“I don’t know. It looks like a memorial or garden or something. All you need to know is it’s something we shouldn’t be focused on right now,” Daryl reminded him, doing a quick course correction.
Out of nowhere, they spied the living room light illuminate.
Ronald rushed out the front door, then tore down the porch stairs on his way to the garage. By the time he opened the door, Gertrude was pushing through the screen door, searching for him.
“There she is. We should grab her now,” Joey exclaimed.
Daryl motioned with his hand for Joey to tone it down. “Chill out, man. All in due time.”
“Ronald? Ronald?” Gertrude called out to him as she crossed the threshold of the driveway. “What is he doing in there?” she said as she’d caught sight of the light in the garage.
He rearranged tools and whatnot to gain access to the space under his shelves, where he had stored the family’s luggage. Ronald also needed keys. If he and Gertrude were going where he’d made up in his mind to take her, they would need access. He snatched the keys down off a nail in the wall.
“What’s going on, Ronald?” Gertrude interrupted, seemingly having popped up from a deep sleep. She eyeballed the luggage at his side. “Are you going somewhere?”
“I thought you were sleeping.”
“Surprise.” She held her arms outstretched. “What’s with the luggage?”
“We can’t stay here. I have a bad feeling about it. I think we should just go away for a few days and allow things to cool down.” He wasn’t sure if he was more panicked about her possibly leaving him or if it was the truck he had seen parked out in front of his house since they’d returned home.
“Ronald, where would we go? And do you really think it’s that serious? What do you suppose will happen?”
“Come on, let me show you something.” He ushered her out of the garage with him.
Meanwhile, Daryl and Joey waited for them to re-emerge from wherever they’d ducked off to. As the couple rushed up the driveway, suitcases in hand, the criminals slid further into their seats to not be discovered by the couple.
Ronald glanced over at the van, eyes only. The last thing he wanted was for Gertrude to be even more frightened. He led her back into the house, closing, then locking the door behind them. Gertrude tagged along as he rushed back to the bedroom, where he took out the album once more. “Do you see this picture?” he asked, opening it up to show her a photo of him, his sister, and parents. The vacation photo showcased them all smiles, modeling their swimsuits. “The cabin in the background belongs to my family. Well, to me now, since I’m all that’s left.”
Gertrude took a good look. “Is that where you want to take us? How far away is it?”
“It’ll take about four hours to get there. Will you go with me?” He stared deeply into her vulnerable eyes.
“There’s no other place I’d rather be, Ronald. What about Aunt May, though?”
“Leave her a note. Pretend you’re on a girls’ trip. That way, she won’t worry about you,” Ronald offered up the excuse.
Gertrude agreed, feeling it was a good idea. “I’ll go write the note.”
The last thing Joey and Daryl were expecting was for Gertrude and Ronald to resurface within minutes, luggage still in tow. The men watched as the lovebirds seemed to linger on the porch for a moment. “What the hell are they doing now?”
They finished up whatever they needed to before taking off to load into Ronald’s conversion van. He watched the wicked men through his rearview mirror as he drove off into the night.
“Damn it. Do they ever sit still?” Daryl griped as he started his ignition, taking off in pursuit.
For most of the drive there, Gertrude slept. The car ride helped to ease her tensions. She felt safe with Ronald. The fact that he was taking her away made her feel even more protected. Her sleeping, Ronald saw to his advantage. It gave him time to think about how he would handle the situation at hand. He wondered what Joey and Daryl’s endgame was, even though it didn’t matter. His endgame meant neither one of them who had come to challenge him would walk away. All the reinforcements he needed glared at him through stone-gray eyes via his rearview mirror. She’d been there the entire time regardless of whether Ronald chose to acknowledge her. “We’ll make them pay, dear brother.”
Her words brought him comfort. He needed her now more than ever. Cecilia’s insight, her intuition, her judgment—Ronald relied on it.
He glanced over at his side mirror. Looks like they’re coming, he thought, knowing Cecilia understood.
“Let them come. Let them all come.”
