Black Bayou

by Beverly Sims

  In the cellar, they sat on the floor. Eartha and Daniel ate like a pair of starving lions.

  "We've been thinking,” started Josh.

  "Hey, I like it when you try new things,” interrupted Daniel.

  "Damn it, Daniel. Shut up, asshole, and listen. Now, here is what Mac told us. The two girls’ families paid the ransom, that we know, but he does not know we knew before he told us. Understand? Eartha needs to go back to Black Bayou, saying the man who had kidnapped her let her go because there was no one to pay a ransom for her. That way, she can keep us posted as to what is going on there. Cops will probably be swarming the place if they aren't already, because the two whose families paid will tell the world where they had been when they were kidnapped. She can even tell the fuzz about her time with him. We'll clear out, and she can meet up with us again in a few weeks at Dover's place in Cleveland. Any ideas?” Josh looked from one brother to the other, then at Eartha.

  "So much of this depends on you, sister girl. What do you think?"

  She thought for a long time and then nodded. “Okay, I think that is good planning. I will tell the cops that someone hit me over the head, tied and blindfolded me and took me in a boat during the hurricane. The little engine had a hard time of it, so I think it was going against the current. We traveled for what seemed like hours, but it was dark, and time was nothing. He kept me in a rotting old place judging from the smell, tied to a cot, for several days, feeding me himself. He talked with a deep Southern accent and told me as soon as he found someone to pay my ransom, he would let me go. I told him I was poor and had no family. Guess he finally believed me, because he jerked me up and pushed me into the boat again. This time it was a quicker trip. He pushed me out of the boat into the mud. I managed to stand, and when I ran into a tree, I worked the blindfold off my eyes by rubbing against it. Then I wandered around until I found the Black Bayou Plantation again. How is that?"

  "Perfect. So, we will get you down there at first light. Tied, blindfolded, everything. This is going to work great. Then we will meet you at Jessie's in Baton Rouge in two weeks, three at most. Boy, we are three lucky men to have sister girl.” Jeb was grinning ear to ear as he smiled at her.

  "You are damn right! Haven't I always taken care of you?"

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  Chapter 37

  At the Woodward Plantation, Mac got back just before the men did. He had followed them after overhearing their plan the night before. He watched as they got into the boat and started upriver toward Black Bayou. He jumped into the Jeep and stopped it far enough from Mrs. Atwater's house so that they did not hear the engine. Using old childhood shortcuts through the swampy jungle, he was waiting when the old boat arrived. He watched as they tied Eartha's arms, rubbed mud on her face, and blindfolded her eyes. They pushed her off the boat into the water, going for realism, he decided.

  Once she was on land, Daniel got out and took her arm, directing her to a tree where she began to rub her blindfold until her face was rubbed nearly raw and the cloth gave way. Mac had to admit, the girl had spunk and more intelligence that the other three combined. She blew them a kiss as Daniel climbed back into the boat, and they headed for home. He knew he had plenty of time before they would get to their plantation, so he stepped out in front of Eartha, giving her a start.

  "That was good thinking on your part. Only one set of shoe prints but your own. Apparently that is part of your plan, maybe the part I missed while you were talking on the boat. Whose boot marks are they supposed to be?"

  "Mac, you scared the hell out of me. Now, get out of my way, I have a house to haunt."

  "I liked the sound of that. Could you possibly mean Black Bayou? What are you up to?"

  "It is none of your business. Suffice to say, I will be running things around here in about an hour, so don't be getting into this and spoiling my plans.” She looked at him, then said, “You have known all along that I am Glenda's black kid, haven't you?"

  "No, actually, not until I heard you talking to your brothers last night. Great plan you had, kidnapping your friends, taking the money and killing them off."

  She hoped she looked stunned. “Killing them ... what do you mean, killing them? They were released as soon as we had the money."

  "Sorry, girl, that is not what happened. Whichever of your brothers was in charge of the kidnapped women had other plans. If you had seen what was left of them when they were found in the bayou ... if you really did not know about that part of your little money scheme—"

  "Dear God, no. The plan was to simply get the money and turn them loose outside of Cotton. Why are you telling me these lies?” Obviously, Mac believed her story. Good so far, she thought.

