“No problem, Attorney Jones,” she said. “This will give us time to talk. I will walk you to your car; we can talk outside and not be overheard.”
As we walked out the door, Sister Lightfoot looked to her left and then right to see if we would be overheard and said, “I think the first lady had something to do with the attack on your friend. I’m almost sure of it. But I can’t prove it, and I don’t want Pastor to know. He has a lot on his plate.”
“What makes you sure she is behind this?” I asked.
“She has been having meetings with Sister Marshall for a while, and sometimes when Sister Tracey leaves, she is in tears. One time as she was leaving, she asked me to pray for her that she was doing what God wanted her to do. But I got the impression that she didn’t think she was doing the right thing, whatever it was. That story was released by the press and now I am worried about Sister Marshall. She called me last night and again asked me to pray for her. She said God wasn’t pleased with her and that she had to seek forgiveness. I tried calling her this morning, but her sister said that she had gone out early this morning to run some errands, and that she would tell her I called.”
“Thank you for letting me know, Miss Lightfoot. If there is anything I can do to help her, let me know.”
I got in my car and drove home. I needed to feed my dogs and then I would call Dr. Rodney to see if he had been in contact with Tracey again. The phone was ringing when I got home, but Uncle Artis was there and as I opened the door, I saw that he had answered the phone.
“Hello, yes, she just walked in.” He handed me the phone. “Rodney.” He showed no emotion and after handing me the phone went downstairs.
“Dr. Earls, what’s going on?”
“It’s Tracey, Gemini, she has attempted to take her life. I’m here at Methodist Northlake. I got a call from her; she was sitting in the parking lot of IUN. I could tell something was wrong, so I got her to tell me where she was and called the police. They arrived before I did, and she was slumped in her car. I think she took pills and alcohol. She is in bad shape. I called her sister and she is on her way here. Aurelia is on her way also. Can you come?”
“Dr. Rodney, I will come, but I am coming as a friend. Have the police questioned you?”
“Not yet, but they are still here.”
“Okay, I’ll be there as soon as I can. Got to feed the dogs and then I’ll be there.”
I hung up the phone and proceeded to feed the dogs. I heard Uncle Artis coming upstairs and decided I wasn’t going to tell him about Tracey. He already had issues with Dr. Rodney and I certainly didn’t want to add salt to the wound.
“You are going out again? You’re doing too much, and you just returned to work today. You are not strong enough to take on the world right now, you’re just getting yourself together. Don’t do nothing stupid.”
“I’m good, Uncle, just going to meet the Earls.”
“You let Rodney and Aurelia handle their own problems. You’re an attorney, not Joan of Arc.”
“They’re my friends, and they need my support right now. It is the least I can do. I know you don’t like them, but you are the one who always talked about the importance of loyalty.”
“There is loyalty to your family also. You trying to say that friends mean more than family?”
“Of course not, Uncle. All I’m saying is your issues with them are your issues. These people saved my life. Nothing they do can make me hate them for that. I love and support you. That is why you are here with me and not in some halfway house in Hobart. You are here with family. If you can’t recognize that I can love them and you too, that I have a heart as big as Indiana and that there is room for all of you and more, then you don’t know nor have you ever known me!”
I didn’t want to stick around and argue with him, so I left before he had a chance to respond. I arrived at the hospital a few minutes later and saw Dr. Rodney and Miss Aurelia standing in the lobby of the emergency room. A woman was standing with them. They introduced her as Vera Wiggins. She was Tracey Marshall’s neighbor and had driven Tracey’s sister to the hospital. We waited for what seemed like hours before Tracey’s nephew came out to tell us that Tracey was going to be admitted, but that she was expected to recover. She was going to be moved to the psychiatric unit for observation.
Tracey’s sister offered her apologies to the Earls for the damage her sister’s lie had done to their reputation and program. She explained that she had convinced Tracey to stop her lies, as they were hurting the Earls. She said Tracey agreed and had even agreed to recant her story. Then she received a phone call, from who she wasn’t certain. But at the end of that call Tracey became nervous. She then remembered hearing Tracey place a call to Dr. Rodney, begging his forgiveness. She said she could hear Tracey distinctly begging for his forgiveness. Then she seemed to get control of herself, came out of her room and said she was going to take a drive. And now she was lying in a hospital bed because she had been driven to take her life.
She repeated the story to the police, who then asked Dr. Rodney a few questions and seemed satisfied that this was a suicide attempt. I suggested to the Earls that they go home and get some rest. I was going home to do the same. We walked out to the parking lot together after saying goodbye to Tracey’s neighbor and nephew.
I could tell that Dr. Rodney was angry and I knew why. He was thinking about Tabitha and what she had done to cause all of this. And that is exactly what he said to me once we were in the parking lot.
“Tabitha is the cause of all of this. Somebody has got to stop her.”
“Honey, don’t do anything stupid,” Miss Aurelia said. “You have got to stay calm.”
“Calm! How in the hell do I stay calm when that evil, vindictive woman is out here ruining people’s lives?”
