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  “We expect to get you out soon, and I’m not just saying that. Bye.” Willa went to the door and tapped. “Sir, ma’am, whoever, we’re ready.”

  “Bye, girl. Look, I talked to Tomàs, the cute tall guard. He’s gonna look out for you, too. Him and me might have a date later.” Jazz winked at MiMi.

  “Lord, give me strength,” Willa muttered.

  The “cute” guard led them out. Jazz put a little extra sway in her hips as she walked behind Willa. She gave the guard a coy smile. MiMi nodded in approval and laughed. Jazz would never need coaching in the ways of handling men. The female guard appeared seconds later and motioned for MiMi to leave the small room. With a sigh, MiMi complied. This particular guard didn’t like MiMi one bit. No amount of charm had softened her. It was Tuesday and Officer Alvardo had just started her five day shift. The next few days would pass slowly.

  ****

  That evening MiMi, Luz and Diana relaxed outside after dinner on a small concrete patio. MiMi and Diana sat in plastic chairs, while Luz leaned against the cinderblock wall. They watched other female inmates play a lazy game of soccer on the grass portion of the prison yard. Even at six o’clock in the evening, the warmth and humidity still hung on. MiMi used a hand towel as a fan.

  “Ugh, I can’t wait to get out of here. A month seems so far away. Ah.” Luz sucked in smoke from her cigarette and blew it out.

  “Yeah, well you better get some patience. Stop messing with Lola. One more fight and that month will turn into six.” Diana waved at another inmate.

  “Tell her to leave me alone. She’s from your town, one of your old friends,” Luz retorted.

  “Okay. Have it your way. Don’t cry to me when you end up with a longer sentence.” Diana shrugged and lit up her second cigarette. She offered a half smoked one to MiMi.

  “Not even being in here makes me want to start that habit.” MiMi made a sour face.

  “Uh-huh, in America they’re big on no smoking. I need to quit if I’m going to find a nice American husband.” Luz looked at her cigarette and then took another puff.

  “Yeah, I can see you’re making a real effort,” MiMi joked. She ducked when Luz took a playful swing at her head.

  Diana watched them for a few seconds. “You want to smell all fresh for that rich boyfriend of yours when you get out, huh chamaca?”

  “I don’t even want to see that, that…” MiMi’s temper flared hot as the image of his smiling face flashed in her mind. Luz let loose with a string of derogatory names in Spanish. “Yeah, whatever you said.”

  Luz laughed. “Ow, he should leave before you get out.”

  “So, you figure he’s gonna take the money and run?” Diana’s tone was conversational as she gazed off at the soccer game.

  MiMi looked at her. “What?”

  “You were asking a lot of questions about hiding money and how to move money. Your boyfriend, he’s smart. They think he’s a tourist that just got stupid.” Diana shifted her gaze to MiMi.

  “Roddy is exactly what he looks like, a stupid tourist who scored and got caught. I just asked because you both were talking about your old boyfriends and gang members.” MiMi hoped her voice didn’t reflect her sudden case of nerves.

  “You seemed a little bit more interested than just making conversation.” Diana lifted a dark eyebrow. She pushed away from the wall and sat down next to MiMi. “I might be able to get a guy who can help, for a reasonable fee of course.”

  “No way, you’re totally wrong. We’re not… you know,” MiMi whispered and glanced around. “Roderick wouldn’t know the first thing about that sort of stuff. And I definitely don’t.”

  “Diana, I could tell she was green the second they pushed her into the cell,” Luz put in with a snort.

  “Uh-huh.” Diana gazed at MiMi for a few seconds.

  “Hey, your pal Lola is tryin’ ta get your attention,” Luz said and pointed to the other woman standing a few feet away. “Tell the bitch I said hello.”

  Diana transferred her gaze to Luz. She gave a short laugh and shook her head. “You never learn. Three times inside and you never learn.”

  “Yeah, yeah. Makes two of us,” Luz retorted and winked at her.

  Diana threw down her cigarette, crushed it out and strolled off, still shaking her head. Moments later she joined a group of inmates. Soon they were engaged in conversation. Their exchange flew right over MiMi’s head. Once again she regretted not paying attention in her high school Spanish class. She listened for her name or any word she might understand. Soon the women moved away.

