The Believer

by Kym Davis Boyles

  James took a step toward Officer White and pushed him in the chest, causing him to stumble back. White’s face straightened as he stared in James’ eyes.

  James began walking back to his patrol car. “I want to know as soon as he’s in custody. Remind him how much his cooperation is needed.”

  “Yes, sir,” White said removing his hat as he opened the passenger side of the patrol car and got in.

  James climbed in to his patrol car. He thought about Cai; in addition to his business, she was all he seemed to think about lately. He pulled out his cell phone and texted her. Break in Devon’s case. Press conference soon.

  Chapter 30

  Greg kissed Gracie on her cheek as he handed her over to Ms. Sheila. And as usual, Gracie whined and Ms. Sheila scolded him for not just leaving the nursery but lingering around making it difficult for Gracie to adjust to the day. He was guilty of that but their rides to the church in the mornings were special and he had to admit that it was probably more difficult for him to leave her than for her to see him walk off.

  “Pastor, does the First Lady know how you behave when you drop this baby off?” Ms. Sheila asked with one strand of her shiny silver hair hanging close to her eye.

  Greg smiled. “Unfortunately she does but I told her that I was doing better so don’t mention it to her that I’m not.” He smiled at Ms. Sheila who blushed as she rubbed Gracie’s back.

  The ladies in the nursery were kind and they had a soft spot for Greg so they never let up on him. His mother passed when he was young so they were what he always imagined his mother to have been like. Greg was satisfied to leave seeing Gracie rest her head on Ms. Sheila but when she realized that Greg was leaving, she lifted her head and began to whimper. He was looking back at her when Ms. Sheila gave him a look.

  “Good day Pastor Greg.”

  Greg smiled as he left the nursery and walked up the church stairs toward his office. The early mornings in the church were the best and it was often then that Greg was able to get a lot accomplished. Stepping into his office, he passed Ms. Tingly’s empty desk. He figured that she must be running late this morning because she usually beat him to the church and had a cup of coffee waiting for him when he arrived. It was a luxury that wasn’t expected but one that was greatly appreciated.

  Greg opened his blinds slightly to let in some of the sun’s rays when there was a tap at the door. He turned around to see Ms. Tingly holding out a cup of coffee with a worried look on her face.

  “Ms. Tingly, good morning!” Greg said with a smile. “I didn’t think you had made it in yet.”

  Ms. Tingly sat Greg’s cup down on a coaster on his desk. “Good morning, Pastor Greg,” she said with an anxious look on her face.

  “Thank you very much,” he said picking up his coffee. “Is everything alright?”

  Ms. Tingly fidgeted with her hands. “Well actually, I know that your appointments are always scheduled but there’s a young lady here who just showed up to speak to you and I told her that it’s customary to make an appointment because you’re so busy but she insisted that it’s very important that she see you,” Ms. Tingly blurted out in one breath.

  Greg took a sip then looked up from his cup. “Ms. Tingly, it’s fine. We’re a ministry and if she needs to speak to me then I’ll speak to her. What’s her name?”

  Ms. Tingly didn’t appear satisfied that he had made the decision to see the young woman on such short notice. “It’s Cai, Delilah Rice’s daughter.”

  Greg’s eyes widened. “Oh, well of course, let me move some things off of my desk and send her in, in about 10 minutes…okay?” Ms. Tingly nodded as she turned to walk out of the door.

  “Ms. Tingly?” Greg called out to her.

  “Yes?” She turned around to face him with a staunch expression of displeasure.

  “You work really hard to keep me on schedule and I not only appreciate it but I need it. You are doing a great job and sometimes it’s okay to veer off course just a little.”

  Ms. Tingly nodded but almost seemed to force the smile on her face as she walked out.

  Ms. Tingly walked to the bathroom to check her face and dress after leaving Greg’s office. She worked to make sure the pastor was kept on schedule but she couldn’t succeed if he decided to do what he wanted to do in spite of her. He was a kind man to a fault but didn’t he preach that things had to be done decently and in order? When is he ever going to learn?

