Color of Justice (20 page)

“How?” asked Janis.

“I didn't have breakfast. I need a piece of fruit.”

Danny got off the freeway at Grand Boulevard. They drove to Woodward Avenue. Danny watched as Janis looked at the area with amazement and scorn. This was the world her parents warned her about, and here she was in the middle of it.

“The mayor has a lot of work to do on this town,” said Janis.

“Black people have run this town for the last thirty years or so. What do you think of that?” asked Danny.

“That's a complicated question,” said Janis. “We're just now getting to the root of the prob
lems of large urban areas. And there was a lot of trouble we inherited that was started by other people.”

Danny turned left on Clairmount and headed west. The neighborhood was rough. Old gray buildings, potholed streets, and unkempt sidewalks, hopeless-looking old black men and dangerous-looking young ones. He felt invigorated by the sight of all these things. Janis's eyes narrowed and her face took on a look as if she smelled something bad. She could see that there was no joy on Joy Road in Detroit.

Danny stopped at a shabby-looking market on Joy. The parking lot had a few cars in it by the building. Two cars filled with black men sat in a corner away from the store, engines running.

“Why are we stopping here?” asked Janis.

“They have good fruit here,” said Danny. “Come on in.”

They went inside the market and Danny immediately smelled the strong aroma of fresh onions and produce. There were a few customers already in line. A young black girl holding a handcart of goods talked on a mobile phone. A white woman about thirty scolded her two kids in a voice that sounded decidedly black. Danny looked at her for a moment and saw the contrast. That was how people must react to me, he thought. He had to admit it was weird.

“This place is in a bad neighborhood,” said Danny. “In fact, the crime rate here averages
twenty percent higher than the rest of the city. But this store gets one of the first runs from the market, so their produce is the best.”

Danny and Janis went to the produce section and took in the lush beauty of the fruit and vegetables piled high. The rest of the market looked shabby, but this section was immaculate.

Danny and Janis picked out fruit while behind them at the service counter a heavyset black woman argued with a Chaldean man of about forty. Danny noticed the man passed the woman a few bills then she stomped off, her big necklace swinging and making a jangling noise. The man laughed and put something in a drawer.

“Andy,” said Danny to the man, walking over to him.

Andy looked alarmed at seeing Danny then locked up something behind the counter.

“A friend?” asked Janis.

“Not this time,” said Danny.

“Danny the cop,” said Andy. His Middle Eastern accent was thin, but noticeable. “What do you want?”

“I want to know why you just bought two Social Security checks off that lady who stomped out of here.”

“Ain't no law against cashing a check,” said Andy.

“Give them to me,” said Danny.

Andy mumbled, then handed Danny the colorful checks.

“I think I'll call the owners of these,” said Danny, “and see if they're missing their monthly. They're probably getting replacements from the government, but by the time they do, these will be processed, right? What did you pay for them, ten cents on the dollar?”

Andy frowned at Danny and said something in another language, which Danny took to be cursing.

“You have a nice day, too,” said Danny. He left Andy some money for the fruit then walked out with Janis.

“Now when we get back out, both of the cars with those brothers in them will be gone.”

When they got outside, sure enough, the two cars had vanished.

“Neat trick,” said Janis. “So what's the deal?”

“I saw the government check paper flash when the big woman passed it to Andy. But there was a lot more than just that going on in there.”

“I'm listening,” she said. “Dazzle me with this gift of yours.”

“The white girl with the two kids,” began Danny. “The kids were black, but they looked nothing alike. Different fathers or she was babysitting for a friend with a job. And she was buying enough groceries for ten people. She could have more at home, which is not likely, or she stole food stamps and is buying the food to sell it, also unlikely. It's easier to just sell the food stamps. Or she's buying groceries for people who can't get out of the house and charging them a fee. That's the
most likely thing. She was harmless. The young girl on the phone was a drug dealer. She had three pagers on her belt and two cell phones. Her jewelry was expensive and flashy, bling, bling. In her basket she had hot dogs, beans, white bread, and a large Faygo red pop. Her kids are about six or seven, and she don't like to make complicated food for them. When I busted Andy, she hung up one phone and dialed another. That was her calling whoever those men were in one of the cars and telling him some detectives are around. That's why both cars ghosted.”

