Hung Out to Dry

by Hadford Howell

  An experienced JJ loved to make the last hour of his ETT set special for patrons. Tonight, he wanted to make it extra-special, so he decided to spend another hour pulling together a great close out musical package for the night. Immediately, JJ was decided to get his final hour underway with Temptations Stay followed by BT Express Give Up the Funk (Let’s Dance). Should be great fun, JJ was thinking.

  He also made up his mind to do something he had not done before after his set was finished. He would hang around the club for a while, perhaps for an hour or so. He’d not heard DJ Price play for a while, so would tell Vanessa of his plan to stay on at the club for an hour on her return home.

  ***

  It was just after 4:00 p.m. when Colonel Burke, who had popped into BIB HQ for a few minutes, received a call from Sharon Evans, Motby’s Executive Assistant. She was at Ilaro Court and had just been given an envelope marked ‘Private and Confidential’ addressed to Mr James Johnson at BIB from the Prime Minister. It was being sent to Colonel Burke via a Government courier and he was being asked by Motby to personally hand-deliver the envelope to Mr Johnson on his first day back at work, or earlier if Colonel Burke intended to see him before that time.

  Excellent timing! Vanessa had just called him a few minutes earlier to invite Diane and himself to her surprise gathering for JJ at P’s Disco that evening. Of course, Colonel Burke had agreed to attend, although he did think to himself… Me, in a night club? Diane and I dancing the night away?

  Colonel Burke decided that, since he would not be going home for another hour or so, he would call Diane to alert her of their evening engagement. He knew she had nothing planned for that evening except dinner at home with him around 7:30 p.m. He was determined to complete the final draft of his latest P.A.A.N.I. SSB following what had been a longer than usual three-hour session the previous afternoon. It had reviewed all that had taken place over the past three weeks and would contain recommendations for implementation from P.A.A.N.I. Heads.

  There was therefore a lot to report following that session. Some of what he was putting forward was not new, but most of it would be. It would be very important to get the recommendations that had been made by P.A.A.N.I. Heads down accurately because they had implications for the country’s law enforcement and security agencies’ operational rules and regulations. Motby and his Ministerial colleagues would have a lot to chew over at a forthcoming Cabinet meeting. Some of what was being recommended would, if approved by Cabinet, result in amendments to various pieces of legislation, all as a result of the recent security situations that had been experienced.

  Much later than he had planned, Colonel Burke left BIB HQ around 5:40 p.m., having received the envelope for JJ. Not many operatives had been in office although for a public holiday, several BIB operatives were out in the field supporting various RBPF programmes. Colonel Burke placed JJ’s envelope in his briefcase. In the morning, he would finalise the SSB before forwarding it to Motby. In view of the nature of what was being submitted, he had already been invited to attend a special 8:00 a.m. meeting at Government Headquarters on Thursday of that week with Motby and other P.A.A.N.I. Heads. This was to discuss their recommendations ahead of the day’s 10:00 a.m. meeting when members of the Cabinet would receive their copy of the recommendations which would be discussed, one by one.

  Once at home, Colonel Burke reminded Diane of their late-night engagement. Once upstairs, he noticed that she had laid out a couple of outfits she might wear on the bed in their bedroom. He removed JJ’s envelope from his briefcase and placed it on the side-table at his side of the bed, with his wallet and vehicle keys. This way, he would not forget the envelope when he ventured out to P’s Disco for JJ’s event in another three hours. He took a shower before dinner and reflected on the BIB organisation he led that was trained, enlightened, and transformational (TET). He liked that.

  ***

  Chapter Thirty

  Surprise

  At P’s Disco, it was coming up to 10:00 p.m. and JJ had already decided that tonight, he would not take his customary ten-minute break at 11:00 p.m. JJ’s set that night had gone down pretty much according to plan. Patrons were having a great time. He wanted that to continue and so was fully intent on ‘rocking the house’ with the tracks he’d chosen to play earlier that afternoon.

