Jane caught the sign of recognition. “Do you know him?’
Esther shook her head in the negative. “No, but... What did they say his name was? What’s this report about?”
Esther endured Jane’s sigh of reprimand, and the scolding she gave her about never listening to people. Those ticking seconds gave her just enough time to recall where she had seen that face before, and with whom! She nearly shouted at Jane, as her patience with the woman’s chatter ran out.
“What’s his name, Jane?”
She told her, repeating the subject of the news report. Afterward, Jane watched in utter fascination as Esther’s dour expression changed into one of pure triumphant.
****
It was the night desk at the TV station that received the anonymous telephone call. According to the caller the minister whom the media had dubbed the “Anti-Drug Queen” was involved, romantically, with a “Drug King” and someone needed to look into it. The woman gave the man’s name and the assignment to follow up on the juicy tip was made immediately.
CHAPTER 20
Carla was worried. Nedra left her house Sunday evening. It was now Tuesday morning and she hadn’t seen or spoken to her since she went to talk to Sinclair Reasoner. She was supposed to call Carla afterward, but that didn’t happen. Her calls to Nedra went unanswered. If that man had hurt her friend there was going to be hell to pay!
When Nedra informed Carla of her secret liaison with Sinclair, Carla’s feelings were hurt. She shared practically everything in her life with her two best friends. How Nedra could keep something like this from her was beyond comprehension. However, as time passed and she thought about it, perhaps it was best that she hadn’t been confronted with the dilemma of knowing about the affair. Jacob had never provided her with any names regarding the investigation, but if she had known in advance that Sinclair was involved she might have been tempted to tell Nedra.
By now it seemed that everybody in town knew about the relationship, or at least thought they did. Carla’s telephone was ringing off the hook. “Somebody” had spread a rumor that Nedra was connected with that “Bayland Imports man”. People wanted to know what Carla knew about the whole thing, but she remained silent.
Earlier, Sharon had called from Seattle. The gossip had even reached her. Carla was reluctant to tell her about the unfolding drama. Sharon had enough problems. So, dismissing her friend’s anxiety she told her that Nedra was doing fine.
As soon as they disconnected, Carla jumped into her car with Nedra’s house key in her pocket. She broke the speed limit driving to Alameda, hoping against hope that she would find Nedra safely at home. God help Sinclair Reasoner if she wasn’t!
Checking the garage, she was relieved to find Nedra’s car parked in its stall, and happier to find the subject of her concern in the living room curled up on the loveseat. What she wasn’t pleased about was the state she was in—clad in pajamas, depressed and crying. Nedra barely looked up when Carla let herself into her home.
She had never seen her friend this dejected. Nedra was always full of life and in good spirits. Carla fought the urge to take her into her arms and provide comfort. What was called for right now was tough love. Hands on hips, she walked over to Nedra.
“Let me tell you something! If you ever pull a disappearing act like this again, I’m going to kick your butt from here to L.A. I have been worried sick about you. Now, I’m going to run you a bath so you can wash your stinking behind, then I’m going to fix you something to eat. After that we’ll sit and talk.” She rubbed her hands together. “Let’s get to it!”
An hour later, Nedra sat in the kitchen of her condo, still listless, but feeling better. She found it ironic that she was the one trained to comfort others, but it was Carla who was comforting her.
She had been crying since she left Sin’s house. She had no more tears to shed. Then depression had settled upon her like fog on the bay. It was difficult placing one foot in front of the other. All she’d been able to do was sleep. The meal that Carla fixed for her was the first she had eaten since Sunday and, even now, she picked at the food on her plate as she told Carla about her talk with Sinclair.
The end of her story brought no comment from her friend. Her silence was unnerving. Carla had an opinion about everything.
“So, you don’t have anything to say? Or maybe you have too much to say. Whatever it is, I deserve it. I deserve everything that’s happening to me.” Nedra gave a shaky sigh. “I’m the one who did wrong. He never mentioned marriage. He never said that we’d be together until death do us part. I made love to him without benefit of marriage and now I’m being punished for it.” Silent tears began to flow.
Getting up from her chair, Carla picked up her empty plate, took it to the sink, washed it and then placed it in the drainer before returning to her seat at the kitchen table. She looked at her friend thoughtfully before speaking. “You don’t believe what you just said and neither do I. In every sermon that you preach, you talk about God’s love, not his vengeance. So I won’t go there. Where I will talk about is what you told me about you and Sinclair.
You say that you love him and that he loves you, and when you told me that the other day, I really didn’t know what to think. I know Sharon and I teased you about him, because we were looking at him, physically, and Lord knows we liked what we saw. But I never thought about you falling in love with the man. I certainly didn’t like what I heard from you about being in love with him when I found out he might be involved in the drug trade, even though I know people are innocent unless proven guilty. But, that one time I met him, I sensed that he was a decent guy. Obviously, there was something good in him you sensed too and you learned to love.”
Carla paused, sat back in her chair, and observed her friend closely. “You might not like what I’m about to say, but you know I’m going to say it anyway.”
