Redeemed

by Patricia Haley

  “Bishop Jones’s grandson got out of jail about five months ago.”

  “That’s right, he did have a grandson in and out of trouble. I even think the bishop was trying to help him.”

  “You got it. Bishop Jones went to prison before he was released, and now word on the street says that he blames you.”

  “Yeah, okay, but that doesn’t make him a stalker.”

  Garrett chuckled. “It’s him. I had one of my buddies from the phone company pull up the call log. And guess what?” Garrett asked without letting Maxwell answer. “Your cell phone number is all over the log. It’s him for sure.”

  Maxwell blew out a heavy sigh. “Hmm, nothing is easy these days.”

  “You want me to get some more evidence so you can take it to the police?”

  Maxwell mulled over the situation. Finally he said, “No, you’ve done enough. I’ll take it from here.”

  “But you are going to the police, right?”

  “I’m not sure.” Maxwell wasn’t crazy. He believed the man could be dangerous. He also knew that sending the bishop’s grandson back to jail wasn’t going to help the kid in the long run. Maxwell had to consider his options, with going to the police being the very last route. Maxwell wasn’t delusional. He couldn’t mentor the young man personally, but there were others who could. Everybody deserved a chance to correct their mistakes, including Bishop Ellis Jones’s grandson. The young man didn’t know that clinging to anger and revenge was costly. Maxwell knew that better than anyone.

  Chapter 58

  Maxwell sat in the Faith Temple parking lot, meditating on what he’d say to Pastor Harris. Saying they’d been at odds was an understatement. A week ago, Maxwell had been out for blood. The more people seemed to adore Pastor Harris, the more Maxwell committed himself to his mission of exposing him. Maxwell had wholeheartedly believed that followers had a right to know the character of their leaders. He accepted that some didn’t want to know, but ignorance wasn’t a warm shelter for responsible adults. Maybe the general public wouldn’t agree with Maxwell’s tactics or mission, but many had benefited from his tireless efforts. Maxwell opened the car door and climbed out, unashamed of the career he’d pursued. He’d taken a few questionable turns. Maxwell realized that, and he was willing to correct what he could.

  He stepped sharply to the church’s office. He hadn’t called ahead intentionally. A random visit didn’t allow the pastor to script a conversation ahead of time. Maxwell wanted an unrehearsed and open dialogue. Since Pastor Harris had nothing to hide, Maxwell was certain he wouldn’t mind.

  “Oh, it’s you again,” Martha said, with a mean look.

  “I come in peace,” Maxwell said, grinning.

  His charm fizzled on this trip.

  “The only kind of peace you’re getting is a piece of my mind,” she said, flipping her glasses up on the bridge of her nose and tinkering with the computer keyboard. “I’m getting my password on here this time, and don’t you be eyeballing what I’m typing.”

  Maxwell was amused. He had to refrain from laughing openly. Instead, he chuckled quietly. Before he could ask a question, Pastor Harris emerged from his study.

  “Attorney Montgomery, I didn’t expect to see you.”

  “Pastor, don’t worry. I have my password on this computer. He’s not getting any information from me.” Martha stood, shaking her finger in Maxwell’s direction, a scowl plastered on her face.

  Maxwell raised his arms in the air. “I’m here to give you an update on my nephew. That’s it.”

  Martha’s cutting stare stayed on Maxwell. He wasn’t going anywhere in that office without her watchful eye on him. He understood and wasn’t offended.

  “Can I get you anything to drink? Coffee, water, a soft drink?” the pastor offered.

  “No, I’m good,” Maxwell replied. He acknowledged the gesture, but he wasn’t there for a social visit. He had business to handle quickly, and hopefully, he would leave unscathed.

  Pastor Harris beckoned Maxwell into his study.

  “How’s your nephew?” the pastor asked, motioning for Maxwell to have a seat.

  Maxwell didn’t sit. “Actually, he’s alert, and the doctor’s prognosis is good.”

  “Amen,” the pastor exclaimed, clapping his hands.

  “The nurse said it was a miracle.”

  “Aha. What did I tell you, Mr. Montgomery? God is able.”

  “Maxwell.”

  “What?” Pastor Harris asked.

  “Please call me Maxwell.”

  “If you’ll call me Renaldo.” The pastor’s countenance lit up. “Please sit.”

  “No, that’s okay. I’m not going to be here long.” Maxwell took a rapid glance at the ceiling, as if words were lining up for him there. He drew in a breath and exhaled. The best way to handle an uncomfortable conversation was to hit it head-on. “My sister and I want to thank you and your church members for the prayers made on behalf of my nephew.”

  “I told you prayer works. God is good and faithful.”

  “Something worked, and although I’m not saying it was or wasn’t your prayers, Tyree is awake and doing well. So I have to say thank you.”

