“Believe whatcha’ wanna believe. You asked and I told you. Take it for what it’s worth … She usta be ya girl … Tender’s two-faced. She ain’t got no love fa you. Da otha day, I asked her fa some money towards ya lawyer and she said she ain’t got it. I ain’t heard no more about it either … She sold you a dream.”

In her emotionally unbalanced mind, depressed and delusional, Goldie actually began to believe this lie. She didn’t give Tender the benefit of the doubt. Kat was so convincing, she gave the lie an air of authenticity. Never mind the fact she knew Kat was cruddy, at least she had the decency to answer her cell phone. She should have known better; after all, she knew Kat the longest. As many boldface lies she caught her in over the years, she knew from experience how cunning she was. Still, now that Kat said this to her, Tender’s unwillingness to answer her phone was an automatic admission of guilt.

“… Anyway, forget about her. You don’t need her. I’ma hold you down. Aiight? Jus gimme a li’l more time and I promise I’ll have dat dough fa ya lawyer,” Kat said convincingly.

“How long iz dat?” Goldie pressed her for an answer. “I been out here a month already. I wanna come home. I don’t like it here. New York ain’t fa me.”

“Don’t you even think ’bout comin’ back yet. Not here!” she warned her sternly. “… Da police will be on you like stink on shit. They watchin’ the bus terminal, train station and airport. They handin’ out wanted flyers wit ya face on ’em. If I wuz you, I’d stay my black ass right where I’m at. Ain’t nuttin’ worse than gettin’ caught, goin’ ta jail, then goin’ ta court wit a Public Defender. …”

A couple times, Kat almost gave herself away; she almost burst out in laughter. Even she couldn’t believe how good of a lie she was telling. She spontaneously fabricated this story so well. All Goldie had to do was connect the dots. Everything she said would coincide. She succeeded in playing with her head.

“I don’t know how much longer I can take dis,” Goldie admitted. “Jus’ hurry up and send fa me … Okay?”

“Aiight! I’m on my job,” she stated, making an empty promise. “Did you call dat number I gave you?” Lemme get off dis phone. I think it might be tapped. Talk ta ya later!”

“Not yet,” Goldie replied.

“Do dat,” Kat advised. “They my peoples, call ’em. They can help you out. Put money in ya pocket. For da time bein’ …”

Kat continued, “What wuz dat? You heard dat noise?”

“Where? What you talkin’ ’bout?” she asked. “I ain’t hear nuttin’.”