Tyler and the team marched forward toward the church entrance with their weapons cocked, pointed, and ready.
Marquise stepped a bit closer to the mayor. “Mayor Henderson, you ready to give me that gun?”
The mayor’s face contorted in anguish, and his shoulders slumped. He slowly, weakly nodded. Hesitant and trembling, he held the gun out, but it slipped from his grasp and fell to the carpeted floor.
Wilted and still, then, Mayor Henderson dropped to a kneeling position.
Marquise reached down and quickly retrieved the weapon, but as he stood back up, he saw that Jonathon and Deshaun had lunged for their guns as well.
At Manley’s command, Tyler, and the SWAT team stormed the church — battering through the already-damaged church doors — and rushed through the doors of the sanctuary. The team quickly assessed the situation inside the room. Marquise was holding a gun near Mayor Truman Henderson who was crying and awkwardly kneeling. As soon as Marquise saw them enter, he held up his hands and let the gun flip downward in his hand, showing that he meant no harm.
“That’s Marquise Taylor there,” Tyler shouted. “He’s one of the hostages.” Sweat dripped from beneath his helmet. “Don’t shoot. I repeat. Do not shoot!”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the two suspects — Jonathon and Deshaun — on the platform at the front of the sanctuary. Both held guns that were pointed directly, and recklessly, toward the pastor and his wife. Caught in the middle, they stood in dire danger.
As Al looked back and forth between the armed men on the platform and the armed SWAT, he grabbed Misty and held her close. If a gun-fight broke out, they would be in the direct line of it.
Oh, Lord, he prayed. Help us!
Suddenly a Scripture came powerfully to Al’s mind: If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.(KJV)
“Help us, oh God! Give us wisdom.” Al whispered, holding tightly to Misty.
Bow Down! a Voice roared in Al’s mind. Al took Misty’s hand and, together they both bowed to the Lord. If they were to die, Al was determined it would be as they worshiped God.
With the area now open, the SWAT team quickly aimed their weapons at Jonathon and Deshaun. “Drop your guns!” they shouted. “Drop your weapons — now!”
Both Jonathon and Deshaun dropped their guns, lifted their hands in surrender, and began to plead, “Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot!”
The SWAT team advanced down the center and side aisles, keeping their weapons drawn.
Without meeting any resistance, four SWAT handcuffed Jonathon and Deshaun, while two others handcuffed Mayor Henderson.
“Thank You, Lord! Thank You for Your wisdom and Your mercy,” Pastor Al said as he and Misty continued to kneel.
“Are you all okay?” an officer said, running to aid Pastor Al and Misty.
Misty smiled and nodded.
“Yes. Thank you, kind sir,” Al blinked back a tear, feeling God’s strength with him.
Arrayed in radiant heavenly splendor, Davion and Kishner had at once guarded and kept safe all the precious souls within the church. Their sheer beauty was vastly beyond earthly measure. For their brilliance emanated from God above.
Tyler walked over excitedly and held his hand out.
“Hey, Marq!” Tyler said as tears burned at the corners of his eyes and his voice quavered. “Fine job, brother. Fine job!”
“Ty? Ah, man!” Marquise bypassed Tyler’s outstretched hand to grab his old high school friend and embrace him. “Same back to you.”
The other two hostages walked toward them, vibrant and happy. The Shepherds wrapped their arms around Marquise. All radiated love and peace.
“Ty,” Marquise said. “This here is Pastor Al and his wife, Misty. They have shown me the way to new life.”
“Nice to meet you both,” Tyler said, “although, I wish it were under better circumstances.”
Al smiled and then glanced around at the collection of people in the sanctuary. “May I say something to everyone, please?”
Tyler was surprised by his request but nodded his approval to the rest of the team.
Al raised his hands and spoke loudly over the din.
“When we leave this sanctuary,” the pastor spoke out, “we will each go our way. We’re souls endowed with the God-given breath of life. No matter the circumstances now or the situations to come, the life that each of us possesses is a privilege, a gift. We are about to leave this place, this sanctuary, which tonight the Lord has deemed to visit. Whatever the consequences we face — whether good or ill — God will hold each of us in His loving, keeping, and sustaining hand.”
