Audra Byer, once thought to be nothing more than Ray Marsh's business partner, turned out to be, in truth, an undercover agent for the FBI. Seems Ms. Byer had been investigating Ray for more than a year, long before he became an instant senatorial candidate. Ray Marsh, according to Audra, was suspected of illegal trafficking in alcohol and money laundering. But it was Ray's sudden surge in the polls coupled with Marty McCormack's untimely (and suspicious) death that spurred the investigation. Audra was certain Ray had inside help, and she became suspicious of his partnership with Charmaine Shade. Why would Ray Marsh, a man who otherwise had a clean record, suddenly cozy up to the likes of Charmaine? And why would he agree to bankroll and build that underground lair? Audra had a few run-ins with Ms. Shade, even allowed herself to play along with the woman's villainous plot. She admitted she knew something was up with "Dark Horse", and that Metacorps was conducting its own investigation.
"I had no idea," she said, sipping her coffee, "that you guys were in on it. My superiors at the Justice Department could tell me so much, and that I had my own investigation to complete. I have so much on Ray that is guaranteed to put him behind bars for at least thirty years, if not longer."
"But what happened to Charmaine?," asked Reyna. She was growing impatient, what with the election just a day away. Arresting Charmaine was Metacorps' top priority, and Reyna was quite perturbed that the Feds never informed her that the government was doing its own investigation. This latest development – finding out Audra was a government agent – only spurred Reyna to do some digging. And she found what she had suspected all along: That Charmaine Shade was indeed the "deceased" Deidre Maxwell, and that the mother, Olivia, ordered the hit on Melody's parents. What gave Reyna pause was how to break this news to Melody. No doubt Ms. Starr would have to be taken off the case, now that she would be too emotionally involved.
Melody, who remained strangely silent for most of this morning meeting, finally spoke up. "I know you were trying to keep it all from me, Reyna. And I figured it out last night while Nydessa showed me how to get in Charmaine's hideout. She's Deidre, isn't she? And her mom had my folks killed."
Reyna, a trifle taken aback, admitted, "I wanted to keep it from you, and you know I'd be obligated to pull you off this case. But, how did you figure it out?"
Melody replied, "The lock combination is O-L-I-V-I-A. I put it together." Turning to Audra, she asked, "What did you say to Charmaine to make her bolt like that? And where do you think she is now?"
Audra said, "I just told her that Ray had a sudden drop in the polls, and that the media had gotten hold of evidence that Martin McCormack met with foul play. She got really spooked and took off. Right now, we tracked Charmaine to a remote cabin in the Smokies. Don't worry. She hasn't left the country – yet, and we still have one more trump card to play."
"Trump card?," asked Reyna.
"Yes," said Audra, "and we believe this will finally flush out Charmaine. As of now, federal agents are searching her hideout at the club. The place has been abandoned. Charmaine and her goon just up and left."
"And...," Reyna didn't want to say anything in front of Melody, but it had to come out sooner or later. "And what about Kent?"
Melody's eyes grew wide, her mouth quivered a bit. "What about Kent?"
Audra admitted, "He was taken to Charmaine yesterday. He's the one who ratted on you, and he's now in protective custody. He was this close to getting himself killed. When Charmaine left you, and just before you and Dessie escaped, I had Kent moved to a safe house. He'll be OK, but he's really sorry he blew your cover. Apparently he was sore at you for ditching him for Dessie, so he thought he'd get back at you."
A dumbfounded Melody stared at Audra in disbelief. She knew Kent was obviously hurt when she said good-bye, but never did she think that hurt would drive him to such extremes. But something doesn't make sense: Why didn't Audra simply show Kent the door after he spilled the beans about 'Satine is really Melody'? No, she had to take him to Charmaine who wouldn't have thought twice about killing him. Melody didn't want Kent dead; she loved him as a friend and very much wanted to tell him so.
******
Nydessa sat in the comfort of Melody's office. It was a stylishly decorated, very attractive, not what one would expect for a private spy for hire. Here Dessie stared in wonderment at the many photographs of Melody's family. Such an attractive mother, she thought, studying an old photo of Mary Starr, a pretty, dark-haired woman dressed in the stylish fashions of the early 1970's. There was a picture of William Starr, the father, a handsome man who dared to marry a 'mixed race' woman. So, Mary was what the older generation called a 'quadroon'.
