The conversation with Troy lasted its normal fifteen minutes and as usual he did not call back. I hadn't disclosed my whereabouts but was at his home.
He'd laughed at my intent and thought I'd lost my mind all the way.
"What the fuck do u mean u are an attorney, u throwed off! Is the baby ok?"
He thought I was a full fledged idiot, I would prove to him he needed me, because I needed him! There was a difference, something they would miss. I'd analyzed the facts and saw where Carmella Long's name, the special agent that was decapitated, had been mentioned numerous times in Martin's files. He had been accused of putting the hit out on the agent and had had Antwan Carter, my children's father killed, he just wasn't suspected in that particular murder and all the evidence in opposition of his defense was only circumstantial and he say. That led me to furthermore believe he wasn't suicidal.
Troy said he'd had a visit from his attorney on the 22nd. I'd asked how so when it was only the 15th while looking at the date on the phone, he laughed. "U all fucked up, today is the 26th."
I walked through the quiet home bewildered and stopped at the zoo calendar that hang above the water dispenser while Ciaran's faint cries came from the bedroom, but it was from 2018, an 11 year. For some reason I couldn't shake the incident with Jennifer and would kidnap her for information if I had to! I'd watched my three sons sleeping on the floor and vowed at that moment while sitting in the bedroom recliner to save them. I'd read the prophecy on the walls.
Troy's attitude had become solemn. Had he called upon them too?
I'd known there was a price to pay, but couldn't it be rectified? My situation had caused me to use drastic measures, but now I owed them all. As I'd called on Belial Martin had expired in his cell as I knew he would.
He'd waited years to feel relevant.
"How long did u work for your uncle, Troy?"
"Since 2011, why?"
"Just asking."
"Yea, I told him I was done, but he said my contract wasn't up for another 7 years."
Damn...
"Why did u even work for him?"
"Shit, I listened to my TLady, me and bro was beefing so she sent me to the N.O back in the day. That nigga got me out of trouble. MP was grimey---u don't know the half and I told u not to fuck with that muthafucka, u greedy as fuck and u didn't need that money, I told u u couldn't get it anyway---"
HA!
"Oh well, now I know, I should have listened. Im glad it's over."
He laughed giving me a creepy feeling, "Yea."
What did he know?
The conversation made me pry into his business, why had he incriminated himself, also why had he and Martin fallen out? He was the reason he'd been apprehended. I planned to search the home and knew something was there.
The background noise filled the speaker as I neared the bedroom to tend to my son. It was feeding time and as I sat down the home phone rang while announcing the incoming number.
"Where are u!?"
"My mother's, I came to bring the boys."
The recording came on, we now had a minute left.
"I'm getting a Nanny, I've even talked to one. She was by the house, just standing in the rain. She seems odd, but I think Ciaran loves her. I know he can't see her well, but he didn't seem discontented when she held him. Also I like her tattoo. I've been waiting for her to come back but haven't seen her since the day it rained."
"U too damn friendly, I don't want nobody around my son."
"WHAT? SO NOW U CARE? HE'S YOURS?"
"If u let anything---"
"Hello?"
I HATED HIM! The call ended.
I would protect all of my boys but I couldn't do it alone! Sharon had just stood me up, I hated her too!
All at once I remembered something Christy had mentioned, she'd called Terrell a child porn ass nigga, then it all made sense. I became enraged and had always protected my children, but now I knew, the anger toward Redd welled inside and I'd killed him dead.
....and Nathaniel's words, "There is nothing new under the sun."
While feeding my son I dialed his number but saw a message appear on the text app from Brown. I'd spoken to him and someone had been trying to get Martin's estate, he felt entitled to it all.
Oh yea? So u could have possibly killed for it, right?
I felt betrayed by everyone and my patience had become thin as hen's teeth.
When Nathaniel answered he seemed glad to hear from me, I told him I needed help with the children and just couldn't do it by myself. He agreed to help, "I have the New Orleans home, u are welcome to stay as long as u like. I will pay u---but please."
The silence sounded.
"Are u well?"
"No! I am losing it, I keep having the same dream and people are coming I don't even know if they are real!"
"Ok, just calm down."
"I feel Pam is trying to keep my girls from me, I just need somebody! My own mother---"
"I can fly in next week, and will bring my daughters."
Shan and Netta?
"Ok, good. The boys needs a male figure and Trenton's son's behavior is become rather unusual."
"Yes, well some things cannot be altered and not all things that are closed should be opened."
"Esau. Edomites, what do u know? Someone called me one and I was reading up on it."
I knew he was a Christian now but when I'd mentioned it to him his answer was delayed. "Your father's favorite sermon; after Rebekah had told Jacob to deceive his father for his brother's blessing as he was dying she'd known Esau was angry and would kill her favorite son who she kept sheltered. He was sent to work for his uncle and worked for 20 years in exchange for his daughter Rachel. Esau had also been deceived for his birthright and was angry. Still entitled, but angry. Jacob became Israel, Esau Edom---twins of opposite born in the old testament, Esau being the first born. It's still a mystery how Esau had mutated an albino gene, he was born pigmentless and preferred darkness. He too became mighty as Israel had, and many generations were born which also was his birthright. Abraham had blessed his children's children and their children's children. In folklore it was said Esau was a river demon. Your father believed it, and before he'd gone into the Mountains he was a man of nature, the wild. Abraham was the father of many nations, as it is written but all not nations were holy. Jesus himself is a descendant of the Israelite tribe of Judah to save his people, the Israelites, The Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Esau later came to be known as the white demon."
