Blind fold, p.12
Blind Fold, page 12
“The Apex was smart. No one can build near or around him and the left side is a drop off to instant death,” he noted. On the map, there was a small body of water, however in real life, the small body of water flowed down under the Apex’s home. “He must have rerouted it to give himself a source of fresh clean water. It could also be my source for poisoning that bastard.”
He thought that route would be too easy. Opening a new tab, he went to the County Tax Assessors Office for Union County. Just to be certain he was searching in the right pool of water, he entered the address for Mabel’s Diner. All the records came up, with owners of the bank note and more. A smile crept across his lips as he entered the address of the Apex. He clicked the link. His heart beat rapidly as the property details came on screen.
“The property was purchased in 1910 by Elias Smithworthy,” he read aloud. “Smithworthy bequeathed the property to his daughter, who married a Johnathan Mann, who left the property to his son Chris Mann.”
The Glitter Man did a quick search of the local Blairsville County Newspaper for on Chris Mann. A photo came up of a ruddy faced white man in a Sheriff’s uniform standing next to a fair complexioned black woman and a teenage son. Rami leaned closer to the screen staring at the teen boy. A young Apex. The same eyes at the predator he’d seen in the diner.
“Sheriff Chris Mann stands proudly next to his wife and son as he accepts the award for service to city of Blairsville,” Rami read aloud. He went to public records and found Christopher Mann, some of Johnathan Mann. Then he saw it, Nathaniel Mann. “I got you, you fucker!”
Giddy with excitement, he went back to the land records. He scrolled down the page clicking on sales by area allowing the plots of land to overlap. Lot number B207, owned by the Neary Co-op. “Purchased in 1912 by Samuel Neary, handed down to James Neary, then passed to Joseph Neary who sold the property in 2018 to Ezekiel Neary,” Rami said smiling.
He went to google and searched, Ezekiel Neary, law enforcement, wounded into a Boolean search. The article popped up and Rami read it slowly, but what caught his attention was the photo. In the back, almost a blur was the man he’d seen at the stupid wedding of his brother-in-law at the water slide place in North Carolina.
“There you are tall dark and handsome,” Rami said. “And who might you be?”
He searched for names, cross referencing, digging, pulling, clicking, and finally, after an hour, the Glitter Man found Gabriel Neary. The middle son of retired FBI Agent, Joseph Neary. Three sons who all worked for a branch of the government. Ezekiel, the lamed one, medically retired from the Secret Service with a wound from active duty. Isiah Neary, PhD., psychologist for the department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. He continued clicking but could find no source of employment for Gabriel Neary.
“He’s a fucking spook,” Rami said with glee. “Hot damned! I uncovered a true to God, spook for the C. I. of molly hopping A!”
Staring at the screen pieces, fuzzy, small, unorganized flooded his mind. Rami grabbed a piece of blank paper and began to jot down the truths as he knew them and found to be accurate. Once he figured it out, he would start there. He would start with Gabriel Neary.
“The game’s afoot now bitches!” He shouted to the rafters.
Chapter Thirteen - Flop
The conversation with Gabriel Neary, the Archangel of the Southeast Constructions Crew didn’t last very long between Yasmine and the man. She stated her piece and provided instructions for the items she wanted, however what she was not clear on was the woman her son brought into her home. Last night, she’d been unable to sleep and several times during the night, she rose from her bed. His door was open and he was always there in bed, watching her. Each time she made an attempt to enter the hallway, he was up and at her side. She knew this morning he had to be exhausted, because she herself, felt like a warm bag of squishy poo. Her time was coming to an end.
Making her way to the kitchen, the woman greeted her with a cup of tea and half of a sandwich. The hour was fifteen past eleven and she needed to take her pain medication. Nichelle placed the pill beside the cup, and gently patted Yasmine on the back.
“Aren’t you always Johnny on the Spot,” Yasmine said, “you seem to know what everyone needs.”
“What can I say, it’s a gift,” she replied giving the woman a smile.
