“Yeah, she was a white woman. Philip met her when he was down in Shreveport, doing some work at the college. She worked at the college as a secretary. As soon as she found out that Philip had some money from his papa, she took him into her bed. After that…psssss…can’t fight that kind of temptation.”

“Philip’s father had money?”

“For a colored man, Ezekial had lots of money. Y’see, he was a trucker for Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia. Every penny he got, he put into the Coca-Cola stocks.”

“That was very forward thinking.”

“It wasn’t Ezekial’s thinking. Ezekial did it to impress a white girl he liked. Y’see, her brother…he was buying up the stock. So Ezekial did the same thing. But back then, it was hard for a colored man to buy stock. No broker would see to the Negroes. So the white boy did it for him. Told him it would make him money. Ezekial bought the stocks for pennies during the depression. He did real well.”

“A white boy bought stock for Ezekial and put it in Ezekial’s name?”

“Yes, sir, he put it in Ezekial’s name. That boy was a fine white boy. He did right by Ezekial. Not all white people hated the colored. Most did, but not everyone.”

“Interesting.”

“After the war…in the fifties…Ezekial bought himself a fine house in Atlanta in the old colored area. A big house. And he still had money left over. Philip grew up like a rich boy. Got hisself a good education. Went to the university. That boy got everything he wanted. Trouble is, he wanted things that weren’t good for him. Now remember, this was the sixties. The black man started getting power…started getting a taste for things that he shouldn’t have no taste for. The white girls were giving it to them in free love. It made the black man think he was one of them. It was disgusting.”

George shut off the water and dried the pot. But he didn’t turn around.

“That was Dolly Sue. Free love to the black man…to everyone. She was no good.”

“How long before Philip realized that Dolly Sue was no good?”

“Soon.”

“How soon is soon, sir? A year? Two years?”

“Third year, Christmastime.” He stowed the pot in one of the black cupboards. “He and Dolly Sue were living here in Los Angeles. They went home to see the folks for the holidays.” He turned to face Decker. “I’ll take that cup from you, sir.”

Decker handed him the teacup. “What happened?”

George pivoted around and turned on the water. “He found her in bed with another man.”

Decker made a face. “Another man?”

“Yes, sir.”

“May I ask who?”

George lowered his head. “I’m ashamed to say it, sir.”

Decker grimaced. “Philip’s father?”