by Carl Weber
“That guy over there with the long dreads.”
I put my hand over my eyes to shield them from the sun, and I spotted the guy she was talking about. Sasha did too.
“The old guy with the kid?” Sasha asked.
“Yeah.” London began walking toward them, and we followed. “Orlando, look at that little boy. Oh my God.”
As we got closer, I focused on the little boy’s face, and something inside of me leapt.
“Does he look like anyone to you?” London glanced at me.
“That big-ass head should look real familiar.” Sasha laughed.
We stopped and waited, trying to look nonchalant as the man and the little boy came nearer. I couldn’t stop staring at my son, who was happily eating an ice cream cone and talking to the man.
London smiled at them. “Hello, there,” she said. “That ice cream looks good.”
He smiled back at her and said, “It is good. Blake bought it for me.”
Sasha stepped closer to the dread-headed man and opened her jacket slightly so he could see the handle of her gun and understand that now was not the time to make any stupid moves.
I kneeled down and looked at my son’s face, almost choking up with emotion. “What’s your name?”
He grinned at me and said, “Vincent.”
“That’s a cool name. Vincent. Where are you from?” I forced myself to stuff down any anger I felt at the fact that Ruby had named him after one of my family’s enemies.
“I used to live in Jamaica, but now me, my mommy, daddy, and Blake live on a boat.” He licked the ice cream. My cousin and sister were right; he did have my big head. He had his mother’s eyes and dimpled smile, but he also had my complexion. He was beautiful, and it took everything within me not to grab him in my arms and hug him tightly.
“Oh, really? Which boat do you all live on?” London asked.
“Come on. I’ll show you.” He grabbed her by the hand and pulled her toward the pier.
Blake looked at the three of us. I could see him trying to decide on his next move.
“It’s cool, man. We ain’t gonna hurt you or Vincent,” I whispered to him. “Just relax.”
He chuckled. “Why would a man come all this way to hurt his son?”
I was a little surprised by how quickly he’d put the pieces together, but even more surprised that he almost sounded supportive. I nodded, and we followed Vincent and London.
“Which boat, Vincent?” London asked when he stopped.
“That one.” Vincent pointed and then frowned. “But . . .”
“Wait, Vincent. Are you pointing at that boat down there?” I picked him up so I could be sure which one he meant. He nodded, and I put him back on the ground then turned and asked Blake, “Is he talking about the boat that’s pulling off?”
Blake looked at me, almost apologetically, and said, “Yes, dat’s de boat, Mr. Orlando.”
LC
69
The car ride from Brunswick Airport to Waycross was mostly quiet. Initially, I had told Chippy to stay home where she would be safe, especially in light of what had just happened with Larry, but my wife was headstrong. Despite the fact that an attempt was just made on her life, she insisted on traveling with us. After a nonstop flight to Atlanta, she and I, along with Junior, Paris, Vegas, and Daryl, headed with our security detail to the farm in search of my brother.
“Are you okay?” I looked over at her.
“I’m fine.” She gave my hand a reassuring squeeze then turned to look out the window. “It’s been so long since we’ve been here. I’m just trying to take it all in, I guess.”
“Still looks the same to me,” I said, staring at the familiar sights as we drove through my hometown. “Willie, turn down the next street.”
“Yes, sir.” Willie, our driver, nodded at me in the rearview mirror.
A little farther down the road, I instructed him to stop at a gas station. Willie pulled the SUV into the parking lot, and I rolled down the window and stared at the building. The same Pepsi sign still hung over the entrance. The feelings of nostalgia overwhelmed me as I recalled the day my brothers had given me this gas station, where I had worked for years while I attended college, as a graduation gift. The love and bond shared between the Duncan men had been unbreakable back then. I never would’ve dreamed our lives would be as they were now.
“This is where it all started,” Chippy said with a sigh.
“That was a long time ago,” I said, forcing my thoughts back to the present. I rolled the window back up, took one last look, and then directed Willie to our next destination. I sat back and closed my eyes in an effort to prepare myself for whatever was waiting for me when I got there.
