The church was filling up when I made my way back to my seat. I looked around and finally spotted Griff seated in the middle section of pews, in the back by the door. Good, I thought, Griff will be able to view the whole church, the killer would most likely attend, and he had the best chance of viewing something we could use.
The choir made their way to the stage, which signaled that the ceremony was about to begin. The organist started to play “Just A Closer Walk with Thee” and the choir started to sing as the procession of ministers, family, and friends made their way from the back of the church to the front. I recognized many of the ministers from most of the area churches, dressed in their ceremonial robes. One of the ministers, Rev. James Chandler, quoted the book of Job, chapter fourteen, which states, “Man, who is born of woman, is short of days and full of trouble.”
I was able to recite the passages with him, reliving my days of attending church with my parents. The ministers made their way down the aisle, past the coffin and into the pulpit where there were chairs to seat them.
The family members led by Pastor Day and the woman who favored him entered the sanctuary. I decided that she must be his sister. Tabitha’s mother followed him with a host of other relatives. I always get emotional when I see this part of the service, knowing that this will be the beginning of a homegoing service that no one wants to endure. I saw members of the deacon board and other trusted members including Mattie Lightfoot enter behind the family. She looked nice in a dark blue tailored suit. The family began to fill up the pews that had been reserved for them, but the pastor made his way up to the pulpit where he was greeted with hugs and handshakes from his fellow pastors. He sat in the middle of them in a white high-backed chair lined in purple.
I looked around and noticed that Uncle Artis was sitting in the audience. It was the first time that I’d seen him in a suit and tie. My heart ached for him as I noticed the tears running down his face. The agony he felt was obvious. I made a mental note to speak to him after the services. I would have to be the one who would take the first step at reconciliation. He noticed me sitting among the dignitaries and the anger in his eyes made me change my mind about speaking to him. Another place, another time.
The choir sang a selection while the members of the audience sang along. Then there was a reading from the Old and New Testament by one of the ministers in the pulpit. Finally, after about an hour of speeches, songs, and more speeches, Pastor Day approached the podium to deliver his wife’s eulogy.
He talked about his wife’s dedication to the success of the church. He also spoke about the rumors of her business dealings, only to say that she would, like the rest of us, be held accountable for our actions here on Earth. He talked about the road that both had taken, and that each one of us had to ask ourselves if the road we were taking was pleasing to God. Each person must ask themselves the purpose for their spiritual journey: Why am I attending this church, is it because it is popular, or is it a church where one’s spiritual growth is evident?
I was filled with compassion for this man, how brave he was to speak about his wife so frankly, pointing out that while she was not perfect, she had been instrumental in the business side of the church. He warned us not to try to figure out where her soul was now, that we needed to worry about our own soul’s salvation. That no one, including him, had a heaven or hell for anyone to enter.
He asked for prayers for himself, his family, and for Dr. Rodney. He spoke highly of Dr. Rodney and said that while he was a prime suspect in his wife’s death, he would continue to pray for him and that God would bring justice to his own family, as well as to the families of Dr. Rodney and Barney Austin. My heart was touched by his words about Dr. Rodney, although I was probably only one of two people in that church who felt he was innocent. Griff was the other person, which was why he had agreed to help me with a back-door investigation.
The audience responded to his sermon with shouts of joy and “Amen.” The organist played with such emotion that people were out of their seats, shouting, praising God, making this homegoing a joyful occasion. I was moved by the way he handled the crowd, how he made them rejoice on this sad occasion, and I was convinced that this man was a true man of God. That his calling to the ministry had been a true calling. And when he noticed that I was in the audience, he spoke about finding peace and joy, and I knew that he was speaking directly to me.
He finally finished and sat down, but not before receiving hugs and handshakes from the ministers seated with him. It was time for the casket to be taken out of the church. The pallbearers came up to escort the first lady to the awaiting hearse. I watched as they walked to the back of the church followed by the pastors, family and friends. The choirs sang “I’ll Fly Away,” one of my favorite hymns, as the rest of us made our way towards the entrance. Several members were sobbing loudly as the casket passed them, and Pastor Day stopped several times to console them. I thought to myself, what a remarkable man.
I talked briefly with some of the other dignitaries once we were outside and met up with Griff to leave. I heard my name called and as I turned, I saw that it was Mattie Lightfoot.
“The pastor wants to see you at his car,” she said. “Do you have time?”
I walked over to the dark blue limousine and the back window came down as I approached.
Pastor Day looked up at me and said, “I’m so glad you attended, Attorney Jones. The Lord has had you in my heart since this whole ordeal. I pray that you are doing okay and have not suffered a setback. The Bible says in Psalms 30:5, ‘In his favor is life: weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning.’”
I was touched that even through his suffering he was thinking about me.
“I am glad that I attended; thank you for inviting me. I was moved by your sermon and your prayers for Dr. Earls.”
