What’s Done in the Dark: Part Ii

By Donald D. Conley Sr.

The year is 1988 Inside the Breakers of San Pedro Bay amid a thick blanket of Fog sits Terminal Island Federal Prisons South Yard, containing baseball field Track and weight lifting area which are all connected to a long one story building. The prisons Vocational & Wellness Center and the prison furniture factory, three razor wired sensory fences separating the prisoners from the water along with two manned gun towers at each end. Suddenly a bearded black man wearing kaki clothing is seen vaulting from the roof of the building on the very end, clearing the three fences and rocks below to land with the precision of an experienced High-Diver into the murky water.
A distance away from the prison in the water the man surfaces for air then returns under water and swims away from the prison undetected leaving the black pole he used to vault with floating in the water behind him out to sea.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Mar 21, 2021
• ISBN: 9781698706313

Donald D. Conley Sr.

Born July 20, 1950 in Chicago, Ill. Relocated to the San Francisco Bay area in 1964. The lure of the Street Life brought Life Lessons to a harsh reality causing a life of Drama Crime and Awakening.

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Copyright 2021 Donald D. Conley, Sr.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

ISBN: 978-1-6987-0632-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6987-0631-3 (e)

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Trafford rev. 03/19/2021

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CONTENTS

5 years later

The Home Invasion

Changing of the Guard

The Rendezvous

Loose Ends

The Trail

Old Habits

The Showdown

The Ploy

Sidewalk Café

The Resurrection

The Witness

The Total Experience

Hello Morning

77 th Precinct

The Legal Wheels

One Hand Washes The Other

Sundown

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Born July 20. 1950 in Chicago, Ill.

Children: Reba Conley Phillip Conley Danielle Conley Brinston

Favorite Nephew: Carl Conley

Grand Children: Shawn Tasha Rocco

The year is 1988 Inside the Breakers of San Pedro Bay amid a thick blanket of Fog sits Terminal Island Federal Prisons South Yard, containing baseball field Track and weight lifting area which are all connected to a long one story building. The prisons Vocational & Wellness Center and the prison furniture factory, three razor wired sensory fences separating the prisoners from the water along with two manned gun towers at each end. Suddenly a bearded black man wearing kaki clothing is seen vaulting from the roof of the building on the very end, clearing the three fences and rocks below to land with the precision of an experienced High-Diver into the murky water.

A distance away from the prison in the water the man surfaces for air then returns under water and swims away from the prison undetected leaving the black pole he used to vault with floating in the water behind him out to sea.

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5 YEARS LATER

The story begins early one morning in Long Beach CA Ted Zackery is in the bathroom of his penthouse apartment washing his face. 45 years old six feet tall muscular build with shoulder length dark brown hair and a clean shaven ebony complexion. From the living room he hears the phone ringing and leaves to answer it.

The room is beautifully furnished and decorated with one of a kind hand- made furniture. The phone sat on a glass coffee table in front of a black sheep skin sofa.

Hello? Ted answers

Good morning handsome chimes the female voice from the other end of the receiver

Rita? Is that you he asks facetiously

Now who else in their right mind would be up at this hour of the morning

What’s the matter baby You calling to back out at the last minute

Of course not I just wanted to remind you that I left my belt in your car

That’s right you did and that’s where it still is he stated.

Rita is standing by the phone mounted on the wall in her kitchen dressed in workout attire when she asks

Do you think you can remember to bring it with you?

He replies a bit sternly,

Rita. The belt is in the car the car I will be driving so tell me how is it possible I could forget to bring it?

Oh! Excuse me mister particularity or whatever you call yourself being- he cuts her off

Here we go being touchy. Don’t trip! he suggests moving forward yet she injects

Alright now I’m not the one

Come on babe it’s too early for this but I’ll see you in thirty minutes

She takes the receiver from her ear looks at it saying

He hung up on me She replaces the receiver in its cradle and heads out the door

At the penthouse Ted reaches into the hall closet to bring out a black leather pouch and matching top to his warm up pants then a holstered snub nose 38. Revolver he straps to his right ankle then zips his pant leg down over it and heads out the door. He walks the short distance to the private elevator steps in and presses the garage button.

From behind the rising gate a late model Black Mercedes AMG pulls out of the garage with Ted behind the steering wheel listening to the CD of Nu Rah Ali, a local Los Angeles jazz vocalist singing her version of Billie Holliday’s Good Morning Heart Ache as he pilots the vehicle towards the Harbor Freeway.

The Mercedes pulls up and parks directly in front of the Crenshaw Fitness Palace. The sound of clanging weights can be heard as Ted exits the car from the driver’s side walking cautiously to the sidewalk where he stops to take a careful look up and down both sides of the street then he enters the gym.

For such an early hour of the morning not many people were there. A few men and women all dressed in their workout attire busy with the free weights Treadmills pull down machines warming up with stretches and a small group of women taking an aerobics class.

Ted walks into the locker room where he changes into sweat clothes and secures the black leather pouch around his waist, hefting it a time or two checking its contents. Better to stay ready than having to get ready.

Walking on to the free weights lifting area where he approaches a man about his age in the process of spotting a barbell. Seated on the incline bench The woman is in good physical condition. Her name is Debbie. Ted addresses the man by his nickname

Good morning mister mayor

Usually its Omar when you’re not being cynical or when you want me to do you a favor so what is it this time? he asks Ted suspiciously

‘Aren’t we touchy this morning You and Rita must have had the same dream she called me early this morning tripping too" Ted switches his attention to Debbie

So what’s up with him Debbie?

Don’t pay him no mind Ted I believe my husband is going through the change at an early age

Well thank you for that brilliant bit of medical genius doctor. Omar speaks sarcastically

Now are you finished At that point Rita appears on the floor asking Ted

Am I late?

No. As a matter of fact you’re just in time to save me from these two. Omar has positioned himself on the incline bench now that Debbie is done and asks Ted,

Can I get a spot here?