I could feel the vibration of the truck increase, indicating that we were no longer on concrete, but the winding dirt road that led to the Duncan farm. I looked over at Chippy and saw that she was staring at me.
“Are you sure about this, LC?” she asked with a worried look.
I’m sure. Don’t worry.” I pulled her to me and kissed the top of her head. “I need you to stay in the car while we do this.”
“What? You’re kidding, right?” She sat up and looked at me like I was crazy.
“Chippy, I told you the only way you could come was if you promised to stay safe. That means in the car with Willie.”
I caught Willie’s eye in the rearview mirror and again, he nodded. Chippy opened her mouth to protest, but I shook my head.
“Do not get out of this car, Chippy. I mean it.”
My phone rang, and I saw that it was Vegas, calling from the car behind us.
“What’s the plan, Pop?” he asked when I answered.
“Have the men surround the house. I want someone at every door,” I told him.
Vegas gave the orders, and when we parked, I watched as eight men climbed out of separate SUVs, guns drawn, and approached the farmhouse. The front door opened, and NeeNee walked onto the porch.
I kissed Chippy again, then opened the door and stepped out. My sons and daughter were by my side. I looked at them and instructed, “Hold tight.”
“Are you sure, Daddy?” Paris asked, her eyes locked on her aunt.
“Yes.”
“LC, what the hell is going on? What are you doing here?” NeeNee yelled.
“You know why I’m here. I’m looking for Larry.”
“Larry ain’t here,” she said with a frown. “I ain’t got nothing to do with this mess y’all got going on. You can take your goons and get off my property.”
“What’s wrong, Ma?” Kenny stepped onto the porch, and I saw the gun in his hand. I just hoped Vegas could keep Paris under control.
“I talked to him, Nee. He’s around.” I stepped onto the porch warily, keeping an eye on Kenny’s weapon. For now, he was holding it loosely by his side. “How you doing, Kenny?”
“I’m all right, Uncle LC,” Kenny said.
“I mean it, LC. You can go,” NeeNee told me. “I don’t want no trouble.”
I could see that she was telling the truth, but I also knew she would side with her own family first, so I had to figure out where Kenny stood. From what I knew, he had helped Chippy escape, so there was a good chance I could keep things peaceful with him for now. As long as he didn’t feel threatened, things didn’t have to escalate between him and us.
I turned to Kenny and said, “You talk to your daddy? Do you know where he is?”
“No, sir. I don’t. I haven’t talked to him since . . .” His voice drifted off, then he looked at me sadly and offered some form of an apology. “I didn’t know that’s what he was gonna do. He’s out of control.”
“I know. That’s why I’m here. Time to put an end to this.” I placed my hand on his shoulder. “And I appreciate what you did for your aunt Chippy. You saved her life. But, I need to talk to your momma for a little while.”
Kenny looked at his mother, and she told him, “Go on inside. I’m fine.”
When he went in, she to
ok a deep breath and shook her head. “Bettie Duncan is probably rolling over in her grave right now because of y’all. She ain’t raised y’all to be like this.”
“You’re right. She probably is. Let’s go see her,” I suggested.
We walked down the steps of the house, passing one of the security guards who hadn’t left his post. Of course, Chippy hopped out of the car and caught up to us. When I saw the way she and NeeNee hugged each other tight, I knew I couldn’t send Chippy back to the car. These were two mothers who wanted nothing more than for their children to be safe.
“I am so sorry about what happened to you, Chippy,” NeeNee said.
“I know, Nee. Now let’s fix this,” Chippy said, taking her hand as we walked down a long path to the cemetery.
The three of us were mostly silent until finally, we arrived at the place where my mother and father were laid to rest. We took a seat on a tiny bench in front of the plaques with their names.
“What happened to you boys, LC?” NeeNee asked. “Y’all were so close. You used to look out and take care of each other.”