Janis was impressed. She took all this in with a measured and analytical look. “If I didn't know better, I'd say you were making this all up to impress me.”

“Let's just say that I wanted you to see that I'm not traumatized like you say. This is just life, the life I'm used to. The ghetto don't discriminate. It's an equal opportunity muthafucka—” Danny stopped as he saw something across the busy street.

“What?” asked Janis.

“I don't know,” said Danny. “Come on.”

Danny and Janis got into the car and pulled out of the parking lot. He drove down a residential street, trailing a young black man wearing a warm-up jacket and a baseball cap.

“Who is it?” asked Janis.

“Jordan Grace,” said Danny. “His father is—”

“Hamilton Grace,” said Janis. “I saw his name on the suspect list.”

“This kid Jordan is Grace's illegitimate son. He adopted him, but I get the feeling that he's still treated like an outsider kid by Grace.”

“What's he doing in this neighborhood?” Janis asked almost to herself.

“That's what we're going to find out.” Danny kept following him, trying to keep a good distance back.

Jordan Grace whipped out a cell phone, then got into a new SUV, and roared off down the street. Danny followed him until he got to the freeway, then Danny stopped and turned around.

“We're not going to follow him?” asked Janis.

“No,” said Danny. “Whatever he was here for, he finished. He's headed back home.”

“So what does it mean, Sherlock?” asked Janis.

“I'm not sure,” said Danny. “Not yet.” He didn't mind Janis calling him Sherlock because she said it with something akin to admiration.

Danny remembered how Jordan Grace was kind of the stepchild in that family, but eager to please his father. What if he wanted to take out the Bakers and Olittah Reese because of the embarrassment they caused his father? Danny noticed for the first time that Jordan was lighter in skin tone than Hamilton Grace and his legitimate son, Logan.

“I think maybe Jordan Grace has another life his family doesn't know anything about,” said Danny. “I just wonder where that life takes him every night.”

Danny headed back uptown, wondering what terrible thing could have lured a proper, polished kid like Jordan Grace into the worst part of Detroit.

Virginia Stallworth's backyard was filled with well-heeled supporters eating eggs and drinking mimosas around a sparkling pool. Water rushed from a marble fountain in a corner of the yard. The water's sound mixed casually with Ella Fitzgerald scatting a jazzy tune from small Bose speakers on the perimeter of the yard.

Danny and Janis entered the crowded party and looked for the Stallworths. Danny was already figuring out what he would say. He'd have only one chance at getting the information he wanted. He hoped it would work. If it didn't, he'd be back to shooting in the dark.

“Man, these people throw a lot of parties,” said Danny.

“The NOAA convention is in town,” said Janis. “She's courting the out-of-state voters. I recognize Mel Vinson, the civil rights leader from D.C.”

Danny didn't spot Virginia in the crowd. He tried not to notice the color of the mostly black
partyers, but he was programmed for it now. They covered the spectrum of colors, so he didn't think anything particular of this gathering.

Danny and Janis moved toward the house. In the kitchen, he saw Cal talking with his sister Gwen. Danny noticed again the difference in the color of their skin. Gwen's dark skin stood in stark contrast to Cal's. He realized that he couldn't stop himself from these observations anymore.

Gwen was talking urgently to her brother, who listened without a word. Gwen held a prescription pill bottle in her hand. She raised it then gestured with it wildly.

Suddenly, Gwen spotted Danny and Janis. She said something to Cal, who turned and looked at them. Gwen ran off. Cal stood a moment then followed.

“Looks like we're being announced,” said Janis.

“Yeah,” said Danny. “Let's wait here.”

A moment later, Virginia Stallworth came out, dressed in a stunning white dress and sun hat. She was pissed off and didn't mind showing it. She scowled at Danny and Janis as she approached them.

“I can see that I'm going to have to call the Chief again about you,” she said. “You don't seem to take hints very well.”

