The Durham Mob

By Walter E. Smith

It’s a Black “Wolf of Wall Street” as six smart, talented, and eager college students from Durham, North Carolina set out to find their future in the Big Apple. It’s the Sixties: JFK’s assassination has affected the social fiber and spirit of the Nation. Despite this, The Civil Rights Movement is going strong and Hope continues to spring up in the lives of the young throughout the country.
At the heart of our story are William and Coy, brothers. They’ve been brought up with the courteousness that’s unique in Southern Black folks, gentlemen to the teeth.
But once they arrive in New York City their lives change forever. American Counterculture is at its peak... Disco, drugs, parties, and free love are in style... And with their education and good looks, the Durham Mob (as they became to be known) are quick to join the scene. Putting their creative minds to work, they take advantage of the many thriving opportunities that come their way... legal as well as illegal.
But the promise of fame and fortune soon gives way to greed and paranoia as the Durham Mob find themselves lost in the temptation of hard drugs, fast women and easy money. It’s a lurid world where people can be bought or sold, physically and spiritually... where the dollar is king and power is just an illusion. Here, we see how Coy and William are pulled in opposite directions. William senses a need for restraint, while Coy gets lost in the pursuit of power and control.
At the center of our conflict is a scheme to defraud the city, the state and The Federal Government as Coy, a man with a brilliant mind for finance and accounting, lands a top job with A Federal Anti-poverty Program and creates an uncanny system to bleed the Institution of millions of dollars. After a measure of success, he soon recruits the rest of the Dixie boys to play along and increase his illegal enterprise.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jun 15, 2021
• ISBN: 9781665526708

Walter E. Smith

Walter Smith, author of THE BLACK MOZART, was born and raised in Durham North Carolina where he attended North Carolina Central University, majoring in French. There, he was a member of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. After Graduation, he moved to New York City. He taught French, Spanish and English as a Second language in the NYC Public Schools for several years. Later, he attended graduate school at Laval University in Quebec, Canada. Having written a few short stories, he moved to Los Angeles California to try writing for television. After only nine months, he and his writing partner, Bill Duke were fortunate enough to land an assignment to write an episode of the popular TV show, “Good Times.” Over the next few years, he wrote a story for the sit-com, “Different Strokes,” which was nominated for The Humanitas Award and later, he wrote a story for “Magnum P.I.” He is a member of The Writers Guild of America. In 2004, he wrote his first book, “The Black Mozart.” He presented his book and a short film at The African American Film Festival in 2006 and 2007. In 2014, he and two friends translated it into French, entitled “Le Mozart Noir.” He taught French, Spanish and English as a Second Language in The Los Angeles Unified School District and retired in 2012. Now, he is a full-time writer.

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© 2021 Walter E. Smith. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or

transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue

in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Published by AuthorHouse 06/15/2021

ISBN: 978-1-6655-2669-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6655-2670-8 (e)

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this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views

expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the

views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Chapter 54

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Chapter 57

Chapter 58

Chapter 59

Chapter 60

Chapter 61

Chapter 62

Post Script

To

Sam Jordan

Karen Jarrett

Anita Alston

and my best friend, Nickolas Frangakis

CHAPTER 1

I always wanted to screw on a pile of money, Coy said as $33,000 in small bills rained down on the glistening, nude body of his girlfriend, Lauren, who was posed on the bed. Before Coy could kick off his shoes, he heard the living room door open. William, his younger brother had arrived with a new first date, Charlene. Without missing a beat, Coy put one leg outside his bedroom door. Hey, your money’s on your dresser! Then, he shouted, Do not disturb. He kicked his shoes across the room, dropped his pants and jumped on top of Lauren and began his work.

