by Eboni Snoe
“That was recently?” Sasha looked surprised.
“Yes, pretty recently.” Baltron puckered his lips. “Things softened quite a bit after Amos died. For some reason he and Mr. Ellis just couldn’t get along. But old ways die hard.”
“It’s amazing how people can hold grudges for so long. Nurturing ill feelings,” Sasha remarked as she rocked. “Nothing good ever comes of it.”
“It is amazing,” Baltron agreed. “That’s why the way Hazel welcomed Precious was so strange. Through the years Olive and I had a few conversations with her, maybe enough to fill up a couple of pages, but we never developed any kind of relationship. So when Hazel looked as if she was waiting for Precious at the door, and welcomed her with almost open arms…” He shook his head. “We didn’t know what to make of it.
“Hazel gave us a brief tour of the house, her plants and herbs and things, but after that Olive and I sat and waited while the two of them went for a walk. They were gone for a good half hour or more, walking through the key lime orchard on the east side of the property. From that day on Precious would come and visit Hazel three and four times a week. According to the season they’d gather limes together. Those key limes make some of the best key lime pie I’ve ever tasted.”
“They must have had a lot in common.”
Baltron thought for a moment. “In some ways they were alike. Some folks thought of Hazel as an obeah woman, and Precious believed in the unseen as well.”
“An obeah woman?”
“Yes. But I don’t think she was. Hazel knew bush medicine, and some say she could hear and see sperrids.”
“So they were spiritualists?” Sasha attempted to understand.
“Spiritualists?” Now Baltron was confused.
Sasha searched for the right words. “Someone who believes you can communicate with the dead.”
For a second Baltron looked undecided. “I guess they were spiritualists. But it was much more than that. At least I know for Precious it was. She believed that seeing sperrids was just a little bit of what she called ‘the big picture,’ To her everything was a manifestation of God, the seen and the unseen. So I think that’s why she and Hazel saw eye to eye so well. Precious once said, ‘There were two sides to a coin. Good and evil. But there still was only one coin, and that coin was God.’”
“I can see she had a big influence on you.” Sasha studied Baltron’s face.
“Precious had an influence on everybody. That’s just the way it was. But the deeper she followed her beliefs, the more she wanted her surroundings to reflect them. Mr. Ellis didn’t like some of the things she was bringing to the house. Said folks would think we were all crazy having that kind of stuff inside Guana Manor.” His mouth turned down. “And Precious didn’t like discord, so she stopped bringing the things to the mansion. Instead she made gifts of them to Hazel. The two of them kind of fed off each other in a way. Precious’s youthful nature was good for Hazel, and Hazel’s knowledge of the land and island history was good for Precious.”
Sasha hated the tinge of envy she felt toward Precious, but it was real nevertheless. “It seems like Mr. Ellis was one person Precious wasn’t able to influence.”
“Mr. Ellis is a hard case. His mother, Mother Ellis, wasn’t the most loving woman, and she had a big influence on his life, like all mothers do on their children. I think she raised him out of her fears. Maybe, in a way, she was trying to protect him so he would never experience what she had experienced. I sensed she was holding a lot of things inside of her. So I tried to stay out of her way.” He showed Sasha his palms. “Around her, everything had to be just so, and Mr. Ellis is the same way. But the truth is, no matter how much people liked Precious, folks thought she was strange. Mr. Ellis didn’t like the fact that people were saying he had a daughter-in-law who wasn’t quite right in the head.”
“Last night I found out Mr. Ellis isn’t the only one who is touchy about the subject,” Sasha replied.
“What happened?” Baltron looked concerned.
“I took a book from the library and Cay saw it. It happened to be a book that Precious bought. Cay said something like he thought all those books had been thrown away. Then I came back with something he didn’t like…and one thing led to another.” Sasha recalled how Cay had walked off into the dark.
“Uh-huh. Mr. Cay is sensitive about Precious’s death. But I think it’s time for him to get over it. Maybe you’re the one to help him do that.”
“I don’t know if I want to,” Sasha said honestly. “It feels like the Bethels and the Ellises feuding all over again.”
“Don’t give up too easily,” Baltron said, looking down at his shoes. “He’s a good man with a heavy past.” Their eyes met before Baltron went back to talking about the books. “But I bet he got on Olive this morning about not throwing those books away. He told her to get rid of them a long time ago. But Olive couldn’t bring herself to do it. She figured since Mr. Cay doesn’t have time to read like he used to before his father’s health started going bad, the books would be safe in that corner. I bet before he left this morning he reminded Olive to get rid of them.”
“I wouldn’t mind taking the books,” Sasha said. “I found some of the subjects rather intriguing.”
“Is that right?”
She nodded.
“We-ell, it seems sort of right for the books to end up here at the Bethel House, where Precious first kept them.” He smiled slightly. “I don’t see why we can’t get rid of them by giving them to you. I’ll be sure to tell Olive.”
“Good.” Sasha smiled. She wanted to ask him about Olive’s belief that she had seen Precious inside the Circle of Stones, but she thought better of it.
“I think I need to get going.” Baltron looked out into the hall. “You seem to be settled in pretty well.”