Chapter 40
His Turf
The sun rose as they pulled into Idlewild, Michigan, also referred to by the name “Black Eden.” It was a place where their family had always felt comfortable, even back during segregation in the United States. Being a blended family back then was hard. Acceptance was slim, but in Idlewild, the experience felt very different. It was where many of the entertainers and intellectuals of the past vacationed during times of segregation. Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, C. J. Walker, W. E. B. DuBois, along with the crème de la crème of Black entertainers, had visited, some even purchasing property there.
Gertrude’s eyes popped open as if she had fallen asleep accidentally. “Did I sleep the entire drive?” She yawned, stretching her arms and back to shake off any residual restlessness.
“You obviously needed it,” Ronald remarked, happy she got some rest.
“I guess so. Worry can do that to you. I have to admit, though, if the ride didn’t do it, this scenery would have.” She stared out her passenger window at the line of trees, outhouses, diners, bars, and cabins in their vicinity. Just behind the houses on her right, Gertrude could see the crystal blue water. It was the bluest lake she had ever seen. Parts of it shimmered like diamonds when kissed by the sun. “Idlewild,” she read the sign at the side of the road. “Wow!” She shook her head in admiration of it all. “This is where your parents’ cabin is?”
“This is where my cabin is,” Ronald corrected her, hoping it scored him a few more brownie points.
“I’ve read about this place. I heard the man who performed the first successful open-heart surgery owns property here on the lake,” she gushed.
“I’ll show you his house once we’re situated.”
Her eyes sprang open wider. “Would you? That would be wonderful.”
“Anything to keep your mind from worrying about what’s not here with us,” Ronald responded.
Gertrude felt a little guilty for allowing herself to be so happy when her friends could be suffering. But would being miserable make her situation any better, she argued with herself in silence. As she looked over at Ronald, she realized everything she wanted from him he’d done it, whether or not she’d expressed it. How was he so inexperienced in the relationship department yet treated her just as a partner should? His father couldn’t have been that bad of a man to have raised a man so compassionate, she reasoned. Maybe he was just spiritual, Gertrude further deluded herself. I should relax and enjoy these couple of days away. After struggling with her feelings for a while, she had finally made up her mind. Gertrude trusted Ronald, no matter his family’s quirks.
Cecilia’s plan to alert Gertrude to the contents of Ronald’s bedroom closet to cause the end to the couple’s tryst had failed miserably. The backseat had become a cold place for her to sit with her brother drooling over Gertrude every waking second.
“Look at him,” Cecilia’s apparition simmered in rage. “He’s forgotten all about me.” Cecilia dreaded the day she’d fade completely. “It’s all your fault,” the teary-eyed entity grimaced at Gertrude.
Ronald heard it but neglected to respond, of course, with Gertrude sitting there beside him. He could see the evil glare plastered on his sister’s face. If nothing else, he knew it meant trouble for them all. For Gertrude, their trip showed promise. She smiled, taking in the beautiful scenery around them. Ronald, o
n the other hand, couldn’t escape the dread and loneliness Cecilia was feeling. The coldness of her heart permeated the car, turning up the hairs on Ronald’s arms.
Gertrude glanced over, sensing his slight discomfort. “Are you cold? Let me get your jacket.”
Ronald shook his head no. “It’s fine. You don’t have to do that.”
She followed her first mind—removed her seat belt, then reached into the backseat to retrieve his coat.
Before Ronald knew it, a dog had run out into the street, causing him to swerve into oncoming traffic to avoid the canine’s demise. Tires squealed as approaching vehicles parted to make way for the burgundy conversion van. Gertrude’s body was tossed right, then left, slamming against the front seats. It was the same dog that had caused Ronald to force Tiffany over the bridge. The snarling animal had shown up out of nowhere, fangs dripping with saliva, even larger and more muscular than it was that day in the alley. As Cecelia’s rage grew, so had her pet’s.
Ronald struggled but managed to gain control of his vehicle, pulling over on the side of the road.
Passersby laid into their horns. They had even shouted obscenities from their car windows at him. Each of them insignificant, so Ronald paid them no mind. Gertrude remained his priority.
