Tribes of Time, page 10
“I’ve made up my mind already.” He said while still looking down at the table top.
“Then why the pained expression?” Roderick asked
“I grew up in a small town in Sweden named Orebro, we had Curriculum in school about the Civil Rights era and incidents like this. It’s hard for me to believe things like this still happens; and now I have an opportunity to be a part of it, it’s just overwhelming I suppose.”
With his legal team assembled Roderick thanked them from the bottom of his heart and went back into his corner office. He perused his legal library for case law and State or Federal rulings on similar matters. After about two hours of prep work, he decided to go home and prepare for his trip to Ocelia. He set the alarm on his iPhone for 5:30 am to give him enough time to reach Dulles airport from Prince Georges County. He then called the pilot on standby, and gave him instruction to prepare and file a flight plan for them. Roderick then laid out a weeks’ worth of outfits, both professional and casual attire. Feeling drained and exhausted, he flopped backwards onto the bed with his arms outstretched and quickly fell off to sleep. Haines had fallen asleep in a chair in the parlor while keeping vigil, when he was awakened abruptly by a noise coming from the rear of the house. He jumped up from his chair and grabbed the old hunting rifle from where it had been leaning against the wall. He crept through the house searching where the noises emanated from. Haines observed motion just outside the back door and went to investigate. When he reached the screened back porch, he saw Ella with her back facing him doing something in the double sink. Haines looked at his watch and it was 6:15 in the morning.
“Miss Ella what you doing out here so early?” Ella turned and looked over her left shoulder at Haines, but continued her task.
“You don’t know what early is, I’ve been up two hours already. We country folk get up with the roosters.”
Haines walked abreast of her and saw that she was washing collard greens.
“Let me help you, it’s been a while since I washed greens.” Haines hadn’t washed greens since his boyhood helping his mother in the kitchen. Most of his meals came from restaurants or having dinner with married friends. Ella moved over to one side and Haines took a position adjacent to her. Both worked in silence like an assembly line until the bushel was washed and picked.
“How come you didn’t wake me Miss Ella?” she just shook her head and smiled.
“Cause I know’se you was up all night keeping an eye out for us. The least I could do was let you rest when you could.”
“I don’t even know when I fell asleep last night.”
“Oh! I do” Ella exclaimed through laughs. Haines realized he snored loud, but no one else lived with him to complain about the nasal bombardment.
“What time will the lawyer be arriving today?”
“He said he’ll call me as soon as they board the plane. Don’t worry we’ll be bringing Cyrus home today.”
“How many will be coming?” Ella knew that Haines had secured an attorney, but Haines just said “They” will call when they’ve boarded the plane.
“Usually two attorneys would be assigned to handle a case like this, but he may bring more; I’d say two attorneys for each of us.”
“You tell them don’t be getting no hotel, we have more than enough room in this big old house. The boy’s are away for the summer and won’t be needing their rooms.”
“I’ll let them know, I’m sure they’ll be grateful for the offer.” Haines then helped her transfer the greens to the soak basin. Haines asked if there was anything else he could do to help out. Ella asked him to go out to the hen house and retrieve all the eggs from the chickens, except from the brown ones. She said they allowed those chicks to hatch; and they’ll eventually become frying chickens. She went on to explain their eggs were too acidic and aren’t the best for eating. While Haines was gathering the eggs and placing them in the basket his cell phone rang. Haines quickly fumbled for and answered it on the fourth ring.
“Hello, Haines speaking”
“Haney, its Roderick. We’re boarding the plane now and should be landing in your area in about an hour and a half. Where should we meet you?”
“I’ll meet you at the airport; I want to bring you back here first before we go meet the Sheriff and Prosecutor.”
“Sounds good, I’ll see you soon. Haney….Keep your head up brother.”
CHAPTER 13
AFFLATUS
R
oderick was peering out the window as the plane was making its final landing approach. He could see a snake-like meandering of a small river outside of Ocelia. The pilot came over the intercom and announced he was making his approach for landing, and all items should be stowed away until touchdown. The plane landed with a slight jarring and screeching as the tires made contact with the asphalt. The pilot deftly taxied the plane into a parking stall and gave the all clear to move about the plane. Michaelson joked about the size of the airport.