William was a little stunned. He didn’t exactly know what money Coy was talking about but he led Charlene into his bedroom. And sure enough, on the dresser was a stack of greenbacks. It looked like a lot of money because it was all in small bills. Charlene’s eyes got bigger. Sensing he was making an impression; William sat on the bed and counted the money playing it as if this was a casual thing. It was two thousand, five hundred dollars. Although it was kind of understood that he and Charlene were going to have sex, the sight of the money made the task a whole lot easier.

William and Coy had come a long way since their days in Durham, North Carolina where they were born and raised. Hardship was something they knew all too well. They were from a family of four; two older sisters, Coy, and William who were the youngest. They had grown up separately until William was ten years old. Because of poverty, all of the siblings had to be raised by different families. William, being the youngest, was the only one raised by his mother. Their mother was single and only twenty years old by the time she had her four children.

It was as if this misery of life had been seared into the bloodline; like a brand in the flesh. Their mother was the result of a rape by a white policeman; their grandmother forced to raise her child in shame, without a father nor any financial assistance. This happened in the first half of the twentieth century when justice was scarce for women and almost unheard of for black women.

Like some Greek tragedy their grandmother came to an early end after being poisoned by a jealous neighbor, the motive still a mystery to this day. At thirteen, their mother had been forced to live on the streets, but had been taken in by a married couple soon thereafter.

At first glance, it must have seemed as though angels had swooped in from above to give the young girl the peace and love she so prayed for. But soon, the intentions of the husband were clear, visiting her room night after night. After several years, the girl had given birth to four illegitimate children.

The result was a fractured, tempest resemblance of a family. Although William, his mother, and later stepfather and uncle lived in only two rooms, the others eventually came to live with them. Coy came because he had become quite ill. He had been born with Rheumatic Fever and a defective heart valve. Some doctors had given him six months to live. Years later, his uncle would joke that Coy’s mother gave him a miracle pork chop sandwich that cured him.

All Coy knew was that he hated being weak and powerless. He hated the fact that he had to rely on his younger brother to take care of him. And it was then that Coy swore he would never be weak again. From that time on, Coy and William were raised together. Since Coy was a year behind in school from having been sick, they ended up in the same grade, and often in the same class. This continued throughout high school and into the same college. During this time, the boys were inseparable.

In high school, they both excelled academically. The main thing their mother instilled in them was the importance of education. She knew that it was the one thing that would give the boys the upper hand. She knew well because she had only finished the 8th grade. Knowledge was the one thing she knew could transcend race, poverty or social status.

So, the boys followed their mother’s advice as if it were scripture. Not only did they pursue academics, they also took part in numerous ancillary activities. They both played in the high school band. William played the trombone and Coy the clarinet.

They never really competed but they were both motivated to do well. They got along well; never fought and seldom argued. They were both out-going and had many friends. William was more serious about girls and Coy was more of the playboy. In spite of this terrible beginning, William and Coy became the firsts in their family to finish high school and to graduate from college. They didn’t have much money and material things, but they were brilliant students who attended college on scholarships.

And just as their mother had preached, education had eventually paid the dividend and now, here they were in the biggest city in the United States, living in a great neighborhood, beautiful women in their beds and stacks of money; at least for Coy.

The sisters got married and moved away and Mom moved to Ohio. William and Coy were together throughout high school and college. They lived with an uncle who provided a rent-free house for them to continue their education. Coy finished his bachelor’s degree and masters in four and a half years, so he took a teaching job at South Carolina State College. He was recruited from there to join a Fortune Five Hundred Corporation in Dearborn, Michigan as its first Black accountant. Except for the brief teaching job and another six months when Coy lived in Detroit, they were together. Later, Coy moved back to North Carolina and got married. After a little more than two years of marriage, he got divorced and returned to New York City.

