The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

by Unknown

  “Good as gold,” Melinda said to no one in particular. The salesgirl assumed the remark was intended for her.

  When the American Express card met with the same fate, the sales clerk made sure she handed the card to Melinda.

  “Sorry,” she then smiled before attending to another couple who had been waiting patiently for some time.

  William and Melinda left the store in silence, puzzled to say the least. William drove to the nearest ATM where he was again notified that there were insufficient funds for him to withdraw any amount of money from his savings. The results were the same when he tried his checking account. He was livid now.

  “There’s close to a hundred grand alone just in the savings and I can’t get a damn dime out of the machine. Will you please tell what’s happening, Melinda?”

  Clearly shaken by this latest turn of events, William was sure that Terry Shannon had frozen his accounts without telling him. He pulled the Mercedes into a 7-Eleven, found the DEA agent’s business card in his wallet in between the worthless credit cards, grabbed his cell from the glove compartment and dialed Agent Shannon.

  “Terry Shannon, please.”

  “Mr. Shannon’s in a meeting. May I ask who’s calling?”

  “Tell Shannon it’s William Stanton. Tell him it’s important that I speak to him now.”

  “Shannon here. What can I do for you, William?”

  “Shannon, let me ask you a question. I need you to be perfectly frank with me. Do you have any earthly idea of what’s been going on since I got back? No credit cards, no savings or checking accounts. Tell me, honestly. Do you know anything at all about this?”

  “William, right now I need you as much as you need me. DEA and customs are doing their best to do absolutely nothing to disrupt any of the lives of the people involved in this case. This is a very delicate situation, and a very sensitive case, William. Our best chance for an airtight case and perhaps a conviction is to make sure that everything runs smoothly and according to plan. If it does, then we can better observe the players in their natural environment. If they’re comfortable they may slip up and make a mistake. Then we’ve got ‘em. If, on the other hand, we disrupt the normal flow of things, we’ll set off a widespread panic. With the money and resources those two fellows have it’s very, very possible that they’ll seek refuge in a foreign country in some hidden villa where we’ll never find them. And, even if we were to find them, they’d probably be dead and gone by the time extradition proceedings took effect.

  Furthermore, you’re our only link to the inside, our ace in the hole. What sense would it do for us to make problems for you when you hold the key to our success? I’m sorry, William but you’re barking up the wrong tree this time, my friend.”

  Terry Shannon seemed to be speaking in earnest. But he was not above suspicion. And even after the long spiel, William was not convinced.

  “Tell me again, Shannon. Make me understand.” An exasperated William confessed he couldn’t even buy gas at the 7-Eleven.

  “Look, William. Believe it or not, but it’s in your best interest as well as ours that you maintain the same lifestyle that you had before any of this madness took place. In Morris’ case, the slightest change could raise suspicion. We don’t want that at all, believe me. If there’s the slightest change in your financial situation, it’s not us. What we need is for you to maintain everything as it’s always been. Are you followin’ me, William? I know you don’t know me very well, but try to trust me. Ask around. Find out about me. Trust me, William. If all goes according to plan and it should and we bring Morris down, you won’t have to worry too much about the balance in your savings. Just be patient and stay in touch. Now, if you like I can check into your account history and find out what the problem is.”

  “No, no that’s okay,” William replied.

  Terry Shannon hung up the phone. And for some reason, William believed the dumpy, little Irishman on the other end. And since he believed him, William threw the Mercedes in gear, made a U-turn and headed for First Union Bank on the corner of East Lansing and Bessemer. Entering the bank, it became obvious to the tellers and bank manager that William Stanton was not about to wait in line. A shapely brunette with far too much mascara and too little personality cut William off before he could enter the branch manager’s office.

  “May I help you, sir?” she asked.