  "No lies, Eartha. Which one of your brothers likes hurting things? Which one would enjoy the pain he inflicted? Which one would mutilate and cut the women in every way imaginable? Which one would rape their bodies, dripping with blood? Which one is the Devil?"

  She did not answer. He left her there as he hurried to the Jeep to get back before the three Woodward men did. She did not move for a long time before finding a log to sit down. She waited for some time, just to make sure if he returned that she looked upset and fearful. She was upset and fearful. Killing them was never part of the plan. She had hated them, but never enough to have them killed. Deep down inside, she felt remorse, and then something else she could not believe ... guilt. Maybe they had been her friends, and she was the one who had denied them. After awhile, she stood and continued on to the house.

  * * * *

  Mac had plenty of time to make himself look comfortable with a beer in hand, feet up on the broken guardrail on the wide porch. They shouted and waved as they pulled the boat out of the water. He walked to meet them, tossing a beer to each. “Where you boys been? I woke up and found no sign of life around here. Not fishing, ‘cause no poles. No mudbugs either, so what you been up to?” He kept his voice light and conversational.

  "Josh here thought he heard some strange voices out on the river, so we decided to take a look,” replied Jeb. “But what concern is it of yours anyway?"

  "Nothing. Sorry. I was just wondering as I was here all by myself, but your van was still here, so I knew you weren't far. Say, how about we all go into Cotton for some breakfast ... I'm buying."

  "Sound good,” said Daniel. Josh echoed his affirmative.

  Jeb wondered aloud, “If we all go in there together, won't people wonder about our connection? They have seen Josh and me together, but not Dan. And they all know Mac. Better to keep it that way, I think. Mac, why don't you and Daniel go, and us two will scramble up a dozen eggs here and get the van loaded."

  "Van loaded? You fellows getting ready to go somewhere?” Mac questioned.

  "Yup, think we might as well head on out, back to civilization. We came here thinking we could do something with the old place, but it is too far gone, and our funds are a damn sight too small. So we are going back up north, probably Ohio, were Daddy is buried. Easier to find work up there."

  Mac's mind was whirling. He was sure one of them was a murderer, but he had no idea which one and no idea how to keep them from leaving. And Eartha, what was her plan? He moved to the Jeep, waving Daniel to come, too. “We'll be back in an hour or two. See you later."

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  Chapter 38

  Eartha's plan worked. She had rubbed off her blindfold against a tree, making sure her face was chaffed and bleeding a little. She twisted her hands in the ropes until they too were red and bleeding. The damn things I do for my bothers ... it is always me who gets hurt. When she got close to Black Bayou Plantation house, she began to yell for help, letting her gait seem pained and weak. Henry ran to her, past the pool, out into the yard of fallen trees. He picked her up and carried her, running as best he could, as she was a big woman, to the house.

  Mrs. Atwater stood in the doorway, watching. As they neared her, she stepped out and pointed to a chaise on the verandah. “Put her there,
Henry. Untie her or at least cut the ropes. Now, girl, where have you been and what happened to you?"

  "Oh, Mrs. Atwater, I have never been so glad to see anyone in my life. You are an angel from Heaven.” Eartha hoped the Lord would not strike her dead for her lies. “Somebody grabbed me when I went out to look for my friend, and the next thing I knew, I was in a cellar someplace, tied and gagged. I was naked with just a sheet over me, and it was so cold. I could hear the storm for a couple more days until it stopped.

  "Once a day, he would come with a flashlight and bring me food. I was tied to the bedpost, I think it was, but it was always too dark to see. When I had eaten, he would take off the sheet and ... have his way with me.” She hung her head as if ashamed. I am getting so good at lying and acting, I deserve an Academy Award.

  Mrs. Atwater looked at her, as if delving into her soul. Eartha was sure she missed nothing, including her water-stained clothes, the abrasions on her arms and face, and the bruises on her legs. “You are in your clothing, not a sheet. Why is that?"

