XXVIII
Becky Lou Brown - Discovery
March 5, 2017
Helen returned to the children cabin anxious, she had mixed feelings about what had happened to Bo. She knew it was wrong, but he had slapped her which often he treated her with hate and contempt. Helen entered the cabin and asked Becky Lou if they could talk, “Harry did somethin’ bad ta’ Bo, he had it comin’ doe.”
Becky Lou was confused, she asked, “what did Harry do and who had what coming?”
Helen explained in detail that had taken place, Becky Lou simply said, “we know he’s that way.”
It was Helen’s turn to be confused, she asked, “what way Miss?”
Becky Lou stayed the night in the cabin, she went outside and called Charles, she told him to have Harry get her in the morning. Becky Lou and Helen sat up late that night talking. Becky Lou said, “Helen somebody in town is trying to help you escape from here.”
Confused, Helen responded, “ain’t nobody in town but da’ slave, I’s don’t know whad’’ ja' talkin' bout.'“
Disappointed, Becky Lou shoulders slump, she rubbed her head and said, “you wouldn't understand, Helen, slavery is over.” At that moment the women heard a noise in the bushes.
Helen asked, “whad’’ you say?”
Becky Lou said, “in two weeks when you return to the slave area do two things for me, one,” she held up one finger, and said, “tell Lee that he has inside help,” She held up two fingers, and said, “ask who’s his outside help. You got that.”
“I's' got it misses, I's' don't understand,' but I's' got it.”
“Repeat it to me.”
When Helen finished repeating, she looked at Becky Lou somberly and ask, “what iffen' he ax' me who won’t's ta' know.”
Becky Lou said, “give him this,” she handed Helen a piece of paper with her name, phone number, and home address, then said, “tell him to get it to his outside help.” Also written on the paper was, I can help with the slaves, I know a woman who will help financially, call me after six p.m. Monday through Saturday. As she handed the note to Helen she said, “give this to Lee. You’re going to be free.”
Helen gave the note back to Becky Lou, who said, “I’ll give it back to you before you leave to go to the slave area.” She looked at Helen and asked, “do you understand Helen.?
“Yes Misses.”
“Good, let’s get some sleep.”
Helen looked out a window and saw blackness, “I’s be fee? Whad’ dat’ mean,” she whispered to herself, whad’’ she be talkin’ bout.”
Becky Lou and her niece Harriett shared an apartment together in Titleburk. Harriett had become disinterested in the plantation since she began dating a man that wanted to leave the state and move out west. On Harriet’s search for overseers, she met a tall handsome man, who seized her heart. She was in love.
One evening the girls decided to visit Charles and his wife in the castle, all was going well until Harriett said she was getting married and moving to Iowa. Charles was okay with his daughter moving so far away but insisted that she keep their set up a secret. Harriett thundered that she did not want to enter a marriage with a cloak-and-dagger held over her head. She ended in the tone of a child having a temper tantrum, “I will tell him and together we will keep it hush-hush.
Charles wife shot him a look, he nodded. Without saying a word, he gave her permission to handle their daughter and boyfriend. Becky Lou caught the communication between her brother and sister-in-law, she knew that Harriett was about to meet her demise. Becky Lou had driven them to MacCall, on the way home she told her niece, about Harry II incident in the slave quarters, Harriett said, “yeah, we know he prefers men over women.”
“He's not having children, who will run the plantation?” Becky Lou said.
Harriett said, “there's you, and me, we’ll run it.”
“We are women, our names will change to our husbands, you can’t run the plantation from another state.” Becky Lou explained.
“No, I am named after our grandpa the originator of H.B. Metropolis. I will not change my name.”
“Well, do you know your parents are going to eliminate you and your boyfriend?”
“What?” Harriett looked in disgust at Becky Lou when she said, “my parents will never hurt me.”
“Who do you think ordered the murder, on your sister?”
They drove in silence for a little while, then Harriett said, “sis had an accident.”
Becky Lou said, “think about it Harriett, your sister drove slower than a snail crawling, she could slam in the back of a semi-truck and not put a dent on the car.”
Harriett said, “my parents love me.”
Two days later when Becky Lou arrived home from work, she found a note from Harriett reading, we left for Iowa, it was written in a strange handwriting. Becky Lou went to Harriett's room, all her clothes were there, her shoes, in the chest of drawer none of her intimate apparel was missing. Becky Lou called Harriett's cell, got no answer.
Harriett personal things on top her dresser, chest of drawer, and nightstand had not been touched. Becky Lou opened the nightstand drawer and there was Harriett's boyfriend home and cell number with his name. She called the cell and got no answer, she called the home number, a woman answered, “may I speak with Gavin please,” Becky asked.
Gavin came to the phone, “hello.”
“Please tell me Harriett is with you.”
“She is.”
Harriett came to the phone, “Becky, while you were gone, I saw a strange man coming towards the apartment, he came to the door didn't knock, he rattled the doorknob then proceeded to unlock the door. I was watching TV, I ran to my bedroom, grabbed my tennis shoes and purse, jumped out the kitchen window and ran like crazy to the apartment office, I used their phone to call Gavin.”
