We arrived and were taken inside. They took Kay to the right and me to the left. He and I had been caught up in some tight situations and managed to wiggle our way out of most of them. But from the look and feel of things, this Black jail shit was obviously on a whole ‘nother level.

How the fuck did we manage to get detained in China? Ironically, over here it’s called the Black Jail. In the US, Blacks are thrown in jail.

* * *

Obviously, the good cop, bad cop routine was universal. Regardless of how bleak our situation looked, I never had to worry about Kay, and he didn’t have to worry about me. We never outed each other. We were brothas to the muthafuckin’ end. Wasn’t no snitchin’ shit in our blood. The good cop wanted to know why I came to China. The bad cop wanted me to tell him who I was here to see and why.

Thankfully, I had nothing to hide. I didn’t have any narcotics in my possession. Hell, I hadn’t toked on a blunt during our entire trip. Muthafuckas took my phone. I should be calling Benny, my lawyer, right now. “Can I call my lawyer?”

“The request has already been submitted. I’ll let you know when you can have a call. In the meantime, would you like a cup of green tea?” the good official said. He was medium height and had blond hair. Odd for a Chinese man.

“No.” I shook my head. I didn’t know what they might put in a nigga’s drink. I would dry fast if I had to. Fuck that!

“We understand you were detained in the US not too long ago,” the bad official interjected. He was tall for an Asian, and he wore his hair cropped close. His head was a perfect round shape.

“Yes, but I was released on a technicality.”

The official became quiet as he looked through the black folder embossed with Chinese letters and a big red seal on it.

Then he came at me using a little more force. “Our intel says that you murdered a man while you were detained. How were those charges dropped? How does that process work there in America?”

Then it hit me. Mr. Li. He’s behind us being here. I paused. Stay calm. Never let muthafuckas see you sweat. “I’m sure your same intel revealed that it was self-defense. Another inmate came at me because he was ordered to kill me. It was a planned assassination while I was in custody.”

“You must be a very dangerous man,” he said, before picking up the black folder and greeting two new officers. They moved over to the desk in the corner where they spoke rapidly in Chinese.

What the fuck are these muthafuckas sayin’? I knew I had to get the fuck up outta here ASAP!

KAYLIN