by Lynn Emery
“We need to have our crew cut this stuff back,” Ted mumbled. He spoke as though they were on a normal jaunt and he was making small talk. “Turn left here.”
They were at a wide place in the road. Neva saw a gravel path to her left. She followed his instructions. A mile ahead she could see lights. There was a camp here. One of several owned by wealthy families. Camp was not a true description however. Most were lovely homes nicer than what many people had in town. This one looked to be no different. It was large with a porch that ran the length of the house. Ted had her drive across the grass right up to the front door. Neva gasped with shock and rage when a figure swung the door open.
“Why the hell did you bring her here?” Desiree yelled.
Ted came round to the driver’s side. He opened the door and yanked Neva’s arm. “Get out. You, slid this way to get out,” he told Tariq.
“You were supposed to threaten her, just scare her.” Desiree came out onto the porch.
Ted made Neva and Tariq stop. All three stood out in the yard looking at each other. Neva was trying to think of a way Tariq might get away. Maybe she could draw Ted’s attention to her while he ran in the opposite direction. Ted seemed to know what she was thinking.
“I’ll shoot you both before he gets two steps, so don’t try it.” For emphasis, he extended his arm pointing the gun directly at Tariq’s chest.
“I don’t want any part of this!” Desiree glanced at Tariq. Her eyes were wide with fear.
“You stupid slut,” Ted snarled. “What did you think would happen? She’s got to be stopped.” He had a demented look on his face.
“You know what he means.” Neva looked at her cousin. Clearly Desiree was in deeper waters than she’d intended.
Desiree was shaking. “Ted, t-take them back. Maybe we could–”
“No, we’re going on a nature hike. There are some hills I want to show our guests. A very peaceful resting place.” Ted took two long strides and shoved Desiree from the porch. “You, too.”
“Please, no! I won’t talk, I swear!” Desiree screeched.
Ted gazed at all three of them. “No, you won’t.”
***
Sweat poured down his sides. Chandler fought to keep from stomping the accelerator to the floor. “Where the hell is he taking them?”
Chandler had been on foot searching the area. Following a path, he’d come to the stretch of road upon which Neva’s house was located. He’d watched in horror as a man with a gun forced Neva and Tariq into a fancy dark green Jeep Cherokee. His first reaction was to rush forward. Then the risk to those he loved stopped him. The man looked fully prepared to shoot. Chandler feared any surprise would force him into action. Instead, Chandler raced to his car almost a quarter of a mile away on a dirt path. They had to pass near there since there were no side roads from the highway for several miles. He could still follow them.
That seemed hours ago, though the clock on his dashboard said it had been fifteen minutes. Chandler repeated again that Neva and Tariq were safe while the Jeep was moving. But who could he be? Was he one of the men who had attacked her days ago? How did Tariq find his way out here? Those questions and a half dozen rescue schemes chased around his brain.
Chandler called Deputy Sykes on his cell phone. But he was a good forty-five minutes away near the parish line. A lot could happen in that time.
The Jeep turned off down another road. The pavement ended but the Jeep kept going down the dirt path that continued on. Chandler turned off his headlights. He did not want the man to know he was being followed. There had been other cars on the road but not here. Chandler simply let the twin red tail lights lead him on. When he saw they were headed for a house at the end of a narrow dirt road, Chandler cut his engine. He grabbed the cell phone and dialed the sheriff’s office. They forwarded the call directly to Sykes in his patrol car.
“We’re about six miles off Deer Path Road,” Chandler said low. “I saw a sign even farther back that said Lake Rosemond.”
“Good. Wait for me. I’ll be there in maybe fifteen minutes” Sykes’ voice crackled through the phone.
“No way. Did you forget what I told you? He’s got a gun.” Chandler watched them in the distance. He was not about to let them out of his sight.
“That license you gave me is registered to the Bellows-Claiborne corporation. From your description of the guy, it’s Ted Bellows. He’s a hothead, but basically a coward. He’s probably just trying to scare ‘em.” Sykes talked fast trying to convince him.
Chandler watched as a woman emerged from the house. She seemed to argue with Ted. He had a feeling things were going bad quickly. The feeling was confirmed a minute later. The man marched all three to the woods. Goosebumps ran up his arms.
“They’re going into the woods on foot. I’m going after them.”
“Macklin, listen to me–”
“Dammit, they could be dead soon!” Chandler said in an urgent voice. “Get here fast as you can.”
He tossed the phone onto the car seat and sprinted after them. Chandler went straight down the path. A woman’s voice, mewling and pitiful, pleaded with the man to let her go. Chandler heard him growl something at her. He followed the voices to a small clearing.
“I’m the one that was helping y’all.” Desiree sniffled. “You can count on me.”
“Sure I can trust you.” Ted’s voice was heavy with sarcasm.
“You can!” Desiree protested in desperation. “Like I told you, I have as much reason to keep quiet about the land as you do.”
“Be quiet!” Ted turned to Neva. “At least you don’t whine. In fact, I have to give you credit. You didn’t let what people thought of you stand in the way.”
