The Secrets of Taylor Creek

by Michael Merson

  “Yeah, I’m right behind you.”

  Before he knew it, Nathan found himself sitting there quietly next to Stormie on the pier. He mimicked her by removing his shoes. Their bare feet dangled close to the surface of Taylor Creek. In the distance, the sun also hung closer to the water’s surface as the evening hours approached. All he wanted to do at that moment was slow it down for a little bit longer. He desired to stop the present before it was nothing but a memory of the past.

  “You’re not scared, are you?” She said, breaking the silence.

  “Scared? Scared of what?” He asked in surprise and turned to face her.

  “Havin’ your bare feet so close to the water. I mean, an alligator could just come out of the darkness below and swallow you all up,” she said and then laughed out loud.

  Her laugh was contagious, and he soon found himself laughing right along with her until their stomachs ached.

  “I’m not from around here. How was I supposed to know that alligators were uncommon here?”

  “You’re not. But, honey, I couldn’t pass that up!”

  “You know it’s funny that you mentioned how an alligator could come up here and get us right off this very pier.”

  “Why’s that?” She asked curiously.

  “Well, about a year ago, a woman was sitting on her pier when she saw this huge gator swimming dangerously close.”

  “Did it eat her? It ate her, didn’t it?” Stormie said as she pulled her legs up from near the water.

  “Well, you see, the lady began feeding this monster-sized alligator large fish and whole chickens that she got from the local grocery store. Every day like clockwork, she would throw all this uncooked meat into the water, and then she’d watch as this gator tore through it.”

  “Did she fall in one day?” Stormie asked excitedly.

  “Wait, it gets better,” he said, purposely putting her off as he built up the excitement.

  “You see, this lady went out one day, and the gator wasn’t there.”

  “Where did it go? Was it onshore? Was it behind her?” Stormie asked as she once more interrupted.

  “No, no, nothin’ like that. Listen. When she didn’t see Old Blue…”

  “Old Blue! She named it Old Blue? My Heavens, it was her pet!”

  “Yes. I didn’t say that before?”

  “No, no, you didn’t. You can’t leave stuff like that out of a story you’re telling.”

  “Well, yeah, she named him Old Blue because he had one eye that was damaged from a fight with another gator, and it left one eye all discolored with a blue film over it. Anyway, when the lady didn’t see Old Blue, she sat on the pier and let her legs dangle over the dark water with that uncooked chicken sitting right next to her. She sat there on that pier for a while, swinging her feet back and forth, waiting for Old Blue to come swimming over.”

  “That’s scary!” Stormie said.

  “What she didn’t know was that Old Blue was right there under the pier.”

  “Old Blue was right under her? Oh my!”

  “Yep, and before long Old Blue caught sight of those dangling feet moving back and forth right above him, and he didn’t waste any time. He quickly lunged for the surface, and in a flash, he had her foot in his powerful jaws.”

  “Oh my! What on Earth did she do?” Stormie asked as she placed her hand over her mouth.

  “Well, she held onto the pier until Old Blue got what he wanted and swam away.”

  “He got her foot?”

  “Yep, he sure did.”

  “What did the lady do?”

  “She had some family near the water, and they rushed her to the hospital.”

  “Did she live?”

  “Oh, yes. She’s a waitress over in Raleigh.”

  “Waitress! How can a one-footed woman work as a waitress?” Stormie asked suspiciously.

  “You don’t believe me. Okay, just go down to Frank’s Diner in Raleigh and ask for Eileen.”

  “Eileen?”

  “Yes, Eileen. What else would you call a woman with only one foot?” He answered and laughed.

  “Oh, Nathan, you got me!” She declared as the two filled the air with laughter.

  The occasional jokes between them continued throughout the evening, along with conversations about his career and all the different places he had traveled to with the FBI. He told her about the civil rights cases he had helped investigate over the years.

  He expressed his feelings about the Medgar Evans case in Jackson, Mississippi, which was followed by the 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing in Birmingham in September of that same year. He told her of his return to Mississippi during the summer of 1964, where he helped investigate the death of three civil rights workers in Neshoba County. He even told her about the investigation in Miami.

  “My word! Nathan, I don’t think I know of anyone who has seen more inhumane acts than you. How in the world are you able to sleep at night? I think I’d have nightmares.”

  “I think of the good things that people do when things like that happen.”

  “The good things?”

  “Yeah, the good things, like the volunteers who were both black and white. That’s bravery. I mean to show up to help in some of the most volatile atmospheres filled with hate and random acts of violence. The volunteers go to those places to comfort the mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers who have lost a loved one. With courage and determination, they rebuild from the ruins, sending a message to others that they will stand fast and continue their fight against hate.”

  “I think you’re a very good man Nathan Emerson.”

  They shared stories of the past and laughed out loud many times. He didn’t remember when it happened or how it happened, nor did he care, but somehow, they ended up holding hands on that pier as the moon found its way into the late night sky.

  How does one stop time? Nathan asked himself.

  Chapter 26

  It was a long drive, but Emma and Ben reached Savannah just in time to have a late dinner at Red’s Steak and Seafood with Johnathan Davenport, one of Georgia’s richest men, who also just happened to be an old law school friend of Ben’s.