It seemed as though everyone in the room, including the SWAT team, breathed in the peace-filled words.
As they led him past the pastor, Deshaun spoke up. A moan of desperation emanated from him. “Don’t forget to pray for us, Pastor,” he said. “We gonna do some serious hard time, preacher.” At that, he gestured toward himself Jonathon, and Mayor Henderson. Then he lowered his head, slowly shaking it side to side.
“I will, Deshaun,” Pastor Al answered. Looking at Marquise, he added, “We will!”
Marquise nodded. Like Al did earlier that night, Tyler was noticing something different about Marquise. He seemed calm, at peace. How can that be with all he’s been through tonight? Tyler wondered and put his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Ready?”
Marquise nodded, “Yeah, man, I’m ready.”
Chapter
30
Keiana sat numb, her only movement to protectively cuddle the sleeping Nisha. On either side of them sat her friend Jackie and Ricki, the lady from the crime intervention unit who had returned to update Keiana and show support.
Jackie reached over and hugged Keiana tight. “It’s going to be all right, Ke,” she said quietly, trying not to wake Nisha.
“She’s right,” Ricki added softly, handing Keiana another tissue.
“Okay then,” Keiana whispered. She pursed her lips, nodding vacantly as she dabbed at the corners of her eyes.
Though she appreciated their presence, for her the room still ached with emptiness. A deep longing within her slid to the surface as she thought about Marquise. Will he ever walk through that door again?
In her mind’s eye, she pictured some of the many times she’d laughed with him. Sitting on this very couch, they’d be laughing until tears ran. “Marq, boy, you stupid. You need to quit it,” she’d say at his goofy dance moves.
Keiana looked toward the dining room. How many times had she sat, straight up in love, right at that table? Right beside him.
Yeah, that boy, Marq, she thought. Sittin’ there all sexy and stuff, even while feeding Baby Nish. He had no clue how he was makin’ her feel all kinds of somethin’. “Boy, oooh,” she whispered, dabbing at her tears again. “I’m so in love with yo crazy butt.”
Her head quivered. You got to bring my Marq back, Lord, she prayed. I love him. Help me, help Nish, help him. Bring Marq out safe and sound. She shut her eyes and prayed the same string of pleas over and over.
With her eyes swelling from the tears, she slowly opened them again and stared at the television, hoping that the standoff would end soon, and she’d have Marq back in her arms.
Though the news coverage was reporting live, they had no further updates, so they spent the time rehashing rumors and hearsay and talking about worst-case scenarios. She began to closely examine everything on the screen. So many police and SWAT standing around! She blinked and leaned in.
Have some of ’em moved closer toward the doors of the church? Keiana sighed and leaned back. Hmm, my mind must be playing tricks on me. She closed her eyes again and held her baby tighter.
Near the site, Akil and
Lawrence paced among the ever-growing crowd. The high-powered LED lights of the news media slithered, it seemed, through the rain-damp tree leaves. An eerie fog-like aura steamed up from the ground, adding unease to the atmosphere.
“Man, I sure hope we hear something soon,” Lawrence said, shaking his head.
“You right, Law,” Akil said. “You know, bro, it seemed like something was up with our boy the whole day today at the House of Fade.”
“What you mean?” Lawrence said, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Man, I can’t put my hand on it. I mean Marq acted like his normal chill self — you know Marq — but something was going on with him. Seemed like he was strugglin’ . . . inside . . . I don’t know, strugglin’ with something.”
“Dang, man, really. Yeah, my nigga was actin’ the same way when we rolled back to his crib from the protest last night.” Lawrence began rubbing the back of his neck even harder.
Both men fell silent as they glanced uncertainly toward the church building. Unable to see clearly from where they stood, they pulled out their cellphones to watch the news footage.
“Come on, Marq boy,” Lawrence whispered. “Come out that church.”
Laura sat in the living room and watched the news unfold. On her lap lay her cell phone with speaker on, connected to Jan. Though they weren’t together physically, they shared comfort and did their best to encourage each other as they both watched the TV.
