My Truth My Time My Turn

by Shelia E. Bell

  “I’m standing outside the bar where Leo Jones, a husband and father of two was beaten to death this past May. Crimestoppers, along with donations from Holy Rock Ministries, the church where Jones was a longtime deacon, is offering a $15,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who committed this heinous crime. Jones was well-liked and respected in the community. He worked with the youth at his church. We learned just before going on the air, a suspect has been detained in the case. We do not know if it was a crime stopper’s tip responsible for this suspect’s arrest at this time. We’ll keep you updated as we learn more about this individual and what led to his arrest. Reporting, Bernard Abbott, News Channel 18.”

  Fancy looked next to where she was sitting for her phone but it wasn’t there. “Phooey, left it in my purse.” She stood up and went to her closet, found her purse, looked inside, and removed her phone.

  She dialed the number and listened to it ring. After several rings it rolled over to voicemail. “Stiles, it’s Fancy. Give me a call when you can. I just saw on the news they’ve arrested someone for Leo Jones’ murder.”

  Sunday morning Pepper arrived at church for the second service. She arrived early so she could be sure to secure a good seat. She hated it when folks thought just because they sat in a certain seat on a regular basis that it somehow belonged to them. Wrong. She walked in, looked toward the front of the sanctuary for Xavier, but she didn’t see him. She remained standing inside one of the three doorways at the rear of the church as people passed by pouring into Holy Rock. She finally saw him coming in through the side doors heading for his usual seat. She walked up the aisle and soon as he took his seat, she planted herself next to him before anyone had a chance to sit next to him.

  He stared, complete surprise on his face. They hadn’t talked much and they hadn’t seen each other since their disagreement. She had hoped in her absence he would miss her enough where he would call and ask to see her, but that hadn’t been the case. It was probably because Ian had snagged his nails into her man. She had to do something about that before all she’d done to bring Xavier to her side was for naught.

  “Hey there.” She leaned in and gave him a light kiss on the cheek.

  “Hey. I’m surprised to see you.” His brows flickered a little.

  “Why? It’s not like I don’t come to church at all. I’m just not here every time the doors swing open like some people I know.” She laughed while Xavier continued to stare.

  “Why are you looking at me like that? Aren’t you glad to see me?”

  “Uh, sure.”

  Pepper looked up when she saw Ian appear. With a slick smile on her face, she spoke. “Hi, Ian.”

  “Uhh, hi, Pepper. What are you doing here? I thought demons were allergic to church.”

  “Then the question should be what are you doing here?” she shot back.

  He rolled his eyes and then took a seat on the other side of Xavier.

  “This is not the time or place you two.”

  “I agree. I’m here to enjoy today’s services. I need a word from the Lord. I’m not going to allow the devil to get me upset,” Pepper said, reaching over and squeezing Xavier’s hand.

  Ian tried to hold back his dislike of Pepper but she made it difficult, sometimes downright impossible. But they were in church and he understood that he had to keep it together.

  “Hey, did you hear about them arresting a suspect in that man’s beating death?”

  Xavier looked at her. “What man?”

  “You know, what’s his name. The one who was a deacon here. I think he was a volunteer in the youth ministry, too.”

  “Deacon Jones? Leo Jones?”

  “Yes, that’s him.”

  “No, I hadn’t heard. When did you hear that?”

  “It popped up on my newsfeed this morning. I only stopped to read it when I saw the name Holy Rock on the feed.”

  Xavier removed his hand from underneath Pepper’s and reached inside his pocket to retrieve his phone. The same as Pepper, when he opened his browser, the story popped up. Xavier read the article. There was a recent update showing the picture of a white male. It gave his name and age. He had a criminal background and was known to frequent gay bars looking for hookups. The article didn’t come out and say it, but Xavier figured Leo had been one of those guys who took the bait and ended up dead. He didn’t feel one way or the other about Leo’s death. He was glad the man was dead and wouldn’t be in his life anymore. But there were other things no one knew about that caused him to become uneasy.

