BOMAW Vol. 10-12 (217 page)

He nodded and then, "I believe so."

"And the young woman, who committed suicide, how did she take her life?"

Jeremiah gave a sardonic smile, "She hung herself."

Deidre stared a moment in disbelief, and then, "She - hung - herself?"

"Yes, the same way, my mother did. And, no offence, but black women, as a whole - truly aren't the type, to hang themselves. It's - just not in our culture to commit suicide, maybe threaten to, yes - and if there is one so desperate as to do it, I'm thinking they'll choose the most painless route one could imagine, sleeping pills. But few, eat bullets, slit their wrists, lay in front of on coming trains, or hangs themselves. It's just not a black thing to do, no offence."

"None taken. You think the two are tied to each other? More so, to my father?"

"I do. I want to take this in to the detectives working your case, very slowly - I might add. But I get this feeling, it's going to get swept under the rung, ignored, placed beneath a tall stack and then conveniently lost. Therefore, I'm keeping it to myself and will continue to gather more against him, until I have so much, no one can deny what I suspect. More than anything, I need to figure out his plot for having you done, and why his own daughter?"

"I have a feeling, which is quite possible, that he doesn't believe me his. If that be the case, his conscience would be clear, getting rid of me."

Jeremiah could only stare at her, lost in disbelief. "My God, what does saying that, do to you? Make you feel?"

"That in order to survive, I have to accept that what I might inherit one day is desired by those close to me - maybe - possibly, my father. If - he is my father. And if he believes that I am not, his - what am I to him, but a block to billions? Come on Jeremiah, you know as well as I, power corrupts, and absolute power, corrupts absolutely. We live in a world where those that own it, see us as nothing more than cattle, live stock - whom they will slaughter as the need calls. That's the truth, that's the reality - I suppose knowing that it is blood family, makes no difference - after all, Cain killed Abel."

"Yeah, but it wasn't Adam that killed his son - for some reason, it would seem so much more horrible. I never had a father, but if I did - I would hate to think, that my own father, could kill me."

Deidre looked back to her food, "Let's not talk about that anymore." She hadn't eaten much of her food, and due to the topic, she'd lost her appetite and pushed her plate away.

Jeremiah took her hand in his, "I'm sorry, I went too far in that, didn't I?"

"My life - is not your doing. It is, what it is - I have to live with it, part of living with it, is accepting - that in my world, love for your child, could cost you. So, too many, cannot afford that extravagance - something about, crossing over into billions comes at the price of your heart - because you sure can't have both."

Jeremiah drew closer to her, caressing the soft skin of her cheek, "You have both."

"Yeah, but the other - is always getting broken." In order not to cry, she stood and entered the bathroom to finish dressing, not wanting to discuss it anymore; besides, she didn't want him pitying her. He went back to eating his breakfast, thinking about her and suddenly called out, "Deidre!" for her to hear him in the bathroom.

"Yes?" She called back.

"When was the last time you went to an amusement park, you know, on rides, things like that?"

She was quiet a few moments, and then, opened the bathroom door and poked her head out looking at him quizzically, "Why?"

"Answer the question." He persisted.

She stared a moment more, then answered, "Never."

Once more, he sat shocked by something she'd said, "You are kidding me."

"No, never. There wasn't anyone to take me, no one my parents trusted. The girls schools I attended didn't want the responsibility of overseeing us in such a place. Come to think of it, no one who was in charge of me, wanted that responsibility, if something happened while I was in their charge, it would cost them their livelihood, so - never."

"Okay, well guess what we're doing today? I want you wearing a simple t-shirt, blue jeans, sneakers, no make up - and leave your hair to blow in the wind."

Deidre stared a moment, surprised, asking, "Are you serious?"

"Serious as a heart-attack! Get ready, we're blowing this entire day straight to hell, to do something we want to do. And just so you don't feel so alone, I've never either. No time to go, and no one I could think of to go with. My brother has gone with friends, but I was too busy to or - just too up my own ambitions to join him. You and I - today - together - are heading to Wisconsin Dells, water parks, rides, bungee jumping, junk food, amusement parks, the whole kit and caboodle."