“And you've been lying to me and impeding my murder investigation,” said Danny harshly.

“I'm Special Agent Janis Cates of the FBI,” Janis broke in. “I'm here because of Detective Cavanaugh's concerns.”

“FBI?” Virginia said with visible fear. “Why would the FBI be involved with me?”

“We should talk inside,” said Danny, wanting to get her alone to grill her about his suspicions.

“Yes, that would be best given the setting here,” said Janis.

Virginia turned to Gwen, who was standing behind her looking upset and concerned. Danny didn't even remember Gwen coming back in the room. Virginia said something to her, and Gwen reluctantly walked off. Cal was gone, apparently not wanting any part of the confrontation.

“Is your husband around?” asked Danny. “We'd like to talk to him, too.”

“He's in his study,” said Virginia. “We can talk there.”

They walked into Oscar Stallworth's well-appointed study to find him having a drink with another man. Oscar's face turned sour at the sight of Danny. He recovered, continuing to smile at the man he was talking to. Oscar made an excuse to his guest, who left after saying a friendly hello to everyone.

When the man was gone, Oscar's face converted back to the angry look. He instantly focused on Danny. “What the hell are you doing in my house again?” asked Oscar.

“This woman is from the FBI,” said Virginia quickly.

That made Oscar stop short. He looked at Janis with unmistakable fear in his eyes and absently took a swallow of his drink.

“What's this about?” asked Oscar.

Danny saw his chance. Both of them were upset and off-balance. He had to shock them, upset them with a piece of information before they could get together and form a wall of resistance.

“We know about what you're doing with the Castle,” said Danny. “It took us a while to put it together, but after Olittah Reese died, it all made sense. There's a new version of the group operating in Detroit. We believe the killer's victims are being selected from this group.”

“Castle?” asked Oscar. “That's preposterous. The organization was divisive to black people and died out years ago….”

Oscar continued his speech denying Danny's statement, but Danny barely heard it. He was focusing on Virginia, who had not said a word. She was looking down at her feet.

“Ms. Stallworth,” Danny cut in. “You want to deny it, too?”

“And I'd think carefully about your campaign before you answer,” said Janis.

Virginia looked at the officers with guilt in her eyes. She steadied herself on the edge of her husband's desk. Her eyes dropped again, and she glanced at the hardwood floor as she spoke.

“We didn't want to hurt anyone,” she began.

“Virginia?…” said Oscar, shock and worry in his voice.

“Let her finish,” said Danny.

“She doesn't have to talk to you!” snapped Oscar.

“Then we'll arrest her,” said Danny. “Right here, right now. I'll take her out in handcuffs past her guests out there.”

“He's not kidding,” said Janis. “Whatever it is you know, ma'am, it's better to tell us now, voluntarily.”

Virginia gave her husband a reassuring look then continued. “We started the group about three years ago. I was talking with the Bakers about their ancestors, who are white, black, and part Asian. We realized that black people are all lumped together without regard for their actual background. We found it dehumanizing. The Bakers and I were the first to join. Then Dr. Vance, Raymer Farrell, the Trentons, Olittah, and the Collinses.”

“Jesus Christ,” said Oscar. He sat on the edge of his desk.

“And they all had to be fair-skinned to be in the group, right?” asked Danny.

“No,” said Virginia. “That was the old way. In the new group we were all multi-ethnic.”

“But were there any dark-skinned members in the group?” asked Danny.

“No,” said Virginia. “But that wasn't by design.”

“That's not much different,” said Janis. “It's still a color bias.”

“You think so?” said Virginia. “The country is going to be completely multi-ethnic in the next fifty years. There will be no more racism or discrimination, and all the garbage people fight about
will be moot. Then we can go about the business of living, Detectives.” She made this last statment like a politician giving a speech.

“I need to know all the names of the people in the group,” said Danny. “They'll need protection.”

“They already know,” said Virginia. “After Olittah died, we all panicked. Everyone hired guards.”

“Where are yours?” asked Danny.

“I have my family to protect me,” said Virginia.

