The Believer

by Kym Davis Boyles

  Taylor sighed. “Speak English, Elliot.”

  “You are saying things in this book that are potentially very damaging and could be considered character assassination in a court of law especially if you are privy to such information and don’t have permission to use it or if it’s simply false.”

  “It’s not false and I have verbal permission to use some of the information,” Taylor informed him.

  “Do you?” Elliot asked.

  “Yes, I do. Besides, it’s not just her story, it’s the true story.”

  Elliot tilted his head to the side. “Taylor, it can always be argued that it wasn’t clear what the verbal permission entailed. A lot of it seems to be the writer’s perspective on certain events and there’s no proof that it’s totally accurate.”

  Taylor was getting frustrated. “Elliot, it’s called an unauthorized autobiography for a reason.”

  “I agree but we could be setting ourselves up for legal problems.”

  Taylor leaned toward him. “Elliot, I’m no dummy. I’ve done my due diligence with this manuscript and I can effectively demonstrate that what I’ve written is the truth.”

  Elliot squinted his eyes with uncertainty. “Think of the money you stand to make and it’s absolutely worth the risk,” Taylor said.

  Elliot looked down at the manuscript then sighed loudly. “You are a force to be reckoned with aren’t you, Mrs. Ladson?”

  “I am,” Taylor said. “Now, do we have a deal?” Taylor held out her hand to shake Elliot’s. Elliot held out his thin hand and shook hers. “Let’s do business.”

  Chapter 61

  The sky was a clear blue as the sun shone and the morning breeze gently blew the leaves of the trees. Greg stood outside of JMC listening to the gentle quiet, hearing only the occasional songs of birds. He looked out on Deacon Howard who, as always on Wednesday morning, was manicuring JMC’s lawn. He had waited to speak with the deacon until the right time. Now was the time.

  Greg watched Deacon Howard bend down on his knees, picking weeds from the freshly cut grass. He put his hands in his pockets and walked toward his friend. “Good morning Deacon Howard,” Greg said. “God gave us a beautiful day.”

  Deacon Howard looked up at Greg, squinting from the sun’s rays in his eyes, and his face erupted in a smile at the sight of Greg. “Good morning Pastor Greg, He most surely did give us a beautiful day. This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

  “Yes indeed.” Greg knelt down. “You did an awesome job as usual on this lawn.”

  Deacon Howard placed a handful of picked weeds in the burlap sack on his side. “I love giving back to the Lord, son.”

  “I know you do Deacon,” Greg looked around and cleared his throat. “We missed you at the last trustee meeting.”

  Deacon Howard smiled. “Oh, Pastor, my presence wasn’t needed.”

  Greg reached out and picked a stalk of grass. “I’m just going to ask you Deacon Howard because I know that you are an honest man. What happened? Who forced you out?”

  Deacon Howard stopped and looked at Greg. “Pastor, you are a brilliant young man and God has given you great insight but you’re so busy keeping the Goliaths from destroying the city that you’re missing the locusts eating the land.”

  “I’m focused on souls Deacon Howard and I want to preach the word of God. That’s what I’m called to do so maybe I am blind to what’s going on around this church sometimes. I have to stay focused on my purpose.”

  “I agree,” Deacon Howard said. “I made a big mistake, Pastor.”

  “What kind of mistake Deacon?” Greg asked.

  “Hebrews 13: 6 says The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Deacon Howard quoted.

  Greg nodded and listened. “In my flesh, I ran and didn’t trust God because of fear. I feared the dust of the ground.”

  “What are you saying Deacon Howard? Did James have anything to do with you leaving your position?”

  “I don’t know that man that well and he and I haven’t had too many conversations but I can only assume that he’s a part of something much bigger going on.”

  Greg looked confused. “Like what?”

  Deacon Howard placed more weeds in his bag. “Greg, they’re using this church and they’re hoping it’ll destroy you and the work that God is using you to do.”

  Greg began getting frustrated. “Deacon…”

  “Someone is trying to control this church without even being here.”

