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Countdown to Fearlessness 08/28/2026

Name: Countdown to Fearlessness 08/28/2026
Start: 2027-08-28
Location: African American Literature Book Club

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28 August 2027

This event began 08/28/2026 and repeats every year forever

URL

https://www.deviantart.com/hddeviant/art/Countdown-to-Fearlessness-1374170102

CONTENT

TITLE: Countdown to Fearlessness

SUBTITLE: A Marcus Preacher tale

AUTHOR: Richard Murray @HDdeviant

STORY

Each individual has felt a fear. A boogeyman in the room when the parents cut off the light. A bad fall in the old house after the great grandkids left, or before they return. A daily bully waiting on the target's route home. Fears come in many forms, but one of the most dangerous fears is fear of the truth. No physical assault or failure. No chiaroscuro induced imaginings. Simple realities that can be unaccepted while never made false; athletes know them when they speak on their careers; government officials know them when they speak to their constituents; parents know them when they explain the way of the world to their children. But sometimes simple realities need the spark of evidence, revelations, to escape the allowance of falsehood through the absence of proof, denial.

All I knew was Mavis Jones died while I drove to his burial; a simple reality that many would attend at Nieufundland Cemetery.

I remember when Mavis solved the Three Kings case. Police chief Baron Williams, mob boss Tony Angelo, telecommunications giant Teddy Round, united to take over the city. The police chief had info on all the government officials and agencies, from the mayor to community board members. The mob boss had the enforcement to those who needed to go along with the plan but didn't have any dirt. The media mogul had made a daring bid to buy nine movie studios, three domestic, six foreign, three domestic network studios, and four streaming services; he was going to increase the jobs in the media market of the city by a thousand percent, changing the fortunes of the city. The police chief would gain tons of jobs for the police as well as a private fund. the mob would get control of the casting and full access to entertainers. The three needed a number of communities to move out quickly and with little fuss. But that was where Mavis came in; his grandmother was in one of those communities the Three Kings were looking to push out; he dug and nearly got killed and dug and nearly got killed and again and again. In the end, only a few knew he made a deal with the mayor, mob boss Salvadore Sam and real estate giant Cocoro Stein, which undid the plans of the Three Kings by making three other kings. Mavis only protected the communities and the Three Kings all died in various ways. The police chief retired. The mob boss was killed; his family left the country. The media mogul sold his firm and assets, paid debts and lives as a rich recluse.

Mavis was a great detective; for him to die in a car accident, while sad, isn't unheard of in the city. At the burial, I saw his parents, relatives, or sister with his ten year old son Solomon. Solomon's mom was a lady of the night, the only woman Mavis trusted plus liked, Zora Takata; she was born from a black soldier and Japanese woman during a war; she was ever stylish, dangerous with a blade, athletically amazing, a cute shortness, thief, model; I told Mavis she was his Milady de Winter; if she was alive, I ponder. But among those I know of, or those who make sense, one stood out. During the silence or speeches, before the placing, I positioned next to the standout.

A woman tall, olive skin, brunette, a gold silk Christian Dior, collared, long sleeve, ankle high, skirt suit with dark blue gloves, and low heel shoes with diamond adornments; her hat was a white pill box completely covered in yellow diamonds, the goddess of sun and sea. My green grey tailored tweed three piece suit under my black coat and above my black and white oxfords and under my pastel beret, was not as outstanding but didn't get anyone's notice either. She seemed the kind of woman Mavis would know. When the body was buried I used my friendship as a conversational starter. She turned and in one movement noted me, looked away, and began walking. No luck, so I went over to Solomon; like most children, he isn't ready for death, even though this is his second; I asked him would chocolate like to eat chocolate; he smiled and I went with him and his aunt to get ice cream.

While Solomon was playing an arcade game I asked Tabitha what happened; she looked at me knowing what I really wanted; I told her plain, her brother had enemies. I didn't deny the car crash, I just wanted more certainty. Tabitha admitted Mavis told her to only tell me, if I asked, the following.

"Kid this may get you killed, but if you want to risk it, follow the gold dress"

I knew instantly I was right before, and was angry I didn't follow her. I asked Tabitha, if she knew anything about her; she said Mavis called her Emma; I asked her if she still had the key to his office, his house, and his safe; she said yes to all three. I promised to give them back and Tabitha trusted me.