“Oh, Mom, we need to pray,” Laura said, feeling overwhelmed and helpless. Somehow, at that moment, she knew that if anything could get her through — could get Tyler home and bring her peace — it was prayer.
“You’re absolutely right, honey,” Jan said over the phone. “Let’s. Lord Jesus, Laura and I lift up every single soul in that church to You. We don’t know what’s going on behind those walls, but You do. We pray that You save each one and bring them out without a drop of bloodshed. We thank You ahead of time, dear Lord, in Jesus’ name —”
“And . . . Lord,” Laura interrupted. “Please bring Ty home. I love him, Lord. Please, bring him home to me. Thank you, Lord.”
Jan sniffed. “I love you, honey.”
“I love you, too, Mom.” Laura wiped at her tears as she looked back at the television screen.
When Al jerked his head around to look over his left shoulder, he observed Mayor Henderson bending unsteadily with his head in his hands. Then his knees buckled, toppling him onto the carpeted aisle.
“Oh my goodness, Mayor Henderson,” Al shouted as he rushed from the pew where he’d been standing and hurried toward the mayor. He didn’t have time to think about the armed gunmen surrounding the sanctuary. His main concern was for the man lying sprawled on the carpet.
“Right behind you, Al,” Marquise said and sprinted to join him. Together the two collected the mayor from the floor and assisted him, now despondent and motionless, into the hallway and toward the front door.
“I’m right behind you,” Misty said.
“Hold on,” one of the SWAT officers said behind them all. “Put him right there.” He pointed with his gun toward a bench in the foyer.
“Yes, sir,” Al said. “Mayor Henderson, sit right here, okay?”
“Thank you,” he voiced a thin whisper and slumped gratefully onto the seat.
“We’re ready in here, sir,” one of the SWAT members called from the sanctuary.
“All right, team, we’re going to begin to exit the premises,” the officer closest to Al said into a communicating device attached to his body armor. “Here’s how we’re going to do this . . .” He moved away, still speaking but out of earshot from Al.
Within a moment, an officer moved to the sanctuary entrance and looked at Al, Marquise, and Misty. “You.” He nodded toward Marquise. “You’re up first.”
“What’s happenin’?” Keiana said, her heart pounding.
Neither Jackie nor Ricki spoke.
The three sat forward on the edge of the couch and watched the sudden flurry of activity on the screen. Cameras were flashing rapid-fire and television reporters jostled feverishly to position themselves. Law enforcement, in turn, firmly pressed them back behind the barricades. All the while, helicopters whirred loudly overhead.
Keiana could see the pace of action stepping up across the screen as SWAT and police officers were positioned on rooftops, behind vehicles, in trees —everywhere she looked, it seemed.
“Dang,” Keiana said.
With guns drawn, several officers stood in readiness near the front of the church.
The door inched open and then . . . nothing.
In her sleep, baby Nisha wiggled, uncomfortable in Keiana’s tight embrace. “Sorry, baby,” Keiana whispered but kept her eyes glued to the screen.
After a few more long moments, the door opened fully. Out emerged Marquise with his hands in the air as a precaution.
Keiana’s mouth fell open. In shock she slowly stood still clutching Nisha, who woke with a start and a complaining yelp. Keiana’s numbness was replaced by a wide smile and then a loud whoop. “Marquise! Marquise! Oh my gosh. Oh my goodness!” She handed baby Nisha to Jackie, ran to the television, and covered his image with her hand, sobbing in relief. Jackie ran behind Keiana and embraced her. With Nisha squeezed between, the two rocked and cried together.
As Nisha cried again, Keiana took her baby back into her arms and hugged her tight. “Daddy’s okay, baby. See him on the TV? There he is!” Keiana said triumphantly and began to bounce her baby as she rejoiced. “How about that, Nisha?” Keiana cuddled and kissed her baby and then turned to her friend. “How about that?”
“How about that, Ke?” Jackie answered, laughing and crying at the same time.
Smiling through trembling lips, Keiana hugged baby Nisha with one arm and Jackie with the other.
