The Believer

by Kym Davis Boyles

  “Two of your officers were seen beating this young man, accusing him of stealing a woman’s purse.”

  James folded his arms glaring at the men, cursing them in his head. “What exactly would you like my officers to do? You complain that we don’t care enough about the neighborhoods but when we try to keep them safe and drug free, you find something else to complain about.”

  The portly gentlemen chimed in. “This young man is a college student and it turns out that your officers had the wrong individual.”

  “I don’t recall a complaint being filed on this matter,” James said.

  The large man wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. He cleared his throat. “The young man declined to file a complaint.”

  “Well, there you go,” James said throwing his arms up. Fat tub of lard.

  Little beads of sweat began to form on the man’s forehead, but he wouldn’t retreat. “Chief, we expect your officers to do their jobs while respecting our citizens and we want to know that our voices are heard.”

  James looked at his watch then back at the two men. “I agree and I will address this issue.” James smiled; he’d had enough. “Are there any other matters at hand, gentlemen?”

  The thin man scooted forward in his seat. “As a matter of fact, yes. The number of cases of young black men being victimized that are being overlooked by your department is astounding. We’d like to know the status of Devon Rice’s case?”

  It was one name and one case he was tired of hearing about. “I assure you that I won’t rest until this case is solved.” Through the glass pane behind the heads of his visitors, James saw a flash of blue which caught his attention. It was a slender perfectly toned woman with flawless makeup, wearing a bright blue blouse. He and Cai made eye contact.

  “We should hope…” the thin man started.

  James stood up, “My apologies gentlemen, I hate to cut you off but an urgent matter has come up that I must take care of.”

  The sight of Cai excited James and as far as he was concerned the two men couldn’t exit his office fast enough. He accommodated monthly meetings with the neighborhood watch group only because he was under direct orders from the state’s jack-hole governor to do so; those 20 minutes were torture. What he really wanted was about to walk into his office wearing the racy blue blouse that originally caught his attention, fitted denim leggings and high heeled blue-strapped sandals.

  James tried not to notice Officer Paul speaking to Cai outside of his office before the officer opened his door. “Excuse me Chief, Ms. Rice says she has an appointment with you,” Officer Paul said.

  James looked through the glass pane at her. She peered in at him then gave him a slight smile. “Yes, we certainly do,” he said. Office Paul nodded before stepping aside and allowing Cai to walk inside the office. “Please close the door deputy, thank you,” James said, with his attention fixed on Cai. James stood as she entered his office.

  “Hello,” James said, waiting until Officer Paul closed the door behind him. “To what do I owe this surprise?”

  “I wanted to stop by and check on my brother’s case,” Cai responded, looking around his office.

  “Please have a seat.”

  Cai sat in the chair across from her. “I’ve never been inside a police station before. It makes me a little nervous.”

  James smiled at her as he sat down. “If you haven’t committed a crime then you have no reason to be nervous.”

  “Maybe you make me nervous.”

  He leaned forward on his desk. “Why would I make you nervous?”

  “I don’t know,” Cai answered him. “You’re a cop and I was taught to never trust cops.”

  “You’re old enough to make your own judgments now,” James said.

  “I have.”

  “Huh,” James leaned back in his chair. “I see that I have some work to do then. How’s your mother coming along?” James asked.

  Cai crossed her long lean legs. “Coming along? Delilah’s waiting for my brother’s killer to be caught. She won’t be fine until that happens.”

  “We’re working on it,” James said, picking up a pencil on his desk and twirling it between his fingers. “I wish it were cut and dry and I could just go and arrest somebody but I can’t. Please tell Ms. Delilah that I’m working on it.”

  Cai’s dark eyes glared at him briefly, then she nodded her head as if accepting his answer. “I’ll be sure to tell her.”

  James leaned back in his chair and eyed her, thinking thoughts he knew he probably shouldn’t think. “Is that the only reason why you came?”

  “That’s the main reason I came but I also didn’t want you to think of me as ungrateful so I wanted to say thank you for the roses. They’re beautiful.”

