IBO by Brian R. Lundin (the best books of all time .txt) 📕

go to work Reggie.”
Surprisingly, Reggie and the mayor worked well together. Reggie was very sharp and before long he had learned how small town politics worked. He soon learned how to get the votes out for candidates endorsed by the mayor’s party by having the same voters go from county to county voting repeatedly. The black vote was crucial and they voted whatever way they were told by Reggie. In addition to improving the relationships between the black and white communities, improving the black schools and attending city council meetings for the often-absent Mayor Washburn, Reggie was becoming recognized as a powerful speaker and vote getter throughout the state. With his deep baritone voice, quick wit, and good looks, Reggie quickly became a recognized power broker by the state legislators. He also was often spoken of as Mayor Washburn main man not Mayor Washburn’s nigger.
At the end of the 1970, Reggie and Rachael were married and Mayor Washburn built them a nice three bedroom, house on his bottomland.
Rumor had it that members of the Klux attended their large reception. Reggie and Rachael had a good marriage and as time went on, Reggie grew to love her deeply.
In 1974, Mayor Washburn and his wife died in a traffic accident. Reggie was the only person told that the autopsy of the mayor showed his alcohol blood count was way above the state limit. Rachael inherited a large sum of money and property and she gave the bottomland to Reggie’s family who was still farming after Henry had died, she and Reggie built a large mansion in an exclusive suburb in Stuttgart. The elegant suburb had shady trees, sprawling ante-bellum style mansions and expansive yards protected by wrought-iron fences. The Warrens were the only integrated family in the community. Reggie was on his way and was about to begin his rise to power.

Chapter 26

Eli invited Malik and Diki to his graduation from Harvard Law School where he graduated first in his class and gave the graduation speech, Diki and Malik sat with Maggie and Mack, and after the ceremonies, and they all went to dinner.
Malik asked Eli,” what’s your plans now counselor?”
“I don’t know. I think I’m going to rest for a while and sort out some of the offers I’ve gotten.”
“What kind of law did you specialize in?” Diki asked.” “Corporate, but you’ve got to have a connection to get hired by a good law firm,” Eli answered.
“What about criminal law,” Malik asked.
“I don’t know about that, I don’t know if I could defend someone that I know was guilty.”
“There is a lot of money defending people, especially drug dealers,” Malik said.
Diki interrupted, “I nearly forgot, my father sent you a graduation present.”
Diki handed Eli an envelope. Eli opened the envelope and inside was a check for twenty-five thousand dollars and a note that read: “Congratulations Eli, enclosed is my graduation gift. You, Malik and my son are black men that we can be proud of, after you are settled and rested, you and Malik must visit me again. I know that they are probably with you now, so tell them hello and again congratulations. Eli showed the letter to everyone at the table. Malik, Eli, and Diki stayed with Maggie and Mack for a week. Mack taught Diki and Malik how to catch and clean fish, which they both enjoyed.
About fifteen years ago, Maggie and Mack bought a lot in Jelly Stone Park in Pierceton, Indiana. The campground had a private lake, which Mack loved, and there were probably ten or fifteen good fishing lakes within a half-hour drive. The campground had about five hundred lots and retired or semi-retired individuals privately owned most of them. Over the years, Maggie and Mack had bought a nice two-bedroom mobile home surrounded by a deck and enclosed screen room.
The grounds were well kept and quiet except in the summer when many young people usually visited their grandma and grandpa. Most of the people were from large cities in the Midwest and they would come to the campground in the summer and spend their winters in either Florida or Texas. During the winter months the park was nearly deserted because the mobile homes were not insulated and during the winter months, the water was turned off, it was strictly a summer home. In September, after the kids had gone back to school, was the time Maggie and Mack enjoyed the most, they would get up early and have coffee in the screen room and listen to the birds singing. The cool fresh air seemed to invigorate them.
On 1 November, the water was turned off in the campground and Mack and Maggie rented a nice three-bedroom apartment in Warsaw. Although their pensions enable them to live very comfortably, Maggie was substitute teaching in the schools in the area and Mack worked at a local bait shop three days a week.

