A Hustler's Wife (31 page)

Yarni could smell money, but she knew under any circumstances she could not exchange numbers with this fellow, not while Castro was with her anyway.

Forget about this small conversation just give me your damn number.

"You live here, in Richmond?" The man asked.

"Yes," Yarni said, as she looked, timidly around the corner, not wanting Castro to get suspicious of her.

"Do you live here?" She knew he didn't but wanted to pretend she didn't know for general conversation.

"I am Levi, and I would love to get to know you better. No, I am not from here, but you are very, very bootiful." He said, while looking into Yarni eyes grinning.

Levi, who was from Nigeria, lived and owned a castle on St.

Thomas. He also shared with Yarni that he owned a house in L.A.

He asked about Castro. She explained that Castro was her brother. He asked Yarni, did Castro hustle? Yarni simply said, "I don't know what you're speaking on?" She knew that Levi might be

"the connect" that Castro had been longing to stumble upon ever since Des went to prison. Levi flocked to Yarni while she ate. Castro just sat back and got a kick out of the way Levi catered to Yarni, something he could not have.

On that note, they kept in touch. Castro went to St. Thomas to visit with Levi, and Levi gave him a price that would change his whole lifestyle.

Castro returned and began slanging more heroine than a little bit. He and Levi worked well together. He was fond of Levi because he wasn't one of those guys who constantly called the next day after he departed with the dope for his money. Levi played fair with Castro in return Castro never shorted him his money.

Yarni walked into her condo from work and she overheard Castro in her living room talking on his cell phone. She knew he was speaking to Levi by the depth of the conversation.

"Man, I can't send her. The broad is seven months pregnant.

I can't risk her going into labor with the pack on her. The doctor has put her on bed rest man." He was silent for a minute listening. Castro spoke out again, "There's no one else I feel safe sending, and know for sure they're kosher. I'm looking out for everyone's best interest." He never heard Yarni enter the house. The moment he saw her, he brought the conversation to an end.

With a very agitated look on his face, he plopped down on the barstool.

"What's wrong?" She walked over and rubbed his back.

"Talk to your little sister." Castro looked at Yarni and rubbed his forehead as if he had a headache.

"The girl that I normally send to the West Coast to get the pack is seven months pregnant. The doctor put her on bed rest.

Levi is paranoid as hell of anybody else I send and is demanding that I send the pregnant girl. I'm afraid if I don't send her, he'll cut me off. And Yarni, this is the cheapest dope I ever got or could get my hands on." Castro said.

Yarni thought long and hard. She tried to think of something for him as well.

"I am going to just try my hand with the pregnant girl one last time." He called her on his cell phone. As the phone rang, he stated, "Shit instead of paying her the 8G's she usually get paid, I'm gonna pay her 10."

Yarni looked in amazement at Castro, and the only thing that flashed in her head was the ten-thousand and the dining room set at La Difference she'd special ordered and the baby grand piano she'd been wanting every since she'd closed on her condo. She blurted out, "Ten G's, Shit, I'll go!" Castro was relieved when Yarni said she'd go, but at the same time he knew it wasn't right sending her. How would he explain this to Des if something was to happen? He felt guilty, but at the same time he didn't want to loose his connection with Levi. He tried to ease his guilt by telling himself that this was only tem-porarily and he'd hurry and find someone else to replace her.

He explained to her that usually, he flew the pregnant girl out there to L.A. and she rode back either in a limo or a hearse.

The police rarely bothered with those two automobiles.

Yarni objected and spoke, "In this lifetime I'm not riding in any hearse until I'm dead and gone." Castro laughed until tears came to his eyes.

"Come on, Yarni," he said.

Yarni put her up, hand blocking Castro's words. "And don't even suggest Greyhound," said Yarni.

"Come on, Sissy, now you know good and well I wouldn't put you on no damn Greyhound."

"Well, big money grip," you getting the cheapest dope ever so it's nothing for you to fly me both ways," She said.

