The Genesis Files

by Gwen Richardson

  Lloyd’s expression went from surprise to puzzlement. “That’s pretty farfetched, Charles. Ed’s a racist son of a bitch, but do you think he’d take things that far? Where did you hear this?”

  “I was afraid you were going to ask me that.”

  “Of course, I’m going to ask. How do you know your information is credible?”

  “That’s just it. I’m not one hundred percent certain. But I’m sure enough that I think you might need to leave town for a few days.”

  “Leave town? Are you going to tell me where you got your information or not?”

  Charles hesitated, knowing that what he was about to say wouldn’t be well received. “Audrey told me.”

  “Audrey? Audrey from the office?”

  Lloyd stood up and faced Charles. “You’ve got to be kidding. I can’t believe you made me drive all this way because of some antics Audrey pulled. I’m going home, Charles,” Lloyd said, and he turned and walked toward the exit.

  “Wait, Lloyd. This is important and I don’t want to have to raise my voice for everybody in this bar to hear about it. So come back so I can explain.”

  Reluctantly, Lloyd walked back to the bar, unconvinced of the veracity of Charles’ claim.

  “This threat is real. I didn’t want to believe it myself, but the more I think about it, the more convinced I become. Audrey overheard Ed on the phone.”

  “When did this supposedly happen?”

  “She worked late today, and Ed didn’t realize she was still at the office. She was about to tell him she was leaving for the evening when she overheard him say your name to someone on the phone. She also heard him say he didn’t want you to be killed, just scared enough to back off.”

  “How do you know she’s not making the whole thing up, Charles? You know what lengths Audrey has gone to trying to get me to hook up with her at work. She’s tried everything short of following me into the men’s room at work. This is probably a new tactic of hers to get me to notice her.”

  “That was my first thought too. But she really doesn’t know about everything that has transpired between you and Ed since the Pauley kidnapping, so she wouldn’t have any basis for believing that Ed would do you harm.”

  “She’s scared out of her wits to the point that she’s afraid to go home. In fact, she’s sleeping at a friend’s house tonight, and I told her not to come in to work tomorrow. I don’t think she could fake that level of fear.”

  Upon reflection, Lloyd preferred to err on the side of caution and talk to Audrey himself.

  “Get Audrey on the phone. I want to hear it from her own lips to see if this is a hoax or the real thing.”

  “Okay, her number is in my phone. It was the last incoming call,” Charles said, as he unlocked his cell phone and hit the send button.

  311

  Gwen Richardson

  CHAPTER 47

  After Audrey hung up the phone with Charles, she went to her apartment and packed an overnight bag with a few essential items. She then left her apartment building and headed to Southwest Houston to her best friend Tangela’s house. She’d already called and asked if she could spend the night, and Tangela agreed. It wasn’t unusual for her to sleep over since they had been best friends for years. Tangela wouldn’t ask any questions and wouldn’t pressure Audrey to talk until she was ready.

  Audrey arrived at Tangela’s house about nine thirty and was greeted with a hug. The two had been friends since high school, and Audrey could sense that Tangela knew something was amiss. But she didn’t pry. Besides, Tangela was a registered nurse and she had to be at work by 7:00 a.m., so she was normally in bed by nine.

  After showing Audrey to the guest room, giving her fresh linen and a goodnight hug, Tangela was off to bed. Audrey, however, doubted if she would get much sleep that night. She had never been more frightened about anything in her life.

  Once she dressed for bed, she decided to try reading a novel she’d started in hopes she could relax. She expected a call from Charles some time later and had her cell phone on the night stand.

  She didn’t have to wait long. Her phone rang shortly after ten. She checked the display and the call was from Charles.

  “Hi, Charles. Did you talk to Lloyd yet?”

  “This is Lloyd, Audrey.”

  Audrey was taken aback. She hadn’t expected to speak with Lloyd directly and thought Charles would be the intermediary between them.

  “Hi, Lloyd. Did Charles tell you what happened?”

  “He did, but why don’t you tell me yourself.”

