After All (31 page)

“
Hey, I know it feels good
to sit in the anchor's chair, but you gotta get up now,” Kate said
grinning at her.

“
Oh, yeah.” Michelle started
as her eyes flew open.

She stood up and gathered up the papers
in front of her trying to conceal her confusion. With one last
look, she left the set. Her heart sank at the sight of jolly faces
filling the newsroom. With a deep breath, she steadied herself to
pretend.

“
For she's a jolly good
fellow!” Earl lifted a cup of punch.

“
Great work, Toussaint.”
Nathan nodded at her.

Forcing a smile, Michelle accepted the
shower of congratulations on her performance. Seeing the banner of
congratulations, the punch bowl, and the nuts and cookies brought
tears to her eyes. Michelle opened her mouth but words would not
come out.

“
You worked hard to get
there, Michelle. We're happy for you.” Earl gave her a peck on the
cheek.

“
Thanks, everybody. Really.”
Michelle grabbed tissues from Kate's out stretched hand and dabbed
her eyes.

After a few minutes, the crowd shifted
leaving her standing apart with Gracie.

Gracie studied her face before
speaking. “So this is a big night, huh?”

“
I've looked forward to this
for a long time.” Michelle's voice was subdued. She stared down at
the full glass of now lukewarm punch she still held.

“
If you don't mind my
saying, you look less than overjoyed. Want to talk about it?” Grace
gave Michelle's arm a pat.

“
No. Not now. Let's join the
party.” Michelle left without looking back at her. She plunged into
a lively conversation with Earl and Bob pretending a heartiness she
did not feel.

Later that night, Michelle sat with
Laree and Shantae at the Shake, Rattle, and Roll Lounge, a
nightclub featuring live bands playing the blues. Her friends saw
right through her act despite her attempts to be merry. They had
tried to lift her spirits for over an hour.

“
This is more like a wake
than a celebration,” Shantae finally blurted out.

“
Hush, Shantae,” Laree
admonished her.”Michelle is trying to have a good time even though
she's heartbroken. I'm sorry,” she stammered and
fidgeted.

“
Will you two stop it. I'm
fine.” Michelle avoided looking at them and took a sip of her
strawberry daiquiri.

“
We've been doing most of
the talking, 'Chelle. And the dancing. Every time a guy asks you to
get on the floor, you look at him as if he had horns sticking out
of his head. You're miserable.” Shantae shook a finger at
her.

“
I'm not miserable,”
Michelle snapped. “I'm not interested in any men right now. Being
uninvolved has its advantages.”She sat up straight, squaring her
shoulders.

“
Is that right?” Shantae
arched an eyebrow at her.

“
Yes, that's right,”
Michelle said defensively.”I can concentrate on my career for one
thing.”

“
Sure, you'll have plenty of
free time now. No long weekends with Anthony. No reason to rush
home for a date with him...” Laree's voice trailed off as she saw
the gloomy look on Michelle's face. “I mean, think of all the
things you can get done. Not being distracted and--”

“
Don't try to help, Laree.”
Shantae cut Laree off as she floundered to repair the damage.”Have
you tried talking to Anthony, Chelle?”

“
What's to talk about? Our
relationship was doomed from the start. He can't accept that Ike is
a crook, and I won't pretend he isn't.” Michelle's face hardened
from one of sadness to determination.

“
It's a shame, though. Y'all
are crazy about each other,” Shantae sighed.

“
Well, it's time to move on.
I've accepted that ending our relationship was for the best.”
Michelle scanned the room. She smiled at a man approaching. “You're
right. I'm going to stop moping around. Dancing isn't a bad idea at
all.”Ignoring their looks of disbelief, she sprang up to follow
him.

Michelle got home at two in the
morning. She undressed quickly and took a warm shower. All night
she had done her best to be the life of the party. Yet her laughter
sounded hollow. The dancing and loud music had shut out painful
memories only for short while. Now she lay in bed curled up with
the comforter pulled around her. The quiet closed in on her. Her
battle to blot out the ache of wanting Anthony began again.
Michelle cried softly into the pillow as she drifted into a fitful
slumber.

