The Durham Mob, page 2
CHAPTER 3
Charles had a steady job, earning more money than he ever had. He was becoming more flamboyant, buying nice suits and partying hard. By this time, he had taken a three-bedroom apartment in a popular Harlem housing development, Delano village, with Sid, and another homeboy, Swazy, who was a cum laude college graduate with a major in English and Wakefield, known as “Wake.” Swazy worked as a social worker for the Welfare Department because he needed a job after graduation and that job was easy to get and paid decent money. Many graduates worked for the Welfare Department after graduation until they found something better, or something in their fields. One was not a real Welfare Investigator. That was just the title. Even William worked there for three months until he began teaching.
Sid’s mother had gotten worse and he had put her in a mental home in an upstate New York institution. He was working at a clothing chain store as an accountant or in reality, a bookkeeper, because he only attended college one semester.
After several months in his new position, Charles, who monitored all five boroughs of New York City, was going through the figures from each borough when he saw something that looked suspicious. After examining the books very carefully, he realized that the numbers were not quite right. He studied the digits longer and realized that somebody was stealing, and it had to be the site supervisor. He went to each site supervisor in each Borough and confronted them, one by one. Charles approached Roy in his small office in the South Bronx. “What’s up,” said Roy. “Whatcha doing slumming up here?” Charles looked at Roy with a serious face. Roy had never seen Charles look so serious. He was usually loud and bossy and happy.
“Can’t be that bad,” said Roy.
“Close the door,” ordered Charles. “Somebody is stealing money, and since you’re in charge, it must be you.” Roy’s face had a look of fear and panic. He didn’t even try to deny it. He pleaded, “You’re not gonna have me arrested, are you, man?”
“How much you taking each week and exactly how you doing it? You seem to have more kids on the payroll than I see working when I come up here.”
“I put in false names, I mean, kids who don’t exist,” he stammered.
“And how much you pulling down each week,” Charles asked?
“I’m pulling in about $500 per week,” replied Roy.
“How much?” Charles yelled. “No wonder you have such a nice Ride!” Roy’s salary was only $100 a week. “Whatcha gonna do,” asked Roy, “You’re not gonna turn me in, are you?” Without missing a beat, Charles looked him straight in the eyes at close range and said, “Double it and gimme half each week, and I’ll cover for you. Do we understand each other?” Charles spoke slowly and deliberately. “We’ll never discuss this again. You bring me my take each Friday, quietly and everything will go on as usual. Got it?” Roy shook his head in agreement and his face showed a big sigh of relief. Charles went to Brooklyn, Queens and lastly, Staten Island, which had a much smaller crew, and repeated the same scenario. A week later, Charles was receiving about two thousand dollars each week. Charles’ salary was only about ten thousand per year. Of course, he had never had that much money at one time in his life. He had never seen that kind of money. Charles was taking in his extra $2,000 without trying to increase it. He was very nervous at first, but he realized that no one could find out if he kept his cool and did not get greedy, he rationalized. Plus, he wasn’t stealing. Those guys were stealing, and he would deny it if anyone said he was involved. Taking cash left no traces. It immediately changed his life and lifestyle. He became even more outrageous in his behavior. He was like a new boss, given new powers, and it was obvious that something had changed, but everyone who knew him just saw a louder version of the same guy and thought nothing of it. He bought several new suits, and dressed impeccably. He took his three roommates shopping. He gave them money because he was a generous and because he wanted to impress them. They knew from whence he came. When they asked about the money, Charles replied, “Don’t take it if you don’t want it.” Everyone shut up and took the favors and enjoyed the long party. They didn’t have a clue as to how he was getting the extra money, but they knew something wasn’t kosher. They partied like maniacs with many new women. They participated but not as wholeheartedly as Charles and Sid. Of course, they all took the cash Charles gave them each week without question. That life style would continue from February until the end of May. Big changes were about to occur.