  “Well, like I told Charles, I was on my way out of the office when I overheard Ed on the phone. He was talking about you, Lloyd, and he was instructing someone to hurt you and make it look like an accident.”

  “What were his exact words, Audrey?”

  “I can’t remember every single word he said, but the part I can’t forget, that I keep playing over and over in my mind, was that he said he didn’t want you to be killed. He just wanted you to be scared—scared enough to quit.”

  “Audrey, are you absolutely sure about this? Are you sure you’re not exaggerating just a little bit?”

  “Lloyd, as God as my witness, I’m telling you the truth. Do you think I would make up something like this? I know I may have come on a little too strong in the past, but I would never lie about something this dangerous.”

  Lloyd was starting to believe Audrey’s account although he still found it hard to fathom that Ed would take things so far.

  “Do you have any idea who Ed was talking to?”

  “No. He never said the name of the person on the other end, so I don’t have any idea who it might be.

  But it had to have been someone he trusted to do his dirty work and keep quiet about it. Lloyd, I’m scared. What if Ed finds out I know something, and he sends the guy after me? I might have to quit my job and leave town.”

  “Audrey, let’s not be hasty. We have to think this through. I do appreciate you telling me this and I want to make sure you’re safe. Where are you now?”

  “I’m at my girlfriend’s house.”

  “Can you stay there for a day or two while Charles and I figure out what to do?”

  “Okay, my friend won’t mind. But I can’t hide out here forever. I’ve got some sick days I can take, but I’ll have to let them know something at the Ledger. I just can’t go back there as long as Ed is there.”

  “Charles told me he recommended you call in sick tomorrow, and I think that’s good advice. Just lay low until you hear from us, okay?”

  Audrey felt better knowing that Lloyd and Charles were now involved. “You two be careful, okay? After overhearing Ed, who knows what he’s capable of.”

  “Thanks, Audrey, and I really do appreciate you telling me this. Either Charles or I will give you a call tomorrow to check on you. Bye.”

  Lloyd hung up, took a deep breath and looked at Charles. “Well, Audrey sounds legit,” he said, as he shook his head and then pounded his fist on the bar counter. “When I get my hands on Ed, I’m going to knock the crap out of him.”

  “I agree that Ed should be dealt with, but you’ve got a bigger problem,” Charles replied. “He’s already given the go-ahead to whomever he’s hired, and we don’t know what to expect or when to expect it.”

  “Whoa, you’re right,” Lloyd said, and then he had a horrible thought. “Oh my God, I’ve got to get Stephanie and Bria out of the house. Their lives might be in danger.”

  Lloyd shuddered at the thought of harm coming to either his wife or his daughter. He became consumed with making sure they were safe.

  “Let’s go,” said Charles, shattering the temporary silence that had engulfed them. “I’ll ride with you in case something goes down.”

  311

  Gwen Richardson

  CHAPTER 48

  Few words passed between Lloyd and Charles during the ride to Lloyd’s house. They were both attempting to digest the gravity of the evening’s events and come to grips with t
he new reality: The editor of the Houston Ledger had hired a muscle man to hurt Lloyd. For all they knew, he could even be an assassin.

  Lloyd reflected on the last text message he received from Hamisi: Watch, fight and pray. At the time that he read it, he dismissed it as just another one of Hamisi’s many riddles. But he should know by now that Hamisi was anything but frivolous. His pronouncements were always a harbinger of things to come.

  Lloyd was the first to break the silence. “Thanks for making sure I knew what was going on and for riding with me, Charles. It really means a lot. You could have just dismissed Audrey’s accusations, and then God only knows what might have happened.”

  “No thanks is necessary, Lloyd. I’m sure if our situations were reversed, you’d do the same for me.”

  Charles reached inside his jacket and pulled a revolver from his belt. “By the way, I have my gun with me.”

  Charles had retrieved it from his car’s glove compartment before they left the bar. “I keep it in my car for protection. We might need it, and better safe than sorry.”