  “Interesting,” Ian said as he looked at Xavier’s phone. “I wonder what led to his arrest?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “I’m sure we’ll hear more about it since they’ve found the one responsible,” Pepper said, as if reassuring Xavier the killer would get his due justice.

  What made Xavier nervous was learning they had arrested a suspect. He gave Ian a look that said what their mouths couldn’t.

  After church was over, Pepper invited Xavier to lunch, but he refused. “I’m staying for the next service.”

  “Yea, and after that we have plans.” Ian couldn’t wait to speak up and burst her little bubble.

  Maintaining her composure, Pepper grabbed hold of Xavier’s hand again, and again kissed him on the cheek. “You two have fun. We’ll talk later,” She said confidently and swished off.

  15

  “For it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.” Ephesians 5:12 NASB

  Xavier left Holy Rock after the last service and met Ian at Ian’s apartment. The two young men searched online to see what else was being said, if anything, about Leo’s brutal murder.

  “It’s probably only a matter of time before we get a visit from homicide detectives.”

  “I doubt it. You know they already talked to several members at Holy Rock, including his wife and me too since I’m the youth director. They talked to Khalil, too. After that as far as I know, no one else that I know has heard anything else from them. So why would they have more questions?”

  “Because, you and I both know you and Leo had words that night.”

  “Yea, but I didn’t kill him. Neither did you.”

  “But we went to the club that night.”

  “No, not really. We were outside of the club. I never went inside.”

  “Right, because you got cold feet.”

  “No, because I saw Leo coming out of the club. How do you think it made me feel to see that low life bastard? It proved he was who I knew he was.”

  “Yea, on the down low. Dudes like that kill me. Living two lives. His poor wife thinking he’s God’s answer to prayer but yet he’s going behind her back having gay affairs, not man enough to admit what he is.”

  It was early afternoon, but it didn’t stop Ian for making Xavier a shot of tequila. If he could get him to drink it, it would help him relax, and the added benefit would be Ian hoped to get Xavier back in his bed. Something he hadn’t been able to do since there trip to New Orleans.

  Xavier put his head in his hands as he sat down at Ian’s table and started sobbing. “To have him call me all those gay slurs, and to talk about me and you like we were the scum of the earth. I was so mad. At that moment I wished he was dead. I couldn’t help it. I was sick of his big mouth. That’s why I punched him.”

  “Here. Drink this.”

  “I don’t want it.” Xavier shook his head.

  “Come on, it’ll help you relax.”

  “I can’t believe what I did.”

  “Okay, so you laid one on him, that you did, Xavier. He deserved it. But you didn’t kill him. We left him there. He had a bloody nose but he was alive and still cursing us out. I don’t know if that guy they arrested will remember that or not, but he’s the one they arrested, not us. And that’s because we didn’t do anything. You didn’t do anything.”

  Xavier turned up the shot of tequila. “Do you think they had
surveillance cameras?”

  “Man, will you chill?” Ian poured another shot into the glass. “You’re freaking out about nothing. Remember, when it first happened the news said there were surveillance cameras across the street but they weren’t working. Even if they were, it wouldn’t prove you or I had anything to do with that pervert being dead.”

  Xavier needed no prompting this time. He turned up the shot of tequila, then a third one. “But that guy they arrested saw us. He came out behind Leo. He helped him get up off the ground.”

  “And?”

  “So what if he tells the cops about us?”

  “He doesn’t know us, Xavier. He probably couldn’t even describe us anyway. Plus, we had already gotten in the car when he came out.”

  “I looked him dead in the eye. The dude laughed when Leo told me I was a walking dead man. I’m scared, Ian. I’m scared he might be able to describe me, maybe not you.”

  “Look, Xavier, I’ve been to that club a thousand times, and I’ve never seen that dude—ever. But even if he saw me, he doesn’t know who I am. And you, well you never went inside. There was no one else on the streets around the club that night. At least not when you and Leo got into it. So, come on, get it together, man. You’re freaking out for nothing.”

