Echoes of a Distant Summer (27 page)

Diane put a hand on her friend’s shoulder and her voice softened when she said, “I’ve known you since you were a police officer in San Francisco. I was the one who encouraged you to go to law school. I know how much you sacrificed to get your law degree and pass the bar. It took five years of your life. Even though you spent a wonderful day with this man, you really don’t know who he is. You don’t want to jeopardize your career for what could be a flash in the pan. He could be involved in drugs, organized crime, you don’t know!”

“Oh, come on, Diane! That’s a leap! He’s a deputy city manager!”

“No more a leap than Mayor Broadnax’s son. You heard how they found a hundred thousand in cash in the trunk of his car and how he pretended he didn’t know where it came from. There’s no way he wasn’t involved in drug dealing.”

“Leo Broadnax is sleazy. There’s a great deal of difference between him and Jackson Tremain.”

“You say that now, but you don’t really know. I didn’t know that Carl was seeing white women behind my back and I went out with him for nearly two years.”

Elizabeth looked at her watch and discovered it was twenty to two. “I’ve got to get back to the office and pick up my files before court.”

As they got out of the car, Diane persisted, “Don’t try to change the subject. You don’t know this man.” She and Elizabeth began to walk toward the exit of the parking garage.

Elizabeth said, “I love you and I care for you, but you and I don’t always share the same perspective on men.”

“That may be true. Unlike most women, I admit where I’m coming from. I intend to use men and get what I can. Most intelligent women come to the same conclusion. But let’s put that aside. You’re worrying me, and as a friend, I want to caution you. Don’t get your feelings involved until you’ve had a chance to see him over time. Anybody with a little cunning can act like something different for a little while. Time reveals everything. Hold up!” Diane stopped before the exit and pulled a mirror from her purse to check that her makeup and hair were properly done.

Two men dressed in suits entered the garage in deep discussion. One man was black, the other was white, and as they passed Elizabeth and Diane, the black man nodded to them. Diane ignored the greeting and stuck her arm in Elizabeth’s and kept on walking out the exit.

As they waited at the crosswalk for the signal to change, Diane said, “I heard from Marcie down in municipal court that the man we just passed is hung like a horse, but he uses it like a shovel. He just wants to dig-dig-dig. He knows nothing about giving a woman pleasure. Marcie said she couldn’t walk right for a week after bedding him.”

The signal turned to green. Elizabeth asked, “Who are we talking about?”

“That Negro who just walked by! You know Marcie wouldn’t be giving a white boy none. You know, if we could open a school that taught men how to be romantic and how to give pleasure to women, we could be millionaires within the year. Damn, if they could just learn to be romantic!”

“Sometimes, Diane, I think you actually hate men.”

“Girl, the only reason I don’t become a lesbian is that I don’t want to feel about women the way I feel about men. Plus, I’d have to have a partner who’d strap on one of those big plastic dildos. Because licking just don’t get it.”

“Diane, you really are crazy!” Elizabeth said with a laugh and soon both women were laughing. Once they were inside the courthouse, Diane saw a superior court clerk she needed to speak with. Elizabeth went on alone to her office to collect her files. When she opened the door, she saw on her desk a vase filled with calla lilies. Beside the vase was a brown bag containing a pastrami sandwich and a card. Elizabeth opened the card and read:

“Oh, this man is truly slick,” Diane said as she stepped into the room. “He sent you flowers, did he? Is that his card?”

Elizabeth nodded and handed her the card. She was a bit breathless. With this small act, Jackson had done something that resonated within her. It filled her with anticipation of their next meeting.

“Hmm! I wonder how many times he’s written these words?” Diane asked sarcastically. “I think you’re going to need my help to keep this one at bay.”

Elizabeth frowned. She went over and took the card out of her friend’s hands and said, “I love you, but I don’t need any help. I’ll see you later.” She ushered Diane to the door.

“Damn, this is serious!” Diane declared as she went reluctantly through the door. “Girl, this is deep water. You have to remember that the current goes straight out to sea. No land in sight!”

Elizabeth pushed her friend out the door and closed it. She held the card to her chest a moment as she leaned against the door. A strange excitement suffused her. Her cheek tingled where Jackson had touched her. She went over to the desk and took a big bite out of the sandwich. Diane was right about being cautious. Still, Elizabeth had to take Diane’s advice with a grain of salt. Diane had no idea how to establish a constructive relationship with a man, nor did she have room in her life for one who was any more than a sugar daddy or a sex object.

Elizabeth finished her sandwich, picked up her files, and headed out of her office to the courtroom. She discovered she couldn’t keep the smile off her face.

T
he phone rang four times before Jackson picked up the receiver. “Good morning, city manager’s office.”

“May I speak to Mr. Tremain?” It was a male voice with a slight Mexican accent.

“Speaking,” Jackson answered.

“Diablito? That you?”

“It’s me, Cisco.”

“Can you talk?

“Sure, what’s up?”

“We’ve made arrangements for you to leave tonight. Are you ready?”

“Not really, but if that’s when you arranged it, I’ll do it. I’ve scheduled the time off.”

There was a pause then Reuben said in a quiet voice, “Nobody knows for sure if your grandfather will make it beyond the weekend. We’ve got your travel plans scheduled to the last detail. Nobody will be able to follow you.”

“Hey, there’s already somebody following me. Do you know who it is?”

“I don’t know. Maybe your grandfather knows. If not, others will know.”

“Before I go I have to have a number where I can receive faxes down there because I have some work due Monday morning. My assistant is coming in tomorrow morning and Sunday morning to finish the reports. I need to see finished copies before they go to the subcommittee.”

“Your people work on Sunday?”

“What can I tell you, one of the reports is on which solid waste management company should get the contract with the city.”