“Oh my God, Gertrude, are you okay? Honey, I’m so sorry. I was trying not to hit the dog,” he professed, helping her back into her seat.
Gertrude winced, stretching her injured arm in hopes of relieving any discomfort.
“What the hell is wrong with dude?” Daryl criticized as they drove by Ronald to pull over at the gas station about a tenth of a mile ahead. “Why the hell is he swerving all over the place?”
“Maybe there’s trouble in paradise,” Joey speculated from the passenger seat of Daryl’s loner vehicle.
“I’m okay,” Gertrude answered Ronald, shaking off the scare. “How long until we reach the cabin?”
“Provided we don’t have another incident, I’d say about five minutes.”
“Let’s try to get there without incident then.” She smiled, telling him all was well between them.
Ronald shifted into drive, then cruised back out on to the road.
Pulling up to the cabin pushed a surge of excitement through Gertrude’s veins. She hopped down out of the van, doing a 360-degree turn. “Look at this. Oh, Ronald, it’s so gorgeous and peaceful,” she declared with a smile that spanned from ear to ear.
For Ronald, it felt eerie. He glanced at Cecelia still seated behind him before he stepped down out of the van. His emotions were a mixed bag, remembering some of the memories the place held. He kicked at the dirt and loose foliage under his feet as he recalled a time he’d done the same as a boy.
Chapter 41
Not so, Home Sweet Home
Young Ronald kicked at the soil and loose foliage and dirt under his feet, so much so he’d dug a small hole out on their fifteen-acre property.
His father walked up behind him out of nowhere. “We don’t dig up what was once buried, son,” Mr. Doolally remarked with a warning note in his voice.
Young Ronald stared down at the dirt beneath his feet and knew then he was standing on top of someone’s grave. “Yes, Daddy,” he responded with a look of indifference.
* * *
“Is everything okay, Ronald?” Gertrude inquired, interrupting his trip down memory lane as she’d noticed the slight disconnect.
He looked over at her as if he had never even drifted off, giving her his full attention. “Everything’s fine. Let’s go inside.”
Daryl and Joey watched from the woods nearby as they took cover behind the trees. “When should we do it?” Joey inquired, his impatience nearly having reached its boiling point. He was desperate to make the money Daryl’s deal would provide. In fact, his college education depended on it.
“As soon as night falls, we’ll make our move.” Daryl popped a squat on a downed log nearby, preparing to relax for a while.
“Well, shit. If we’re waiting, let’s not just sit around. We could at least go back into town and get something to eat. I’m starving.”
“If they see us in town, they’ll know it’s us and assume what we’re here to do.”
“I guess we better make sure they don’t see us then,” Joey countered.
“All right. I guess I am a little hungry. We can get food, but other than that, we’re lying low. The last thing we need is our mugs plastered all over town after this is all said and done. We keep our heads down and no small talk. Got it?”
Joey rubbed his aching tummy. “Whatever you feel is necessary is fine with me. I just need some meat and potatoes.”
* * *
Back in Hamtramck, Tom was busy kicking himself. He had underestimated Ronald. Having finally validated the notion, the old man concluded there was much more to Ronald than which lay there on the surface. What if he had something to do with Peggy’s disappearance? Tom bet his life on it that Ronald had more than a few skeletons in his closet, all of which he planned to uncover. Something had to get Ronald off his back, he hoped. He needed to talk to him one-on-one, even if it meant showing up at his house. If nothing else, it would tell Ronald that Tom was willing to go to great lengths to ensure his secret remained just that . . . secret.
He turned on his wipers as droplets of water scattered down across the asphalt before him. Lightning flashed, then thunder roared, foretelling a hell of a storm coming. Still, it wouldn’t stop him from going after Ronald.
* * *
The old man pounded his wrinkled fist at Ronald’s door. “Come on, boy. Answer the damn door,” he griped under clinched teeth.
After a few seconds, he repeated the action, only then, he’d given the security gate a pounding much harder and more repetitive than the last. Still, no one answered. “I won’t go another day under this punk’s thumb,” he vowed. Tom had one more idea up his sleeve, and he knew just the person to assist him.
