“Get you some business, little girl. All up in my mix.”
“Aunt May, you need to stop.” Gertrude chuckled for a second before being interrupted by the doorbell.
“I’ll make sure my friends aren’t a bother, Aunt May.” She rushed off to answer the door.
“Hey, girl,” the cousins spouted in unison, eyes all aglow.
“Queens, I’m so glad you’re here. Come in.” Gertrude pushed open the screen door, allowing them entrance.
“So, what are we working on first, hair or outfit?” Brenda eagerly inquired, rubbing the palms of her hands together.
But Tiffany had other plans, which she didn’t hesitate to make known. “Food,” she blurted, before Gertrude could answer.
Gertrude pushed up alongside her. “Aww . . . You do look a little starved, sweetheart. I made some goulash the other day. You’re welcome to some. I think there are a couple of cookies left too, which won’t be for long. Aunt May really seems to like them, but I think she’s trying to watch her weight. Let’s go to the kitchen and get you fed.”
By the time Tiffany finished the last bite of goulash on the plate, she had sat back on the sofa lounger in Gertrude’s bedroom, pleasantly stuffed. “I’m so glad I didn’t go to one of those nasty fast-food restaurants.”
Brenda turned her eyes from Gertrude’s bushy mane to shoot her cousin the side-eye. “Now, you know you were campaigning for horse burgers.” She smacked her lips.
“Horse burgers?” Gertrude felt the need to chime in, even though she couldn’t make eye contact with either of them with her head tilted. She knew if she tried to move, Brenda would likely get on her about not sitting still while getting her hair done.
“I’m outta here,” Aunt May announced, standing outside Gertrude’s bedroom door in her pink and blue tracksuit, ready to head off to the mall with the gang.
They all turned to look at her.
“You look nice, Aunt May.”
Brenda and Tiffany chimed in to agree. “I like it.”
While the girls boosted Aunt May’s head about her choice of attire, the gang had pulled up across the street. Wilson, Grady, and Tom stepped out of their vehicles, all charging toward the porch. Peggy had instructed them to be there by noon. The time on Tom’s watch read 12:07 p.m. on the dot. “Get ready for it, boys,” Tom warned the others as their feeble limbs climbed the concrete steps.
They all paused at the screen door, the front door being ajar, causing them to pause. “Hey there, Peggy. You in there? The gang’s all here. Us guys anyway,” he hollered inside the residence.
Grady put his hands up to the screen, creating a binocular-like area for him to look through. The quiet inside seemed eerie to the point he shivered a bit. “I don’t see or hear anything.”
“She’s got to be in there somewhere.” Tom snatched at the brass knob to open the screen door. “Peggy, we’re coming in. Hide your tits.”
Something didn’t sit right with Wilson about walking into a person’s house without permission. “She might be in the backyard playing in the dirt. I’ll check around back.”
He made his way back down the stairs while the other two moseyed inside.
Everything looked to be in its place. The plastic on the sofa, the runners lining the hallway carpet, even the dining room table was set for six. The only light on in the house shined into the hallway from the bathroom.
“Peggy, you in here?”
Grady glanced left, noticing her purse there on the side table next. “She must be here. Her car’s in the driveway, and her purse is on the table.”
“Maybe she’s over at May’s.” Tom suggested the alternative as both hesitated in the foyer just at the hallway entrance.
Grady started to head out before Tom even agreed. “Let’s check over there.”
Wilson emerged from around back after having surveyed the yard while Tom and Grady stepped out the front door.
“She wasn’t out back. I’m assuming you guys didn’t find her inside?”
“No luck. We’re going to check May’s,” Tom replied, letting nothing stop his stride.
That was until he saw the flash of shiny pink material headed their way.
“What a sight to see.” Wilson admired the sight of May as she drew nearer.
