CHAPTER EIGHT
By the time the police chief arrived, Snow had magically disappeared with his truck, election posters, and bullhorn. He obviously thought doing things the old-fashioned way would somehow endear him to the community. It would not, and it did not.
“This guy has been a thorn in my side,” said Caleb.
“He’s been trying to push through his plans to the city commission for weeks now.
The first few meetings, the council members just laughed at him, telling him there was no way to do what he wanted on protected land.
Then he was just annoying, showing up every week.
They finally stopped putting him on the agenda, which really pissed him off.
We thought we were rid of him, then he suddenly decides to run for mayor. ”
“He’s not even from here,” said Gaspar.
“Nope. He’s not, but he’s had a residence for almost two years, which makes him eligible. But you saw how the folks here responded. They hate him, and they hate what he’s trying to do. I don’t get it. There’s no way anyone is going to allow this to happen. What does he hope to accomplish?”
“We’re trying to figure that out now. All of that is good information to have,” said Jean, “but he was hated in Beaumont, the Everglades, and Hot Springs as well, and yet his builds were all completed. How? Were they illegal?”
“I can’t explain it, y’all, but anything you can do to help would be good. He’s been refused the right to the Square so far, but he’s not giving up.”
“It’s historic. Protected,” said Ghost. “How could he possibly get his hands on it?”
“How does a man get his hands on protected wetlands?” asked the chief.
“If he touches Mama again,” said Alec, “I will kill him. You can record that if you like, but he will die.”
“I get it,” said Caleb. “Winnie over there is my aunt. She called me last night but couldn’t give me any names of the men, only descriptions. Of course, they say she started it, trying to chase them out with a bat.”
“That’s bullshit,” said Antoine.
“That might be, but my Aunt Winnie has been known for chasing a few folks out of her store,” he grinned. “I need help with this one, boys. Can we work together on this?”
“You’re damn right we will,” said Nine. “And that asshole better hope I don’t find him alone in an alley.”
“I didn’t hear that,” said Caleb, shaking his head. “My hearing is bad lately. Terrible.”
“We need to know what’s behind this man’s game other than just money. Destroying forests, wetlands, now historic parks. None of it makes any sense at all. And how the hell does he get it done?” asked Nine.
“That’s where I need your help,” said Caleb. “I can’t seem to find answers from anyone, and that’s not usual for us in these parts.”
Jean felt something slowly creep up his back and turned carefully to see the ghostly figure. He looked at the other men, one by one, seeing the figure behind the big man.
“Y’all okay?” asked Caleb.
“Yeah, we’re good, brother. We’ll do some research on our end and see what we can come up with,” said Gaspar.
Caleb and his deputies walked away, leaving the others to stand with the ghost that they believed had influenced Irene.
“Can I assume that you’re Grover?” asked Jean. “I believe you spoke with my mother yesterday. Irene Robicheaux.”
“Irene,” he smiled. “She’s a lovely woman. Very friendly and such a wonder to speak with her. I didn’t know her son could see me as well.”
“Actually,” smirked Jean, “we can all see you. I think since you felt comfortable with Mama, your aura, or whatever it is, revealed itself to all of us.”
“I don’t understand any of that,” said Grover, shaking his head. “All I know is that I’ve lived in this tree, in this park, for nearly three hundred years. If that man tears all of this down, I will be lost, unable to move on.”
“What do you need to move on?” asked Miller.
“I wish I knew,” he said, shaking his head.
“Your mother seemed to know what I might need, but I’ll be honest, I’m just not sure.
There have been others over the years that could see me, speak with me, but none that felt the same as your mother and the woman, Ruby.
I didn’t remember that until just now. Isn’t that amazing? ”
“Well, you got yourself the high society of ghost seers,” smirked Alec. “Mama and Miss Ruby have been talking to spirits their entire lives.”
“I’m fortunate then. Perhaps, they can help me to move on in some way.”
“If I were a betting man, and I’m not,” said Nine, “my money would be on Irene and Ruby. What’s keeping you here, Grover?”
“I wish I knew. I know that I was hanged in that tree.”
“Hanged? I’m sorry,” frowned Jean. “Why?”
“Why? Because I am, or I was, a black man that dared to claim freedom in a place where there were no free black men. I defied my captors. I was too smart, too talkative, too everything for them. I was beaten repeatedly, usually in this Square, and eventually hanged.”
“I am so sorry,” said Tailor. Grover stared up at the big man and shook his head.
“I don’t believe they would have beaten you.”
“Yes, they would have,” said Tailor honestly. “They would have beaten me because they would have been scared of me. My size alone would have been a threat to them.”
“I suppose you’re right,” said Grover. “So, you’ll help me? You’ll help Miss Irene and Miss Ruby?”
Gaspar looked at the others, each man nodding.
“Grover, we’re not sure how you’re connected to Snow, or if you are, but there does seem to be a connection of some sort.
We’ll find a way to help you and, in the process, help our community to keep this magnificent park.
There has to be something that connects all of this.
You, the park, the trees, and Snow. We just have to figure it all out. ”
“I can’t thank you enough,” he said, shaking his head in disbelief. “No one else seemed to know what to do for me. Or they didn’t want to. Some said I deserved what I got. Of course, that was a long time ago.”
“Who would say that?” asked Miller.
“You’d be surprised,” said Grover. “Over the years, I’ve spoken to dozens of folks that look just like me.
Some told me if I had shut my mouth, I would have been just fine.
They weren’t experiencing what I did. Of course, that was more than a hundred years ago.
I think. I mean, they were still riding horses and carriages back then.
As time went on, when people actually acknowledged me, they seemed scared and didn’t want to talk to me. ”
“Don’t ever stop defending yourself, Grover. It’s all a man has sometimes,” said Ian.
“I just want to see my family again. Mama, my father, my sister. She was to be married, and I didn’t even get to see her walk down the aisle or learn if she had a family. I just want to know that they are okay.”
“You give us time,” said Ghost, “and we’ll see if we can’t make that wish come true.”