Nydessa learned that Mary's mother, a wealthy widow, was biracial, a product of a secret love affair between a well-heeled Tennessee businessman and his African American housekeeper. Of course, back then, such things were kept hush-hush; no one dared to admit they were part black. So Martha, the child from this union, a woman of incredible beauty, simply passed as white; she was that light. She was adopted by the father, although she knew of her biological origins. Martha lived a charmed life of private schools, cotillions, riding and music lessons, all far removed from the Jim Crow existence of her mother's people. Martha Butler married Bryant Griggs, an up and coming entreprenuer who had a taste for politics. No way would Martha allow herself to be "outted"; it would spell the end of both her husband's political aspirations and marriage. Did Bryant know the truth about Martha's birth mother? No, and her father took great pains not to let that fact aired in public.
Anyway, the Griggs had one daughter, Mary, who married William Starr. Both had met while in college, and both had promising careers in science and business.
Tears trickled from Dessie's eyes, tears of shame and guilt. How much she wanted to contact her folks back in Ohio. How much she wanted to tell them she really loved them. But no, she had to allow herself to be sucked into Charmaine's world, a world built on deceit, secrecy, murder. A few days ago, Nydessa did voice that wish to Charmaine: She wanted, at least, to call or write her parents just to let them know she was all right. But Charmaine just laughed and told her 'pet' that she made the decision to break away from her family the moment she walked out the door. "You belong to me, now, not to your parents."
She got out a sheet of paper then, with pen in hand, began to write a long letter to her parents. She atoned for all the grief and pain she brought upon the family. She regretted ever leaving home. In that letter, she was careful not to reveal her present circumstances but wrote: "I got in a bit of trouble and might need your help. No, it isn't what you think, but something has been going on these days. There is an election coming up tomorrow, and I've been caught in the most awful of conspiracies. I've seen and done things that I'm not proud of. Now I could really use your support and love. They say I might have to testify, and I'm scared..."
She finished the letter, addressed the envelope, then rummaged through Melody's top drawer for a stamp. Finding what she was looking for, Nydessa sealed and stamped the envelope, sending up a prayer that the words just might, perhaps, soften her folks' hearts. It had been so long, almost six years, and Nydessa finally realized running away did not gain her the independence she craved. She felt trapped with Charmaine, more so than what she ever imagined under her parents' roof.
"Hey. Why don't I treat you to breakfast?"
Melody stood at the door, looking lovingly at Nydessa. There was concern mixed with that love.
******
Ray Marsh watched in horror and disbelief as the TV anchorman reeled off the latest poll figures. This wasn't happening! Why are the approval ratings plummeting? As it stood now, the most recent voter polls showed Jim Jacobs commanding a strong lead. Marsh's numbers are way down, an unusually astonishing downturn, at least that's how the news guy said. If the election were held today, Jacobs would easily win by a wide margin.
Ray paced his office, wondering how and why such an 'easy' win was now just a pipe dream. Charmaine said the triple dose of "Dark Horse" would certainly ensure a landslide victory. Now, with the election looming tomorrow, Ray could come away with, at best, no more than thirty percent of the vote.
"Dammit! Where is Charmaine? She and Jake are gone, hightailed it out of here without a word. And why didn't the thing work? I made sure I put that disc in...This is all messed up."
Ray also wondered about Audra. She didn't bother to come in this morning, and she is usually very punctual. No phone call to say she's late, nothing. To cap it all, Satine Noire had yet to show up for morning rehearsal. Something is terribly wrong, thought Ray. What if the authorities are on to his and Charmaine's scheme to fix the election? What if damning evidence has surfaced regarding Martin McCormack's death? Surely, if the medical examiners were particularly sharp-eyed and thorough, they'd pick up on the fact that McCormack met with foul play.
"My God!," Ray said out loud, "no wonder Charmaine skipped. They know about us, about what we did."
"She knew what she was doing. She had much on me: the truck hijackings, the dealing in bootleg booze and cigarettes, the drugs, the money laundering. Charmaine used me to fulfill her own needs. That's it! I'm calling the election board, withdraw my name, then call a press conference..."
The phone rang just as Ray decided then and there to withdraw from the election. Whoever it was, he'd get rid of them fast. Maybe it's Audra, maybe Satine.
She hung up, just like that. Ray stood there, receiver still in hand, totally afraid of whatever was to come next. Perhaps Charmaine has the place bugged, spies stationed at every corner, watching, and listening to his every move. He couldn't very well pull out of the election now, and it stood to reason that he should stay in, let Jacobs trounce him tomorrow. During his concession speech, Ray would divulge all. At least Charmaine wouldn't – couldn't – stop him there. He would, in front of newspaper reporters, on live TV, tell the entire sordid story: The lies, deceit, the use of mind-altering subliminals, the murder of Marty McCormack. Then maybe, just maybe, the law would go easy on him.
