Iona’s flight left at six a.m. Keith drove her to the airport, hugged her and said, “We’ll see you sometime this evening over at Isaac’s house.”
“Are you sure this is the right thing to do?”
“No, but I’m sure it will make Cynda happy. And right now that’s all I have left, so I’m doing it.”
***
Later that evening, Iona sat in her father’s kitchen going over the pre-trial information with him and Nina. Isaac wasn’t allowed at the pre-trial hearing, so Iona let him know that the prosecutor didn’t seem to have any new information. She told Isaac, “The scheduling conference is next week. You’ll need to be present for that.”
“Let me check my calendar and make sure I don’t have a prior commitment,” Isaac said.
“It’s not funny, Daddy,” Iona said while shoving his shoulder. “This is serious business, and I need my client to understand that.”
“I know, Baby Girl. But if I don’t find something to laugh about, I’m going to go insane,” Isaac told her.
Nina chimed in. “Okay, then I’ll find a comedy for us to watch when you and Iona get finished, but right now you need to focus.”
Isaac patted Nina’s hand. “Okay, baby, I’m focused.” He turned back to Iona, “What else do you need from me?”
“I need to pull your telephone records from the house, your cell and the church. The victim’s mother claims that you called and asked the victim to come out to your car that morning, so we need to prove that you didn’t make that call.”
“Do me a favor, Baby Girl.”
“Sure Dad, what do you need?” Iona asked.
“Call him Dwight. I want to keep it personal. Someone murdered Dwight with no other motive than to punish me – and I don’t know why. So keep saying his name, Clarence’s and Vinny’s names to me so that I never forget to ask why them and not me.”
“Don’t say it like that, Daddy.”
“It’s true. Whoever killed those men probably didn’t even know them. Had no beef with them. The killer had me on his mind with each kill.” Isaac shook his head and added, “And I just can’t move past the thought that even though I have given my life to Christ, I have killed again.”
Nina stood up and put her hands on Isaac’s shoulders. “That is not who you are, Isaac. You are a man of peace; a man of love. You are more Christ-like than anyone I know.” She hugged him from behind and Isaac clung to her hands as they wrapped around his chest. “You’re not responsible for the death of those men, baby. The killer is.”
“Amen to that,” Iona said.
Isaac asked, “Has your investigator come up with anything on that contract killer yet?”
“No, but he will. Neil is a pain, but he’s good at what he does,” Iona answered and then changed the subject. “Are you two okay with Mom and Keith coming down this weekend?”
“More than okay,” Nina said and then turned toward her stove. “As a matter-of-fact, I need to get my pasta boiling. Your mother loves my pasta salad.”
“I don’t know how much of it she’ll be able to eat. She hasn’t had much of an appetite lately.” Iona lowered her head and then told Isaac and Nina, “She’s not doing so well.”
Nina nudged Iona and said, “Lift your head, Iona. My God is a miracle worker.”
“That’s right,” Isaac said while palming Nina’s belly.
Iona looked embarrassed as she asked, “Do you two know how old you are?”
“Hey, don’t blame me. Your Nina-Mama can’t keep her hands off of me.” Isaac stood and flexed. “Can you blame her?”
Nina swatted him on the butt and said, “Get out of here and let me get this dinner finished. If you stay in the kitchen, I might be too overcome by your sex appeal to pay attention to what I’m doing.”
Iona laughed as Isaac strutted out of the kitchen. She stayed behind and helped Nina fix dinner as she had done for so many years while growing up in this house. But then she looked around the expansive kitchen with its marble counters and expensive ceramic tiled floors and realized that she and Donavan hadn’t grown up in this house. Although both Iona and Donavan had a room reserved for them in this big, beautiful home, they had never lived here full-time. Nina and Isaac had only moved into their newly built luxury home seven years ago. Iona and Donavan grew up in a much smaller home in the Dayton View area of town. It was the house that a preacher and a struggling novelist could afford, but as God continued to bless them year after year, they expanded.
