After All Read Online Free Page A

later. A busy day followed
with background research at the library on several features coming
up and chasing after people who would rather not be on camera but
would give assistance on other stories. By five thirty that
evening, she was back at the station.
    “ What a day.”Gracie half
fell, half sat in her chair.”Two hours of having these really
obnoxious little poodles climbing on me. Gee-whiz.”
    “ Anna Belle May,
right?”Michelle kept writing without looking up.
    “ How did you
know?”
    “ Because you've been working
on that Historic Preservation thing for two weeks. Anna Belle has
been in on beautification and restoration projects in this town
since the dawn of time.”
    “ And you can't talk to her
at their offices. Oh, no. You have to go to that huge old house
where she holds court. What about that Housing Authority
thing?”
    “ Just talked to him. I'm
meeting him at his house in-- Oops, five minutes! See ya.”Michelle
dashed out.
     
    ***
     
    “ Thanks for seeing me on
such short notice, Mr. Matthews.”Michelle settled onto the flowered
sofa her notebook balanced on one knee.
    “ It's okay. Look, I'm not
sure how much help I can be. I left the place almost eight months
ago.”Greg Matthews was a compact five foot eleven with a barrel
chest and muscular arms. His skin was the color of
copper.
    “ There are some rumors
floating around about under the table deals. Maybe connected to the
maintenance of public housing or the rewarding of contracts for
repairs. As the maintenance supervisor you would have been in a
position to know a lot about how things were handled.”
    “ I just sent men out to do
the work. I didn't have nothing to do with that stuff.”Greg shifted
in his chair and rubbed his hands together.
    “ But you know who did,”
Michelle prodded.
    “ Charlotte Kinchen. But like
I said, I didn't make none of those decisions.”
    “ Charlotte Kinchen,
right?”Michelle began writing.
    “ Now hold on. I don't want
my name mentioned in this.”Greg waved at her notes
nervously.
    “ These will only be read by
me. “
    “ Sure,” he said
derisively.
    “ Okay, I won't use your name
just a code. Now tell me about Charlotte Kinchen.”
    “ She coordinates daily
operations like rent collection, calculating how much rent people
pay, supervises the apartment managers, stuff like
that.”
    “ I see. So she decides what
companies get the contracts?”
    “ There's supposed to be a
bid process, but a company other than the lowest bidder can be
used. For instance, if they trying to use more minority or women
owned firms. Or if they feel the work done by a particular company
is better and would save costs in the long run.”
    “ So what companies usually
get picked, Greg?”Michelle cut right to bone.
    “ Charlotte got some heavy
friends; you know what I'm sayin'? And they got friends. I got four
kids to feed.”
    “ Who are her friends? Just
tell me. I'll get the rest myself.”
    Greg twisted a key chain for several
moments before answering.”James Bridges. . . . and Ike Batiste. She
tight with them. People that you don't wanna get mad at you. That's
all I can say.”
    Michelle fought to keep her face from
showing the excitement she felt. Ike Batiste and James Bridges had
been among the most prominent Black businessmen in Baton Rouge for
over twenty years. James Bridges had a thriving janitorial business
frequently hired by Ike Batiste to clean up his newly constructed
homes and vacant properties. Greg was right, both had powerful
connections locally and around the state.
    “ Close enough to break the
rules?”Michelle looked at him.
    Greg nodded.”Real good
buddies.”
    “ And they get a lot of
business from the Housing Authority? Are you saying they get a lot
of business because of this friendship?”
    “ I told you that's all I'm
gonna say.”Greg shook his head.
    “ That's enough,
Greg.”Hooking the ink pen through the wires at the top, Michelle
slapped the pad against her