The Secrets of Taylor Creek

by Michael Merson

  “I’m very pleased to see you again!”

  “As am I Preacher,” Nathan commented.

  The two young men started to get up and walk to the front of the church to make their way out through another entrance, hoping they wouldn’t be noticed.

  “Just a minute you two,” Preacher said as he turned his attention away from Nathan.

  “How do you think it looks to the congregation when the pastor’s sons can’t get here on time? Don’t you think it’s important to hear the message?”

  “Yes, but Pops, we both heard the message four times yesterday,” the taller and older brother, Willie, answered.

  “Besides, you wanted us to catch some fresh fish for lunch today. We had to go out early this morning. We caught a mess of em’ and Mr. Jake is fixin’ to fry em’ up right now,” the shorter and younger brother, Samuel, pleaded.

  “You were supposed to catch the fish yesterday and put them in the refrigerator until this morning. And it doesn’t matter if you heard the message ten times yesterday. The message can tell you something different each time you hear it!”

  “But Pops…”

  “No Pops! Come over here. I want you two to meet a good friend of mine.”

  He introduced his sons to Nathan Emerson, who they were told to address as Mr. Nathan. Preacher quickly sent his two sons off to help with the 4th of July luncheon the church had planned while the two men caught up with each other before talking about why Preacher had asked for the FBI to come to Beaufort.

  ***

  “You see, all three girls Delia, Rose, and Ida were working as prostitutes. They were half white and half black, they were killed, and their bodies were found around Taylor Creek,” Preacher explained.

  “I can’t say killed yet. I’ve got nothin’ to go on. The Sheriff’s report and the Coroner’s report both indicate that they all died accidentally.”

  “They weren’t accidents, Nathan. I think Sheriff Carter is hiding something.”

  “I agree that he’s bad people, along with a few others I met last night, but I need more. I’d like to speak to the family or someone who knows more about the girls.”

  “I’ll see what I can do, but colored folks around here are afraid to talk to strangers and especially strangers that are lawmen like you.”

  “Well, after meeting Sheriff Carter, I can understand why.”

  “Exactly. That Son of a B… Son of a Person is just bad!” Preacher started but quickly stopped himself before using profanity in the house of the Lord.

  “That was close Preacher,” Nathan mused.

  “Judge not, that ye be not judged,” Preacher mused back.

  “You’re right! Now, I’m staying at the bed and breakfast that you told me about. If you hear anything, you can contact me there,” Nathan explained.

  ***

  Nathan left the church just after the noon hour and went back to his room to change out of his suit and into something more “vacationer like.” After he left the church, he noticed that there was a police car following him but not too close. He figured it was the sheriff, but he kept his distance. Sheriff Carter didn’t try to conceal the fact that he was there; he wanted the FBI agent to know that he was being watched.

  Nathan made his way back into town where he found it even busier than the day before. He found a vendor selling hot dogs and hamburgers from a cart near Taylor Creek and decided to enjoy the traditional 4th of July favorite as he walked along Front Street. Occasionally, he stopped and looked toward the water at the many boats that pulled close to the shore where they anchored. It seemed everyone had come to Beaufort for the annual fireworks display that was planned for later in the evening. The people in the boats on Taylor Creek looked to have the best seats for the show.

  Nathan continued to walk around the park. Occasionally, he found people to speak with who seemed eager to converse with him about the town and their plans for the evening. Nathan felt that he needed to blend in and make others believe that he really was there for a vacation and that any investigation he was doing was second to that. Besides, he had noticed Sheriff Carter standing at the other side of the park, still following him. The sheriff kept his distance. He made sure that he was always on the opposite side of the park from the agent, but let the agent know he was still there.

  Nathan was about to cut the day short and head back to his room when he saw her. Stormie walked through the park and spoke to everyone in between taking photos of what Nathan believed to be everything.

  There’s something about her. She’s beautiful… I know that, but there’s something else, he thought to himself.

  She was wearing a sleeveless white summer dress that had strawberries and flowers in bloom printed on it. She wore a choker pearl necklace to accent the outfit. Nathan looked up and noticed that she was looking at him. Turnabout is fair play.

  Stormie had arrived at the park very early. She began taking photos of the vendors setting up for the day and then turned to the vacationers. She knew that only a few of the hundred-plus photos she took between yesterday and today would be printed in the newspaper next weekend, but she wanted to have a lot to choose from. She was never paid for the photos, but that didn’t matter to her.

  Taking photos was something for her to do between gardening, helping Sissy take care of the house, and speaking to her husband for about thirty minutes a day. She tried pretending that she didn’t notice the stranger from the other day. He stood watching her from across the park. She looked for him in the crowd without trying to make it obvious. She saw some boys running around, throwing sidewalk poppers at girls who screamed and ran away. She then turned and looked for the agent once more.

  “I’m not over there anymore,” he whispered from behind her.

  “I was…” she started and was unprepared for a surprise like that.

  “I was about to take a picture of that elderly couple dressed as a US Flag. Was that what you were about to say?” Nathan asked.

