Falling

Twenty Nine (Gotcha!)

He's pushing his face, eye to eye, into Boss Man's unyielding face...The border that separates a man's dignity from his emotion. The black fire is swelling in the Captain's eyes, my gift to him many years ago.

He was just a kid trying to crawl out of the ghetto, lift his face above the garbage that left him powerless.

Now! We are on the brink of complete power, controlling the gangs on puppet strings...Until they break in the grasp of our hands.

Together!

Papa Legba and Captain Sepion! We are the new order on this island!

I take a glance at Papa Legba before continuing my interrogation of Boss Man. The black fire is our power.

"We know you were there. The others have admitted that you followed their car!"

His eyes are doing a little dancing wiggle.

"Shots were fired cutting down Papa's men!"

The black fire is burning into him.

"Papa's men were hauled into the car!

Your car!

Plates switched, finger prints wiped clean!"

I look over to Papa for support! His eyes are answering!

Captain Sepion isn't pulling back...He's pressing...pressing with full force. I roll one clenched fist into the palm of the other. The black fire is seething in my soul. The Captain is my man, my asset in this war of wills.

The Captain slowly stands, opens the door and takes a paper from the deputy's hand. With deliberation...turning...eyes burning... he bends as if to bow to royalty, respectfully he lets the page fluter in midair and then come to rest on the table's welcoming surface.

With one smooth draw, like a sword, he lifts a pen from his vest pocket and lays it...with care...next to the document.

"All we're asking is that you sign this document...testifying to the facts as written," his words hiss out of sulfur and black flame.

I see Boss Man's eyes reach into Captain's words, silently reading the words that stand on the page...letters, syllables, words marching lines like soldiers guarding hidden intent.

The Captain is standing, silently waiting. The power of his heavy body dictating the required action of Boss Man's reply.

I see that wicked grin sneaking across Papa Legba's lips. My eyes be grab'n at them black words march'n across the white page.

I know's what they be wanting...To move me out of the picture...Where they's the power on the island. An' the Captain...He be Papa's enforcer. Bothe of 'em a bath'n in that dark power, burning black fire.

I look's into the Captains flame'n eyes. " Maybe I be need'n a lawyer instead."

Captain Sepion leans toward the table an' it groans under the weight of his body. His full weight rest'n on his hands, palms down onto the table.

A thin grin be a grab'n at the corners of his lips an' spread'n to show a hint of them yellowish teeth.

"We can put you behind bars for a good long time while the court, such as it is, will deliberate your case," words spewing out of black flames dancing above white paper.

He ain't be lie'n none about that.

"An' if I sign?" I keeps my eyes on the paper.

I'm locked onto Boss Man's eyes, looking for some clue that will tell me where to poke him. If he sign's we'll let him go and he won't be able to challenge our power. We can always haul his black ass into court.

"There's no if to it. You sign. We let you and your friends go and we leave each other to their work." I lean into Boss Man's face, nose to nose. "Or else you'll all be hearing the clang of iron bars for a good long time!"

The paper be fumble'n on the tips of my fingers. My brain be fumble'n with a rumble'n of think'n.

I flip it over an' write. Captain Sepion be promise'n this day of 8 March 2010 that he be let'n Boss Man an' his friends, Mary, Lyla an' Squito go free of any legal action as long as they don't be do'n any crimes on this island.

I look's back into his eyes an' be gather'n every bit o me inside power. "Now...You sign this one...An'...An' one o ya deputies as witness!"

Silence fills the air like a thick cloud. Captain's eyes are fixed on Boss Man. He turns his head slightly in my direction. Black fire washes against black fire.

That's the deal we're looking at. That's the deal we want. Boss Man is worth more to us free. We can use him for our own purposes. Our power is greater than his.

I give Captain a slight nod.

Captain Sepion picks up the pen and signs under Boss Man's writing.

"Send Ricardo in here!" His words vibrate against the door.

"Ya, Boss!" Ricardo flashes past the open door.

"Sign your name here...Below mine!" The fingers of his right hand press against the white page...beneath drying ink.

Ricardo takes a nervous look at the Captain.

"Now!" Captain Sepion snarls through gritted teeth.

"Sure, Boss!" Ricardo's quivering hand scribbles his name under the Captain's.

I see the pain in Sepion's eyes. But sometimes the obvious is not the best action. Sometimes the serpent's wisdom makes the most sense. Me! Papa Legba has the last word.

The door flies open behind Captain Sepion's clambering grip. "Let's get them all out of here!" He yells to the other officers.

"Wait! I be need'n a copy first!" I yells into Captain's path.

Strong hands are gripping and stomping feet are taking us to the larger room at the front of the building. We're huddled together, cold stairs from the small company of officers surround us like silent bars of a prison.

Then, I see Boss Man step out of the other room, each elbow held in the grip of Captain Sepion and Papa Legba. A circle of white paper gripped tightly in his right hand.

"Let's get out of hear!" I yell, grabbing arms belonging to Mary and Squito.