“Next time Roderick let us know we’re going to be landing on a post card, I’ll remember to wear my depends.”
Everybody shared a good laugh and began disembarking from the plane. As they made their way across the tarmac to the airport waiting rooms, they could see Haines waving and smiling from inside at them.
“If this wasn’t such a small town I’d give each of you a big wet kiss.” Haines said as he shook hands and embraced them at the same time.
“I wouldn’t care if this was New York City, you aren’t kissing me with those lips; you’ve been out here in bubbaland. God knows where those lips been.” Roderick chided.
“Oh you’re cracking on me? What about Renee Simpson in College?”
“WHOA….! Haney, not in front of the children.” He said with a smile in reference to Michaelson and Nilsson. Haines always held that trump card in his pocket when they played the dozens with each other. Renee Simpson was a troll of a girl that Roderick ended up with after a night of partying. Haines and the other fraternity brothers have yet to let him forget that moment of fleeting indiscretion.
“Before we go see the Sheriff and Prosecutor, I need to take you back to the Davies farm for you to meet his wife, Miss Ella.”
Haines assisted the men in loading up their rental vehicle and told them to follow him. Roderick jumped into the passenger seat of Cyrus’ truck with Haines and they took off heading down Route 75. As they approached the area where Haines and Cyrus dispatched the Klansmen, he slowed down to point out the areas of importance to Roderick.
“That spot over there is where my car broke down and I was sitting inside waiting for a passerby. I then heard someone screaming their ass off.”
“Where exactly was that?” Roderick asked
“See that clump of trees about 300 yards away? Right in that little clearing.”
Haines kept driving and when he got closer to the spot where they buried the men, he could see there were still four Deputies posted. All of them turned and intently stared as both vehicles passed them. Haines looked in the rear view mirror and saw one of them talking into his lapel microphone, probably informing the Sheriff that the attorney’s had arrived and were heading out to Cyrus’ place.
“Damn brotha, I’m surprised you’re not strange fruit already by the daggers they shot us.”
“To tell you the truth, I thought I was going to be last night. When I left the station a caravan pursued me; but I gave them the Haines slip.”
“Just be glad you didn’t get the old slip knot if you know what I mean.” Both men made the remaining drive in silence, but kept looking into the side mirrors to see if they were being followed. Eventually the vehicles pulled into the driveway and Ella emerged from the house drying her hands in the apron. She started down the steps with her arms outstretched and smiling.
“God bless y’all for comin’, God bless.” She gave each man a resounding hug and kiss on the cheek.
“Leave y’all’s bags in the car, you can come back later and get them. Come on in c’here and sit down for some breakfast.” As they walked into the house Roderick looked back at Haines as if to say ‘is this woman for real’. When they reached the kitchen Haines could see that she had been busy while he was gone. She had laid out a spread of catfish croquettes, grits with cheese and bacon crumbled up inside; toast, eggs and sweet tea. They were all stunned by the effort she had put forth, even with the undue pressure of having a husband in a southern jail.
“Ma’am you didn’t have to do all this for us, we could’ve gotten something to eat in town when we went.”
“Nonsense, you just shut up and eat.” Ella had a way with her words that were motherly and put you at ease like family. Before they all sat down to eat, Haines introduced everybody to each other, then walked over and basically had to force Ella into a chair to sit down and eat with them.
“Y’all go ahead, I know’se y’all got’s business to talk about.” She said as she attempted to rise from the table. Roderick stood up and walked over to Ella and said.
“Ma’am, WE have business to discuss and that includes you. We will do nothing without your involvement or approval; we work for you.”