“Why didn't you tell me about this?” asked Oscar. He was clearly angry and embarrassed by his wife.

“I knew you'd disapprove,” said Virginia.

“You're damned right I do!” bellowed Oscar. “You just won't give it up, will you? Haven't our people suffered enough from this nonsense? Haven't
we
?”

Oscar seemed to be angry with her, but Danny couldn't tell if he was faking or not. Oscar glared at his wife with an emotion beyond embarrassment or even anger.

“It was just a social group,” said Virginia. “We met, we talked, we shared, that's all.”

“Then why is someone killing your people?” asked Danny. “Why are three of them dead for just talking and sharing?”

“I don't know,” said Virginia. “It doesn't make sense.”

“How did New Nubia fit in?” asked Janis. “Was it part of the group?”

“The Bakers started it,” said Virginia. “They
promised that they would use the profits from the company to help my campaign and expand the group.”

“Expand?” asked Danny. “You mean start more chapters of the Castle?”

“No,” said Virginia. “We wanted to get the NOAA to accept more kinds of people, all minorities, not just blacks. That's what my candidacy is all about. But yes, the company was important to us. We needed that money.”

“Did the Castle get New Nubia investors to join the group?” asked Janis.

“Yes,” said Virginia. “But why does that make a difference?”

“Maybe a disgruntled investor is taking revenge,” said Danny. “And that means he'd have to know about the group. Who knew, Ms. Stallworth?”

“Just us,” said Virginia. “We kept our secret well. As you can see, even my own husband didn't know.”

“Mr. Baker had a friend who knew,” said Danny. “He told this friend, so I can assume that Olittah Reese did, too, and maybe some of the other people. Someone knew and he or she is our killer.”

There was silence at this. Virginia looked stunned and afraid. Danny guessed that it never occurred to her that her select group was corrupt. She was a woman who needed standards for people, but based them on artificial criteria. Of course secrets get told. People have loose lips. But not her
people. They were supposed to be better than that, he thought.

“What have you done?” Oscar asked his wife. He had a look of guilt on his face that was frightening to Danny. “What have you done?”

“Something you want to say?” asked Danny.

“No,” said Oscar. “We're finished talking.”

“I want that list of names,” said Danny.

Virginia went to her husband's desk, wrote out the list, and then handed it to Danny:

 

JOHN AND LENORA BAKER OLITTAH REESE

RAYMER FARRELL

DR
.
HENRY VANCE

JIM AND KELLY TRENTON QUINTEN AND SANDRA COLLINS

 

“Any of these people here today?” asked Danny.

“No,” said Virginia. “This party is for out-of-town delegates.”

“You forgot to put down your name,” said Danny.

“You already know that,” said Virginia.

Danny jotted her name down anyway, and this seemed to annoy Virginia. He hadn't found his killer yet, but he felt as if he were closing in. He had to interview the other members on the list as soon as possible.

“Mr. Baker was afraid of something,” said Danny. “He told a friend that your group was afraid. ‘Fear stalks the Castle,' is what he said. Do you know anything about that?”

“Someone sent him a threatening letter because of New Nubia,” said Virginia, “but it had nothing to do with our group. He was mistaken.”

“Hard to make that conclusion now that he's dead,” said Janis.

Danny had a sudden wave of revulsion for Virginia. He thought about Vinny's sister Renitta, and her self-righteous racism. He thought about all the stories of pain and hurt he'd heard from his friends relating to color, and he thought about how underneath all his trouble with Vinny, there was an unstated question of whether they were not right for each other because of their races. The connection between the perception of color and the reaction to it was a frightening mystery. The foreboding nature of darkness and the purity of lightness were things that became ingrained in people, stamped on their minds and hearts. But it seemed that someone's grasp of this phenomenon had turned his heart to murder.

Danny and Janis left the Stallworth house as Virginia and Oscar walked out to the party to polite applause. They smiled and looked adoringly at each other like the President and the First Lady when they made public appearances.

Danny was wondering how they could look so loving and secure with each other after what they had just revealed. But he was more concerned about the people on the list and which of them might be the next victim.