Neva had watched his face. There was a cruel streak in him. Yet she could read the distress and self doubt that drove it. With all he’d been born to, this man did not feel adequate. His arrogance covered a need to feel worthy. Anger was his weapon of choice, drugs his escape. A lethal combination. But she had to try something if only to save Tariq.
“You only wanted to make your mark in the company. This isn’t the way to do it, Ted.” Neva kept her voice even.
“What do you know about what I want?” he said. There was no anger, just curiosity now.
“You’ve made a few mistakes, but you helped make the family fortune,” Neva said.
“Trying to get on my good side won’t help you,” he said. He leaned against a tree trunk.
“That deal with Tiger Chemicals was your idea. Brought in a fortune.” When he glanced away, Neva stole a quick look around. If only she could shield Tariq long enough for him to get away.
“So you read the Business Weekly.” Ted used one hand to light a small cigar. “Good for you.”
“Your sister ridiculed you. She belittled your contribution to your mother.”
Ted pointed the cigar at her. “That’s right, you’re supposed to be psychic or something.” He grunted. “Anyone in the parish knows my sister is a bitch on wheels. She ridicules everyone.”
“You’re smarter than they give you credit for.” Neva pushed Tariq away from her by a few inches. She felt an unreality as she tried talking with a madman calmly.
“Obviously, since I seem to have out-witted you.” Ted chuckled.
“You won’t get away with this! If you weren’t tripping on cocaine and whiskey you’d know that,” Desiree shouted.
“Desiree, keep quiet.” Neva was afraid she would push him over the edge.
“No, let her talk.” Ted turned his attention to Desiree.
“Of all the dumb things. You think no one knows I’m out here? Hollis knows!” Desiree bared her even white teeth like a cat.
“Cousin Hollis could care less what happens to you. He was going to toss you out like old trash anyway.” Ted raked her with a look like a knife. “So don’t wait for him to rescue you.”
“Listen, your company isn’t suffering so bad you have kill to save it.” Neva tried not to sound as terrified as sh
e felt. He would feed on it, use it to bolster his craving to punish someone.
“I must say, you have been keeping up with corporate scuttle-butt.” Ted took a long pull on his cigar and let out a plume of smoke. “So far I’m disappointed. You don’t need a crystal ball to know all that.”
“You’ve always been afraid your mother would disinherit you. Was that in the Business Weekly?” Neva made a guess, a wild leap with little but a wave like impression. Judging from the look on his face, she was right.
The cigar in his hand shook. “Who told you that?” His voice croaked. He shot a look of fury at Desiree who shook her head with vigor.
“I didn’t, not me. I didn’t know–”
“No one knows, Ted,” Neva cut her off. “You’re fears were fed by your sister and brother as a prank. They never realized how much it affected you.”
Ted swallowed hard. Drops of sweat rolled down his face. His eyes were wide and glazed. Seconds ticked by. “Is it true?” he said in hoarse whisper. “Will they cut me off? What would I do without money?”
“You mother does care about you.” Neva was frantic now. If she could ease his fear, they might have a chance. Slim as it might be, it was better than nothing.
There it was, his fear of being abandoned without a way to live. Neva started when there was movement to her left. She glanced at Ted, but he was too distracted by his own inner demons.
“Kate gets everything. And Mother has always made a fuss over Clinton,” Ted complained. He spoke like a resentful twelve year old.
Neva almost dropped to her knees when she recognized Chandler. A portion of his face was hidden behind a large palmetto bush. Tariq looked up at her then followed her gaze. He gasped. Neva clutched his shoulders.
“Don’t!” she whispered.
Ted became alert by the sound of her voice. He pushed away from the tree. “You’re up to something, you and the kid. Okay, that’s it. Move over there.” He waved the gun to a marshy area deeper into the woods.
“No, no. Don’t kill me!” Desiree screamed. She blubbered hysterically.
“Shut up and move!” Ted seemed off balance.
Desiree kept screaming. “I don’t wanna die.” She ran straight into tangle of vines, her arms flailing.
“Get back here! I’m going to shoot!” Ted wavered for a split second then aimed the gun.
Chandler crashed through the brush behind him growling. He slammed into Ted, head down. The gun cracked. Ted went down hard face first in the dirt. Chandler grabbed for the gun but Ted held on.
“I’m going to kill you all!” Ted shouted. His face contorted with the effort to twist around. The gun went off again.
“Run!” Chandler shouted.
Ted let out a howl that sent chills through Neva. Tariq refused to leave his father. He ran behind the two men on the ground.
“No, Tariq!”
Neva leaped forward and stomped her heel on Ted’s wrist. Tariq lifted his heavy athletic shoe and kick him in the side. Ted let out another howl, this time of pain. He dropped the gun. Chandler pounded his head against the ground over and over.
“Chandler, that’s enough! You’ll kill him!” Neva now put her strength into trying to pull an enraged Chandler away from Ted.