  “Thank the Lord, not me. He’s the one who deserves the praise.”

  Maxwell slid his hands into his pockets and let his head bop up and down several times. “Maybe one day I will.”

  “This Sunday would be as good a time as any.”

  “This weekend isn’t good. I’m taking time off and spending it in Delaware with Tyree.”

  “Good for you. We all need a break from the office.”

  “I suspect I’ll be taking quite a bit of time off in the next couple of months.”

  “Humph. And what about your active cases, like the one against me and Faith Temple?” the pastor asked.

  “As of today, that case is closed, and the files will be shredded.”

  “Right. Just like that you’re dropping the case? That’s a little difficult to believe.”

  “Seriously,” Maxwell said, swinging his arms like an umpire calling a runner safe. “I’m done.”

  Pastor Harris hunched his shoulders. “If you’re telling me the truth, I’m glad.”

  “It is the truth,” Maxwell confirmed, as difficult as it was to believe.

  “Why the abrupt change?”

  There were several reasons Maxwell could spew, but the real answer was simple. “We didn’t have a legitimate claim against you.”

  “I’m glad to hear it.”

  “And trust me, we looked,” Maxwell said, snickering.

  “What about the prosecutor and the media picking up the case?”

  “I plan to destroy all my records related to you and the church. Don’t worry. The prosecutor is too lazy to pull together a meaningful case against you. And the media likes hype. If I’m not pushing the story, they’ll drop it and move on to the next headliner. When I say this is done, it is.”

  “Then I guess we both got a miracle today. Thank the Lord,” the pastor bellowed. “You sure I can’t offer you a seat?”

  “I’m sure,” Maxwell said and prepared to shake the pastor’s hand. “Thanks again, and I won’t forget your kindness toward my family. But there is something that I’m curious about.”

  “What is it?” the pastor asked.

  “How did you find out about my past and my name change?”

  “I had you investigated. You are not the only one who knows how to turn over a stone or two.” Pastor Harris offered a slight grin and patted Maxwell on the shoulder.

  Maxwell glared directly into Pastor Harris’s eyes. Should he ask him? Would he even tell the truth? Why not? He’d come this far. “Once you knew about my past and my connection to Bishop Jones, why didn’t you tell anyone about it or shout it to the press?”

  “For what? Who would that have helped? No one. There has been enough finger-pointing and people hurting. I am in the business of building people up, not tearing them down. You have a good heart, Maxwell M
ontgomery. You do. Trust that.”

  “I doubt you’d have many supporters on that one.” Maxwell had one more comment that had to be made; then he’d go. “Just so you know, I’m not proud about what went down with Deacon Burton. He deserved better, and I’ll have to live with the guilt.”

  “You don’t have to live with guilt. That’s not God’s plan for us. That’s why Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again with all power, my brother. No matter how good you are in the courtroom, nobody can claim perfection. Life is full of mistakes. You just have to know how to repent, seek forgiveness, and go on with a wiser perspective.”

  “If only it was that easy to fix a mistake.”

  “Actually, it is.”

  “Not everybody’s going to eagerly accept my apology,” Maxwell said.

  “That’s true, but you can’t worry about everyone. Make your atonement and let God mend the broken and angry hearts. He’s the only one who can. Tell you what, why don’t you come to church one Sunday and we’ll talk more?”

  “I won’t make a promise I can’t keep, but I will think about it.”

  “Good enough. Oh, and, uh, Maxwell, remember that God sees your heart, not your past and not your failures. He’s focused on your future, and it’s bright in the Lord.”

  At least someone saw a bright future for him, Maxwell thought. He said good-bye and walked out. His next call would be to Nicole. Since today was one of miracles, perhaps she’d be willing to have dinner with him two or three nights in a row. If Tyree could be fixed, Maxwell could too. He was open to the possibilities: marriage, time off work, and a visit to Faith Temple sooner than Pastor Harris expected.

  Maxwell settled into his Porsche and cranked the raspy high-powered engine. He pressed down on the accelerator, prepared to enjoy the ride, with guilt sitting on the curb. This was a glorious day. Maxwell would sleep well tonight, for the first time in months.

  Reading Guide

  Makes you go, “Hmmm!”

  Now that you have read Redeemed, consider the following discussion questions:

  1. Did Maxell have Nicole’s fiancé investigated because he wanted them to break up? Did he simply want to make sure Nicole was marrying a good guy?

  2. Is there a future for Maxwell and Nicole?

  3. Did Maxwell commit a crime when he hired a woman to tempt Pastor Harris into adultery? Since Pastor Harris didn’t take the bait, does that excuse Maxwell’s actions?

