“Come on over and sit down. I want to explain something to everyone,” Ben ordered.
Ben was dressed as none other than Blackbeard himself. Jack Walters sat next to him, dressed as a colonial businessman. Sheriff Carter walked over and sat down without saying anything.
“I guess the rumors are moving around town very quickly. People have been coming up to me and asking questions about Stormie and me.”
“Well, I did what you told me to do. I mentioned to some people that the two of them had been seen together a lot since you were out of town,” Sheriff Carter explained.
“Good. Jack, tonight you stay with Emma. She already knows that the two of you need to make it appear as you’re together. I’ll be with Stormie, and I’ll eventually cause a scene with her that everyone sees. After tonight, I need to be the innocent husband whose wife is having an affair with a stranger in town.”
“Be careful. I heard that Agent Emerson was in the costume shop picking up his costume for this evening. So, he’ll be here,” Jack said.
“That’s fine. It’s all part of the plan,” Ben replied.
“I don’t know if him being here is a good idea,” Sheriff Carter added.
“Why?” Ben asked.
“He confronted me on Wednesday at the coroner’s office. It didn’t go well. He’s doing whatever the hell he wants, and he doesn’t care who knows it, and he damn sure made me know it.”
“He will if I decided to have him escorted out of town. He doesn’t have any evidence. Who does he think he is?” The Judge stammered.
“He does have something. He showed Doc Glenn a photo of Delia Snipe’s body,” Sheriff Carter added.
“Where’d he get that?” Jack asked as Ben sat there, thinking.
“I don’t know, but he has it.”
“No matter. We still move forward with what we’re doing. We have the Gentlemen’s Social tomorrow night. We need that to happen,” Ben explained.
“Let’s just get through tonight, and we’ll go from there.”
***
The Pirate’s Ball was in full swing when Nathan arrived. He walked in, and the first thing he noticed was a makeshift pirate ship with the familiar skull and crossbones on it. The town attendees were all dressed as either pirates, gentlemen, loose women, or ladies. There appeared to be more loose women than ladies. But, only one person was wearing a blue English officer’s uniform. Nathan thought it was tight around the collar, but he liked how he looked in it. He still didn’t know why Stormie had selected that particular costume for him to wear.
Nathan walked around, mingling with other people, and even stopped for a snack at the refreshment stand. As he was drinking tea from a plastic cup and pretending to listen to a couple explain the history of Blackbeard, Nathan browsed the crowd and finally found her. Stormie was standing there next to her husband, wearing an elegant cream-colored gown adorned in colorful beads.
Stormie was following her husband around as he’d ordered her to do before leaving their home earlier. She, too, was looking around the room for someone, and finally, she saw him across the way. He looked very charming and handsome in his costume. She watched as he made his way over to her, and that made her smile even more.
“Good evening,” Nathan said as he walked up to the group Stormie and Ben were standing with. “It seems I have found Blackbeard himself,” he said to Ben.
“Good evening Agent Emerson. It appears that you have. Now, I do like your military uniform, but for the life of me, I don’t understand who you’re supposed to be,” Ben said and then laughed out loud.
“Well, I don’t…” Nathan started to say.
“My dear husband, do you not recognize Lieutenant Robert Maynard right before your very eyes. You, Blackbeard, of all people should recognize Lieutenant Maynard. After all, he is the one who tracked you down and killed you in hand to hand combat. He then celebrated his victory by cutting off your head and tying it to the bow of his ship.”
The sheriff, Judge Ridge, Jack, and Emma just stood there along with the other people at the party who were all at a loss for words. Emma was the first one to say something.
“I do believe that is the most descriptive and gruesome story that I’ve ever heard. I mean, I’ve never…”
“Oh, I’m sure you’ve heard worse, Emma. You do work for an attorney.”
“It was quite the story, my dear, and if my memory serves me right, that is how I, Blackbeard, met my untimely demise. May we drink in my memory,” Ben said as he raised his hand in the air for a toast with the group.
“Hear, hear,” the group cheered as they drank from their glasses.
***
Nathan made his way around the ballroom, occasionally stopping to visit with the residents. He watched the Four Horsemen as they all worked the room, contacting one powerful man after another. Nathan was sure that he recognized two sitting congressmen, two former governors, and one former senator. There were many men that he didn’t recognize, but he was sure that they were wealthy people that would be donating to a future campaign that he had heard a few of them talking about in circles.
Nathan made his way toward the back of the building toward the bathrooms and found a hallway where he could find some privacy. He walked down it a short distance and found a chair where he sat down. He didn’t like mingling, and he hated crowds more. He was sitting there when he suddenly heard the high heels of a woman walking down the hallway toward him.
“I thought you would never find me,” he said to Stormie, who was now standing in front of him.
“I had to wait until I could get out of there,” she said as she moved closer to him.
Nathan stood up and took her into his arms and kissed her passionately. She held him tightly, not wanting to let go. He was tired and wanted to leave.
“I wish we could just run away together and leave this place,” he said softly.
“So, do I,” she whispered.