I first went to Mavis's office. As I figured, nothing on any ongoing case; his house wouldn't have much but I was one of the few, Zora being the other, who knew about the pseudo board under the couch in the living room; I opened it and I heard the front door being opened. I saw contents in the box but left it and pushed the couch back, placed the keys in my mouth, and acted as if I was running to get out the window. Two men entered the room, both wearing white shirts, black pants, and black jackets. The tall one assumed they caught me and said, we know you went to find something Mister Preacher. I said, glaring strongly, but with a small mouth movement, who are you? The short one replied, "you don't need to know, just know national security is involved." The big one checked me, found nothing. I realized this was big, federal agents, clearly with allot of immunity or protection; they wanted something Mavis had; they wanted it badly enough to kill. And I asked carefully, did you kill Mavis? The agents did not answer and left. I ran to the door and braced it with furniture. I covered the windows throughout the house, and went back to the couch. I spat out Mavis's keys and opened the pseudo board. I saw inside papers. I went into the bathroom, used my camera, and took photos. I saw a photo of Emma which Mavis labeled Emma Dash. I saw a letter from a colonel named Doug Williams. Williams said a woman he called Anna Lee, stole his of the poisoning of Wells County Michigan. I saw an obituary for Williams. Mavis was the kind of detective who would dig and dig, but if the government is involved, a limit exist to how deep one can dig and still live in the United States of America. I placed the papers back into the pseudo board and called Tabitha to set me up with a blind date, at her brother's house.

After two hours, Ramona knocked on the door. I opened happily and as I guessed a black car was outside Mavis's door with two figures inside. I welcomed Ramona in. Ramona was quite short, but didn't seem disturbed by my height; I welcomed her in for a cup of coffee and told her we can leave to a diner whenever she is ready; she accepted the coffee and I was glad, made my two friends outside sweat a little. Ramona Sanchez was sweet, cinnamon colored from Cuajinicuilapa in Costa Chica Mexico; she told me, she wanted to be a secretary, and loves organizing; her burgundy circle skirt and orange short sleeve shirt with blue shawl worked perfectly for an evening out. After the coffee, we left, and I saw my old friends still sitting. I took Ramona to the Alhambra restaurant; they serve the best seafood in the city. I made sure we got a table away from the window, on the second floor. I asked Mavis's old friend Tom, the manager of the restaurant, to let Ramona sit until I came back. Tom agreed and I promised Ramona something special when I returned.

I exited out the back and saw my two formerly sitting friends in the alley's shadows. I evaded them and went to the post office, two blocks away from Alhambra. I entered Mavis's safe and I saw: newspaper clippings, murders of various soldiers, a copy of a letter about a theft from Langley or others, a pamphlet for the time capsule of Harriet Tubman elementary school in Fayette Mississippi. The time capsule was already put into the ground. And, I realized the problem. I took photos of all the content and closed the post office box with all but one from the content I found in it. I ran out and saw the all night florist shop was still in business and bought an orchard. I ran back to Alhambra and entered the front holding Ramona's flowers. Tom told me a woman was sitting next to my table and talking with my guest. I asked is the woman in a gold dress?? He nodded and I asked him to hold my camera. I scurried upstairs followed by my two old friends through the front door.

I saw Emma speaking to Ramona. I surprised Ramona, snuck up behind her. Emma saw me hand my date the orchid. Ramona loved it. I sat and asked Emma if her friends wanted to join her. My two old friends exited down the stairs when they saw Emma with me and Ramona. Emma looked at Ramona and said, 'please Ms. Sanchez give us a moment.' Ramona replied, yes ma'am. Ramona exited militarily, in all but the snap. I worried and looked to Emma and said, "The real Ramona?" Emma replied to me.

"Safe at home Mister Preacher, she will have a little headache in the morning but no problems"

"So now"

"Now you will tell me what you learned"

"I haven't learned anything"

"Mister Preacher, please, we found the compartment under the couch after you left"

I didn't react when she said it and answered: "I didn't find anything in the house but was disturbed by my two friends. Pardon the blinds, but you comprehend"

Emma smiled: "and what took you so long to come back, the flower shop is not that far"

I was ready for that.

"I scouted my friends. I wanted to see if you would meet them"

"Mr. Preacher, you will be observed for the foreseeable future, some advice, don't dig any further"

"Did you kill Mavis?"

Emma stood over me like a god.

"No Mister Preacher, he died in an accident"

And Emma left. I waited to see if Ramona returned from the bathroom. After fifteen minutes, yes I liked the fantasy, she didn't and I left. I got Tom to give me my camera and I rode to Tabitha's.

In the darkness of the city, I realized the truth. Mavis knew a truth and killed himself to keep it secret. A secret involving information on agents of the U.S.A., their identities, their activities, and I realized why Emma and company were tasked to eliminate the exposure of the truth. Can you imagine if people knew what their parents, uncles, pastors, schoolteachers did? In the world of secrets are many names, many people, who have done many things. But if all those secrets, all those truths, were known, no longer allowed a lie by the absence of proof. What would happen? I saw the paper of Harriet Tubman, from my mouth, in my hand and burned it in the car. I will place the camera in my own safe. I will follow Mavis's lead and let the hundred years arrive. I wish I can be there when all the truths come out.

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