Dark Legacy

"You're dismissed," Jabo said curtly to Allie. The winnowy brunette gawked for a bit at the older, but still imposing Black man, considering a protest, but ultimately electing to yield, going out to the pool to catch some morning sun. "So you wanted to see me?" the huge Black man asked, staring implacably at Katie.

"Ummm, y-y-yes," Katie stammered nervously. "My d-d-dad ...errr ... ummm ... stepdad was Moses Jones. I'm doing a feature on him, and I saw the name of Jermaine Blount in his journals in his desk."

"Hmmm," Jabo said. "Well, you've found me. Most people call me Jabo."

Katie frowned.

"Why Jabo?"

"Well, Jablo isn't nearly as intimidating. And it'd be easier to track me down. I had a friend, Jason Borders. The cops thought he was Jabo for years. I'm surprised your stepfather was so careless."

"What did you and he do?" Katie asked. Some questions you didn't want the answer for.

"I did the work necessary to ensure that the people who bribed him had successful deals. He let me have my own criminal empire as part of that bargain. Though I'm retired now. I could ... tell you more about your stepfather, but I think that should be done in private. 8 p.m., my place? It's off of Decatur."

Katie nodded jerkily. She knew her stepdad wasn't a good man. But how bad he was was only sinking into her. Did she really want the additional details to further tarnish his memory?