“What else is new?” Nedra pushed her plate away, and braced herself for the frank advice Carla was more than capable of giving.
“Sinclair was right to send you away.”
Outraged, Nedra leaped from her chair, knocking it over. “How can you say that? He has no right to make that decision for both of us.”
Carla remained calm. “I don’t disagree with that. But, like I said, the decision that was made was the right one.”
“Are you kidding, the decision never to see him again?” Nedra stood, defiantly, glaring down at her friend.
“No, the decision he made to protect you so that you won’t be destroyed by the fallout.”
“To protect me? I’m not some child who needs to be looked after! I’m a 38 year old woman with a mind of my own!”
“And you have a God given talent to help and lead others. You’ve been locked up in here for two days. You don’t know what just the hint of a scandal is doing to Mount Peter...”
“The church is strong enough to get through it.”
“But it needs a dynamic leader to help it through, and Sinclair is seeing that the church gets it. Until the cloud over his head is lifted, he’s got to let you go.”
Too angry to look at Carla, Nedra stormed into the living room and took a seat. Snatching up the remote, she turned on the TV wanting to occupy herself with anything except dealing with Carla.
Undeterred, her friend followed her into the room. Carla took a seat across from her.
Nedra stared at the screen, determined to ignore her. The news report on the television was nothing but background noise until a picture of Sinclair flashed on the screen. Another man was with him and they were walking out of the court house. Both women snapped to attention. Carla grabbed the remote and raised the volume.
“Mr. Reasoner, a prominent businessman, seen here with his attorney, reportedly, used his legitimate import business to launder illegal drug money. It is rumored that Mr. Reasoner, a bachelor, is linked, romantically with Reverend Nedra Davis, pastor of Oakland’s Mount Peter church, which, supposedly, has been in the forefront of fighting the drug tr
ade in East Oakland.”
Nedra was stunned. Supposedly!
She hadn’t looked at a television, read a newspaper or listened to the radio for days, but two things were evident. Sin had been identified and Mount Peter’s motives were suspect, just as he warned her they would be.
“The reporters have been snooping around questioning anybody remotely connected to Mount Peter,” said Carla. “And I‘ll bet you a million dollars we both know the meddling heifer behind the media knowing about you and Sinclair!”
They returned their attention to the screen. Sin’s face could not be seen clearly, but his broad shoulders, which he usually held high, were hunched. The cat like gait with which he walked seemed to drag.
“He looks so tired.”
Carla noted the sadness in Nedra’s voice and the look in her eyes as she watched him. She knew the look well. It was the same one she had for Jacob.
As Sin and his attorney vanished from the screen, Carla clicked the set off and joined Nedra on the love seat. They sat face to face. Carla looked stern.
“You can hide in here, feeling sorry for yourself, or go out there and take care of business.. It’s up to you. There are things that need doing and you’re the one to do them. Remember, you got this far by faith. Now use it!”
One hug between them was all that was needed to mend their rift. Nedra was re-energized. There was no doubt that somehow, Esther Costello was fanning the flames that were threatening Mount Peter’s credibility. Nedra was so mad that her first thought was to storm over to Esther’s house, and forget her Christian training. She wanted to kick some serious behind, but Carla’s cooler head prevailed. They spent the rest of the night together, talking, plotting and planning about how to combat the rumors and innuendoes.
Before Carla left Nedra’s house, she turned to her with a look that Nedra recognized. She was about to impart some of her famous unsolicited advice, which meant that Nedra might not like what she had to say. She was wrong.
“I don’t know this Sinclair Reasoner, but there’s one thing I can say about him. Considering all that you’ve told me, and judging from what’s gone on so far, you are one lucky woman for having had him in your life, no matter how long it’s been. Because, girlfriend, I can say this with no reservations. He must love the hell out of you.”
****
“No comment!’ ‘No comment’! That’s all both of them can say!”
Richard tossed a water bottle across the room where it bounced off the television screen. “Well, I know I’ve got plenty to say! How about how they whored around in Tahoe! I bet you didn’t know that one!”
He was furious! After all he had done for Nedra, here she was screwing around with one of Eddie and Lynn’s lackeys.
For the last couple of days, the media had been filled with reports about the Carter Drug bust, and the relationship between the “Anti-Drug Queen” and an alleged member of the Carter drug ring. Speculation as to how much Nedra knew about the illegal activities was rampant. There were even some who insinuated that she might be involved with drugs. Her character was being questioned from every quarter.
There was one report, from some neighbors of a couple, named the Simpsons, who belonged to Mount Peter church. They related how they had spotted Sinclair Reasoner’s fancy car parked overnight in front of the Simpson house. According to the report, Mr. Simpson was in the hospital, and his wife was taking care of him. The great St. Nedra was suppose to be baby-sitting two orphan children, but exactly what she was doing in the house alone with that man could only be assumed.
Some big-mouthed woman, who called herself a “concerned parishioner”, told another TV reporter that she had seen them hugged up together at some amusement park, when they were chaperoning a group of church children. The lady’s next door neighbor, prompted by Mrs. Big Mouth, added that she saw the couple on the Peninsula together propped up against a wall, outside a Monterey nightclub with their tongues down each other’s throats.