“I don’t know what happened.” I sighed.
“You wanna hear something crazy?” NeeNee said.
“What’s that?” I reached in my pocket and pulled out a handkerchief to dust off my father’s plaque.
“I always thought it was the money.”
“The money?” I repeated.
“Yeah. I mean, you boys always worked hard and made a good living, but when that money started flowing like water, that’s when things in the family began to change. Remember when you and Chippy first moved to Atlanta and then y’all moved all of us with you? Then we all moved to New York. We all got a taste of the good life and the power.”
“That’s true,” Chippy said, “but I don’t think that’s what it was. The money had nothing to do with it. Things didn’t really get bad until Levi—”
Just then, my cell began to ring with my wife’s ring tone. Chippy and I exchanged a knowing look. Larry had her phone.
“Hold on a minute, Nee. I think this is your husband.”
“Hello,” I answered.
“I see you made it into town, LC,” Larry said, throwing me off guard. I looked over my shoulder, half expecting to see him standing behind me.
“I did. Where are you, Larry?”
“Waiting to meet you. Let’s sit down and have a drink.”
“When and where?”
“Right now. And how about Big Shirley’s, for old time’s sake?” he said.
“I’m on my way.” I hung up the phone.
“LC, you can’t go meet with him. You know Larry as well as I do. It’s probably a trap,” NeeNee said nervously.
“I ain’t worried. Truth is, it’s probably more dangerous for him than me,” I told her. This was one of the reasons I had brought a security detail with us.
“LC, are you sure you should—” Chippy started, but I cut her off.
“I love you, Chippy, but you know this has to be done. I told you that if you couldn’t handle it, you should stay home, remember?” I stated firmly. She rolled her eyes at me but stayed silent.
We would probably fight about this later, but as head of the family, I had to take charge and take care of Larry once and for all. It was something I should have done as soon as I knew he was released from the mental hospital.
“You want me to go with you?” NeeNee offered.
“Naw, sister-in-law. If you wanna do something, why don’t you take my wife and make her some tea?” I said. “I gotta be going.”
NeeNee tried one last time. “LC, I don’t know about you going to meet him. You know what’s gonna happen, don’t you?”
“I do. I’m wise enough to know that this is one meeting one of us ain’t gonna survive.” I gave her a hug and kissed my wife good-bye.
Ruby
70
As the boat pulled away from the dock, I could no longer breathe, because I’d spent every inch of air in my lungs to scream. My heart pounded in my chest as I fought to get away from Vinnie, who held me tight against him.
“Vinnie, we have to go back and get Vincent!” Tears streamed down my face.
I looked back at the view of the marina becoming smaller as our captain slowly maneuvered around the other boats in the harbor. We were still close enough to go back, but I had to act fast before we got much farther. Adrenaline kicked in, and my body went into fight or flight mode. I somehow became strong enough to finally push Vinnie away from me and escape his grasp. “You bastard! My son is back dere. We have to go back!”
“We ain’t going back nowhere.” Vinnie went to grab me again, but I moved just in time, putting a few feet between us.
I stared at him, breathing heavily. “We can’t leave him, Vinnie. Please! Please, Vinnie.”
“Ruby, I know you saw him. I know you saw Orlando. He’s here to kill me. Do you want me dead? Is that what you want?” he bellowed as he took a step toward me.
“I want my son! Dat is what I want, Vinnie.”
“You really want them to kill me?”
“Isn’t dat what you did to my brudda?” Without thinking, I charged at him, clawing at his face and screaming through my tears. “I know you did it. You killed Randy!”
Vinnie grabbed my arms and tossed me to the ground, slapping me across the face. I struggled to get up, but he straddled me. “Yes, I killed him. Are you happy now? He’s dead, and I’m sorry it had to be done, but I’ve been a good husband and father, haven’t I? I’ve given you the best of everything, and this is the thanks I get. You’re an ungrateful bitch, Ruby.”