"Keep in mind, I do have a 9 to 5. Plus, flying is more convenient and quicker, not a lot of anticipation going on. It's over and done with in a matter of hours verses a matter of days." Castro nodded, "You're right."

Yarni added, "Even if somebody was to drop a dime on me, how much time would the police have to set up a road block.

Not much if I flew." It was settled, Yarni flew.

When she arrived in L.A., Levi was overjoyed to see Yarni.

They went sightseeing all over L.A., and he took her shopping.

He even drove her to Hollywood where they went to watch the

"Family Feud" game show. He took her to the ghetto part of L.A.

to a raggedy house with chipped paint. This is when she really learned the true concept of never judge a book by its cover. She was skeptical.

She didn't want to seem nosy or make him paranoid, but she couldn't keep from asking.

"Does someone actually live here? Why are we going here?" As she stepped onto the dry rotted step on the porch of the house, she walked as light as she could on her tip toes, afraid that the step may cave in at any time.

"This is for your safety" Levi said to her in a casual tone and patted her on her back.

Yarni asked herself, is he taking me here to shake me up to secure that if something goes down. I won't tell.

Yarni and Levi entered the house. The house was a full running ghetto imitation of the CIA! They were printing social security cards, birth certificates and state issued ID's. Computers were everywhere. The documentation looked authentic. They also had the capabilities of clearing negative ratings on credit reports. Yarni looked in amazement. Damn, people are bootleg as I don't know what. Always finding a way to skin the cat.

Levi purchased two different identities for Yarni. He paid $3,500 per identity. He explained to Yarni that they usually sell for at least $5,000 for all three pieces, but she could take the social security card and birth certificate to the local DMV and get a real photo ID. Yarni said she wasn't going to try DMV like that. She took the paperwork. He made her mail whatever ID

she wasn't using express mail to her house in case her bags were searched. She wouldn't carry all multiple ID's on her.

Yarni's flight left in a few hours. She was curious as to how she was going to transport the dope back. Levi took her to the mall one last time, and asked her to pick out something to go with some yellow shoes, something comfortable, nothing too flashy. She did. She picked out a cut multicolored sundress. Levi picked out a big yellow straw hat and a straw pocketbook. They returned to his house. He instructed her to change into the outfit. She did. He went into a bag and pulled out some big, bulky,

"Spice Girls" platform bright yellow, high, heels. He told her to put them on. He informed her that the dope was concealed in the heels of the shoes. She couldn't believe the fact that she had 300 grams of uncut heroine in each of her platform shoes. It was easy as pie going back to Richmond.

Yarni began to make this trip twice a month. She was able to furnish her house off completely. She only brought the best of everything including the baby grand piano she wanted. She never told anyone, including Des, what she was doing. She was living a double life.

Yarni and Levi became more than just business partners, but they never had a sexual relationship. Yarni looked to Levi as a brother. Levi always made it his business to show Yarni a good time whenever she was in Cali, and whenever it was time for her to execute the plan, he made her feel safe and secure. On one occasion, Levi asked Yarni if he could give her half of her money right then and he'd wire her the rest in two days. A limited times he requested the favor. She agreed because he always sent the money as promised. One time, he didn't send the money. He cussed her out when she called to ask him very innocently about the money that he'd promised to send her two weeks ago. "Shit, I don't have no fucking money right now. Everybody fucking calling me begging for money like I am some kinda fucking bank, ATM or something... sit you act like a nigga ain't never tipped you or look out for yo ass. Shit, I'll call you later when I get yo money cause yo ass ain't no different, you just like the other motherfuckers!!"

He slammed the phone down in her ear. At this point, it wasn't about the money. She was more so hurt that he would even take her kindness for weakness.

