Little Black Girl Lost (25 page)

“U
h, uh, uh.” That was all Johnnie managed to say, surprised by the brazen appearance of her lover's wife.

Seymour Collins had offered to speak on her behalf, but Meredith felt she needed to confront Johnnie herself. This would be the first time Meredith ever confronted anyone for any reason. Incredibly nervous but determined, she pulled the screen door open and walked into the house, hoping to appear strong in her attempt to persuade the young teenager to let her husband go.

Johnnie, still in shock, was powerless to stop her. Her mind raced, wondering what she was going to say to Earl's wife, who obviously knew about the affair and had come to confront her.

“I'll make this quick, Ms. Wise,” Meredith began again, feeling in control for the first time in her life. “You've been having an affair with my husband and it's going to end—today.” She didn't bother to wait on a response. She continued. “I haven't been able to find out what sort of hold you have on him, but have no illusions. No matter what the cost, I'm willing to pay you or blackmail you to get you out of his life. You think Earl killed your mother, don't you?”

Johnnie frowned.
What are you talking about?

“I assure you, Earl isn't the type of man that would kill anyone. He has many faults, but he's my husband and the father of my children. I will do just about anything to keep my family together. So, how much is it going to cost me?”

“Huh?” Johnnie frowned.

“Ten thousand?”

Still confused, Johnnie said, “What are you talking about?”

“Twenty thousand,” Meredith said firmly.

“Mrs. Shamus, I'm confused. Are you going to actually give me twenty thousand dollars to leave your husband alone?”

“Yes. I'm sure Earl has told you about the tragic death of our son. And my father is recently deceased also. All I have is what's left of my family, and as I said, I'm determined to keep my family intact.”

Johnnie turned her back to hide her thoughts.
I wonder how much I can get outta her. I mean, if she thinks I love Earl, she's outta her mind. I've been wanting to get rid of him for a long time. Let's see just how important her family is to her.
Johnnie faced her again. “So, you want him back? Well, twenty thousand isn't quite the figure I had in mind. I was thinking more like fifty.” Johnnie's heart thundered in her chest when she heard herself say the excessive amount.

“What makes you think I'll pay you fifty when I'm only offering you twenty as good faith money? What do you think Earl is going to do when I tell him about you and Martin Winters?” Meredith waited to see how much damage the revelation did before she continued the barrage. “That's right. I know all about your tryst with him too. What do you think he's going to say when he finds out you've been sleeping with Martin, one of his best friends? Oh . . . and how could I forget about your football player friend, Lucas Matthews? I understand he spends his nights in your bed as well. I wonder how he'll feel when I tell him that you're opening your legs to not one, but two white men. To be just sixteen, you've been a naughty little girl. But it's all over.”

Deflated, Johnnie sat down on the couch and tried to figure out what her next move would be. Meredith finally said, “Ms. Wise, I'm going to pay you the fifty, but here's what you're going to do. You're going to break it off with Earl—permanently. You're going to do that for free. That's not going to cost me a dime. I'll pay you the fifty thousand to keep our family name out of this murder business with your mother. That's the deal. It is a one-time offer. Take it or leave it.”

“I'll take it,” Johnnie said.

Meredith opened the briefcase and took out fifty thousand dollars. She placed it on the cocktail table then she opened the door to leave. “Oh, and Ms. Wise, if you decide to renege on the deal, know this: My father left everything to me—his fortune, his company, everything. If I can't persuade Earl to stay with me and his family, I will let him leave, but he'll be penniless. I know Earl bought you this house and has embezzled money from the company—money that you've invested with Martin. You've done well for yourself. Take some of that money and educate yourself. Don't let your skin color be an excuse for the things you do any longer. I've been very generous, but I will be equally ruthless if you break our agreement. Keep that in mind as well.”

With that, Meredith left quietly.

“S
o, you've got a thing goin' with two other men besides Lucas,” Napoleon said with a laugh. “No wonder you're not bothered by Lucas fooling around on you.”

Meredith Shamus had so swiftly blown in and out like a hurricane that Johnnie had forgotten Napoleon was there. When she turned around to face him, he was leaning against the entrance to the kitchen, smiling like he was about to devour his unwitting prey.

“Lucas knows all about Earl! So what?”

“Yeah, but I bet he doesn't know about Martin Winters, does he? How do you think he's going to feel when I tell him?”

“Napoleon, don't do that. I love Lucas. Please don't do that.”

“Don't worry. I won't say a word, as long as we have an understanding.” He smiled.

“No, Napoleon. I won't do that.”