CHAPTER 2

Charles Clayton, a homeboy of Coy and William had just dropped out of law school after only one year. He didn’t have enough money to continue paying tuition and for his social life. He was just tired of struggling! He left Durham, North Carolina in the fall of 1967, with only fifty dollars after he bought his bus ticket for New York City. He arrived at the Port of Authority Bus Terminal without a place to stay. It was fall in New York City, and it was getting cold at night. Not the best kind of weather for homelessness. The trees had begun to drop their leaves as they turned brown and yellow. New York City was beautiful this time of year. Charles had been brave enough to come to the City without a place to stay because he knew so many of his home boys were there and he just knew one would take him in. So, he got a hand full of change and went to a pay phone. He called several of his homeboys, looking for a place to stay, Until I get on my feet, he would say. And then, the excuses: I’m staying with my girl; the landlord won’t allow it, etc. Charles was really shocked. He grew up with these guys, went to school with them and shared booze and broads. Finally, he reached Sidney, who was sharing an apartment with his mentally ill mother. Sid, as all the homeboys called him, said, You can hang, hang here for a while. You know my, my mother’s got problems, Sid stuttered. Charles knew about Sid’s mom, but more importantly, he needed a place to stay, desperately. Charles moved in and immediately found a series of low paying jobs. Of course, they were certainly, beneath my education and abilities. But the little money kept him going. One night, he came across a telephone number that he forgot he had. He called it. The phone rang. Hello.

Hello, came a confident voice on the other end. My name is Charles Clayton. Perhaps you’ve heard of me. I’m your home boy from Durham. Your brother gave me your number.

What can I do for you, asked William impatiently. After all, he was almost asleep and had to get up early the next morning to go to work.

Well, I’ve been in New York for a few months now and I have yet to acquire a job that suits my abilities and education, Charles said arrogantly. He went on to tell how intelligent and educated he was. See, I graduated with a BA in Sociology and I have one year of law school under my belt.

With that background, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a suitable job, responded William. Charles came from a lower-class family in Durham, North Carolina and was the first in his family to go to college. He was a tall, slender, handsome young man who talked rapidly. Afros were in style and Charles wore a very conservative one. He was an immaculate dresser but at that time, he only had two suits, two sport coats and several pairs of trousers which he knew how to mix and match to make several out-fits. I work part time in this anti-poverty program, Harlem Helpers, said William. They always need qualified people. You should try there. I’m sure you can get a job there."

Thanks for the info. Your brother said you were the man. By the way, he told me to tell you to be kind to the ladies. The next day, Charles went to Harlem Helpers and applied for a job, but there were no openings. The personnel director suggested that he go to another poverty program, Heads Up. Charles immediately went there. The program director there was impressed, as Charles told him how much of an asset he would be to the program. He was hired as a summer teacher and was placed in a public school on 135th street in Harlem.

After two weeks, no one had been paid. The superintendent of the district even suggested that all the teachers go on welfare to dramatize their plight with the program. Fortunately, it was not necessary. They were paid on Friday. Charles left work and walked home. He passed the office of Harlem Helpers Program, and he was recognized by the personnel director. The director called him into his office and offered him a job. Since the other job was so shaky, and this job paid more, he accepted. He was asked to come to work that Monday to begin as a Crew Chief.

On his new job, he was in charge of thirty kids whom he had to take on field trips and other outings. After working diligently for two months, his superiors acknowledged that he was an excellent worker and a bargain at his salary. He was offered a permanent job at twice the salary. Shortly after taking that position, Charles’ boss was promoted to a higher position downtown, with the Youth Employment Program. He was so impressed with Charles, he asked Charles to come with him to head his payroll division, as Payroll Supervisor. Charles had gone far, very fast.

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William was high school French and Spanish teacher who also worked two other part time jobs teaching at risk children after school. He graduated from the same high school and university as Charles, two years earlier. William had been an honor student and so had his brother, Coy, who had just returned to NYC from North Carolina. They were both thinly built and William was about an inch taller and weighed about ten pounds more. They resembled each other and were handsome. William thought he was handsomer, but Coy was more of a notorious player.