  “You’re welcome,” he said, “but you could have called or texted me.”

  She uncrossed her legs and smiled. “I could have but then that would have been rude. Besides, I wanted to ask you face to face why you are pursuing me.”

  James eyes widened and he chuckled. “You think pretty highly of yourself.”

  “Yes, I do,” Cai said.

  “Do you have a man?”

  “No, I don’t at the moment,” she answered. “Aren’t you married?”

  “I am,” James said. “And I’m not going to give you the spill about how we’re separated or simply unhappy. As a matter of fact, she’s young and beautiful.”

  “Huh, good for you.” Cai leaned her head slightly to the left. “Then what do you want with me?”

  “You excite me and I can’t think about anything but you since I met you.”

  “If a man was to pursue me, he has to know that I don’t compete with other women, even wives.”

  “Let’s just say that if I was the man to pursue you then you wouldn’t ever have to compete with any other woman, especially a wife.”

  Cai glared at him with a half-smile. She stood up and leaned over his desk, picked up a pen and wrote her phone number on a yellow sticky pad. James wanted to close his eyes and absorb her with all of his senses. “I’d better go, please keep me updated on my brother’s case,” Cai said, dropping the ink pen and walking to the door.

  “Most definitely,” James said, standing up keeping his eye on her body’s every move.

  Chapter 23

  Leon sat on the edge of his bunk with his back slightly turned from the cell entrance and his black leather bible on his lap. He was alone in the cell, refusing to participate in the prisoner’s stupid card and dominos games that usually ended up with someone going to the hole. These fools were acting like they were home, becoming so acclimated to prison with all the petty drama that they ate, slept and pooped it; but he wouldn’t. This place would never be his home. Looking back every few seconds to make sure that no one crept up on him, he dug out the center of the fine pages of the thick King James Bible with the razor cuffed in his palm until there was a hollow space surrounded by pages of cut off words. He blew the shavings off onto squares of toilet tissue to be sure that they were properly disposed of.

  “You coming to service, Pastor?” Kelvin asked, sticking his head from the hallway into their cell.

  Leon jumped then bit his lip before turning back and looking at Kelvin. He forced a smile. “Yes, I am.”

  Kelvin grinned wide. “Alright now, what’s the scripture for today, Pastor?”

  Leon had to think quickly, “Psalms 37:23, ‘the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.'”

  “That’s what I’m talkin about. I’m gon’ head on over to the chapel,” Kelvin grinned proudly revealing his one single incisor that held onto his gum for dear life. “We’ll be waiting on ya,” Kelvin said.

  Leon looked at the clock. It was almost two o’clock and chapel was going to start soon. He ran his hand over the bible ensuring that nothing was out of place. He placed the razor back inside the small dugout concrete in the block wall beside his bunk. Leon stood up, removed the second bible on the shelf beside his bed, looked at his ref
lection in the steel mirror and walked out of his cell holding both bibles by his side. With a plastered smile on his face, he waved as he passed the open cells of the inmates who remained inside them.

  “Ah, I see you got two bibles, go on head Pastor Leon! Given ‘em double the word!” a jubilant voice yelled from a cell. His mouth wide and white teeth glistening, Leon nodded as he kept walking.

  Skippy, the dreadlocked brother, looked out of his cell as Leon walked past. “Yo, Pastor Leon, what’s good?”

  Leon fist bumped the young man who was grinning at him with a mouth full of gold teeth showing. Leon stopped to get some water as a few inmates passed him heading into the chapel. He kept his head low pretending to drink as the inmates walked by. He looked around to make sure all had entered and then he turned around and headed toward the utility closet. Leon looked behind him before grabbing the knob to the utility closet. The hallway was quiet as he turned the knob and slipped in. As he closed the door, the light flicked on.

  “Hey, it took you so long to get here,” Charlotte said, walking up to him and kissing him hard on his mouth.