  Johnny, as he liked to be called, owned many cotton farms with clothing factories along the east coast of Georgia, South Carolina, and, most importantly, North Carolina. Most men would like to say they built an empire like that, but Johnny couldn’t because he was simply born into it. Ben knew that, and Emma suspected Ben of being jealous. But she also expected that Ben had a plan, and he knew how to use Johnny and his family money to his advantage. Ben expected a great deal of financial support from Johnny, and Johnny anticipated much more from the future governor.

  The two men had some things in common. For instance, like Ben, Johnny was married, but unlike Ben, Johnny had five children at home in his Atlanta mansion. One of the other things they had in common was the company of women who were not their wives. Johnny was out tonight with his very young girlfriend.

  Libby was maybe in her mid-twenties. She was blonde, and Emma thought she resembled Marilyn Monroe, or that is who Libby sought to mimic, anyway. While Ben and Johnny discussed politics, the two mistresses boasted about the latest fashions they owned and the gifts that they had recently received. With each new dress or handbag from France, the women made it a point to outdo the other.

  Emma didn’t care much for Libby and thought she was nothing more than a common whore, and like all common whores, she would be gone within a month or two after Johnny grew tired of her. She had seen many whores like her come and go with Ben’s wealthy friends, and she had grown accustomed to their presence and looked forward to their absence.

  “If you would excuse me, I’d like to check my face before we leave,” Emma said as she stood and started toward the bathroom.

  “I’ll join you, honey,” Libby said as she stood and followed behind Emma.

  Ben and Johnny stood slightly as the women left the table and then continued talking about what each one could
expect from the other in the near future.

  “I do like your purse,” Libby said in a thick Southern drawl as she spoke while looking into the mirror. Emma’s purse was an expensive Chanel that was given to her by Ben last Christmas.

  “Well, thank you,” Emma responded with a smile. The compliment had caught her off guard, and for a moment, she thought maybe she could like Libby.

  “I had one just like it, and I gave it to my niece last week after Johnny bought me this new Chanel,” Libby added quickly as she placed her new Chanel on the sink and looked through it.

  “I don’t usually keep one longer than six months as I find it out of fashion to do so,” she said sarcastically as she traced her lips with bright red lipstick.

  “Oh, I see. Well, that was very kind of you to give it to your niece. It seems you’re livin’ in high cotton these days. And I do mean high cotton. Who would’ve thought a simple cotton farmer could fare so well or even a simple whore for that matter,” Emma replied as she turned and faced Libby.

  “I’ve never…” Libby started to protest as she placed her hands on the sink.

  “And you never will. You’re nothin’ more than the current interest for that cotton farmer. In a couple of years, when you’re still giving blowjobs in the back seat of a fancy car to some fat, rich, and married businessman in the parking lot of your trailer park, I’ll be hosting a party at the Governor’s Mansion.”

  “Johnny is gonna leave his wife for me, you two-bit…”

  “Johnny ain’t leavin’ his wife. The whore he brought to dinner two months ago thought the same damn thing you do,” Emma added as Libby’s face turned a lighter shade.

  “Oh, you thought you were the only one. Bless your heart!” Libby just stood there, not knowing what to say or do.

  “By the way, sweetheart, later tonight, when we all go back to the hotel, you should prepare yourself for what Ben and Johnny like to do at the same time. I won’t ruin the surprise by telling you now, but if you need to go to the bathroom, I’d do it now.”

  Emma was pleased with herself as she walked out of the bathroom, where she left Libby standing in front of the mirror.

  ***

  The passenger seat next to Stormie was rather comfortable, Nathan thought, as Stormie drove her new sports car much slower than any car of its design should go. Nathan believed that Stormie was in no hurry for the evening to end, just as he wished it would not. She had pulled her hair back into a ponytail, revealing her long thin neckline and a small light brown birthmark that was the shape of a circle below her right ear.

  “Are you staring at me?”

  “Actually, I was looking across over toward the lighthouse.”

  Liar, he thought to himself.

  “That’s too bad,” she responded, not looking away from the road.

  “Why?”

  “I thought maybe you were looking at me, and a girl likes to be looked at.”

  He didn’t really know what to say, and out of panic, he said the first thing that came to mind.

  “You ever been to the lighthouse over there?” He asked quickly.

  You idiot! He thought.

  “Yes, Sissy and I picnic there sometimes when we want to get away from the house on Saturdays or Sundays during the summer. The ocean pushes a nice cool breeze through the channel.”

  “Why would you want to get away from that beautiful home of yours on the water?”

  “Because my husband doesn’t go out of town every weekend,” Stormie answered without hesitation.

  Nathan didn’t know how to respond but decided to change the subject. “Do you know where I can rent a boat?”

  “Why in the world do you need a boat?” Stormie asked as she brought the car to a stop after pulling into the parking lot of the bed and breakfast.

  “I need to go out on the water again tomorrow, but I don’t want to bother the boys on a Saturday. I took up a lot of their time today.”

  “You don’t need to rent a boat. Just come by tomorrow, and I’ll take you where you need to go in my boat,” Stormie offered.