Dejected, confused, and completely frightened, Ray Marsh suddenly got a thought. He punched the recall button on his caller ID. There it was: Charmaine's number. It wasn't her cell phone number, so she either had to call from a pay phone or elsewhere. He hastily wrote down the number then went to his safe hidden behind that garish fingerpainting his daughter gave him so long ago.
Maybe it was all for the best, but Ray knew deep down that his current troubles stemmed from the fact that he just couldn't wrest himself away from work for one fleeting moment to spend time with his family.
He opened the safe, took out cash, some papers, and a few other items. After stashing the stuff in his briefcase, he took one last look at that painting. Maybe it was not too late.
To be continued...go to chapter 11
Copyright©2004 by PRP. All Rights Reserved.
This she told to Audra who tried to explain the delicate nature of the circumstances.
"He knew, Melody," said Reyna, "and he admitted to seeing you two together. I guess he was really hurt – You throwing him over for a woman."
"Kent knew I was bisexual, and I explained as best I could...Oh wow!" She looked around, adding, "Where is Nydessa? I thought she was to be present for this conference."
Reyna said, "She's in your office. I had her stay there while we finish up here. Now, Melody, I want that girl moved to a safe place where Charmaine can't get to her. Dessie will have to understand that. And no, she can't stay at your place. God knows Charmaine probably has your apartment staked out. I suggest this..."
Wow, thought Nydessa, Melody really loves her family, and it shows with all these photos. Wonder what her grandma is like...
Nydessa sat at the desk, weeping, "No, I don't belong to you anymore, Charmaine. I've found a true love in Melody, and she's gonna protect me no matter what you try to do to me."
"Sure," said Nydessa. "But can we stop by the post office first?" She indicated the letter. "I wanna get this in the mail soon. It's a letter to my folks." She sobbed again, and Melody walked up to her and wrapped her in a protective embrace.
"I just want to have my folks here when I have to testify against Charmaine. Oh, Melody, it's all my fault. I didn't know how deep I was until..."
The poor child wept uncontrollably, letting Melody console and comfort with kisses and reassuring words.
"It'll be OK, Dessie. Charmaine has left town; she's up in the mountains. Probably in hiding because she knows we're on to her. After breakfast, I'm taking you to a safe house, and I want you to promise to talk to no one other than Audra, Reyna, or myself. Got it?"
There was no doubt about it: Ray would have to come clean about his shady activites. Perhaps the authorities would go easy on him once he fingers Charmaine Shade as the mastermind of this crazy scheme. Ray also fairly put together the possible outcome if he was indeed elected. He would never be able to exercise his conscience; Charmaine would see to that, and he would be at her mercy forever. This was all a sham, to get Ray elected to office, perhaps, years down the road, to gain control and power via other people – namely himself.
"Hello?"
"Hello, Ray." It was Charmaine.
Ray grimaced as he steeled himself for the inevitable. Obviously, he reasoned, she knows it's over for me, and she's leaving me holding the bag...
"Uh, Charmaine...Now is not a good time. You see–"
Her voice was couched in righteous anger. "Of course, it's not a good time for either of us. Ray, there's something you need to know." She went on to tell him about 'Satine', Kent, and most importantly, Audra. Naturally, Charmaine didn't lay the blame at her own feet; she needed a more convenient scapegoat.
"You see, Ray," she said, "because of my assistant's disloyalty, you're in hot water. Nydessa told Audra all about our little plot, and she told Melody Starr. I'm out of here, Ray. You're on your own!"
Looking at that painting, Ray allowed himself a sweet reminisce. How long ago had it been? Almost seven years. Sarah most likely has remarried; the kids grown and going on with their lives. He thought of the youngest, Billie, who was the apple of his eye. She was six when she painted that in school. Donny was ten, and he took his parents' split hard.
Well, Ray had himself to blame, what with the constant demands of business taking up most of his time. Sarah simply said enough was enough. She'd had it with him missing too many family vacations, holidays, school plays. The kids weren't getting any younger, and their father's many absences made him a stranger in his own home. Donny and Billie resented not having their dad around, and it was increasingly unbearable, embarrassing even, trying to explain to their friends why Daddy wasn't home much. So Sarah packed up the kids one winter night and took off across country. She gave him an easy, uncontested divorce; he relinquished his parental custody rights.
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