Chapter 23

“There was a black four-door sedan hanging around. I even asked Rudy about it,” Mrs. Culpepper said.

“A black sedan,” Steve repeated. “What did your tenant say?”

“I was being paranoid. I know what I saw. This vehicle was hanging around.” Culpepper said something else, but it was too muffled for Carlita to hear.

“I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but black sedans are pretty common.”

“Not this one. It had a red stripe along the side,” she said. “There was a star symbol in the center of the stripe. So odd…”

As quietly as possible, Carlita tapped out a text to herself, a reminder to ask Cool Bones about a black sedan with a red stripe and star.

“I need to come by here more often,” Culpepper said. “I’m remembering all kinds of stuff.”

“Maybe pain jogs your memory,” Steve kidded. “We’re almost done.”

The conversation shifted to the weather, summer, and her next appointment.

Another ten minutes passed. Carlita heard the bell jingle and the front door closed.

Steve appeared. “Did you catch all she said?” he asked.

“Most of it. She remembers hearing male voices and something about a black sedan hanging around.”

“With a red stripe and star,” Steve said. “I’m not sure how much it will help.”

“A lot. Hopefully, it wasn’t Cool Bones’ black sedan.” Carlita dusted her hands. “You’re good at covert interrogations.”

“Not bad for my first attempt, if I say so myself.” Steve blew on his fisted hand and rubbed it against his shirt. “You said you were visiting Cool Bones today?”

“This morning. In fact, I should get going.”

“Tell him to hang in there and keep the faith.”

“I will.” Carlita thanked him for letting her listen in and made the fast trek to the jail. Discovering she was early, she took a seat in the lobby to wait.

Visitors came and went. Men. Women. Old. Young. Children. A collection of humanity passed through the doors. Carlita thought about those who weren’t fortunate enough to have visitors. Prisoners who had no one. No hope. Not a soul who cared, and it hurt her heart.

At least Cool Bones knew people cared and were trying to help.

“Carlita Taylor.” She sprang from her seat and followed the guard down the long hall to a room close to the place she and Mercedes had previously visited him in.

Cool Bones was already there. He cast a somber look in her direction. His eyes were hollow. His demeanor reflected utter defeat. He slouched down in the chair as if sitting up straight was too much of an effort. “Hello, Carlita.”

“Hello, Cool Bones.” Carlita set her purse on the counter. “How are you holding up?”

“I gotta be honest. It’s rough.”

“I can only imagine.”

He lowered his head. “I finally called Jordan to let her know what was going on.”

Cool Bones’ daughter, Jordan, and young granddaughter lived in Atlanta. Speaking about his loved ones always brought a smile to his face. Not today.

“How did she take it?”

“Okay.” He shrugged. “She offered to come visit. I told her to wait until…” His voice trailed off.

“Until we could clear your name?”

“Or the judge locks me up for good.”

“Listen, I know this looks bad.”

“Bad?” Cool Bones laughed bitterly. “My public defender has already written me off. I’m as good as convicted.”

“Then you need a new public defender.”

“Why bother?”

“Because you’re innocent. Before I forget, have you had a chance to look at your bookie journal?”

“Yeah. I don’t remember most of my contacts.”

“So…no clues…you found nothing significant or helpful?”

“I wish I had better news. The fact of the matter is, it was so long ago. Sure, I remember a few of the people. I could give you their names, but I think you would be chasing your tail. Unless you can pull a rabbit out of your hat, I’m doomed.”

“What if I told you I had a rabbit and we’re making some headway?”

For the first time since Carlita’s arrival, a glimmer of hope flickered across his face. “You mean you have something?”

“Steve Winters gleaned new information not more than an hour ago. Mrs. Culpepper, who is one of his customers, remembers hearing men arguing after you left and before McCoy’s death.”

“It wasn’t me. I left and never went back.”

“We need to find out who it was. She mentioned the name Cray.”

“Like I told you before, I don’t remember anyone named Cray.”

“But you wrote about him in your journal.”

“I saw it. I’ve been racking my brain trying to figure out who it was, but still can’t.”

“According to Culpepper, she noticed a black sedan hanging around. It had a red stripe with some sort of star.”

Cool Bones’ brows furrowed. “The Brick District’s clubhouse. I remember it now. The drivers drove black sedans with some sort of stripe and emblem on the side.”

Carlita began scribbling in her notepad.

“I can tell you one thing. It wasn’t me driving the fancy chauffeured vehicles. I had a beat-up VW van. Tangerine orange with a loud muffler,” Cool Bones said.

“Did any of your bookie contacts drive a sedan with a red stripe, maybe even work for the Brick District’s country club?”

He thought about it. “It’s possible.”

“This could be our most important clue.” Carlita sprang from her chair and started to pace. Someone somewhere knew Cray or knew who drove a black sedan with a red stripe. “How many bookies were in the business back in the day?”

“If I had to guess, maybe a dozen in Savannah proper.”

“A dozen bookies. All men?”

“Yeah. It wasn’t a career most women would attempt then or even now,” Cool Bones said. “I wasn’t a part of their clique. They all kinda hung out in the same area.”

Carlita abruptly stopped. “All the bookies back in the day hung out in the same place?”

“Yeah. Territory was important. So were contacts and connections. The Brick District was the place to be, where all the rich folks live, folks who had…have…money to burn.”

“I’ve heard of it. It’s the enclave to rival all enclaves,” Carlita said. “It wouldn’t hurt to do a little digging around.”

“Good luck getting past the guard shack.”

“If there’s a will, there’s a way.” Carlita rubbed her brow. “I have the perfect person to ask. Someone who might be able to help.”

The hall bell chimed, warning them their visit was coming to an end. Carlita gathered up her notepad and pen. “Keep the faith, Cool Bones. I’m going to find out who hung around the neighborhood and drove a black sedan with a red stripe and star if it’s the last thing I do.”