“May I ask what you’re seeking in return for your gift giving?”
Nichelle came to the table and took a seat. From her vantage point, out in the back yard, she could see her son being taught how to cut the grass with a push mower, not powered by gas or an engine. She could almost hear the argument her son presented about Being in the dark ages, while the sound of Uriel explaining how pushing the mower would build character. Her son had plenty of character and was also one himself.
“Ms. Tamagotchi, I was tired,” she said. “You know the kind of tired in your soul where you fully understand that one more thing, simply one more thing will be your undoing. That’s where I was and he saw it. I also saw it in him. He’s tired of sifting through the ash and reconciling the books.”
“Is that what he told you hid did for a living?”
“Yes Ma’am. He said he was a forensic accountant for the government and he does contract work,” she replied with a smile.
“Bless your heart,” Yasmine said.
“Is that not what he does for a living, or was it some clever play on words and he secretly kills people who wrong the government?” She asked still smiling.
Yasmine watched the spark in her eyes. The woman lit up whenever her son was around and she’d meet him at the door, ready to take care of whatever he needed. Either she genuinely cared for Uriel, or she was a pretty great actress.
Nichelle’s eyes traveled back to the window again, watching Cool Guy be supervised.
“You’re in love with him, aren’t you?”
“Who me? I barely know that man! Yes, I’ve spent a month with him and...I like him a lot. I do. I also respect and admire him,” she said. “He’s also a good kisser.”
Nichelle blushed furiously under the scrutinous gaze of his mother. She knew more questions were forthcoming and she waited. In the last month, as if he’d prepared her for this moment, she remained quiet, not speaking the thoughts flooding through her head, but allowing his mother to dictate the flow of information between them.
Yasmine added, “I am very curious as to why a woman would marry a man she barely knows and come in to take care of his sick mother. If you were in my position, wouldn’t you feel some kind of way about all of this gifting?”
“No, I would be grateful to that woman,” Nichelle said. “I took care of my Aunt until the end, having to change diapers, shower, clean and dress her. There is no way on God’s green planet that a woman, a strong, courageous woman such as yourself would want your son’s final memories with her to be of him changing your soiled nappies. That is why I’m here. He saved my life. I will give him this time with you on his terms.”
“And the talk of marriage?”
“He asked, I think. I said yes, I think,” Nichelle said laughing. “At this point, I’m just happy. I don’t care how it comes. I’m happy. I’m happy with him with his moody behind.”
“Good enough,” Yasmine said as her son came through the back door with Cool Guy.
One Way’s eyes went to his mother, “Mom, you’re looking a bit peaked. How are you feeling?”
“Son, stop fussing over me. I’m eating this sandwich and taking a pain pill. After that I moving my butt from this chair, across the room to that chair, where I’m going to flop down in it then recline and slob on myself for an hour or so,” she said to him, taking a bite of the sandwich.
“You sure? I need to go into town with Nichelle,” One Way said. “Will you be okay here with Jasir until we get back? We’ll be gone an hour or two tops.”
“Why are you making my grandson babysit an old woman? He needs to go outside and play with the little wierdo who lives behind me,” Yasmine commanded.
“When we get back, Yakob has invited Jasir for a swim at his grandmother’s home. I’m going to take him and give the kid a swimming lesson,” One Way said.
“You are?” Everyone but One Way asked.
“I am,” he said, “Nichelle, grab your purse. We have errands to run.”
To his amazement, she didn’t argue or question. Instead, she put away her cup, then washed the plate Yasmine used for her half a sandwich. A few minutes later she waited for him at the door. Nichelle was still quiet as they piled into the Four Runner and made for town. The quiet was freaking him out a bit.
“You’re too quiet. It’s messing with my calm. What is happening in that head of yours Woman?”
“Dude I’m still stuck on you being a cheerleader,” she said, looking over at him. “I simply can’t see it. You have two facial expressions; one is I’m going to fuck you up and the other is I’m going to fuck you.”
One Way burst into laughter. The gut busting type of laughter which made his eyes water. He hadn’t laughed like this in years.
