by Carl Weber
“Well, I was actually just passing through on my way to New York to handle some business with Sal Dash.” I tapped the briefcase I was carrying. “I was hoping to catch you. I got few things on my mind.”
“I see.” LC looked concerned. Both LC and Larry had been lecturing me lately about looking into what happened to Momma. They told me I was letting it get the best of me and I should try to relax a little. Personally, I thought they weren’t taking shit seriously enough, waiting for some lazy-ass cops to figure it out when we knew they never would.
As much as I wanted to blurt out what Donna had told me about the arm that wasn’t Momma’s, I had to treat this carefully. First of all, LC was not exactly gonna be happy to find out I’d been talking to Donna. Also, I had to prove to him I wasn’t totally obsessed, and that I still had my mind on business too. If I jumped right into talking about Momma, he’d tune me out in a hurry.
“Seeing as you’ve got the dealership and Larry’s got the trucking,” I started to explain, “Why don’t you let me put a title company up in here like we have at home? That way, people who can’t get regular financing or need short term money can do business too.”
He leaned back in his seat, looking a little more relaxed. “You finished searching for Momma’s killers?”
I had to stop myself from blurting out, “Momma’s not dead!”
Instead, I said, “I got a few more leads that I’m checking out, and if they don’t pan out, I’m gonna just have to accept it.” I didn’t tell him, but I was already convinced those leads would prove to be true now that Donna had confirmed my suspicions.
“Fair enough.”
“So, we good to open the title company?”
“Sounds like a good idea. Let me run it by Mr. Mahogany and see what he says.”
“There you go with that Mr. Mahogany bullshit again. Why do you have to involve him? This don’t have shit to do with him.” I had yet to understand why LC had this “relationship” with this dude. It was as if Mr. Mahogany appeared out of nowhere and cast some kind of spell on my brother, and I didn’t like it one bit. He may have sold Larry on this shit, but I sure as hell wasn’t sold. “This is between you and me.”
LC sighed. “Listen, Lou, I already explained this to you before. Mr. Mahogany is the reason I’m able to open this dealership. He’s helped me out a lot.”
“Well, explain it to me again, because I don’t understand this. Supposedly he’s a minority partner, but he calls all the shots.”
“He doesn’t call all the shots.”
“Then why the fuck do you need his permission for your own brother to open a title company on your property?” I felt my temperature rising as my anger flared, but LC remained cool.
“Because this is his city, and what you’re proposing isn’t exactly on the up and up,” he said evenly, “and he’s well connected when it comes to business, and not only is he knowledgeable, he’s resourceful. He’s helping me establish a solid business foundation. That’s way more important than money.”
“Oh, so I guess I ain’t teach you shit, huh?” I snapped. I couldn’t believe he was standing there saying that. It was as if everything Larry and I had done and sacrificed meant nothing. Hell, we were the ones who paid for him to go to college, bought him his first car, even bought that damn garage in Waycross for him. Now, all of a sudden he was trying to tell me of all people about building a damn foundation. As far as I was concerned, family was the most important foundation he would ever have.
“Man, don’t be like that. I’m sure putting a title office here won’t be a problem at all. I’m sure Mr. Mahogany will—”
“Say, that sounds like a great idea. A title loan company is just the thing you need, LC. Not to mention having family around.”
I turned around to see Mr. Mahogany standing in the doorway of LC’s office. It seemed mighty funny that Vivian hadn’t called and announced that he was in the building as she had done with me.
“Mr. Mahogany, you remember my brother Lou.” LC nodded in my direction.
The older man stretched his hand out, and after a moment of hesitation, I shook it.
“Nice to see you again, Lou.”
“Yeah, same here,” I said.
“LC, I’ll wait for you in the car.” Mr. Mahogany tapped his watch before exiting.
“Hey, Lou, listen. We actually have a meeting we have to be at. How about you go on over to the house with Chippy and wait there for me? I won’t be that long. Maybe a couple of hours.” LC stood up.