  Having decided not to take his ten-minute break, he also discarded playing the instrumental and jazz/funk tunes usually heard at that time, launching straight into popular, long-loved ’floor-fillers. His playlist was to be: Luther Vandross The Rush; Atlantis Keep On Movin’ and Groovin’, Eddie Grant My Turn To Love You, Oliver Cheatham Get Down Saturday Night, War You Got The Power, Shalamar Take That To The Bank/Right In The Socket, a mix of Patrice Rushen Forget Me Nots, Will Smith Men In Black and George Michael Fast Love, Cerrone featuring Adjana Good Times I’m In Love, Melba Moore Love’s Comin’ At Ya, Michael Jackson/Justin Timberlake Love Never Felt So Good, Thelma Houston – You Used To Hold Me So Tight, Fatback Band Bus Stop (Are You Ready), Tata Vega Get It Up for Love and Positive Force We’ve Got The Funk before he would also slip in a few of Trinidad & Tobago’s up-tempo 2018 Carnival hits from a couple of months earlier.

  JJ usually finished the last segment of his four-hour set with what had become his signature close-out song, The Three Degrees When Will I See You Again. Near its end, he would as usual wish his patrons, “Peace and God’s speed for a safe journey home.” He’d encourage them to “visit P’s Disco on Monday and Tuesday nights for more BIT music, eight thru twelve (ETT) with yours truly JJ, De Ole Time General. Yes, the tunes we share on these nights are real. They’ll keep you beautiful, alive and sane.”

  Tonight though, after his recent trials and tribulations JJ intended to provide P’s Disco patrons with something different, more uplifting to show them everlasting love. There was no better track to end his set with tonight than Love Unlimited Orchestra Loves’ Theme. His usual admonition would follow along with the usual ETT stuff just as DJ Price took over the DJ’s booth for the next three hours.

  Unknown to JJ, this Tuesday night would be different, a very special night for him. An appropriate track to mark what happened next could have been Shalamar A Night to Remember.

  ***

  No way would JJ have expected Vanessa to return to P’s Disco for a second successive night. In fact, she had already indicated to him before he left home that she might be in her bed early after being out late the previous night, but would listen out for his return home after his second night back at the club.

  So, totally unaware of Vanessa’s secret scheme, JJ was a very relaxed man. Vanessa had invited, more like strong-armed, many of JJ’s friends including his BIB colleagues and their partners who were available. They totalled around forty persons. Those invited had readily agreed to participate in what Vanessa had termed as a ‘Welcome Back JJ’ event.

  It was 10:59 a.m. by the clock in the DJ’s booth at P’s Disco when JJ thought he caught a brief sighting of Fred standing at the bar. But as the man’s back was to JJ, he decided that it could not be Fred, for they’d spoken that afternoon and Fred had not mentioned that he might pop into the club later that night.

  Focus on the task at hand, boy, JJ thought as the Luther Vandross floor filler faded into the Atlantis track. He was again raising the tempo on the dancefloor which had started to fill back up for the final hour of his four-hour set. For the next ten minutes, JJ continued to make clean mixes, frequently glancing up and around to see how his patrons were working themselves out on his dancefloor.

  On one of those occasions, JJ also thought he caught a glimpse of someone, no, a couple of BIB colleagues and his best friend away from BIB, Mark Egwell. This time he was certain of whom he saw, Joe and Colonel Burke along with their better halves who were all standing by the bar.

  “Hell…something’s up if Colonel Burke’s in here,” he said softly to himself. He’d never known BIB’s Director to visit any night spot, P’s Disco included. The closest he might have gotten to su
ch a place in recent years might have been while he was out to dinner at a restaurant and someone had turned the background music up.

  Then JJ noticed Vanessa. She was standing beside Diane Burke and appeared to be in conversation with her and Egwell. Although the light in P’s Disco was not bright, he knew his wife. The light reflection from the bar half-shone on her face. He thought she looked as beautiful as he could ever remember seeing her. She was also wearing what appeared to be a new outfit – he had not seen that dress before.

  JJ felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around to see DJ Price, P’s Disco Resident disc jockey standing there. He was in the club a full thirty minutes before he usually appeared in P’s Disco and almost a full hour before his set was to start tonight. JJ knew DJ Price enjoyed making an entrance at the club, usually around 11:30 p.m., so this was highly unusual.

