Chapter Twenty Three

THE FIRST SECTION:

BEWARE: This is a particularly bad chapter that will need work in the second draft!!!!

One morning, a few weeks after the riots, things were noticeably quiet at the jail. Since the riots, there had been little to do for the men in charge of reigning in those who strayed to the wrong side of the law. Most of the complaints came from the Constable’s men about how they were now relegated to watching the traffic role by. A few of them noted that the apex of their careers was probably the work they did during the riots, and as a result everything would seem slow and ordinary from then on out. The only thing keeping them going was the number of criminals that they had residing in the jail. They had mostly drunkards and misfits who could not tell which way was up not because they were beaten so badly but because they were mentally defected already. But some were legitimate concerns to the safety of the public at large. A master thief who was on the run from the law in Georgia was found hiding under a staircase near the docks. A suspected multiple killing sailor was caught trying to escape his ship’s crew. Even a priest who had been under investigation for stealing from the church was arrested just in case he decided to flee the area amongst all the confusion. But the most important prisoners were the Calloway’s; William and his mother Penelope and father Christopher. And because of William’s misunderstood behavior, he was being closely watched by the guards in the very front cell of the jailhouse. He was alone and had no place to hide.

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Chapter Twenty-Three

About mid-morning, a stranger walked into the jail and asked to speak with William and his parents alone. At first the Constable refused the man, but in the man’s persistence he mentioned that he was a man of God and wanted to help the guilty reconcile before their imminent death. A smile came over the Constable’s face, and he mentioned that the world needed more people like the minister who clearly saw evil when it existed in front of him. After one of the guards unlocked the cell the minister coaxed William out the cell and led him to the back of the jail house where they could be alone.

Soon after, Coleman came into the jail and immediately began chatting about the prisoners.
“So they are still here are they?” he asked.

The Constable sighed and nodded but did not offer any further explanation. This made Coleman nervous. Perhaps he knows what I have done, Coleman thought to himself.

“And they are behaving and cooperating?” he continued.

“They are fine,” the Constable assured Coleman. “There is nothing they could do that we will not handle.”

“You should have them out here,” Coleman said pointing to the open cell in the front.

“The boy is out here Mister Montague,” the Constable said, “but right now he is out back with some minister.”

“Minister?” Coleman replied. “What minister?”

“I don’t know,” the Constable answered. “I don’t recognize him. But he said that he was here to help the family repent before they are hung. So I let him talk with the boy first. I assume he will move on to the parents next.”

Coleman thought for moment before asking, “If you do not know him, how do you know he is really a minister? What if he is out back helping the boy to escape?”

“That certainly is a possibility,” the Constable answered, “but there is no way out that way. Besides, the nearest door back there is being guarded. I will always trust a man of the cloth Mister Montague, especially when dealing with the soon-to-be dead.”

“I agree,” Coleman said as he sat down.

He remained silent for several minutes, staring off into space and behaved as though no one was watching him. Finally the Constable awoke Coleman from his daze, “Is there something that I can help you with Mister Montague?”

Coleman jumped awake and stared at the grinning Constable and his guards. What are they smiling at? he asked himself. I have not given away any clues. But they must know because he said nothing to me when I came in here. Do they really suspect me? I must behave as though I have done nothing. Then at the very least I can fool them.

“I just wanted to ensure that the case was going as planned,” he said calmly. “I want to know the status of their case.”

“There are no worries Mister Montague,” the Constable said again. “As I have already told you, it is pretty clear that he is the guilty party. Besides, everything is taken care of ahead of time anyway.”

“What do you mean by that?” Coleman asked.

“The judge knows where to stand,” the Constable said. “He needed some prodding, but we told him that we would provide him with everything he needs to punish them properly.”

“Why did you need to push him?” Coleman asked. “He should already be on our side anyway.”

The Constable sighed and acknowledged Coleman’s point. “Yes,” he answered, “but the judge is afraid that he will lose his ability to be seen as impartial. He just wants to make sure that all the arguments make enough sense to hang them. We told him all would be taken care of.”

Coleman looked at the Constable with great relief. It was apparent now that everything would be taken care of and he could move on without being found out. Feeling secure, he stood up and started toward the door. As he made his way over, the door from the back room opened and the minister led William back to his cell. Coleman watched the man lead the boy and saw how caringly the man treated him. He waited until the minister exited the cell and spoke to him.

“Is his soul ready to enter heaven?” he asked the minister.

“His is ready,” the minister answered. “And so are the souls of the mother and father. It will be a difficult task for me to find a home for the other children, but I am sure that I can find a home for them.”

“Other children?” Coleman gasped.

“Yes,” the minister responded, “but there is nothing to worry about sir. These things happen often and many children are left to fend for themselves. Most end up poor like their parents, but some do make it through life better than expected.”

“I was not aware that there were other children involved,” Coleman replied.

“Does it matter?” the minister asked. His tone turned darker than Coleman expected it to become. “If one is certain of guilt, then one should not have any harsh feelings toward those who are guilty. Especially when one’s family member is at the center of the crime.”

Coleman’s face turned red. He had completely missed the fact that this stranger seemingly knew who he was and instead was focused on what the man had said. The young businessman had never been more confused in his life. When he came into the jail, he was certain that he would be found out. But after speaking with the Constable, it seemed that everything would work out in the end, that no one knew his secret. And now, it seemed the whole world was staring down upon him, ready to pounce but waiting for the right moment to do so, when he least expected it. Coleman watched the minister walk out of the jail ahead of him, waited a few moments and then walked outside himself. He started back home and was bumping into just about everyone he passed on the street, completely oblivious to their existence. As they did with other improper people, the pedestrians cursed at his rudeness as they passed by. No one noticed that the minister was following Coleman.