“Dr. Rodney, I need you to listen to me,” I pleaded. “You have got to stay calm, and under no circumstances are you to contact Tabitha or Pastor Day! Do you understand me?”
He said that he understood, but I was not so sure.
I watched them get into their car and drive off, then I got into my own car and headed home. I made a mental note to call on them tomorrow. I knew I was getting more involved than I needed to, but what could I do, Dr. Rodney had been there for me when I needed direction. How do you turn your back on someone who was instrumental in turning your life from tragedy to triumph?
I spent the next day at work, in conference with Nobel. I found her to be very sharp and very versed in law. She just needed experience in the courtroom. I felt that she was going to be a very good attorney. I could see her making partner in a few years, if she wanted to stay with the firm. I told Antoinette about Tracey’s attempt at suicide, and the admission that she lied from her sister. I also told her that Tracey would be spending a few days in the psych unit for observation. Antoinette seemed generally upset and was concerned for Tracey as were the rest of us. We both had fond memories of her during the years we spent with Dr. Rodney. She was always too willing to go that extra mile to learn from him. We never got the impression that her feelings for him went beyond teacher/student.
I asked Dr. Rodney if he had heard anything about Tracey. Miss Aurelia had placed a call to the sister who informed her that Tracey was resting and appeared in good spirits. She also told him that Tracey was preparing a letter to go to the paper. In it she was going to make a public apology to the Earls. I felt relief when I heard those words and felt that in a few days this would be the end of the attempt to ruin Dr. Rodney’s name.
I had concluded my conference with Nobel, so I left early and headed for home. I was about to get into my car when a heard a familiar voice behind me.
“I see that the queen has returned to her kingdom. Her subjects missed her terribly. Long live the queen!” I turned and faced Phillip. There was nowhere for me to run.
He looked as good as he had the day I confronted him about th
e woman in the picture—the day I threw the phone at him. I was surprised that he was dressed in a suit, then I remembered his new position. No more leather jackets and jeans; Italian cut suits and expensive ties are now part of his wardrobe.
“Thank you, kind sir,” I said. “Congratulations on your new position. How do you like being involved with espionage?”
We both laughed at my statement, and that tense moment was over. I felt relaxed with him, although there was a small ache in my heart.
“I have taken investigation to another level with this job,” he said. “I now run background checks on politicians and CEOs of companies. You would be surprised how the information highway works at that level. If I told you some of the info I have learned about people, I’m afraid I’d have to kill you.”
I laughed at his remark, but Phillip could always make me laugh. That was one of the things I loved about him and one of the things I would miss. I knew it was best if I kept my distance. He didn’t need me trying to remain his friend with Nobel around.
“Phillip, I wanted to tell you how sorry I am about the incident with the phone. I’m coming to terms with a lot of things right now. I hope you can forgive me. And just so you know, I like Nobel. I think she is good for you.”
“What in the hell is this ‘Phillip’ stuff, ‘all-my-Gemini’? That is what my comrades at the new company call me. My friends still call me Bookie! There is nothing to forgive, Gemini. You could never do anything to damage our friendship. I will always love you, and that is the truth. And I knew you would be happy for me once you got a chance to meet Nobel. She really wanted you to like her.”
He had referred to me by the nickname he gave me. That made me smile and easier for me to say what needed to be said.
“Well I do, and I wish you both the best.”
We reached out and hugged each other as if our lives depended on it. I was a little sad, but I knew it was for the best. I told him that I was headed home, but he mentioned Dr. Rodney and asked me to tell him that he would be glad to help Dr. Rodney in any way.
“Anybody that helped you get to where you are is okay by my book, and a friend for life.” He then bowed his head and said, “I must love and respect those who have served my beloved queen.”
I smiled and watched as he made his way inside the building.
Driving home, I was beginning to feel good about the way things were working out for the Earls. I felt sorry for Tracey, but I felt that with the right help she would eventually be able to move on with her life. I didn’t know how this would affect the Days and wondered if Tabitha Day’s name would come up as the culprit of this farce. Something told me that Tracey’s devotion to her pastor would prevent her from mentioning their names.
I really believed in that moment, as I pulled up to my house, that things would start to become normal again. I was going to make peace with Uncle Artis and as my daddy Cornelius Jones would say, “All would be right with the world.”
That couldn’t have been farther from the truth.
---
A few weeks passed and I was getting back into my routine. Work was good for me, and I felt ready to take on a case. Nobel had won her case and we celebrated at Club Escapades. Phillip introduced her to Poo Poo, who took an instant liking to her, and once we were alone, she said she was proud of how I was handling things. Tracey’s letter had appeared in the newspaper, but she hadn’t mentioned the Days. I wasn’t surprised, just happy that she had recanted. I talked with Dr. Rodney, who informed me that the grant monies were once again coming in and that Miss Aurelia would be returning to Ghana to help with the clinic. They both felt the clinic was important to the people of that village, and he had been approached with an idea to start a school in the village also. It looked as if things were back to normal.
The television was on and somebody in the club asked the DJ to turn down the music, because the story they were reporting happened in Gary. The story made me sick with pain and anger.