  JJ’s operational BIB antennae had by now fully kicked in. Something was up, but he did not know what. Why were his wife, Director, best friend, DJ Price and people he worked with – he was now seeing Samuel, Margaret, Mohammed and his wife, Jayne, Billy Browne, Ted Madley, George Collins, Bruce Alleyne. What were they here and what were they up to? He suspected more colleagues were also in P’s Disco, somewhere.

  DJ Price spoke in JJ’s ear just as he noticed Pierre Pilgrim signalling to him to come over to where he was now standing with Vanessa and Colonel Burke.

  This makes no sense…

  “Night JJ! I got you covered man, it’s time for you to take a break – for the rest of the night. Some special people are here tonight to see you so relax, go and see Double P. Leave the booth to me and start enjoying the rest of your evening. I’m taking over from here.”

  “Look GP, I’m in the middle of the last hour of my set. It’s stuff I badly want to play and –” JJ protested.

  “Look, I know. I have your playlist in the computer. I’ll do my best to honour most of it. They’ll be one or two surprises along the way, but I’ll not take over your segment completely. Vanessa also shared your set with me earlier this evening, so everything’s cool. Go and enjoy yourself with your friends. Leave the night’s work to me. Tonight’s your night man, so go have some fun.”

  With that, DJ Price took control of the DJ station.

  JJ removed his headphones and moved somewhat uncertainly towards Vanessa who had by this time started to cover the short distance between them. She took his hand and led him over to where his friends and colleagues were standing. There was applause and cheering from them that was heard over the music.

  Pilgrim pointed to the assembled group standing with drinks in their hands. He understood their appreciation of JJ who was now back within the fabric of the BIB family. Though only his friends knew why JJ had been out of things for a few days, the obvious warmth of feeling being expressed towards him was refreshingly uniform. Many thought it was JJ’s birthday and that this might have been a surprise party – sort of. But there was no cake or candles to be blown out.

  JJ had been unfairly hung out to dry and badly treated by someone who should have known better. Colonel Burke was happy to be a part of tonight’s activity which would help to facilitate JJ’s full return to the BIB fold. This had all been Vanessa’s doing. DJ Price’s announcement prompted JJ to look around to see a banner that had now been unveiled over the bar. It read: JJ, job well done and welcome back, though you’ve never been away from us, or us you.

  ***

  Colonel Burke had two tasks to complete in the next twelve hours. The first would be done tonight.

  The second would be undertaken tomorrow, sometime before mid-day.

  ***

  Colonel Burke moved towards JJ from the midst of the group perceived to be ‘JJ’s supporters’ and presented him with a hand-written addressed envelope before leaning over to speak softly into his ear.

  “Open this when you get home… I’m sure you’ve recognised the handwriting. Everything that needs to be said to you on behalf of our country has I suspect, been stated therein. I don’t have a copy, but I’ve been asked to offer you lunch with the writer sometime next week. I recommend you accept the invitation.”

  Task number one was complete.

  JJ nodded, unsure how to react. He knew who the hand-writing on the outside of the un-opened envelope belonged to, having received a similarly hand-written envelope after the attempted assassination of Prime Minister Motby. Receipt of a second hand-written note from Motby was flattering…exciting. But it wasn’t necessary for after all, he’d only been doing his job.

  DJ Price had obviously been briefed on what was to happen after 11:00 p.m. He invited JJ and Vanessa to take to the dancefloor as he played two special songs for them, Atlantic Star Always and The Deele Two Occasions. Near the end of the second song, DJ Price asked JJ’s supporters to join the love-fest, playing that classic track by Dionne Warwick That’s What Friends Are For. The response was incredible, with most patrons also wanting to get in on the act. This led DJ Price to push a twenty-minute, ten-cut ‘love, family and friends’ mix featuring Isley Brothers One of a Kind, Sade Nothing Can Come Between Us (Remix), Phyllis Hyman Under Your Spell, Tina Moore Never Gonna Let You Go, Incognito Every Day, Pauline Henry Happy, Sister Sledge We Are Family, Shalamar Friends, Arrow Long Time (We Ain’t Fete Like This) Cameo Candy.