  Xavier started sobbing like a baby. “I don’t want to go to prison, Ian. I can’t go to prison.”

  Ian got up from where he was seated and walked over to Xavier, and stood behind him while Xavier remained seated. Ian wrapped his arms around him.

  “Come on, Xavier. I’m telling you. You’re not going to prison. You didn’t do anything. Whatever happened after we left we don’t know. But it seems like Leo messed with the wrong guy. Whatever it was that made dude or whoever beat him to death, you better believe he deserved it. I don’t feel sorry for what happened to him. If I feel sorry for anybody it would be his poor unsuspecting wife and his kids. That’s it.”

  “I should have left this god forsaken city. I hate this place. Nothing good has come to me by staying here. First, I ruined Raymone’s life. Thanks to me he’ll never walk again, never be able to live on his own, nothing. My father hates me because I’m gay. My mother doesn’t want to own up to the fact that I’m gay, and neither does my brother. I’m sick of it all. I’m sick of everything and everybody.” Xavier continued to sob. He got up, pushing the chair back, almost knocking Ian to the floor. “I’ve got to go.”

  “Wait, where are you going? You don’t need to leave like this, Xavier. You’re too upset.”

  Xavier didn’t seem to hear anything Ian was saying. He continued walking at a quickened pace toward the front door. He opened it and ran out, not stopping until he made it to his car

  “Xavier, wait!” Ian yelled. “Come back, Xavier!”

  Xavier unlocked the door with his key FOB, got inside his car, and sped away, leaving Ian standing in the doorway. He watched as Xavier drove out of the apartment parking lot and on to the street before closing his door.

  Xavier accelerated. A car horn blared but he didn’t seem to notice. His cell phone started ringing. It was Pepper, but he didn’t answer. Ian called and again Xavier didn’t answer the calls.

  Pepper sent him a text.

  “Call me will you? We need to talk.”

  Ian followed up with his own text messages.

  “Xavier, come back. Everything will be okay. Please call me.”

  Xavier drove up Winchester Road at speeds that began to escalate. 60…70…80…90 miles. As he approached a nearby construction area in the street, he didn’t slow his roll. He kept driving, blinded by wild thoughts playing in his mind about how worthless his life was and how much he’d screwed up. Horns blared incessantly. He didn’t stop nor did he slow down as the car ran over a deep pot hole in the street. There was a booming sound, like an explosion. The silver Dodge Challenger went out of control, rammed into the concrete embankment, sending it catapulting into the air.

  Pepper’s patience was at its end. She’d texted and called repeatedly but there was no response from Xavier. She grabbed her keys and rushed out of the door. She couldn’t put things off any longer. It was time she confronted Xavier face to face. It was the only way she could get him to understand the two of them were meant to be together.

  Xavier could provide her with a good life. With the money his family had from the success and growth of Holy Rock, she witnessed firsthand the ease of living that could be enjoyed by her if she became Mrs. Xavier McCoy. She would be the perfect trophy wife. Yes, his family had issues, some unpleasant things that happened, but the benefits for her if she and Xavier married would far outweigh the family dysfunction.

  On her drive to Xavier’s apartment she envisioned the two of them happily married, living in a big house, with nice cars, no money worries, and of course she would have to get pregnant right away. That would seal the deal for her marriage. He was not the type of guy who would abandon his wife and kids. He was a good guy, just confused about his sexuality, but that was an easy fix in Pepper’s mind. His attraction to her was evident by the way he treated her and the way he made love to her when they were together. Ian was not going to win. No way. Not now. Not ever.

