Cory nodded. “Yes sir. But that’s because the tests are scored independently at a testing agency. If it was in-house, I don’t know, sir.”
“So my racial problem still exists.”
“Very much so, sir,” Cory said.
Cory was surprised when a look of regret appeared on William’s face. “I cannot believe how badly I’ve failed in that department, young man. Had Joy not pointed it out to me, I would not have seen it.”
“But how could you not see it, sir,” Cory boldly asked, “when all around you were a sea of white faces? I heard people of color call Skeffington clear vision because all you see are clearpeople working here. They believed the fact that I was the first face people met when they entered the building was for show.”
William considered him. “Did you believe that?”
“Yes sir,” Cory responded.
William’s desk phone buzzed. He pressed the button. “Yes?”
“London is on Line 4 sir.”
William looked at Cory. “What’s the name of the young man you supposedly harassed?”
“Wally McDermott.”
William pressed his phone’s intercom button. “I want the complete personnel files on Wally McDermott and Mike Castling.”
“Yes sir.”
“Cory, wait in my secretary’s office until I finish this call.”
“Yes sir.” Cory felt a great sense of relief as he grabbed back up his backpack and left his office.
William knew it was the Prime Minister’s office phoning. That man couldn’t seem to keep himself out of trouble. “Put the call through,” he said to his secretary.
But even after that call and after those personnel files were received, he still couldn’t deal with Cory’s situation because Max came in. With news, serious news he said, about the man who pulled that gun on Joy.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
“What have you found out?” It was obvious to William that he’d found out plenty.
“Colin Becker has a brother. The brother’s name is Elmore Grier. His street name is Blue.”
“Wait a minute,” William said. “Where did I hear that name before?”
“You think you’ve heard it before?”
“Yes, I have. But I can’t recall in what context.”
“Well, Blue was found dead a few months back, allegedly because he owed drug dealers.”
“Okay.”
“But get this: Before he died, he told a cop who was working undercover in a drug sting operation that his brother Colin and his cousin were going to get paid four hundred grand apiece if they can take a bitch out – his words.”
“So they were being paid as hit men?”
“Right.”
“Do you know who the lady was that he was referring to?” William asked.
“According to this cop, Blue said it was his old lady’s daughter.”
