Magnolia Hills, a Novel

By Nicholas Jackson

'Magnolia Hills' is a two-part book.
It opens with the introduction of a student-housing apartment landlord. Bosses order her to give eviction notices to three residents. An advocacy group enters the town, to represent the students and guarantee justice. The law is cast aside, as the groups collide in the town square. Magnolia Hills is shaken, reeled, and awestruck at the outcome.
In the second part, a kindhearted woman is injured in a factory accident. Her husband seeks retribution on the town, and enacts a crime ring that stuns and cripples the city.
City leaders try and assuage the situation, to continue to present the image of a quaint, unified Magnolia Hills.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jul 26, 2017
• ISBN: 9781387126408

Book preview

Magnolia Hills, a Novel

Magnolia Hills, A Novel

By Nicholas Jackson

Copyright © 2017 by Nicholas Jackson

All rights reserved.  This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

First Printing: 2017

ISBN 978-1-387-12640-8

Nicholas Jackson

Jackson, MS 39212

Book One

Joni

Chapter One

How much further is it? Williams asks.  He gripped the steering wheel tight in the darkness.

You like driving me.  Don’t be impatient.  It’s just up here, Joni said, eyes expecting the sight of her daughter’s cottage.  There it was.

The darkness of the trees gave way to the deep blue of the sky.  At the center of an outcrop was a yellow-light filled home.  It was surrounded by sand, with endless water in front.

This is it, Joni said.  This is where my daughter lives.

Alright, Williams said.  Here we go, more to himself.

Ivory, Joni’s daughter, met the two at the door.  They entered, greeted by a large golden retriever.  Williams, stranger, stood off to the side.  Ivory showered Joni with hugs.  I’m so glad you came.  It’s been too long.  Why has it been so long?  The two of them settled down on the couch.  Williams, unfamiliar with the surroundings stepped outside and lit a cigarette.  The house was in its own private kingdom.  The blue over the water was impenetrable.  Williams got lost in it.  Then he pulled out his cellphone, and dialed.

Williams is on, Ken Peters said.

Put him on speaker, Ralph Colgan said.

The two sat at a conference table, polluted by fried chicken wings.  Ken wiped his hands and hit ‘receive’ on the phone.  Peters here, he said.

Ralph Colgan leaned toward the phone.

Calling with an update.  We came to her daughter’s house.  I think she’s having trouble with the final phase, Williams said.

What kind of trouble?  We’re paying.  She just has to send the notices.  That’s all, Peters said.

Ralph Colgan shook his head.

That’s the thing.  She needs a reason to send them.  These are her words.  ‘The students did nothing wrong,’ Williams said.

Peters exhaled impatiently.  That’s what you’re for, he said.  You fix this.  You get her on board.  Is that not why you’re with her?

Yes.  I’m just giving you an update.  I’m sure we can swing her back.  It takes a little time, Williams responded.

Again.  That’s on you, Peters said.  We’re counting on you.  He clicked ‘end’ on the phone.

Unbelievable, Colgan said.  They went back to eating their hot wings. 

Williams put his cellphone away, and finished his cigarette.  He stumped out the flame and re-entered the house.  The two women were in excited conversation.  He sat his body down on a stool and closed his eyes. 

"Tell me about your love life," Ivory said.  Her mom was her best friend.  She waited for the details.

You know.  I don’t really get deep into that, Joni said.  Her daughter knew all about her lifestyle.

You are not still picking up guys, are you? Ivory asked.

My life is unconventional.  Guys meet girls all the time.  It’s one-nights for them.  I’m entitled to something similar.  It’s natural, she told Ivory.  Ivory did not give her the reaction she needed, so Joni said, Do you still cuddle with Max?  Max was the golden retriever.

I just want you to be safe, Mom, Ivory said, concern in her voice.

They should be watching their backs, not me.  I can be fierce, Joni said, all smiles.

Ivory lightened up.  Tell me, why haven’t I seen you for so long.  To what do I owe this honor?  Why are you here, Mom?

Joni shifted on the couch.  Baby, there’s something going on, with the apartment.  Something unethical, she said.

Ivory was listening.

Well, you know the job.  I’m landlord of Paradise Apartments.  I send the maintenance lady round to the units, keep it up.  I’m really over books, and am not required to go to the building.  My schedule’s free that way, Joni said.

Free, right.  Is that when you pick up the guys? Ivory said.

Seriously, something’s been going on.  I get a call from one of the managers, asking me to start sending out these notices.  To the students.  Eviction notices.  I’ve sent three so far, Joni said, saddened.