“Uh, well, I did need to holler at you about something else right quick,” I said, wanting to get to the real reason I had come to visit him.
“That’s fine, Lou. We can chat when I get to the house.”
“I just need a minute. It won’t take that long. It’s about Momma. I don’t think—”
LC frowned and shook his head. “Lou, not now, okay? That’s your fantasy, not mine.” He looked down at his watch. “I gotta go. It’s a big meeting.”
“What if I can prove she’s alive?” I blurted out.
He hesitated for a second. I had piqued his interest. “Prove it how?”
“I got this girl who’s fucking Eddie Jenkins—”
He cut me off right away. “Crazy Eddie Jenkins? The motherfucker who is always talking about the walls have ears?”
I guess my facial expression said all that he needed to hear, because he didn’t let me answer.
“Lou, are you out your mind? That dude is certifiably crazy. He’s been in and out of Central State like five times.” He walked over to a file cabinet and started shoving papers in a briefcase. “And how could you believe anyone who would fuck him? Bro, I think you’re just looking for anything to believe in.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. Sorry I brought it up,” I said, storming out of his office.
“Lou, wait!” He called behind me.
I ignored LC and kept walking out of the building, past Mr. Mahogany, who was sitting in his black Cadillac, staring at me as if he were waiting for me to say something. Instead, I stared back and said nothing as I made my way to my car.
When LC came out of the building, I watched him climb into Mr. Mahogany’s car, which then drove out of the parking lot. When they were no longer in sight, I opened the door of my car and climbed in.
“Does he know I’m here? What did he say?” Donna asked, popping up from the back seat.
Turning on the engine, I sat in silence as I thought about my next move.
“Answer me, Lou! What did he say? Does he know I’m here?” Donna had a lot of hope in her voice.
I finally said, “He didn’t say anything. Hell, shit got so complicated, I didn’t even tell him you were here.”
Nee Nee
20
“Girl, you right on time.” Shirley was grinning from ear to ear as I entered her office. She was sitting behind her desk, talking to old man Butler. He did all the handyman work and repairs at Big Shirley’s. He was kind of a jack of all trades and could fix damn near anything if you gave him the time. “Mr. Butler says it’s only going to take about three weeks to whip that place into shape. We about to be in business.”
“Is that right?” I smiled as I sat down next to Mr. Butler. I wasn’t quite as enthusiastic as Shirley, but I had to admit it was good news considering the state of the rest of my life. I’d been back in Waycross almost a week after helping Chippy get settled with the baby and the new house in Atlanta. Unfortunately, Larry had made it clear by his actions that he wasn’t going to marry me, and he wasn’t going to beg me to move to Atlanta, either.
“So, Mr. Butler, how much exactly is this gonna cost?” I asked.
“Don’t you worry about that.” Shirley winked, smiling at Mr. Butler. “All we have to do is buy the materials and equipment, and Mr. Butler here will do the rest. Ain’t that right, Mr. Butler?”
“Long as you stick to your side of the bargain, we got us a deal, Shirley.” He got up from his chair, smiling like a Che
shire cat. “Let me know once you sign that lease so me and my boys can get started.”
“We about to sign it right now.”
He walked out, and as soon as the door closed, I asked, “What exactly did you promise him?”
“A free pussy card.”
I fell out laughing. “You bartering pussy now, Shirley?”
“It’s a commodity, and ain’t that what business is all about, bartering and trading? And as far as money, we got that too.” She reached into the bottom drawer of her desk and pulled out a large gray lockbox. Opening it, she turned it around so I could see its contents.
“Jesus, Shirley, that’s a lot of cash.”
“And there’s more if we need it. See, while Larry is hell bent on following LC to Atlanta to make him a millionaire, I’m willing to help you become one. Your dreams and LC’s dreams. If Larry was a real man, he would stay and help you make yours come true too,” she told me. She was determined to make this work, and her enthusiasm was beginning to become mine.
