“Tasha, send the boys over to my room, so they can play with Jahara.”

Tasha had a knowing look on her face, one that said she had been expecting something bad to happen. “Hey guys, go over to your Aunt Angel’s room and play so Mommy and Auntie Angel can talk.”

As soon as they left, Tasha grabbed me by the arm. “What is it? It’s our men, isn’t it? I’ve had this funny feeling in my gut. Do I need to sit down?” Her face was filled with anguish.

“No, I haven’t heard from them. Have you?”

“No.” She shook her head.

“I hate to be the bearer of unwelcomed news, but I want you to look at something.” I showed her the tablet, and for a second, her face went almost white.

Finally, she spoke up. “I’ve had this recurring dream—that someone is trying to take my baby from me. Ain’t nobody taking my baby from me.”

“Who could it be?”

“It’s that psycho bitch, Mari. What the fuck is wrong with these chicks today? She’s called Trae and me trying to stir up shit. Besides, she’s got connections with the courts through law enforcement and obviously that fuckin’ therapist.”

“How about if I call the hospital or the authorities and get this straightened out?”

“No, never! I remember how me and my siblings were taken from our parents. I am not allowing anybody to take my child or children for that matter. Don’t you call anybody! Somebody is up to something.”

“But your situation is different. You’re not on drugs or an abusive parent. Let me make a few calls, Tasha.”

“No, Angel! Trust me, it doesn’t matter. Once a black baby gets into the foster care system, it is hard to get them back. They take our babies for no reason.”

I couldn’t say anything. I thought about the mass incarceration of Blacks, and the high number of children in the foster care system. We looked each other in the eyes and were speechless. “So, what will you do?”

“I’m getting the hell out of here.”

“And going where?”

“I don’t know. Anywhere I can hide out by myself with the baby until Trae gets back. I will need to leave the boys with you. Is that all right?”

“Hide? By yourself? What in the hell? Tasha, you’re talking crazy now!”

Chapter Twenty-Six

CHARLI LI

“What do you have for me, Calvin?” I asked my private eye, handing him an envelope with cash. He was sitting across from my desk in my new office. Alexa McMillan, who ran my front office looked at him suspiciously. Being in downtown Manhattan, my establishment looked and felt like a Fortune 500 company.

“We still in business?” he questioned, lifting an eyebrow.