  “I really don’t think so. That is unless you’re the branch manager. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

  Unaware of the slight, she led him to the branch manager’s office, showed him in, did the introductions and closed the door behind her. When he exited twenty minutes later all anger had dissipated and in its place was a firm resolve. The shapely brunette smiled apologetically or at least that’s the way William took it. It seemed like everyone knew that Sill had taken him to the cleaners yet no one was talking. And there were no leads. It was almost as though Sylvia Stanton had simply vanished into thin air. He thought about placing a missing persons report and then decided against it. If he found her at this juncture in his life, he couldn’t be responsible for his actions. Besides, Sill could wait for now. There were more pressing matters to be addressed.

  “Are you OK, William?” Melinda asked, concerned.

  “Fine, Melinda. I guess I just have a lot on my mind,” he lied.

  “I can imagine. Why don’t you stop by the supermarket? I’ll grab a couple of steaks, throw them on the grill and well see what happens.”

  “See what happens?” William laughed aloud. “If anything else happens they’ll be carrying me off to the funny farm.”

  “That’s what happens when people get too attached to the almighty dollar. That’s why all those fools went jumpin’ out windows back in the late twenties. Didn’t see no black folks jumpin’ though, did you? Black folks are useta’ not havin’ nothin’.” Melinda laughed a big hearty laugh that made William chuckle, too.

  They stopped off at the Super K and Melinda was in and out within minutes .”Where to?” William asked.

  “Well, I don’t have a big fancy house like yours, William, but I think my furniture may be a tad bit more comfortable.” William chuckled; made a right at the light, then drove down Decatur to Coolspring Street.

  Despite having driven Melinda home on several occasions, he had never been in. Always in a hurry to get home to Sill. Perhaps, if he had stopped in earlier the loss of Sill wouldn’t have been quite so hard to take now. In any case, he was here now and was pleasantly surprised at how charming and tastefully

  decorated Melinda’s home was. But then, why should he have been? She was meticulous and an impeccable dresser.

  “Pour yourself a drink while I get comfortable. Might wanna grab a couple of glasses too, you know, to take with you.”

  She flicked on the stereo. Aretha Franklin lit up the room with Natural Woman. William made himself a gin and juice and flipped through the Essence Magazine on the coffee table. Making his way to the étagère, he leafed through the albums, recognizing artists like King Curtis, Jimmy McGriff and a few others when Melinda returned wearing only a faded blue terrycloth robe.

  «William, I was goin› to go in and put on somethin› sexy and try to seduce you after you›d had a couple of drinks but I don›t know what I›d of done if I›d gone through all that trouble and you›d rejected me. I›d really have felt bad if I couldn›t turn your head, bad as you›re feelin› right now.»

  William didn›t respond right away. He noticed Melinda›s head drop but was at a total loss for words. After some time he spoke. «Melinda, what I need more than anything else at this point in my life is a friend not a bed partner but a friend.»

  He held Melinda›s hands in his own, gently.

  «I›m sure you›ve known how I›ve felt about you for a while, William. I appreciate the fact that you were sensitive enough not to laugh in my face. I had the hardest time sittin› in the next office, just achin› to seduce you. Those nights we stayed late finishin› this project or that
, tryin› to beat a deadline were the roughest. I tried my best to respect your marriage—to respect Sylvia. I knew I wasn›t in the runnin› but that doesn›t stop me from wantin› you. Some nights I would come home and just fantasize about you having romantic candlelight dinners. But you know what I admired most about you, William? I admired the fact that in spite of my little snide remarks you always remained so faithful and so true to Sill. I guess it›s every woman›s dream to have a man›s undying devotion. And you were never short, William. You never brushed me aside. My little sly innuendos were like so many countless teardrops that you simply let roll off.

  At one time, I promised myself that if I ever had the opportunity to get my foot in the door, I would do everything in my power to hold you, to keep you. But, I didn›t fool myself. I knew. At least I thought I knew that you and Sylvia would somehow always be the perfect couple. Not for a minute was I so naïve as to believe that should something come between you and Sylvia that I would be the natural successor, so I resigned myself to bein’ the best secretary, friend and confidante a man could hope for. So, William, if it’s friendship you desire, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better one.”