Charles called Coy one weekend. “I have a good position here and I’m making beaucoup bread. There is a position open that’s just perfect for you. It’s Director of Fiscal Operations. It requires a master’s degree and experience as an accountant. It pays more bread than I earn. You must be tired of traveling around. All these fine hoes here in New York, I could use some help!” Coy checked it out, and went for an interview. They loved him and asked him to start as soon as possible. This was the opportunity he had been waiting for. He resigned that August from the pharmaceutical company and started the new job in September of 1967. He worked downtown in a large government building. The area and the building were very impressive. The title made him feel very important. His job was indeed, very stressful because he had to account for millions of dollars of state and federal government money. He was very qualified, so he was not at all apprehensive. He felt right at home. He loved being the boss and he welcomed the challenge. He was making more money, with a title, and there were so many single ladies there who were impressed with him. So, Coy and William were living in their new apartment, and Coy was, at last, working in the city, making more money with lots of time to enjoy the fruits of The Big Apple. William was teaching high school, and teaching inner-city kids in an after- school program. He was still dating several young ladies and meeting more at his new job. Soon after moving into the new apartment in May, they decided to have a house warmer. They invited lots of friends and acquaintances. They didn’t require nor expect gifts, and they didn’t receive many. It was a get together and another source of meeting new talent. They asked friends to bring new friends. Many people showed up. At first, they were mostly young ladies. They were all drinking and talking. The Ferguson trio came to sing for them. The three guys were classmates from the same university as William and Coy. They sang several folk songs. Everyone really liked their singing. At that time, folk music was popular. While they were socializing and listening to the singing, the door- bell rang. When William opened it, Charles forcibly walked past him, followed by four flunkies, carrying four cases of champagne on their shoulders. Charles yelled, “I’m here, let the party begin!” Charles had pulled this stunt at several parties. Everybody knew where he was working, yet he was spending more money than he earned on his job. Many guys seemed to spend more money than they earned on their jobs and nobody questioned this lavish spending. It was understood that these people had extra incomes that were probably illegal, but it was accepted. It was either the numbers or drugs. Still, nobody asked questions. They just enjoyed the results. Nobody wanted to know or cared. If Brother could beat the system and get away with it, more power to him”? The party lasted several hours. Everyone seemed to have had a great time and the two brothers met a few lovely ladies who expressed a desire to come back.
CHAPTER 4
William had recently started a new job, teaching at Rikers Island Prison. The prison was on this small island near Manhattan, just across the Tri-borough Bridge. It was really a great job. The classes were small, only twenty students. The students were inmates convicted of many different crimes; from selling drugs to petty theft. William loved working there. The inmates were very smart. Being out of the cell was a pleasure, especially in a learning environment, away from the prison guards. The guards stood outside the entrance. The classes were very animated. They were eager to learn and they all participated. William wished that he’d had high school classes that interesting. Once he gave a math assignment, and the next day, Angelo, one of the students turned in his home- work and it was a little crooked on the paper. William asked the reason. Angelo said, “They turn off the lights at 10:00p.m., and I finished by the moon light.”
“What great students,” he thought!
One day, William was teaching one of his classes. The debate was spirited. The ideas were great, and most of the students were involved. The superintendent, Aaron Jaffe, who came to visit once a week, came to William’s class. He looked in for a minute and found the conversation so intelligent and spirited, he turned to William and said, “We should be paying them.”
The small school had ten teachers, four counselors, two secretaries, a principal, and an assistant principal. One of the secretaries, Jackie was a tall average looking Black lady. She was about twenty-seven years old. The other secretary was Toni. She was a heavy young lady who always had a smile. The principal was not there most of the time.
The students were mostly Black and Puerto Ricans. There were only two whites. The Black Muslims were very popular among blacks, and they liked reading their newspaper, The Nation of Islam, but it was forbidden at the prison. A few students asked William to bring a copy occasionally. They also wanted to read other Black themed books. When William discussed this with the counselors, they warned him that any books that he brought in would, “Get lost.” They didn’t comment about the newspaper. The inmates were so starved for cultural information that William decided to bring a few books to see what would happen, and also bring the newspaper which they could keep and pass around. The next day, he brought in three black themed books and the newspaper. At the end of the week, all of the books were returned. They wanted more. They passed that trust test so he would bring three or four books each Monday, and would collect them on Friday. They asked if they could keep the books two weeks instead of one because so many inmates wanted to read them. The newspaper, of course, just disappeared into the populous. This arrangement lasted the entire summer.
The federal government decided not to continue funding the program. It was announced that the program would close within two weeks. The inmates and the staff were disappointed. Even the guards were disappointed. Their inmates gave them fewer problems. The supervisor, Aaron Jaffe, was furious. He said, “They fund us for six months at a time. They stop the funding for six months and start again. I’ve had it! I’m not going to do this again. Our inmates have less recidivism than the main population but they don’t seem to care. We’ve all had a great experience teaching these guys but it’s time to move on. I will never return here again even if they decide again to fund the program.”
A month or so after the Rikers Island program closed, William went to one of his favorite restaurants, the West Boondock. As soon as he entered, he saw this attractive, radiant young lady sitting at the bar. It took only a few seconds for him to recognize that it was Linda, whom he had met at Rikers when she was dancing with the troupe entertaining the inmates. He froze for a second and she looked around and smiled that big smile as she recognized him immediately. He walked over to her. “I can’t believe this. This is my lucky day, I mean, night.”
“Why do you think so,” she said continuing her big smile that made her face light up? She was really a pretty lady! “I’ve thought about you often and hoped that we’d meet again.”
“Me too.”
“Is this your first time here,” he asked?
“No, I’ve been here several times before.”
“You have a southern accent. Where are you from,” she asked?
“I’m from North Carolina, Durham.” Her eyes lit up. “I recently met a guy from your city. He’s a dancer in “Hair,” on Broadway.”
“What’s his name?”
“Errol Booker, and he’s so handsome. I wish I could’ve spent some time with him.”
