Autobiography
Who KilledMiss Che Che?
An Autobiography
Episode 38:Who Killed Miss Che Che
Sunday, 12th December1982
That evening around 6:00am I got dressedand was on my way to Debra's home when I met Mike and Jeff talkingwith a bunch of other guys by the corner. I spoke to the groupin general and stayed there for about an hour.
On Sunday nights everyone went to Club Infernoto play pool and dominos but that evening I was staying home withNiki. At that time, I was still trying to make her see how muchI cared for her, though she had a boyfriend and did not see mein that light.
I continued on my way to her place and leftthe group there. A little after 7:00 pm I walked inside her houseand we sat around and watched television for a while. Later, Niki,her two sisters and I went outside on the porch and sat in chairsdrinking, smoking and talking. That went on for hours. We werelistening to cassette tapes playing on my recorder radio and relaxing.
Niki went to bed around 12:30 am. Shortlyafter that one of her sisters went to sleep but Niki's other sisterstayed up with me for another hour or two. She was asleep beforeI knew it, safe under shelter and in a long chair so I did notdisturb her. I left around 2:30 am, 13th December 1982.
I was high from smoking and tipsy from drinking.My eyes were heavy. All I could think about was my bed. I wasalmost falling off on my way home. When I got to the corner Isaw some of the same group of guys talking that I had seen earlierin the evening. Certain guys always hung up there, talking anddrinking late into the night.
Among the group were Mike Bush, Simon Fosterand Jeff Connolly. I suspected they had all come from Inferno.I said goodnight and continued on to my house.
But Jeff called me back. I turned. He andMike came towards me. When they got to me I continued walkingtowards my home.
"What happen," I asked.
"You want to go with me and Mike todo a job?"
"No. The only job I want to do rightnow is sleep," I said. "Where you going?" Theywould not tell me unless I wanted to go. We were almost to myhouse when Mike asked me to lend them my rifle. I stopped. "Noway."
He begged and Jeff begged. "We onlyneed it for show of force," Jeff said.
"If we get anything we will share itwith you and bring the gun back," Mike added.
I finally relented. "But no shots,"I insisted, "Because you might shoot somebody." I askedagain where they were going but they would not tell me.
"We don't want to shoot nobody Phil.We just need show of force," Jeff said again. I told themthat my rifle was in the bush and I could not go there now. Iwas so tired and just wanted to go to sleep.
But they begged so I told them where itwas hidden and told them how to remove the shots. I made thempromise to carry her empty and told them to bring her back, putthe clip in and hide her in the same place then wake me if theyhad something to give me.
I went to bed wondering where they weregoing and worrying about my rifle. She was semi-automatic andher magazine clip carried eleven bullets, one in the barrel. Herhandle was sawed off, sanded and varnished. Her barrel was 18inches long and blue steel. You could hold her with one hand.
I woke sometime later to Jeff tapping onmy window. I got up and looked at the clock. It was very earlyin the morning, around 5:30 am. Jeff said he had some money andclothes for me. Clothes? I told them to come around the back doorand I met them there and let them in.
Mike had a bag in his arms. I asked themwhere they had been but Jeff would not tell me, saying that Idid not need to know. I asked them where the clothes came from."Don't worry," was all they said. I asked about my gun."We hid her in the same spot," Mike assured me.
We went into the bathroom and closed thedoor. Mike removed a wad of cash from his pocket, counting out$586. Jeff gave me $186 and they both kept $200 for themselves.The bag of clothes contained shorts, socks, shoes and shirts,all new. I asked them if they had done the job at Mary's store.
"No! Don't worry."
I did not like it one bit because Miss Marywas John Ebanks' mother and John was my friend! I knew her well.Her husband was Mr. Bertley's brother so I sort of consideredher my aunt. But Jeff said it was not Miss Mary.
Still, I worried and knew that somethingwas not right.
Sure I stole but never from my own Caymaniansor neighbors. I would take $10 from Bertley's money sometimesto carry to school I ate plenty but I could go topeople's homes and see things and would never think of takingor even touching. I was a "Robin Hood" without violence.No one ever saw me or heard me. You would just wake up and themoney would be gone.
Jeff and Mike gave me some of the clothes briefs, socks and shorts and the pair of shoes. Iput them in some dirty clothes because I never wore new clothesuntil they were thoroughly washed. I still wondered where theyhad come from but I never though of Miss Che Che.
Jeff and Mike then went home and I wentback to bed. I slept until late that morning. When I awoke itwas almost midday Monday, 13th December 1982. I did not go tocheck my rifle until after I had heard the news later that dayfrom Niki. She told me that Miss Che Che was shot and killed thenight before!
My heart stopped beating for a few momentsbecause I knew who had done the damn job right away and with myrifle! I was at Niki's when she told me. I had gone there afterdoing some morning chores. I hated to wake late because my pigeonswent hungry when I overslept.
Now, as Niki told me the bad news a trainof thoughts and fears went through my mind. And questions unanswered.I stayed cool but was mad inside and regretted lending Mike mygun. But had they really done that? I had to talk to them now!
Next: Philip findsJeff and Mike and forces a confession from them
llustrations by PhillipGlennan Ebanks
Disclaimer: The preceedingexcerpt from the Autobiography of Philip Glennan Ebanks is copyrightedby Philip Glennan Ebanks and does not necessarily reflect theviews of Cayman Net News, CNN employees or its affiliates. CaymanNet News does not accept responsibility for opinions expressedin this series.©