  “I have to get away from this place,” MiMi mumbled.

  Luz waved to a player on the field who raced along. “Watch what you say to Diana. Her man is big into one of the gangs.”

  MiMi looked at her sharply. “She never said…”

  “She wouldn’t. If he thinks you or your boyfriend are operating without his permission? That would be a sign of disrespect. Hey, score already,” Luz shouted. She kept up her pretense of concentrating on the game.

  “Like I told her, Roddy is a dumb tourist. I’m dumb for even being interested in Roddy.” MiMi forced herself to laugh, hoping it sounded genuine.

  Luz didn’t look at MiMi. Instead she waved at another clump of inmates seated on the grass watching the game. “I’ll keep close to you, so will my cousin over there, the one with the ball.”

  “I thought you and Diana were good friends.” MiMi swallowed against the lump of terror in her throat.

  “It’s smart for me to know what she’s doin’ and sayin’, okay? We get along, but I know to watch her. You should, too.” Luz glanced at MiMi briefly. Then she glanced at where Diana stood with a clump of other inmates.

  “Why are you telling me this?” MiMi wiped beads of sweat from her forehead. Suddenly the heat came from inside her gut.

  “Diana, Lola and some of their friends are getting way to cocky for their own good.” Luz wore a serious expression for an instant before she smiled. “Hey, let’s get a basketball game goin’ next time.”

  The players finished the game when guards signaled they were to wrap it up. They called back to Luz playfully about what she could do with a basketball. Half of it was in English, half in Spanish. A few women yelled Creole. Luz let loose another string of Spanish as she stood up.

  MiMi stood as well. She wore a smile, but whispered out of the side of her mouth. “I don’t want to get caught in some kind of gang war, Luz. I mean just because I was making conversation? I didn’t even bring up Diana’s past. She did!”

  Luz looped an arm through one of MiMi’s. “Relax chica. You should be okay until your girlfriends get you out.”

  “Lord, let that be real soon,” MiMi said. She repeated that prayer for the rest of the night.

  Chapter 2

  Two days later, MiMi entered the court room making her best effort to look innocent. The judge maintained a bland expression when her case was finally called. She wore the dove gray skirt, a white blouse, and sensible pumps Willa and Jazz had brought her. MiMi glanced down at herself. The plain clothes would have to go later, but today she strove to fit the bland outfit. The judge gave MiMi a critical stare as she walked in with Officer Alvarez close behind. The woman nodded that MiMi could proceed to the table. MiMi sat between her attorney and the court appointed interpreter. She was doing fine, calmly listening to the muted translation from the petite woman. Then Roderick came in.

  MiMi stopped listening and turned to her attorney. “What’s he doing here?”

  “Your cases are linked.” Mr. Columba replied.

  “Our cases are not ‘linked’. Roderick decided to buy weed without consulting me,” MiMi said and huffed in outrage.

  She felt a tap on her shoulder and looked back. Willa frowned a warning from the front row. Jazz gave a slight shake of her head and mouthed, “Keep cool.”

  Mr. Columba looked past MiMi at the interpreter. He continued in Spanish. Apparently explaining in detail exhausted his limited English language
skills. He spoke rapidly making discreet gestures toward the judge and then the prosecutor. The woman nodded, let him finish, and then placed a hand on MiMi’s left arm as if to urge restraint.

  “Mr. Columba says the judge wanted to save time because you were arrested together. Señor Jefferson also mentioned you several times in his statement,” the woman said with a note of apology in her voice.

  “I’ll just bet he did, the slimy weasel,” MiMi hissed.

  “We’re not sure yet what his lawyer will say,” the interpreter continued. She paused as MiMi’s attorney broke in with a few more sentences. “Mr. Columba says it may not be a bad sign. Hold your patience.”

  “You’re definitely channeling Willa,” MiMi murmured.

  “Qué?” The interpreter blinked at her in puzzlement.

  “Never mind.” MiMi decided not to look at Roderick again. Her “patience” would be tested enough being in the same space with him.

