Tale of a Train Wreck Lifestyle by Crystal Lacey Winslow

Author:Crystal Lacey Winslow [Winslow, Crystal Lacey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: African American women, Urban Life, Fiction, General
Publisher: Melodrama Publishing
Published: 2008-10-15T04:00:00+00:00

Lisa Henderson

Back on Park Avenue. In Brooklyn. It took me a few days to stop crying constantly. Now I only cried sporadically. To ease my pain, I thought of how I would get Timothy back for ruining my relationship with Ishmael. For ruining my life. I dialed 1-800-555-TIPS.

“Police hotline. Are you calling in to give a tip?”

“Yes. I have information about a murder.”

“City and state in which the murder occurred?”

“Brooklyn, New York.”

“Do you wish to remain anonymous?”

“Of course.”

“If there’s a reward, would you accept it?”

I thought for a moment. That could get complicated. Even though I could use the money, if this ever came out, my life would definitely be in danger. “No, ma’am. I don’t want any reward money.”

“Very well. Tell me what you know.”

I snitched on Timothy and gave his current address in Park Slope. Two days later, he made the front page of the Daily News, and the New York Post. He was also featured on the eleven o’clock news on practically every channel. The projects were abuzz with drama and gossip. I took much pleasure out of seeing him being dragged out of his palatial apartment in handcuffs. I prayed he spent the rest of his life in jail. At this point I was like, “fuck the world!”

Timothy wasn’t in jail for more than a few months when rumors began to circulate about his involvement in another murder that had occurred three years prior—of the murder of a nineteen-year-old kid named Shareef. My mind was blown when I heard that. Shareef worked for Timothy at the time, so of course no one would ever suspect Shareef’s boss in the killing. I also remembered the rumors that Little Paul and Havoc were killed for the wrong reason, that they didn’t murder Shareef on some alleged beef. Timothy had been playing everyone all along.

I was shell-shocked. Everything in me wanted to call Shiniqua, but I wondered how much she knew. If she knew that her brother had the man she’d been in love with killed, would she have bucked up against him? Or did she keep quiet, due to Timothy’s violent streak? As a matter of fact, was Shiniqua the reason that Timothy killed Shareef? Shareef had been talking about Shiniqua after he popped her cherry, and word may have gotten back to Timothy. And to add insult to injury, Shareef had started messing with Jackie shortly thereafter. I couldn’t ask Shiniqua, though. We weren’t close anymore, and I wasn’t considered family. Even if she knew the truth, Shiniqua wasn’t going to snitch on her brother for no one. I wished I could call Ishmael.

****

I was sitting on the couch one day, watching the stories, when Nana came in looking upset.

“I don’t know how to say this, but Shiniqua was just shot,” she said abruptly. “They said she’s hurt badly. I think you should run to the hospital to see her.”

“Shot? What do you mean shot?”

“Mrs. Blakely just called and told me the bad news. I don’t know any answers.

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