***

“
What's wrong, Anthony?”
Lizabeth put down her fork.”You've been picking at your food for
ten minutes. Those candied yams are mashed up fine enough to pass
through cheese cloth.”She pointed to his still full
plate.

“
Guess I'm tired from all
the hours I've been putting in at work.” Anthony squirmed under her
gaze.

“
Try again.” Lizabeth folded
her arms and continue to watch him.

“
Aw, Mama. Cut it out. I'm
fine.” Anthony wiped his mouth. He still would not meet her
gaze.

“
You had it out with
Michelle about that story on Ike. Yes, I saw all of them.” Lizabeth
nodded at him as he looked up sharply.

“
Then you know how one sided
it was. Nothing is more important to her than getting revenge on
Uncle Ike. Except maybe being a big time television news
celebrity,” Anthony said in a bitter voice.

“
I know how much she means
to you, child. I also know Ike.”

“
She is not right, Mama!
Uncle Ike would never put people in danger so he can stuff his
pockets.” Anthony spoke vehemently.

“
Michelle may have had no
choice but to report what others are saying,” Lizabeth said in a
calm, level voice. Reaching out, she placed a hand on his arm. “She
can't be just making all this up to get revenge on Ike. They
wouldn't let her say those things on television if that were
so.”

“
Mama, the name of the game
is ratings. They'll report lies, rumors, innuendo; anything to grab
a big share of the viewing audience.” Anthony wore an angry frown.
He pushed his plate away.

“
I've known Michelle since
she was a child. I can't believe she'd do anything like what you're
saying. And from the way you talked about her, I don't think you
believe it deep down either.” Lizabeth touched his hand.

“
Mama, I've got to accept
that Michelle and I can't make it. It's over between us.”Anthony
got up and began clearing the dishes from the table.”Let's talk
about something else.”

Lizabeth did not press the issue. As
they had at least once a week since his return home, they spent the
rest of the evening talking about his work, church projects, and
playing a trivia game. Yet beneath his light chatter, Anthony felt
heaviness in his chest. To have Michelle back in his life only to
lose her again pained him more than he could put into words. He had
foolishly convinced himself that they could work out differences
about his uncle. Anthony could not deny the strong passion she
kindled with only a smile. But he felt used and betrayed. Maybe she
had even used him to get information for her reports. Anthony
closed his eyes and immediately the sweet memory of her fiery
kisses, the smooth satin brown skin beneath his fingers, and the
tiny gasps in his ear as they made love came to him. Doubts
assailed him. Could he be wrong? He could almost hear her musical
laugh. With a start, he realized her was hearing her laugh. It came
from his mother's television. Anthony opened his eyes to see
Michelle joking with the weatherman. His anger returned as he
watched her flash a lovely smile at the camera before signing off.
What did she care for the truth? At last she was an anchor woman.
Michelle was on top of the world. And she had stepped on him to get
there. Anthony clenched his teeth. Punching the buttons of the
remote, he changed the station.

***

“
I don't understand what
this is all about.” James Bridges mopped his forehead with an
expensive linen handkerchief. “You know how those reporters
operate. They'll do anything for a story that'll make a big
splash.” His eyelids twitched as his eyes darted an anxious glance
at the faces around him.

“
Let's talk about some of
your dealings with the East Baton Rouge Housing Authority, Mr.
Bridges. The Mayfair construction project for example.” The young
man in the dark gray business suit did most of the talking while
the District Attorney sat quietly.

“
Mayfair?” Bridges squeaked
in a strained voice. He shifted in his seat.”Why that was, uh-hum,
straight-forward. I mean..., well Ike Batiste got that work. Why
are you asking me this?”

“
You played a role we
understand with Ms. Kinchen?”

“
Look, Mr. Connely, just
what is your assistant implying? I have my rights.” Bridges
mustered up an indignant tone.

