Chapter 29
Several weeks passed with no communication between Deviane and her parents. Due to his escapades in Trinidad during the last two months of the school year, Kevin had to attend the last session of summer school in order to graduate from Plano High School. Realizing that Kevin's savings wouldn't be sufficient to sustain them long, Kevin and Deviane decided to go to junior college for their first year. With only a one-week break, he and Deviane began classes at Collin County Community College in late August.
It was a Saturday morning in early September. Kevin and Deviane were about to eat breakfast. Kevin went outside to get the Dallas Morning News, which was delivered to their door each morning. On the way in, he looked at the front page briefly and then pulled out the sports section. Once inside, he threw the rest of the paper on the table and went to pour himself some coffee. Deviane picked up the front page and began reading it. After finishing it, she started leafing through the rest of the section for articles that might interest her. Suddenly she froze.
"Kevin, look! It's an article about the NDC executions."
"What does it say?"
"Confessed NDC Leader Executed in Trinidad. The National Defense Coalition member whose testimony was instrumental in the conviction of seventeen NDC members in August was executed today in Port of Spain. Obatala Mohammed was the brother of Ray Mohammed, who was suspected of being the gunman in the attempted assassination of Prime Minister Ahmad Shah last April. Mohammed's execution came very quickly after his conviction and sentencing, since he refused to appeal the decision of Port of Spain's Third Criminal Court. The execution by lethal injection was carried out in private, in accordance with the Court's ruling. The ruling provided that Mohammed would not be publicly hanged like the other seventeen NDC members due to his cooperation with authorities. Since no one has claimed his body, prison officials announced that Mohammed's remains would be cremated. The remaining seventeen NDC members have appealed their convictions. Those appeals are expected to take up to a year before they are finally resolved and the public executions can take place."
"I can't believe he's dead," Deviane said. "I kept thinking something would happen. Somehow, he would be allowed to live. My mother said not to worry, trust my father."
"At least it's over. Maybe now we can bury the past and focus on the future. I'm just sorry you lost your family over all of this."
"At least I found you, Kevin. If you hadn't showed up, I would have been forced to sell out, just like my father."
"Maybe not, I'm not sure your mother knows what's going on. And surely, Kiran isn't a party to your father's treachery."
"My mother knows. Maybe not every detail, but she knows my father better than anyone. He couldn't keep this kind of secret from her."
"Then why would she tolerate it? She seems like such a good person, so full of love."
"I don't know," Deviane said as she wiped the tears from her eyes. "I wish I could understand it."
"We should go to Cetawayo; she’ll be needing us."
"You're right. We'll stop by the florist and bring her some flowers. Maybe she'd like to go to the church and light a candle for him."
"Good idea, come on."
It was a beautiful morning and traffic was light. It didn't take long to get to Cetawayo's apartment. They stopped at a florist along the way and bought a dozen white daisies. Cetawayo was surprised when she opened the door and saw them.
"Kevin, Deviane. What are you two doing here?"
"I guess you haven't seen the paper this morning."
"No. The kids. . . . Oh no! Oh God! Did they kill him?"
"I'm afraid so."
Cetawayo burst into tears. She struggled to the sofa and collapsed. Deviane went into the bathroom, found a box of tissues and brought them to her. She sat down next to her and put her arm around her. They both cried for some time as Kevin watched wishing he could do something to comfort them.
"You know,” Cetawayo finally said. “I’m glad it’s over. We've been living with this so long. I think it will be easier for Kemba if he knows his father is dead. Now, he thinks he was deserted. His teachers have been having a hard time with him. They say he's bitter and hostile to everyone. I've been at a loss. You'd think, as a teacher, I would know what to do."
"I think you're right," Deviane said. "Now maybe he can bury his father and the healing process can begin."
"Hey, why don't we go to the church and light a candle for him," Kevin said.
"I'd like that. I better go tell the children. They have a right to know."
"Sure. Do you want us to wait outside?"
"No, just have a seat. It will take me a few minutes to get them ready to go."
Kevin and Deviane spent the rest of the day with Cetawayo and her children. They went to a Catholic church near Cetawayo's apartment and lit a candle for Obatala. Then they took the kids to the zoo and the Omni Theater so they wouldn't have time to think about their father. When they finally arrived back at Cetawayo's apartment, it was late and kids went right to bed. Kevin and Deviane hugged Cetawayo one last time and then left her alone to grieve.
