, trying to look like he had control of the situation.
"It's Saturday," he said. "Getting Zaire out isn't as simple as it sounds. Even with connections, these things take time, especially with the charges on him. As his newly appointed lawyer, you know I’ve been doing everything in my power to speed things up since you put me on his case.”
I stepped closer to him.
"Yeah, it is simple," I said, my voice steady and cold. "And you gonna make it that simple. You need to call the DA. Call the judge. Call whoever the fuck else you need to call. Right now. This is an emergency and I ain't waiting no more."
He didn't respond, just stared at me like he was trying to figure out my angle.
"My brother been sitting in that bitch fighting a murder charge with no body, no evidence, and most importantly, no witness," I continued. "That case ain’t ever been solid and everybody know it. That’s why muthafuckas keep pushing shit back and holding my brother on bullshit.”
I walked into his personal space and he had to step back against his desk. I could see him calculating, trying to figure out if I was bluffing about something. He was gone learn that a nigga like me never sold wolf tickets.
"I know there's no witness," I said, my voice dropping lower so only he could hear, "cause I put that bitch ass nigga in the dirt my damn self. I know he'll never be found. But they’vebeen dragging this shit out hoping something comes up. Hoping somebody talks, or that a witness resurfaces. Hoping the case gets stronger knowing damn well it ain’t no muthafuckin case!”
Tyree's face went white.
"But see, now shit got sticky," I continued. "My brother ain't just sitting on bullshit charges no more. His trial getting pushed back. His safety in that jail is in danger. He damn near lost his life. That right there is a lawsuit waiting to happen. Prison negligence. Unsafe conditions for an inmate awaiting trial. Failure to protect. So to me, it looks as if my brother is intentionally being put in harms way with hopes he’ll get killed in that prison. On top of these muthafuckas not having a real case against him in the first damn place. Let’s be real, he’s a Carter and that’s the only reason this shit is happening to him. You follow me? If he’s not out that bitch, I’m ready to push a ten million dollar lawsuit and bring all kind of unwanted attention. Everybody involved skeletons are bound to come out! And I know muthafuckas don’t want that kind of heat.”
Tyree side eyed me, but nodded like he was starting to understand what I was really telling him to do.
"So here's how this gonna work," I said, stepping back and giving him some space but keeping my eyes on him. "You got seventy-two hours to get my brother out. Seventy-two hours. You can use the lawsuit angle - the stabbing proves the prison can't keep him safe. You can argue the case is weak without that witness. You can file a motion for immediate bail review based on changed circumstances. You can do whatever you need to do legally to get him released pending trial or get that shit thrown away like it should be. But in seventy-two hours, my brother needs to be walking out of that facility or I’m gone turn everything upside down and I’m giving you my word."
"Kaseem, I understand what you're asking but—" Tyree started.
"Nah," I cut him off. "I don’t need you to understand. Just do it."
He gave me a look. A nasty glare that said he didn't appreciate being talked to like this in his own house.
"At the end of the day, I'm a man," he said, his voice hard. "And you gonna respect me as such, especially when you come up in my shit. I don't know how you young niggas are being raised, but before I was ever in a suit, I was on the same shit you on. I was in the streets doing what needed to be done. I was smart enough to walk away from that life and build something legitimate but don’t ever think that we ain’t cut from the same cloth or that you can put fear in me."
I listened to him. Heard what he was saying. But I also didn’t give a fuck. I didn’t give a damn about back in the day. I’m here talking about To-fuckin-day! And today, he needed to start the process of getting my brother home.
"Save all that," I said. "All that respect shit is secondary right now. Be smart enough to know that seventy-two hours means exactly that. Not seventy-three. Not next week. Seventy-two hours or I'm coming for everything you value. And I ain't just talking about your professional life."
Tyree's jaw tightened.
"I know you got connects in that DA's office, I know you even golf with these hoe ass judges," I continued. "I know you can make calls that move mountains. And I need those connects. But what I need more is my brother home. So whatever you gotta do - lawsuit, motion, bail review, talking to judges - you gonna make it happen in that timeframe."
"I'll do what I can," Tyree said quietly.
I shook my head.
"Nah. Do better than that! You gonna do exactly what needs to be done."
He didn't say nothing else. Just looked at me with that mixture of respect and hate. He understood I wasn't asking. I was telling him. And he understood the cost of not listening.
“While you here making all these damn demands, can you at least get me a sit down with Tattiana? Regardless of what you may think of me, I never intended to hurt my baby girl, and I need to make this shit right before it’s too late.” He pleaded. The look on his face said that he was sincere about wanting to make amends. I knew that right now Tattiana wasn’t fuckin with this nigga.
“Handle this, and when she ready, I’ll set something up. But listen… you don’t get to dictate how long it takes somebody you hurt to get over that hurt. When you signed your daughter over to me, I became her protector. I won’t let you or no other muthafucka hurt her.” he nodded but the look in his face showed that he was upset with my response.
“Listen Kaseem. If you know what happened to Zaire and if it was connected to anything you may have going on out in the streets, please be smart. Don’t make any moves that can blow up. As hard as this may sound, you need to sit still for a while. We don’t want to do anything that can hinder Zaire release, or bring heat to your family right now. In the public eye, while I’m fighting for him to be released, you need to look like the perfect family who’s son and brother has been wrongfully accused of a crime, and now you want him home.” Tyree said, and I knewexactly what he meant. I wanted niggas and they mommas dead for the stunt they pulled, but this old ass nigga was right.
I turned and walked out of his office, back through the house, past his wife who was pretending not to have heard anything, and back to my truck.
Seventy-two hours. That's all I was giving him.
