The Secrets of Silk Read Online Free Page A

eyes wide open in surprise, Big Mama lay choking on a mouthful of blood and tobacco. Using her index finger, she circled the air and made zigzag motions, putting a hex on Silk before taking her last breath.

CHAPTER 3

    U sing the red-tinted water in the basin, Silk washed the blood off her hands and her knife, mixing Big Mama’s blood in with Nathan Lee’s. Although she couldn’t bring herself to look at Big Mama’s sprawled-out, dead body, she felt oddly exhilarated by the same mixture of fear and adrenaline she’d felt immediately after killing Nathan Lee.
    She quickly threw on the polka dot dress and shoved her feet into the patent leather shoes. Without bothering to spruce up her hair, she picked up the suitcase that had a big dent in the front and hurried out of the shack. Guided by the light of the half-moon, she found her way to Highway 61. She stuck out her thumb when she saw approaching headlights.
    A light-colored station wagon screeched to a halt. “Where you heading, Missy?” a white man with a toothy smile asked. The words “Jimbo’s Exterminating” were painted on the side of the station wagon.
    â€œI’m going to Baton Rouge, sir.”
    â€œYou’re in luck; that’s where I’m going, so hop on in.” Being helpful, the driver got out and relieved Silk of her suitcase, putting it on the floor of the back of the car that was crowded with exterminating equipment, large paper bags, boxes, and all manner of junk.
    Silk rushed around to the passenger’s side and climbed into the station wagon that stank of roach spray and cigarettes.
    â€œYou sho’ is a pretty lil’ gal,” he observed, acknowledging her good looks in a tone that sounded more fatherly than flirtatious.
    â€œThank you for the compliment, sir.”
    â€œIt’s mighty peculiar for you to be hitching a ride in the middle of the night, but I shouldn’t be surprised. I done seen many a strange thing while driving through Devil’s Swamp at night. So, who are you running from this hour of the night? You got a no-good husband chasing after you?”
    â€œI’m not running from anyone. I got me a teaching job up North and if I don’t get there on time, I’m likely to lose the position,” Silk said, reinventing herself on the fly.
    â€œAin’t that something—a hitchhiking, mulatto schoolteacher.” He laughed uproariously.
    As the station wagon sped along the asphalt road, Silk, relieved to be putting distance between her and the murders she’d committed, smiled broadly.
    The driver introduced himself as Floyd.
    â€œOh, I thought your name was Jimbo,” Silk said cheerily, looking out the window as they swiftly left Devil’s Swamp behind. She became practically giddy with the knowledge that Sheriff Thompson would come up empty-handed when he came looking for her with a pack of hound dogs and a pair of handcuffs.
    â€œNo, I work for Jimbo. I cover hundreds of miles of territory, exterminating restaurants and diners all over Louisiana. You’d be shocked at the amount of cockroaches and vermin that food establishments have crawling all over the meals they serve to customers. I remind my wife of that fact every time she tries to get me to take her out to dinner.” Floyd gave another hearty burst of laughter.
    â€œCockroaches in the food…that’s awful.”
    Floyd turned his mouth down in disgust. “I done seen worse than cockroaches. Eateries are the worst when it comes to breaking all sorts of health codes. They don’t bother to call for Jimbo’s Exterminating until the Board of Health is about to shut them down. And that’s when I make my side money.”
    Silk’s ears perked up. “What do you mean?”
    â€œI tell the customers they’re gonna need an extra-strong mixture to get rid of their infestation of bugs and vermin, and then I charge ’em an extra twenty bucks.