“Throw yours and Gavin's phone away, do not call the police and do not go to Iowa.”
“Becky, I am three months pregnant with a little boy. I am not keeping the Brown name.”
“Harriett destroy your phones, then leave.”
Harriett burned their cell phones in the bathtub, one of them popped causing a small flame to ignite the shower curtain. She tried to put the fire out, but the curtain kept burning. Using the house phone, Gavin's father called the fire department, then said, “let’s go.”
The strange man Harriett told Becky Lou about, entered the house as they were leaving.
His tall form dressed in all black was menacing. Harriet looked at her boyfriend and said, “I’m sorry.”
He asked her, “who is this man?”
Going to the man the boyfriend father asked him, “who are you, Sir.”
The strange man shot Harriet’s boyfriend’s father and mother, using a silencer on his gun.
Harriet said, “we almost made it away from the Browns, this is my dad’s doing.”
Her boyfriend said, “no, not your dad. He would never do this.”
Harriet answered saying, “he had my sister and his son killed.”
With that said, the man shot Harriet and her boyfriend. On the landline he entered *69, the fire department answered. He said, “I called to cancel, the fire is out.” He then entered the bathroom yanked the shower curtain down, it fell in the tub, he turned the water on which put the fire out. The cell phones were useless, they had melted and wadded together.
The man looked down at the bodies, he smiled when he saw Harriet and her boyfriend. They had died face down and arm lying on each other’s back. He said as he was leaving, “her father should be ashamed of himself; she was a good kid.”
*******
Having a key to the plantation house, Becky Lou let herself in, she called out to Harry but didn't receive an answer. She went out back to the barn all the horses were in their stalls. She went back into the house going throughout calling Harry, even upstairs she opened the bedroom doors looking for him. She had the house to herself.
Becky Lou went quietly up to t
he attic, she walked very carefully watching where she placed her feet on the dusty floor. She hunted for any papers regarding the beginnings of the plantation. She turned the light on, the attic was dusty and smelled of old antiquated junk. Nevertheless, she wore rubber gloves as she poked through boxes, books, and under old clothing, and piles of junk. Then, she saw a locked chest sitting in a corner with old newspapers piled on top. She removed the newspapers and with a hairpin managed to open the chest, inside she found Harry V. Brown's original plans and a map of the plantation with dates written on it, she took the plans and map. Before placing the newspapers back on top of the chest she very carefully flipped through them. To her surprise, the dates went all the way back to 1864 up to Harry's death. She kept the newspaper that had an interview with Harry telling the press that he's turning his land into a museum for future generations.
A newspaper dated in 1876, had a front-page article with a picture of her uncle Drew, he told the press due to his father’s murder by one of his employees the museum was off. “And they believed him?” Becky asked out loud. The article stated that Harry paid his freedmen and women lots of money thereby making them rich coloreds. The author of the article wrote, “no other plantation owner was kinder and gentler than Harry V. Brown, a generous man who loved his country.”
She dug deeper in the chest and felt keys, she took everything out and saw keys that were on separate chins. Each key had a tag stating the gate it unlocked. She took one each, Becky Lou kept a couple of the newspaper articles, one of them was written by Harry’s son, Charles.
Becky Lou realized that she had been in the attic longer than plan. She took one of Harry’s plans with the keys and put everything back, being unable to lock the trunk she hid the lock by stacking newspapers in front of the chest, and then quickly left.
She dashed outside and got into her 2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT and drove off with her findings. She drove to the train station, which since the 1800s had been modernized and were beautiful, there was a huge picture of H.B. Brown hanging on one of the walls. Becky Lou chose a large locker to put the things she found in the attic, she locked the newspaper articles and other items in the locker, she took the keys and Harry’s plans to Mrs. Paddleton.
She went back to the plantation house, pulled in the driveway, this time Harry's car was there, she entered the house, and yelled, “Harry!”
“Stop yelling,” he said, then asked, “Why are you here?”
“My weekend to watch the kiddos for Helen.”
Harry bent over in pain.
“Is there something I can do for you?” Asked Becky Lou.
He flipped his finger at her, “go away,” he said.
Downstairs Charles had a half bath built, his wife called it the powder room. Harry walked down the hallway to the bathroom, he said loudly, “I'm watching you.”
Becky Lou watched him disappear out of her sight as he closed the bathroom door. She sat in the drawing-room to wait for him to return. When he did, he laid down on the couch. Becky said, “I'll call you mother, and let myself in the gates.”
“For your information miss busy body, dad and mom are on their way. Dad will let you in.”
Becky Lou stood staring at Harry, she looked so sad, Harry asked, “Auntie, what’s wrong?”
She could say nothing about Harriett’s murder, Becky felt that her brother and his wife next target, was their son, due to his behavior with one of the slaves. She knew if she said anything, Harry would run and tell his parents, then she would be next. She said, “nephew, this has been the longest two weeks of my life.”
In the slave area, Helen was excited, she was going to the bar with Lee and Fanny, plus she had four cupcakes and one of her pockets full of candy for Lillie. Becky Lou had demanded the overseers get Helen and the sweet treats to the slave quarters safely. Helen had never been in the bar, Mr. Charles had told her to stay away because it would not be good for the children. Becky Lou’s free spirit had rubbed off on Helen, she decided to go despite Charles, and if Bo hit her, she was going to punch him back.