  Ms. Tingly picked at her hair, which she still curled with sponge rollers, before exiting the bathroom. She kept her head high as she walked back to the waiting area where the highly inappropriately dressed young woman was seated.

  It wasn’t proper for a young lady to go in alone to see a young married pastor wearing skin-tight blue jeans and an equally tight, low-necked t-shirt. She is too busty for that anyway and she has on entirely too much makeup and jewelry. Just because she lost her brother doesn’t mean she can be inappropriate.

  Walking back into the waiting area where the young girl was seated, Ms. Tingly looked up at the mounted television, reminding herself to turn down the volume. The young woman was looking down at her phone when Ms. Tingly approached. She cleared her throat to get the girl’s attention.

  “He has indicated that he can squeeze a few minutes in to see you this morning.”

  The pretty young woman with the extraordinary eyes glared at her before smiling. “Thank you very much. I can imagine that he’s very busy.” She stood up.

  “He is,” Ms. Tingly answered. “Please follow me to his office.”

  There was no conversation as they approached the pastor’s office. Ms. Tingly knocked on the already opened door, alerting the pastor to stand. “Come in,” Pastor Greg said, “thank you so much, Ms. Tingly.”

  The young woman maintained a smile on her face as Greg extended his hand. “Good morning, I’m Pastor Greg,”

  “Thank you for seeing me on such short notice. I’m Devon’s sister, Cai.”

  “Please have a seat.”

  “Should I close the door, Pastor?” Ms. Tingly asked, still feeling overstepped by the pastor’s decision to see the young woman.

  “Not all the way, Ms. Tingly,” Greg said, sitting down.

  After leaving the office door open slightly, Ms. Tingly walked back to her desk to continue processing yesterday’s mail delivery. These women trying to get to Pastor Greg might fool him but they can’t pull the wool over my old eyes.

  Chapter 31

  “It’s nice to meet you Cai.” Greg sat back down and rested his arms on his desk. “I’m sorry about Devon; it’s a tragedy and we’ve told your mother that we’ll help out anyway your family needs assistance. Your mom is a wonderful woman that we love dearly.”

  “We’re so grateful,” Cai said, eyeing the handsome pastor. There was something about the way he spoke and moved that she found extremely sexy. “My mother suggested that I stop by and I hope it’s okay because I really need to talk to someone.” She looked down at her phone. “And not too long ago, I received a message saying that Devon’s killer was found and to expect a press conference soon.”

  “A press conference? Who sent it?”

  “Chief Mason.”

  “That’s great to hear.”

  “Yes, I have so many mixed feelings about it,” Cai looked down at her lap then back up into the pastor’s eyes. “I mean, I want somebody to pay but I’m still angry.” Cai fiddled with the cameo necklace around her neck.

  “That’s expected. Anger is a natural part of your healing.”

  Cai fiddled with her purse handle. “I moved back home from New York to help my mom and it’s just so tough. DJ looks so much like Devon and I see Devon in him every time I look at him.” A tear ran down from Cai’s eye.

  Greg reached for a couple of tissues out of the tissue box on his desk. “Cai, your feelings are natural. Losing a loved one, especially so unexpectedly, is devastating.”

  “I just feel so guilty. He always looked up to me and maybe if I�
�d never left, he’d still be alive.” She did miss her brother but she also took several drama classes when she couldn’t decide on a major the first two years of college. The tears came easily. “I sit up at night and I think of Devon and sometimes it becomes all too overwhelming.”

  “Cai, can I pray for you?”

  Cai nodded as she wiped the tear from her cheek. Greg stood up and came from around his desk and sat in the chair beside her and took her hands. Cai lifted her head as he approached; he smelled so good that it startled her senses. She looked up at him and he smiled kindly.

  “Let’s bow our heads,” he said. Cai did just that as she held onto his strong hands, feeling secure and comfortable with him. She breathed in as he sat close to her, taking in his smell.

