Then as if a light had come on in the room that caused all things to stop, Evan walked onto the pulpit. Greg’s eyes widened. She looked more beautiful then he recalled with a glow that seemed to illuminate the space around her. She spoke to and hugged the minister sitting alongside her on the pulpit. Greg knew it was rude to stare but he couldn’t take his eyes off of her. He didn’t know if she saw him watch her but it didn’t matter.
Chapter 71
The decision to sit in the pulpit beside her husband as she had always done was not hers to make. She fought the battle intensely before the service but God had taken her out of the decision making today. She was nervous walking back into the church having hid out from everybody but so many cards and flowers filled her office letting her know that she had been missed. It gave her strength that she had nothing to be ashamed of.
She sat down beside Leon who seemed surprised that she had. He acknowledged her civilly with a weak smile and a nod. She remained expressionless refusing to make any further eye contact with him. Justice was not hers to serve. She was there for Rick and his family.
Evan looked out at Rick who seemed to smile listening as one after another, people shared stories about Ariel; he even managed a laugh from a few humorous ones. As hard as she tried to not notice Greg sitting beside him, she had. The sight of him caused her to get slightly nervous but safe and warm at the same time. She was suddenly reminded to sit straight and hold her head up. She looked away fearing that he’d see her looking at him and focused on the service.
Evan looked down at Ariel’s casket feeling overwhelming sadness. It was sadness for everyone that she’d lost and everything that had died in her life recently. She thought about Ariel and how she had missed so many opportunities to befriend her. She wished that she’d tried harder. Not for Ariel but for herself. After a few of Ariel’s friends and two of her sisters spoke; Rick stood up to deliver the eulogy.
The church was silent as he stood up from his seat and walked slowly to the podium. Rick stood at the podium holding a sheet of paper in his hand seemingly to brace himself as he prepared to speak into the microphone. There were some, ‘take your time baby’s’ and some ‘amens’ from the crowd before he held his head up and cleared his throat.
Rick’s hands began to shake as he held onto the paper and when he first opened his mouth to speak, nothing came out. He stared out into the congregation then tears ran down his face. He pulled his handkerchief from inside his jacket pocket and placed it to his eyes.
“I filled the church with azaleas because they were Ariel’s favorite flower. When we got married, the church was filled with them and when she gave birth to our three beautiful boys, the hospital room had so many that the nurses made me remove some each time.” Rick smiled. “This is very difficult for me because I loved my wife dearly and I never prepared for life without her. I couldn’t have fathomed the thought weeks ago that I’d be up here in front of our church, our friends, and our family saying goodbye to the love of my life.”
Evan thought about Leon. She, like Rick, would have never thought that she would be where she was especially remembering how in love she was with Leon. That was then and now; she couldn’t even look over at him.
“For everyone who knew Ariel, they knew that she was beautiful, flamboyant, funny, and extravagant.” Rick grinned as tears ran down his face. “Everyone always told me what a lucky guy I was. I guess they looked at her then at me and called me lucky.” The crowd smiled and laughed with him as he smiled and looked down at his paper.
“This beautiful woman gave me three of the most precious and amazing gifts that anyone could ask for. Ariel and my boys gave me a reason to wake up every day,” Rick continued and tears flowed down his face again. He wiped his eyes and cheeks. “To be honest, I don’t know what I will do tomorrow. I’m just here today.”
Rick paused then cleared his throat. He looked down at the paper again. “In all of her glitz and beauty she was also a good mom. No, she was a great mom,” Rick said before taking a deep breath. He paused and looked back up and out at the audience. “She just wasn’t a good wife.”
Evan raised her head wondering if she’d heard what she thought she heard. She noticed that everyone in the congregation seemed to have done the same thing. Murmurings went about the audience as Rick paused then as if saying nothing unusual, he continued.
“It was hard work being Ariel’s husband because I competed with everything that sparkled, diamond or dude. Nothing I gave her was ever enough but that didn’t stop me from trying.”
Evan’s mouth dropped as gasps from others could be heard all around the church. Evan watched in dismay as Ariel’s two sisters stood up and walked out of the church. Leon’s jaw dropped as he stood up quickly from his chair.
Rick didn’t notice Leon behind him and he continued in spite of the startled faces that were in front of him. “Family and friends, I was given my wife’s autopsy results a couple of days ago.” More tears ran down Rick’s face. “She was carrying a baby that I knew nothing about. My wife deserved the world and she made sure that she got it anyway she could even if that meant hurting everybody else.”
Screams rang out as Ariel’s mother broke down at Rick’s words. A gentleman from the row behind her made his way to her and placed his arm around her. She began wheezing. Some in the audience cried while others simply sat in shock and even a few laughs could be heard.
“Deacon Rick,” Leon interrupted.
Rick turned around and looked at Leon. “The good Pastor. Would you like to speak on Ariel’s behalf seeing that you two knew each other quite well?”
Evan’s eyes widened watching the two men glare at each other in front of a church filled with people and a casket covered with azaleas. There were cries and shocked faces that watched for either of the men’s next move. Leon appeared as if he struggled in his decision whether to challenge Rick or not.
