They're Not Like Us

Chapter 13 Learning the Real Story

Deidra may not want to, but she has no choice. She will be forced to take a trip to the Northeast. The crisis that put things into motion, that led to her being required to take this trip started with a telephone call. The caller ID registered only one word, DADDY.

Before picking up the phone she senses trouble. Problem number one would be a family member has died. Problem number two, the family is getting bad press that may cost one or all members money or embarrassment, or both. Problem number three, there is a financial obligation that has to be met. Problem number four, and the problem that is most likely to be in play, her father wants some money.

She answered, "Hi Daddy."

He said, "Hello Sweetheart, I hate to bother you with this, but yesterday I received a call from a lady in New Jersey. She is writing a book about how black people were cheated out of money, during the East Texas Oil Boom.

Deidra said, "I don't see where we have anything to worry about, Buford Senior helped those people. He probably lost money spending time with them and fighting for them."

Her father sighed and said, "That's not what she is saying and planning to write. According to her, he leased drilling rights from blacks for less than one-third of what the white people were receiving."

Deidra said, "Leases? Oh hell no. He didn't have any leases. All of Carmichael's drilling was done on Carmichael property. That lady has been given bad information. All Buford Senior did was help those people and didn't get jack shit for doing it.

Her Father said, "Sweetheart the reason for my call is, somebody needs to go to New Jersey and see this lady and get her straight. I will admit, this thing catches me at a bad time, but it has to be handled. I can drop everything going on here and go out there. It will be a big help if you will pitch in enough cash for me and my assistant to fly out there and spend a couple of days giving her the real story. Oh, I will need to fly first class because, at my age, my nerves cannot handle sitting near someone's screaming kids."

Deidra can see that the reason for her father's call is both family emergency number two and number four. She also is thinking that this problem is more important and will require more effort than her father is planning to give it. If he handles this like he usually handles other family emergencies, he will not make any airline or hotel reservations. He will pocket all the money. Then he will call the lady on the phone.

This has to be handled completely. If the people in Camelot hear anything about it, she won't be able to show her face in public.

She said, "Daddy, I need to handle this myself. What I am going to do is take my lawyer with me. I plan to let this lady know that we are taking this very seriously and will not allow her to print misleading information or outright lies.

Two days after the call from Daddy, Deidra boarded a flight out of DFW Airport headed to Trenton New Jersey. She was alone because she knows, it is way too early to start taking on expenses like paying lawyers.

During the flight, Deidra got an idea. She wonders why she didn't think about it sooner. She turns on her phone and goes to the most popular internet bookstore. The lady that she is on her way to meet may have written other books.

After finding the search function and entering the name Olivia Rawlins, Deidra sighed Oh hell, this lady is no hack. There are four books listed. All four seem to deal with historical events.

Scanning down further on the page there was a bio. According to those few paragraphs, Mrs. Rawlins is a Princeton-educated historian and the widow of an army colonel. Both of her parents were Princeton-educated college professors that are now deceased. Deidra admits to herself that she is very impressed and a little bit intimidated.