  “Father God, in Jesus' name…”

  Cai’s mind drifted as Greg prayed. She opened her eyes as he rambled on and stared at him. His hair was sleekly dark and wavy and his skin was smooth with a smidgen of neatly fine facial hair cut precisely around his face. Then she looked at the pictures on his desk of his family. Some were of the three of them, while others were individual pictures of the First Lady and the baby. Cai quickly closed her eyes as he ended the prayer. Greg let go of her hands. “Cai, may I ask you what your relationship with God is?”

  “Well, I…” Cai wasn’t prepared for his question. She held on tightly to her purse. “I believe that there is something bigger or someone bigger.”

  “We believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and that He…”

  Cai interrupted. “I’m learning but right now I just want to get through this.” He is really serious about this Jesus thing.

  Pastor Greg stood up. “I hope you’ll visit one of our services.”

  “I will and thank you.” How did God make a man so fine?

  “You’re welcome anytime. I love for people to know just how much God loves them.”

  “Thank you,” Cai stood up as he walked past her. She looked on the wall in front of her and there were more pictures of his family. “You have a beautiful family.”

  Greg placed his hands in his pockets. “Thank you. I’m definitely blessed.”

  Cai nodded and looked into his eyes then wished she hadn’t. There was something about him that drew her in. He turned around and reached for a card on a side table.

  “Let me give you my card, Cai. If there is anything your family needs, please don’t hesitate to ask.” Greg handed her his card, walked to the door and held it open further for her.

  Cai took the card and held onto it for dear life. She stopped outside of the door and looked down both directions of the hall. “How do I get out of here?”

  “Follow me,” he said stepping out in front of her.

  “This is a huge church,” Cai said, not looking at the building at all but watching the pastor walk. He was in great shape but she couldn’t help but notice that he walked with a slight limp. Greg looked over at her. “It is and it can be a little intimidating but God uses it to help a lot of people.”

  She nodded. She wondered if he was as attracted to her as she was to him. She couldn’t tell. He was a kind guy but most pastors were. They continued walking through the hall until Cai recognized the waiting area near the jealous old lady’s desk. The woman was still sitting there watching the flat screen television. Ms. Tingly looked over at the Pastor and Cai.

  “There’s a press conference on. They say that they found who killed your brother.”

  Cai stopped in her tracks. “Who did it?”

  “Timothy Nunn,” Ms. Tingly answered looking over at her.

  “What?” Cai stared at the television in shock when she saw Devon’s best friend being led in handcuffs into the police station. She covered her eyes, turned toward Pastor Greg and placed her head on his chest and wept.

  Chapter 32

  Lights from cameras flashed around the room as Chief James Mason made his way to the podium to address the room full of community leaders as well as 20 or so press members from television, internet and newspaper outlets. Standing beside him was the pouty red-headed female state prosecutor, her thin lipped assistant DA, the very robust Mr. Akim and three of James’ police officers.

  James had practiced his speech in the station’s bathroom mirror minutes earlier but hadn’t memorized it. Public relations hated when he practiced, wanting him to relate to the public naturally. Now, standing in front of the flashing cameras, he shifted half an inch to the left to make sure the cameras caught his good side. He looked down at his written speech.

  “Good morning ladies and gentlemen, after extensive investigation by some of the finest trained and dedicated policemen in the country, Timothy Nunn is now in custody for the murder of Devon Rice. After being confronted with the evidence, Mr. Nunn confessed to the murder of his childhood friend, Devon Rice. Subsequently, he faces first degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder charges,” Chief Mason said, looking into the camera. James saw mouths drop and pencils writing as he spoke. “I’d like to remind the public that Mr. Nunn has the right to counsel and a fair trial. We ask that you not try this case in the court of public opinion but allow the judicial process to take place as is allowed for all of our citizens. I appreciate you all for being here and we will now open the floor for a few questions from the media.”