I sat up in my chair excitedly. “Okay, let’s do it! Call the owner. Fuck Atlanta and fuck Larry. We got this, and we got each other. We’re gonna work together, create our own empire, and make our own dreams come true.”
“Fuck LC and Chippy. They ain’t thinking about our asses anyway.” She walked over and pulled me into a big hug. “Fuck the Duncans!”
“Fuck all of them!” I shouted, laughing now.
“Mommy!”
We both jumped, startled by Curtis, who was in the doorway, in Larry’s arms.
“What the fuck y’all got going on in here?” Larry demanded to know.
“Larry,” I whispered.
“What are you doing here?” Shirley asked him. “You hate being in this whorehouse, remember?”
He ignored her and walked closer to me. “I just bought that house up the street from LC in Atlanta.” He tried to hand me some papers, but I woulddn’t take them. “We can move in whenever you’re ready.”
“I ain’t going no damn where.” I shook my head and plopped back down on the sofa. From the determined look on Larry’s face, I could tell this was about to be one hell of a fight. I pressed on anyway. “Me and Shirley are about to sign these papers and open a restaurant. So, you have fun in Atlanta.”
“You sure about that?” He let Curtis down, and he came running over to me. “You sure you don’t want to go?”
“You damn right I’m sure. What do you mean?” I bent down and hugged my son, staring at Larry defiantly.
“Well, can you a least take a look at these papers before you go off all half-cocked?” He handed them to me, and this time I took them. “Just read the first three lines.”
Reluctantly, I unfolded the papers and read the first three lines as he’d requested. “Why you playing, Larry? This isn’t funny.” I looked down at the paper and reread the same lines. “This isn’t even real, is it?”
“Yes, it is.” He nodded.
I dropped the papers. Truthfully, I’m surpised I didn’t faint.
“What the fuck does it say?” Shirley reached down and scooped up the papers before either of us could answer. “Well, I’ll be damned.” She began to read out loud: “This land and dwelling are deeded to Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence and Anita Duncan.”
Larry dropped down to one knee and reached into the front pocket of his shirt. “I know I’m not the easiest guy to get along with, but I love you and Curtis, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Now, I’m not trying to have some big, fancy-ass wedding. Fuck that. I ain’t doing it. But what I will do is drive you down to the courthouse and get married right now and give you my name.” He took a breath. “So, with that being said, will you marry me?”
Never in a million years would I have suspected that Larry Duncan would agree to get married, let alone get down on one knee and propose. It was one of the sweetest moments I had ever experienced.
“Momma, you gonna marry my daddy?” Curtis was standing on the sofa, his face three inches from mine.
“Yes, Curtis, yes! I’m going to marry your daddy. That’s all I ever wanted.”
Larry slipped the ring on my finger, and I fell to the floor beside him and threw my arms around his neck, nearly knocking him over. He grabbed me and kissed me so passionately that I would have made love to him right there if Shirley and Curtis hadn’t been there.
“Well, congratulations. I guess I’m going to have to go look for a new partner.” Shirley sighed half-heartedly. She looked like she was trying to fight the tears that were forming in her eyes, but she was losing that battle.
“Sorry, Shirley. You know how much I love you,” I said, walking over to her when Larry released me
“It’s okay. I know this is what you really wanted.” She wiped away a single tear that was rolling down her cheek.
Larry didn’t say anything to her. “Come on, Nee. The courthouse closes at four o’clock. We gotta hurry if we’re going to get married today.” He tugged at my hand then scooped Curtis up with the other, and we were out the door.
Bettie
21
“Noooooooo! Stop it! Get away from me!”
I could hear the screams in my dream. I was back in the penitentiary; it was dark in my cell, but I could make out the shadowy figures of two guards in the cell across from mine, grabbing another inmate and dragging her out. She was a pretty girl, young and curvy, with too much mouth. I had watched the guards eying her all week, and earlier in the evening, when she got into a fight with her cell mate, one of them made a comment about “handling her” if she didn’t calm down.
“You’d never be able to handle the thought of me, let alone touch me,” she had shot back with her smart mouth.