May had the smoothest caramel-toned skin he’d ever seen. The tiny freckle like moles that covered her cheekbones reminded him of a girl he dated back in grade school. Most women May’s age had a short haircut. It seemed once women got past the age of fifty, they felt as if they had to chop it off. Bingo most nights looked like an audition for The Golden Girls. But not May. She had a long mane of thick, gray hair pulled into a ponytail that hung down to the center of her back.
“Like a fine wine,” Wilson mumbled under his breath.
“Hey, where’s our driver?” Tom shouted out before she could even make it across the street.
“She should be home. Her car is right there in the driveway.” Aunt May pointed out the 1986 Ford Taurus Peggy had purchased after her husband’s “accidental death.”
“What the hell is going on here? Where’s Peggy? She told us to be here at noon,” Tom fussed.
“If she doesn’t show up in fifteen minutes, we’re leaving her,” Wilson admitted with a shrug of the shoulders. All he cared about was the fact that May was there and ready for their unofficial day date.
“Did you guys check the entire house?” Wilson inquired, having become frustrated with Peggy wasting their time.
“We called out to her.”
Unsatisfied with the answer Tom offered up, Wilson headed for her front door. “That’s it. I’m checking inside. We don’t have time for this.”
Thirty minutes later and nothing. The gang all sat around the dining room table, Tom, Wilson, Grady, and May.
“Why would she leave her front door open and unattended for this long?” Tom asked, breaking the silence.
“Something ain’t right about this.”
It wasn’t long before they called the police to the scene.
Ronald caught sight of the flashing red and blue lights from his living room window.
“They’re looking for her body, dear brother. Let’s hope you hid it well.”
“They won’t find it. I buried her deep,” he murmured.
Chapter 27
On with the Show
That afternoon, the gang filed a missing person’s report for Peggy, hoping to find out where she had disappeared to. Usually, they wouldn’t allow a missing person’s report to be filed, considering she hadn’t even been missing for twenty-four hours. In the end, it was Peggy’s age that was the deciding factor. Trying to stay optimistic, the friends decided not to cancel their trip to the mall. Tom agreed to drive, so they all piled up in his station wagon to head to Eastland Mall.
* * *
The girls remained oblivious about the goings-on just across the street while they helped Gertrude put the finishing touches on her looks. Brenda had braided the front left side of her head, pushing the remainder to the right, leaving her curls free. Her suede, heart-shaped, leopard print earrings complemented her all-black bodysuit and gold sandals. Her gold toe and fingernail polish gave off a metallic hue. She twirled left and right, admiring their creation. “I’m so glad I called my girls for reinforcements. I don’t think I could have pulled this off myself.” She smiled at her reflection, pleased with the results.
“I’m glad we could help. Right, Tiffany?” Brenda turned to see her cousin slumbering atop Gertrude’s plush burgundy comforter. “Correction. I’m glad I could help.”
“That food really did a number on her.” Gertrude chuckled with delight. It made her happy to see someone so content after eating her cooking.
“We should get out of your hair so you can get going.” Brenda nudged Tiffany’s shoulder to wake her. “Come on, Tiff. It’s time to go.”
“Huh? What?” She woke startled, slobber leaking from the side of her mouth like a newborn baby.
&n
bsp; “Dang, you were sleeping so good you’re slobbering,” Brenda cackled.
Tiffany wiped the excess spit from her cheek, her dazed expression lingering. “I don’t know why I’m so sleepy.”
“Girl, get up and come on. Gertrude has a date.”
Tiffany yawned as she stood up, attempting to shrug off her sluggish mood. “Whew, chile, I’m sleepy. Let’s go before I pass out again.”
“As a matter of fact, it’s about that time. I’ll walk out with you.” Gertrude showed them out, then proceeded next door as the cousins headed on their way.
“Have fun, beautiful.” Brenda waved her farewell.
I don’t know why I’m so nervous. Gertrude gathered control of her nerves, then knocked lightly at Ronald’s door.
A smile graced his face as he opened the front door. “Look at you. Absolutely gorgeous,” he admitted, taking in her beauty.
Gertrude couldn’t help but blush. “I’m glad you think so.”