  “Do you know how to use that thing?” asked Lloyd.

  “Don’t worry. I’ve had lots of practice at the firing range. The last thing we want is to be featured in the Ledger for shooting at the assailant -- and missing.”

  They both laughed. It was a nervous kind of laughter, meant to relieve the tension they both felt. In the state of Texas, anyone who wasn’t a convicted felon was allowed to purchase and carry a firearm. And defending one’s home was considered sacrosanct. An intruder into someone’s home in Texas could be shot by the home owner without question.

  Lloyd had decided not to call Stephanie while they were in route. He wanted to help get her and Bria ready to leave and would only divulge what was absolutely necessary for now. She would instinctively know something was terribly wrong, but she would do what he asked. He had already called Ron to let him know what was happening, and Ron had agreed it would be best for Stephanie and Bria to stay with him and Shirley until the whole thing blew over.

  When they arrived at Lloyd’s house, he parked the car and took the key out of the ignition. But he didn’t immediately exit the car. He sat for a moment, collecting his thoughts.

  “Are you okay?” asked Charles, who was experiencing an adrenaline rush and was anxious to get out of the car.

  “Yeah, I’m good. Let’s go,” replied Lloyd, as he opened the car door and headed toward the house. It was after eleven and a school night, and he knew Stephanie and Bria would probably be asleep. He’d have to wake Stephanie up and give her enough details to get her packed and out of the house, which wouldn’t be easy. Since Ed’s call had occurred just a few hours ago, Lloyd didn’t think he was in any immediate danger. But he didn’t want to take any chances.

  Once they got inside, Lloyd told Charles to wait in the living room while he went upstairs. Stephanie was sleeping soundly on her stomach, and he sat by the bedside for a few seconds, then kissed her on the cheek and whispered into her left ear.

  “Hon, wake up.”

  Stephanie stirred. “Hey, you’re back huh. What did Charles want?”

  “Steph, you and Bria need to get up, pack a few things and go over to Ron and Shirley’s.”

  Stephanie had been groggy, but was wide awake now. She sat up in bed. “Why? What’s going on, Lloyd?”

  “I can’t explain it all in detail, but Ed may have set something in motion, and I’d rather be safe than sorry. It’s just an extra precaution,” said Lloyd, not wanting to alarm Stephanie any more than was absolutely necessary.

  “Something may go down, and I just want to make sure you and Bria are both safe.” Lloyd patted Stephanie affectionately on her behind. “Hurry up. Ron and Shirley are expecting you.”

  Stephanie wanted more information. She knew there had to be more to what was going on than what Lloyd was willing to say. She could see it in his eyes. But she had been married to Lloyd long enough to trust his judgment. If he was responding with this much urgency, it had to be for a good reason. Once Lloyd stood up, she threw back the covers, put on her slippers and stood up beside him. She gave him a warm embrace and kissed him gently.

  “Okay, Lloyd. Bria and I will be ready in fifteen minutes.”

  311

  Gwen Richardson

  CHAPTER 49

  Once Stephanie and Bria were gone, Lloyd and Charles settled in the living room where they planned to sleep for the night. If some perpetrator was going to try to get into the house, Lloyd wanted to be alert and ready.

  Even if he went upstairs to their bedroom, it was doubtful he would get much sleep. Better to catch the bastard off guard, should he try something tonight. He was positioned in the lounge chair facing the front of the house and had adjusted the lever to the reclined position.

  Charles had his gun with him just in case. He placed it underneath the pillow on the couch where he planned to sleep. If an intruder entered, Charles would have the pistol handy; but the guy would never know what hit him. Charles had adopted the rules from The Art of War, and the element of surprise was always an effective tool in any battle.

  Charles was finally starting to understand what, before now, he had assumed was Lloyd’s paranoia. In his wildest dreams, he would never have thought that Ed Jackson would go to such lengths for something as simple as a difference in perspective.

  In his profession, Charles had always pushed the envelope a bit; that was the best way to get noticed and get ahead. Journalists were usually rewarded for thinking outside the box and using story angles that others had ignored, overlooked or never imagined.