“I am.” Sasha followed him to the door. “Thank you for everything, and Baltron?”
“Yes?”
“You’ve lived here on Magic Key all of your life, haven’t you?”
“Sure have.”
“Have you ever seen any evidence of the things Hazel and Precious believed in?” Sasha hoped he would mention the bright light Olive had claimed burst forth from Precious’s body at the moment of her death.
“I can’t really say,” he said quietly, then he piped up. “But I’ve heard tell of some things that made me think twice. Precious seemed to think belief was a key that unlocked many doors. I guess I’m a little short on that.”
Sasha nodded. “Thanks again, Baltron.”
“No need,” he said as he stepped out onto the stoop. “I’ll bring those books back over to you later.”
Chapter 15
“Anybody home?” the voice called through the screen door.
“Just a minute,” Sasha said, craning her neck to see who it was with no luck. “I wonder who that is,” she mumbled, washing the remnants of onion off her hands.
She walked out of the kitchen and saw Jason Williams standing on the stoop.
“Thought I’d come by and see how you made out during the storm,” the attorney said as Sasha approached.
She opened the door. “How kind of you. Would you like to come in?”
“Maybe for a couple of minutes.” He brushed past her.
“Have a seat.” Sasha motioned toward the couch. “Would you care for something to drink?”
The attorney wiped the beads of perspiration from his forehead with the back of his hand. “Yes, I could use something cold to drink.”
“I’ll get you some ice tea.” Sasha disappeared and came back with a large glass. Then she sat down in the overstuffed chair opposite her guest.
“I have to say I’m rather surprised that you came by.”
Attorney Williams lowered the half-empty glass from his mouth. “Well, I thought about this being your first hurricane here in the Keys. And I didn’t get the feeling that you had made many friends during the short time you’ve been living here.” He smiled. “The storm really rou
ghed things up.”
“I had a close call with some flooding, and that was pretty scary,” Sasha said. “But other than having a really soggy front yard to contend with, I’m okay.”
“My place fared well, too, but there were some folks on Annette Key whose houses were completely blown away, and a few boats were destroyed in the area.”
“I heard about some families’ losing their homes. As a matter of fact, my old furniture will be going to them as a donation.”
“I thought this was new furniture.” He looked at the cardboard taped around the legs of the cocktail table. “You sure move quickly.”
“Not really.” Sasha leaned back in the chair. “I guess this is something I would have ended up telling you anyway.” She watched Attorney Williams finish his tea. Sasha hesitated bringing up the vandalism because it involved Cay. “When I got home the other day from visiting your office, someone had broken in here and poured bleach through my house. They ruined my living room furniture and the mattress and box spring in my bedroom. Along with some of my clothes.”
“Really?” Attorney Williams’s eyebrows knitted together.
“Yes. It was quite a mess.”
“And who do you think did it?”
“Can’t you guess?” She put her elbow on the arm of the chair.
“Cay Ellis?” He looked incredulous.
“Well, not him personally, but I thought he had gotten someone else to do it.”
“Thought, as in past tense.”
“Yes, thought.” Sasha looked at him. “Now I’m not sure that he was behind it.”
“What made you change your mind?”
“Several things.” She didn’t know where to start. “First of all, he was the one who paid for the new furniture.”
“Is that right?” Attorney Williams gnawed on his bottom lip. “I guess most people wouldn’t think the person who was responsible for destroying their old furniture would buy them new furniture to replace it.”
“No, you wouldn’t.”
“Unless he did it to throw you off,” Attorney Williams suggested. “Sometimes people with money like playing games.” He set the glass on the table. “The Ellises have enough money that buying a couple of rooms of furniture is like buying somebody breakfast. Still, what you’re talking about is pretty serious. Breaking and entering is a felony.”
“I hadn’t thought about that.” Sasha’s features turned grave.
“I’m not saying that is what happened, but I’ve seen it before. Playing God with other people’s lives is just a form of entertainment for the truly wealthy.” He settled back on the couch. “Have you thought about pressing charges?”
“I’ve had no proof. And this is the first afternoon I’ve spent at home since the storm. I really haven’t had much time to think about anything.”
“What did you do? Go to a hotel to ride it out?”
“No,” Sasha sighed. “I spent the past two nights at Guana Manor.”
“Wait a minute.” Williams moved to the edge of the couch. “You stayed at Guana Manor?”
“Yes, I did. I went over there to confront Cay about the vandalism, but the storm broke loose before I could leave the property. I tried to come back home and my car got caught up in the flooding. It was one thing after another,” Sasha tried to explain. She was a little embarrassed when Attorney Williams’s eyebrows went up as she used Cay’s first name.
“Where’s your car now?”
“Baltron Knowles is taking some workers from Guana Manor down to the lake to see if it’s in there.”
Williams sat back again, rubbing his forehead. “Ms. Townsend, may I give you some professional advice?”
Sasha nodded.
“I really think developing a personal relationship with the Ellises and Guana Manor may not be in your best interest. Unless you have reason to believe otherwise.” The statement hung in the air.
Sasha thought about Cay’s leaving for two weeks and not telling her. “No. No, I don’t.”
