She was placing the water pitcher to the table between their generously filled plates. Roman took her wrist before she could move to her seat. He only rubbed his thumb across her wrist. It was enough.
She kissed his cheek. “Better?” She queried.
He smiled, kissed her wrist in turn and then released her.
Imani took her chair-said a quick prayer over her food and then unfolded the napkin under her silverware. “What went wrong today?” she smiled when Roman began to chuckle.
“What went wrong today is I left the house,” he said.
For several moments, only eating sounds filled the kitchen. Utensils scraped plates, ice clinked the sides of glasses.
“I went to see Xavier Auten today. He was the top guy on Stone’s inventory team.” Roman summarized the meeting he’d missed with Auten, Stone, Aaron and Pitch because of his time abroad.
“Did Mr. Auten have bad news?” Imani asked.
“Suspicious news,” Roman leaned back from the table. “Needs more work before we can label it as particularly bad.”
“Bad, as in proving Humphrey is doing something he shouldn’t.”
“Exactly.”
“Do you think you could prove it?”
“With enough time? Maybe. Humphrey’s a prick, but he’s smart.”
“And Vale?”
Roman laughed. “Vale would never rat on Hump. The most we can hope for there is that they turn on each other. But I think that day will be a long time comin’.”
“What else has you upset?” Imani asked once they’d eaten in silence for another few minutes.
“Xav said Stone called him...that last day. Said he thought he had something. He wouldn’t tell Xav what it was-said they needed to meet so he could show him.”
“What was it?” Imani’s fork was poised over steamed broccoli, carrots and zucchini.
Roman shrugged, wolfing down more of the Crab Curry. “They never met. Stone was on his way out of town. He told Xav they’d talk when he got back.” he looked to Imani, waited a beat and smiled sourly. “Exactly,” he saw the intrigue take shape in her lovely eyes.
“Why would he set dates if he’d planned to take his life?”
Roman sighed and reached for his tea glass. “That, smart girl, is a mystery we may never solve.”
~33~
“Jacob Shelanon? No...no, can’t say I have...Dakota? Hell...I didn’t know black people lived out there!” Humphrey’s observation mingled with laughter. Welcome brightened his handsome face, when his brother ambled in. He waved at Vale and then motioned to silently instruct him to shut his office door.
“You think it’s worth heading all the way out there?” He spoke into the phone, nodded after a moment. “Well...I hope he’s as talented as you think, Ophion...yeah, yeah let me know when you’re back.”
Humphrey’s laughter resumed when he put the phone down and gave Vale the once over. “You look like shit, little brother.”
Vale didn’t look as though he cared. His skin was pale, looking starker against his glossy dark hair.
“Go get yourself a drink. Go on,” Humphrey urged when Vale hesitated. “I promise not to tell Ma.”
Vale remained rooted to his spot.
“What the hell’s goin’ on with you?”
“We spelled it wrong.”
Humphrey’s confusion melded with concern. “Vay-”
“It’s not a common name.” Vale continued as though Humphrey hadn’t spoken. “We um...we turned up three of them when we finally got the spelling right.”
Humphrey left his desk, went to take Vale’s arm. “What the hell are you talking about?” He spoke slowly as though Vale were dense.
“The first two were over fifty,” Vale went on, speaking as if he were holding conversation with himself. “One was a retired Cuban hairdresser in Jersey. The other, a housewife in Long Island.”
Humphrey took a handful of Vale’s jacket and yanked him to the toes of his brown penny loafers before shaking him violently. “What the fuck are you talking about-”
“She’s black! She-Giselle-Guiya, she-her real name is Guiya. Guiya Lucas.” Vale’s bloodshot eyes were clear then, aware. “We have another colored sister-in-”
Humphrey clipped the rest of Vale’s statement with a back handed slap that drew blood. “You shut your goddamn mouth about her!” he roared. “Why the fuck would you say such filth-”
“Guiya Giselle Lucas a.k.a. Giselle Weeks-her mother’s maiden name is Weeks. Her parents are Gilda and Brogan Lucas. Sister Gwendolyn and brother Bradly. Mrs. Lucas was admitted to the Women’s Pavilion at Harlem Hospital on March seven of forty-seven where she gave birth to a six pound, three ounce girl-hair blonde, eyes blue. Giselle.” Vale sighed, pressed the tip of his finger to his split lip. “I’m sorry Hump.”
“Can’t be,” Humphrey looked like he’d been saddled with ten times his weight in iron. “It can’t be, I-I’ve seen her.”
“So have I.” Vale smiled sadly.