As Nina sliced the roast she had just taken out of the oven, she looked to Iona and said, “Your father and I have been meaning to talk to you about something.”
Iona was cutting onions and green peppers for the pasta salad. “What’s up?”
“Your father and I have been saving money for you and Donavan. We know how hard it is to start your own business, so we wanted to provide assistance if you or Donavan decided to do something like that. But when Donavan left, we gave him a portion of his money and we wanted to know if you wanted yours now as well.”
Iona stopped chopping and asked, “How much money are we talking about?”
“Right now you’ve got twenty-five thousand. But we add about five thousand a year to each account.”
“Sounds good to me. Keep holding mine until I need it,” Iona told Nina right before the doorbell rang.
“They’re here,” Nina said excitedly, then wiped her hands and ran for the door. She swung it wide open and smiled as the boys ran through the door trying to get out of the early March chill. Cynda stepped in with Keith close to her side. She stretched out her hand and touched Nina’s belly and said, “Hello miracle child.”
Nina smiled and said, “Hello, miracle woman.”
“I like the sound of that,” Keith said as he kissed Nina on the cheek. “And congratulations to you and the old man.”
“I heard that,” Isaac said as he walked toward them. The four hugged. Cynda’s nurse walked in and Keith introduced her. “This is Cathy. She’s here for Cynda.”
Nina and Isaac shook hands with Cathy and introduced themselves. Then they all went into the dinning room to eat dinner and catch up.
Once dinner was finished, the kids went into Donavan’s old room to play video games while the grownups went into the family room to talk about the things they didn’t want to say in front of the kids. Once they had fully covered the storms they were facing, they formed a circle, joined hands and prayed. Iona clasped hands with Isaac and Cynda, ready to pray like never before.
Saturday, Nina, Cynda and the boys relaxed in the house with a movie marathon. Cynda’s nurse preferred to lounge in her room with a book. Iona, Isaac and Keith went driving around checking out the locations where each body had been found, hoping to stumble onto something the police overlooked.
Nina brought a tray of popcorn, turkey sandwiches, and left over pasta into the family room for the kids and Cynda. They sat together laughing over comedies and crying through dramas. The two were as comfortable together as best friends; but that had not always been the case.
Thirty years ago, Nina and Cynda had been rivals for Isaac’s affection. He had strung both of them along because he couldn’t make up his mind what he wanted. When Isaac finally decided that he wanted Nina, Cynda began to hate both Isaac and Nina. She did things to them that threatened to tear them apart; but the love of God kept Isaac and Nina together and helped them to forgive Cynda her many transgressions.
Nina turned to Cynda while the kids were glued to the TV and asked, “How are you holding up?”
“I’m going to make it,” Cynda said, then smiled and added, “Don’t think I’m going to leave you here with your man and mine too.”
Nina laughed. “You better stick around. I told you before; I’ve got all I can handle with that husband of mine.”
***
On Sunday morning, the whole crew went off to the House of God Christian Fellowship. “I can’t wait to hear you preach, buddy,” Keith said as he patted Isaac on th
e shoulder and walked out the door.
Isaac didn’t respond, but he had already asked Elder Rhiner to minister to the congregation this morning. The way Isaac saw it, he hadn’t preached last Sunday and no one got killed, so if he stayed out of the pulpit this Sunday as well, maybe he could save another life. But when they got to church and the spirit of the Lord began to move throughout the church, Isaac became convicted about his cowardice. He wasn’t saving a life by not preaching, he was stepping out of the will of God. It was the first Sunday of the month and the deacons were passing out the grape juice and crackers for communion. The praise singers were singing, “It’s the blood that gives me strength - from day to day.” Isaac was weak. He didn’t have the strength to go through the storm that was raging in front of him. Sitting in his pastor’s chair, he bowed his head and broke down as a torrent of tears cascaded down his face.