“All of my life I’ve lived maybe ten minutes from Lake Michigan and I have never been fishing or even been on a boat.”
“We own fishing boats and I have gone out with the fishermen, but they net the fish. I have never caught a fish on a rod and reel,” Diki said.
Their last night, Diki, Malik, and Eli were sitting on the porch, the air was warm, a cool breeze blew off the lake, and they could hear the big buffalo fish rolling in the water.
“It is so peaceful here, I love it,” Eli said.
“Yes it is nice, Malik said, “no loud vulgar talking, no gunshots, it a long way away from the jets.”
”What’s you been doing since you graduated?” Eli asked Malik, “Nothing really, just taking it easy.”
“When you are ready, I might want to retain your services.”
“Do you need a lawyer?”
“Everyone needs a good lawyer, and you are going to be one of the best.” Malik said.
“You and Diki are like brothers to me, and I would trust both of you with my life,” Eli said.
“And you both know if you ever need me, just call.” “ “Diki does your father do any business in Thailand?” Malik asked.
“I’m sure he does, but I’ll check.”
“How is he doing?” Eli asks.
“Ok, just getting old and a little tired I think, he is starting to get me more involved in the business. I really think he’s ready to retire, but he won’t until he thinks I’m ready. He sure wants to see you guys, when you think you’ll can come for a visit?”
“What about after I take the bar exam,” Eli said.
“Let me knows, I’m ready anytime,” Malik replied.
“Great, I’ll have the plane waiting for you guys in Chicago and I’ll make arrangement for you to get to O’Hare by helicopter, Eli,” Diki said.

Chapter 27

Eli spent the summer relaxing and studying for the bar exam. He thought about Malik’s offer but he knew that Malik was involved with gangs and drugs and he wasn’t sure if he had came to terms yet with his little brother’s death. The gang problem plaguing the big cities hadn’t surfaced yet in his little town, but he knew it wouldn’t be long. He had heard that the Blood and the Cribs, two notorious street gang from Los Angeles, was operating in Fort Wayne and in some of the other small towns and he had started to see gang signs on buildings. Drugs and gangs were taking over the country he thought, they were like dog shit, everywhere.
After passing the bar exam Eli opened a small law office. His office was on the second floor of a 1930 edifice on the corner of Center Street and Detroit Avenue in downtown Warsaw. Center Street was the main street in Warsaw and was decorated with fountains and decorative trees. The old building had been revitalized and decorated gracefully. The main lobby had a cigar store and a woman’s boutique. The bright marble floors were always clean and the all the bronze was highly polished. The front door of his office opened into a small foyer that contained the desk where Mrs. Gault, his secretary, legal researcher and receptionist sat and four chairs for waiting clients were against the wall. Farming and outdoor magazines were scatted on a table in front of the chairs. Eli’s office was behind Mrs. Gault desk.
Warsaw was the largest city in the area, about the size of Gary and most of Eli’s clients were farmers and his businesses mainly involved civil suits; divorces, suits between farmers, tax claims, and the like. However, lately he started getting criminal cases, usually involving young people being arrested by the local police or sheriff for smoking or selling marijuana. Most of the cases were easy to win because the local law enforcement officials usually violated the defendant’s rights, by conducting unlawful searches and seizures. After a while, he had a reputation for being a good criminal lawyer.
One morning Mrs. Gault told him he there was a Mr. Boise was waiting to see him; she also said that Mr. Boise said that he was referred by a friend of theirs, named Malik Jackson. Mrs. Gault led Mr. Boise into Eli’s office and closed the door as she was leaving.
Raymond Boise was a nice looking brown skinned young man twenty-three years old. He was wearing a starched pair of Gap Jeans, red and white Michael Jordan gym shoes, an expensive looking jersey sweater and a solid gold chain. He had a pleasant and humble demeanor but Eli knew right away that he was a drug dealer and gang banger.
“Have a seat Mr. Boise, you mentioned Malik,” Eli said.
“Yes sir, Malik told me to contact you.”
“Where do you know Malik from?”
“We grew up together in the Robert Taylor Homes in Chicago.”
“What can I do for you Mr. Boise?” Eli asked.
“I want to retain your services for some friends of mine who were arrested in Fort Wayne.”
“What are they charged with?”
“Conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine,” Boise said.
“Who arrested them and when?” Eli asked.
“They were arrested last week by the FBI and DEA.”
“So it’s a federal charge?” Eli asked.
“Yes sir,” Mr. Boise replied.
“Did Malik tell you that I just started my practice?”
“Yes sir, he did.”
“ Well, I would suggest you get a more experienced lawyer, I have never tried a drug case in the federal court, and most of my experience with drug cases has been at the local level with inexperienced small town police officers, its different dealing with federal agents.”
“That’s ok, I was told to get you.”