  When Melinda finished purging her soul, it was apparent that they had happened upon a new found respect for each other. They talked some more at length during dinner. The conversation eventually making its way to the ordeal at the airport. William, despite Shannon’s instructions, told Melinda everything. As he told her the details of the fiasco, Melinda’s eyes welled with tears. When she closed them it was as like floodgates had opened. It was several minutes before she spoke. The words she now spoke were slow, deliberate. It was apparent, she was angry and hurt. William realized at that very moment that he hardly knew her. This was the first time in the six years that he’d known her to be visibly upset.

  “I knew something was wrong when the faxes from Davenport mentioned shipments being in route. Yet they never confirmed their arrival. When I questioned Mr. Morris’ secretary, Mia, she told me she knew of no shipments arrivin’ from Davenport Enterprises but promised she would check with Mr. Morris. A little later, say about a week, I received a memo, which said, in fact, that the Davenport account would be handled by Morris, personally, and I should no longer concern myself with this matter. I kept the memo and I kept tabs on all the Davenport accounts the same way I kept a file on every other account to cover myself in case there were any discrepancies later.”

  “You may have just saved my life, Melinda.” William jumped up from the dining room table knocking over his glass of Zinfandel in the process. “Tell me more, Melinda. Tell me about the memos! Please tell me that you didn’t make a copy and leave them in the office files.” William was ecstatic.

  For the first time since his meeting with Terry Shannon and DEA, did he even have a glimmer of hope?

  “No, silly. I told you they took the handlin’ of the account out of my hands even though I handle all of your other accounts. That’s why, when Mia sent me the memo statin’ that Mr. Morris was going to handle the Davenport account personally, I knew there was something else stirrin’. Then about a month ago when the old man flew down from Boston to see you and tell you of the Lagos venture; he brought his secretary, Mia. Well, I hadn’t seen her since she transferred to corporate headquarters in Boston, so we decided to make a night of it. In any case, we went out had a couple of drinks and started talkin’ about the

  good ol’ days. You know Mia and I go back to Fulton County Community College.”

  William was becoming impatient. “Melinda, get back to the files.”

  “In any case, Mia and I started talkin’ about all the inconsistencies at H and M when she brings up the mystery account. Now, Mia ain’t never been able to drink and I guess we’re on our fourth of fifth, Long Island Iced Tea when she starts tellin’ me about this mystery account. Seems Morris told Mia that any correspondence relatin’ to the Davenport account should go directly to him. Mia’s is strugglin’ with the fact that she’s held accountable for every Hill and Morris account Yet, Morris never returns any paperwork, nor any correspondence, billin’ statement, invoice from the biggest account that Hill and Morris handles. And, then, when I mention the tact that I’m missin’ information from the Davenport file, Mia says that the Ol’ Man flew off the handle. She said she’d been with him for close to ten years and she’d never seen him get so angry over something so petty. That’s when I received the memo about Morris handlin’ the Davenport account. Mia lost a lot of respect for the Ol’ Man after that and I think that she forwarded me every single correspondence concernin’ the account just to spite him, I even have requisitions for toilet paper. If it’s got the Davenport logo on it, then I’ve got a copy.”

  William couldn’t believe that he was hearing. “Melinda, I’ve got one question and one question only. Where are the files? Please tell me you didn’t leave them in the office.”

  “Of course not, silly. No one leaves a paper trail anymore. That’s so ‘Seventies’.” Melinda was teasing him. She enjoyed watching William squirm.

  “Funny thing about the Davenport account—”

  William had had enough. “Melinda, please, spare me the details. Where are the files?”

  “Relax, William. I’ve got every Davenport correspondence for the last two-and-a-half year’s right here. I downloaded them onto this floppy disc. All you have to do is insert the floppy, wait for the Davenport icon to appear and double click on the mouse.” Melinda, recognizing the fact that William refused to become computer literate, went through the whole procedure just as she had each day in the office. It was all to no avail. William ignored the procedure, content instead to stare at the computer screen until Voila! The Davenport logo appeared.