  But it seemed that all of Lloyd’s attempts to do essentially the same thing resulted in resistance and outrage from Ed. Charles decided that now was the best time to share his thoughts with Lloyd.

  “I want to apologize to you, Lloyd.”

  “Apologize? For what?”

  “For doubting you, and for saying you were paranoid.”

  Lloyd leaned back and laid his head on the lounge chair’s headrest. “From your point of view, Charles, I know the things I was trying to tell you were incredible. We’re all captive of our own personal universes—our own personal experiences. You could no more understand what it’s like to be a black man in America than I could imagine being in your shoes.”

  “Too many people buy into the notion that if something is not happening to them, it’s not happening at all. They act as though the people who describe instances of bias and a rush to judgment have runaway imaginations.”

  “The fact is, Charles, that these experiences are very real. That’s what happened in the case of Trayvon Martin. The guy who saw Trayvon walking down the street wearing a hoodie automatically assumed the boy was ‘suspicious.’ The end result was a dead teenager, whose life was senselessly cut short.”

  “When these situations arise, I’ve just learned to cope with them as best I can and still maintain some sense of self-worth. It’s not easy, but I learned a long time ago that crying about things I cannot change is a complete waste of time. But, Charles, I appreciate the fact that you stuck with me, in spite of your doubts.”

  Lloyd was seated, but he stood up and offered Charles his right hand for a handshake. Instead, Charles stood up and gave him a man hug.

  “How do you think Ed’s accomplice—whoever he is—will come at you?” asked Charles.

  “Your guess is as good as mine. But didn’t Audrey say that Ed wanted it to look like an accident?”

  “Yep. That’s what she said.”

  “Well, in that case, it’s probably going to be pretty subtle, something that is done quietly. It won’t be a gunshot or a bombing because then it would be obvious that there was foul play. It’s most likely going to be something we won’t suspect.”

  “You’re probably right, Lloyd,” replied Charles. Then he paused, as if waiting for Lloyd to say more, but there was silence.

  “What do we do about Ed? Do we call the cops?”

  “Let’s wait and s
ee if anything happens tonight. We don’t have any proof right now, and if we go to the police, Ed will just deny everything. Then we may be worse off than we are now. Ed will be alerted to the fact that we’re on to him. And his henchman will simply crawl back into his hole and wait for another time to strike. Then where will we be?”

  “Let’s just wait and see what happens,” repeated Lloyd. “But I’m going to be sleeping with one eye open.”

  Lloyd went over to the lamp adjacent to the couch and turned off the light. “Let’s try to get some sleep. I’m sure we’ll have a long day tomorrow.”

  He sat down and leaned back in the lounge chair, hoping nothing would happen that night but prepared for the worst. Lloyd closed his eyes, then remembered Hamisi’s message: Watch, fight and pray. He mouthed a silent prayer for Stephanie and Bria and drifted off to sleep.

  311

  Gwen Richardson

  CHAPTER 50

  Bubba parked his light truck about a block from the Palmer home, in an area that was not directly under any street lights. His truck was positioned so he could see the front of the house. Lloyd’s car was parked out front, as it had been on the nights when Bubba had cased their home. Like so many human beings—Bubba’s targets included—Lloyd was a creature of habit. They didn’t know how often those habits could be used against them, Bubba thought, with a silent smirk.

  He’d sit and wait until all of the lights were off before he would make his move. It was just after midnight, and a few lights were still on downstairs. The Palmers were up later than usual, Bubba noticed, but he didn’t think there was any reason for concern. They would be asleep soon enough, and he could get the job done and go home. It was only going to take about five minutes to sever those brake lines, and the Palmers would never know that he’d been there.

  He sat in his truck smoking a cigarette and turned on the radio to one of his favorite country stations. “Love’s Gonna Make It Alright” by George Strait was playing and Bubba hummed along. It didn’t get any better than George Strait when it came to country music. Bubba leaned back and relaxed.