The two embraced each other for a long time, and then they turned to walk back down the hallway. When they reached the end, Nathan kissed Stormie once more and motioned for her to step out first. As Stormie walked out from around the corner, Ben was standing there with three women and two men talking about a painting that was on the wall. Before she could stop him, Nathan walked out behind her.
“What do we have here, “Ben asked as he walked over to his wife.
“You do know that this is a married woman, do you not?” He said to Nathan loudly.
“I do. What do you think happened?” Nathan asked as the others watched on.
“Well, I don’t know.”
“Nothing happened,” Stormie said as she started to walk past Ben.
Ben grabbed her by the arm and turned her around, which angered Nathan. He stood there with his fist clutched and looked Ben in the eye as a larger crowd gathered. Ben decided to seize the moment. He released Stormie and walked over next to Nathan. He then looked around the room and moved his head to within inches of the FBI agent.
“How did you find the comfort of my bed?” Ben whispered, leaning in close to Nathan.
Nathan ignored the question and just stood there looking at him. Ben didn’t get the response he was looking for. He turned, looked at Stormie, smiled, and then back to his adversary.
“Well then; how did you enjoy fucking my whore wife?” Ben said in a whisper that only Nathan could hear.
Nathan reacted just the way Ben was hoping he would. He pushed Ben to the ground hard and charged after him as other men grabbed Nathan, stopping him. Sheriff Carter came over and looked at both men.
“What’s going on here?” He asked.
“Nothing Sheriff Carter. Agent Emerson and I were just reenacting the fight between Blackbeard and Lieutenant Maynard. Weren’t we Agent Emerson?” Ben said as he stood up.
“Whatever you say,” Nathan answered and walked out of the building.
Chapter 36
Nathan drove back to his room and took off the costume. He laid down on
the bed for about two hours. He was angry. He knew he should not have pushed Ben Arrington. He knew that Ben was baiting him.
Why did I take the bait? You idiot! He thought to himself.
He laid there, rerunning the scene in his head when suddenly there was a knock at the door.
Nathan jumped to his feet and grabbed his .45. He walked over to the door very quietly and stood there and listened.
“Nathan, are you in there?” Stormie whispered.
Nathan opened the door, and there she stood. She’d been crying, and there were marks on her neck. He reached for her, pulled her inside, and shut and locked the door behind her. Neither one said anything. They just held each other as she wept.
“What happened?” He asked as he examined her neck.
“After you left, people started talking in circles about the two of us. I told Ben I was leaving. He tried to stop me, but I just got in my car and drove home. Ben came home a short time later, and he began yelling at me. He said I had embarrassed him and that I was a whore. I gave it back to him and told him that I knew he had been having an affair with Emma and that I had pictures of them in some hotel room. He went crazy. He grabbed me by the neck and demanded that I give him the photos.”
“Where was Sissy?”
“I sent her to New Bern because Ben told me before the ball that he was not staying with me this weekend. He had the Gentlemen’s Social tomorrow night at the Arrington House, and he was staying there all weekend. I had planned to be with you.”
“Did you give him the photos?”
“Yes, but I have another set that he doesn’t know about. I thought he was going to kill me tonight,” she said as she closed her eyes, leaned into him, and cried some more.
“That will never happen!” Nathan said as he held her tightly.
“There’s something else.”
“What is it?” He asked.
“When Ben mentioned the Gentlemen’s Social tomorrow night, I thought about all the previous Gentleman’s Socials. I looked at the calendar in Ben’s office at home and wrote down the dates that he had socials earlier this year,” she said as she handed him a folded paper.
“What are you thinking?” Nathan asked as he held the paper with the dates.
“I want to know if they match the dates that the girls went missing,” she answered.
Nathan’s eyes widened, and he quickly went over to the dresser and opened the drawer where he removed the case file. He browsed the reports and discovered that both Delia and Rose were last seen on the same days that a Gentlemen’s Social was held.
“Was I right?” Stormie asked.
“Yes.”
“I don’t want to go home, Nathan!” Stormie declared as she sat on the bed.
“You’re not; you’re staying with me tonight,” he said as he walked past her and checked the lock on the door once more. He then wedged the chair under the doorknob.
***
He drove around town looking for something to do. He wanted to take advantage of one of the many intoxicated women leaving the Pirate’s Ball, but he decided against it. He knew the Gentlemen’s Social was being held tomorrow night and that it would be safer to find someone there to play with.
The time was growing closer and closer to take down the men he hated the most, especially Ben Arrington. He, most of all, deserved what he was planning.
They all deserve to die, but Ben Arrington deserved it the most! He thought to himself as he moved the knife back and forth under the light of the streetlight and thought about Ida.
***
Flashback Saturday, May 29, 1965
Ida’s Story
Ida Freeman was making her rounds at the party when she caught the eye of Johnathan Davenport. Johnny, as he liked to be called, enjoyed the Gentlemen’s Social more than most men that were there. He liked the light-skinned girls that Ben Arrington provided during the evening.