“Well, let me suggest this. It looks bad enough that you accepted this furniture, though I agree it’s too late to return it now. But you should call Mr. Knowles and let him know that you’ve procured a way to check on your car and that you won’t need his help. That will sever that tie. I’ll be glad to take you down to the lake to find out if your car is there. That is, if you don’t mind?”
Sasha didn’t believe Jason Williams was this kind to all of his clients. She got the feeling that he was interested in her in more ways than one. But at the moment it didn’t matter. He was right. She was already in a legal battle with the Ellises, and developing personal ties was not a smart thing to do. This was something Sasha had known all along, but her feelings for Cay were affecting her judgment. She had to get a grip on them and admit to herself that there was no future in store for her and Cay Ellis III. Talking to Attorney Williams had been a good reminder.
“I’d appreciate your taking me. I’ll give Baltron a call.”
“There it is! There’s my car.” Sasha pointed. The Mazda was lodged against a young pine tree. If not for the pine, the car would have landed in the lake, which was only a few yards away.
“You were really lucky.” Attorney Williams stopped his vehicle before the mud got too deep.
“I wonder if it will start.” Sasha began to roll up her pants leg and take off her shoes.
“What are you about to do?” he asked as Sasha got out of the car.
“I’m going to find out.”
Williams looked at the six-inch-thick mud. “I’d be careful if I was you. You might catch your death out here.”
But Sasha was already on her way. “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine,” she replied, picking her way toward the Mazda.
The car gave a mild grunt the first time Sasha turned the key. After several more tries it chugged until it caught, ran for a few seconds, then cut off again. It was a reassurance that the car wasn’t ruined. The interior was pretty bad, Sasha appraised. But the exterior had minimal damage, and Sasha was certain it wouldn’t be long before she was driving again. “I need to have it towed, but with a little work she’ll be as good as before,” she said as she made her way back across the mud.
“You’re one brave lady,” Williams commented. “Most of the women I know wouldn’t dare get in that mud.” He looked at Sasha’s muddy feet and splattered calves. “I’ve got a couple of old towels in the trunk of my car that you can use to wipe that stuff off.” He glanced at the clean interior of his Acura Legend.
“Thanks, Mr. Williams,” Sasha replied. “I guess I wasn’t thinking about how messy this was going to be.”
“Look, call me Jason.” He smiled at her. “And it’s no problem. No problem at all. But I would be careful around here. You know, some people say Cay Ellis’s wife died from some kind of infectious bacteria she picked up.”
“I’ve heard,” Sasha replied.
“I’ve got a friend who was one of the doctors who examined her, and he had a different opinion about how she died. So I’m not so sure about the how, but I know she died from something.”
“What did he think she died from?” Sasha leaned against the car to wipe off her feet.
“He says it could have been a combination of things.” Jason studied the smooth curve of Sasha’s calf as he spoke. “But primarily he thinks dehydration started a domino effect of different body functions shutting down.”
“Dehydration…” Sasha thought about Cay and the springwater.
“Yeah,” Jason said. “He said it happened so quick. They’d never seen anything like it.”
“Really?”
“That’s right. He said when he saw the body it was as if it had been heated at high temperatures from the inside. But not regular heat. Heat that would come from high-intensity light or vibration. Said it was one of the strangest things he had ever seen.”
“Did the doctors think there was some kind of foul play or something?” Sasha folded the muddy side of the towel inward as she
recalled what Olive had said about the light at the moment of Precious’s death.
“No. They felt it was some kind of natural process resulting from the sequence of organs that shut down. That’s all they could come up with. And the family was not interested in any kind of autopsy.”
“I guess they had been through enough.” Sasha’s face was solemn.
“Well…I think that’s enough morbid talk for one afternoon,” Jason informed her. “I’m thinking about heading back to Big Pine Key to get something to eat. There’s a gas station with a towing service near the restaurant I can recommend. If you want, you can arrange to have your car towed and get something to eat at the same time.”
“That sounds like a good idea,” Sasha replied as she opened the Acura’s door. “I’ll also file a vandalism report.”
Jason climbed inside the car.
“How well did you know Precious Ellis?” Sasha asked.
“I didn’t know her that well.” Jason placed his arm across the back of the seat. “I’d seen her a few times at social events, not that I generally get to run in the circles that the Ellises do.”
“What did you think of her?”
“She seemed to be a nice woman. Rather quiet, or maybe serene is a better word. Not all that pretty, but she had a special kind of style, I guess.” He glanced at Sasha. “Why are you asking about Precious Ellis?”
“Just curious. I heard a few things about her from her uncle and aunt while I was staying at Guana Manor. She seemed like a rather interesting woman.”
“Oh. I thought you were like half of the single women in this area who have their eye on Cay Ellis the third. You know, trying to figure out what kind of woman he likes.”
“I don’t have any intention to reel in Mr. Ellis,” Sasha replied honestly.
“Good. It’s guys like him that make it hard for an ordinary fellow like me.”
“How’s that?”
“He fits that category. You know the type. Tall, dark, and handsome. And he’s got money coming out of his ears. A working man like me doesn’t hold a chance against him.”