  For the next forty minutes, a lot of legal housekeeping went on interminably. The lawyers and others apparently found it all quite routine. The judge even left a few times. Papers got shuffled as the court reporter and others went through whatever procedures they needed to complete. MiMi scowled when Roderick’s attorney got to go first. She listened as the interpreter recounted his version of the events, which included MiMi wanting to party as much as he did. In this case implying she wanted to buy weed, too. She twisted her hands together tightly, wishing Roderick’s lying neck was between them. Finally the interpreter stopped. MiMi’s hearted pounded.

  “What’s happening? Is he blaming me?” she whispered.

  The woman shushed her, and when the judge paused, she and the lawyer nodded to one another before she spoke. “Mr. Jefferson had less than two ounces, so he will pay a fine and must leave the country. He admitted that you didn’t go with him to buy the weed, and the police can’t find the dealer.”

  “Hallelujah,” MiMi burst out.

  The judge squinted at her as his words came out in rapid fire, all in Spanish of course. He banged his gavel to punctuate his displeasure.

  “Lo siento mucho, tu honor,” MiMi said promptly. She’d practiced that phrase with coaching from Luz for two weeks at least.

  The judge’s frown eased. Her show of respect seemed to have helped. “No más de de que usted, señorita.”

  “Sí.” MiMi looked down at the table.

  “Very good, Miss Landry,” Mr. Columba whispered.

  Then he stood and began to speak to the judge in Spanish. For another twenty minutes, MiMi followed the exchange between the lawyers. She sat rigid while Roderick spoke with the aid of his own interpreter. MiMi’s lips curled. Obviously scared spitless, Roderick went overboard groveling before the court. The judge’s dark eyes sparkled as he exhaled heavily a few times as Roderick rambled on begging for mercy. He talked about his parents depending on him to run the family business his grandfathers had founded, and mentioning his maternal grandmother’s poor health.

  “He’s got to be kidding,” MiMi mumbled and got a gentle poke from the interpreter.

  She pressed her lips together. She wanted to tell the court that Roderick rarely visited the grumpy widow. The old lady had threatened to disinherit him more than a few times. His father regularly called him worse than useless. Roderick made it sound like he was a valued son whose absence threatened the family business. In fact, his younger brother spent twice the time managing their commercial properties and construction projects than he did.

  The judge finally cut him off. “Sí, sí, Mr. Jefferson. Your points are made.”

  Roderick stammered to a halt as his lawyer patted his shoulder. The man practically pushed Roderick down to his chair again. MiMi chuckled softly. When she looked back, Jazz grinned and rolled her eyes. Willa merely shook her head slowly. The judge gave a long speech during which the interpreter maintained a respectful silence. MiMi tried not to shake the woman to make her talk.

  Mr. Columba thanked the judge. MiMi understood that part of what he said. The tension in her shoulders, neck and back eased at the smile her lawyer exchanged with the judge. When the prison guard came toward her, MiMi blinked as tears formed in her eyes.

  “No, no. Is alright. You come with us, okay?” Mr. Columba gave her elbow a quick reassuring squeeze before he gathered up his files.

  “This way, please,” the interpreter said.

  “Okay.” MiMi sniffed a couple of times.

  Willa, ever the maternal type, handed her a small package of tissues. “Can we come, too?”

  The interpreter smiled at her. “Sí.”

  Another case was being called as they left. MiMi glanced around at the orderly chaos around them. She had to admit that this was not the rush-to-judgment-third-world nightmare she’d dreaded. The courthouse was modern and clean. Lovely murals depicting Dominican Republic history covered the walls. Leading the way, Mr. Columba took them to a small conference room down the hall from the courtroom.

  “The hearing went quite well. Mr. Jefferson admitted you didn’t go with him to buy the drugs. I also got his lawyer to admit that the drug dealer had no contact with you.” The lawyer beamed at MiMi and everyone else. His smile seemed to say he was more impressed with his own skills than happy for his client.

  “Trust me, the judge caught on that Roderick was trying to blame you without making it look too obvious.” Jazz smiled when the interpreter blinked at her in surprise. “Yeah, I speak Spanish pretty good.”

  “As I was saying,” Mr. Columba broke in before anymore talk strayed from his shining moment. “The judge takes into account you have no criminal record in America. You didn’t have the marijuana on your person. So you pay fine and free to go.”