“They were making a spectacle of themselves,” she charged.
Mrs. Big Mouth hastened to add that she thought that it was a disgrace that a minister—a servant of the Lord–should carry on in public without regard to her Christian calling. Richard had to agree.
He had loved Nedra. He thought she was a good woman. He had even forgiven her for her moment of weakness. It showed that she was only human. But this! This whoring around like some street slut with a common drug dealer, and all the while rejecting him, really pissed him off!
He had saved her life and jeopardized his own! He had planned to take her away. She had played him. What a fool he had been! Probably everybody in the Bay Area knew she was a whore, but him! Everybody had been laughing at him for thinking she was some kind of saint! Well, nobody played him for a fool! He wouldn’t stand for that!
Richard took another snort of coke to ease his irritation. Yeah, he had to alter Plan #2 just a bit, but that shouldn’t be a problem. He didn’t have to worry about Lynn any longer. The papers said that she was in a psycho ward for evaluation. It seems she went whacko when they arrested her, and bugged out completely behind bars.
Richard sniggered as he thought about that farce. Hell! They didn’t have to do an assessment of Lynn’s mental state. He would tell anybody who asked that she was crazy.
He was now free to return to Oakland and take care of this Nedra business. He hadn’t been ready to kill her for Lynn Trellis, but now it was personal. Nedra had everybody laughing at him and she was going to pay.
Richard reached into the night stand drawer, and withdrew the pistol that Lynn had given him. It was untraceable, and he had been given instructions as to where to dump it after the hit. It would never be found. No one would suspect him of pulling the trigger.
He ran his hand slowly along the smooth edge of the pistol’s barrow, then aimed at a spot on the wall opposite the bed.
He grinned. “Yeah, it looks like he was back to Plan #1.” He pretended to pull the trigger. “Pow! Goodbye, Reverend Davis and good riddance.”
CHAPTER 21
Attendance at Mount Peter Baptist Church was usually good on Sundays, but the Sunday following news reports linking Nedra with Sin, there was standing room only.
Ushers had to turn potential worshippers away. The media was banned from attending, although numerous reporters donned their Sunday best to pose as pseudo worshippers.
Nedra was ready. She had faced the onslaught of aggressive media, questioning parishioners, irate deacons, and the accusations and condemnation of some of her fellow male ministers with her head high. Jacob had offered legal assistance if needed. She had thanked him, but declined. She had done nothing wrong except love a man. As far as she knew, there was no law against that.
When she stepped into the pulpit that morning, she did so with confidence. Esther was in her usual seat, a smug smile of victory planted on her lips. She had managed to split the congregation into two warring factions, and felt close to seeing her major goal accomplished— removing Nedra Davis from the pulpit of Mount Peter.
Esther’s faction averaged fifty and older. It included married couples, widows or widowers, and long time members of the church. They were the church leaders, the deacons, the head of committees, most of whom contributed heavily to Mount Peter. They held power and they had money.
The faction that supported Nedra was younger, mostly single professionals and some married couples with young children. The teenagers were one hundred percent behind Reverend Ned, as she was affectionately known. They were delighted that she had found herself a man! Though vocal, most members of this group did not hold the power in the church that their counterparts held, and Esther was quick to dismiss them.
An emergency Deacon Board meeting was scheduled for the coming week. Nedra would be asked to explain herself, if she could, but Esther was certain she couldn’t. Some members of the Sisters of Help had pointedly asked Nedra about Sinclair Reasoner. They reported to Esther that they were told, with no sign of shame wha
tsoever, that she owed them no explanation, and wasn’t going to give them one. She had informed them that she had done nothing in public to embarrass the church. They could hardly believe the arrogance of the woman!
The great Reverend Davis had been caught, red-handed, engaged in immoral behavior that had put a cloud of suspicion over Mount Peter. It was practically guaranteed that after next week, she would no longer lead the church down the road to ruin!
With this in mind, Esther met Nedra’s eyes. Neither woman exchanged greetings. Neither woman blinked. The battle lines were drawn.
After the announcements were made, the greetings were given, and the singing was completed. Nedra took her place in the pulpit and looked out into the crowd.
“The topic of today’s sermon is one that is dear to my heart. It may be an old one, but the subject is as new as the day. I’m calling today’s sermon, “Bearing False Witness Against Thy Neighbor”, subtitled, “Judge Not Yet Ye Be Judged.”
Nedra had never been a fire and brimstone preacher. She preferred to get her point across more subtlety. However, the events of the past week didn’t call for subtlety. She set that aside.
Reverend Ned preached the good sisters out of their seats, and had them running up and down the aisle shouting. She had grown men weeping, and children rocking from side to side. Without taking her eyes off of Esther Costello, she gave no explanations and offered no excuses. She merely challenged anyone in Mount Peter, who was without sin, to come stand before her and cast the first stone. When, drenched in sweat and breathless from her delivery, she finally took her seat. She did so to a standing ovation. Everyone stood except Esther Costello, but when Nedra met her eyes this time, Esther blinked.
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