  “Why yes it was,” she replied. She took a picture of the couple that she had already photographed earlier, but that was a little fact she decided to keep to herself. She then looked at Nathan and decided that she approved of the light Khaki pants and tan shoes with the Royal Blue Camp shirt that was very form-fitting. She liked how the shirt complimented his muscular arms.

  “It certainly is a nice day for the Independence Celebration,” he commented.

  “Beaufort is always nice on the 4th of July,” She added.

  “I believe that I met your husband yesterday,” Nathan said, trying to make conversation.

  “Oh, and where might have you run into him?” She responded unenthusiastically.

  “Judge’s Revenge.”

  “Bless your heart. I wouldn’t have guessed that you would associate with the likes of the people that go into that place.”

  “I don’t normally. But I was walking back to where I’m staying, and I saw Sheriff Carter there, whom I had met earlier in the day. I thought I’d drop in and say hello to him.”

  “I guess my husband’s evening meeting with the judge and the town’s public defender was over supper and drinks no less.”

  “Yes, I believe that they were all sitting with your husband and drinking.”

  “Well, that takes the cake! Who’d believe your luck meeting all the men who think they are important in this town in one spot. Surely, you’ve met more than those four ne’er-do-wells since you arrived.”

  “Well yes, I met a woman with them as well,” he responded and soon wished he could take the words back upon seeing her surprised expression.

  “Well, do tell.”

  “I think her name was Emma.”

  Stormie’s mood quickly changed. “I imagine it was. Wherever the four of them are she is surely gonna be close by. With one hand o’er heart and the other, well…”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

  “No. It’s okay. I’m sorry. Please excuse my poor choice of words. She’s my husband’s
receptionist, secretary, or whatever Ben needs her to be,” she responded as her mood quickly changed again.

  Nathan heard the change in her voice. He’d discovered that the topic of Ben and Emma upset her, and he would remember to avoid the subject in the future at all costs. Apparently, he was right about Emma Rodgers and Ben Arrington.

  “I guess I’ll let you get back to what you were doing before I came along and obviously ruined your day,” Nathan said.

  “Oh, don’t run off Nathan. You should stay and enjoy everything Beaufort has to offer on the 4th of July. My issues are mine. Please stay. Besides, after some people get enough to drink around here, things get really exciting. Someone may even get naked and run off into Taylor Creek.”

  “I doubt that happens,” Nathan responded and laughed.

  “Oh, it happens. I’ve got a picture of our mayor doing that last year.”

  “I don’t know if that’s something I’d want to see. Besides, I may be on vacation, but I’ve got some work to do as well. Thank you anyway,” Nathan explained as he began to walk away.

  “Maybe you may not want to see it, but if it does happen and you miss it, I’m gonna get a picture of it to show you later!” She yelled.

  “I’m sure you will,” Nathan said and turned around and walked away. He wanted to talk with her more, but he felt that he had ruined any good conversation they could have after her embarrassing comments and her reaction to the subject of her husband and his secretary.

  Chapter 10

  Monday, July 5, 1965

  Charlie White turned right on the street, turned the lights off, and slowly made his way down the road until he was in front of the church. His friends were all crowded in the back with their faces covered. They had everything planned, and they were going to be quick about it. The truck was loaded with their supplies, and everyone waited for Charlie to give the word. Every man had a job to do, and each one knew what he was responsible for. All of them had plenty of practice with this type of job. They were all drunk. They had been in town earlier for the fireworks show, drinking and harassing the town’s vacationers before heading over to complete the job they were hired to do.

  “Go,” Charlie whispered.

  Eight men jumped from the truck. Three of them ran to the entrance and forced the doors open. The other five grabbed the cross and quickly ran to the front of the lawn. One man used a post hole digger and rapidly removed the soil. With the help of the other men, he hoisted it in place, and then he held it there while the other four anchored it to the ground at the four corners.

  Charlie slowly walked over to the men that were hoisting the cross and lit a cigarette. He was a small man with an evil reputation. He wore faded blue jeans, a short-sleeve shirt, and boots. On his hip hung a large knife with his initials ‘CW’ on the end of it. He had notches in the handle in remembrance of his seven victims. Charlie was the only one who did not cover his face with a sack. He knew that no witnesses or victims would ever testify against him.

  Charlie waited for the other three to exit the church before he used his lighter and ignited the already fuel-soaked cross. The flames erupted toward the sky, and all the men ran back to the truck and sped away.

  Charlie paid each of them ten dollars and one gallon of mountain shine for their help. The sheriff had called him and explained the situation with the visiting FBI agent. The sheriff had asked Charlie to send a message that would remind the niggers in town that the Klan was watching them and anyone else they may decide to talk to.

  Charlie White was the right one to send the message.

  ***

  Nathan had made it back to his room by six the previous night. He had eaten a sandwich and chips that he had picked up from a local deli. He watched the fireworks from his bedroom window and later fell asleep to the sounds of fireworks going off in the area.

  His alarm clock went off at seven o’clock. He dressed in casual attire and ventured out for the day. He ate breakfast at the same deli that he had stopped at the night before. He enjoyed a sausage and egg biscuit with a glass of orange juice before driving over to the sheriff’s office.

  At around nine he entered the sheriff’s office where he found Sheriff Carter waiting for him in the lobby holding a cup of coffee.