The doorbell at Aunt May’s chimed, rushing her from the kitchen to the front door.
“Tom. I wasn’t expecting to see you today.” The old woman straightened the silk bonnet covering her hair. “Do you have some information about Peggy?” She unlocked the screen door, allowing him entry.
“I haven’t heard anything about Peggy. I was wondering if we were still doing the stakeout for your niece.” Tom took in the scene, realizing she was alone. “Is she here?” he whispered.
“Actually, she left me some half-ass excuse for a letter, saying she was going on vacation with her little boyfriend.” Aunt May snatched up the note from the side table by the door, handing it over to him.
“Idlewild, Michigan,” he mumbled, taking a mental note of the address scribbled on the paper. “I guess when they get back, we’ll resume our regularly scheduled programming.” Tom played it off as if he weren’t about to go after them as soon as he walked out the door.
“I guess so. They made it difficult to follow them now. Quite frankly, I think they’re on to us anyway,” May replied.
“Well, I’ve got some other errands to attend to, so I’ll get back with ya.” Tom passed the note over to May, then backed out the door faster than he’d rushed inside. “Fare thee well.” He tipped his plaid beige and black fedora.
Chapter 42
Murderous Intentions
Back in Idlewild, Gertrude kept herself busy dusting the furniture while she emptied the contents of their suitcases to fill the drawers in one of the bedrooms, the one she and Ronald had chosen to sleep in.
He peeked his head into the room. “Hey, there.”
“Hey,” she replied, seemingly relaxed in the atmosphere.
“I’m going to go check on the grounds. Make sure nothing is out of place. It’s been awhile since I’ve been back for maintenance.”
“I can tell,” Gertrude agreed, running her finger across the dresser to collect caked-on dust. She held her finger up, showing it to him. “I think I’ll be able to keep myself busy.”
“Oh, yo
u’re going to clean? Maybe we can go fishing later, and I can catch us some dinner,” Ronald eagerly suggested.
Gertrude rushed over to the window to look out at the lake, “No one has ever caught me dinner before,” she admitted excitedly. “I don’t think I’ve ever even been fishing with anyone besides my father when I was a little girl.”
“Well, you’re in luck. I’ll get the boat ready while I’m out there. It’s right out back.”
The back door of the cabin faced the lake, where his fishing boat was tied to the dock. Ronald left to do his duty as Gertrude waved him farewell, not taking her eyes off the figure she spied in the distance. She couldn’t really make out what or who it was, but whatever was there emitted a trail of smoke that drifted out into the atmosphere.
Ronald climbed a tree stand on the property, checking the rifle hidden inside. He cocked the weapon to ensure it was loaded. Not only was it loaded but also, there sat a case of bullets in the corner he had pulled out to survey as well. The last thing he wanted to check while he was up there was the line running from the deer stand to another positioned a foot lower. Ronald pulled at it checking to see if it was secure. He yanked it a few more times until he was sure. Everything looked to be in order. Knowing they’d attack eventually, he’d taken every precaution. His intuition told him he had until nightfall. Even so, he kept his eyes peeled, just in case Daryl and Joey would decide to attack in broad daylight.
Next, he had to check the stone. Ronald trekked along, pushing through jutting tree limbs until he made it to a small clearing in the land, which, as opposed to stepping into, he walked around. Once he made it to the giant boulder, he crouched down low, leaned his back up against it, then pushed as hard as he could until the tunnel was revealed. It allowed him to walk underground along the property through a series of four tunnels that were interconnected. The maze of tunnels had two other exits, one that led back to the cabin, the other to the edge of his neighbor’s property.
At the property line, a metal pig trough nearby reeked of guts. Even worse, it attracted a hoard of flies. His father thought it the perfect spot for an exit you’d want to keep hidden. Ronald had to go down to make sure the corridors were clear, and the lanterns along the wall were in working order. Once he flipped the breaker to turn on the electricity that ran throughout the tunnels, each one illuminated. Damp cement walls surrounded him, taking him back to the first time he had been taken there to see what the tunnels were really used for.
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