  “Yes!” MiMi stretched her arms over her head. “Praise Jesus! Okay, y’all, let’s get the blip out of here. I hope you have my plane ticket. They can keep those few knick-knacks I had at the prison.”

  “Yeah, we got your suitcase from the resort hotel,” Jazz said. Still,

  she wore a slight frown.

  “Then I’m ready. We can go straight to the airport right now.” MiMi faced the prison guard. “Thanks and tell the girls bye for me.”

  “Wait up a minute,” Willa said, a palm up like the school principal announcing the bell hadn’t rung just yet. She turned to Mr. Columba. “You mentioned the fine?”

  “Yes, you can pay right here. You have five thousand American dollars, yes?” He looked at Willa and then at Jazz. “Plus about five hundred dollars in court costs.”

  “Sure we do,” Jazz retorted.

  “Then there is the matter of my fee. The balance is two thousand US dollars.” Mr. Columba raised a dark eyebrow when neither Willa nor Jazz spoke.

  “I thought Mr. Landry paid you in full,” Willa said as she waved at MiMi to be quiet.

  “No, only the retainer.” Mr. Columba spoke to the interpreter in Spanish.

  “The lady cannot be released until the fine and legal fees are paid,” the interpreter translated.

  “Okay, okay. We’ve got to work on it,” Willa replied. She rubbed her forehead and paced in a circle.

  Officer Alvarez wore a smirk as she turned to MiMi. “So you come back with me after all, eh? You can tell everyone goodbye for yourself.”

  MiMi backed away from the woman. “Willa, get daddy on the phone and have him wire the money. Can’t I wait here until then?”

  “Um, I have to track him down at his office. It might take more than an hour or so, MiMi.” Willa glanced at Jazz.

  “We talking big money, closing in on ten thousand. We don’t know how your daddy is gonna take the news,” Jazz said bluntly.

  Mr. Columba spoke again in Spanish to the interpreter. MiMi flinched as he talked and the guard’s smile grew wider. When the interpreter took a deep breath and exhaled before speaking, MiMi knew the news was bad.

  “If the fine is not paid the sentence could be up to eight months at least. Seven since you’ve almost been here a month. So that’s somethi
ng,” the interpreter said. She tried a weak smile, but it faded as she gazed at the expression on MiMi’s face.

  “I can’t stay in this place for seven months. I’ll miss my baby’s birthday and…” MiMi covered her face and cried.

  “Don’t freak out. Your father will need time to make the arrangements, that’s all Jazz meant.” Willa eased her into a chair and placed an arm around MiMi’s shoulders.

  “Uh, right, right. I’m just sayin’ he’ll need a minute to get over the shock. That’s a lot of cash,” Jazz said.

  “He’s going to say no,” MiMi blurted out.

  “Your mother will speak up if he acts crazy I’m sure,” Willa said. She handed MiMi a hand full of tissues.

  MiMi wiped her eyes and sniffed a few times. Despite the despair settling over her, MiMi sat straight in an effort to be brave. “You obviously don’t know my parents. Guess I’ll have to get used to prison life.”

  Jazz studied MiMi for a few moments longer. “Girl, you gotta tell us the story about the Landry family.”

  “I’ll call your father the minute we leave here.” Willa patted MiMi on the back as she spoke.

  “Yeah, if we have to send somebody to help convince him, that’s what we’ll do,” Jazz added.

  “Qué?” Mr. Columba let loose with a string of Spanish.

  “We don’t want trouble or to be party to any kind of threats. We’re a country of laws,” the interpreter’s eyes went wide as she tried to keep up with him.

  “No, no, we only meant that my parents would go over to appeal to him on MiMi’s behalf,” Willa said just as rapidly. She glared at Jazz. “You stay with MiMi and keep your mouth shut.”

  Jazz smacked her lips. “Fine.”

  Willa motioned to the lawyer and interpreter to speak with her privately. The prison guard chuckled, amused at the scene unfolding. MiMi tried to resign herself to the inevitable. She could almost see the image of her mother’s cold expression of distaste.

  Jazz looked at the guard. “Hey, can give us a few more feet of privacy.”