  The room was loud with questions being shot from the press as hands went up in the air and voices spoke over each other to be heard. Chief Mason looked out at Claudia from Channel 9 news; she was pretty but was too aggressive to be attractive in his book. He pointed to her. “Yes Claudia?”

  Multiple questions were thrown at him over the next 30 minutes but James decided that nothing more would be said. He threw his hand up in a wave. “Thank you all for coming. No further questions will be taken at this time.” James wanted to pat himself on the back. He did well; solemn yet stern, contrite yet professional; job well done.

  Chapter 33

  “I spoke to momma today and she can’t wait to see us,” Victoria said, hollering from the bathroom.

  “I told you that I couldn’t go; I have so much going on here.” He was being nice and wouldn’t say what he really wanted to say about her family.

  “I thought you said that you would try,” Victoria said.

  “No, you said that. I told you that I wasn’t going,” James said, with his hands behind his head; they couldn’t stand him and she knew it.

  James was relaxing in the bed watching television when Victoria walked out of the bathroom wearing a long silk black negligée. She sashayed in slowly in front of him. He used to love when she did that but now he barely glanced in her direction. He had Cai on his mind. She hadn’t called or texted back after he had tried to reach her several times. That girl was getting to him. He hardly noticed when Victoria slid into bed next to him.

  “How was your day?” Victoria asked running her index finger inside his nightshirt down his bare chest.

  He grabbed her finger, stopping her. “It was okay.” There was a time when all he wanted to do was let her long blonde hair drape over his chest, and when kissing her smooth rosy skin would send shivers down his spine. He couldn’t lie; she was still beautiful but she no longer appealed to him and there was nothing she could do about it.

  Victoria nestled close to him. “You looked good at the press conference today.”

  “Thank you,” James said keeping his eyes fixed on the television.

  “Do you think that everything will die down now that the killer has been found?”

  “I hope so because as far as my department is concerned, this case is officially closed.”

  “I love seeing you standing there showing off your authority; it really turns me on,” she said with her finger opening his night shirt and her lips finding their way from his neck to his chest.

  “I’m trying to watch television,” he said, turning away from her. Victoria stopped with her bright blue eyes questioning him. “I’m tired,” he said, before she could even speak.

  Shifti
ng to her side of the bed, she rolled her eyes. “You’re always tired.”

  James shot a look over at her. “I run a police department; maybe if you worked, you’d be tired, too.”

  Victoria fluffed her pillow and lay down and turned her back to him. “I do work.”

  James laughed. “Sitting around sipping tea all day talking about what charity ball to fund is not work, sweetheart.”

  “Don’t be condescending, James,” Victoria said. “You wouldn’t be where you are if it wasn’t for my work.”

  James looked over at her. “I earned my position.”

  “You know what I’m talking about,” she said with a little sarcasm in her voice. James grabbed Victoria by the shoulder and pulled her to face him. “I am where I am because of me. Don’t ever forget that.” He released her. “Now turn the light off.”

  “Since when do you talk to me like this?” Victoria asked, sitting up in the bed staring at him.

  “Since you became a nag,” James answered.

  “A nag?” Victoria asked. “All of a sudden, I’m a nag and you don’t want to touch me?”

  “Shut up.”

  “You don’t tell me to shut up.”

  “I don’t even want to be near you when you’re like this,” James snapped.

  “Are you seeing someone?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I’m throwing it all in your face and you act like I’m the plague,” Victoria said. “There must be someone else.”

  James jumped out of the bed and grabbed his pillow. “I can’t even watch TV without you nagging me.”

  Victoria’s eyes widened, watched him get out of bed. “What are you doing?”

  “I can’t stay in here and listen to this all night.” He reached for his cell phone on the nightstand and headed out of the bedroom, slamming the door behind him. James couldn’t stand one more second with Victoria. He walked toward the guest bedroom and collapsed on the bed when the text message alert sounded. He looked at his phone. It was Cai.