Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 74450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Burn in Hell, Lamont.
Who is Lamont Johnson?…
He placed the article on his lap and took a picture of it, then drank some of his Cola. The ice chunks clinked together, making a strange tune. As he was putting the glass back down on a woven coaster, Monica reentered the room, a ladle in her hand.
“It sure smells good in here. Somebody knows what they’re doin’.” He picked up the article and folded it back just the way it had been.
Her lips curled at his compliment.
“Just a little dinner. Mostly leftovers. You’re welcome to stay and join us.”
“I appreciate the invite but no,” he said pleasantly. “I have other engagements and I’ve already taken up too much of your time. I want to thank you for your hospitality and—”
“She did it.” The woman’s chest rose and fell, and a look of deep distress crossed her face.
“…She did what?”
“She burnt Lamont’s house down. I nevah met him. He was before my time. He had messed wit’ her and some other little girls in the family. Cousins and what not. He had a record for sexual assault long before this fire situation happened, but them charges was dropped. He raped some lady when he was like sixteen or seventeen. He was molestin’ family members. Doin’ terrible things.” She reached for her necklace and twirled it between her thumb and forefinger.
“Does the family know Mrs. Florence burned his house down?”
“No.” She shook her head. “I reckon they don’t. I only know ’cause I found that newspaper article and saw what she wrote. That wasn’t enough to think it was her, but I had suspicions beforehand. That just confirmed it for me.”
“Why were you suspicious?”
“One time she got enraged when somebody brought him up at Thanksgivin’, sayin’ how sad it was that he died from that fire, and how good of a man he was, thangs like that. I didn’t usually hear my auntie curse much, but she went clean off. It seemed out of character. It was like… as if all of her pain and rage came out, all at once. When she got done screaming about all the thangs he’d done, the room went silent. Nobody dared to try and contradict her. Wasn’t no use in tryna argue or go head-to-head with Auntie. She intimidated most folks. She was real smart, and slow to anger, but when she did, it was bad… really bad. When I moved into this house, I found all sorts of things, Caspian.” She rubbed her arms up and down. “Strange thing is, I think she wanted me to find ’em, really. She ain’t leave much to chance.”
“Why’s that? What would make you believe she wanted this damning information to get out?”
“She trusted me, and she wanted her story told.”
“…But why would you trust me with such incriminating details? This is an unsolved crime, a cold case that could be reopened. Now, you don’t have to worry about me soundin’ the alarm, but you don’t know me from a can of paint. So either you were just desperate to get this off your chest because it’s a heavy burden, or there’s more behind this.”
She looked at him long and hard, then dabbed her eyes with the side of her knuckle.
“She told me you was comin’. She told me twice, actually.” She held up two fingers. “Once before she died, when she was tellin’ me she wanted me to have the house if I ever wanted it and Clifford moved out of it, and another time in my dream last month. So, to answer your question earlier—yes, I believe she gave Uncle Cliff nightmares. Not ’cause she was mad at him, but there was unfinished business, and she wanted him to be safe. He had several strokes and heart attacks in this here house… She wanted him out so he could get the care he needed. That way, she made sure he left. Auntie always gets her way…” Her eyes narrowed on him and he once again felt that chill in the air.
“Can you tell me what was in your dream, please?”
“She said a tall, handsome White man with eyes so blue, they look almost clear was comin’ by the house. She said she loved you like a son and nobody understood your pain, ’cept her. She said you’re the most complicated of your friends and would be the hardest to deal wit’, so she needed my help. You’d believe you were defying her but instead, you’d just fall in line with her plan. To come by here, to see me. To get the truth. She told me to let you know about the fire. She said you need to watch for the signs. You ain’t been listenin’. There’s signs all around you—you’ve noticed many but missed a few. She said you promised her you’d try and find out what happened with your mama ’cause it bothered you that you weren’t committed to the notion that she took her own life. She said yo’ mama is with her, but she can’t talk to you right now. Yo’ mama is safe ’nd happy though, and she been watchin’ over you your whole life. She said yo’ mama is proud of you, too… a lady with long, black hair, and eyes like yours.”