“Sure you will. You'll do it because you know I'll tell him. You'll do it because if you don't, I'll kill him. And you'll do it because it makes sense. I've been wanting to fuck you since the first time I laid eyes on you. What's another fuck going to hurt? You've fucked so many already. I just want my piece, and you can stay with Lucas for all I care.”

Johnnie turned her back to him so she could think.
Lucas fought for me. He trusts me. He stole for me. He got a job for me. And he even put up with me havin' sex for money. Do I wanna take the chance on losing the only person that ever cared for me? I can't let him find out that I'm doin' it with three men. He thinks I'm a good girl. I don't want him to change his opinion of me. I am a good girl and I'm gonna prove it to him now that Earl is outta my life. I guess one more man isn't gonna kill me. She faced Napoleon.
“So, I just gotta do it once?”

“Yeah, just one time. I'm not greedy,” Napoleon told the young-minded teenager, feeling trumphant. “Just one elegant night at the Bel Glades Hotel and your secret will be safe.”

“One time and that's it?”

“Yep. One time. I swear.”

“And what about Lucas?”

“What Lucas doesn't know won't hurt him.”

“What about him and Marla? What are you going to do about that?”

“Nothin'. I don't give a damn what she does or who with. Let them fuck each other if that's what they want.”

“Let's go upstairs then,” Johnnie said, believing that it would be quick and painless—no more than five minutes. She could live with that because it would be almost like not doing it at all. And since it would only happen once, she could even forget it happened. “We don't have to go to the Bel Glades. They won't let me in there anyway.”

“They'll let you in if I tell 'em to.”

“Why can't we just get it over with right now since that's all you want?”

“Because I want to wine and dine you first.”

“Fine. When is this supposed to take place?”

“This Friday. The night before we take care of the preacher.”

“What about Lucas? We usually see a movie or something on Friday night.”

“Lucas will be busy this Friday. I'll see to it. I want you and Lucas at the Bayou tonight to finalize the plans for Goode,” Napoleon told her. He placed his arms around her tiny waist and kissed her. It felt good and made him hard. He placed both hands on her tight ass and squeezed. “I'm gonna enjoy this. I can't wait until Friday.”

“Then let's take care of it now,” Johnnie urged.

“There's something to be said for anticipation,” Napoleon said with a smile. “See ya later tonight.”

A
fter Napoleon left, Johnnie called Martin Winters. She wanted to invest the fifty thousand she'd received from Meredith. While the telephone rang, she wondered how Earl was going to feel when his wife told him that she was going to be the boss from now on. She laughed a little when she thought about it.

“Martin Winters' office, Cynthia speaking.”

“Cynthia, this is Johnnie Wise. Is Martin in?”

“Yes, but he's not taking your calls any longer,” she said, sounding almost sorry there wouldn't be any more verbal potshots between them.

“What? Why?”

“I'm not sure why, but he told me to give you to Sharon Trudeau. Hold on. I'll put you through.”

Johnnie tried to say something, but Cynthia was already gone. While she waited to be transferred to Sharon, Sadie came back over.

“Girl, you sure have a lot of guests today.” Sadie laughed.

“Yeah, I wonder who gon' show up next,” Johnnie said, putting up her forefinger.

“Ms. Wise, Sharon Trudeau. I understand you used to be Martin's client?”

“Yes, Ms. Trudeau. Do you know what happened? Do you know why he's not taking my calls?”

“Well, I'm not supposed to say, but the word is his wife found out about you two.”

“I see.” Johnnie laughed. “So, I'm supposed to work with you now?”

“That's entirely up to you, Ms. Wise. But just because I'm a woman is no reason to think I can't handle your portfolio just as well as Martin, if not better. All I ask for is the opportunity. And please, call me Sharon.”

“Did he tell you I'm a black woman, Sharon?”

“He didn't have to. We all saw you that first day you came in. It was the buzz of the office for a while.”

“Really?”

“Really. When can you come in so we can discuss some ideas I have to increase your net worth?”

“How about tomorrow afternoon?”

“Sure. How about one o'clock?”

“I'll be there.”

“See you tomorrow at one,” Sharon said and hung up the phone.

When Johnnie looked at Sadie, her attitude seemed chipper, as if she was anticipating good news. Unable to contain her curiosity, Sadie asked, “So, what are you so peppy about?”

“Guess what?”

“What?”

“It's a great day!”

“It is? Why?”

“Because everything in my life is coming together. You'll never guess who paid me a visit.”

“Who?”

“Meredith Shamus.”

“Earl's wife? What did she want? I mean what happened?” Sadie asked excitedly.