“He is a good man, despite our past differences; I just can’t imagine him doing what the police are suspecting him of committing. But I have faith that God will bring the killer to justice. Will you stay for the repast? I would be honored if you would stay.”
I declined his offer and promised him that I would be checking on him soon. He appeared to appreciate my concern.We said our goodbyes and I walked over to Griff so that we could leave. The limousines along with the hearse were leaving the lot to head to the cemetery. Several cars were lined up to join the procession, so we knew that we would be waiting for several minutes before we could leave. I decided to compare notes about the funeral and see if Griff had noticed anything unusual during the services.
Just as I was making my way to my car, I spotted my uncle making his way towards me, and I didn’t like the look on his face. Griff noticed his look also and stood beside me. The two men eyed each other, with Uncle Artis being the one to soften his look.
“Why did you come to this service? I told you I didn’t want to see you here again,” he said.
“Pastor Day asked me to attend and I came to pay my respects.”
“Don’t come here again, and leave my pastor alone. He doesn’t need you snooping around here. He has enough on his plate right now.”
“Uncle Artis, I love and respect you, but the last time I looked I was a grown woman who makes her own decisions. I will come to this church as much as I want. Pastor Day has made me more than welcome to attend.”
“You keep coming and you’re going to regret it; I have warned you and I’m not going to do it again.” He walked away before I got a chance to respond.
“Your uncle is a strange man, Miss Gemini. I don’t like his vibes,” Griff said. “What has he got against you, anyway?”
“He hates Dr. Rodney. Always has, ever since they were teenagers. It got worse after they went to Vietnam. He keeps asking me to get Dr. Rodney to tell me what happened, but I haven’t asked.”
“I noticed him during the service. He just sat there staring off into space until Pastor Day got up to deli
ver the eulogy. He really loves that man; I mean he sat there as if he were listening to Jesus himself. Makes you wonder if he is like a lot of people I find in church—in love with the messenger and not the message.”
“I can’t answer that, Griff. I only know that since attending here, he has changed. He doesn’t drink, smoke, or go out clubbing anymore. He works here at the church and goes home as far as I know. My father talks about how much he has changed. But he won’t forgive Dr. Rodney for whatever happened between them.”
A few minutes later, we were able to leave the parking lot of the church and decided to meet at Club Escapades for a drink. I was surprised at the number of cars that were parked in front of the club. However, once we entered it was quiet, although the place was half filled with patrons. Poo Poo was sitting at her table with a couple of people and they all appeared to be discussing something serious. The TV was on, and I saw that it had been turned to one of the local Gary cable channels. I knew that the club had watched the funeral services of Tabitha Day. Poo Poo confirmed this once Griff and I joined her. Everyone present seemed to be participating in the discussion. The bar had been closed during the service and now people were beginning to order drinks. Griff and I ordered whiskey sours; it was that kind of day. Poo Poo asked if I had attended and I told her yes.
The conversation centered on the funeral itself, particularly the eulogy. Most people were impressed by the message, however there were some who felt that he should never have mentioned Dr. Rodney and the fact that he was praying for him. One man remembered Dr. Rodney’s statement that mega churches like The Fishers of Men was the black man’s corporate America, and that he was offended by the remark. Another man said that he agreed with Dr. Rodney, and that all those churches were doing was taking money from poor brainwashed people. The discussion got heated until Poo Poo put a stop to it. She suggested that it was time for the discussion to end and ordered the Disc Jockey to play some music.
“Music always soothes the savage beast,” she said, and we all laughed.
Griff and I stayed for a few hours. I needed the escape and finally decided that it was time for me to return home. I got home, fed the dogs, and let them out for some play time. I checked my messages and heard one from Mattie Lightfoot. She asked if I would call her as soon as possible. I decided that I would call her the next morning. For now, I was tired, slightly tipsy, and knew that a good night’s rest was what I needed. I was not quite over my visit with Harold Cartier, discovering that my son killed David Ban, and that Savannah and Ruthann had covered for him. I was trying to keep things together emotionally. I knew sleep would be slow to come and when it did, I dreamed horrible dreams, which I quickly forgot each time I woke up during the night.
The next morning, I prepared for my meeting with Mattie Lightfoot. I was going to meet with her at her home, and as I dressed, I wondered what she wanted to discuss with me. She had been very vague over the phone, but her tone suggested that this meeting was important. After feeding the dogs, I phoned Antoinette at home to let her know that I would be late. I knew that Nobel had planned to meet with the police to discuss Dr. Rodney’s case. I felt that my presence wasn’t needed; she was perfectly capable of handling things. I really liked her, and I was glad that she had been hired by the firm. There was a bond forming between us and it made my acceptance of her and Bookie’s relationship easier. I hoped that one day they would announce their engagement. I wanted him to have the best possible life and I felt that she would help to provide him with the happiness that he deserved.
