“Did he give you a statement?”
“After signing a Miranda waiver, he provided helpful details about both of your activities.”
“Give me a copy of the statement.”
“That will be handled by the district attorney’s office. I’m sure Mr. Miller can tell you what he told me.”
The detective turned and motioned for Sam to approach. Mike opened the door to the closest interview room and waited for Sam to enter.
“What did you tell him?” Mike asked as soon as the door clicked shut. “You know better than to talk to the police!”
“Nothing that they wouldn’t have found out anyway,” Sam replied. “We didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Haven’t you learned anything?” Mike retorted in frustration. “Perception is as important as reality!”
Sam rubbed the top of his head. “I did plenty of sweating last night when I wrestled with the Enemy before I got the victory.”
“Victory over what?”
“Fear,” Sam answered simply. “It had me down, much worse than the sickness I felt when we went to the church last night. Right now, it’s draped all over you.”
Mike stopped. He couldn’t deny the anxiety that gripped him.
“Are you saying I shouldn’t be worried?”
“Ask the Master, not me.”
“Please, don’t lecture me.”
“I’m trying to help you. Do you remember your dream about me sitting in the chair in this room? I thought about it as soon as they brought me in this morning. I think the dream was about now, not before. It’s important for both of us that I stay at rest. It’s easier for me since I’ve been through this jail once. This is your first time. That’s always the hardest.”
“I’m not in jail yet.”
Sam looked directly in his eyes. “Do you believe they’re going to let you go when we finish?”
Mike licked his lips. “I hope so.”
“If they don’t, what are you going to do?”
“Hire a good lawyer.”
There was a knock on the interview room door. Mike opened it. Perkins stood there with a deputy beside him.
“Reverend Andrews, I’d like to see you before you leave.”
“All right.”
Mike shut the door. “It’s too early in the morning to call a lawyer.”
Sam bowed his head and began to pray. “Papa, You see inside this jail and into the hearts of all men. I don’t believe Mike and I are in this place without a plan. Please show it to us so that we can do Your will. We forgive in advance the wicked men who are causing us this trouble, and help us in our time of need.”
As the old man prayed, Mike began to calm down. When Sam said, “Amen,” he opened his eyes.
“That helped,” Mike admitted. “Except when I think about Peg. If I don’t go home in a couple of hours, I’m not sure she can handle it.”
Sam nodded. “Folks who are married and suffer for the Master endure four times the pain. The greatest fear I fought last night wore Muriel’s face. I knew it wasn’t her, but that didn’t make it any easier to rebuke it. You may have to trust Papa to be there for Peg more than you will for yourself.”
Mike slumped down in his chair. “How long do you think we should stay in here?”
“Until they break up our prayer meeting.”
Mike looked at his watch. “Or it’s time for me to call a lawyer. While we wait, tell me about your conversation with Detective Perkins.”
“He asked what I did yesterday after I left the courthouse. I told him I worked at the Blevins house all afternoon then went with you to the church to meet with the elders, who didn’t show up, so we left. Don’t you think he would have found out about that kind of thing anyway?”
“Maybe, but they should get information on our terms, not theirs. Did you mention the e-mail from Milton Chesterfield?”
“Nope, I didn’t remember his name.”
“Did he tell you they found a gas can with your company’s name on it near the scene of the fire?”
Sam raised his eyebrows. “I’ve been missing a can for a few days now. I thought I’d left it at a job in town.”
“Are you sure you didn’t leave it at the church when you cut the grass?”
“Nope. I’ve had it since then. It’s only been gone since Friday or Saturday.”
“Don’t you see? Whoever set you up did so after realizing what I was going to bring out in your trial! That’s why the embezzlement charge disappeared and a new one appeared. It’s all the same.”
“Same what?”
“Attempt to discredit you, and now, me. A man who would steal money from a church or burn one down shouldn’t be believed if he tries to expose corruption by prominent men in the community. The only difference now is they’ll try to bring me down, too. I figured out what they were doing while investigating your other case, which makes me a greater threat than you and your dreams.”
There was another knock on the door immediately followed by someone opening it.
“Time’s up!” a surly deputy announced. “Vacate this room.”
“Is there a waiting list?” Mike asked.
Sam shook his head.
Mike followed Sam into the hallway and glanced apprehensively at the booking area.
Perkins came around the corner. “Mr. Miller, you are the subject of an ongoing investigation but may leave at this time.”
“I’m not arrested?”
“No; however, you should not leave Barlow County without notifying the sheriff ’s office of your travel plans.”
Normally, Mike would have objected to the notice requirement, but he was so glad Sam could leave that he kept his mouth shut.
The deputy grabbed Sam by the arm. “Come with me.”
Mike started to follow, but Perkins stopped him.
“Reverend Andrews, please step into the booking area.”
“Am I under arrest?”
“Not unless you want to confess to a crime.”
Mike’s eyes narrowed. “Your comments at my house made me believe you were going to try to charge me whether you had any evidence or not.”
“That’s not how we conduct law enforcement in Barlow County.”
