Laced

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Nambitha Zungu

They are keeping me in an empty cell. I passed by the full ones thinking I was going to be kept with those prostitutes and other nasty ghetto girls in here, but they placed me alone. I don’t know whether to be happy or not.
It’s been hours since I got here, they haven’t given me my phone call like they do in the movies, I’ve cried till I couldn’t any longer. This place smells like pee, the benches are uncomfortable. I want to leave. I’m sure Muzi is worried sick about me.
A female police officer comes to my holding cell, I immediately stand up.
“Please can I make my call, please!” I thought I was cried out, clearly, I’m not.
“This is not your palace!” she’s so mean.
“Please, I’m begging you, please have a heart.” she opens the gate for me.
“Thank you so much!” I walk in front, and she directs me to the phone.
I’m trying to regulate my breathing. Okay; I don’t know Muzi’s number off by heart. I only know Tata’s number and I don’t want to stress him out like that, I don’t want him to know that his daughter has been in jail. The next person on the list is Amile. She’s freaking far in Zululand, she’s probably busy with her own life.
“Hurry up!” okay okay!
The only other option is Janet, although she’s not close but I know she’d help me if I pay her. If I give her my home address, she can tell Muzi, and they will come here to help me out.
It’s ringing. I’m crossing my fingers that she answers.
“Who is this?” she sounds like she’s in a deep sleep.
“Janet, it’s Nambitha, I need your help. I was arrested and I don’t have my husband's number. Please go to my house and tell him, I promise I’ll give you money.” she chuckles.
“You are in jail? Wena? Slay queen?” she actually starts laughing really hard.
“Janet please!” I can’t stop crying and it’s annoying me so much.
“Haibo you are serious, okay. Where is your house?” I knew she would have my back.
I give her my address and tell her to tell Muzi where I am. She actually agrees to go there, that’s why I can always count on her, even though we don’t talk!
“Woza sboshwa!” she pulls me violently.
I’m not even a prisoner yet but she’s treating me like shit! She throws me back in the cell and stands at the bars and stares at me.
“So, you want your little stupid husband to come save you?” she’s mocking me.
That gets my attention very quickly. I can’t help but think this is planned, why is she referring to Muzi as ‘little’ and ‘stupid’? I stand up very quickly!
“Did you plan all of this?” I ask wiping my tears.
I have snot all over my face, I feel like a mess, I can’t imagine what my face looks like.
“Just sit here and look pretty wena slay queen. Don’t worry yourself about outside things.” so it is planned.
My heart is racing. I’m worried about Muzi, he’s probably in danger wherever he is. I don’t know what to do, I don’t have much to do from here, I guess that’s why they locked me up.
But who are these people? Who are they and what do they want from me, from us? Muzi has never harmed anyone, he’s innocent, he only lives to party and fuck women. He doesn’t deserve any of this!
I’m panicking, and I can slowly feel the walls closing in on me. My chest hurts.

•••

“I got you a friend!” she pushes someone in the cell.
She’s a prostitute. She’s even wearing torn fishnet stockings and a short skimpy green sequin dress. I won’t even start talking about her hair, it’s a mess.
But wait, I know this face!
“Nambitha?” she says excitedly.
“You guys know each other! Great!” the police officer says.
I hate this officer so much! She leaves me with the prostitute who I now realize used to be my best friend. She’s coming to squat next to me.
“Are you also in the streets?” she’s actually excited about seeing me.
Aside from the fact that I’m sitting in a holding cell, I’m definitely not excited about seeing my ex best friend who turned into a bitch walking into a holding cell. What about my reputation, now she’s going to let the whole world know that I was arrested.
“No.” I’m actually annoyed.
“Oh, so you do the private shit, in clubs right? That’s why you are wearing expensive clothes. They said I wasn’t pretty enough!” is this girl crazy.
It really doesn’t seem to get better, and her breath stinks, she’s so close to me.
“Yonela get out of my face!” my skin is crawling.
I’m hungry and I’m tired. I don’t want to be here, I want to go home to Muzi, I want to be in his arms, and I want him to tell me he loves me even though I hate it so much when he does that.
How can it be that I’ve been here for more than 12 hours, and no one has come to find out about me. I called Janet in the early hours of the morning, it’s almost 7am and I’m still fucking locked up! Something happened to Muzi.
“I’m sure it’s your first time here then! At least I’m not the only one that fell off, I saw your friend actually became the queen.” she’s really taking me back to high school drama at a time like this.
“To think I overreacted, maybe we would still be friends if I didn’t assume she was fucking that bodyguard. Hehe, you remember that ugly guy, I wanted him shame.” she’s speaking about Nkululeko.
My heart sinks to the pit of my stomach.
“I’m sure he would have been amazing in bed, his ugliness said it all, I would have given it all to him without thinking twice…” that’s it I’ve had it!
I rush to the bars.
“Officer! Please take her!” I scream as loud as I can.
“Hawu chomie?” oh Jesus she’s standing up.
I need divine intervention to survive this nightmare I’m living in, actually, I’m trapped.
“Officer please!”
It’s not long before she appears carrying the large set of keys.
“You are the most annoying person ever, I’m glad you are leaving.” she says opening the burglar for me to get out.
I can’t believe it!
“I’m free?” I ask in disbelief, feeling the tears filling my eyes.
“Yes crybaby, go and never come back here.” she opens for me, and I rush out.
“I’m also coming!” Yonela tries to follow me.
“You are not going anywhere! You don’t listen, you are always back here!” this place is so ghetto and so toxic.
I don’t even know how I survived this long. I get to the front of the station, and I don’t see anyone I know, and that confuses me. A man wearing shorts and a vest waves at me.
Who the fuck is this? He has a beautiful smile, but he’s old, he even has a grey beard.
“Hi Nambitha, you must be exhausted.” he’s carrying a black bag on his shoulder.
It looks heavy, but that’s the least of my worries. I’m worried about whether I should trust this man or not.
“Vusi Mfusi, I was told there was a little misunderstanding, I assure you it will never happen again. I’m sorry you were treated harshly. Let’s go.” What?
Nothing is making sense, and I don’t know if I should trust him or not! How the fuck are the Mfusi’s even involved?
“How do I trust you? I’ve never even heard of you.” he chuckles.
“Not gullible, I like that!” he fishes in his pockets and takes out a leather pocket.
It’s his police badge.
“I’m the ex-commissioner of the police force, I came to take you out because Zuzile said you were in trouble, and now we are going to her house.” he explains.
Okay so Zuzile is in the know, but why am I going to her house and not my own? Where is Muzi?
“Where is Muzi?” he doesn’t answer me.
I feel like screaming, I should be happy that I’m out of this rathole, but I can’t, it just keeps getting complicated.