  4. Maxwell wanted to collect evidence against Pastor Harris by any means necessary. Do you think such drastic measures are taken in real life to reach a guilty verdict in a criminal or civil case? Discuss local and national cases for which there were allegations of misused or abused authority.

  5. Maxwell was estranged from his sister and his parents. Yet his sister and his mother called him often. He didn’t like it. Do you think they were being pushy or doing the right thing by constantly reaching out to him?

  6. Before reaching the conclusion, who did you think was the mystery person behind the threats Maxwell received? Why?

  7. Maxwell harbored bitter animosity toward his dad for the devastating choice he made to trust Pastor Ellis Jones, but that was over twenty years ago. Maxwell was successful and financially independent. So why did he struggle so much with forgiving his father?

  8. Mrs. Burton was a Christian. Even though her husband was murdered and she was grieving his death, should she have displayed such anger and an unforgiving attitude toward Maxwell? Forgiveness is a foundational truth and a necessity in our Christian walk. How do we forgive in tragic circumstances, such as Deacon Burton’s imprisonment and murder?

  9. Do you believe that Pastor Harris’s prayer and around-the-clock prayer vigil had anything to do with Tyree’s recovery? Discuss your faith and the power of prayer.

  10. Maxwell seemed to be softening as a result of Tyree’s accident. Do you think his change will last? State why or why not.

  11. Throughout the story, Maxwell battled with the guilt associated with helping to send an innocent man to prison. At first he denied the implications of his actions. When that didn’t work, he tried to justify his actions. When that failed as well, his next step was to make restitution by setting up trust funds for the innocent man’s family. Do you think that will resolve his guilt? If not, what will?

  Note: The Redeemed Faith-Based Drama Series is loosely based on the biblical leader and apostle Paul. Originally named Saul, he was known as someone who was committed to persecuting the church. It seemed that this would be his legacy, but God had other plans for him. Saul had an encounter with God on the road to Damascus, and this altered his philosophy, and he became a faithful believer. His name was changed to Paul, and he repented. He spent the rest of his life preaching the good news of salvation and deliverance, through the acceptance of Jesus Christ, to a list of struggling churches (New Testament).

  Acknowledgments

  We are grateful for the readers who have graciously allowed us to entertain them with our drama series, beginning with book one, Relentless, and followed by book two, Redeemed. We give a special thanks to our incredible editor, Joylynn Ross, who offers the perfect balance of meaningful feedback and encouragement. We thank Smiley Guirand for producing such captivating cover designs from a mere concept. We also thank Valerie Johnson (Visual Sells) for bringing our characters to life in her outstanding video trailers. Many thanks to our agent, Andrew Stuart, and the rest of our Urban Books family.

  From Patricia

  I want to thank my wonderful family, including my daughter, parents, brothers, sister-cousin nieces and nephews, goddaughters, friends, advanced readers, spiritual parents, church family, prayer warriors, Delta Sigma Theta sorority sisters, booksellers, book clubs, and so many other supporters. I especially wish to thank my dearest husband and soul mate, Jeffrey Glass. Life is a journey filled with purpose. Sharing this ride with my incredible hubby has been sweeter than words can express. I’m truly blessed.

  I also want to honor the memory of Mr. Don Bartel (1924-2015), one of my beloved spiritual fathers, who showed me so much love and support over the years, along with his beautiful bride of 67 years, Mrs. Mary Bartel.

  Finally, I am grateful and honored to do this project with Gracie Hill, my childhood neighbor, my high school friend, and my sister in Christ. Blessings to you always.

  From Gracie

  I am thankful to God for all his many blessings, great and small. I am thankful to each person who has joined Patricia and me on the literary journey of the Redeemed drama series. You made Relentless a number one national best seller. Thank you so much for your support and encouragement. I am so thankful to Joylynn Ross, our editor. She is insightful and easy to work with, and she showers us with a wealth of expertise and direction. I am very excited to be a part of the Urban Christian family of authors and their awesome production team. Much thanks to Smiley Guirand for the fabulous job he did with the covers of both Relentless and Redeemed.

  I also thank my wonderful family, my children, my sisters and brothers, and my husband, Brian Hill. I give a special thanks to my pastor, District Elder Rickey Bates, First Lady Valarie Bates, and my Promise of Life Ministries family. Thank you for your love, support, and prayers.

  Authors’ Note

  Dear Readers:

  Thank you for reading Redeemed. We hope you were entertained by this second installment in the Redeemed Faith-Based Drama Series. Look for our other titles.

  We invite you to join our mailing lists, to drop us a note, or to post a message on our web site. You can also find each of us on Facebook, at Patricia Haley-Glass and Gracie Hill.

  As always, thank you for the support. Keep reading and be blessed.

  www.patriciahaley.com

  www.graciehill.com

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