“I mean Uriel, I don’t doubt you have the upper body strength to hold a woman in the air as she stands on one leg, I know you do. I know because you held me upside down as you pleasured me with your mouth all the while pumping your hips into mine. I liked that a great deal. The blood rushed to my head heightening the experience. I didn’t know whether I was cumming or dying. Shit, I didn’t even care.”
“See,” he said chuckling, “I should have let you stay quiet. I walked into that. Dead, smack in my face into that litany of words that spew from your mouth with unabandon.”
“And you like that shit too, that’s why you said something.”
“Honestly, I like you, Nichelle. You make me laugh.”
She leaned over in the seat and placed her hand in his thigh. He didn’t jerk away or react negatively to her touch which surprised her. She also shared a tidbit with him.
“I like you too. I like how you make me cu...” She started to say but her mouth was met with his finger.
“Is that why you’re agreeing to marry me?”
“No, I’m agreeing to marry you because hell, we both deserve some joy and peace in this life. Wait, is that where we’re going, to get married? I don’t have a ring, a pretty dress or anything,” she said looking at him. “Hey! Why are you agreeing to marry me?”
One Way pulled the vehicle into a shopping plaza of the West Town Mall. On the lower level, he knew where the Kay Jewelers store was located. He could get in and out with little to no fuss.
“I’m not agreeing to marry you, Nichelle. I’m marrying you because the thought of spending one more night across the hall away from you is too much to bear. I want to go to sleep with you in my arms and have you wake up snuggled close to me. I wish to feel the wisps of your breath on my cheek as you take that last sigh before drifting off to sleep. I want you as my wife, the bringer of my children, and the one person in this world who makes me laugh. In you, I found a peace I’ve never known in my life, therefore I am asking you, to be my wife,” he said, not blinking.
“See, now there’s that look of you wanting to fuck me,” she said, watching his face. “The sad part is, I want you to, and I’m so turned on right now. So yeah, if I have to marry you to be able to get some under your Mama’s roof, then come on, let’s go get a ring. And Yes. Yes to all of that right there. Wisps of my breath. You’re all poetic and shit too and can fuck like a demon. You ain’t even gotta ask me twice. All this is yours. Yessir. All yourns.”
She was out of the truck, walking through the parking lot talking aloud to herself. Nichelle was almost inside of the mall when she looked back and saw he was still in the truck. She did a sexy wiggle and waved at him to come on and get moving. He climbed out, following along behind her and that’s when she noticed he was actually wearing a pair of pants, dress shoes and a button-down shirt. One Way, her Uriel, did not look like a hit man for the Yamaguchi-gumi, but an actual accountant. He caught up with her.
“Nichelle, what is your ring size,” he asked, trying not to laugh at her antics.
“I don’t know. I’ve never had any real jewelry,” she said. “All the rings I’ve ever had have been stretchy or adjustable. My earrings have always been those sets you buy on a card, where there are seven different kinds for five bucks.”
“Okay,” he said, opening the door for her. “Your birthday?”
“August 7th,” she told him. “I’m a Leo. You?”
“October 13th, I’m a Libra,” he said, walking into a pink and coral jewelry store with loads of glass cabinets with sparkling items inside. A fresh face young woman greeted them, with a wide smile.
“What can I help you find today to create lifelong memories?” She asked.
“I need a wedding band for myself, a simple muted band works,” One Way said. “The lady will need an engagement ring, a matching band, a starter set of pearls, a peridot ring for her right hand, a pair of gold earrings and a starter tennis bracelet.”
“Okay, yours is the simplest, let’s start with you,” the girl said, taking note of Nichelle’s shocked face.
Nichelle whispered to him, “I don’t need all of that.”
“As my wife, you will have everything you need and some items you didn’t even realize existed,” he said, taking her hand into his own.
