Song of Praise

by Vanessa Miller

  RaShawn washed down the huge lump in his throat. Just knowing that Tony had compassion for Britney all those years ago made RaShawn wish he had taken the time to get to know Tony before he’d dismissed him.

  But RaShawn had been in a rush to be the battle axe God had called him to be. Now he wondered if God was pleased with the way he was running this fellowship. “I’m sorry that I didn’t give him a chance,” was all he could say to Britney.

  “I’m not saying that you didn’t have cause to fire him. He never should have gone into the ministry if he wasn’t going to be faithful to his wife.”

  “You knew about that?”

  She nodded. “My aunt used to cry herself to sleep. I never understood why she stayed, and then one day it became too much for her.”

  “I could have understood if my aunt had gone wacko one night and then shot him. But to have Uncle Tony die like this… at the hands of someone killing preachers because of the sin in their lives… I just can’t wrap my mind around that.”

  “What makes you think they were killed because of sin?” That information hadn’t been released to the media, although some had begun speculating.

  “It just stands to reason. Anyway, I know all of the men you fired. They each used to attend meetings at my wonderful mother’s house. They all professed to know God, but couldn’t seem to get out of sin’s way.”

  Her assessment was right. Pastor Curtis, the first preacher he fired was a known gambler who had embezzled a million dollars from his church’s building fund. If the Avenger hadn’t murdered him, Pastor Curtis would have spent at least ten years in prison. The list of misdeeds were long for all six of the men he’d let go. But not one of them had willingly agreed to step down. The power received from their positions was more important to them than being right with God. Maybe that was the thing that bothered this Avenger… maybe that was the reason he had communion with them. To cleanse their souls.

  “Doesn’t this bother you?” Britney asked. “Don’t you want to know who has set himself up as God and decided to kill these men, rather than allow them time to repent?”

  “Of course it bothers me. The maniac has been sending emails to me as if I’m cheering him on or something. I want to stop him before he gets to the next pastor on his list. But I don’t know what to do other than wait on the police to find this guy.”

  Britney waved that notion away. “We don’t have to wait on the police. I’m a trained investigator. Work with me, RaShawn and I promise you, we will find this guy.”

  Chapter Six

  RaShawn didn’t know if he’d agreed to work with Britney because she was an experienced researcher or because he wanted to be around her… keep a close eye on her and ensure that Tony’s death didn’t cause her to spiral backward. She’d come a long way, and he wasn’t going to let anything get in her way, not on his watch.

  Britney scooted her chair close to RaShawn’s desk. She took out a notepad and pen. “Okay, we don’t have much time, so let’s get going. How many preachers have you fired since you took office?”

  “Six.”

  “And three are already dead.” She jotted something on her tablet then asked, “Did they die in order?”

  A puzzled look appeared on RaShawn’s face. “In order? What do you mean?”

  “Who did you fire first, second and third?”

  “Oh,” RaShawn said as he gathered his thoughts. “I just thought this guy was taking vengeance on each of them because of the things they had done. But now that you mention it, my first meeting was with Charles, then Mike and then Tony.”

  “How would this vigilante know the reason you fired each preacher?”

  “As far as I was told, no one else knew what was going on. The senior bishop handed me files on each of the pastors within my fellowship. He told me that the information in those files hadn’t been shared with anyone else… well, except the members of the board.”

  “In what order did you fire the next three pastors?”

  RaShawn opened a file, reviewed it and then said, “I let Daniel Marson go, then Lucas Linden and then Marvel Williams.”

  “And you’ve already given the police their names, right?”

  “Of course. Detective Harris has also provided protection for each one of them. I’m praying that they stay alive and that the police catch this crazed person before he can do anymore harm.”

  “I bet you never imagined how tough being the hatchet man would be, huh?”

  RaShawn leaned back in his seat, he looked heavenward, hoping to draw strength from his savior. But he felt drained and in over his head as he answered Britney. “I didn’t want to be a hatchet man. All I ever wanted to do was make a difference in the kingdom. But everywhere I turn all I see is people making choices that will only lead them straight to hell. This world doesn’t seem to believe that there are consequences for sin anymore, but I believe it.”

  “I believe it, too. Thanks to you and your sister. Everything didn’t turn out the way I expected it to, but God has been good to me. He’s changed my life and I’ll never turn back from serving Him.”

  Pointing at her, RaShawn said, “Your statement proves my point. You were willing to give God a chance to change your life because of the Christ that was presented to you. The preachers that I fired were terrible representations of Jesus Christ. And I know that you loved your uncle, but I couldn’t let him stand behind that pulpit, not with an unrepentant heart… there were just too many lives at stake.”

  There was a loud banging on his office door and then it swung open. His secretary rushed in behind the angry man that was now glaring at RaShawn. “I’m sorry about this, Bishop. I tried to tell Pastor Linden that you were in a meeting, but he wouldn’t listen.”

  Standing, RaShawn assured her, “It’s okay. I’ll take care of this. He then turned back to Linden, RaShawn refused to associate the word “pastor” with the man. He had fired him and he prayed to God that no one else was foolish enough to entrust leadership of God’s house to him again. “What do you want, Linden?”