  He pulled back from her, aggravated at her for running up on him like she did. “I can’t just run in the utility closet. What do I look like, the janitor?”

  Charlotte bit her lip. “It just felt like a long wait,” she said running her hand over his muscular chest.

  “You need to focus because I don’t have time for this. Did you bring what I asked you to bring?”

  “Yes.” Charlotte handed Leon a small phone in his palm.

  Leon stuffed the small phone in the cut out pages of the bible he had prepared earlier. He looked up at her. “Did you do what I told you to do?” She nodded. “Good girl,” Leon said, making sure everything was in place. He placed his hand on the knob to walk out.

  “Leon,” Charlotte called out.

  He turned around to face her. This girl is fragile. He walked back up to her and kissed her on the mouth before turning the knob.

  Chapter 24

  Evan bowed her head and held hands with Bertrice, Minister Byron’s wife, on one side and Sister Helene on the other. They were in the front row of the sanctuary. There were quiet amens all around as they listened to Greg’s closing prayer. Hands clapped and the sanctuary was loud with chatter and greetings as parishioners began moving around preparing to leave.

  “First Lady, your husband sure can preach, I just love it,” Sister Helene said holding onto Evan’s hand, shaking it firmly as she spoke with a grand smile.

  “It has nothing to do with me, Ms. Helene,” Evan hugged the woman as people began approaching her.

  “I’ll see you Sunday, First Lady,” Sister Helene said.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Evan said. As soon as she waved to Ms. Helene, Evan began shaking hands as more people approached her to speak and show love. But it was okay because Wednesday night bible studies were not just about bible lessons. There was a lot of fellowship and since she no longer worked at the church, she found that the members looked forward to seeing her at the services.

  “How are you, sweetheart?” Ms. Erme asked Evan, lifting her gaunt dark arms to hug Evan.

  Evan gleefully embraced the petite gray-haired woman; 92 years old and full of the Holy Spirit, Ms. Erme made sure that she was in attendance when the church doors opened. “I’m fine, Ms. Erme. You’re looking great and it’s so good to see you.”

  The tall fragile woman with unusual velvety skin smiled, revealing her large dentures. “You know that if Jesus don’t come back or call me home then I’m gonna be here, First Lady,” Ms. Erme said in her low and straggly voice.

  “I know, Ms. Erme,” Evan said as the woman’s daughter hugged Evan before taking a hold of her mother’s arm to lead her out of the sanctuary.

  Evan greeted a few more people and then prepared to go stand near Greg. She looked up to find Taylor staring at her with a smile. Evan felt trapped but half-smiled because she was supposed to, although she had no idea why Taylor would be at their church.

  Judy grabbed Evan’s hand, causing her to take her eyes off of Taylor. Judy was ecstatic about something and speaking a million miles a minute with a strong Spanish accent. Evan couldn’t make out what the young mother was saying. Whatever it was, Evan knew it was good news with the excitement that Judy demonstrated.

  “Thank you so much, First Lady,” the pretty Puerto Rican woman said as she squeezed Evan’s hand and walked off.

  Evan looked back over at Taylor who was approaching her, walking in sleek cat-like form in a purple tunic, black leggings and long black boots. She looked unusually teacher-esque with her hair pinned up and black frames on her face. Evan turned around to her seat, picking up her purse, bible and study materials. She knew Taylor was behind her and used those few seconds with her back turned to take a breath before coming face to face with her.

  “Evan, how are you?” Taylor asked.

  Evan turned around and smiled. “Taylor, this is a surprise.”

  Taylor extended her arm and opened her hand revealing a small box of Stover’s chocolates. “A peace offering.”

  Evan looked at the chocolates. Really? “No need for a peace offering Taylor,” Evan adjusted the items in her arms without taking the box of chocolates. “I do hope that you enjoyed the bible lesson.”

  Taylor removed her glasses. “I did; it was great. Your husband is a great teacher.”

  “I can attest that he is a man after God’s own heart. Is your husband here with you?”