“Deacon, this is neither the time nor the place,” Leon said respectively.
Rick turned back and looked out at the audience in the church. He stretched out his arms. “I think it’s the perfect time for everybody to tell how well they knew Ariel,” Rick said before turning back and looking at Leon. “Pastor, you first.”
Greg stood up from his seat and slowly walked up to where Rick stood behind the podium. He placed his hand kindly on Rick’s shoulder and patted it as he whispered something in Rick’s ear. Rick wiped his eyes and nodded.
Rick looked out at the audience and then over at Ariel’s mother. “I’m sorry everybody. I did love my wife very much,” He said walking back to his seat beside Greg whose hand was still on his shoulder.
Evan watched as Rick and Greg both sat back down. Rick held his head down in his lap. Evan looked over at Leon wanting to know what Rick’s words meant. Although Leon didn’t acknowledge her stare, she was sure he felt it. Evan began to feel weak and humiliated. Had Leon also done the unthinkable with a deacon’s wife? One of their friends? Evan looked around fighting the impulse to stand up and walk out.
Leon stood up and walked up to the podium to speak. Looking out at the audience, he placed his palm up in the air calming the audience. Obedient to their pastor, they went silent.
“Losing someone isn’t easy, church,” Leon said looking out at the audience. “Amen?”
Faint ‘amens’ rang out throughout the church. “Our prayers are with Deacon Rick and his family. Let’s have a word of prayer.”
Evan couldn’t bow her head. She thought she was stronger but she wasn’t. It was as if he wouldn’t be satisfied until he had completely destroyed her and taken away any shred of dignity that she had as a human being…as a woman. Evan looked over at Greg whose head wasn’t bowed either. They caught each other’s gaze and held it as Leon ended his prayer.
“People of God, we have a good reason to rejoice today although we’ve lost someone we loved dearly. We don’t pray for evil to the one who has done this; we pray that God would execute his justice.”
&
nbsp; Just as heads in the congregation nodded in agreement, the back doors of the church opened and two uniformed officers and one plain clothes officer stood in the doorway. Leon stopped talking as he watched the men stand at the back of the church unassumingly. Evan’s mouth opened as she watched the officers stand in the back and stare toward the pulpit. She looked over at Leon who had paused briefly then over at Greg who seemed not to notice that the doors had opened in the back until seeing the startled faces on the pulpit caused him to turn around.
“God is good,” Leon said. “Amen?”
Chapter 72
Leon normally wouldn’t notice who walked in the back of the sanctuary because from his viewpoint, he couldn’t make out faces clearly. But Leon noticed the three men as soon as they walked in. And even before he had even seen the uniformed officers, he had noticed the plain clothed one. He was from Chicago; he could spot an undercover right away. His heart began beating fast as the three men stood in the back of the church. He could tell even from that distance that they were looking directly at him.
“The word says, ‘Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints’.”
Leon closed his eyes searching for words attempting to gather his thoughts. He opened his eyes and looked back toward the door. They had unassumingly positioned themselves on the very back row. As far as he knew, Ariel and Rick had not known anybody on the force. So why were they here?
Leon opened his bible. “Ladies and gentlemen, Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered; let them also that hate him flee before him.”
Leon went blank. He didn’t even remember what he had prepared to say and there was so much to say. He felt all eyes on him but he could only focus on the cops sitting in the back. They weren’t there to give their condolences; they were staring at him with serious cold faces and methodical eyes.
Leon looked down at his notes. “Amen saints,” Leon said. “Weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning.”
The crowd responded with their ‘amens’. Leon knew they were watching him but he vowed to finish the service because this was his church and they had to do a lot more than show up for him to be intimidated. He was going to preach in spite of them. He removed the microphone from the stand and stepped away from the lectern. He began preaching and walking around the pulpit with sweat beads forming on his forehead taking control of his church.
The officers stood up once Leon began walking the pulpit with his microphone. Leon quickly noticed their abrupt movement as he watched them motion out of the pew and toward the side aisle of the church, walking next to the wall as not to attract too much attention. Leon continued to preach, keeping one eye on them and the other on the congregation.
“I pray that Rick, their children, and her family are comforted in knowing that earth lost a wonderful human being but heaven gained an angel.”
Leon looked in the corner of his eye then raised his hand for the choir’s selection. Dutiful, the choir began singing. Leon returned to the lectern and replaced the microphone. As the choir sang and clapped, Leon nonchalantly made his way to the side door of the pulpit. He knew that they were watching him closely so he had to be quick about it.
Chapter 73
“What’s going on?” Rick asked looking over at Greg.
Greg didn’t answer keeping his attention on Leon as he headed toward the pulpit door that led to the church offices. Greg looked around at the uniformed officers to see where they were positioned. They were on the side aisle of the church near the wall while Ben made his way further down the slanted aisles toward the bottom of the pulpit. Greg had known what Ben had planned but coming all the way inside the sanctuary and approaching the pulpit was definitely not a part of the plan.
Rick leaned over. “Greg, what’s going on, man?” He asked again.