Brogan and Miguel walked down the aisle in the midst of the church members as they walked to and from their seats to get their communion juice and cracker. They were over seven feet tall, but no one could see them. However, their presence along with the multitude of other angels in the room was definitely felt by all. They walked into the pulpit area. Brogan stood on the right side of Isaac and Miguel stood on the left and put their hands on Isaac’s shoulders and ministered peace to the weakened soldier.
The praise team was still singing about the blood reaching from the highest mountain to the lowest valley, Isaac heard the voice of the Lord whisper in his ear, When you are weak, I am strong, and he got on his knees and raised his hands in praise and total surrender to the will of God. Once Isaac lifted his hands to the Lord, Brogan and Miguel retreated to the back of the sanctuary once again and waited on further orders.
Elder Rhiner was seated next to Isaac. When Isaac was able to get up from his praise spot on the floor, he sat back down in his seat and leaned toward Elder Rhiner and said, “If you don’t mind, I think I should preach today.”
Elder Rhiner patted him on the shoulder and said, “You do the Lord’s will, Pastor.”
Isaac smiled. That was exactly what he intended to do from this moment on. Nothing would stop him from doing just what God had called him to do; bring wayward souls to the kingdom.
Isaac stood before the congregation and declared the goodness of God as he had done for several decades now. When Isaac finished with his sermon, he made his altar call and stood back to see the increase of God. Ten people came to the altar and Isaac was thankful for every one of them, but he was most thankful to see Diana Milner, the woman who’d been caught fornicating with Donavan, walk down the aisle and stand before one of the altar workers with her head bowed and hands raised to God.
Iona came down the aisle, sat down on the front pew and waited for Diana to finish lifting holy hands unto the Lord. Iona waited for the altar worker to hand Diana some tissues to wipe her tears and blow her nose. Then Iona stood next to Diana and said, “Would you please follow me. I need to speak with you.”
Looking down from the pulpit, Isaac said a silent prayer for his daughter’s continued growth in the Lord. He hoped that his daughter had really learned to forgive that day she went through the Prayer Journey with her mother. He’d wasted a lot of time with hatred in his heart, brought a lot of heartache to many families. Isaac’s rampages resulted in slow singing and flower bringing. His daughter wasn’t as deadly as he had once been, so he had no fear that Iona was going to kill Diana as they walked off to the prayer room. He just hoped his daughter would not let unforgiveness grip her heart again.
And that’s when Isaac remembered. Standing there with his hands on his pulpit, watching his daughter walk toward the prayer room, Isaac remembered the unforgiveness that had been in his heart toward thieves; or at least, one thief in particular.
Chapter 27
The Killing Years Once Again
Isaac and Keith had worked their way to the top of the Chicago drug trade, but they weren’t celebrating. They had lost so much to this city: mothers, Isaac’s brother, friends and girlfriends, that they were ready to pack their bags and go. Spoony knew about a hustler in Dayton, Ohio by the name of Ton-Ton who needed help establishing his market. Eager to get away, Isaac and Keith volunteered for the job.
Of course they didn’t leave Chicago empty handed. They had made millions and spent bundles on houses, cars, clothes, jewelry and women; lots of women. Besides the money, Isaac also brought Valerie to Dayton with him. At first he moved her into his home. But he soon found her a place of her own. Things were going good for Isaac and Keith in this new city. Then Leonard showed up. He was fresh out of rehab, looking as dapper as ever with a woman that wasn’t Clara on his arm and no idea how his son was doing. Isaac didn’t pretend to be a one woman man, but he believed a man should take care of his responsibilities. You lay down with a woman and create a baby; you stay there and take care of that child. But Leonard was his boy, so he ignored his behavior and took him back into the fold.
The hustler they came to Dayton to help build up his territory got himself arrested on a triple homicide, so Isaac took over Ton-Ton’s territory without much hassle at all. Keith and Leonard became Isaac’s enforcers and they split the territory. Within six months time, Keith’s territory was flourishing while Leonard’s was losing more and more money every month. During one of their meetings, Isaac asked Leonard, “What’s going on?”