  Greg narrowed his focus on the deacon. “Who?”

  Deacon Howard looked up at Greg. “Leon.”

  Chapter 62

  “Ms. Evelyn, what is your secret? You really do look like you’re in your 30s,” Kree said placing a cup of steaming chamomile tea in front of her. Evan smiled, looking at her mom. Kree was telling the truth. Even after a flight, her mom looked refreshed. Evelyn arrived at Evan’s home with a fresh haircut, short in the back with long feathery bangs and a new wardrobe. She was at least ten pounds thinner than when Evan last saw her. For a woman of 58, her ageless mocha skin was still taut and even toned. Evan could only hope to look that good at that age.

  “Kree, you’re too sweet. It’s that man that the Lord gave me. He keeps me young,” Evelyn said with a smile.

  “I believe you,” Kree said, placing a dish of pastry in the middle of her dining room table.

  “Me too,” Nina said patting Evelyn on her hand and laughing.

  Kree, Nina, Evan and Evelyn sat around Kree’s dining room table with scribbled notes strewn around as they offered suggestions to one another about the seminar. Evelyn listened, not saying much although Evan asked her input since she could probably plan one of these women seminars with her eyes closed.

  “Where is Taylor?” Evan asked Nina.

  Nina looked at her watch. “She texted earlier and said that she was running late but that she’d be here.”

  “Is that what fashionably late means?” Kree asked, with a roll of her eyes as she sat down next to Nina at the table.

  “Nevertheless,” Nina said, looking down at the notepad in front of her, “let’s continue. Okay, Kree I like the idea of your four bullet points of raising Godly children.”

  “I love it also,” Evan said. “I can’t wait to hear you talk about it.”

  “Thank you, ladies.” Kree looked over at Evelyn. “Ms. Evelyn, please chime in at any time. I really would love to hear anything you’d like to contribute.”

  “Well,” Evelyn said, with her hands around her tea cup. “I think what you’ve written is awesome. I have learned as a mother that it’s important for women to step back and let our children fall. It teaches not only them but ourselves as parents to trust God for our children’s well-being. It can be difficult but necessary.”

  Evan smiled. “I agree; I hope I do that for Gracie.”

  Kree nodded and began writing. “That’s excellent, Ms. Evelyn. That’ll be the fifth bullet point. I definitely learned that and there’s a lot of scripture to support us trusting God with our children.”

  “Wonderful,” Nina said.

  The doorbell rang. “That must be our fashionably late Ms. Taylor,” Kree said, getting up from the table and walking out of the dining room toward the front door.

  Evan leaned over to Evelyn. “Remember Taylor that I was telling you about?”

  Always bright and flamboyant, Taylor walked into the dining room with a giant grin.

  “Well look at you with your gorgeous red suit on,” Nina said as Taylor leaned down and hugged her.

  “Hi sweetie, I apologize that I’m late. My meeting ran over,” Taylor explained.

  Evan stood up and gave Taylor a hug. “Hi, you look great.” Evan looked over at her mom. “This is my mother, Evelyn. Mom, this is Taylor.”

  Evelyn stood up to shake Taylor’s hand but Taylor hugged her instead.

  “It’s so great to meet you and it’s so easy to see where Evan gets her beauty,” Taylor said.
/>   “Hello,” Evelyn said, “and thank you.”

  “You’re late and we’re in the middle of working,” Kree said.

  Taylor shot a look at Kree. “My apologies, Ms. Kree,” Taylor said, walking around the table. She put her arm on Evelyn’s shoulder, pulling out the chair next to her. “I’m going to sit next to you.”

  “Okay, so Evan, what have you come up with?” Nina asked.

  Evan was hesitant and took a breath. “I have titled my segment Victory and not Victim.”

  Evelyn smiled at Evan. “I like that, baby,” she said proudly.

  “Me too,” Kree said.

  “I want to focus on trusting God through pain and disappointment and overcoming adversity,” Evan said. Nina and Evan made eye contact. Nina smiled and Evan knew that Nina understood that Evan was only prepared to share so much and it was okay.