Three eviction notices?  Why? Ivory asked.

That’s the thing.  I do not know.  They have not done a thing.  There have been no incidents, as far as I know.  It’s odd, and does not feel right, Joni replied.

I see.  This sounds low.  You’re being asked to evict students that have done nothing.  Your bosses are putting you out to dry.  You do their dirty work.  You take the fall.  Anything you can think of, as a reason?

I don’t know.  That’s what’s eating me.  I just don’t.  And I’m not a presence at the apartment.  It seems like I’m in the dark, being asked to move about, Joni said.

Ivory was sympathetic.  Williams had his eyes closed. 

Joni’s phone vibrated.  She pulled it out of her pocket.  Text message from ‘Richard’.  Ivory tried to look at her phone.  Joni pulled it closer and opened it. 

Hi, this is Richard.  About what we talked about, I may have someone who can help you.  Contact me, the message read.

Joni typed something and put the phone away.  Ivory shook her head.

It’s not what you think.  I’m processing this situation at the apartment my own way.  Trust your mom, Joni said.

Ivory just shook her head. 

Williams, William, wake up.  The drive was not that long.  Come on, we have to go, Joni said.

Williams woke with a slight start.  He was ready.

Thank you for listening.  I’ll call you as soon as we get back.  I love you, Joni told Ivory.

Ivory hugged her, tightly.

Williams stretched and climbed into the car.  He had energy to drive.  They were not leaving too soon.  Ivory was going to be a problem.  She had theories, and ‘integrity’.  Her influence was going to be bad for Joni.  He could see that.  The further away they got from that blue haven, the better.

What were you two discussing? Williams asked Joni, as they slipped into the tree-surrounded road.

You were listening.  You didn’t look sleep, Joni said, slyly.

Look Joni.  You were asked to be landlord over Paradise, because you are organized.  You are good at what you do.  Please, don’t let imagination or anything keep you from your job.  It’s a good gig, and management is counting on you, Williams said.

I know.  I know, Joni said.  She got comfortable in her seat, and settled into a nap.  It was a long drive back.

Williams could get through to her.  His assignment was to keep an eye on Joni.  She was the perfect person to push the evictions through.  The managers of the apartment knew she would comply.  Williams was there to make sure it happened.  In no time, he had become friends with Joni.  They might even be more; after all he was driving her around on a personal errand.  If Joni did not ask too many questions, this whole thing would go smoothly.  Williams was confident.  They drove through the night, Williams focused on the road ahead.  He had not noticed his phone vibrating in his pocket.  It was Ralph, one of the apartment managers.  The family has contracted fixers.  We are dealing with it, the message read. 

Out of the tree line, closer to Magnolia Hills, the sky was a deep, dark blue.  On cue, Joni awoke, and peered outside.  Home, she mutters.  Williams agreed, Home. 

Chapter Two

Mary received her eviction notice last week.  She was supposed to vacate the apartment tomorrow.  It had not been long since she had come to America, from Paris.  Her parents warned her of shady practices, but this was a hell of a primer.  Next time, she would have her eyes open.  Anyway, packing was not hard.  She could leave today, but she had other things to do.  Her dog woke her up at five am.  She shook off sleep and took him for a walk.  Magnolia Hills is beautiful before sunrise.  There are few joggers out, and everything is so simple.  She could think then.  It was just her, and the early commuters, on the road. 

She popped in a DVD into her television.  This was her exercise, in the comfort of a living room.  Taylor, her dog, lay in a corner, exhausted.  He was satisfied.  She pressed play on the television, and began following the instructions of Billy Blanks, Ty-Bo master.  People were not broadly aware of the benefits of private, focused exercise.  Her shape was beautiful, and it came from being consistent with these tapes.  Hi-yay, she said.  Her neighbors were sound asleep. 

Mary showered, and began making breakfast, as the sun rose.  The concrete around Magnolia Hills made the temperature much higher than normal.  The Hills had red days, where the sun warmed everything in view.  It inched into her apartment, so she kept her lights out, ever frugal.  The bacon was on the plate, and her dog awoke.  Mary sat Indian-styled on her cushioned couch.  She pulled out her cellphone and dialed her parents, in Paris.  They were justifiably outraged over the eviction; Mary had moved on.

I’m cancelling the scarf orders for the exposition in Germany, Mary said.  This was news to her parents.  They were allowed moments to take it in.

Honey, that exposition is huge.  You could get so many new customers, they said.