“Dad, I’m not hurt!” Tariq shouted. “Stop!”
Deputy Sykes bounded into the clearing with three deputies behind him. He grabbed Chandler and managed to drag him off Ted.
“Okay, okay. Come on. Let us take care of him!”
Deputy Sykes held him tight until Chandler no longer struggled to go at Ted again. In truth, Ted was no longer a threat to anyone. He was limp and incoherent. The deputies handcuffed him. A massive black officer stepped from the dark. His huge hand wrapped tight around Desiree’s right arm.
“I found her runnin’ down the road like a jack rabbit. Figured she looked mighty guilty ‘bout somethin’,” he said to his boss.
“Let go of me you big fool! Neva, tell them.” Desiree tried to jerk free of his grasp without success. “I tried to save you. Tell them.”
Neva felt no need for vengeance, just sadness. “Does money mean that much to you, Desi?”
“Wha—” Desiree’s mouth worked. “She doesn’t know what she’s saying. Listen to me, she’s a pathological liar. I hardly know that man!” She shouted at Deputy Sykes.
“Handcuff her.” Deputy Sykes ignored her shouts of protest.
“Look, I’ve never seen that man before! Neva, don’t just stand there! Tell them!”
“I can’t get you out of this one, Desi,” Neva said.
The big man led her away still shouting. Her voice travelled back to them through the night. She alternated between outrage and loud sobs. Chandler wrapped his arms around Neva and Tariq.
“Thank God he didn’t hurt you. If he had...” Chandler kissed the top of Tariq’s head then Neva.
“Ahem.” Deputy Sykes stood looking impatient to be gone. “Look, you folks gotta give me a short statement tonight.”
Chandler held them both to him as though still not sure they were safe. “They’ve been through so much in the past few hours.”
“I’m okay, baby. Really.” Neva gave him a squeeze to reassure him.
“Me, too, Dad.” Tariq even smiled up at him.
With a searching look at them both, Chandler finally nodded assent. For the next few hours, Chandler did not let go of her hand once. Neva drew courage from the solid feel of him near.
***
Three days later, Chandler and Neva sat on her front porch in the cypress spring. They gazed across the road to a grassy pasture. Tariq played softball with several kids who lived nearby. Mama Jo was inside with Patsy and several of her friends. Laughter floated through the open window behind them. Bright sunshine painted the grass and trees golden. Neva savored the breeze that touched her face.
“What a fabulous day.” Neva closed her eyes.
“What a fabulous lady to spend it with,” Chandler replied. He sat with one arm along the back of the swing.
“Seems like the other night was some horrible dream, doesn’t it? Like it was unreal,” Neva said.
“Bet Ted Bellows and Desiree were wishing that right about now.” Chandler frowned with a trace of anger he’d felt that night in his eyes. “I hope they both do time.”
“Uncle James is devastated. I don’t think Desiree will get a heavy sentence. After all, she really didn’t know what he’d planned.”
Neva thought of her cousin. She’d last seen Desiree at the Sheriff’s office the next day. All the fight was gone from her. Desiree looked worn out.
“Humph, one very small thing in her favor.” Chandler was still not ready to be generous. “And then there’s the guy that disappeared. Seems Ted Bellows is the main suspect in that. He better hope that Dave Murphy guy turns up alive soon.”
“I don’t think he will.” Neva felt a chill across her shoulders.
“Then Sykes is going to nail him.”
Neva shook her head. “Incredible the things people do for money and power.”
“You and I know why Marian Bellows was so terrified folks would find out about Lilly.”
“And it so senseless. Why should anyone care that her great-great grandfather was half black? But they do, at least in certain circles.” Neva answered her own question.
“What about Lilly? She lost her first born. Think of what she went through. It’s amazing she kept that secret all her life.”
“She wanted him to have a good life.” Neva let herself feel the past.
“I guess.”
“Family legend says she never really got over it. Even though she had three more children. Poor Lilly.”
Chandler stared off at the boys playing. “I can’t imagine giving up Tariq for any reason.”
Neva came back to the problems of the present. “He’s still not certain how he feels about me.”
“There could be more tough days ahead.” Chandler embraced her. “But I hope you’re not having
doubts about us. I don’t want to live without you.” His dark eyes held the promise of passion.
She touched his faced with the tips of her fingertips tracing a line along the strong jaw. “With love and time, we’ll make it.”
Chandler put his lips close to her ear. “Yes, time. That’s what I want with you. Lots of time.”
“How about forever?” Neva whispered.
She kissed him and forgot the past, let the present slip away, and dreamed of the future.
About the Author
Mix knowledge of voodoo, Louisiana politics and forensic social work with the dedication to write fiction while working each day as a clinical social worker, and you get a snapshot of author Lynn Emery. Lynn has been a contributing consultant to the magazine Today’s Black Woman for three articles about contemporary relationships between black men and women.
www.lynnemery.com
Connect with me on :
Twitter: www.twitter.com/LEmeryWriter
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lynn.emery.author
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
About the Author