The Rondo Conspiracy

Forrest Holder, an unlicensed lawyer employed as a Red Cap at St. Paul's Train Depot, and Nina, a housekeeper to a wealthy family on Summit Avenue, find the American Dream in Rondo, primarily a self-sufficient Black community of St. Paul. Forrest is a legal resource for Rev. Massey, Pilgrim Baptist Church and civic leader, when a legal issue arises concerning Rondo. Pilgrim Baptist Church is the foundation of Nina's moral and religious life. As Rev. Massey leaves the Louisiana Cafe and walks to the McRay Law Office on Selby Avenue, he narrowly misses being struck by a garbage truck driven by Iceberg. Forrest exits the law office, speaks briefly to the reverend, then hands a note to a painter. Chicago Det. O'Hearn, on special assignment, and accompanied by Iceberg and Dirty White, follow the reverend, Forrest and painter.

As Forrest and Nina sit quietly in their well-appointed living room and casually discuss Scriptures, Det. O'Hearn shatters their peaceful life with a knock on their door. Forrest's life as a lawyer and a Rondo resident abruptly ends unless he assists O'Hearn hunt a killer through after-hours joints. The detective reminds Forrest of an unsolved murder on Chicago's southside that connects to him. Time is running out, and Forrest must assist O'Hearn that night.

Forrest goes to Wilbur's joint. He's arrested and charged with operating a disorderly house and practicing law without a license. Once out of jail, Forrest meets with Rev. Massey and Red, a Rondo barber, and tells them St. Paul will destroy Rondo by demolishing homes and businesses to build a highway. O'Hearn intrudes and harasses the reverend and Red as Forrest watches. O'Hearn gets Forrest suspended from work due to his arrest and charges. Forrest goes to the Sweet Note, an infamous joint where he's stabbed in the back during gunfire. As he recovers at home, his legal advice falls flat when Rev. Massey and Red appear before the governor, city council and city attorney to argue passionately to save Rondo. O'Hearn has enemies. One is Off. Flanagan, a St. Paul police officer, who uncovers damaging documents that connect O'Hearn to Forrest and Nina. He gives them to Forrest, who shows them to Nina. They're stunned and terrified. Nina seeks refuge and solace in the Bible; Forrest seeks revenge. Forrest learns the killer O'Hearn hunts is dead, and O'Hearn is stalking him and Nina. And O'Hearn is a co-onspirator with St. Paul to destroy Rondo.

O'Hearn tells Forrest the killer will be at Calvin's, a bucket-of-blood joint, and he must go tonight. Forrest goes to Calvin's and confronts O'Hearn with his knowledge of the documents. Through frustration and rage Forrest triggers O'Hearn's death, but O'Hearn's reputation and Forrest's massage of the facts absolve him of any liability. Nina knows better and admonishes Forrest. She cries because she knows too well Galatians 6:7. Forrest helps save Rondo, but he reaps what he sows.