  Taylor shook her head. “No, he’s a guest teacher tonight at Faith Fellowship.”

  Evan raised an eyebrow. “And you came here instead of accompanying him.”

  “If you’ve heard the lesson once, you’ve heard it a thousand times. He’ll be fine,” Taylor said assuredly. The exchange was awkward but that was Evan’s impression of Taylor anyway. There was a moment of silence and as much as Evan wanted to walk away, Taylor had a look on her face indicating that she had more to say. “We got off on the wrong foot and I wanted to apologize in person,” Taylor said, sounding humbled.

  Evan nodded. “Well, I appreciate that, Taylor. Please forgive me as well and thank you so much for finding it important enough to stop by. I hope you visit again sometime.”

  “I will,” Taylor said, looking around. “It’s a beautiful church.”

  Evan smiled. “Thank you.”

  “I’d like to invite you to have lunch with me,” Taylor said.

  Evan felt caught. She had forgiven Taylor but God forgive her, she wasn’t looking for a friendship.

  Taylor reached out and touched her arm. “I know you’re always busy so only if you can find the time.”

  Evan realized that her hesitancy must have been obvious. “Sure,” Evan said.

  “Maybe next week?”

  Evan smiled, hating the pressure. “Can I get back with you?”

  “Sure,” Taylor said. She looked around the church as if looking for someone. “I wanted to meet your husband. I’d love to tell him how blessed the study was.”

  That’s not happening tonight, sister. Evan looked around. “Unless you have all night, this might not be the best time.”

  “I understand,” Taylor said. “I know you have so many people to talk to so I’ll call you sometime later this week about lunch.”

  “Okay,” Evan said, still watching Taylor.

  Taylor looked around the crowd for the exit. “How do I get out?” Evan pointed her to one of the exit doors. Taylor grinned, looking at the swarm of people between her and the exit before placing the box of chocolates on top of Evan’s purse and walking away.

  Chapter 25

  Deacon Howard stood behind the technician who was checking the alarm system in the family center. The young technician scowled at the deacon, aggravated with the deacon’s micromanagement.

  “Sir, if we need anything or have any questions, we’ll come find you if you have something that you need to be doing …”

  Deacon Howard folde
d his arms and didn’t budge. He was in charge of the church’s alarm system and he didn’t care that the church had been doing business with AOX Alarm Company for more than 10 years; he didn’t know this new boy. He looked like he might come back at midnight and take all of the computers out of the church. “I have nothing to do,” Deacon Howard assured him.

  The agitated technician nodded and murmured an okay while he continued checking the alarm box on the wall. Deacon Howard’s cell phone rang. He frowned, fumbling for the phone. The technician looked back with a slight smile of relief on his face.

  “Hello.”

  “Deacon Howard, how are you?”

  Deacon Howard’s jaw dropped. The voice on the other end sounded familiarly and dreadfully like Leon’s. The deacon’s heart began racing as he pulled the cell phone from his ear and looked at the caller ID. Unknown number. He placed it back up to his ear.

  “Deacon?” Leon said.

  “Who is this?” Deacon Howard asked nervously, walking away from the technician and toward the outside exit door of the family center.

  Leon laughed. “Oh, have I been gone that long that you don’t remember your pastor’s voice?”

  Speechless, Deacon Howard stood outside of the family center looking around the church grounds to see if maybe Leon was somewhere close to him, watching him. At this point, he couldn’t rule anything out.

  “Deacon, I was just giving you a call because I wanted to check in on you and see how you were doing. How’s the family?”

  “Everybody’s fine,” the deacon, rubbed his hand over his head. “How did you get my number?”

  “I appreciate you asking, I’m doing okay, thanks,” Leon said.

  To Deacon Howard, Leon sounded like his old self and it was frightening since he was supposed to be doing serious time inside of a prison, unable to terrorize anyone on the outside again. “How are you calling me and what do you want?” The deacon could hear Leon sigh. All kinds of thoughts flooded Deacon Howard’s mind as he continued listening.