The Right to Remain Silent

A woman's stuggle

Her body was close to perfection. She had curves in all the right places and a face of an angel. Her hair was down her back, her lips were full and although all of these physical features got her everything she wanted, she still wasn’t satisfied.

“Looking good ain’t gon pay my bills”, she would often tell people. She has a daughter that’s 11 and she’s raising her all alone. Living in the heart of South East D.C. nothing and no one good ever comes out of that place and it’s definitely no place to raise a child. Her name is Nicole she’s 27 years old, working two jobs looking to find another.

“I’ve been trying to find another job mom I have to get my baby girl and I out of this place, this isn’t what I thought I would be doing with my life at 27”. Nicole hangs up the phone and enters her room to get her daughter ready for school. Her hair was in a messy bun, her white oversized t-shirt had holes in them and her black leggings looked more like an art project due to the various bleach stains, holes and rips.

“Renee’ get up and get dressed please it’s almost time for school,” Nicole walks into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator to find nothing but an old opened beer, a half loaf of bread and a little orange juice. Nicole pulls out the bread and places it in the toaster. Screaming from the room across the hall distracted her thoughts of despair and she took out the toast and made her way to the room.

“Mom, Mom, there was a roach under my jewelry box.” Renee’ yells as soon as Nicole walks in the room. Nicole takes a deep breath and wipes her face with both of her hands.

“Come on baby let’s go to the bathroom, brush your teeth and wash your face so I can fix your hair” Nicole said softly walking out of the room.

“Thank you. Wait, mama what’s wrong with you?” Renee’ asking looking her mother up and down noticing the sadness and frustration on her mothers face.

“Nothing baby, I’m just a little stressed mommy’s got everything under control.” Nicole picks up a brush to fix Renee’s ponytail.

            Upon entering her first job for the day Nicole could feel the tension in the room amongst her coworkers. Everyone had tight faces; arms folded and were standing in the back room awaiting Nicole’s presence.

“You’re late” one of them says. “Damnit, she’s always late” another chimes in. Nicole felt an attitude forming and she tried to remain silent for the betterment of her coworkers.

“I have to make sure my kid gets to school safe, y’all know where I live. I apologize” Nicole says in a monotone voice.

“Nicole, you need to learn to manage your time better, but until then we’re gonna have to let you go.” Her boss responds with a upsetting look on his face.

Nicole picked up her bag that she had placed on the floor and without saying a word exited the room. Tears began to fall down her face and built up pain began to be released through the tears and frustration released through minor screams. “I have to take care of my baby and I so let’s get it together and find a new job.” Nicole thought to herself. She reaches in her purse and pulled out an old receipt with a number on the back. Last week she met with her friend Jasmine for lunch and she told her that she recently started a new job.

“Girl, I get paid 20 dollars an hour and sometimes I get tips. All you gotta do is go on dates and do what the guy you get assigned to asks of you for the night.” Nicole remembered Jasmine’s huge smile talking about this newfound profession. She also noticed the new expensive necklace she was wearing and the Prada bag she was carrying.

“This would be all good news to hear if I didn’t have Renee’. I can’t just be goin on dates and leaving her at home. We don’t live in the best neighborhood you know” Nicole looks at Jasmine and she could tell Jasmine heard her but wasn’t listening.

“Nicole, Renee’ is almost 12 she can watch herself every now and then while you go make this money. Here, take this and just call and try it out”. Jasmine pulled out an old receipt and gave Nicole the number.Nicole looks down at the wrinkled up receipt and begins to dial the number.

“Hi, my name is Nicole Warren and I was calling to inquire about the escort position. I was referred to you all by a friend by the name of Jasmine Greene.” Nicole was so nervous her palms were sweaty. She wasn’t sure if this was a good idea, but she was desperate for the money.

“Hello Nicole, please hold while I transfer you to the escort department” a lady with a raspy voice responds. The elevator music was nerve wrecking and it seemed to be playing in slow motion. Suddenly the phone goes silent and Nicole becomes worried.

“Nicole, Jasmine has told me all about you. I have been waiting for your call. Meet me at 14^th and K street at 11 o’clock pm tonight to get your first assignment,” a man with a deep voice says and then hangs up. Nicole was speechless and unsure if she should go. Who could watch the kids at such late notice? Who was it exactly that she was meeting?