“Oh, that’s a fact.” He stood holding the screen door open. “Come in. Let me get my shoes on, and we can get out of here.”
She gladly granted his request. Gertrude waited in the living room, oblivious to the apparition glaring at her from the sofa, surmising her every intention. Still, as she stood there alone, something caused a chill to run up her spine. She ran her hands up and down her exposed arms, attempting to smooth the tiny goose bumps that had popped up out of nowhere.
“Do you need a sweater?” Ronald inquired, noticing her discomfort on his way back in.
“I’ll be fine. Are you ready?”
“As I’ll ever be,” he answered.
The pair exited, Ronald making eye contact with Cecilia as he shut the front door in her face.
Resentment having reached its peak, Cecilia’s eyes welled up with tears. She’d been discarded to the side once again, replaced by Gertrude, her brother’s newfound love.
Chapter 28
Making Headway
For once in his life, things felt normal. Nothing about her caused him alarm. Ronald could truly be himself with Gertrude. Not having to worry about the true motives of everyone around him was nice for a change. He was finally experiencing something he would be eager to tell his psychiatrist about. A date with a girl he felt connected with was a big step in the right direction. At least, he was sure Dr. Martyr would see it that way. Ronald couldn’t wait to tell her. For once, he wanted her advice about what he should do regarding his new love interest.
* * *
“Perk up, guys and gal, the subjects have arrived,” Tom announced as he spotted Ronald’s conversion van rolling through the mall parking lot.
May, Wilson, and Grady all sat up at attention, spying through the windows of Tom’s station wagon.
“That’s them, all right,” May confirmed, keeping her eyes glued on Ronald’s vehicle.
Wilson, sitting alongside May, rolled his window down, allowing a fog of cigarette smoke to escape into the air.
“They’re going in through Macy’s. Let’s get out and head them off,” Tom suggested prompting them all to unbuckle their safety belts.
* * *
Meanwhile, Ronald picked the closest parking spot he could, which happened to be more than a hop, skip, and a jump away from the entrance. They couldn’t have expected anything less, choosing to go to the mall on a Saturday.
The look of excitement on Gertrude’s face conflicted with Ronald’s expression of overwhelming. He hadn’t thought things through before agreeing to go on such a busy day. The scene was like the first day on campus, multiplied by two. But unlike the mall, on campus, Ronald held authority. He was just a tall guy cloaked in jeans and a plaid, collared, button-up at the mall. His Rockport loafers certainly wouldn’t make anyone feel intimidated in the slightest.
Gertrude turned to him, noticing the look of bewilderment on his face. “Are we going inside?” she inquired modestly, hoping he hadn’t changed his mind.
Ronald snapped out of the trancelike state, giving her his full attention. “Let’s go,” he replied, instantly shutting down the engine.
* * *
Inside, Tom and Grady covered the entrance near the shoe department. The aroma of chocolate cookies and caramel cakes pervaded their nostrils. The pastry station near the entrance attracted its fair share of patrons, Tom and Grady being among those headed that way. May and Wilson covered the entrance to the Men’s section.
Quickly turning her back, Aunt May held a shirt up to Wilson’s chest as if to measure how stylish he’d look draped in it. The last thing she wanted was for her niece to see her there, watching them as if they were children.
They waited for the two to pass by before trailing them up the escalator to the Women’s department.
Although in their minds they were stealthy, Ronald had noticed May and Wilson there lurking as they passed by them. He caught a whiff of the tobacco stink lingering on Wilson’s person. The smell was unforgettable when coupled with the Old Spice he’d applied after his shower that morning. Ronald smelled that same stink just days ago at dinner. It was just as strong then as it had been that night at Gertrude’s house. They can’t seriously be following us. And her Aunt May is going along with it? I guess I just can’t be trusted. Ronald shrugged off the propensity to feel wronged in some way, finding reasoning in the fact that he was indeed a killer.