I’ve been doing research.  The Yellow Taxi Distributers, out of Yemen turns out to be smugglers, bandits, even.  I’m sending you the article.  I may have to start over with the scarf business, for now, Mary replied.  She pulled the phone away from her ear, tapped it some, and put it back to her face.

There you go, she said.  The article is sent; you should have it.

Her parents paused, possibly to read.

Honey, how did you get involved with these people? they asked, concerned.

Well, I did not contract with them.  My distributor contracted through a second party.  The Yellow Taxi Distributors ended up with the job.  They were the cheapest, but apparently, they come at a higher price.  Some of the things they’re accused of, Mary said.

Baby, have you cancelled the shipments already?  You should distance yourself quickly.  This could look very bad, if you were included with this lot, her mom said.

I’ve sent the email already.  There’s one to my main distributor Big Fabrics.  I’ve cc’d the Yellow Taxi Distributors.  They go into war zones, and loot the products.  So, that’s final.  I can rebuild, once I get back home.

We’re proud of you.  What do you have to do today? her father wondered.

Studies for my dissertation, Mary replied.  She stayed on top of things.

Her dog stared at the bacon in her hand; Mary shook her head.

Well, your mom has some errands to run downtown.  Baby, we’re praying for you, and we love you, her dad said, ending the chat.

Love you guys too.  See you soon, Mary said, clicking the phone.

Mary dialed a friend back home.  Jen, I did it.  I cancelled the order.  Do you think they really did those things? she asked.  Her friend had sent her the article last week.  They did the research and was certain that the Yellow Taxi distributors handled Mary’s orders.  They were accused of going into war zones, overrunning the struggling population, taking their goods, and selling them at low costs, with one hundred percent profit margins.  They had strong resources.

These folks are nothing to play with, Jen said.  How did you cancel the order?

Via email.  I sent one to Big as well.  My hands are clean now, Mary said.

Wait a minute.  Do you think they will let it go, at that?  An email, Jen said, with a chuckle.

What do you mean.  That’s business.  I don’t have to buy, Mary replied.

Please, it is not so simple.  You know what these people go through for the product, Jen said.  They may not let it go so easy.

It’s done.  Magnolia Hills will keep me safe, Mary joked.  They’re moving me out of my apartment, so I can get something better.

Wow, America is all they said it would be.  But I heard that you were just evicted- out of the blue, Jen said.

Well, that’s true.  Something must have gone wrong.  I don’t know.  I’m sick of this place, and all packed up.  We have to hang when I come back, Mary said.

I’m all for it.  Be safe, Mary, Jen said.  She mentioned something she was in the middle of, and got off the line. 

Mary washed the dishes in her sink, and opened the blinds in the apartment.  The red sunlight entered and tinted her furniture.  She gathered up her books, petted her dog, and stepped outside.

Sixty miles north at the Atlanta International Airport, three people stepped off a flight.  They had the green look of tourists.  They carried light luggage, and huddled close.  Soon they were outside, in the sun, hailing a taxi.

Jason was at the office when he received his eviction notice.  Tech savvy, everything was forwarded there.  He closed his door and screamed into the paper.  Paradise Apartment had been a good home to him.  There was no reason for the sudden eviction.  He even tried to get ahold of the landlord, that he’s never met.  The maintenance worker there told him to call ‘the office’.  He got nowhere.

Jason had the plush job of assistant professor, Magnolia Hills University.  He usually woke late morning, and took a shower, brushed his teeth.  He could be at the office by noon.  Unlike many Paradise residents, he rode his bike to school.  He was a fitness enthusiast.  Sometimes he worked out.  There was a road that led directly into campus.  Along it were the downtown shops, and nightclubs for the students.  This was the Great Way.  Students, originating from many parts of the country and world, commuted down this avenue.  Jason avoided this road, opting for a side street.  Back home, North Carolina, he had inherited a large shipment of dresses, and set up a company, online, to sell them.  He had a buyer that wanted to set him up with a section of their store.  He showered quickly and headed that way. 

The side street had many more cars, and supported four lanes of traffic.  The door to the boutique stood open.  Jason parked outside, and slipped inside.  The displays were elegant and well-spaced out.  The owner had seen his goods online, and Jason brought a sample.  Luckily the color palette matched the surroundings.

This is good, Jason, very good.  I’ll hold on to this one, just to see how it jives with the others.  Is that okay? the owner asked.

Yes, for sure.  There are plenty more.  Please, contact me with your decision.  This would be very good, Jason said, a smile on his face.  The two men shook hands, and Jason swung onto his bike and set off toward the campus.

