Page 35 of Meet Me on Greenwood

I grew quiet feeling another stab of guilt. I’d gone to visit Sarah twice since encountering Gema, and though I’d mentioned coming across someone on the road, I let her think it was a man. I told myself it was because it didn’t matter, Gema would be on her way soon, but if I was being honest, I feared she’d disapprove of my decision, maybe even be disparaging.

C.J. took off his hat and placed it against his chest. "Are you trying to convince me that Sarah knows you are keeping, a pretty young woman up here, alone in your house? Because the Sarah Page I’m familiar with would have put a stop to it expeditiously."

I sighed. I might have left out a few details when talking to Sarah, but I didn’t think Gema would be here this long. "Did you have something to tell me, or not?"

"Oh, I have plenty to tell you, but first I want to know if you were a part of that mob last night?" he asked quietly.

My eyes widened. "Are you asking me if I have a white hood in my barn?" The irony of his question was not lost on me. I felt defensive at the implication.

C.J. watched me carefully, patiently waiting for me to answer his question.

"Of course not," I said. "I took an oath to heal people, not hurt them."

"Plenty of Klan are doctors."

"I’m not sure who you are hearing this from."

"You were seen driving on the country road late last night when it happened," he said.

"To check on my patient," I scoffed. "What were you doing, waiting on me? The reporting you do is dangerous. You should stop."

"Someone has to," he said gravely. "My people should know what they’ve done to us, what they plan to do with us. You know as well as I do, that man was a test to see what they can get away with."

He was right. They’d grown bolder as time went on and little consequences were given.

"Can you get me into one of these meetings?" he asked suddenly.

"What? No. Are you insane?"

"Maybe? Would you don the hood for a night and report back?"

I shook my head. "You are if you think I’d ever do that."

He shrugged. "I just figure with you marrying Larry Page’s daughter, that perhaps, you could get an invitation."

"What does Larry have to do with anything?"

C.J. raised an eyebrow as if his meaning was clear. "Living as a Black man in America is dangerous. What I’m doing is just a regular Thursday."

"The Page’s have nothing to do with that. Sorry I can’t be more help."

C.J. shrugged. "You’ll let me know if you do hear anything won’t you?"

"Of course," I said. I cleared my throat. "I have a favor to ask of you. I need you to be discreet."

C.J. looked over in the direction of Rita and Gema, who were now moving through the gardens.

"You want me to find out if she’s a spy?" he asked.

"I want you to look into her. See if her degrees are real. Find out where she’s from."

"Why? Do you think she means you harm?"

"No, but it is smart to do my due diligence and it is the right thing to do," I said.

He scratched his head. "Wiping your ass is the right thing to do, it doesn’t mean everybody does it. Tell me the real reason."

"It’s something she said. The way she asked about the year. I just have a funny feeling."