Part 51 (1/2)
”What do you need, Mr. Eubanks?” Willie said as if he were ready to fill any request. Joshua felt good hearing it.
Joshua explained the situation, and what he wanted to do.
”That'll take a few men, four maybe five.” Willie responded.
”The more, the better.”
There was a brief pause, then: ”No problem. I know just the guys. You tell me where you're at, we'll be there within an hour.”
Joshua phoned Hannah from his office, told her to sit tight, and waited.
Willie showed on time, with four a.s.sociates, two of whom Joshua recognized as having been among his alibis that infamous night seventeen years earlier. The men were large and ominous looking, exactly what was needed.
Willie looked pretty much the same, though a bit older and fatter. He embraced Joshua fiercely and introduced Joshua to the others, saying, ”This here is my man, Mr. Eubanks. He believed in me when n.o.body else did, defended me because he knew I was innocent. Now, he's got a problem and we're here to help.” He didn't have to say anything more. The others were obviously with him. Joshua didn't want to know exactly what enterprise Willie was currently mixed up in, he was glad enough just to see the man.
Joshua explained the plan. Getting to the Weissmans' building wouldn't be a problem; unless, of course, someone from the street recognized him. That was where Willie's men came in. It was their job to keep Joshua surrounded and s.h.i.+elded from view.
Getting Rachel and Hannah out was another matter. Joshua hadn't completely figured that one out yet. He suggested avoiding the streets, and taking the back alleys.
”We're going to have to hit the street sooner or later,” Willie said.
”I know,” Joshua responded, not having much else to offer.
”Look, don't worry,” Willie said. ”We'll do what we got to do. No one in the streets is going to mess with us.” He pointed to his cohorts with pride.
”I don't know, Willie,” Joshua said. ”Those folks are angry. They've already scared the cops, and they think they've won. They're all hyped up, and just aching for another showdown.”
Willie held back a smile, as if he were enjoying this. Two of his cohorts chuckled. ”We ain't no cops,” he said as he leaned in closer to Joshua and pulled his jacket open just enough to reveal a very large handgun hanging from a shoulder holster.
”Willie, I'm not sure I'm comfortable with...”
”No need to worry. I never use it. Just keep it for security.
His friends nodded in agreement.
Joshua then realized that they were all packing, but he was desperate and had no other options. He looked at Willie's crew and knew that they were his best shot at getting Rachel and Hannah out. ”Good,” he said. ”Let's go!”
They made it into the thick of things, and were on Rachel's block just a few hundred feet from the entrance to her building. The crowd was yelling and breaking windows, while Willie's crew did a good job camouflaging Joshua, who held his head down just to make sure. Then it happened, the loudest noise Joshua had ever heard-two cars blowing up in the street. He couldn't help but straighten up to see. He'd heard about riots his entire life, and had watched them happening on TV in other cities, but being in the middle of one was unlike anything he'd imagined.
The flames illuminated the entire block, and for a split second his eyes locked with someone else's, a familiar face not more than fifty feet from where he stood-Professor Alvin Thompson. Joshua instantly knew that Thompson recognized him by the stare and grin of satisfaction on the man's face. Thompson had waited for this night his entire life-the uprising of the streets, the launching of the revolution. It was the crowning culmination of all his teachings and yearnings. And now it was his to lead.
Joshua realized his plan had hit a snag. He expected Thompson to use the mob to stop them, discredit him, and prove once and for all that he was the Jew-loving, Uncle-Tom others had claimed him to be. It was only a matter of seconds.
Joshua was fearful of a confrontation, especially considering the artillery that Willie's crew had. He placed his hand on Willie's shoulder, about to abort the plan, when suddenly to his utter bewilderment Alvin Thompson turned away. It was as if the professor hadn't seen anything at all.
Hannah rushed to the door, opened it, and gazed strangely at Joshua's colleagues. ”They're friends. They've come to help,” Joshua said.
”How can anyone help, even the police ran away,” she said, panic still in her voice.
”Don't worry,” Joshua answered, ”we have a plan.”
Joshua went into Rachel's room, and found her lying in bed. She looked at him. ”I knew you'd come,” she said. ”You always come when I need you.” It was difficult for her to talk. She took his hand.
”We don't have much time,” he said. ”We have to get you and your mother out of here.”
”How?”
”With G.o.d's help.”
She smiled, he could still do that to her.
Willie and company entered the room.
Rachel: ”Joshua, who's...”
Joshua: ”Rachel, this here is Willie Johnson, and these are some of his business a.s.sociates. They're here to lend G.o.d a hand.”
Rachel: ”Willie Johnson?” Hesitation. ”I remember, he's the one you...”
Willie: ”One and only, Ma'am, at your service.”
Rachel: ”Joshua, how can we possibly get out?”
He told her the plan.
”I can't,” she said.
”What do you mean, you can't? You have to!”
”Joshua, I can barely get out of bed without falling. How do you expect me to go running through the streets and alleys?”
”I'll carry you.”
”You can't! Not that far. You won't be able to move fast enough.”
”A bunch of us will carry you.”
”Joshua.” she squeezed his hand. ”I'm too weak. Too much pain. I can't.” It was getting more difficult for her to speak.
”Rachel...”
”Please, I don't want to leave my bed. Please! Just take Mama and go!”
”No! I'm not going anywhere without you,” Hannah insisted.