Chapter 56

Five days later . . .

St. Luke’s Lutheran Church was packed full of mourners, businessmen, and friends for Walter Lee Dawson’s final journey. The casket was top of the line. Deidre had insisted on it. Nothing but the best for Daddy, she had said. It had gold hardware and a black sleek finish. The interior was white silk.

The ceremony in the church was short and sweet. The small choir sang two hymns, and the clergy led the litany. Scriptures from the old and new testament were read by Carlton Van Dyke and Franklin Barbra. At the end, the clergy did the eulogy.

The funeral procession was filled with so many Rolls Royces, black limousines, Mercedes, BMWs, and Escalades you thought the president had died. The NYPD had to direct traffic and escort the motorcade to Green-Wood Cemetery.

Once there, it took a while for everyone to get assembled. January 9th was a cool yet not so cold day to bury a loved one. There was no breeze, whic