Several more weeks passed. Kevin and Deviane began making plans for their wedding. It would be simple and inexpensive, but they didn't care as long as they finally made it down the aisle. Late one Thursday afternoon they had planned to go to Collin Creek Mall to look at wedding invitations. As they were leaving they got a frantic call from Cetawayo. She was hysterical, something about someone packing up her things and taking her away.
Kevin and Deviane left immediately and raced down Central Expressway toward Cetawayo's apartment. They couldn't imagine what was going on. When they arrived, the apartment was empty. Cetawayo and the boys were gone.
Kevin and Deviane stared at the empty apartment in shock. They ran to the manager's office. A young lady was sitting at her desk.
"Miss, what happened to Cetawayo Mohammed? Where did she go?"
"I have no idea," she replied, "but at least she had the decency to pay off her lease."
"Who packed up her stuff?"
"A whole moving crew came, packed her up and then left with everything. Two men took her and the kids. They were driving a blue Buick."
"They didn't say who they were?"
"No."
"Did Cetawayo go voluntarily or did they force her to leave."
"I don't know; I just try to mind my own business."
Kevin and Deviane left the manager's office and went back to the apartment to search for clues as to where the men had taken Cetawayo and the children.
"Do you think it was Malcolm Mann?" Kevin said.
"Oh my God! If it was, there's no telling what he'll do to them."
"What about the money? I wonder if they got the money?"
"Let's go to the bank. They may be there now!"
"Okay, come on. It's almost five, we don't have much time."
As they turned to leave the apartment, they saw a short, black man in the doorway. They strained to make out his face in the darkness. They inched closer and closer.
"Hi. Did you know Cetawayo?" Kevin said.
"Yes, I did.”
“Do you know what happened to her?”
He laughed. “Don't you recognize me?"
"No, should I?” Kevin replied.
The man took a few steps out of the shadow.
“Oh my God! Obatala? Is that you?"
"Yes, Kevin. It's me!"
"But–"
"You mustn't tell anyone you saw me. I'm officially dead."
Deviane grabbed Kevin's arm to keep from fainting.
"Oh my God! Obatala, you're alive!"
"No, Obatala is dead. I'm Haywood Alexander. My family and I are moving. Somewhere, I don't know exactly where. The U.S. Marshals are rather secretive about it."
"But we read about your death in the newspaper."
"I know, they had me fooled too. When they strapped me in the chair and gave me the letha
l injection, I was prepared to die. When I woke up two days later in Florida, you can imagine how shocked I was."
Kevin rushed over to Obatala and embraced him.
"You are alive. For a moment I thought you were a ghost."
"Come here, Deviane. Feel me so you too will know that I'm alive."
Deviane walked over to Obatala slowly. When she saw him clearly, she ran into his arms.
"Oh, God! Obatala, I'm so glad you're alive!"
"The feeling is mutual, believe me.”
Kevin stood back and shook his head.
“I just can’t believe it.”
“Nor can I. I just wanted you two to know that everything worked out. . . . I’ve got to go now, they've only given me two minutes to talk to you and our time is up."
Obatala pulled an envelope out of his pocket.
"I almost forgot. I'm supposed to deliver this letter to you."
Deviane took the letter and held it gingerly.
"Thanks for taking care of Cetawayo and the children. Maybe someday we'll be able to get together and talk about everything. I've got to run now. Goodbye."
Obatala disappeared just as quickly as he had come, leaving Kevin and Deviane shaken and confused. For a moment they just stared at the empty doorway. Deviane, with tears streaming down her cheeks, turned to Kevin and they embraced.
"I'm so happy, Kevin! You don't know how happy I am."
"It's a miracle! I can't believe it. Obatala is alive!"
Deviane wiped the tears from her eyes and looked at the envelope. "I guess I should read the letter."
"Yes, open it! What does it say?"
Deviane ripped open the letter and began to read it;
Dear Deviane,
As you know by now, I did keep my promise. Please forgive me for the pain I've caused you and Kevin. Maybe someday you'll understand why it had to be this way. Please come home. Your mother has been sick with grief since you left us. We all love you, and Kevin too.
Love,
Ahmad
P. S. No one knows of any of this, not even Kiran and your mother. So please destroy this letter and keep everything you've learned to yourselves.
Deviane looked at Kevin and smiled.
"What do you think?"
"I think we should make plane reservations."
"Oh, Kevin. I can't believe it. It's like I woke up from a terrible dream. I'm so relieved!"
"Me too. Let's get out of here. We've got packing to do."