Page 32 of Meet Me on Greenwood

"Oh well…" his eyes traveled to my arm where I’d removed the sling.

"I’ll be quick. I just want to look around," I said.

Houston exchanged a look with Edmund, who tipped his hat. "It was nice to see you again Ms. Gema. I hope it won’t be the last."

I wanted to lay into Houston, lament that he made a promise, but I didn’t know him well, and I also didn’t understand the time period that I was in beyond what I’d read in history books. Would he strike me, put me out?

He looked down at the plate. "Would you walk with me back to the house? We should talk."

"Yes, though I hoped we’d be walking to the car." A small crease formed across his brow, a movement he expressed often. He didn't respond to my comment and I said nothing further as we walked toward the house

"How did you sleep last night?"

"Dr. Whitaker, I appreciate all the attention you’ve given my injury, but can you please tell me why we are not going into town?"

He shook his head. "There is tension right now between Whites and Negros. Everyone is on edge and no one is traveling unless they absolutely need to."

"Did something happen?"

"A man was lynched last night."

I lost my breath for a moment. "Who?" I asked, as if I could put the name to a face.

"His name was Rory Belton. He was accused of murdering someone."

"I didn’t know," I said thinking back to 1920s history. "A Black man?"

He shook his head. "No, though that is what the people around here are used to. This was a White man."

When I seemed confused he added, "He was taken from the jail by a mob before he could sit for trial. And as you can imagine, the folks in the Black community are thinking if this can happen among themselves, then what chance do they have."

I sobered finally understanding that we were probably months away from their worst fears being realized. All of Greenwood was in danger.

"I knew you’d be disappointed, so I asked C.J. to come here to help us locate your family. He has been dying to meet you and is not bothered by the tension if it gives him a story."

"You said he is coming here?" I asked, unable to keep the disappointment from my voice.

"Yes. He is the writer and publisher of the most popular Negro paper in the area, The Black Star. If anyone can find your family, he can. I asked him here specifically."

My mind strayed as I realized my hopes of finding parts to restore the ORI would not be fulfilled today. "I don’t want to talk to a writer. I want to go into town."

"I thought company would help." He paused. "Is there something I am missing?"

I pressed my lips tightly together wondering if I should say it. What did I have to lose at this point? "I wondered if you could source copper for me."

He searched my face. I actively saw him try to decipher why I might need the material. "Copper is not easily sourced here. What is it for?"

Shaking my head, I wracked my brain for an answer. "I’m not ready to disclose yet. Can you get it?"

"I’m sure I can," he said scratching his head. "But I’m going to need a little more than that." He had a look in his eye like he had no intention of letting the conversation go.

I thought of my sister and lifted the necklace at my throat. "I make jewelry, like this. I’d like to make something for Lettie, for being so kind."

Houston looked skeptical. "A doctor who makes jewelry? What can’t you do?"

"Remember who I am," I said with a grin. "Will you get it?"

"The amount you need, it will take a couple weeks. We don’t have copper lying around."