  “Sounds great to me,” Nina said.

  Taylor tapped on the table. “Evan, I think you should share more, really help women who may be struggling with abuse; share your story.”

  Evan shook her head, “I’ve prayed about it and I’ve decided not to share the really personal stuff.”

  Taylor raised her brows. “Why not? Is it a fear of stepping outside of your comfort zone? This could be really therapeutic for you.”

  Evan could see Evelyn shift in her seat beside her. She looked at Evan. “Do what the Holy Spirit directs you to do.”

  “Exactly,” Nina said as she jotted some notes.

  Taylor half-smiled then looked at Nina. “Of course I agree with that. Am I alone in thinking that this seminar is about the truth and participating means being truthful? You can’t expect women to identify with you if you don’t share with them those intimate details.”

  Kree appeared irritated with Taylor. “How would her telling her personal stuff benefit them?”

  “I think she should do what’s comfortable,” Nina said.

  Taylor ignored both ladies and turned to Evan, “I just thought that more women would be blessed it you offered a more a personal approach.”

  Nina held up her hand. “Taylor, that’s not necessarily what it’s about.”

  “I was just trying to help a little, that’s all.” Taylor turned to Evan, “You do know that don’t you, Evan?”

  “It doesn’t matter because I’m focusing on how God delivered me and how I grew to trust him. I won’t give Leon another day of glory.”

  “Amen, baby,” Evelyn said proudly, before sipping her tea.

  Taylor nodded with a smile. “Absolutely.”

  Chapter 63

  Leon lay on his back on his bunk with his eyes closed when he heard the cell door being unlocked prompting him to open his eyes. He sat up when he saw Charlotte standing outside of the cell. “Ladson, up and at,” Charlotte demanded.

  “What’s up?” Leon asked sluggishly, swinging his legs off of the bunk and maintaining eye contact with Charlotte. She looked away and stood at attention.

  “Let’s go, Ladson,” Charlotte said.

  Leon slid his feet in his slippers and stood up. He walked close to Charlotte brushing against her arm slightly. “You’re not going to tell me where I’m going, officer?” Leon asked almost whispering to Charlotte.

  “The infirmary,” Charlotte said keeping a professional face and escorting him through the hallway. Leon knew that he didn’t have to be sick to be going to the infirmary because whenever she wanted to be alone with him, she made a way. Leon puffed his chest out with a smug smile.

  “Turn right, Ladson, then stop,” Charlotte ordered.

  Leon did as he was instructed. Charlotte pulled her keys from her side and unlocked the door of the closet near the infirmary. Leon walked in and Charlotte closed the door behind them. Leon pulled Charlotte by her waist toward him and began kissing her neck. She pushed back from him.

  Surprised, Leon wrinkled his forehead. “What’s going on?”

  Charlotte closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. “I’m pregnant,” she said, then exhaled.

  Leon’s stomach dropped. He stared at her, almost unable to blink, wondering if she was telling the truth. He certainly was never going to share a baby with her. “Is it mine?”

  Charlotte pursed her lips together and glared at him with fiery eyes. “How can you ask me that?”

  Leon threw his hands up, “I’m in prison and I don’t know what you do when you leave.”

  “I think about you and yes, it’s yours. There is no one else,” Charlotte said.

  Leon swore. “You can’t keep it. I’ll have the money for you but you need to make an appointment as soon as possible to get rid of it.”

  Charlotte was bug eyed. “No, I won’t. I don’t believe in that.”

  Leon balled his fists up and squeezed tightly, trying to contain the rage that rushed through his body. “Have you lost your mind?”

  “No I haven’t, I want our baby,” Charlotte said.

  Leon bit his bottom lip then turned his face away from her. “I can’t believe that you did something so stupid!”

  “Stupid?” she asked, bending her head back and looking at him. “We did this. It’s our baby.”

  “How can I raise a baby in prison?” Leon asked, trying to control his anger.

  “Leon, I can raise our baby on my own. I just need financial help but I want our baby.”