Ella’s eyes teared up as she looked at each of them, she was consumed with gratitude and the only thing she had to pay them with was her cooking. Nilsson being from Sweden had never sat down to a real southern Black Country breakfast, he hesitantly placed small portions on his plate; but soon was digging in double-fisted. He told Ella the catfish croquettes were similar to the fish balls they ate in Sweden during Christmas, but hers were more delicious. Haines debriefed Roderick and the others again about what he had discussed with Cyrus and Ella before their arrival. The legal team also agreed it was the best way to proceed, because Cyrus had shot an unarmed man. Roderick stated if it does come to light Cyrus shot Delbert Cutts while he was unarmed; it could still fall under the self defense criterion. With the business aspect done with their client, the team said it was time to go into town and see the Sheriff and get Cyrus released from custody. Everybody cleared their own place settings and told Ella to enjoy having a seat on the porch and relax while they cleaned up the kitchen. The men could hear Ella out on the front porch rocking and humming the hymnal ‘what a friend we have in Jesus, with all our sins and grief’s to bear’. The three black men in the room just looked at each other, nothing needed to be said. Nilsson on the other hand just thought she was a religious woman signing; he didn’t have that shared experience or history. Once the kitchen was cleaned they all grabbed their attaché cases and headed out the door.
“We’ll be back as soon as possible Miss Ella, don’t you worry yourself sick. We’ve got the best team anywhere.” Haines said as he knelt down next to her and placed a hand on hers; which were cradled in her lap. She looked into his eyes and just smiled. She was content in knowing the Lord was on her side and had sent three angels to prove it. Haines asked Roderick if it would alright to just take one car into town. He wanted to take the rental because everyone in the area knew Cyrus’ truck and he didn’t want them converging on the Sheriff’s office if they saw it parked out front.
“I was just going to ask you the same thing.” Roderick tossed Haines the rental keys and climbed into the front passenger seat while Michaelson and Nilsson climbed into the rear seat. The car pulled out of the driveway and headed straight for the Sheriff’s Office. When they arrived near the site of the murders, there were news vans with disc antennae’s inundating the area and more Deputies had to be brought in to keep them at bay. There was a check point established, which Haines and the legal team had to pass through in order to get to the station. They pulled up to the Deputy manning the check point; he held out a hand for them to stop, and then walked up to the window.
“I’m sorry gentlemen, only local residents are allowed passage through this checkpoint.” Haines looked over at Roderick, then back at the Deputy.
“How do you know we’re not local?” Haines asked.
“Two ways sir; first of all, I can tell this is a rental vehicle by the sequence of numbers in the tag; secondly, I know everyone in this town.” Roderick leaned across towards Haines and said.
“You got us Deputy. We’re not from around here at all, but we’re heading into town to see the Sheriff and the Prosecuting attorney. Would you be so kind as to let us pass?” The Deputy took a few steps backs, lowered his aviator sunglasses and looked at each face intently. He then called over another Deputy that had been working the past couple of days; he had been called back from vacation and didn’t know that Haines was involved. When the other Deputy arrived they whispered amongst themselves briefly, and then waved the car through. Haines pulled the car into a stall about a two blocks down from the Sheriff’s office because there were no spaces available closer. The steps leading into the building was crawling with law enforcement personnel, many from neighboring municipalities. The four men confidently walked through the malevolence of stares and jeers from the Deputies. Roderick loved moments like these because the Deputies in essence are working with the Prosecutor’s office, and Cyrus was still in their custody. If they persisted, he could file a Habeas stating that Cyrus was denied access to counsel. When the quartet arrived at the front doors, a wall of uniformed men blocked their ingress. One of the men looked at Haines and said.
“You that boy that helped Cyrus kill our god fearing neighbors?”
Haines didn’t even respond to the ingrate; but pushed his way through, followed by the legal team. Roderick walked up to the courtesy window and asked to speak with the Sheriff, but was informed the Sheriff and Prosecutor were in a phone conference with the State’s Attorney and are indisposed. Roderick then ask to see his client.
“Who is your client sir?” the Deputy behind the glass asked.
“I believe you know who my client is, now stop these delaying tactics.”
“Sorry sir, I was advised not to let anyone see Mr. Davies until the Prosecutor was present.”