Johnnie poured them both a cup of coffee and sat down. Relishing every moment, she looked at Sadie and shook her head. “I almost don't believe it myself. I think I need to pinch myself to see if I'm dreaming.”

“Well, what happened?”

“I don't know where to start, but Napoleon had come over here, as you know, to discuss some business. I'll tell you about that later. When I opened the door, I didn't know who it was. But when she told me who she was, I was scared. I didn't know what she was going to do. Then she started talking about me leaving Earl alone, as if I wanted him or something. She even offered me money if I would let him go. And for some stupid reason, she thinks Earl might have something to do with my mother's death.”

“Well, did you tell her he had nothing to do with it?”

“No. Why would I do that? She was throwing money around to get me to leave him and to keep her family's name out of the murder, so I took it. I mean, wouldn't you? If you could get rid of the thorn in your side and make money to do it, would you do it, Sadie?”

“Hell yeah!”

“Like I said, at first I was scared, but when she came in here like she knew everything there was to know and only knew part of the story, I thought, well, fine. I can get rid of Earl now. I no longer need him with the money she paid me. I'm thinking, with my investments and working for the Beauregards, I'll be okay money-wise.”

“How much did she pay you?”

“A lot.”

“Okay,” Sadie said with a laugh. “You don't have to tell me.”

“There's more. Not only did she know about Earl, but she also knew about Martin.”

“Your stockbroker?”

“Yep. But he's no longer my stockbroker. She told his wife about our thing together. So, he's gone too. I guess the thing that I like about it is I didn't have to break it off with either of them. I think it would have been messy if I had. And eventually I would have to. This way it's clean, and I can't be blamed for it.”

“Yeah, that's true. Leaving a man can be hazardous if he's not ready for it to be over. Earl will have a hard time with this.”

“Too bad. I could care less. If it wasn't for him and what he did to me, I wouldn't be like this. I say good riddance.” Johnnie frowned. “I can't wait to tell him it's over when he calls. It's just a good thing I got this house in my name, otherwise I would be looking for someplace else to live.”

“You sure would,” Sadie agreed. “You were smart to do that. I wish I had thought of it. See, that's how a man keeps you around. As long as he has the money and you don't, you're at his mercy.”

“Now for the best news. Napoleon told me they were ready to get that Klansman preacher,” Johnnie said, suddenly serious. “They're gonna do it Saturday night, and I get to watch.”

“You sure you wanna be there?”

“Yeah. If it were your mother, wouldn't you want to be there? I mean, if he were executed for his crime, I'd get to be there then, wouldn't I? So, why not now?”

“I was just checking to make sure. That's all, honey.”

“Okay, but the bad news is, Napoleon overheard Earl's wife mention the thing with Martin Winters.”

“How is that bad news?”

“You know he's been trying to get into my drawers since we met.”

“So, what does that have to do with anything?”

“He told me that if I didn't sleep with him, he would tell Lucas. I don't want Lucas to know what was going on between me and Martin. I wanted to learn about the stock market and Martin was teaching me. I had what he wanted and he had what I wanted. It was only a few times. Based on what I learned, it was worth it. Don't you ever want to be rich, Sadie? Don't you ever want to have your own money? Don't you ever want to do what you wanna do and not have to worry about what it's going to cost?”

“Honey, you don't have to justify yourself to me. Who am I to judge you? You know my situation. I just wish I was as smart as you are.”

“But I feel like a tramp, selling myself to men to get where I wanna go in life.”

“Johnnie, at some point you're going to realize that this is a dog eat dog world. People do all sorts of evil to each other to meet their own selfish ends. Men have used women for centuries. It's time we got ours.”

“Yeah, you right. You right.”

“So, are you going to do it?”

“You mean sleep with Napoleon? Yeah. It's just one time.”

“That's what he told you?”

“Yeah, that was the deal.”

“What if he likes it and wants to continue seeing you? Ever thought about that?”

“No, but I don't think he'll do that.”

“Do be so naïve, Johnnie. Why wouldn't he? Shit, he'll want to do it again just because it's fresh. Why would you believe a man who would stoop low enough to blackmail a sixteen-year-old for some pussy? Does that make any sense to you?”

“You got a point. I just don't want Lucas finding out about Martin.”

“Well, that's a chance you might have to take. But if you sleep with Napoleon, he'll keep on trying to see you. He's obviously obsessed with you. Any time a man has to resort to blackmailing a woman for some pussy rather than plain ol' seduction, he's desperate. If he's desperate, he's capable of anything. Don't trust him.”

“Okay, Sadie, I won't.”