“Get off me!” I gasped for air. “I must get my son!”
“Fuck your son. He’s with his real father now anyway, isn’t he? Orlando Duncan, the man you dream about? I’ve heard you cry out his name in your sleep more than once. You’re still in love with him.” Vinnie’s face was red, and his chest heaved as he raged on in a combination of anger and hurt. “You never loved me.”
“Vinnie, let me go,” I pleaded and then began struggling again.
Suddenly, he pulled out a gun and placed it against my temple. “You said you loved me, Ruby.”
“Vinnie, please, no!”
“If I can’t have you, neither will he. I wish your son’s father was here to see this,” he said with an evil laugh.
I closed my eyes and prepared to die.
“Her son’s father is here, motherfucker!”
I looked over to see Orlando standing on the deck, soaking wet, a few feet away from us.
Vinnie turned to look at him, but before he could even react to the sight, two shots rang out. I screamed as Vinnie’s body fell on top of me. A slight gurgle escaped his mouth as he took his final breath. I lay beneath Vinnie, terrified that Orlando was coming for me next.
I was trembling as Orlando shoved Vinnie’s body off me. But then, instead of raising his weapon to me, he reached for my hand. I hesitated at first, then allowed him to help me to my feet.
“How?” I asked.
“It cost me five hundred dollars, but I rented a guy’s Jet Ski and caught up with the boat,” he explained. “If you got out of the harbor, I might not have gotten to you in time.”
“Orlando, I am so sorry. I thought . . . when my brother Randy . . .”
He put up a hand to stop me. “Not now, Ruby. We have a lot to talk about when the time is right, but for now, we have one very confused son waiting for you at the marina.” He put his arm around me, and we stepped over Vinnie’s body as we headed up to the control station to tell the captain to turn the boat around.
LC
71
I sat in the back of Big Shirley’s, nursing a beer and trying to be as inconspicuous as possible while I waited for Larry to arrive. Really, no one was paying me much attention. Most of the patrons were too busy focusing on the curvaceous stripper doing tricks with a beer bottle on a makeshift stage. The ones who weren’t being entertained by her ability were haggling with oth
er dancers over what services they could provide and at what price. One or two people had given me a second glance, suggesting my face might have looked slightly familiar to them, but I’d been away long enough that no one recognized me as a family member of the owners. Same for Vegas, who hadn’t even been born when Chippy and I moved away from Waycross. He was sitting at a table near the front door, and Daryl was at the bar, both in positions where they could keep an eye on me in my seat. Junior stood behind me, and we had a few other security men in place, along with Paris and her team surrounding the building so no one could get in or out without our knowledge.
I had been glancing at the front door in anticipation of his arrival for more than twenty minutes, and still, Larry hadn’t come in.
“Pop, I don’t like this waiting game. Maybe we should get outta here,” Junior said over my shoulder.
I shook my head. “Not yet. He’s just trying to demonstrate that he has control. If we leave now, then he knows he’s gotten under my skin. We need to stick around and finish this.” I took another sip of the now warm beer and looked at the front door.
“Hello, LC. I hope I ain’t keep you waiting long.” Larry’s voice came from my left. He must have come from another room. Maybe he’d been in the building the whole time.
Vegas and Daryl sat up a little straighter but stayed at their posts.
He sat in the chair across from me. I hadn’t seen him since the day I was shot. My memory of that night was still hazy, but I didn’t remember my brother ever looking so menacing. He was dressed as he normally was, in a suit, and carrying a briefcase, which I was sure had some type of weapon in it. It was bittersweet to realize that out of all of us—me, Lou, Larry, and Levi—he was the one who looked most like our mother. NeeNee was right; Momma would have hated to know that her sons had become enemies.
“Larry.” I nodded.
He shot a glance at Junior. “So, we need a babysitter to talk now? I thought this was between you and me.”
I turned to Junior and said, “Wait over at the bar.”
“But, Pop—”
“Please, Junior. Let me talk to my brother alone.”