  "Yesterday, I think it was yesterday, because I wandered around in the dark for hours ... he came and untied me, after he used me again. Told me to get dressed. I tried to run, and he laughed, grabbed my arm, and hit me so hard I saw stars. After that, I did what he told me. He tied my hands and blindfolded me. We started to walk, first up some steps, then through the grass. Without shoes, I felt rocks, then swampy mud.

  "He told me that I wasn't worth a dime in ransom, like my friends were. He said he was tired, so I would just disappear in a few days. He had some swamp friends who were interested in a new toy, so that was me. I was standing in the water up to my knees when I heard them coming in a boat. I heard the man who had kidnapped me move away. I turned around and began to run. I had no idea where I was and didn't care. I could hear them talking and thrashing through the swamp jungle, looking for me, when I tripped over a log. I lay down behind it, praying no snakes or gators were near. After a long time, perhaps hours, no sense of time, their voices faded away."

  "That's quite a story, girl,” Mrs. Atwater remarked as she watched Henry cut the ropes binding her hands behind her back. “Tell me, did you recognize any of the voices? Your captor, perhaps, or the swamp men? Do you have any idea where your were held? Did you scream for help or beg the man to let you go?"

  "No, Mrs. Atwater, I don't know any of the voices, nor where I was held. He told me I could yell all I wanted and no one would hear me. Yes, ma'am, I begged, and he just laughed."

  "It's hard for me to believe that three grown men could not catch a blindfolded young woman, even in the swamp.” Her eyes were shrewd as she continued. “Are you sure you are not leaving out anything?"

  "No, ma'am. It was just as I told you. Don't you believe me?” Eartha met the old woman's gaze without blinking. “What could I possibly gain by lying? Now, can I have some clean, dry clothes and something to eat?

  They had been paying no attention to Henry, who was picking up branches and downed trees around the pool area, piling them away from the house to burn when they dried out. Suddenly, he let out a scream that would scare the Devil away.

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  Chapter 39

  Both women turned to him. Mrs. Atwater spoke, “Dear Lord, Henry, what is the matter with you, boy?” By now, he was kneeling by the pool, looking into the brackish water, as the filters were not running because of the lack of electricity. He continued to keen as he rocked back and forth. “Henry,” this time, her voice was commanding and shrill, “stop that this minute, do you hear me? Now tell me, what is wrong?"

  He stopped screaming but continued to sob, and he pointed. “What are you pointing at, you pathetic excuse for a human? Tell me, and tell me this instant."

  "Ms. Woodward. It be Ms. Woodward. She be in the water, all swelled up. I think she be dead."

  "Well, you idiot, if she is bloated and floating, then she is dead. Now, get that pole thing and pull her out of there."

  "No, please, Mrs. Atwater, don't make Henry touch a dead person. The Devil will take Henry for sure."

  Eartha rose. “For Heaven's sake, Henry. Move out of the way and I will do it myself.” As she pulled in her mother's body, she felt nothing ... no grief, no compunction ... nothing. It was if the Glenda who once brushed her hair and played with her as if she were a doll did not exist and never had. Looking at the swollen yellow face as she pulled her to the side of the pool filled her with loathing at the sight. This was the woman who had borne her, but she was not a mother and had never been.

  It was as if Mrs. Atwater felt the same lack of grief and disconnection from the dead woman. “Henry, go out in the cemetery and start digging a place for her. When you are done, go to the barn and build some kind of coffin. Doesn't have to be fancy, just a box with a lid. Take it to the cemetery and into the grave you dug.

  "We will get her out of the water and wrap her up. When you are done there, come back for the body. You will carry it to the coffin, put her in it, and nail it shut. Then cover it back up with dirt, and tomorrow you can make a cross for it."

  "Oh, Lordy, I cain't carry a dead body. I cain't, Mrs. Atwater.” He started sobbing as he fell to his knees at her feet.

  "Henry, just do as you are told. It has been a long time since I have had to whip you, but I will if you don't behave. Now, off with you to dig that grave and build a coffin. And don't take all day doing it, or you will be carrying a dead body to its grave in the dark. Would you like that? No, I did not think so."