I had become temperamental and felt I'd exposed my children to danger, by all accounts I had to prevent something entirely dastardly from taking place, but how old was the prophecy? Had it recurred as the dream had? I'd gotten halfway down Interstate 10 before I'd realized I hadn't even paid for the drinks, I didn't know what day it was. Finding out I'd missed the ball dismayed me, I'd planned to find answers.
"What do u know about Louisa McNamara?"
"It depends on what u mean, she's rich---prominent, respected. Martin's mother."
"How old is she?"
"Unsure. Those people aren't—-in Genesis 6 God said man's days will be limited to 120 years, but the pace of human evolution has increased and the lifespan decreased. Martin believed that he could live 120 years, and was fixated on the ancient study of Alchemy. Do I believe he's gone? No, but not immortal, only the demons he worship are. However, he is not the same. His grandmother was a satanist and practiced evil religiously, and was a prostitute, his mother---probably twice as devoted as Cecilia and just as—-well. Her own grandmother had been sold to the Lafittes and had come from the Poindexter Plantation in Jennings. She came with child and had been sold by Mary Ann Poindexter, she gave birth to Louisa at the Lafitte plantation. The land---they will do anything to keep it in their possession, and Louisa? Nobody really knows how old she is, she never celebrates and Martin only mentioned being born on February 29th, but in the snow. Hasn't snowed in those parts and the years recorded that had a leap day hadn't mentioned snow for at least 200 years on that day, the climate prohibits it. It's meaning according to him was symbolic. When speaking of his father he mentions only speaking to him once but seeing him everyday. Cliff's grandfather had come from "the north" but Louisa's account with Martin was that she had been raped however even Martin disputes the claim. In 1901 Alexander's grandfather got into the oil business in Jennings. He found Louisa--- or, he was traveling coming through Mississippi, Waynesboro, and picked her up headed home in New Orleans. Old man Steven would tell us as boys Louisa was a demon and was the head, but if u kill the head, the body would die. He knew something, old man still around almost fulfilling God's prophecy at 112 years old.
No doubt Martin was brilliant minded when among us. That baby your grandmother found, Louisa called on him as they had his mother long ago but out of anger. It's a must u abandon the Orchard. I will call back after the flight is scheduled, take care."
The call ended and I now sensed some bitterness in Nathaniel's voice as I hadn't initially. I needed the Orchard's proceeds and had also taken orders as early as back in January. If either of the barren trees produced, the apples would sell far and wide for profitable amounts; per apple. There were many who believed. I'd wobbled across the uneven and broken ground during my last visit, the snakes had shed their skin between the rows but there was life in the branches.
Just as I thought to take the nodoze and look for coffee, I saw Nikki's shoes beside the wall in Troy's bedroom but remembered putting them there. I'd planned to show her how to be disloyal, I'd snapped when I thought about she'd spoken to the police also she'd led Trenton to where I was. I had messages to prove it and as I drove to the river front I read them all from Trenton's phone. Had she thought he'd erased them since she said she could fuck him better than I could? I was happy she could see me fuck him for real. Deep down I think I wantedTrenton to live that day and knew if I could survive the neuromuscular paralysis, so could he. Troy and Von were also prime examples.
Under no circumstances did I want to fall asleep, the dream was becoming more and more frightening.
My son laid with his eyes focused on me, I loved him so much. I would watch attentively trying to figure him out, they knew of his coming. Soon, I would find myself trying to piece together both Troy's and my own family trees.
The Edomites were said to be giants, I just couldn't seem to get what Jennifer said out of my mind and needed to find my maternal grandparents. The voices were back, more convincing than ever before telling me to do so.
What gene did Troy and I have that were recessive enough to produce a child born with two different types of Albinism? He was beautiful, eyes as the deep ocean blue. I wanted to talk to Procell, he seemed to have a similar condition and was also sensitive to light.
I needed to feed the children but there was something in the home I also needed to see, I knew there was. Troy was tidy, hardly anything was out of place and while going through a drawer I found a cell phone and decided to take it. Sleepily my children climbed into the truck, I considered, maybe it wasn't a grand idea to have my mother watch them after all. I hadn't known what to think of the detectives, she'd mentioned months back that they'd come by. Troy was in for a surprise, he'd underestimated my capabilities.
After stopping at a Burger King I prepared for the long drive. The Have It Your Way poster screamed at me displayed on the window while I was sitting in the drive thru; wither, weary, whore---
I pulled forward to the drive thru window, water, oath, and await---
Await what?
Wraith...
I was getting scared and hated being at home alone.
The lady at the window yelled at me, I let it down but watched the sign in the mirror while she passed the food with an attitude.
Wraith, where?
Earth...
After she'd given me the food, I still sat reading the words in the rearview mirror until the people in the cars behind me got all bent out of shape.
Ivory, white---routeway, wrath---vow.
I drove away quickly and into traffic without even looking, something was wrong with me! This was a curse! I sped toward Interstate 20 while ignoring the 318 number that was calling, it was unfamiliar.
My children played among themselves while eating, the older two were protective of the younger as if they sensed his deformity.
I'd plugged up the phone I found in the Pines Road home, it powered on as I entered onto I-49.
Troy had definitely been on Christy's trail. I hadn't bought the picture story, my father hadn't shown him one---and other than a mugshot I'd never taken any, Kerri and I were not allowed.
When I stopped for gas almost halfway back to New Orleans, I received the call again from the 318 number but googled every address Troy had for Christy, if she was alive I would find her. Of them all Lamont wanted her dead the most.
Admitting to myself he'd played me well while filling up, I saw the symbols Deuce had drawn on the back of the passenger seat.
The drive lasted forever as time stood still.
Only had I been back in New Orleans a few minutes when I received the news about my mother.