“Nothing much. I’m just working hard to keep you on the throne.” He bowed and dramatically waved his arm in the air. “All hail King Isaac.”
Isaac got right to the point. “I’m losing money, Leonard.”
Leonard shrugged. “People do get off drugs, you know. We’re competing with rehabs, crime stoppers and Christmas for goodness’ sake. What do you want me to do, go tell every crack-head in Dayton that they can’t go to rehab or buy their children presents at Christmas time?”
“Shut up, Leonard. When have you ever known a crack-head to care about Christmas presents?”
“Clara cares. She blows up my cell every day this week begging me to take her Christmas shopping for the kids.”
Clara had left Chicago to follow Leonard to Dayton, but Leonard had ignored her and his son once she got there. She ended up moving into the Desota Bass project homes and getting on crack after waiting one lonely night after the next for Leonard to come see about her. She’d also had another baby, which Leonard claimed was not his, so now he had an excuse not to do the right thing. As each day passed, Isaac became more and more disgusted by his friend. His lip curled as he told Leonard, “I need my money.”
Leonard stuck his chest out and spread his arms out wide. He took a step forward. “You accusing me?” He took another step and asked, “You think I’m stealing? Is that it?”
“I’ve told you before, don’t flex on me,” Isaac warned Leonard and then continued. “Now I don’t know if it has gone up your nose, in a pipe, on a woman-.”
Leonard laughed. “I know you not talking about nobody spending money on women? Man, you’ve got nerve.”
Currently, Isaac was dealing with about five women. He was really into about three of them. Valerie, Cynda and Nina. He was paying for Valerie’s and Cynda’s apartments and making sure they had everything they needed; after all, they were running his drugs from state to state. He had just moved Nina into his house and that was causing a lot of friction with Valerie and Cynda. He needed them in his business so he spoiled them to keep their mouths shut about Nina. But that was his money he was spending. “Let me put it to you like this, Leonard, I give you drugs to distribute and sell, but after you’ve sold the stuff, the money you bring back ain’t matching; so get me my money by tonight or your out.”
“Just like that, huh? You gon’ put me out again?” Leonard put his fist in the palm of his hand and rubbed it. He blew out hot air through his nostrils and then said, “Nigga, we built this business together.” Leonard banged on his chest with his fist. “You forgot that didn’t you, King Isaac? It was me in them streets,
blowing fools away so you could be on top.”
“I told you before, Leonard, I don’t have room for a crack-head in my organization. If you’re back on the pipe, you got to go.”
“And that’s another thing,” Leonard said indignantly. “Why you always gotta rush to call somebody a crack-head. And why I gotta be the one stealing? Why wouldn’t you suspect one of my runners before accusing me, huh? I’m your boy. Doesn’t that count for something?”
“Tonight, Leonard – get me my money, tonight.”
Leonard flailed his arms in agitation. “Oh, so it’s like that, huh? You gon’ talk to me like I’m nothing after all the stuff we’ve been through?” When Isaac didn’t respond, Leonard asked, “So what if I can’t get the money by tonight, what you gon’ do? You gon’ kill ya’ boy?”
When Isaac didn’t respond, Leonard threw up his hands and said, “Forget it, I don’t need this. Count me out now – do what you want with my territory, I’m out!” Leonard turned and stormed out of the crack-house Isaac owned on Grand Avenue.
Isaac called Keith and informed him that Leonard was no longer a part of their organization and that he would be taking over Leonard’s territory himself, then he left the house on Grand and went home. But instead of finding peace, he found Nina packing her clothes, screaming and crying. Isaac lifted his hands and asked, “Would you calm down and tell me what happened?”
“The same thing that always happens around here,” Nina retorted. “One of your women slashed my tires and another one – might be the same one for all I know, called here today and informed me that you and she have a date to go to Chicago.”
“Nina, I don’t know who keeps doing things to your car, but believe me, when I find out, I will deal with that person. As far as Chicago, I go there on business trips all the time, you know that.”
Through the Storm Page 19