The guard reached for her, but she snatched away and walked off. Their eyes followed her, and one guard said to the other, “Man, what I would like to do to that ass . . .” I knew then that she was going to be in trouble.
“Leave me alooooooone!” Her cries echoed now, sending chills down my spine. I shivered at the thought of where they were taking her and what they were about to do. Sexual assaults were a common occurrence in prison. It was part of where we were, a part of the hell we lived in day after day, the culture of living behind bars. Inmates raped other inmates, and there were times like now that guards took what they wanted from whatever inmate they wanted. There was no fear of anyone pressing charges, no risk of losing their job, not even a fear of catching a disease or getting anybody pregnant. They were the predators and had a plethora of prey to choose from. Tonight, they had chosen her.
“Shut the fuck up!” a man’s voice growled. I heard the distinctive sound of his hands striking her body.
Suddenly, I was aware that I wasn’t dreaming. I was in a prison, but this wasn’t the penitentiary. My eyes fluttered open, and I strained to see in the darkness. I remembered exactly where I was and realized where the voice was coming from. I sat up from the cold floor where I had fallen asleep and scurried over to the wall. Pressing my ear against the surface, I listened.
“Noooooooooo! Get away! Get away!” I could hear her fighting back. “Get off me!”
“Oh, you wanna play rough tonight, huh? Bitch, I’m not playing wit’ you!” he yelled, striking her repeatedly.
“Help me! Somebody please help me!” she cried.
“Stop fucking squirming! Take this dick! Fine, I know what you want!” his sinister voice announced. “Turn that ass over.”
“Nooooo! Please, no! Somebody please help me!” Lisa’s screams turned to whimpers, and she whined, “Please, I’m begging you.”
“Oh, yeah . . . yeah, bitch. That’s what I’m talking about!” He moaned.
“God! Please, stop, please! Some—” She screamed even louder, which prompted him to beat her more viciously until she finally fell silent.
I beat on the wall as hard as I could and yelled, “Leave her alone, you bastard! Get the fuck away from her!” I’d been through a lot of horrifying things in my lifetime, but this ha
d to be by far the worst because of how helpless I felt.
“Oh, yeeeeeeaaaaah,” the man suddenly howled in ecstacy.
“Stop it! Get off her!” I continued beating until my fists hurt. Tears began to burn my eyes as I listened to him violate her over and over again.
Then, suddenly, it was quiet. I began to panic at the thought of what might have happened. Is she all right? Is she passed out? Is she dead?
“Lisa? Lisa, can you hear me?” I called out, but there was no response. “Lisa!”
Still nothing, until I heard the slamming of the door and then the sound of footsteps in the hallway. My heart was beating so fast that I could hardly catch my breath. The lock of the door in front of me slowly turned, and I began praying that I wouldn’t be next.
The door creaked open, and I saw the shadow of the big burly ape standing in the doorway.
“What the fuck is the matter with you?” he growled at me.
“Where is she? Where is Lisa? Did you kill her?” I demanded to know.
“Listen, you old bitch. You better learn, your place or I’ll give to you what I gave to her with a broom handle.”
He took a step back and then opened the door a little wider. I squinted my eyes to see as I prepared for whatever he had planned for me.
“Here!” He pushed something into the room. I jumped back and then heard a moan as it hit the floor. “You so worried about this bitch. Here you go!”
“Lisa!” I rushed over to the crumpled woman and grabbed her into my arms. The light from the hallway illuminated enough for me to see that she was a shivering, crying, bloody mess.
“Now the both of you can die together!” He was laughing like a madman as he slammed and locked the door.
I didn’t have time to even wonder about what he said. I was focused on comforting Lisa as she held on to me for dear life. I used my shirt to wipe her face.
“It’s okay,” I said, rubbing her back.
“Kill me!” She kept crying over and over. “Kill me, so he can’t do it again.”
“No, I’m not going to do that, baby girl, but I promise you this: we are gonna get the hell up out of here.”