  Three hours later, William rose from the easy chair, smiled, yawned, then turned and, without a word, gave Melinda the biggest, tightest, bear hug she had ever received. He then grabbed Melinda’s phone and placed a call to Chief Customs Inspector, Mr. Terry Shannon, to inform him. Terry was almost as elated as William was and they spent the better part of the next hour plotting the best possible course of action. In the end, they decided not to run their plan past Terry’s superiors. Instead, they decided to let nature run its course, letting the chips fall where they may. And then as if by some chance of fate the following day William received a call summoning him to the corporate headquarters in Boston. It was only the third time he’d been summoned to the headquarters since he’d joined Hill and Morris.

  CHAPTER 15

  The following Thursday, William was to fly to Boston to corporate headquarters and met with Ol’ Man Morris in person. Leery, William had no idea what Morris had up his sleeve this time. The word was he was certain to be offered a senior accounting position; the highest position one could attain outside of being named a junior partner. There was no doubt that the board members, were in direct opposition to having an African-American in the position but that was the word along the grapevine.

  Little did Morris know, William wasn’t the least bit concerned about being named senior accountant or partner. If Melinda’s plan worked and Agent Shannon received the OK, there was a good chance Hill and Morris wouldn’t even be in existence a year from now. And even if it was, William was sure he wouldn’t want to be connected with it, let alone have his name associated with a firm that was sure to be under indictment for narcotics trafficking, laundering money as well as numerous other improprieties. William put the final changes on his proposal and walked into his outer office where Melinda was busy putting the final touches on some of William’s more recent proposals.

  “Ain’t worked this hard in my entire life,” Melinda commented mostly to herself.

  “It’ll all pay off in the end, Melinda. If everything goes according to plan, it will all pay off in the end. Matter-of-fact, I have a meeting with the Man now. I should be back in an hour or so.” Melinda knew who the Man was. She smiled hoping not to show her concern.

  “Hold all my calls and see if yo
u can get any more information on the Davenport account. We should be hearing something any day now. Make sure everything’s in order.”

  “Everything’s in order,” Melinda said. The proposal for your two o’clock is right here.” She held up a large manila envelope. “Packets are displayed in the second conference room, the door is locked and, except for Mr. Rivera the janitor, no one else has a key. Mr. Aiello is printin’ your schemata as we speak. He’s already printed a black and white card as you ordered. However, he and I both thought that blue and gold would be much more spectacular a bit more stylish, more in keepin’ with their company logo—so much more impressive.

  Aside from that, I edited your speech and don’t see any problem with your proposal or presentation. The people from Apple should be ecstatic that they will be able to sell that many personal computers and software to match. They stand to make a bundle. With only a two and a half percent mark up, the Nigerians may name you their next Minister of Education or at the very least, Secretary of Commerce,” Melinda forecasted. “As far as any new developments concernin’ our little problem, I’ll talk to you about that over dinner, if we’re still on for tonight.”

  The Wednesday dinners began as a simple meeting to discuss any changes in the Davenport account but had now become a weekly ritual often ending in their retiring to Melinda’s where they’d work until the wee hours of the morning on one proposal or another. William had come to enjoy the routine almost as much as Melinda. Both knew, however, that William, despite his recent success at work, was still very much in love with Sylvia.

  Melinda, would all too often, catch him staring off into space or seemingly in deep thought and knew that it was more than simply business which kept him so utterly absorbed in his work and his mind so preoccupied.

  William met Terry Shannon at the Lone Star Cafe for lunch. The meeting was brief. Shannon opted to go with Melinda’s plan without authorization, wanting Morris almost as badly as William. Though neither man showed it, Shannon confessed that he hadn’t been this close in years and wasn’t about to be denied due to some bureaucratic red tape. Shannon recognized Melinda’s plan as simple and as a winner. If it unfolded, as he was sure it would, it would do wonders for his career. If it backfired and Morris somehow got wind of the plan or something went awry, there would be hell to pay. With Morris connections and political influence, not only would his career with the government be over, but chances were good that he probably wouldn’t be able to get a job shoveling shit