  “This should be everything you need,” Carter said as he handed over a thick package.

  “Thank you,” Nathan said as he started to look through the package.

  “I know that you think I’m an asshole. But I don’t give a damn what anyone thinks of me, and that includes anyone from the FBI. I’m the law in this town. Like it or not, I’m demanding that you keep me informed. Do we understand each other?”

  Nathan stopped looking through the package and looked at Sheriff Carter.

  “I think we understand each other more than you know. And I mean that, from one asshole to another,” Nathan answered as he looked at the sheriff directly in the eye and smiled. Carter smiled back and then sipped from his mug. Nathan looked back down at the package and flipped through the pages inside very slowly.

  “So, why did the FBI only send one agent down here to investigate these killings?” Nathan stopped once more and looked at Sheriff Carter.

  “Killings? I thought these were just unfortunate accidents,” Nathan responded, making Sheriff Carter visibly uncomfortable.

  “Either way, the girls are dead, and it’s my professional opinion that their deaths are by accident. So once again, why only you?” Sheriff Carter asked more directly and then placed his coffee cup down on the counter.

  “I guess they thought the opinion of two assholes was better than just one. Like I said Sheriff Carter, we understand each other.”

  Nathan turned and started to walk out.

  “Every investigation I’ve seen you boys involved in seemed to have a few of you fellas in tow,” the sheriff explained as he picked up his coffee cup.

  Nathan stopped at the door and turned and looked at the sheriff.

  “Maybe they think the way you do.”

  “And what do I think Agent Emerson?”

  “You told me when I got here.”

  “What did I tell you?”

  “That no one gives a good damn about a few dead nigger whores!” Nathan answered before walking out.

  “Well, that’s one thing you got right so far!” Sheriff Carter yelled as the door closed.

  ***

  Emma Rodgers sat at the front desk, filing her nails when the front door suddenly and very quickly opened. It startled her at first, and she dropped her file. Emma reached for the drawer and pulled it open slightly before seeing Sheriff Carter standing there. She had grown a bit jumpy since leaving Philadelphia. The sheriff appeared to be upset and looked as though he was about to have a heart attack. But, to her, he always looked like he was about to have a heart attack.

  “Damn! Can’t you knock?” She complained as she closed the drawer hiding the .38 revolver that she kept inside.

  “Is Ben in?”

  “Yes,” she answered, just as Ben opened the door to his office.

  “Come on in,” Ben said as Sheriff Carter walked in and took a seat in front of his desk.

  “That son-of-a-bitch came to my office today for the file,” the sheriff explained as he used his handkerchief to wipe the sweat off his forehead.

  “I guess we’re talking about Agent Emerson. What did you do?”

  “I gave him the file.”

  “Is there anything in that file that could hurt us?”

  “Hell no! Do you think I’m stupid? I gave him what he needed, which is nothin’. And he can go out and talk to anybody he wants, but he ain’t got nothin’ in that file and ain’t nobody talking to him.”

  “I hope you’re right, but I think I’ll make some calls to Charlotte and see what we can learn about this Nathan Emerson in the meantime,” Ben stated.

  “That’s a good idea. But I’ll keep watching him like I’ve been doing for all our sakes.”

  “Good. Remember what
you said the other night. We’re all in this together. We have a plan, and if this FBI agent doesn’t get in the way, then there’s nothing to stop us. Which reminds me. Do you have everything ready to move forward when the time comes regarding my wife?”

  “Charlie will be ready to move forward when we let him know. He’s got a plan on how to make it look like an accident.”

  “Good. But I want it to be quick.”

  “I know. By the way, Mrs. Stormie was talking to Agent Emerson in town again yesterday.”

  “Really?”

  “Really,” Sheriff Carter said as he stood to leave.

  “It’s so hot outside. I thought that you boys would like something to drink.” Emma said as she walked in, carrying two glasses of iced tea.

  “Thank-you Darlin,” Sheriff Carter said after grabbing one of the glasses and drinking it all at once.

  “I’ll keep you informed, but in the meantime maybe you should talk to your wife about speaking to strangers.”

  “I’ll take care of her. You just keep an eye on him.”

  Sheriff Carter nodded, handed the empty glass to Emma, and walked out.

  ***

  Flashback Saturday, May 1, 1965

  Rose’s Story

  Rose was tired, but she slowly continued walking on the road toward town. The bright full moon was already descending in the night sky above, and soon the sun would rise. The social at the Old Klan House was exhausting, and she had stayed longer than she had expected in the hopes of making more money.

  Unfortunately, the white men that she spent time with were not in the mood to spend money, and she had left the Old Klan House short of her financial goal for the evening. Rose always set a financial goal for the evening. Some of the money she gave to her father and the rest she kept for herself. She had plans after all, and she needed money for those plans.

  But now, all she wanted to do was climb into her bed at home and fall asleep. Her home was not much to speak of regarding comfort, but still, it was home where she lived with her father. As she continued walking toward town, she became increasingly upset and angry with her father, Clyde, who had once again forgotten to pick her up. Usually, he found his way to her no matter how much he had to drink, but not tonight.