Ricki stood. Her “official” face giving way to a wide and perfect smile. “So many congratulations, Keiana,” the slight woman said. “We’re so thankful for this outcome. Now listen, you need to be thinking about what you would like to do, okay? Marquise will be there for a while. He’s got to go through debriefing with the police department. The media may also try and get him to give them a statement or an interview. Do you want to go and meet him there? Or do you want to wait until he comes home?”
“I’m going over there,” Keiana answered determinedly. “If I have to wait, I want to wait where he is. Let’s go see my Marq!” She glanced again at the scene unfolding on the screen.
“Of course you need to go, Keiana,” Jackie said. “I’ll sit with Nisha.”
Keiana turned toward her friend. “Thanks so much, girl. You are a godsend.”
“You’re welcome, Ke. Come on, Nish,” Jackie said and reached out her arms.
“Mama’s going to see Daddy, Nish,” Keiana sing-songed to her baby, placing her gently in Jackie’s arms. Keiana laughed loudly. “Yes, yes, yes!” she said and did a twirl. “Ricki, I’m definitely going to see my Marq!”
Ricki smiled and clapped her small petite hands together. “Sounds great, Keiana. I suggest that you pack up a few snacks. It may be a while before you see him,” she said, grinning.
“A chance I’m willing to take! Let’s get going!”
“There’s Marquise!” Lawrence shouted, and began to point at his cell phone and then toward the church. He was unaware that tears had made their way into his eyes and were running down his face. He turned toward Akil and chest bumped him.
“Dude,” Akil said, addressing the tiny Marq on his screen. “You ’bout gave yo’ brotha man a heart attack, dude!” He shook his head and exhaled loudly.
“I wouldn’t have been able to face my little sis if we couldn’t walk back in with Marq,” Lawrence said, freely wiping at his eyes with the back of his hand. “Man, I wasn’t sure if we were going to see our boy alive again.”
“I hear you. I hear you!�
��
“Boy, he ain’t never gonna live down the heart attack he just about gave me!” Lawrence said, shaking his head. The sigh of deep relief that flooded from his soul felt awesome.
Tyler emerged from the church soon after Marquise. He could see his old friend walking cautiously several steps ahead, his hands still in the air. He didn’t want Marq to get away before they’d had a chance to reconnect. Somehow in the midst of the drama and tension, he realized how important Marquise had been in his life and the deep regret he felt for not staying in better touch with him.
The SWAT team outside stopped Marquise to pat him down thoroughly before pointing him toward the police mobile-command unit for debriefing.
“Wait up, bro,” Tyler called. But the sounds of the helicopters and reporters shouting questions drowned him out. He jogged closer and yelled louder for Marquise to wait.
Marquise turned around. With his hands on his hips, he waited for his old football brother. “Wow, man! Well?”
“Yeah, yeah!” Tyler said as he grabbed Marquise, pulled him into a bear hug, and then slapped him on the back. Tyler swallowed hard to release the lump in his throat. This could have turned out so much worse, he thought.
The two released each other and turned back toward the police command unit.
“Marq, listen to me,” Tyler said as they walked. “I almost peed my pants a while ago, bro. We were waiting for you to call back in there. I’m so glad that SWAT didn’t have to fire a shot.”
“You told SWAT not to shoot? Man, they didn’t shoot because of you! Ty, man, we did this together, didn’t we? We still a team for sure!” Marquise rubbed the top of his head, looking incredulous.
“It couldn’t have gone better, partner. Teammates forever,” Tyler grinned. “Those were some nerve-wracking minutes before we burst in, though. We kept trying to call. When we didn’t get you . . .” Tyler shook his head.
“Wow. Yeah dude, I had to hold it all up for a hot minute,” Marquise said, pounding his chest with his fist. “I had to make sure everything was right with all the folks in there.” He pointed his thumb back toward the church. “You know I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I hadn’t finished what I started out to do. I was just trying to make what’s around me better, Ty. I’ll be the first to admit that I wasn’t sure how this would all go down, though.” Marquise shook his head and blinked, eyes welling up. “I’m really, really thankful. Wow — yeah!”
Three Nights In Mannford Page 19