Harmony (12 page)

“
Who are you?” He barked.

“
Harmony Jones. Tell her I’m Lewis Hill’s old-lady.”

She never evoked Lewis’s name amongst the people he kept her away from, but she wouldn’t be turned away today and she had no money to pay her way through the door. The mean giant before her glanced back over his shoulder into a home that smelled of frankincense and burning lamp oil. His gaze returned to her. “Come back tonight. After you finish at The Cotton. She’ll see you then.”

“
Tonight? Why not now? How did you know I work at The Cotton?”

Another young woman pushed past him and out the door. Harmony had heard tale that during the day Madame saw the women in Harlem for whatever ailments they had. Her home remedies and blessings made many believe she had mystical, or divine powers. A reputation she found to be a stark contrast to the ruthless way in which she handled the numbers game from the back doors of her speakeasy at night.

“
You don’t have an appointment. Now you do. She’ll see you in the evening.”

“
But you didn’t ask her? Please could you ask her?” Harmony pressed.

The man sneered through his reply. “Don’t have to. She knew you’d come.”

He closed the door shut in her face. For a long pause she stood there staring at the worn wood planks. She could bang her fist on the surface and demand to be heard. Raise the roof of the duplex. If she agitated the woman it could make matters worse. Harmony chewed on the inside of her jaw. She turned and marched down the hall out the front doors to the sidewalk, lost in her fears. Time slipped from her. There was no place in Harlem that Willie could hide and not have been seen by now. Either people knew where he hid, or the worst was possible. Willie was dead.

No one cared enough to clue her in, and nothing she did brought her closer to the truth. She had to wonder if Milo even bothered to meet with Grease. Harmony chewed on the inside of her jaw. Would Grease see her if Madame wouldn’t? Maybe he’d help her if she tried? A cold sense of dread spread through her gut like ice crystals. Lewis always forbade her from entering his world. Harmony glanced up to the men she passed on the sidewalk glaring at her from under the low bibs of their hats. Suddenly Lewis’s warning surfaced and she had to consider her foolish actions and the consequences if she pursued this further.

“
Mony, it’s not a problem babe, I promise.” Lewis eased his hand under the covers and squeezed her breast. Her nipple pushed between two of his fingers and he immediately took hold. Before she could answer Lewis lifted the sheet and eased his head under to swipe his tongue over the peak before covering it with his mouth. Harmony rubbed the top of his head.

When her Grams was alive Willie had started slipping into the streets. Before her Grams’ death Lewis would often drop by to counsel her little brother against his path. Now she feared Lewis had Willie in training to be just like him, and they were both working for Grease Man.

Harmony winced at the tug on her nipple and pushed on his shoulder until his head lifted. “Honey, I hear that they are hiring coloreds down at the shipyard for some of the unloading work at night. It pays. Maybe you could send Willie there to start looking for work. He need to do something positive don’t you think?” Lewis rolled on top of her. Harmony gripped both sides of his pelvis to prevent him from entering her. “You hear me baby?” she pleaded.

Lewis’s dazed lustful look cleared. He hovered above her while staring down in her face. “Willie gone be fine. He with me. Don’t you worry about Grease Man or any of them. In fact you stay out of it. You hear? I’m your man now. I’ll take care of you both.”

“
But Lewis…”

“
It’s done. It ain’t for you to worry or to fix. Some things a woman just can’t handle.”

She opened her mouth to object and his kiss came down crushingly hard. Swiftly he entered her, consuming her doubts. Harmony closed her eyes and her mind, allowing him to awaken her body. She lied to herself, because in her heart she knew Grams was right.

A car swerved then made an illegal U-turn in the street. Several other cars honked their horns. She could hear a few people yelling from their windows. Harmony glanced up to the scene as she navigated the congestion of people on the move along the sidewalk. A man jumped out of the passenger side of the car and headed directly for her. She wouldn’t have given it a second thought if she didn’t catch the determined look in his eye as he approached. Harmony quickened her step, bumping one person and the next to put distance between her and the man following. She turned the corner and walked faster. Glancing behind her she nearly panicked when she realized the man on foot kept pursuit. He was tall, white, in a dark suit and hat. He stood out amongst the sea of black people traveling the sidewalk. Many noticed and got out of his way and others were shoved aside as he hurried after her.

The courage she summoned to visit Madame St. Clair unraveled and her instinct told her to run. So run she did. Right up against the chest of another man. He grabbed her elbow and forced her to the side of the sidewalk, staring down at her. “You Harmony Jones?”

Startled she wrenched her arm free of his hand. The sun in her eyes prevented her from seeing his face clearly. The other man stopped behind her. Now she stood between them both.

“
Mr. Romano requests your presence.”

She glanced to the street and noticed the car again. This man must have driven ahead and got out to cut her off. Her mind tried to think of what to say, how to escape, but nervous energy clouded her thoughts. He crowded her.

“
This way.” He gestured for her to come along.

“
I can’t. And if you touch me again I’ll scream.” She bumped into another man and her head swung around to see him crowding her from behind.

“
I don’t remember saying you had a choice.” The man advancing on her answered.

Harmony frowned. “I said no. Tell him no, no thanks.”

“
Hey Mony! Everything okay?” Paulette walked up. The man before her narrowed his steely gaze on her only and didn’t bother to acknowledge Paulette. Immediately Harmony slipped from between them both and hooked her arm around her friend.