Tracey Marshall had been found in the park, dead in her car. The police were investigating.
“That woman was disturbed,” a man said, and others agreed.
“She tried to kill herself before,” I heard someone else say. “She must have succeeded this time.”
“How y’all know it was suicide? She could have been murdered. Maybe that Dr. man—the one she said made passes at her—did something to her.”
I knew he was talking about Dr. Rodney, but I held my peace. Poo Poo was looking at me as if to say, be cool, and reached out to hold my hand. But Phillip came to the rescue.
“We don’t know what happened. The police are still investigating, and believe me, the story will come out. If she killed herself or not, you know how the press loves to print bad things about Gary. We’ll find out.”
That statement made the conversation turn to how people were always putting Gary down and to the situation in the city.
I asked Poo to walk me to the door, told the people sitting at our table that I was going to check on friends, and left. I was going to call Dr. Rodney, but as I left the club, I saw him racing past me. At the speed he was going, I knew where he was headed. I jumped in my car and raced down the street to The Fishers of Men Community Church.
It was Wednesday night, which is usually Bible Study night for a few of the congregations in the city. There were a few cars parked in the lot, and as I arrived at the church, I could see Dr. Rodney get out of his car and walk swiftly to the front door. To my horror, he walked right in, and I don’t know how I got to the door so fast, but seconds later I too was inside the building. I could hear shouting as I entered and got there in time to see Dr. Rodney confronting one of the ushers, demanding to see Pastor and First Lady Day. The usher was trying to hold him back, then I saw Mattie Lightfoot come out of the offices. She approached the men and spoke softly to both men. A small crowd was coming out of one of the study rooms. I walked up to my mentor and touched his shoulder. He turned and seemed surprised to see me.
“What are you doing here, Dr. Rodney? I think we should leave. This is not the time nor the place for a confrontation. This is a house of God.”
The minute I said house of God, I knew I’d made a mistake.
“This is not a house of God; this is a house of evil. That poor woman killed herself tonight because of the evilness that dwells in this house, this symbol of the black man’s corporate America!”
Several of the members took offense to his statement and one man approached him and took a swing at him. I must admit that at his age, Dr. Rodney is still light on his feet. He ducked the punch and proceeded to punch the man in the face. Two men had the sense to grab each fighter and separate them. By this time Pastor and First Lady Day came out to see what was going on. I watched the expression on Tabitha’s face; she was terrified. Her secret was about to come out and she knew it.
The pastor, however, remained calm and asked Dr. Rodney if he’d like to speak with him in private. He then turned to the members of his congregation and told them to go home and pray. Things were under control. The crowd did as they were told. The two men released Dr. Rodney and the other man, and went out with the others. That left the pastor, Tabitha, Mattie Lightfoot, the usher, and me standing in the hallway. Dr. Rodney declined the invitation to join the pastor in his study.
“Tracey Marshall is dead,” he told the Days. “Her sister called me to tell me the police think it was suicide. She succeeded this time.” Then he turned to Tabitha and said, “For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning and has always hated the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies it is consistent with his character, for he is the father of lies.”
I knew that particular scripture, and my blood ran cold. It was one of the scriptures that was quoted to me when I was in Mamie Wells’ house of hell. John 8:44.
&nb
sp; Pastor Day hadn’t noticed that he was looking at his wife and thought that the quote was for him.
“I assure you, Dr. Earls, that I am shocked to hear about Sister Marshall, and that I did all that I could to help her. She was here this morning asking for prayer and guidance. My wife spoke with her and we both prayed with her before she left.”
I was sure that whatever transpired between Tabitha and Tracey had caused Tracey to end up dead. Dr. Rodney knew this, as well as Mattie Lightfoot. I saw the look of contempt on her face as she looked at Tabitha. The only people who didn’t have a clue of the evilness of this woman were her husband and the usher who had remained.
“Pastor, I apologize to you for coming into your temple and making a scene. Something tells me you are a sincere man; I only hope that God delivers you.”
The pastor had no idea what that statement meant. But I did, and for some reason it frightened me.
The two of us left the church and I watched Dr. Rodney go to his car. Just as he was about to get in, someone approached him and sucker punched him in the face. The blow startled him for a second, but he then delivered a blow to other man’s face and the fight was on. I realized with horror that he was fighting my Uncle Artis, and I ran to them to try to stop the fight.
The usher who had stopped Dr. Rodney earlier got to them before I did. He managed to pull Dr. Rodney away, but not before Uncle Artis delivered another blow to his face. He then looked up and saw me standing there. Without saying a word, he turned to walk away, but not before I said, “I want you out of my house. I don’t give a damn where you go, but I want you out of my house tonight!”
He turned to me and said, “I moved out this morning, and you go to hell!”
I could tell he was mad, but that didn’t faze me. He knew one thing: I was not afraid of him.
“Hell isn’t big enough for the both of us, Uncle. It isn’t big enough!”
I didn’t see my uncle for a long time after that.
The Future of My Past Page 13
