“County,” Saga said, smacking her lips.
“County?” Baffled, I repeated her.
“Yeah. As in jail. And, she refuses to let me help her make bond, so she’s waiting to see the judge on Tuesday. I figured the least I could do was keep an eye on her house.”
Flabbergasted, I stared blankly at Saga as she shifted her weight from one side of her body to the other.
“Jail?”
“Yes. As in clink, clink nigga. Don’t drop the soap. Behind bars. Criminal activity. Incarceration. How many ways can–”
“For what?”
Pushing out a stream of air, she tilted her head.
“You one nosy ass nigga.”
I didn’t give a damn about her annoyance. She had information, and I needed answers. I wouldn’t step foot off the porch until I had them.
“For what, Saga?” I gritted.
“Boosting.”
Chuckling, I ran a hand down my face. My heart softened. The frustration I was beginning to feel quickly turned to remorse.
“This fucking girl.”
Saga’s son stirred in her arms. Sully’s words looped in my head.
“She’ll probably call before nine. She only calls once a day. She hasn’t called today. You want to wait out here until s–”
“Nah.”
I had no interest in talking to Hyphen over a recorded line. The next time I spoke to Hyphen, she’d have her insufferable ass in my face.
I reached into my pocket and removed five hundred-dollar bills. I slid them through the small cut in the screen door as Imade a mental reminder to purchase a new screen in the near future.
“Appreciate you for looking out.”
Hesitantly, she accepted the money.
“What’s this for?”
“For him,” I told her, nodding toward her son.
As she allowed my words to sink in, I took the steps down the porch.
“Thank you!” She yelled behind me.
I made my way down Hyphen’s walkway and out of her small gate. When I hopped in my ride, there was only one thing on my mind: setting my baby free.
I madea right at the end of Shady Grove, Hyphen’s street. A left on Ford followed, then another right on Lincoln when my breath got caught in my chest. I lifted my hand and pressed it against the horn.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