Deidre actually jumped up and down in the doorway of the bathroom clapping her hands, face lit up like a Christmas tree, looking for all the world like a little girl who'd just been told that while on their surprise vacation, they were stopping by Disneyland. Jeremiah sat smiling, "Well don't just stand there, jumping up and down, clapping, go get ready!" He ordered laughing as she shimmied her hips excitedly. Rushing to her trunk, opening it quickly, hunting for jeans, then maded a whoop shout, leapt to her feet, ran to her, laying on a big loud sloppy kiss, another whoop and back to her truck to snatch out a t-shirt, sneakers, grinning so her cheeks ached, and as a thought came to her; she sobered for a moment to ask, "What about Charlie? She might not feel in the mood for something like that?"

Still chuckling from the loud kisses, "You're kidding me aren't you? You pay Charlie, Charlie doesn't pay you! I'll handle Charlie, you get changed!"

"What about the building site, all the stuff going on there?"

"Shawn's there, he can handle it. In fact, he'd probably prefer it if you showed yourself less than more - get changed my darling! Who knows, I might get in the mood to win you a teddy bear or something, one of those big colossal ones."

Deidre was clapping again, "Oh would you?! Oh please? Oh I would love that! I've daydreamed of that! You ever see the movie, the State Fair? I did, and I always wanted to be Ann Margaret." She excitedly confessed.

"I think I'm a long way from Pat Boone."

"You know about Pat Boone? That means you've watched it! You've seen it! Oh Jeremiah, isn't this exciting?!" She was almost cheering, so happy at the idea of where they'd be spending the day.

"Just watching you, get this excited, I'll say."

She jumped to her feet, stripping her clothes off, to put on the jeans and t-shirt he'd advised, "I am so excited, I'm actually shaking! Look at me!" She showed her trembling hands.

He stood, overwhelmed by how her burst of joy and exuberance went all through him, exciting him too. Walking to her, he palmed the cheeks of her face, holding her still for a moment, "I love seeing you like this, and I think, I have a new goal in life - that's trying my hardest, to make you as happy, as you are right now." He leaned down and kissed her lips. Deidre wrapped her arms around him, deepening the kiss. A few moments later, he pulled away, "I'll go talk to Charlie, you finish getting ready."

Deidre nodded, choked up, speechless - falling deeper in love with him, when he'd yet to make such a declaration to her. She didn't care, this day was going to be spent with her having the time of her life - she wasn't about to let something like that, get in the way of their fun.

*

Capt. Derek Hurst slowly turned his cruiser onto the road to see up ahead major construction happening on one side of the road. He was in no hurry, making his way down observing in his contemplative way. He knew that it was pretty early, but he found that was the best time to catch people off guard if he was going to question them. Besides, he was trying to catch everyone at home; on his list, the son of Sylvia Payne. He pulled up beside the empty lot before the house - checking out his list. His name was Armundo Edger Payne Jr. He was trying to decide if he would question him first? "Yep, you first, your mama second, and Mr. McPherson last." He murmured to himself. With his clip board in hand, his badge in clear sight, he climbed from the heavy sedan cruiser, looking around him still. Noting all the progress and building that was going on, he wondered just how successful Mr. McPherson was as an artist? Or maybe it was the combination of them both? Somehow he just hadn't figured on them being at this calibre of rich. Standing at their front door, he knocked, firmly. He knew the strength of it might be a bit startling, but if they weren't up, that should get the house stirring.

Unable to resist the blessing given him, Ben had stayed overnight with the boys, sleeping in the room with them and was also up with them, letting Shawn and Sylvia sleep later than they might usually, due to company not leaving until after midnight. He was in the bathroom after taking off Darren's overnight diaper, sitting him on the toilet hoping to get him to use it before putting another diaper on him. He wasn't in the mood for using the toilet, sitting and shaking his head, grumbling, "No, no no no no no." to anything happening there. Smiling, Ben went to reach for him to take him off, "Okay, after you eat maybe? Sure would be nice to get you potty trained for your mama, and for grandma Sylvie, you think that's possible?" He asked softly, wishing to keep the morning noise down.

"No!" Darren shook his head, pushing Ben's hands away, remaining on the toilet - still shaking his head of short waves and curls after Crystal had given him a haircut.