After Coy returned to New York, he got a job with a large pharmaceutical company, Richardson-Merrill, as a traveling auditor. He was such a good accountant with an impressive resume that he never had trouble finding a job. He worked in different cities during the week and returned to New York on the week-ends. They were both renting rooms at a large three-bedroom apartment from a good friend, Hank, who was also an accountant. Hank had met Coy at an accounting meeting downtown, a few years earlier. Hank was five years older and was impressed with Coy and took him for the younger brother that he never had, and wanted. They became good friends. Hank had a three-bedroom apartment at 61 Hamilton Place on the sixth floor. It was actually an old two-bedroom apartment that had a servant’s room with a toilet inside, off of the kitchen. Hank had converted the dining room next to the kitchen, to use as his bedroom, so he could rent the other rooms. The living room was large. but the door was kept closed in the winter because there was no heat in it. However, they had parties in that large cold room twice a year. The many bodies kept it warm.

The June before, William had given up his apartment on 96th Street that he had shared with Bill, one of his best friends and had spent the summer in Europe, especially in Paris. When he returned from Paris that September, he needed a place to stay so he moved in with Hank. Coy had stayed there before, but had left that summer to get married in North Carolina while William was in Paris.

William stayed at Hank’s apartment from September of 1964 until Coy returned in the Spring of 1967, after he had left his wife and son. Hank became a very good friend and landlord. At different times, other friends came to stay there until they were able to find their own apartments.

I found a spacious, two-bedroom apartment in a new building on Audubon Avenue and 178th Street, said Coy. The rent is only six hundred a month. We can have our own place and do our own thing.

Let’s go and see it, said William. The building at 260 Audubon Avenue had 32 floors, and the apartment they wanted was 14-F. The building was only a year old and was built over the Cross Bronx Expressway that led to the George Washington Bridge. There were four of these buildings, and the Audubon was the farthest south, and had an unobstructed view. From the windows, you could see the Tri-borough and the Whitestone Bridges. The apartment had two spacious bedrooms with two windows in each. It had a large living room, with an adjoining dining room area and a kitchen. There was one spacious bathroom. What was also great about the apartment was that on the fourteenth flour, you could not hear the noise from the traffic below. They moved into the apartment in April of 1967 but William had the place to himself during the week while Coy traveled.

At that time, William didn’t have a steady lady, so he was dating several ladies. He was twenty-eight years old and Coy was twenty-nine. He had a master’s degree in French. He had broadened his education by traveling. He had spent another summer in Europe in 1966.

One of the young ladies whom he was dating was a part-time model he had met at a party. She worked downtown in Manhattan and lived in Queens. Their relationship was mostly sexual. Twice a week, she would come by after work, To avoid the rush hour. They would talk for a while, have a snack and have great sex. William would then, drive her to Queens in his Volkswagen after the traffic had diminished. This lasted for a few months and tapered off until he no longer called, and she no longer came by.

Coy was travelling five days a week, auditing books of branches of the pharmaceutical company. It was a good job with several perks. He had a traveling expense account and traveled business class on the planes. After several months, he grew tired of not being able to have a social life, and not getting enough sex. Occasionally, he would meet young ladies on his travels, who were impressed with his position and he had sex with a few. Even a player like Coy wanted some continuity. He wanted a social life, partying with friends, and meeting ladies with whom he could screw more than once. He was looking to get out of this job but he wasn’t about to quit until he had something better. So, he was biding his time.

CHAPTER 3

Charles had a steady job, earning more money than he ever had. He was becoming more flamboyant, buying nice suits and partying hard. By this time, he had taken a three-bedroom apartment in a popular Harlem housing development, Delano village, with Sid, and another homeboy, Swazy, who was a cum laude college graduate with a major in English and Wakefield, known as Wake. Swazy worked as a social worker for the Welfare Department because he needed a job after graduation and that job was easy to get and paid decent money. Many graduates worked for the Welfare Department after graduation until they found something better, or something in their fields. One was not a real Welfare Investigator. That was just the title. Even William worked there for three months until he began teaching.