“I’ll be back,” Greg said standing up but keeping an eye on Leon as he began to walk out of the pulpit.
Greg knew that Leon’s attempt to leave was what had thwarted the plan but he hoped that Ben would take into consideration that this was a church. Greg watched Ben who hurried to the bottom of the pulpit then up the stairs toward Leon. Greg followed Ben’s lead but slower realizing that people had begun to notice all of the quick movement. Some members of the choir stopped singing at the sight of Ben rushing toward Leon while others tried desperately to save the song.
Greg’s attention was on Leon who he could see was going for the door knob. But before Leon could turn the door knob, Ben rushed toward him holding his badge up and out so Leon could clearly see it. “Pastor, let’s not do this here. Please don’t embarrass yourself.”
Leon looked stunned and suddenly the music stopped and all eyes were up on the pulpit although most could only see mouths moving but hearing nothing.
“Sir, are you Leon Ladson?” Ben asked.
Leon looked around as if unsure of his next move. He decided to remain calm. “This is a church and you’re intruding on a sacred service,” Leon bellowed.
Ben put his hand up to calm Leon down. “Sir, that it not our intention. So, if you’ll please cooperate.”
Leon glared at Ben. “Intention or not, this is a house of God.”
“Would you like to do this outside, sir?” Ben asked.
Leon smirked. “Do what outside?”
Ben looked at one of the uniformed officers and nodded. “Pastor, if you’ll step down.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” Leon said. “This is my church.”
Greg looked at Ben then at Leon. “Leon, please think about Ariel and Rick’s families. Don’t do this here, please be considerate.”
Leon looked at Greg viciously. “You always wanted this church. Is this your way of getting it?”
Greg didn’t answer. He wanted to tell Leon that he wanted no part of the church but he didn’t.
Leon looked the uniformed officers up and down and rolled his eyes. Then he looked at Ben. “I have done nothing wrong. If you want to arrest me then do it openly in front of my congregation.”
Ben paused and stared at Leon. Then he nodded. “Leon Ladson, you’re under arrest.”
Time seemed to stop as Leon looked at the faces of those surrounding him as if attempting to digest what was happening to him. “This is ridiculous!” Leon exclaimed causing the choir and the organist to stop playing with all eyes on him.
“Sir, you don’t have to do this because we’re not trying to cause a scene,” Ben said walking up close to Leon.
A uniformed officer turned Leon around and grabbed his wrists. Fear covered Leon’s face as the officers handcuffed him. “What am I being arrested for?” Leon yelled jerking away from the officer. “Get your hands off of me!”
Both officers and Ben reacted rushing Leon and grabbing his body. Greg immediately went into police mode holding up his hands to the ministers and deacons attempting to approach the pulpit. He looked back to see Leon on his face flat on the pulpit floor.
“Calm down, sir,” One of the uniformed officers instructed Leon. “You’re making this worse.”
Leon calmed down as he breathed heavily. “I…I just want to know what I’m being arrested for.”
“You’re being arrested for aggravated assault,” The cuffing uniformed officer answered.
“What?” Leon scoffed looking around with his hands behind his back. “Against who?”
“Mr. Ladson, you have the right to remain silent…” Ben began reading Leon his Miranda rights as another officer kept his arm on Leon.
“This is insane! What are you stupid or something?” Leon asked closing his eyes and placing his head back as if in disbelief.
“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law,” Ben said. “You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand the rights I have just read to you?”
Leon laughed. “This is crazy and you’ve obviously made a huge mistake that’s going to co
st you your jobs. I promise you that,” Leon threatened.
“Leon, please don’t make this worse,” Greg said.
“Shut up,” Leon said to Greg staring daggers into him.
Ben looked over at Greg then directly at Leon. “Do you understand the rights I have just read to you, sir?”
Leon scoffed. “Yes, I do. I hope you understand that you’ve just made one of the biggest mistakes of your career.”
“We’ll just have to see how this mistake ranks among the many in my career, sir,” Ben said.
Greg had never seen Leon so vulnerable. He always seemed so big and now he was clearly just a poor pathetic excuse of a man.
Leon glared at Greg. “This is my church! I built this church!”
Greg and Leon held each other’s gaze; Leon for authority but Greg with pity. He turned away as Leon was being led away. Greg looked out at Rick who placed both hands on his head watching the unfolding scene. Ariel’s mom sobbed uncontrollably as members of Ariel’s family gathered around her and others watched in utter horror and disbelief at Leon’s arrest. Flashes from cellphone cameras splattered throughout the audience as a shame faced Leon looked back at Evan being led down the aisle past Ariel’s casket in handcuffs.
“Ev, call Paul and tell him to meet you at the police station. And get the governor on the phone now!” He shouted to her.
Evan was expressionless watching Leon being led away. Greg walked over to Rick who sat with his head down. “I’m sorry, brother,” Greg said regretting that Leon’s arrest had not only occurred at Ariel’s service but overshadowed his grief.
Rick looked over at Greg as if in a daze but said nothing.
“Let’s continue the service,” Greg said to Rick who didn’t respond.
His First Lady Page 30