“
Wheelwright isn't my
assistant, Mr. Bridges. He's with the U. S. Attorney's
office.”

Bridges stared with wide eyes, his
mouth slack. “Th--thh-- the U. S. Attorney?” he croaked.

“
Because federal funds could
be involved, U. S. Attorney Lewis has asked to be that his staff be
brought in on our interviews to review what we have so far.”
Connely spoke crisply.

Bridges twisted the damp handkerchief
between his fingers. “I want my lawyer.”

***

“
Dominic, if anything
happens to me you talk to the police, all right?” T'aneka glanced
over her shoulder nervously.

“
T'aneka, what is going on
with you? Calling me at eleven at night to meet you here.” Dominic
waved a hand at the mostly empty table of the all night
diner.

“
They know. Something should
have told me what was up when Lonnie kept letting me handle a lot a
paperwork he used to do all himself.” T'aneka chewed on a
fingernail.

“
Know what? What paperwork?
T'aneka, you're not making any sense. Calm down and tell me what's
wrong.” Dominic pulled her hand away from her mouth and held it
tightly.

T'aneka took a deep breath after
looking over her shoulder for the third time. She spoke in a low
voice with her head close to his. “You know Michelle had those
stories on the news about crooked stuff going on at the Authority,
right?”

“
Right.” Dominic
nodded.

“
She's been getting
information from a source inside the Authority.” T'aneka gripped
his hand and whispered, “Me.”

“
What?” Dominic yelled then
immediately lowered his voice when startled restaurant employees
stared at them. “Are you crazy? You shouldn't be taking a chance
like that with somebody like Lonnie. Wait until I get my hands on
Michelle!”H is face hardened. “Letting you take that kind of risk
so she can get a story.”

“
She doesn't know it's me,
Dominic,” T'aneka said quickly. “A friend of mine gave her the
stuff I copied. He didn't tell her who was giving it to
him.”

“
But why, T'aneka? I thought
you were so loyal to Charlotte.”

“
I grew up in the projects,
Dom. It's never been the best place to live, but it was home. For
years people in charge of the projects have stuffed their pockets
while we live in run-down apartments. I got sick of it,” T'aneka
said in a voice heavy with resentment. “Things are getting worse.
We figure it's time the tenants get active in cleaning the place
up.”

“
But a few repairs not
getting done isn't a reason--” Dominic loosened his hold on her
hand and began to draw away.

“
Dominic, come on. You saw
some of those apartments. A lot of them are unsafe. Not to mention
unfit to live in. Lonnie and his gang control drugs in the
projects, and take money from folks for protection; not making
repairs ain't the half of it.” T'aneka held onto his hand. “And
Buster is in it, too.”

“
It's hard for me to believe
Buster would go for that, T'aneka.” Dominic frowned.

“
I've seen the work
invoices. He knows about Lonnie cause his buddy Ike Batiste helped
him get out of jail.”T'aneka's eyes narrowed with anger. “I'm not
lying about all this, Dom.”

“
No, no. I didn't say you
were, it's just...” Dominic drew his palm over his face as though
trying to clear his head.

“
Buster Wilson is up to his
neck in it, Dom.”

Dominic spoke in a low voice. “I didn't
want to admit it, but some of the conditions did shock me. Now I
understand why invoices were date stamped paid before I did the
repairs. And why he got so mad when he found out I'd done them.
Man!”

“
He's as much a crook as
Lonnie.” T'aneka hammered home the unpleasant truth.

Dominic's face was grim as he accepted
it. He glanced uneasily at two men who entered the restaurant. They
sat at a table across the room. “What makes you think Lonnie's on
to what you've been doing?”

“
Little things. Like going
out of his way to give me work orders. He made a comment about how
I much I know about what goes on around there. The other day I was
in the storeroom moving some boxes to make room for more records. I
turned around and he was standing right behind me. `Be careful with
them files. You could hurt get hurt,' he said.”T'aneka shivered.
“And he had a nasty grin on his face.”