Andrea had been asking Yarni for months to come to her church. Yarni really had a bad taste in her mouth about church-es every since she'd been kidnapped. God had always been a major part of Yarni's life from the time she breathed air in this world. Gloria instilled God into Yarni's life. Yarni went to her preacher when she was returned from the kidnapping. She sought out some spiritual leadership. She explained to the pastor what she'd been through and she proclaimed it was a wake up call from God. The pastor simply said, "It wasn't a wake up call from God. God would never allow you to experience any bad, if you're his child." Yarni began to cry and she described to the pastor how she had prayed while being held captive and how God answered her prayer. The pastor said, "Maybe somebody else was praying for you at the same time. God didn't even hear your prayers because you're a sinner. He doesn't acknowledge a sinner's prayers," said the minister.

Yarni was agitated with the pastor. She thought to herself, and you're supposed to be saving souls from going to hell. She simply spoke out to him in a firm tone, "Matthew 7:1 says 'Judge not, that you be judged.'" She stormed out of the church. She stopped paying her tithes at that church. She tithed faithfully to T.V. broadcast ministries, but never stepped another foot into that church again.

One Sunday, Yarni and Andrea had dinner. Andrea greeted Yarni with a gold gift bag. Enclosed in the gift bag was a tape

"No More Sheets" by Juanita Bynum. Andrea and Yarni had a nice dinner. Andrea asked Yarni, "Why don't you come to church next Sunday with me? After church, we're having dinner. Don't answer now. Just don't rule it out. Promise me you will watch the tape."

"I promise," Yarni said.

Andrea whispered in Yarni's ear as she embraced her with a hug, "Promises aren't meant to be broken." Yarni sat on her sofa. She flipped through all the channels and nothing was on cable. She contemplated slipping on some clothes and going to the video store then she remembered the video Andrea had given her. She popped the tape into the VCR.

She listened and watched in disbelief. She pressed stop and rewind so many times. The uncontrollable tears would not stop rolling down her face. This woman, Juanita Bynum, was so raw and to the point that, the realness of the message on the tape, just about broke Yarni down. Yarni watched the tape two times.

She called aunt Andrea and graciously thanked her for the enlightenment and informed her that she would be visiting her church the coming Sunday.

The next morning Yarni pulled up in the parking lot of the church. She thought, should I leave and return in a few minutes so I won't have to deal with all the church people looking at me all crazy because they don't know me. Or should I just turn around and go home? She backed out of the parking space, and went to the stoplight. This is nothing but the devil. It must be something in that church he doesn't want me to hear. On that note, she made a U-turn. She reasoned with herself. Forget these people I am not going to think about them. I am not here for them anyway. They can look at me all they want to. I am just going to look right back at them and eat up their food and leave.

Simple as that!

Boy was Yarni wrong. As she exited her car, a cheerful lady, who looked like Diana Ross, walked up and hugged her. "Thank you sister for stopping by. Ooh, it's so good to be in the House of the Lord. God wants you to know that He loves and I do too," said the lady.

As Yarni approached the church, another jolly lady gave her a hug.

"Sister, has anybody told you they loved you today?" Yarni was stunned. She couldn't even answer. The lady continued, "I love you and God loves you too." Yarni begin to feel relaxed and at peace. She proceeded to the door and the usher greeted her with a bulletin and a hug as well.

"It's so nice to see you, sister." She was no longer nervous about entering into the new church.

Everybody was hugging each other as if they were on a church member recruitment commercial. Yarni felt they were sincere, that no one was pretending. They all seemed so excited and exalted to be in the house of the Lord. They all hugged her and made her feel that she wasn't a stranger at all. She spotted her aunt Andrea, and joined her. Nothing could prepare Yarni for what she was about to witness.

Church started, and Yarni watched in disbelief. It was like these people were having a BIG party for God. She'd really partied the night before, but these folks were shouting, jumping around, dancing, (not the hoochie-coochie dances), and swinging their hands from side to side. They had the tambourines shaking and drums playing. Yarni thought she knew how to party and attended all the finest, top-notch social gatherings, but Andrea reminded her that she'd never been present at a "Holy Ghost" party.