Mike followed the detective. The booking area contained two desks, several chairs, and a small side room for taking mug shot photos. Sitting beside one of the desks was Ken West.
“Have a seat, Mike,” West said. “You got me up early this morning. Detective Perkins tells me you’re reluctant to provide details of your activities after you left the courthouse yesterday.”
“Those who know the system are cautious,” Mike answered. “You’d be the same in my position.”
“Probably right.” West shifted in his chair. “However, it struck me as odd that Mr. Miller would walk away from an embezzlement charge and immediately burn down a church. Now, he tells Detective Perkins that he was with you during the relevant time period. Is that correct?”
“Yes, from approximately six-fifteen in the evening until we received a phone call at my house that the old sanctuary was on fire.”
“Did the two of you go to the church?”
Mike hesitated.
“You don’t have to tell me,” West continued. “However, we received a 911 call from a witness who reported seeing you and Miller at the church.”
“Who was the witness?”
“Didn’t leave a name. The call was made from a pay phone at a convenience store about two miles from the church.”
Mike leaned forward. “Ken, I’d rather not discuss what happened last night until I obtain legal counsel.”
“Are you sure you want to go that far to protect Mr. Miller?”
“And myself.”
West avoided Mike’s eyes. “I’ve already begun the process of obtaining a warrant for your arrest; however, as a fellow attorney I didn’t want to take that step before talking with you.” He looked at Mike. “Will you provide fingerprint samples without the necessity o
f formal charges?”
“Why? My fingerprints would be all over Little Creek Church!”
“But not necessarily on the gas can found on the premises.”
Mike couldn’t remember if he’d touched one of Sam’s gas cans, but he knew the sheriff ’s department could eventually obtain his fingerprints. If cooperation delayed an arrest and bought him a few more hours or days with Peg, it would be worth it.
“Okay,” he replied.
Perkins summoned a female deputy, who expertly rolled Mike’s fingerprints and pressed them on a card. While she did so, Mike glanced into the photo room and wondered how long it would be before the light flashed and his face appeared in the local paper with the caption “Local Pastor Charged with Burning Church.”
Thirty-two
WHEN HE STARTED HIS CAR, MIKE ENTERTAINED THE WILD thought of packing Peg and Judge in the car, emptying his shrinking bank account, and driving as far away from Barlow County as possible. He arrived home. Peg was sitting in the kitchen waiting.
“Thank God!” she said when he walked through the door.
They embraced. Mike held her a long time, memorizing the feel of her body pressed close to his.
“How was Sam?” she asked when he released her. “Muriel called. She’s torn up.”
“On his way home. But the wheels of injustice are turning. I’m not sure how long it will be before arrest warrants are issued.”
“Warrants?”
“For both of us. I believe everything that’s happened is connected. It’s all designed to keep Sam, and now me, from ruining the Cohulla Creek land deal. There is a lot of money at risk.”
“Money!” Peg raised her voice. “Call Mr. Forrest and promise to keep your mouth shut! We don’t care whether someone builds a bunch of houses in the middle of the woods.”
“The people behind this wouldn’t trust me. And there may be corruption I don’t know anything about. They’re probably scared of going to jail themselves.”
Mike told her about the encounter with Ken West. “If they claim my fingerprints are on the gas can, I’m sure I’ll be arrested.”
Peg bit her lower lip. “What will I do if that happens?”
“Get me out on bond. I’m going to hire Greg Freeman to represent me before I’m arrested. I have to do as much as possible while I still have my freedom.”
“Do you think you should see Bobby?”
“Why?”
“I haven’t been able to get him out of my mind. If he was on the bad side of this, he wouldn’t have slipped you information at the courthouse.”
“Okay, but what am I supposed to ask him now?”
“To help. I can’t believe he would stand by and let this happen to us if he could stop it.”
“He’s not close to the center of power.”
“No, but I’d like you to do it for me.”
Mike shrugged. “Okay, it can’t hurt.”
He picked up the phone. It was still too early for the receptionist at the law office to be at work, so he dialed Bobby’s cell phone. The familiar voice answered.
“Are you at the office?” Mike asked.
“Yes.”
“Detective Perkins and an arson investigator came to see me early this morning. Sam Miller and I are under investigation for setting fire to the church.”
“No! This is crazy!” Bobby responded with such feeling that Mike was encouraged to continue.
“I’d like to meet with you.”
“When?”
“As soon as possible.”
There was a brief pause. “The courthouse will be open in a few minutes. Be at the library.”
Mike hung up and turned to Peg. “I’m not sure where this is going with Bobby, but I’m going to meet him at the courthouse. While I’m in town, I’ll slip in and talk with Greg Freeman. He’s trying a case in the main courtroom, but I can catch him during a break.”
“Go ahead. I’m not feeling well,” Peg replied. “I’m going to lie down.”
“Should I take you to the doctor?”
“No, I’ll be fine if I get off my feet.”
Mike reluctantly left the house. He arrived at the courthouse and went to the library. Bobby was waiting for him. Mike had a sudden urge to ask Bobby if he was going to record the conversation.