Sid’s mother had gotten worse and he had put her in a mental home in an upstate New York institution. He was working at a clothing chain store as an accountant or in reality, a bookkeeper, because he only attended college one semester.

After several months in his new position, Charles, who monitored all five boroughs of New York City, was going through the figures from each borough when he saw something that looked suspicious. After examining the books very carefully, he realized that the numbers were not quite right. He studied the digits longer and realized that somebody was stealing, and it had to be the site supervisor. He went to each site supervisor in each Borough and confronted them, one by one. Charles approached Roy in his small office in the South Bronx. What’s up, said Roy. Whatcha doing slumming up here? Charles looked at Roy with a serious face. Roy had never seen Charles look so serious. He was usually loud and bossy and happy.

Can’t be that bad, said Roy.

Close the door, ordered Charles. Somebody is stealing money, and since you’re in charge, it must be you. Roy’s face had a look of fear and panic. He didn’t even try to deny it. He pleaded, You’re not gonna have me arrested, are you, man?

How much you taking each week and exactly how you doing it? You seem to have more kids on the payroll than I see working when I come up here.

I put in false names, I mean, kids who don’t exist, he stammered.

And how much you pulling down each week, Charles asked?

I’m pulling in about $500 per week, replied Roy.

How much? Charles yelled. No wonder you have such a nice Ride! Roy’s salary was only $100 a week. Whatcha gonna do, asked Roy, You’re not gonna turn me in, are you? Without missing a beat, Charles looked him straight in the eyes at close range and said, Double it and gimme half each week, and I’ll cover for you. Do we understand each other? Charles spoke slowly and deliberately. We’ll never discuss this again. You bring me my take each Friday, quietly and everything will go on as usual. Got it? Roy shook his head in agreement and his face showed a big sigh of relief. Charles went to Brooklyn, Queens and lastly, Staten Island, which had a much smaller crew, and repeated the same scenario. A week later, Charles was receiving about two thousand dollars each week. Charles’ salary was only about ten thousand per year. Of course, he had never had that much money at one time in his life. He had never seen that kind of money. Charles was taking in his extra $2,000 without trying to increase it. He was very nervous at first, but he realized that no one could find out if he kept his cool and did not get greedy, he rationalized. Plus, he wasn’t stealing. Those guys were stealing, and he would deny it if anyone said he was involved. Taking cash left no traces. It immediately changed his life and lifestyle. He became even more outrageous in his behavior. He was like a new boss, given new powers, and it was obvious that something had changed, but everyone who knew him just saw a louder version of the same guy and thought nothing of it. He bought several new suits, and dressed impeccably. He took his three roommates shopping. He gave them money because he was a generous and because he wanted to impress them. They knew from whence he came. When they asked about the money, Charles replied, Don’t take it if you don’t want it. Everyone shut up and took the favors and enjoyed the long party. They didn’t have a clue as to how he was getting the extra money, but they knew something wasn’t kosher. They partied like maniacs with many new women. They participated but not as wholeheartedly as Charles and Sid. Of course, they all took the cash Charles gave them each week without question. That life style would continue from February until the end of May. Big changes were about to occur.