She had the note for Lee in her dress pocket, Helen felt like she was part of a big secret. She had no idea what the message meant, but it made her walk proud and tall. Helen planned to do something she had never done in her life, get drunk.
XXIX
Smarter Than
March 15, 2017
Wednesday morning, soft warm air stirred smells of sweet honeysuckle, the aroma swirled ambiance of tranquility through the southern gentle wind. On that beautiful day, Donovan’s plan to run through their neighborhood and meet people worked. Their neighbors sat on their porch waiting for them to run past when they did, they waved and yelled a friendly, “hello.”
Many would say with a big smile on their face and in their voice, “nice day for a run.”
Donovan and Theenda replied with a friendly wave and smile.
Then there were those that stood by the gate waiting for the couple to stop and chit chat a bit before running on. The young people became their neighbors' favorite couple.
After their morning run, they showered and dressed for work, Theenda ate a bowl of oatmeal, Donovan poured himself a cup of coffee and said, “I haven’t seen Haze since the cookout, did you speak to Tess?”
“No, it’s like they both fell off the planet.”
Donovan replied saying, “hum, we have a meeting in a few days, wonder if he will come?”
Laughing Theenda said, “he’s probably mad at both of us for beating him senseless.”
Donovan said as he sipped his coffee, “what if he’s telling the truth, it’s not him.”
Theenda got up from the table, rinsed her bowl before putting it in the dishwasher, then said, “honestly Sweetie, I believe him. Before Tess, he was happy, played with the kids, he is actually kid like himself.”
“How do you know this?”
“My first week at the school, Haze purchased basketballs and hoops age appropriate for the little kids and the fourth and fifth graders, he taught them how to play. He donated money to the middle and high schools.”
“You’re right Baby Girl, he bought their uniforms, I was told he attended all the school games but stopped when he got married.”
*******
Haze went to see Breeze at the business address. Sitting in Breeze office, Haze was still angry at the Bright’s. He thought, “who invites a person to their home, see they are in pain, beat them anyway because they believe a slut over the truth.” For that reason, he was planning on him and Breeze setting the slaves free before Easter and leave Tess to be Donovan's problem. He thought he was being smarter than Donovan.
Breeze asked Haze, “what happened to your face?”
The swelling on Haze's nose was going down, but it was taking longer for the bruises to totally leave. Haze said, “stupid happened,” pointing to his face, he continued, “this is not the reason I'm here.” He leaned forward and whispered. “I know where there are slaves.”
“You found slaves in 2017, where? I can use extra money; did you hear about the roof caving in.”
“In one of the malls?” Haze answered with a question.
“Yeah, the Browns may charge me for the cave in.” Breeze sat back and took over the meeting, he said, “if you’re telling the truth, tell me where the slaves are, I was born and raised in this town, you were not. I never heard of slaves being here, you claim you have, my family built most of these buildings in this town, I am important in this town. There’s gotta be a lot of money to keep me-ah-us quiet about slaves in 2017.”
“I'm not saying where or anything, we have to keep it hush-hush. No money will exchange hands.” Haze realized he had made a mistake telling Breeze.
“I'd swear on a Bible if I had one, I will not tell a soul. Where are they? I know the person is rich, we can get rich also.”
Haze asked wonderingly, “no, no money is involved. Our pay is helping others.”
Breeze smiled as he said, “I don’t need you; I will fin
d them, I will get the money.”
When Haze got up to leave, Breeze let out a haunting laugh as he said, “it’s the Browns, no one seem to know where they are.”
*******
Lillie and some of the older women were quilting. Glaidous and the older men were making furniture behind his shack, while at the same time the younger slaves were in the tobacco field. Usually, in the slaves’ area, a yellow hew hovered above, the reason being they cooked, washed, played outside, their toilets were outdoors, and the many dirt paths kicked up a lot of dust. On that Wednesday morning, the winds had blown the yellow away. The sky was blue, not bluish yellow, the clouds were white, not beige, the air was clear, not dusty. Life was motionless, hushed, and bittersweet.
Lillie felt an uneasiness stirring about, she said to the women, “something don't feel right dis’ mornin.”
She got up, stepped off the porch, and looked towards the Massa house, she saw nothing. When she returned to the porch she said, “I’s thank young Massa be’a-comin' ta do somethin’ awful.”
Sophie remarked, “Lillie you thank dat cause you's' thankin' bout' yesta'day at church. Massa Charles a good man, he got no grudge.”
Lillie looked at Sophie and said, “sometimes I thank you have no brain in yo' head, why you trust Massa wid' all he do to us?”
“One of the slave women pause in her stitching, and commented, “Don't say that to Sophie, she bein' yo' sista' in-law.”
Sophie had a downcast look on her face, her shoulders slumped, she sighed a long deep breath before saying, “young Massa ain't gonna' bother nobody, he a good man.”
Lillie frowned at Sophie with unpalatable displeasure before she said, “shh, somebody comin.”
All But One Page 34