  Leon felt as if he could have put his hands around Charlotte’s neck and strangled her but instead he turned away from her and focused on the shelves of bandages and alcohol in front of him. “Did you go to the doctor yet?”

  “Yes, I’m nine weeks pregnant and everything looks good.”

  Leon stared at her. She was an idiot and a potential liability. “Take me back to my cell.”

  She touched his arm. He snatched it away from her. “Take me back to my cell.”

  “Leon, you deserve your own child,” she said, watching him open the door to walk out.

  Chapter 64

  Ben walked into the police station and almost immediately began shaking hands with some of the officers that he used to work with. Being back in the precinct sent a wave of emotions through him, remembering all of his years there as an officer. Even the smell was familiar and it felt good. He had only told one person that he was stopping by and that was Officer Bell who was on the phone when Ben walked through. The tall man’s eyes grew large when he saw Ben walk toward him. He hung up the phone and stood up.

  “Donati,” Bell said, throwing his long arms around Ben. “How you doing, man?”

  “I’m good, Bell, how are the kids?”

  “Growing man, my boys are playing sports and they keep me busy.”

  “How’s Maria?”

  “She’s great, she misses everybody,” Ben answered, his eyes looking around and in the direction of James’ office. “So what’s going on around here?”

  “Nothing man, same old crime in the same old city. How’s DCI treating you?”

  “Exciting, right up my alley,” Ben replied. “Like I told you earlier man, I need to speak with the chief.”

  “Yeah, man, come on,” Officer Bell walked him to James’ office.

  Officer Bell knocked twice on James’ office door. Ben was sure that James had already seen the two of them walking to his office through the glass pane. “Chief, Donati needs to speak to you a minute,” Officer Bell said.

  It was obvious from the look on James’ face that there was no love lost between the two men. “Come in,” James said. “Sit down.”

  Bell closed the door behind Ben, who walked in and sat down across from James’ desk. James didn’t even bother to stand up and shake Ben’s hand; he remained in his chair staring at him. It was easy for Ben to see that he wasn’t welcome and never would be.

  “Ben, to what do I owe this surprise visit? DCI not keeping you busy enough?”

  “Plenty busy, Chief,” Ben said. “I wanted to ask you about Devon Rice’s case.”

  James’ right brow rose. “It’s a closed case.”

/>   Ben leaned forward. “I was wondering if he and Tim had any run-ins with your cops prior to Devon’s murder.”

  James leaned back in his chair and interlocked his fingers behind his head. “Those two were dope boys but there are no previous arrest records on file. But then you could have found that out yourself, right?”

  “We’re trying to connect some drugs coming into this city and into that area.”

  “What do you think we can help you with?” James asked with a flat affect.

  “We think that Tim and Devon might have been involved in something bigger than they understood and maybe it wasn’t Tim that killed Devon but maybe it was a revenge killing.”

  James glared at Ben for a moment then laughed. “I doubt that.” He leaned forward and rested his arms on his desk. “Look Ben, let’s me and you lay this big elephant out in the room right here in front of us and let’s kill it.”

  Ben tilted his head. “I don’t understand Chief.”

  “Oh, you understand. See, you may be in DCI now and think you’re all high and mighty but I’m still Chief of Police of this city. You hate me for having this position and that’s why you hated working for me. You may be a special agent but it doesn’t change the fact that I’m still and will continue to be Chief of Police.”

  Ben smiled. “Chief Mason, I don’t have a problem with you at all. You’re an excellent officer whom I admire.”

  James laughed and leaned back in his chair. “Cut the bull, Donati.”

  Ben and James locked eyes “I apologize for disturbing you, Chief. I was just trying to find out some information.”

  James stood up. “I’m not sure what the DCI is looking into but my guys did their job and we charged the right person. Devon’s case is closed so whatever dealings he had while he was alive is irrelevant as far as my department is concerned.”

  “Okay,” Ben said.

  James came from behind his desk and walked to his office door, opening it. “Now, if you don’t mind, I have a lot of work to do and I’ll see you in church on Sunday.”