Charles called Coy one weekend. I have a good position here and I’m making beaucoup bread. There is a position open that’s just perfect for you. It’s Director of Fiscal Operations. It requires a master’s degree and experience as an accountant. It pays more bread than I earn. You must be tired of traveling around. All these fine hoes here in New York, I could use some help! Coy checked it out, and went for an interview. They loved him and asked him to start as soon as possible. This was the opportunity he had been waiting for. He resigned that August from the pharmaceutical company and started the new job in September of 1967. He worked downtown in a large government building. The area and the building were very impressive. The title made him feel very important. His job was indeed, very stressful because he had to account for millions of dollars of state and federal government money. He was very qualified, so he was not at all apprehensive. He felt right at home. He loved being the boss and he welcomed the challenge. He was making more money, with a title, and there were so many single ladies there who were impressed with him. So, Coy and William were living in their new apartment, and Coy was, at last, working in the city, making more money with lots of time to enjoy the fruits of The Big Apple. William was teaching high school, and teaching inner-city kids in an after- school program. He was still dating several young ladies and meeting more at his new job. Soon after moving into the new apartment in May, they decided to have a house warmer. They invited lots of friends and acquaintances. They didn’t require nor expect gifts, and they didn’t receive many. It was a get together and another source of meeting new talent. They asked friends to bring new friends. Many people showed up. At first, they were mostly young ladies. They were all drinking and talking. The Ferguson trio came to sing for them. The three guys were classmates from the same university as William and Coy. They sang several folk songs. Everyone really liked their singing. At that time, folk music was popular. While they were socializing and listening to the singing, the door- bell rang. When William opened it, Charles forcibly walked past him, followed by four flunkies, carrying four cases of champagne on their shoulders. Charles yelled, I’m here, let the party begin! Charles had pulled this stunt at several parties. Everybody knew where he was working, yet he was spending more money than he earned on his job. Many guys seemed to spend more money than they earned on their jobs and nobody questioned this lavish spending. It was understood that these people had extra incomes that were probably illegal, but it was accepted. It was either the numbers or drugs. Still, nobody asked questions. They just enjoyed the results. Nobody wanted to know or cared. If Brother could beat the system and get away with it, more power to him"? The party lasted several hours. Everyone seemed to have had a great time and the two brothers met a few lovely ladies who expressed a desire to come back.

CHAPTER 4

William had recently started a new job, teaching at Rikers Island Prison. The prison was on this small island near Manhattan, just across the Tri-borough Bridge. It was really a great job. The classes were small, only twenty students. The students were inmates convicted of many different crimes; from selling drugs to petty theft. William loved working there. The inmates were very smart. Being out of the cell was a pleasure, especially in a learning environment, away from the prison guards. The guards stood outside the entrance. The classes were very animated. They were eager to learn and they all participated. William wished that he’d had high school classes that interesting. Once he gave a math assignment, and the next day, Angelo, one of the students turned in his home- work and it was a little crooked on the paper. William asked the reason. Angelo said, They turn off the lights at 10:00p.m., and I finished by the moon light.

What great students, he thought!

One day, William was teaching one of his classes. The debate was spirited. The ideas were great, and most of the students were involved. The superintendent, Aaron Jaffe, who came to visit once a week, came to William’s class. He looked in for a minute and found the conversation so intelligent and spirited, he turned to William and said, We should be paying them.

The small school had ten teachers, four counselors, two secretaries, a principal, and an assistant principal. One of the secretaries, Jackie was a tall average looking Black lady. She was about twenty-seven years old. The other secretary was Toni. She was a heavy young lady who always had a smile. The principal was not there most of the time.

The students were mostly Black and Puerto Ricans. There were only two whites. The Black Muslims were very popular among blacks, and they liked reading their newspaper, The Nation of Islam, but it was forbidden at the prison. A few students asked William to bring a copy occasionally. They also wanted to read other Black themed books. When William discussed this with the counselors, they warned him that any books that he brought in would, Get lost. They didn’t comment about the newspaper. The inmates were so starved for cultural information that William decided to bring a few books to see what would happen, and also bring the newspaper which they could keep and pass around. The next day, he brought in three black themed books and the newspaper. At the end of the week, all of the books were returned. They wanted more. They passed that trust test so he would bring three or four books each Monday, and would collect them on Friday. They asked if they could keep the books two weeks instead of one because so many inmates wanted to read them. The newspaper, of course, just disappeared into the populous. This arrangement lasted the entire summer.

