Black 01 - Black Rain Page 21
I stand here at my father’s gravesite and most of the people have left to return to the church for the dinner. People sure love to eat at funerals. My wife, kids, mother, brothers and sisters, Pretty Kevin, Mo-Mo, Agent Jason “Little Tiny” Phillips, Agent Epiphany Duvall, Agent James, Commissioner Wayne and my best friend, Detective Vernon Brown, wait by the limousines and their cars for me as I say my final goodbye to my father.
It is a beautiful overcast morning and the birds are chirping and flying around in the gray skies that are kissed by puffy storm clouds. I hold a single rose in my hand and adjust my crutch under my arm to support my bad leg. The grave diggers look on from a distance.
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“Daddy, you meant the world to me. You were a man of few words. You led by example, always had a big smile and a loving laugh. Thank you for what you did for the family and the sacrifices you made for us. I will always remember you and keep you in my heart. I know you’re looking down from heaven and will be watching out for us. I promise to make sure Mom is taken care of. Put in a good word to God for me.” I smile and toss the rose into the grave and wave the grave diggers over to finish their job.
I walk over to my family and closest friends and we depart for the family dinner. I look back as we drive off in the limousine and the rain starts to fall. In the distance, I see Agent Cheryl Chase appear from behind a gravestone. She waves at me. I nod, sit back in my seat and smile. I don’t know what she went through when she was with Dread, but evidently it was pretty bad. I say a little prayer for her and hope she will be okay, and she stands in the graveyard as though she’s being bap-tized in the black rain.
About the Author
Vincent Alexandria is the author of If Walls Could Talk, Postal Blues, Black Rain, Black Heat, Black Vice, Ain’t Nothing Like Loving An Ugly Woman from Harlequin–
Kimani Press and a book of poems, Poetry from the Bottom of My Heart from We Must X-L Publishing Co.
He is an author, actor, producer, director, composer, lyricist, vocalist, screenwriter and musician. The father of five children, grandfather of two, he holds a masters degree in literature at Baker University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Rockhurst College.
His vision for the Brother 2 Brother Literary Symposium, his nonprofit company that sends published authors across the country to discuss literacy, is that it will enhance people’s quality of life through reading. The events are always free to the public and over $100,000
in free books have been given away. To find out more go to www.theliteraryevent.com/symposium or visit Vincent at his Web site at www.vincentalexandria.com.
BLACK RAIN
ISBN: 978-1-4268-0522-6
First published by We Must X-L Publishing in 2004
A Sepia novel published by Kimani Press in 2007
© 2004 by Vincent R. Alexandria
Revised text © 2007 by Vincent R. Alexandria All rights reserved. The reproduction, transmission or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without written permission. For permission please contact Kimani Press, Editorial Office, 233 Broadway, New York, NY
10279 U.S.A.
All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
® and TM are trademarks. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and/or other countries.
www.kimanipress.com
Document Outline
Title Page
Dedication Page
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Epilogue
About the Author
Copyright Page