The parking lot of the boutique was empty, except for a young man with glasses on, and a ‘Punisher’ t-shirt.  He watched Jason petal away. 

They can’t do this, Haokun Goa said.  He was sitting on a couch in his living room.  His wife and daughter populated the nearby furniture.  They all leaned forward.

Xinru, his wife spoke.  They promised to pay, half.  They promised.  We have a contract.  Here.

That’s right, but if the apartment is empty, they don’t have to pay a thing.  I’ve seen students moving out, Haokun replied.

I’ve seen them, too, Green said.  She was about sixteen years old, their daughter, born in Magnolia Hills.  The Goa’s owned Paradise Apartments.

What can we do?  Have you spoken to the University yet?  Have you asked them to stop, to reconsider? Xinru asked Haokun.

I have.  They say that nothing is happening.  The students are moving out on their own, and, of course, they cannot stop that, Haokun said.

Xinru saw no humor in it.  She turned to Green.  Honey, don’t you work today?

Green slid from her chair, and walked to her bedroom.

I’m worried, Xinru said.  Very worried.  We need that money.  If they empty that apartment, we get nothing.  They’ll gather all the student aid money.  We’ll have the bills.  Her fists balled.

The Brothers will help, Haokun said.  I know they will.  Ken Peters, Ralph Colgan, and anybody else will get theirs.

Christopher had been a police officer in Magnolia Hills for seven years.  He occasionally saw action, but was mostly used for detective work.  His department got a tip that possibly dangerous men moved into town.  They were there temporarily, and probably would not stay long.  Chris was supposed to keep an eye on them.  He needed more information, so he visited the local king pin, the untouchable man Kenneth Pension.  Pension owned a large mansion close to campus.  Every year, he threw a ball for the college students.  He waded the crowd, shaking hands like a benefactor.  His exploits, of a criminal nature, were kept quiet.

Like the city, Chris turned a blind eye as well.  Kenneth agreed to see him.  He had a scoop.  The ‘dangerous men’ were called the Brothers.  They were fixers.  People hired them for the justice the cops could not provide.  Chris thought about taking notes.  The University had contracted with a family in Magnolia Hills, the Gao’s, to lease their apartment building, Paradise Apartments.  The family would own the building, but the school would provide tenants and maintenance.  For this, the family received half the profits, as well as paid utilities.  Both parties won.  The University profited off of property they did not own.  The Gao’s had occupied property and revenue.  Everything was peachy.  Then the evictions started.  The contract between the parties stated that if the building became unoccupied, the school was not liable to pay the Gao’s anything.  The school kept the deposits and rent, which was paid in full by financial aid in most cases.  The school had begun evicting the clients.  The Gao’s are helpless in the face of this, so they contacted the Brothers, to fix the situation.  Are they dangerous?  If they have to be; they can be.  Chris thanked Kenneth for the information.  It went without saying that he was now indebted.

The Gao’s lived in a ranch-style house, one story.  It was modest, a place for working people.  Chris staked it out, watching who entered, who exited.  He saw a new face, a young man, ‘Punisher’ t-shirt.  This was Carey, one Brother.  He was called the planner.  Carey entered the house, stayed a while, and exited, followed by Xinru and Haokun Gao.  They hugged him and spoke words.  Carey lifted their spirits.  Soon after he left, Green, a kind-faced girl, left the house.

Chris’ wife called him, and he felt guilty, watching a family, neglecting his own.

Hi, love.  I was just about to come home, he said.

His wife said some things that made him smile.

Ok, I’ll see you then, he said, and hung up the phone.  He focused on the front door.  When people re-entered, he backed his car away, and headed home.

Stone woke up at eight o’clock.  He was in no rush; the eviction notice came in last week.  This was the end.  He showered and skipped his run.  His teeth were brushed, and he slipped out the door.  At Magnolia Hills University, he was a teacher’s assistant.  Like most commuters, he walked the Great Way, a road dissecting that section of town.  Despite his feelings, the morning burned red in the sun.  Students and townspeople milled back and forth, reminiscent of a larger city. 

On the second floor of a bar called Moore’s, Richard sat on a bed in a small room, decorated with newspaper clippings.  One said, ‘Plot Foiled’; another said ‘Who are the Brothers?’.  Richard was in his element.  In the corner of the room was his bartender’s apron.  The room contained everything but a restroom; it was down the hall.  Richard stretched and prepared for his day. 

Stone wondered about a bit, before entering the busiest section of the Great Way, a block of businesses concentrated for maximum student pleasure- food,