Michaelson stepped forward and cited some U.S Supreme Court statutes to the Deputy regarding denial of counsel within the initial 48-hours is a blatant Civil Rights violation, then asked for his name, rank and employee number. Michaelson then asked the Deputy when he was instructed and by whom not to allow Cyrus access to counsel. The Deputy was speechless and looked around for assistance in answering Michaelson’s question; just then the console phone rang. After a brief conversation with someone on the other end, the Deputy buzzed the legal team through. The quartet was escorted through an interior door, when that door was closed and locked; they were then buzzed through the anterior door. The Deputy then escorted them into a small holding room and informed them Cyrus would be brought up shortly from the holding cells. Unbeknownst to them, Vernon and Terrance were in another room watching them over the closed circuit cameras. Terrance was feeling uneasy about this action; he knew that a prisoner had the right to be attended by his or her counsel in privacy.
“Vern, I implore you to at least kill the sound in the room. Their communication falls under protected communiqué, and I can be disbarred for using this tactic to obtain any information pertaining to this case.” Vernon just stared at Terrance with a look of disdain.
“If it bothers you that much Terrance, you’re free to leave the room.”
Terrance picked up his attaché case and left the room. He then proceeded to the small room that held Haines and the others. Once he arrived, he knocked on the door and announced himself, and then he opened the door and stepped inside.
“Gentlemen, I’m Terrance McClendon the Prosecuting Attorney for the County. Please be seated.” As the men sat down around the table, Roderick was assessing Terrance and the way he carried himself.
“I’m Roderick Sprewell and my associates are James Michaelson and Haakon Nilsson. We’re here representing Cyrus Davies and Haines Johnson.” Terrance nodded acknowledgement to each man.
“I’m sorry, but where are you from and how did you hear about this case?” Terrance asked. He knew Vernon was listening and he wanted him to get their names and conduct a background check on them.
“We’re all from D.C. and we were asked to come on the request of Haines here.” Terrance still wasn’t satisfied with that answer.
“I meant which firm are you representing?”
“We’re representing the firm of Sprewell, Roberson & Mizell.” Roderick replied. Terrance was thrown for a loop at that revelation. He’d heard of the firm and knew they were heavy hitters in the Tri-State area surrounding the nation’s capitol.
“Didn’t I hear you say that your name was Roderick Sprewell? Is that any relation to the Sprewell in your firm’s name?”
“Yes it is. I am the Sprewell in the name. It’s my legal firm.” Back in the observation room, Vernon was frantically attempting to get the State’s Attorney back on the line. He was passed around to several extensions before he actually reached him.
“It’s me Vernon again; I believe we may have a problem here. I don’t know how, but these nigra’s got themselves some powerful Yankee attorneys. Have you heard of the firm Sprewell, Roberson & Mizell?”
“Well now, you do have a problem. The White House has them on retainer. I’ll be sending someone down to assist you. And Vernon, don’t fuck this up by being pig-headed.” Vernon placed the receiver back and reclined in his chair. He knew what the State Attorney meant about “fucking things up”; he meant he didn’t want him rallying his Klavern and taking things into his their own hands. Vernon continued watching and listening in on the conversation transpiring in the next room.
“How does someone like Cyrus afford a mover and shaker such as yourself, if I may ask? I mean no disrespect to you Cyrus.” Roderick was getting a little annoyed with the small talk, his purpose was there to free Cyrus and find out what charges if any would be brought forth.
“We’re not here to discuss how Cyrus can afford us; we’re here to obtain his freedom. Now if I may ask again, what charges is he being held on?”
“Right now he’s being detained on suspicion of murder; no formal charges have been levied.” Michaelson was furiously transcribing notes to assist in preparing a defense and Nilsson was reviewing Tennessee’s statue of murder on his iPad. He found that in order for them to hold Cyrus more than the 48-hours, they needed to have secured a Grand Jury indictment or evidence directly placing him at the scene. Nilsson scribbled a short note explaining this to Roderick.