The federal government decided not to continue funding the program. It was announced that the program would close within two weeks. The inmates and the staff were disappointed. Even the guards were disappointed. Their inmates gave them fewer problems. The supervisor, Aaron Jaffe, was furious. He said, They fund us for six months at a time. They stop the funding for six months and start again. I’ve had it! I’m not going to do this again. Our inmates have less recidivism than the main population but they don’t seem to care. We’ve all had a great experience teaching these guys but it’s time to move on. I will never return here again even if they decide again to fund the program.

A month or so after the Rikers Island program closed, William went to one of his favorite restaurants, the West Boondock. As soon as he entered, he saw this attractive, radiant young lady sitting at the bar. It took only a few seconds for him to recognize that it was Linda, whom he had met at Rikers when she was dancing with the troupe entertaining the inmates. He froze for a second and she looked around and smiled that big smile as she recognized him immediately. He walked over to her. I can’t believe this. This is my lucky day, I mean, night.

Why do you think so, she said continuing her big smile that made her face light up? She was really a pretty lady! I’ve thought about you often and hoped that we’d meet again.

Me too.

Is this your first time here, he asked?

No, I’ve been here several times before.

You have a southern accent. Where are you from, she asked?

I’m from North Carolina, Durham. Her eyes lit up. I recently met a guy from your city. He’s a dancer in Hair, on Broadway.

What’s his name?

Errol Booker, and he’s so handsome. I wish I could’ve spent some time with him.

Errol Booker. He thought for a minute. Oh, Pudgy Booker. Yeah, I know him, but I haven’t seen him in years. Didn’t know he was a dancer. I used to date his sister when I was in high school.

Really! If I see him again, I’ll mention your name. Just at that moment, Angus Cooper came over and said, My main man William, and who’s this beautiful lady?

This is Linda. Linda, this is Angus, one of the owners of this establishment.

William knew why Angus came over. He liked very light skin women with straight hair and Linda was his type. But William was thinking, ‘you’re too late now, my man.’

I’ve heard about you, said Linda.

It had to be good, Angus replied. No one says anything bad about me because if they did, it would be a lie. Angus looked at William with that look that said, I know I’m too late. They were both players and smart enough to know when to strike and when to retreat. It was wonderful meeting you, he said as he moved away. Come back again, without William, he said with a big smile. Later, William!

Later. He turned to Linda and asked, You alone?

Yes.

How’d you get all the way down here?

A friend dropped me off.

Would you like a ride?

I was counting on it!

The West Boondock was all the way down town on 17th Street and 11th Avenue. Nobody walked there unless they lived nearby in the Village, which began on 14th Street. Even if one took the subway, there was still three blocks east to walk. Many couples walked from the Village, but Linda didn’t seem like a Village type lady. The West Boondock was a very popular place where a lot of integrated couples came, mostly black guys and white girls. The food was southern style with fried chicken and collard greens; real soul food. A year earlier, when Angus found the place, he invited William to come and look at it, and enticed him to invest. William didn’t have a good business mind and couldn’t see the future of an old saloon with saw dust on the floor, all the way downtown and over close to the Harlem River. He declined the offer. He could have gotten a piece for only five thousand dollars. Of course, five thousand dollars was a lot of money at that time. He had that much, but he felt it was a big risk. Now, the restaurant was written up in Cue Magazine and several other magazines as the new ‘go to’ place. Angus got two other guys and went ahead with his dream. William only regretted it for a moment. He realized that he knew very little about running a business so he felt he made the right decision at that time. With hindsight, of course, it would have been a great move.

Naturally, William took Linda home with him that night. She spent the night and several more nights the following week. They became ‘friends with benefits,’ and he saw her as often as he could. It was always a pleasure.

CHAPTER 5

It was September, 1967, and Coy had just resigned his job at the pharmaceutical company and started his new job as Director of Fiscal Operations at the Neighborhood Youth Corps.

Charles was at one of his many parties, when he was approached by