"You 'spose t'use the toilet like we do Darren." Isaac fussed at his little brother, trying to help Ben out, right by his side, following his lead.

"sh'up - mack'ya!" The baby threatened to smack his brother.

"That's not nice Darren, he's right, - but, if you're not ready, you're just not ready, huh? Come on, let's get a diaper-..."

"No!" Darren yelled at them, and started going pee, laughing and proud of himself that he was using it. Ben put his hand out for Isaac to give him five, "Look at that, couldn't have done it without you. You are some kind of helper."

Isaac was beaming as Darren finished and he climbed on after him to use it. Following that, Ben washed them up, dressed them and got them ready to take downstairs to eat when someone knocked at the front door. With Darren in his arms and Isaac going ahead of him to the door, he peaked out the key hole, noticing an elderly grey haired man, wearing a police uniform, he opened the door, "Yes? Can I help you?"

The chief was surprised to see Ben standing there, he'd expected Shawn or Sylvia, but not the young man that faced him, although, he recognized the features easily enough as belonging to Mr. McPherson. "Good morning! I'm Capt. Hurst, chief of police here, and you are?"

"Benjamin, Benjamin McPherson." He answered right away.

"I-I'm Isaac!" He included himself following Ben's lead.

The chief smiled, nodded, "Nice to meet you young man," He held his hand out for a shake with Isaac. Looking back to Ben, "Say you're McPherson? How so, you don't mind me asking?"

"Shawn McPherson's son."

"Ohhh, okay, didn't know he had one your age, nice to meet you. You living here now?"

"No sir, just here now and then."

"I see, there's another young man here, Sylvia's son, Armundo I think his name is, he here?"

His asking for Mundo put Ben immediately on guard, "For what reason do you have looking for Armundo?"

"Now now, I've just come to ask him a few questions, that's all - and uh, Sylvia and your father as well, could you let them know I'm here? Mainly, Armundo first, if you would?"

"Now is not a good time, they're all sleeping, and I have these little guys to feed, can you come back in an hour or two?"

"I have other things going on in an hour or two, I'd just as soon speak with'em now, I'll be waiting here on the porch. Such a nice day, plenty to see. Tell'em I'm waiting, please." The chief turned from the door and took a seat on the doubled cushioned loveseat glider, looking over his questions while waiting.

Ben closed the door, turning from it to see Sylvia and Shawn's bedroom door cracked open with Sylvia standing in it, eyes squinting from a need for more sleep, "Who was at the door Ben?"

"Mornin' grandma!" Isaac called to her, rushing to her door.

"Morning baby," She leaned down kissing him, as Ben answered.

"It's the chief of police, a Capt. Hurst, says he wants to speak with Mundo, you and Shawn."

Sylvia's heart began pounding like mad, she knew why he was there, after all, Shawn had warned her. She had to calm down, "Where is he?"

"Waiting on the front porch."

"Okay - take care of the boys for me please, I'm getting up now."

"Why do you think I'm here, don't worry about them, I got them, you do what you have to do."

"Thank you Ben, thank you so much."

"Kiss grandma, kiss!" Isaac demanded, and then Darren, "kiss g'ma - kiss!" She gave to both and then with a thank you glance to Ben, turned back into the room, and remembered Mundo, "Ben, wake Mundo, tell him."

"On my way."

Closing the door, in their bedroom, Sylvia turned to see that Shawn was up and must be in the bathroom. Heading there, she entered as he stood brushing his teeth, she informed him, "The police chief is here, waiting on the front porch to talk to us." She informed him, her nerves causing her voice to tremble. Rinsing his mouth, Shawn turned taking her into his arms, "If you don't want to talk to him, you don't have to you know. You can stay here, in the room and I'll get rid of him."

"No, I just need a minute to get myself together." Despite her words, she was trembling a bit.

He watched her silent for a moment, noticing her shaky state, "Sylvia, go back to bed, if he wants to talk to you, he can on a later date."

"No, I have to get this over with or it'll drive me crazy."

"If you're sure."

"I have no choice but to be sure!" She snapped, "After all, I can't ignore him can I?"

Shawn could tell already, this was going to be a shitty day, "If you must - fine, I just want you to know, that I'm not going to tell you what to say. You say what you feel you need to."