  DJ Price spoke intermittently to the patrons: “We all need good, kind and reliable friends, like those here for JJ tonight. JJ you’re the man, with not only kind, but good, no great and reliable friends. We all appreciate and love you man. I suspect P’s Disco would now not be the same without your Monday and Tuesday night sets.”

  JJ kissed Vanessa to thank her for arranging this night for him at the club. It had been very creative of her. He had never doubted that she, his friends and BIB colleagues were wonderful and reliable to boot. He knew they would be there for him in times of personal or professional difficulty. JJ did not need proof of this, but their support and actions over the past few days and especially tonight had re-affirmed his belief. JJ would be sure to be there should Vanessa or any of them ever require him to return the favour.

  He would treasure and never forget this night. JJ also made a mental note to congratulate DJ Price on his musical selections since he had kicked JJ out of the DJ area. JJ did not know of DJ Price’s deep knowledge of BIT tracks and so greatly appreciated the way he had mixed things up.

  ***

  Just after midnight, JJ felt a gentle but firm hand on his shoulder. He looked around to see Colonel Burke facing him.

  “Time for Diane and me to take our leave of you, Vanessa and your friends. Tonight’s been great, but it’s way past my usual bed time even if I didn’t have work tomorrow, which I do! Remember, no need to come in tomorrow. I mean it.”

  “But…” JJ started.

  Shaking his hand, Colonel Burke insisted.

  “No JJ, Wednesday morning and not an hour sooner. Enjoy the rest of your, ah morning. I’ll cut everyone some slack if they come in one or two hours later tomorrow morning. JJ, it will be good to have you around the place again as I’ve missed your dulcet tones inside BIB. Goodnight.”

  Colonel Burke slapped JJ on his back and waved farewell to Vanessa before heading for the exit where Diane stood waiting for him. She returned Vanessa’s wave as they left the BIB crowd and growing group of younger P’s Disco patrons.

  It was only then that JJ became conscious that Colonel Burke had also slipped something into his shirt pocket during their farewell exchange. JJ retrieved the item. It was a small, flat and light ceramic object. Examining it, JJ saw that there were a few words written on it. He moved closer to the bar where the light in P’s Disco was better in order to read them. “Some people make the world more special, just by being in it!” JJ passed the ceramic object to Vanessa, who had joined him. She smiled broadly before saying, “You’re appreciated by your leader, my love.”

  DJ Price was making another announcement over his microphone which caused everyone to turn towards his area. />
  “Hey, people, listen up! I’ve got another song for our star boy tonight and his lovely lady. JJ and Vanessa, this one’s from me to you, Patrice Rushen Remind Me. It’s a song for the ages, a proper song, for a proper couple. Enjoy!”

  DJ Price insisted that JJ and Vanessa re-take the dance floor. What with his introduction, how could they not do so? Other patrons allowed them the floor before joining them for DJ Price’s follow-up mega-mix of KC and The Sunshine Band That’s The Way (I Like It), Kool & The Gang Get Down on It/Fresh and Daft Punk Get Lucky. He then morphed into ‘doing his thing’ to start satisfying the younger patrons who had entered P’s Disco in the last forty minutes by playing more current tunes that were more to both of their liking and in keeping with his own modern playing style.

  ***

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Confession

  WEDNESDAY, 2 MAY

  Of BIB operatives, only Fred and Joe knew of Colonel Burke’s intention to meet with Dr Smith sometime that morning. But when and how he would play out that meeting was known only to Colonel Burke.

  ***

  It was 11:25 a.m. when the Very Reverend Dr Boyd Mercer parked his vehicle in the space reserved for ‘Dean’ just outside of the Cathedral building in central Bridgetown. As usual, Dean Mercer had arrived well before the weekly Wednesday mid-day church service would commence. The service catered to the Cathedral Church’s congregation, workers in and around Bridgetown, and visitors alike.