Wade and Rachel walked back over to the table. “Don’t y’all worry about him,” Redbone stood at the table. “I have my ways of handling the sheriff. Have a seat. SuzieMae has something real special for y’all. We appreciate you getting Clem and Bart at the same table.”
“They will probably be back at different tables by tomorrow,” Rachel exhaled.
“I don’t think so,” Dane smiled as he nodded at Wade. “Looks like they have a common ally to protect.”
Wade glanced over his shoulder to see the two men leaning across the table, whispering to each other. He smiled, then turned to Monty.
“Wade, this is Agent Anderson with the F.B.I.” Monty stated. “He works out of the Roanoke office. I’ve shared some of our information with him.”
Wade shook Agent Anderson’s and Winston’s hands. “Good to have both of you with us. I think the journey has gotten a little more interesting.”
“More so than you may know,” Agent Anderson stated. “Mr. Nadler here has shared some of his information regarding the clinics about a year ago. When Monty contacted me with the same concern, I thought it was time to take a closer look. I know what Mr. Nadler thinks. What do you think is happening in that clinic?”
“I think they are manufacturing and distributing a drug from there now. In the past, I’m not clear on. Winston thinks they were using the clinics to extract eggs from females. It’s hard to imagine, but my father believes that was happening, too.”
“Godwin Bond, the man accused of murdering four people with his bare hands?” Agent Anderson raised an eyebrow.
“In the process of trying to protect his wife,” Rachel added.
“I understand,” Agent Anderson nodded. “But that conviction was never overturned. In the eyes of the law, he was found guilty of murder. Montrell had indicated there may be circumstances that played a role in his actions. If your investigation turns of anything that could change that verdict, then we want to do all we can to make it right.”
“As Winston said, we believe what was happening back then may still be happening,” Ross stated. “It’s our responsibility to reveal it and put a stop to it.”
“Everyone. This is my husband, Sheriff Wade,” Margie approached the table. “Under the circumstances, I asked him to come meet with y’all. He may be able to answer some of your questions. I’ll let SuzieMae know to set another plate.”
The big man extended his hand. “I’m not sheriff anymore. Joseph Wade. They call me Lil Joe.”
“Of course they do,” Rachel laughed. “This table is getting a little crowded. Is there a conference room we can move this conversation to?”
“No need for that,” Redbone came out with a folding table. “We got you covered.”
“Let me get that for you, Redbone,” Lil Joe unfolded the table, then pushed it next to the other. Margie was there with a tablecloth and more utensils. “SuzieMae has your smothered chops ready, Joe. What can she get for you two?” She said to Agent Anderson and Winston.
“I’ll take whatever is fast,” Agent Anderson replied.
“Make that two,” Winston added.
“Two fried chicken dinners coming right up,” Margie nodded, then walked away.
“These are really nice people here, Wade,” Rachel smiled. “You come from good folks.”
“They are nice, aren’t they,” Wade sighed. “Why is so much evil happening around them?”
“It’s not evil in the town,” Winston stated. “I believe that evil is being filter through this town by Chambers.”
Ross nodded. “The people here, they don’t feel it. They are curious, but not fearful. They love this town.”
“That’s what we got when we walked around earlier,” Dane added.
“These people are clueless as to what we think is being done here,” Drake summarized.
“We will not do anything to change that,” Wade stated. “Let’s leave it a little better than we found it.” He glanced at Lil Joe. “What can you tell me about the murder?”
“I believed your father when he stated he acted to protect his wife.” Lil Joe stated flat out. He sat back, then crossed his arms over his chest. “Hell, I was young back then. Barely into my twenties when I became sheriff. Margie said I was young, dumb, and still wet behind the ears when I came into town. I believed in the law and was anxious to protect and serve. At the time, I trusted Mayor Becker. Believed that in his own way, he cared about this town and the people in it. I had only been sheriff for about two years when your parents moved into town. It was good to have a young couple with a baby in town. Gave us a feeling like we were growing, you know. They had been living here about three years by the time the murders happened. As you can tell, this is a pretty friendly group of people. They blended right in and became one of us in no time. When your father killed those people, we believed he was protecting his wife, just like he said. Your father never denied what he had done. Never tried to run from it or anything. He took responsibility for his actions. I remember your mother being groggy, like she had taken a sleeping pill or something. There had clearly been some kind of procedure done to her. When I walked into the clinic, your mother was sitting on a chair in the waiting area. Your father took me to the back and showed me each body. He told me exactly what happened to each. Then he showed me the incubators. He had destroyed them. I will never forget his words. ‘I believe they were medically raping my wife.’ I tell you, that sent chills down my spine more than the dead bodies.”
“If you believed him, why did you arrest him?” Rachel asked.
SuzieMae and Redbone appeared at the table with plates in their hands. The plates were piled high with chicken, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, and a side of yams. They placed a basket of rolls in the center of the table at both ends, then went back to the kitchen. Margie walked up with a large pitcher of lemonade and one with sweet tea. She sat them next to the rolls. “They will be right out with your and Lil Joe’s smothered chops and your trout, Mr. Ross.”
“Whoa,” Drake beamed as he picked up his napkin. “Now this is how you set a table.”
Laughter rang out in the room.
“Here’s the chops and trout,” Redbone said. “I think that’s everything. Hot sauce for the fish and chicken is on the table. If y’all need anything more, just holler.”
“Thank you, I think we are good,” Wade smiled.
Rachel blessed the meal, then they all began to eat as they talked. “Lil Joe, you were about to answer my question. If you knew Godwin was telling the truth, why did you arrest him?”
“Times were different back then. If a white man accused a Black man of something, he was automatically guilty. That’s just the way it was,” Lil Joe replied. “Back then, I followed orders of Mayor Becker without question. Besides, he was also the judge. His rulings were never questioned. I look back on that day and I know Margie was right. I was young and dumb. Had I been smarter, I would have seen that Chambers Jr. was orchestrating things from across the border. By the time the authorities in Roanoke acted on the report I sent to them, it was too late. Your mother and father had been convicted and shipped off to prison.”
“Was there any way you could have appealed the decision?” Monty asked.
“When it came to Black convictions, you don’t appeal a judge’s decision in this area,” Winston stated. “Especially back then.”
“I can’t undo what happened back then,” Lil Joe looked at Wade. “But I can help you now. I called Dr. Chambers and asked to meet with him tomorrow morning at ten a.m. I don’t like catching people unaware, so I told him you were coming with me.”
Wade sat up. “I appreciate that, Sheriff.”
“No, Lil Joe. I am not acting in a law enforcement capacity. We are going to try to help you get some answers.”
“Would you mind if I come along, Sheriff?” Monty inquired. “I have an issue with letting my brother out of my sight right now.”
“I don’t mind at all,” Lil Joe said as he looked at Wade. “I thank you for giving me the opportunity to make this right.”