“Is this off the record?” Mike asked.
“You’re the one who wanted to talk.”
“I’m jumpy. Who’s behind this?”
“Delores phoned me late last night claiming Miller threatened to burn down the church several weeks ago. She was going to call the sheriff ’s department and report it. I guess that’s what she did.”
Mike groaned. “It was a dream. Sam had a dream in which he saw the church on fire. It wasn’t literal; it had to do with the conflict that surfaced over my involvement in his criminal case. He never expressed any anger toward the church or its leaders, and I explained that to Delores at the time.”
Bobby tapped his pen against a blank legal pad. “She remembered what she wanted to. Captain Logan also phoned and asked me about the company that maintained the church grounds. They found a gas can belonging to Miller in the bushes.”
“I know. They want to dust it for my fingerprints, too.”
“Did you touch it?”
“I remember talking to him when he came to cut the grass, but I don’t know if I picked up any of his equipment. I could have helped him load or unload stuff at other locations when I went by to see him about his case. But there must be more behind this than Delores Killian and a gas can.”
“You and Miller were the last people at the church. That doesn’t prove anything, but it’s circumstantial enough to make a detective start sniffing the air.”
Mike stood up and started pacing.
“But are there any other reasons why this is happening?” he asked.
“Not that I’m aware of.”
Mike stopped and stared hard at Bobby.
“Are you sure?”
“What are you driving at?”
Bobby seemed sincere. Mike didn’t know how hard to push or what to reveal. He tried a different tack.
“Why was the embezzlement charge against Miller dropped?”
“Evidence surfaced that your client didn’t have anything to do with the checks.”
Mike put his hands on the conference table and leaned forward.
“Did this evidence involve Brian Dressler?”
“Yes, but I can’t comment on the details.”
“Was there another reason why the charges against Miller suddenly evaporated?”
“No.”
“Did you and Mr. Forrest talk about the dismissal?”
“Of course, but you know he just brought me in to carry his briefcase and do some research. Mike, what are you driving at? You have more immediate problems than figuring out why you won the embezzlement case without firing a shot.”
“I’m just wondering if the embezzlement and arson charges are related.”
“How?”
“That’s what I hoped you could tell me.”
“I can’t,” Bobby replied with obvious frustration in his voice. “I’m your friend, not your enemy. I’ve tried to prove that over and over during the past weeks. What do you want me to do?”
“Peg asked me to talk to you, but I’m not sure why.”
“Maybe because she knows you’ll ride off to battle without thinking about the consequences. You need to hire a lawyer to protect you and Peg.”
Mike sat down at the table. “Will you represent me?”
“Are you serious? I’m not a criminal defense lawyer. I’m comfortable with contracts, but I’ve never handled anything more complicated than a traffic ticket. You don’t want me.”
“What about Mr. Forrest?”
“He’s furious with you for pestering the bank and dragging Bunt and Linden into town just to harass them for no reason. I could talk to him, but he needs a cooling-off period before he’d consider serving as your ch
ampion. You need help now.”
“I’m going to talk to Greg Freeman. He’s in the middle of a trial, but I’m going to catch him during a break.”
“Good. Get to him as soon as you can.”
“Will you let me know if you hear anything else about the fire?”
“Yes.”
Mike hesitated. “One more thing. Why did Mr. Forrest believe I subpoenaed Bunt and Linden for harassment purposes only?”
Bobby put his pen in his pocket. “Because of their ownership in the bank, of course. In the past year, they’ve become the two largest stockholders.”
“That’s what he told you?”
“Yes.”
Mike stood up. “I’m heading over to the courtroom. If you won’t help me, I’m going to ask Greg Freeman.”
Mike ignored the crestfallen expression on Bobby’s face and left the library. He slipped in the back of the courtroom. Melissa Hall was questioning a sheriff ’s deputy who had identified Freeman’s client as the man caught leaving the auto parts store through the back door late one Saturday night.
“Was he carrying anything in his arms?” Hall asked.
“No.”
Hall looked flustered. “Wasn’t he carrying property from the store?”
“Objection, leading,” Freeman said.
“Sustained.”
“Tell us what you saw,” Hall tried again.
“I saw the defendant pushing a shopping cart piled high with a set of chrome reverse mag wheels, a CD player with six speakers, and a pair of sheepskin seat covers.”
Hall relaxed. The questioning went smoothly from there. When she sat down, one of the jurors raised his hand. Judge Lancaster pointed to him.
“What is it?”
“Could we take a break? I’m not feeling well.”
“Ten minutes,” the judge barked.
Mike walked down the aisle. Both Freeman and Hall turned around as he approached.
“Greg, can I speak with you for a minute?” Mike asked.
Freeman came around the bar into the aisle. “This was your week to star in court.”
“I almost wish I could have. There’s more trouble brewing. Did you hear about the fire at my church?”
“No.”
“The old sanctuary at Little Creek burned down last night. Sam Miller and I are under investigation for arson.”
Mountain Top Page 38