It was his first public display of affection. She held his hand tightly, afraid that if she blinked, it would all come to an end. It didn’t. In less than forty-five minutes she held a small bag loaded with the items he’d requested minus one engagement ring, which Nichelle considered a waste of money. She also insisted upon buying his band herself with some of the funds he’d given her for helping him.
“Nichelle, you don’t want the diamond ring?” He asked.
“I have no need for that right now,” she told him. “The band with a stone in it is fine. Later, on our fifth anniversary and after I’ve gotten fat after having two babies back-to-back, we can upgrade. I’m good with this. What’s next?”
“Courthouse. Buy a license, find a judge or an out of work pastor hanging about in the courthouse, pay him a few bucks and we become man and wife.”
Nichelle’s bottom lip began to tremble. “Please don’t cry. Please don’t cry,” he said to her.
“I can’t help it!” She said and started bawling loudly as he ushered her to the truck. “I’m just so frickin’ happy. I also get to have sex with you again tonight. She’s happy too!”
“She?” He asked and wished he hadn’t when Nichelle pointed to her crotch. “Good grief!”
The woman sniffled all the way to the courthouse, all through the purchasing of license, and finally standing in front of the judge. The magistrate asked if she was being forced to wed, or if the marriage was of her own free will.
“He’s my man, and I love him. This morning I wasn’t sure. I’m sure,” she said. “We’re going to be so dag-blasted happy. So happy!”
She bawled louder. Nichelle wailed so loud that the judge warned her if she didn’t calm down, he would have them removed. It took several minutes but by the time they reached, you may kiss the bride, she was back in tears again.
“Get out!” The judge told them as the bailiff escorted husband and wife from the courthouse.
The joy was short lived as a call came in from Cool Guy. One Way needed to get home right away. He took back roads pushing the speed limit to arrive home. Yasmine had taken a turn.
Nichelle didn’t question, but set to work making her mother-in-law comfortable. She recognized the signs of what would happen next. In her heart, she thought of ways to prepare her husband for the roughest month of his life.
“Mom, Mom, what’s wrong are you okay?” he asked rushing to her side.
“I’m fine Uri, I was just a little light headed. Jasir got me some water and helped me down the hall to the bathroom. I stood up too fast, that’s all,” she lied.
“Thank you, Cool Guy, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left you alone. My apologies, I won’t do it again,” he told the kid.
Jasir didn’t like being treated as if he was unable to help, because he could. He explained himself easily and slowly so that One Way would hear him well. He took a deep breath and moved in front of the man.
“I helped my mother with our aunt, so none of this is new to me,” Jasir said. “I didn’t call you to come home for her.”
“Then why did you call and say get home right away?” One Way wanted to know.
“The fax machine,” Jasir said. “The fax machine went off and spit out two pages.”
Chapter Fourteen - Wrinkle
For the first time in his 39 years of life, he wanted to quit. His first thought was to call the Archangel and retire his traffic sign. Today was his wedding day and he was going to have to put his wedding night on hold to go and kill a stupid bastard who tried to extort money from the government. It was always the same potbellied, or greasy haired over grown kid living in his mother’s basement with a shitload of computer equipment used to hack a server. The crypto-currency markets were making it worse because unbeknownst to the hackers, the money line was easier to track. Easy tracking also simplified his job and kept him employed. However, with the impending departure from this plane of his mother, his views on death had altered.
“Uriel, do you have to go to work?” Nichelle asked, as his mother looked on.
“Let me check the faxes,” he said, trying to give her a brief smile.
Nichelle didn’t buy the brave face and her husband, she thought about that word twice, didn’t offer comforting smiles, not even to his mother. Whatever was happening was bad. The awful kind of bad that made your sphincter clench and a little pee leak out of your ureter.
“Excuse me for a minute,” he said, patting his mother’s hand, and softly touching the arm of his wife.
In the small office he kept in the home, mainly to handle affairs for his mother, also held the office equipment which he checked, and the fax machine had indeed kicked out two pieces of paper. One, was a document his mother needed to sign. The other, was for a job in Knoxville across town. He knew the face. He knew the mark. He went to college with mark.