“Errol Booker.” He thought for a minute. “Oh, Pudgy Booker. Yeah, I know him, but I haven’t seen him in years. Didn’t know he was a dancer. I used to date his sister when I was in high school.”
“Really! If I see him again, I’ll mention your name.” Just at that moment, Angus Cooper came over and said, “My main man William, and who’s this beautiful lady?”
“This is Linda. Linda, this is Angus, one of the owners of this establishment.”
William knew why Angus came over. He liked very light skin women with straight hair and Linda was his type. But William was thinking, ‘you’re too late now, my man.’
“I’ve heard about you,” said Linda.
“It had to be good,” Angus replied. “No one says anything bad about me because if they did, it would be a lie.” Angus looked at William with that look that said, “I know I’m too late.” They were both players and smart enough to know when to strike and when to retreat. “It was wonderful meeting you,” he said as he moved away. “Come back again, without William,” he said with a big smile. “Later, William!”
“Later.” He turned to Linda and asked, “You alone?”
“Yes.”
“How’d you get all the way down here?”
“A friend dropped me off.”
“Would you like a ride?”
“I was counting on it!”
The West Boondock was all the way down town on 17th Street and 11th Avenue. Nobody walked there unless they lived nearby in the Village, which began on 14th Street. Even if one took the subway, there was still three blocks east to walk. Many couples walked from the Village, but Linda didn’t seem like a Village type lady. The West Boondock was a very popular place where a lot of integrated couples came, mostly black guys and white girls. The food was southern style with fried chicken and collard greens; real soul food. A year earlier, when Angus found the place, he invited William to come and look at it, and enticed him to invest. William didn’t have a good business mind and couldn’t see the future of an old saloon with saw dust on the floor, all the way downtown and over close to the Harlem River. He declined the offer. He could have gotten a piece for only five thousand dollars. Of course, five thousand dollars was a lot of money at that time. He had that much, but he felt it was a big risk. Now, the restaurant was written up in Cue Magazine and several other magazines as the new ‘go to’ place. Angus got two other guys and went ahead with his dream. William only regretted it for a moment. He realized that he knew very little about running a business so he felt he made the right decision at that time. With hindsight, of course, it would have been a great move.
Naturally, William took Linda home with him that night. She spent the night and several more nights the following week. They became ‘friends with benefits,’ and he saw her as often as he could. It was always a pleasure.
CHAPTER 5
It was September, 1967, and Coy had just resigned his job at the pharmaceutical company and started his new job as Director of Fiscal Operations at the Neighborhood Youth Corps.
Charles was at one of his many parties, when he was approached by Gene Griffith. Gene was dealing drugs in a small way, and said that he needed a legitimate job. He had two cars, a Cadillac and a Jaguar XKE sports car, and shared an apartment with his girl- friend. He wanted to have legitimate employment to show some income to avoid suspicion. He had met Charles at one of the night clubs Charles frequented and had heard Charles bragging about his position and power. Gene saw this as an opportunity to get a legitimate job, so he approached Charles. Charles, always wanting to the big shot, told him he would hire him. Gene became the Assistant Coordinator of Field Operations: a fancy title with little responsibility but Gene continued his drug business.
That following February, 1968, Coy’s birthday approached. Charles heard about it and decided to surprise him. Charles used any excuse to have a party. He called Coy the day of his birthday and asked, “Do you have big plans for tonight?”
“No”, said Coy. I’m gonna stick around the house with one of my ladies.”
“Good,” said Charles, “I’m gonna bring some people by to help you celebrate.”
“I’ll be here,” responded Coy. Coy suspected that Charles was going to pull one of his grand entrances, but he had no idea what he was up to this time. About 8:00 p.m., the doorbell rang. William opened the door. Charles pushed past him talking loudly, followed by five guys carrying five cases of Champagne; one case of assorted liquor and a case of beer. They were followed by ten pretty young ladies between the ages of eighteen and twenty-two.
“Happy Birthday, let’s party;” they all yelled in unison. And the party began. It was like Ground Hog’s Day. All night, the door- bell rang. Charles had invited everyone. They came bringing boxes of chicken and other foods, all paid for by Charles. It was a great party! It was the same scene as many times before, but this time bigger and grander.
Since Coy was Director of Fiscal Affairs, it made him directly responsible for the department that Charles was in. He always wondered about all the extra money Charles was spending. He knew that it came from some source other than his job. Now that he had all the information in front of him, he decided to check. He discovered the truth. When he got home from work that evening, he told William what he had found. He realized that Charles and others were stealing money.
“What are you gonna to do about it?” William wanted to know.
“I’m gonna tell him I know and see what he says,” Coy answered.
“You can’t expose him! He’s our homeboy and he recommended you for the job.”
“I wouldn’t do that. I don’t know exactly what I’m gonna do until I talk to him.”
The next day, Coy went to Charles’ office.
“What’s up, man? Come on in. What can I do you for?” he said, jokingly.