  16

  “Deep inside us, we know what every family therapist knows: the problems between the parents become the problems within the children.” Roger Gould

  Khalil couldn’t get his father’s pop-up visit out of his mind. The man was a piece of work. Not only did he barge into Holy Rock ready to expose his own son, and belittle his mother, once again Hezekiah had shown he had no regard for the well-being of his family. Did he ever love them, because the loyalty he showed toward them was nonexistent. It showed in everything he did to them, starting with how he practically threw his mother out of their home and slept with Detria behind her back. He was scum. All he seemed to care about was the 100 grand Khalil had taken from him. Money was always his issue. It’s what had gotten him and Fancy prison time when Khalil and Xavier were kids. It’s what was going to put him back behind bars once he went to trial and was found guilty. That would be the best day of Khalil’s life, and Khalil couldn’t wait to see it happen.

  As for the present, after Hezekiah’s threats, Khalil knew more than ever he had to watch his back. After the scene Hezekiah made at Holy Rock, he didn’t put anything past the man. He’d already had those guys to ransack his apartment and vandalize his car. God only knows what could have happened to him had he not been able to get away from them that night.

  He called Omar. “Hey, can you meet me at my place later this evening?”

  “Sure, but I probably won’t be leaving from here until seven or eight.”

  “Is everything all right?”

  “Oh, yeah. Just have to make sure the guys get all the light bulbs and filters changed. Holy Rock is no small church and the ceilings are so high that it takes a lot of time and, well you know what I’m saying. Anyway, once I go over everything that I expect to be done with the crew, I’ll head your way.”

  “Is Reggie there?”

  “Yea, I’m going to leave him in charge. He’ll make sure everything is done as it should be.”

  “Cool.”

  “Hey, you all right?”

  “I will be. See you later, bruh.”

  “Ok. I’m out.” Omar ended the call and returned to his duties. He knew Khalil well. Something in his voice told Omar that something was going on with his friend. Khalil sounded worried and uptight. That could only mean his ol’ man had started stirring up more trouble. It had already floated around Holy Rock about Hezekiah McCoy’s visit and their being a big blowout. Omar and Khalil hadn’t had a chance to sit down and talk about it. They’d only exchanged a few text messages but nothing in detail, but it was enough for Omar to piece together that Hezekiah had stirred up trouble.

  There was a time Omar looked up to and respected Pastor Hezekiah McCoy as being a genuine man of God, but every day he seemed to learn more and more how vicious and gangster the guy who once sto
od behind the pulpit of Holy Rock was. The man camped behind enemy lines.

  Omar’s loyalty was with Khalil. He was down with helping him in any way he could. After all, Khalil had been there for him during some of Omar’s hard times. He’d helped him out financially when Omar lost his job and had problems making rent and providing for his family. When he stepped into the role of senior pastor of Holy Rock, Khalil immediately called Omar and hired him to be Holy Rock’s maintenance supervisor. He paid him darn good money. Not only was Khalil there for him financially, enabling him to provide well for his wife and kids, Khalil was always there for moral support. Their friendship was real and their bond was tight.

  “What do you want to do about it?” Omar asked as he and Khalil sat in Khalil’s man cave slash media room drinking beer while a basketball game played on the 75-inch UHD TV.

  “I know I have to watch my back. I don’t know when his trial is coming up. Probably sometime this year, but I can’t wait on the Feds to put him behind bars. I have to do something now.”

  “Yeah, but what? You have any ideas?”

  “I need to hit him where it hurts—his pockets.”

  “I hear ya, but let me say this. I think you need to hire some bodyguards, security. You know what I mean?”

  Khalil nodded.

  “Just like you have armor bearers who look out for you at Holy Rock, you need dudes who bear arms outside of Holy Rock. You know, some real life bodyguards and not just for you, but for your mom too, even your brother. If your ol’ man is out for your blood, I don’t see him stopping short of laying you down, bruh. I hate to think a father would do that to his own son, but it’s real. It happens, you know. Shhh…look what happened already with those dudes who tried to do something bad to you. You said he was responsible for that, and now dude comes to Holy Rock live and in person making threats toward you and your family.