“
Like I said, thanks but no thanks boys. You want to see me come to The Cotton tonight. You’ll have a blast!” Harmony shouted loud enough to draw everyone’s attention on the sidewalk. A few stopped and said they knew who she was. That she sang at the Lincoln before. One person asked if she was going to leave The Cotton and switch over to the Savoy to perform. The small crowd of onlookers didn’t notice the glare of the two white men, but Harmony and Paulette did. She tugged on Paulette’s arm and together they beat a path in the other direction.

“
Who were they?” Paulette asked?

“
Vinnie Romano’s men, are they following?”

Paulette looked back but kept step with her. “No. They’ve gone.”

Harmony pulled her to the train station doors. “Come on, before they come back.”

“
What the hell is going on? What are you doing over on this side of town?” Paulette pummeled her with questions. Harmony’s heart thundered in her chest, she could only decipher a few of her questions. The roaring rush of the passing train drowned out Paulette’s shaky voice. Vinnie Romano didn’t want to help her. In fact she didn’t care to explore what he wanted. That game was far too dangerous to play. Not when her brother’s life depended on it. Harmony hurried into the train and checked the crowd for the faces of the men. They weren’t in the boxcar when the doors closed. She suddenly found the ability to breathe easy again.

***

“
Bless me father for I have sinned. I’m not Catholic, and I’m not sure how to do this right. But I’m here. I need… absolution.”

“
You are safe here my son. Regardless of faith God hears all. You want to unburden yourself? You’re ready now for complete surrender?”

The question almost made him bolt. Father Michaels didn’t allow coloreds to attend St. Mary’s, yet he hid him in his cellar on the orders of Satan himself. Willie didn’t want to confess, but the priest made it clear if he were to stay then he’d have to atone for whatever sin brought him to the church doors. So here he was.

“
I’ve lied. I’ve stolen before. I’ve even shot a gun once or twice at another man. But I never… ever killed a man.” Willie closed his eyes. The words lodged in his throat.

“
Go on son, the path to forgiveness is one of truth. God knows your secret. Confess it and shatter the lies once and for all.”

Willie shook his head. If he confessed his greatest sin the priest would surely throw him out the front doors. Faith or not, there would be no forgiveness for what he was and what trusting Antonio Romano had made him become. Before God and all his mighty angels Willie did what he was best known for. He lied again. “I’ve sold hooch, and other things that I shouldn’t have and I’ve stolen from those who trusted me.”

“
And you did these things because?”

“
It’s what I know. It’s who I am.”

“
To atone you must understand sin is a choice, and if you want absolution it is time for you to choose another.”

“
I understand.” Willie mumbled.

The priest began to pray. Willie opened his eyes and stared at nothing, listening to the words of the prayer, disbelieving the power of healing in the words. He repeated the prayer and accepted his order of penance. There was no way out of the hell he was locked in. But at least Harmony was safe. She’d done so much for him, sacrificed everything for him since Grams and Lewis died. He’d find a way out of New York and head North to Canada. He’d miss his sister but she was strong, and a survivor. The best thing for them both is if he took his secrets with him, wherever they led him.

Five

It ain’t all Jazz baby…

Fletch Henderson waved his hand and the band cued up. Harmony tapped her left foot and snapped her fingers to the swing beat. The scene was jumping after her third set. No matter her troubles, she sang her heart out for release. Coming up on her fourth performance she felt a sliver of elation over her favorite song. The one she and Milo wrote together.

Trouble had come when she arrived at The Cotton. Madden was in full rage. He struck Fletch and cursed the band members before storming off. Harmony was afraid to ask the cause or source of his fury. She soon learned that Milo had not returned. He never missed a warm up. And even now he hadn’t shown for their performance. If Fletch didn’t cover for him Madden would fire him or do worse over the blatant disrespect. Harmony refused to think of what Milo encountered that kept him away. Twice through her first song her voice faltered and she struggled to keep up. Stickman on the piano cut her a look and she recovered. She had to. At The Cotton mediocre wasn’t tolerated.

The men in the club roared with excitement. Harmony strutted around the small floor with her arms flung open wide. She worked her hips and shook her breasts to wolf calls and whistles. She sang of a loose woman who had an insatiable sexual appetite and devoured her lovers. The more she sang the more the dread and fear in her heart for Milo and her brother eased. Near the close of her performance Milo walked out wailing on his brass saxophone.

Harmony spun with relief and excitement spiking warmed adrenaline through her veins. He blew a sultry mix of sexy melodies at her and she swayed singing along. The crowd silenced and every man and woman found themselves transfixed by the sensual direction the music flowed. It couldn’t be manufactured or called anything less than magic. Together they climaxed their jam session with him on his knees and his horn raised in tribute.

The applause was secondary to the appreciation in his eyes. Milo rose and she drifted into his arms.

“
Where you been? I looked for you.” She whispered against his ear.

“
I’ll tell you everything,” he hushed her and spun her back out to the crowd. Harmony blew kisses to the smiling audience and nodded her appreciation to Fletch Henderson before quickly exiting. Milo was on her heels.

She stopped behind the curtain, hopeful. He walked over and pulled her further out of earshot. “There’s something bad going down Mony. Romano is on a warpath.”

“
What? Vinnie Romano? Why now?”

“
What did you tell him about Willie?” Milo asked.

“
Nothing. I only asked for his help. What is it? Is he looking to hurt Willie?”