  “I want you to call off the dogs,” he huffed, nostrils flaring.

  “What dogs? What are you talking about?”

  “The cops are watching me. I know you have something to do with this. And I’m not going to put up with this type of harassment.”

  Shaking his head, RaShawn told him. “No one is trying to harass you. I asked Detective Harris to look out for you, Marson and Williams because I’m concerned for your safety.”

  “You called me a thief, accused me of furnishing my house with the church building fund. You turned me in to the police, and I have to face a judge tomorrow morning to defend myself against baseless charges. So I don’t need your so-called concern. You can keep it. And if those police officers don’t stop harassing me due to your unfounded accusations, I will personally contact the chief of police and let him know what you’re up to.”

  “I’m not up to anything. I just don’t want you to end up dead.”

  “Oh I’m more than capable of taking care of myself, as you will see if you try to come anywhere near me.”

  Walking toward the man, RaShawn tried to reason with him. “I have your best interest at heart here, Linden. The best advice I can give you is to let those officers do their job.”

  He pointed his index finger at RaShawn while holding his thumb up as if it were a gun. “And the best advice I can give you is to stay away from me so that you can live a long and fruitful life. I’m not going to be as easy a prey as the others were.”

  “Whoa. Did you just threaten the bishop in front of a witness?” Britney tried to keep her mouth shut and just observe as she’d been taught when handling investigations. But her mouth had flown open and words just fell out after Linden threatened RaShawn.

  Linden swung around as if just taking notice of Britney’s presence, even though the secretary had informed him that Bishop RaShawn was in a meeting. He had been too red-hot mad to think rationally. Backing up a bit, he said, “
I didn’t threaten him. It’ll be my word against the both of yours if this thing goes out of this room.” Linden turned on his heel getting ready to leave.

  “Wait, Linden, there’s something you don’t know,” RaShawn shouted, hoping to talk some sense into the man.

  “If the information has to come from you, then I’ll never know it. Just leave me alone.” With that, Linden stormed out the same way he’d stormed in.

  “You just can’t help some people,” Britney said, trying to lighten the mood.

  ***

  All Lucas Linden wanted was to be left alone. He didn’t need nor did he want help from Bishop RaShawn. The man was only trying to assuage the guilt he felt for ruining his career. Well, Linden wasn’t going to soothe his conscience. Linden only hoped that the guilt would eat RaShawn Thomas alive. But if it didn’t, then Linden would just have to kill the man himself.

  Yes, he knew that the Bible spoke of vengeance belonging to God and that he was supposed to let God repay his enemies, but Linden didn’t feel like waiting around for God to take care of a puny little insect like RaShawn Thomas.

  And as he pulled up to his house he saw the police car once again. Linden didn’t get mad this time… no, it was time to get even. He strolled over to the police car and said, “Hello officers, I see that you just ignored my request.”

  “Not true, Pastor Linden. I went back to the precinct and told my boss that you didn’t want us here. I wanted to respect your wishes, but he sent me back.”

  “Don’t you worry about it. I’m calling the chief of police because Bishop Thomas has hoodwinked all of you.”

  “I don’t know anything about Bishop Thomas. The person who assigned me to you was Detective Harris. I can give you his number, if you’d like to complain.”

  “I already told you that I’m going to call the chief. I’m going to let him know how you sit out here harassing me rather than checking on Bishop Thomas’ alibi during those murders. I know for a fact that Bishop Thomas killed those other preachers. He hates us, and won’t stop until we’re all dead.”

  When the police officer didn’t respond, Linden shook his fist at the man and screamed in his face, “I want you out of here. Go park your car in front of Bishop Thomas’ house. Make sure he stays in his house and then I’ll be safe.”

  Angry that the officer kept ignoring him, Linden kicked the police car. “I said get out of here.”

  The police officer was getting angry now. He opened his door, ready to let Linden have it with some good old handcuffs and a trip downtown, but dispatch was calling out for all available units on a crime in progress just a block away from his current location. He slammed his door shut, turned on the car and then told Linden, “You are on your own.” The police officer then sped off.

  “Good.” Linden said as he strutted towards his front door. He had already paid a vigilante group to smuggle him out of the country and make it look like this psycho killer had gotten hold of him. Linden didn’t plan on showing up for court tomorrow morning and he didn’t need some cop outside his front door messing everything up. With a wicked grin on his face, Linden thought to himself, this night was nobody’s business but his own.

  But as he opened his door and stepped into the house, Linden was surprised to see a bottle of wine with two glasses on his dining room table. That wasn’t there when he left the house earlier today. His housekeeper was off today so he knew that she didn’t do it. “Who’s in here?” he barked.

  “I’ve been waiting for you,” The Avenger said, coming into view.

  Linden’s eyes bucked. “How did you get in here?”

  The Avenger pointed towards the back of the house. “You left the patio door open.”

  Glancing out the front window, Linden hoped that the cop had circled around the block and was now back in front of his house.

  “No one is out there, Linden. It’s just you and me.”

  “What do you want?”

