Fiction
When Toxic Rivers Flow Part 5
A Sunny Alexander-Johnson and Henry James Series By P.G. & Sharon Barnett
My name is Sunny Alexander-Johnson, and I’m Henry James, and we’re writers for Dark Sides of the Truth Magazine.
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4
Fortunately for us, the twins, Dante and Alicia Alexander-Johnson, managed to run unintended interference for us. For at least a full hour Pappaw Henry and Mammaw Cynthia spent viewing the children’s latest artistic endeavors they’d created at school and talking about whatever silly thing the children wanted to comment on.
While Robert and Cynthia were entertaining, we made our way to the kitchen to pour lemonade for the twins and sweet tea for the grownups.
“Did she say anything?”
“You mean did she comment on you and the kids coming over on a Monday night instead of Sunday like normal?”
“Yeah.”
“Nope.”
“Damn.”
“I know.”
“You think she knows something’s up, Henry?”
“Not sure, but when I told her you guys were coming over all she asked was what time. Then we took a shower…”
“Spare me the details old man.”
“Tell ya what princess, let’s just get this shit over with. The sooner we tell her about Uttar Textiles the better.”
“Agreed.”
We returned to one of the three living areas in the mansion to a docile scene of Cynthia and Robert sitting in a pair of overstuffed lounge chairs. They halted their conversation long enough to accept their glasses of tea.
“So where’d Dante and Alica go mother?”
Robert stood and took the two glasses of lemonade from our hands and winked at us.
“They’re out back playing on the swing set. I’ll take ’em their drinks and stay and make sure they don’t tear something up or kill one another.”
We made ourselves comfortable and tentatively took a few sips.
“Mother, Henry and I discovered something interesting today we think you should know.”
“Yes, dear?”
“It’s about Uttar Textiles baby.”
“What about it Henry?”
“Well, Tim Rice, you remember him right?”
Cynthia squinted and cocked her head in thought.
“Industry, political, and manufacturing. A short Alfalfa looking man, but his reputation that his stories are solid as a rock and well-written precede him. Roberto and he ought to be a good team. I believe I met him at our Christmas party last year.”
“I’m surprised you even noticed mother. You and Henry were literally draped over each other the entire night.”
“Shaundrika, please.”
“Sorry.”
“Go on Henry.”
“So anyway, Sunny and I are working a story with Tim and Roberto, and we asked Donnie to do a little digging.”
“How are Donnie and Becca?”
“Fine. Becca’s on vacation and Donnie’s still Donnie. Baby, let me get this out okay?”
“Well, excuse me. I thought we were having a conversation dear.”
“We are, but you need to know this. Tim and Roberto have a real good reason to suspect Uttar is dumping the plant’s wastewater in the Colorado River trying to cut costs and keep their margins up.”
“Oh. And I’m sure Donnie discovered Alexander Investments has bought a significant number of shares of the company over the last ten years. And that if Uttar keeps going the way they are the shares are going to split?”
“You already know?”
“Shaundrika, what do you think we do at these board meetings I chair, play Yahtzee? Of course, I know. Now the part about the wastewater, and Tim and Roberto’s story I didn’t, but I understand why you two felt you need to tell me about it.”
“Baby, I’d suggest Alexander Investments dump that stock before Tim and Roberto break their story.”
“We can’t do that Henry.”
“What? Why?”
“Have you ever heard of inside trading? Do you remember what happened to Martha Stewart? The S.E.C. would have a field day with me if I ordered a sell-off.”
“Can’t you just forget we told you this?”
“Henry, even if you didn’t tell me the suspicions and rumors would fly. Two writers from a magazine owned by Alexander Investments break a story about Uttar and before the story breaks Alexander Investments dumps all the stock they hold? It would be jail time for me and possibly others for sure.”
“What are you going to do mother?”
“We’re going to hold until the story breaks, wait until the stock prices fall to the point they were when we initially purchased them and then sell. Hopefully, we’ll be able to break even.”
“That sounds kind of risky hon.”
“It most certainly beats going to jail dear. But I have a question for you two.”
We tried not to, but we both tensed at Cynthia’s statement. We continued to sit in place hoping she’d hadn’t noticed.
“The way you two just flinched I think you know what I’m about to ask.”
She had noticed.
“So Henry, why are you and my daughter working on a story with Tim and Roberto? Industrial espionage and politics or manufacturing has never been a forte of you two.”
“We’re broadening our horizons?”
“I’m serious lover. Shaundrika, you know I can tell when you’re lying so you and Henry better tell me what’s going on. Please for God’s sake tell me there’s not a body involved.”
“Uh. It’s probably worse than that baby.”
“Oh for God’s sake you two. Again? You two have stuck your noses into another story that could get you hurt or killed? Again? What in the world is wrong with you? Shaundrika what if something were to happen to you? How would the family explain it to Dante and Alicia?”
“Mother, do not throw my own children in my face. This is my damn job.”
“But it doesn’t have to be. For either of you.”
“Whoa, woman. Hang on. I don’t know about Shaundrika, but I ain’t about to walk away from a career I’ve spent almost forty years building. Uh uh, don’t work that way.”
“Me neither mother. Henry and I are doing this story.”
Cynthia pushed herself out of the chair and pointed at us, her body visibly shaking, her hand trembling.
“Hasn’t this family seen enough? Do you two wish to be next on the list like…”
Cynthia stood glaring at us, her eyes glistening with traces of tears, her face anguished as the memory of what had drawn her to this point in time was almost more than she could handle.
Although she never finished the sentence we both knew what she wanted to say. She wanted to say like Dante Alexander, the son Dwayne Macy kidnapped and killed. It had broken all of us, but none more than Cynthia.
“Mother.”
“No, Shaundrika. I’ll not allow it. You as well. I forbid you both to work on this story.”
“Honey, it’s happening whether you want it to or not.”
Cynthia quickly turned and walked away, her gentle sobs finally fading away. When we heard a door slam in the back part of the house we knew she’d gone outside to be with the children and Robert. Almost immediately, Robert appeared in the living room. We guessed he’d chosen the better part of valor and had fled the scene before Cynthia could start on him.
“I take it, it didn’t go well.”
“Understatement honey. Give mother a little more time to come to grips with this then we’ll get the kids and leave okay?”
“Sure. How are you holding up Henry?”
“You guys have the easy part. You all get to leave and let me take the fall.”
“Just put on your big boy pants partner. You can do this.”
“Easy for you to say, princess.”
Read On — When Toxic Rivers Flow Part 6
Let’s keep in touch: P.G. & Sharon Barnett ([email protected]) © P.G. Barnett, 2020. All Rights Reserved.