            “Okay Okay I have everything don’t you worry, Renee’ is safe just go before you be late” Jasmine volunteered to watch the kids. Upon reaching the 14^th and K Nicole began to slow down not sure who she should be looking for. Suddenly, there was a black escalade truck behind her flicking their lights signaling her to pull over. Nicole was beyond nervous but did just that. A tall, light skin male with grey eyes wearing a slim fit black suit and a grey tie opened her front passenger door and got in the car.

“Oh my gosh this man is fine” Nicole thought to herself, “maybe this job won’t be so bad.

“Are you Nicole?”, he asked. She nodded unable to speak due to the fact that she was nervous and he was so handsome she was lost for words.

“I am your first assignment my name is Mike and tonight we are going dancing. I have a dress for you in my truck park your car next to that red corolla so we can leave” Mike had a straight face but his eyes were inviting. Nicole got dressed in her car. The little backless black dress fit her perfectly.

“How did you know my size? I thought I was supposed to be meeting the boss and where exactly are we going?” Nicole’s brain was quite frantic she wasn’t too sure about this anymore but there seemed to be no turning back now.

“I know a lot about you, I’ve had my eyes on you for a while now.” Mike responded quickly. “Now just sit back and ride, stop asking so many questions we will be there soon” he sped along the high way blasting John Legend and the whole time all Nicole could think about was “what did I get myself into.

            They pulled into a parking lot full of cars and the jazz music coming from the building was so loud the car seats were shaking. Nicole sat very still awaiting instructions, she wasn’t nervous anymore; just ready for the night to be over.

“I’m a police officer” Mike says as he walks towards their reserved table in the corner of the club. “You’re very beautiful and so is your little girl. What’s her name?” Mike asked pouring them both a glass of wine.

“How do you know I have a daughter?” Nicole suddenly had a tightening in her stomach and fear began to build up.

“I told you I know everything, now drink this” Mike handed Nicole a glass.

“I’m okay, I’d rather not drink.” Nicole didn’t want to be under any influence this guy was starting to creep her out.

“I paid for it, you’re going to drink it.” Mike puts the glass to Nicole’s lips and as she drinks the glass in its entirety by force her conscious is telling her she needs to find a way to leave.

“Excuse me, where is the restroom” Nicole asks a passing waitress.

“Across the hall to the left sugar, you can’t miss it” the waitress responds. Nicole makes her way to the bathroom to try and call Jasmine but she had no service. All of a sudden she began to feel dizzy. When Nicole exited the restroom Mike was standing there waiting for her.

“I thought you got lost let’s go sit down we need to discuss something, and you don’t look so well.” Mike took Nicole by the arm back to their seats.

“What do we need to talk about? I’d really like to go home can we talk about taking me to my car” Nicole said with an attitude.

Mike became furious, his grey eyes seemed to be turning red and he was looking at Nicole as if he could charge into her.

            “Give me one dance and we can go, we’ll just talk in the car” Mike took Nicole by the hand and they began to dance. Hand in hand they were dancing to the rhythm of the music. Nicole looked as if she was on the verge of tears and Mike with a devilish smirk knew he had her right where he wanted her.

Dizzier than before Nicole leaned in to mike and whispered, “can we please leave now, I can barely see.”

“Sure” Mike kissed her cheek and they went to the car.

            On the way back Nicole notices they past the street where her car was parked and she immediately became afraid and confused.

“My car is back that way what are you doing man?” Nicole exclaimed. Mike said nothing just continued driving in increasing speeds. Before Nicole could finish asking questions Mike was pulling up in front of Nicole’s home.

“I told you we had to talk, but I’ve decided not to give you an option. Go get her” Mike said looking down on Nicole as she rests her head on the window. A tear started rolling down her face because she knew this wasn’t going to end well.

“Go get who? Jasmine?” Nicole asked.

“No, your daughter. That sweet, fine Renee’” Mike licked his lips and Nicole was disgusted.

“No way in hell, you will not touch my baby.” Nicole said sternly.

“I’m the law you do as I say it’s either her or you” Mike said pulling a gun from under his seat. Nicole looked up at her building and looked back at Mike.

“Okay, take me. I won’t allow you to touch her.” She said.

“I don’t want you, I need her young fine self.” Mike pointed the gun at Nicole’s head.

“I said go get her” Mike’s face was so calm Nicole knew he wouldn’t hesitate to pull the trigger. While trying to reason Nicole dials her home number where Mike couldn’t see. Jasmine answers.

“I guess I have to get rid of you to get to her” Mike pulls the trigger. Jasmine’s screams were coming through the phone and echoing out of the car window. She had been listening the entire time but by the time she reached the car it was too late.