“Garbage is always political,” Reuben said knowingly.

The conversation was over as soon as Jackson got the number from Reuben. Jackson felt a strange anxiety. He felt the vortex of his grandfather’s world slowly pulling him down into its spinning center.

“S
erena, what a surprise to hear your voice. I haven’t spoken with you in years and yet I still remember your wonderful elocution.”

“Let’s not waste each other’s time with useless flattery, Bill. My grandson, Franklin, came over here right after his lunch with you.”

“Oh, and what did the young man have to say for himself?”

“He said that you threatened him.”

“That just goes to show how perspectives may differ,” Braxton said easily. “I don’t recall that at all. I remember discussing options that involved his having total control of King, Inc.”

“Just how would you propose to do that when you have no legal financial investment in this company? I hope you don’t think that you have everyone in this family intimidated.” Serena’s words were clipped and pointed like pieces of tin cut by heavy shears.

“I’m a negotiator.” Braxton was all oil and Vaseline. “I discuss alternatives. I’d be happy to meet with you and talk over the options I discussed with Franklin, but I don’t think that’s necessary. I think that you already know the bottom line. Everyone knows that King is dying. He can no longer strike fear into people’s hearts. All debts are now due.”

“And what if we don’t cooperate with the payment of these alleged debts?”

“Life is so unpredictable. Did you realize that the insurance industry’s actuarial reports indicate that black people are far more prone to have accidents and be victims of violent crimes than whites? These statistics were collected for both men and women.”

There were a few seconds of silence before Serena asked quietly, “That’s your answer?”

“That’s my answer.”

“Given the statistics, how could anyone be assured that cooperation would result in a longer life?”

“Well, I don’t think that anyone can forestall the action of natural causes, but I think that we can rule out certain types of accidents and perhaps limit the potentiality of being victims of certain violent crimes.”

“So, you can point the finger at people and cause their demise?”

“Serena, Serena, you attribute to me too much power. I am a negotiator who’d be happy to present any proposal you have to the right people.”

“I had assumed that you contacted my grandson because you were seeking some specific help. I didn’t know that I was to come up with something.”

“I see; of course that makes sense.” Braxton coughed lightly and said, “The subject matter is rather sensitive and warrants a face-to-face meeting, don’t you think?”

“No.” Serena’s voice was cold. “If there are any options that are acceptable to me, they must be found during this conversation.” She would not further soil herself by meeting with him in person.

“Let’s get directly to business, then.”

“Let’s,” Serena agreed in a sarcastic tone.

“Well, Serena, your other grandson seems to be headed to Mexico. It would be extremely helpful to know exactly where he was going and how he could be reached.”

Serena knew they were hunting for King and that they would kill both King and Jackson if they could find them. Then they would force Franklin to accept whatever crumbs they decided to throw him.

“What guarantees can you give me if I give you the information you want? It all rests upon guarantees.”

“Well, if your assistance helps to achieve their ultimate goal, I think that Franklin can look forward to being head of King, Inc.”

“For how long?”

“For as long as he lives.”

There was no reason for further discussion. Serena realized that Braxton had spoken the most honest words of the whole conversation. The real issue was how long Franklin would live. “Why don’t you let me get back to you. I may be able to get the information you want.”

“I’m always happy to hear from you, Serena. Call me anytime. We can talk about old times.”

Serena hung up the phone and poured herself another cup of tea. There had been a time when she could have counted upon Braxton’s affections to sway him, but those times were long gone. He had once been deeply in love with her. She knew that he would’ve given up all his worldly possessions to have her love in return, yet she did not commit to him. She could not. She was married to King Tremain. She had given Braxton his chance after LaValle’s bullet-ridden body had been brought to her. Braxton was working with the police at the time to set up a trap for King. She had taken one of King’s guns and had given it to Braxton
to plant at a crime scene. The trap had failed and King had escaped to Mexico. Since Serena could never remarry as long as King was alive, Braxton was doomed to the sad monotony of settling for another. The marching years had fermented and soured the sweetness of his love until it was like a wine that had turned to vinegar. Now, he was fronting for King’s enemies and impervious to her machinations.

Her thoughts drifted to King Tremain and anger filled her. She muttered grimly in a barely audible tone, “You bastard! You’re dying and you’re going to drag the whole family with you!” Yet as she sat in her chair and pondered the matter, she came to a totally different line of thought. King would have considered the eventuality of revenge upon his family. He knew very well that some of his enemies were prepared to wait until his death before they exacted their due. King would have left some mechanism to protect his family. Of course, King’s concept of family probably didn’t extend to include either her or LaValle’s children, but he would definitely protect Jackson. He might even have a team of men assigned to him. Thus her problem boiled down to the method she would use to get Jackson concerned with saving the rest of the family.

A lone tear dripped down Serena’s face. She had achieved a measure of wealth and comfort. She was surrounded by valuable things that she had purchased, but other than a small clay ashtray made by one of her grandchildren, there was not one object given to her out of love. In all the brocaded, embroidered, bejeweled, carved, chiseled, hammered, woven, upholstered, painted, smelted, and baked things that accounted for her riches, not one had any real sentimental value. She felt as if she could walk out the door of the house in which she had lived twenty years with only her coat and miss only the habit of living there. It was with true sadness that Serena understood it was her actions more than fifty years earlier that had set in motion the forces to tear her family asunder.

Yet neither the knowledge nor the weight of her misdeeds caused her to hesitate at bargaining away Jackson’s life. There was no question in her mind as to whom she would try to protect: It was Franklin. Like his father before him, he was the child that had come running to find safety and solace in her skirts. He sought her protection while his cousin stood off at a distance, watching her with his large, accusing eyes. Serena had desperately wanted things to be different, but she
could no more change her basic approach than a cable car could climb a hill while off its tracks.