  “For you to repent. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

  Chapter Seven

  “How is it that you are the one person who knows about these killings, even before the police have been called to the scene?” Britney asked. She and RaShawn had spent another hour in his office after ex-pastor Linden had stormed out. She was determined to find out who had such a grudge against her uncle that they had to kill him.

  “The killer calls himself the Avenger of Sins. He has emailed me after each death.” A haunted look crossed RaShawn’s face as he added, “Then, either I or the police have found the body.”

  “Were all three of them poisoned?”

  RaShawn’s eyes darted toward Britney. The expression of shock was noted so Britney said, “I know that my uncle was poisoned, so I just wondered if the killer used the same method on each of the other victims.”

  “How do you know that? The coroner hasn’t released the findings yet.”

  “I figured they were trying to keep things hush-hush, which is the reason I didn’t tell my mother my suspicion about the poison. But when the hospital informed us that we couldn’t see my uncle because they were worried about exposure, I knew that could only mean one thing.”

  Shaking his head, RaShawn told her, “You’re too smart for your own good.”

  “It would help if I knew what kind of poison the killer is using. That way we could try to pinpoint people with access to those types of chemicals.”

  “The police were hoping to keep the method of the killings out of the news. I almost told Linden, but he stormed out of the office before I could get it out.”

  She scooted her chair closer. “So tell me. Remember, we’re in this together. If you want to stop this psycho as much as I do, you can’t hold back.”

  Hesitant for only a moment, RaShawn said, “Crackers and grape juice were on the table where your uncle was found. I think the killer puts poison in the grape juice and then has communion with them before they die.”

  “Communion?” Britney’s eyebrows furrowed. “Why on earth would he have communion with them before killing them? And why would they entertain the thought of having communion with someone who wants to kill them?”

  “I can’t figure it out either,” RaShawn said as he tapped his index finger on the desk.

  Britney pointed to the computer. “Did you keep the emails?”

  Swiveling around in his chair, RaShawn rolled over to the computer and opened his email. Turning back to Britney he said, “I’ve kept each email.” RaShawn was about to open the folder with his saved email when an email popped into his in-basket that caused him to blink rapidly as his eyes watered. The message was from the Avenger. He hadn’t even switched email addresses as if he had no fear of the police catching up with him.

  “What’s wrong?” Britney asked as she noticed the look of horror on his face.

  In answer, RaShawn pointed toward the screen. “The Avenger has sent me another email. The subject line says: Lucas Linden.” RaShawn jumped out of his seat and rushed toward his office door.

  “Where are you going? Aren’t you going to open the email?”

  “I don’t need to open it. I know what it says. I’ve got to get to Linden. I pray that the policeman is still guarding his house.”

  It took them twenty minutes to get across town. In that time, RaShawn had placed a call to Detective Harris. After four rings it went to voicemail. RaShawn hurriedly rattled off Linden’s address and asked that he meet him at the house.

  “Is this feeling like déjà vu all over again?” Britney asked as she held on to the door handle as RaShawn took the curve and kept driving like he was drag racing.

  “I don’t want to believe it. I just don’t want to believe it.” RaShawn pulled into Linden’s driveway and was disheartened to see that the police detail was no longer there. Why had they left Linden to fend for himself? They’d better have a good reason, or RaShawn planned to stand in front of every TV camera he could find and tell the world how careless the police department was when it came to the lives
of preachers.

  “If the Avenger got to him, maybe we were wrong about this “order of firing” thing. Maybe the Avenger is using some other method of deciding who goes when,” Britney said as they jumped out of the car and raced toward Linden’s front door.

  After knocking a few times with no answer, RaShawn tried the doorknob. Just as it had been at Tony’s house, Linden’s door was unlocked.

  “I don’t think we should go in. Maybe we should wait for the police.”

  “The police were supposed to be here watching Linden’s back. I’m going in,” RaShawn said, pushing the door wider.

  “Okay, let’s do it.”

  They stepped into the house. With Britney behind him, RaShawn called out to Linden. The only sound returning back to them was the sound of their footsteps on the hardwood floor. “Linden?” he tried again.

  But as they rounded the corner and entered the living room, RaShawn’s heart almost stopped in his chest. The man who had just been at his office ranting and raving, was now stretched out on the floor.

  “Oh my God,” Britney said as she moved closer to Linden. She checked his pulse, shook her head and then asked, “Is this how the others were found?”

  RaShawn didn’t answer and Britney didn’t notice that he was standing behind her weeping. She looked over at the coffee table and noted the grape juice, crackers and one wine goblet. Still scanning the room she turned back to Linden and noticed the written note on his back, You do right, and I won’t do wrong.

  A chill went through her as she read those words. Something about that phrase bothered her. She’d heard it before… but where? When? Moving away from Linden’s body she stood next to RaShawn and put her arm around him. “I’m sorry, RaShawn, I know that this is the last thing you wanted to happen.”

  “And yet another man is dead.” RaShawn wiped the tears from his face and then helplessly stared at Linden’s body. “What am I supposed to do now? How can I lead this fellowship if I am the cause of so many deaths?”