For the time being, he’d allow them to follow him around. Besides, they weren’t doing anything wrong, simply shopping. Maybe even dinner and a movie later. Ronald remained determined not to let anyone ruin his and Gertrude’s day together. The more time they spent together, the more he knew Gertrude had come into his life for a reason, to show him a different way of living finally. One like his parents had.
Ronald recalled how loving his father was to his mother. It gave him comfort to remember how his father doted on his mother until her very last breath. To have someone love you so unconditionally had to be a blessing. Fond memories of his parents’ relationship gave his father’s reputation the polishing it needed.
Back when he was alive, everyone thought of him as a hard-ass. There was no leniency when it came to criminals. He was the toughest kind of cop. Some would even say they thought he was racist. That was until they found out his wife and children were of African American ancestry. It shocked most people to hear his family was of mixed race. Mr. Doolally had gone as far as breaking ties with his mother to marry Margaret Louise Buckman, Mrs. Margaret Louise Doolally.
Mr. George Doolally fell in love with Margaret the moment he laid eyes on her.
* * *
It was one of the hottest days of the summer back in August 1967. Most of the Black residents within the city of Detroit remained on edge, rocked by the riot that ensued on Sunday, July 23rd. The Twelfth Street Riot was among those bloodiest between residents and law enforcement. Margaret, a 20-year-old librarian at the time, sped down Charles Street on her way to work. She’d taken the position at the Knapp branch library next to Cleveland Middle School, it being a place familiar to her throughout her adolescence. The location was less than four miles from her house, yet Margaret always managed to get to work with just a second left to spare. She mashed her wedges down to the gas pedal, hands at ten and two, with her chest up close to the steering wheel.
Officer George Doolally, about five years her senior, took note of Margaret’s race car driver pose as he pulled up alongside her. He intended to get her attention, then motion for her to slow down. The speed limit was thirty-five miles an hour on that street, and her speedometer read well over forty. Considering the brewing tension, he thought it best he let her off with a warning. Margaret stopped at the light by Laskey Park, head darting left, then right in anticipation of the light’s conversion from red to green.
That’s when he saw the leak and the faint steam cloud coming from under the hood of her vehicle. George sounded off his siren until she locked eyes with him.
“You should shut that off. You’re leaking coolant pretty bad,�
� he shouted from his driver’s-side window.
Gertrude shook her head in disagreement with what he’d brought to her attention. The foreboding expression on her face spoke of her suspicions of him being a “dirty cop.”
“What do you mean no? Your car is leaking antifreeze,” George rebutted.
“I don’t believe you,” Margaret yelled back before taking off at the green light.
“What on earth is wrong with this girl?” George chuckled. At this point, he was amused by the fact that she’d completely disregarded him. To add to Margaret’s defiance, she’d picked her speed back up into the forties.
Being the helpful civil servant, George decided to follow her to make sure her car didn’t overheat. When they finally pulled into the library’s parking lot, Margaret hopped out fast to rush inside behind the safety of the establishment’s doors. During her mad rush, a small yellow wallet dropped from the side pocket of her wheat handbag.
George scooped it up off the gravel, waving it in the air. “Slow down. You dropped your wallet,” he demanded in the most nonthreatening voice he could muster up.
Margaret checked the zipper along the side of her purse, realizing it had been left unzipped. Seeing no other choice, she stopped in her tracks. Her shoulders slumped, foreseeing what bullshit excuse he was about to offer up to detain her.
“Did I do something wrong, Officer?” She turned to him in frustration.
“I don’t know. Did you? You sure do seem like you’re in a hurry.”
“Does that automatically equate to me doing something illegal?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You implied as much.” One of the reasons Gertrude preferred not to stop was because of her propensity to question the law.
“I’m assuming you were in a hurry because you were speeding. And, well, you speeding just so happens to be illegal.” George appreciated her attempting to match wits with him.
Margaret stood in silence, not having a justifiable rebuttal for his reply.
“It wasn’t my intention to treat you like a criminal. I simply wanted to make sure you got to your destination before your car overheated.” George broke the silence.
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