  He ran off crying. Eartha looked at the woman who was her grandmother. “Shouldn't we notify the authorities or something?"

  "Whatever for? She is a dead, look like a snakebite wound to me. She has been in the water long enough to start rotting, and best she be buried right away. Now, let's see if we two can pull her out, but you will have to do most of the work, because I am old and not very strong anymore."

  For once, Eartha was very glad she was such a large woman, as the old woman was of no help. She did go into the house and come back with a ratty old quilt that she indicated Eartha should wrap the body in.

  "Now, girl, go in the little building and see if there is some way to drain the pool. It is smelly and full of creatures, including mosquito larva ready to hatch. I know the pump is out, but there must be some way. If you are going to stay here, you will have to earn your keep."

  At that, Eartha threw back her head and laughed until her sides ached.

  "I fail to see what is so humorous, girl."

  "It seems to me that you should be paying me to help you, being that four of us gave you a lot of money for our week of luxury, gourmet food, swimming and sunbathing, and all the excitement of a hurricane and kidnapping a body could possibly want. So don't be taking that highhanded attitude with me, you old crone. I am not one of your slaves, or servants either. From now on, you will do what I tell you, Granny, so get over it."

  "How dare you talk to me that way!"

  "I will talk to you any damn way I want. Get that through your feeble head. You may have bullied Glenda and Henry their whole lives, but you will not bully me. In case you have forgotten, Glenda had a black child you gave to Woodward. Well, Granny, I am that child. My name is Eartha Black, just like the other Blacks in the family."

  The old woman dropped into a chair, dropping her head back, holding her hand over her heart, and made noises as if having trouble breathing. Eartha looked at her with no pity or emotion. “If you are having a heart attack, that is fine with me. If not, knock off the dramatics. I am in no mood for it, nor do I have the time. Now, tell me, where are James and Mac? If I am to take over the plantation, as I intend to, I need to see that they are out of the picture."

  Mrs. Atwater straightened in her chair, obviously fine. “I have no idea where MacGregor is and never want to see him again. He is a harsh man and a thief. He even stole his brother's Jeep and took all the family guns when he left. I told him to leave and never to come here again.

  "Jame
s went to the river to see if he could retrieve my automobile ... the one Glenda left there. He should be back any minute, and he will make sure you are gone from our lives forever, just like your slutty mother."

  Eartha laughed again. “Oh, you are something else. Your daughter was a slut, your granddaughter, whom you don't even know, is a slut. Like mother, like daughter, hey, Grandmother? Well, it appears you are in the same pod as the rest of us peas."

  "It appears your intention is to have your grandson, James the Cruel, kill me. Isn't that right?"

  "Well, it appears that way to me, too, Granny. Hello, Cousin Eartha. I knew you and the boys were back. Saw one of them talking to Glenda one night on the porch, so I snuck up to listen. Apparently, whatever their plan was, she agreed to help. So now, Eartha, what was the plan, and how did it go?"

  "As far as I know, it went fine, as the boys have two-and-a-half million stashed. Don't expect me to tell you where it is, because they didn't tell me, and I did not ask."

  James looked at her for a full minute before asking, “You think you can trust them? Maybe they have already run out on you, leaving you here holding the bag, for whatever they did."

  "It is not just a matter of trust, it is a matter of necessity, and they know it. That is of no concern of yours. The money is gone from this godforsaken place and safe for the duration.

  "In the meantime, you take this old hag and clear out of here. If you see your brother, make sure to tell him to get here soon. Oh, yes, and Henry. Dear sweet Grandmother needs Henry, and he needs her."

  "Pretty sure of yourself, aren't you, cousin? Why should I do what you say? Have you forgotten what you called me ... mean James?"

  "Because it means a lot of money to you. I will deposit half a million in an account in your name once you are in Chicago or New York, or wherever in the north you and Granny decide to settle. There will be no place here for you to return by tomorrow night, so you had better get moving. I want you out by dawn. She can take whatever you can remove for her by that time, or it will be gone, too."