Usually, by the end of the night, he found his way upstairs with one or maybe two of the girls if he was willing to pay more for it, of course. Johnny knew that he would only get one evening with any one girl. He had a reputation for not being very gentle with the girls, but he didn’t care. After all, he didn’t care what some half breed said or thought about him.
Ida saw Johnny watching her. She was aware of his behavior in the bedroom, and she had heard the rumors about how he was, but she also knew that he paid more for what he enjoyed doing. If she were lucky, he would pay her enough money, and with that, he would be her only customer for the evening. She thought she may even get to go home early if he paid enough. Ida slowly made her way over to him while making sure she kept his attention by running her hands over her hips and breast. Johnny sat there on the sofa, hypnotized by her seduction.
“May I sit next to you?” She asked as she sat down before he answered. She then placed her arm around his shoulders and rubbed her breast against his arm.
“Yes. Please have a seat,” Johnny answered.
“Are you having a good time?” She asked.
“Not yet, but the night is still young.” He answered flirtatiously.
The two sat on the sofa very close to each other for nearly fifteen minutes before heading off to one of the many bedrooms upstairs. Johnny opened the door for her and then followed her inside. Ida walked over toward the bed and placed her purse down on the nightstand under the lamp. She then turned around to face Johnny, who was no more than a foot away. He smiled and looked deep into her eyes. He had already taken his penis out and was stroking himself. He leaned forward to kiss her, and Ida placed her right hand on his chest, stopping him but used her left hand to caress his manhood.
“I know you want and need it, baby, but we need to get the business part taken care of first,” Ida stated.
“I’ll pay afterward. Let’s just keep going,” Johnny responded.
“No, you’ll tell me what you want, and I’ll tell you what it will cost before we do anything. I need to make sure we have an understanding.”
“I want to fuck you!” Johnny said excitedly as he reached up and pulled her dress down, baring her breast.
“All right, but how?” She asked.
“From behind,” Johnny said as he quickly spun her around and pulled her dress up over her hips.
“Okay, but take it easy and no rough stuff. And I want two hundred dollars.”
“Okay, but I get to do what I want,” Johnny answered quickly and then threw the money down on the bed.
The men and women at the party were dancing, laughing, and having a good time when suddenly they heard a woman screaming upstairs. Everyone stopped and looked up toward the balcony and saw Ida come running out of the bedroom. Her nose was bleeding, and she appeared to be frightened. Johnny went out behind her, zipping up his pants and laughing madly.
“You’re a sick bastard!” Ida screamed as Sheriff Carter grabbed her and escorted her outside to the back of the house.
Ida was still screaming and causing a scene outside for everyone to hear. Sheriff Carter tried to calm her but was not being very successful at it. Finally, out of frustration, he slapped her across the face with his right hand.
“Shut the fuck-up!” He yelled
Ida stood there, holding her face looking at the sheriff.
“Is that what you white men like to do? Beat women?”
“You need to leave now.”
“Why, Sheriff Carter? Do I embarrass you? Are you afraid that I’ll call attention to what you sorry bastards are doing out here? What would you do Sheriff, if I called the FBI and told them how you send poor half breeds like me off to be made sterile so that you, Ben Arrington, and his friends can fuck us without worrying about getting us pregnant and taking a chance on having your bastard child?”
“Leave, and you better keep your mouth shut if you know what’s good for you,” Sheriff Carter ordered.
Ida walked over toward the sheriff and spit in his face. She then slowly walked off the porch and headed toward the driveway. Sheri
ff Carter used his handkerchief to wipe his face off and watched Ida until she disappeared in the darkness.
Ida was out on the highway next to the water’s edge when the car pulled up beside her. She stopped, placed her hands on her hips, and looked up into the sky. The driver leaned over and opened the door. Ida looked at him, shook her head in disbelief, and then climbed inside.
“You know you ain’t no better than me,” she said and then looked out the passenger side window toward Taylor Creek.
“Why do they think they can treat us that way?” Ida said as she began to cry.
The driver didn’t say anything. He did not place the car in drive. He reached over and put his hand on her shoulder and then reached down between the door and seat and retrieved his knife.
“Sometimes, I wish I could just climb into a boat and drift out to the sea. Maybe I’d wash up on some distant shore somewhere. The people that live there would treat others fairly no matter their skin color. I think that…” Ida started as she felt the knife slowly slide in between her ribs and into her heart.
Ida slowly slumped sideways against the door with her face up against the window. The driver started down the highway as Ida watched as her life slowly passed by in flashes of short memories.
Chapter 37
Saturday, July 18, 1965
Nathan kept Stormie in his room for the better part of the day out of sight. He only left the room to get them something to eat for lunch. When he returned, he laid out his plan for the evening with Stormie.
“I think you should go to New Bern and stay with Sissy. I’m going to your place and taking your boat to the Arrington House, where I’m going to try to get close enough to see what’s going on inside tonight.”
“It’s a good plan, but only one thing is wrong.”
“What’s that?” He asked.
“I’m going with you.”
“No, I don’t…” He started to protest.
“No matter what you say. I’m going,” Stormie declared.
The Secrets of Taylor Creek Page 18