  “I couldn’t bother you again.”

  “No bother. I’ll make another lunch, and we can even go by the lighthouse if you’d like.”

  “I’d like that, as long as you don’t have anything else to do tomorrow,” he said.

  “How does nine work for you?”

  “Fine,” he answered quickly.

  “Then nine it is.”

  Nathan sat there for a moment, trying to think of something to say. He looked toward the waterfront and then turned toward Stormie and was met with her lips pressing against his. For a moment, the two were locked together. Stormie was the one who pulled away but very slowly.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered while gazing into his eyes as she rubbed his arm with her hand. Nathan slid his right hand along her cheek, under her ear, and cradled the back of her head as he pulled her closer. Stormie knew what she should do but ignored those thoughts. He kissed her wantonly.

  “Turn the car off,” he whispered as he continued to kiss her lightly.

  “I can’t.”

  Nathan stopped and looked at her with eyes that held a burning fire of passion within them. She felt wanted, and she desperately longed for him. She reached up and placed her hands on the sides of his head.

  “Not now, later,” she said and kissed him once more.

  “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Then morning it is,” he said and opened the car door and slowly got out while holding her hand.

  He stood there in front of the bed and breakfast until she was on the main road heading home before he turned and walked inside.

  She sped through town, singing along with the radio. The words that blared from the speakers never had more meaning to her than at that very moment; “You don’t own me anymore.” She smiled and shook her head in disbelief.

  What are you doing? She asked herself.

  She thought back to the kiss. She thought of the two of them sitting on the pier and how she enjoyed listening to his stories while holding his hand.

  It felt so good!

  How much she wanted him to lean into her and kiss her then. As she drove, she replayed the day over and over in her head.

  She was so caught up in her thoughts that she failed to notice Sheriff Carter behind her. He turned on his siren and motioned for her to pull over. Stormie pulled into an empty parking lot and put the car in park. She waited for Sheriff Carter to walk up to her door.

  “Evening, Mrs. Arrington.”

  “Evening, Sheriff. I don’t believe I was speeding,” she said as she looked up from the driver’s seat.

  “No ma’am, you weren’t. Ben asked that I look in on you while he was out of town. When I saw you go by back there, I said to myself, what could Mrs. Arrington be doing out this late? I figured that there must be something wrong. So, here we are.”

  “Well, everything is just fine, Sheriff. You see, I bought this car the other day and just decided to take it out for an evening drive,” Stormie answered back as she noticed the Sheriff looking at her black eye.

  “It certainly is a fine car, Mrs. Arrington, but you should be careful and shouldn’t be out running around like this when your husband is out of town. I mean, what would folks think or say?”

  “I imagine they would say it’s about time she enjoyed herself or maybe, someone who really gave a damn would ask how she got that black eye. Something that you’ve yet to inquire about. Have a good night, Sheriff. And, when you report back to my husband, make sure you don’t leave anything out,” Stormie said sarcastically as she pressed the gas hard, spinning the tires and throwing dirt and gravel onto the sheriff and his car.

  ***

  He looked around the area to make sure he was alone before he opened the trunk. Once he was satisfied that no one was watching, he placed the key into the lock and turned it to the right. Upon hearing the latch pop, he raised it up. He then reached inside, where he placed both h
ands under the black wool blanket and lifted her body into the air. He looked around once more and then started to walk backward away from the car, holding his victim in his arms.

  She was heavy.

  But hell, they were always heavy afterword, he thought to himself.

  The road was narrow with ditches on both sides, and it was the ditch to the left of him that he had to cross. He slowly and very carefully stepped down into the ditch and braced his foot along its edge and then lifted the other. The dirt beneath him shifted, and he slipped and fell backward onto the ground with the lifeless body of Bessie Jones landing on top of him.

  “Damn it!” He yelled as he slid the body off him and then watched it roll down into the ditch.

  The blanket was no longer covering her. Her eyes were open, and her naked and tortured body glistened in the moonlight. She looked as though she was staring at a distant star. He sat there in the dirt for a few moments, hypnotized by it all. He then stood, brushed himself off, bent over, picked her up again, and made his way to the water’s edge.

  Standing next to Galant Point with Bessie in his arms, he looked around the shoreline, making sure he was alone before carrying her into the calm water. He gradually walked further and further into the serene bay until the water was up to his waist. He slowly lowered her into the water but paused momentarily to take one last look. He thought she looked quite at peace. He leaned over and kissed her before slowly pulling his arms away. He watched as she slowly disappeared into the darkness below.

  ***

  Deep down, Emma knew that Ben had other plans for the evening that he didn’t share with her during their drive into Savannah from Beaufort.

  Emma sat on top of Johnny naked while Libby sat across from her on his face. Libby caressed and lightly kissed Emma’s naked breasts while she slowly moved back and forth on the wealthy businessman as his hands gripped her buttocks tightly.

  Physically Emma enjoyed the activities that she was experiencing, but deep down emotionally, she was disconnected, and for the first time, she felt disconnected from the man she thought she loved. Now, just as Ben placed the camera down and moved toward the bed, she found herself questioning her relationship and her connection to the man she thought she would one day marry.