As for me, I have been alone for so long, that the loneliness is a part of me. I decided that love was not in my cards, and that I would live my life in contentment. You get used to the void that is ever present in your soul; it becomes a part of you, and it feels better to accept it rather than to keep hoping the love will somehow find its way into your life. Hope only reminds you of what is missing in your life, it reminds you of your desires that remain aloof and your dreams that remain unfulfilled.
It took less than ten minutes for me to arrive at Mattie’s home. She greeted me at the door, and after taking my coat asked me to sit on the couch. She had prepared tea for us, which was very warm and soothing. She asked me if I enjoyed the service yesterday and I told her that I was moved by the eulogy. Pastor was a true man of God, I said to her, and I admired his strength and courage to get up and speak so truthfully about his wife.
After the small talk I found out the reason for her call. She wanted to know if I had any information on the murder investigations, and if so, would I discuss it with her. I told her that I knew nothing, except that the police were still investigating, and that I still believed in Dr. Rodney’s innocence.
“Pastor doesn’t believe that Dr. Earls killed his wife either,” she said to me. “He thinks that it may have been one of the politicians she had dealings with. He knows how Dr. Rodney feels about his ministry and other ministries like his, but he doesn’t believe that he would resort to killing. Dr. Earls has done so much for the young people in this community, he just wouldn’t jeopardize his work to kill anyone.”
“Do you have any idea about the name of the politician she had dealings with? That would be a lead that I could follow up on or at least get my investigator to do.”
“I know that she had several meetings with Councilman Cedric White. I suspect that their meetings took place in private and that they did more than meet. He once sent her yellow roses, which she had me throw away. I read the card and it said something to the effect that he looked forward to their weekly meetings to discuss the future. The last time they met, she took money out of one of the accounts she had access to, about five thousand dollars.”
“You think that was a payoff for his vote on the church receiving the land?”
“Yes, I do, and once the pastor found out about it, he got the same idea. He wants to help you, Attorney Jones, but he can’t do it publicly; that is why I am meeting with you instead. He says to tell you everything I know, especially the things I overheard over the phone.”
“Can you tell me anything more about her lover?”
“Not anything that I haven’t already told you. Only that she used to talk about the way he smelled. How she wished that her husband would try a different cologne. She hated the one he used. That’s all that I can remember about their conversations. Oh, and one more thing, she thanked him once for telling her about someone named Sydney Ingram. I looked him up—he’s an attorney.”
I began to get lightheaded and dropped my cup. The rug on the floor kept it from breaking. I thought I would be sick to my stomach and sat back on the couch. Mattie asked me what was wrong, and I lied and told her that I had taken some medicine without eating, and it was making me sick to my stomach. I excused myself, asked her to grab my coat, and with as much effort as I could muster, left the house without fainting. I knew the name of Tabitha Day’s lover, and I was going to make him pay for his betrayal.
I was once again on the verge of becoming unglued. Nathan was Tabitha Day’s lover; I was sure of it. All the pieces fit. She talked about his cologne, and she knew about Sydney Ingram, which was information that he got from me. He was the only person I confided in about retaining Sydney for Dr. Rodney. And he was ambitious enough to want to run a film studio and would even leave his wife if he had a way out. His wife held the purse strings. He had no money of his own, but through running a film studio that would produce religious films, he would have income of his own and wouldn’t need her.
I went home instead of going into the office. I was tempted to go to his home and confront him, and in my present emotional state it would be easy for me to do. I went home instead, calling Griff and asking him to meet me there. I had to get myself together. I wouldn’t be any use for anyone including myself. This was too much for me. Things were happening so fast, and I was not able to handle it alone. The phone rang when I got home, and when I answered, I heard Bookie’s
voice on the other end.
“Hey lady, you have been on my mind today. I called the office and they said you hadn’t made it in, are you okay?”
“I can’t help anyone. I can’t help myself, Dr. Rodney, Uncle Artis, no one. My son is a killer, my friends lied to protect him, and I can’t help anyone! I want to kill the son of a bitch who betrayed me. I can’t help anyone, I can’t help anyone!”
I was ranting so much that the dogs came in and sat near me and started to whimper. All I heard at that point was a dial tone. I knew he was on his way.
Griff arrived and heard me ranting and knocked on the door, shouting my name until I opened it. I was completely unglued and sobbed uncontrollably as Griff lead me to the couch. There was another knock at the door and Bookie arrived to find Griff and I on the couch. It was hard for me to stop crying and ranting about not being able to help Dr. Rodney. With that, Bookie grabbed me and slapped me across the face. That seemed to calm me down. But I continued to cry, I couldn’t talk and there was so much I needed to tell Griff and Bookie. But I could not stop crying, so Bookie called my doctor’s office and asked if he could bring me in for an appointment. My therapist was booked for the day but would stop by my house around five after the last appointment. In the meantime, I was not to be left alone.
Bookie agreed to stay with me. I managed to calm down, then told Griff about my meeting with Mattie Lightfoot. I told him about Cedric White and my suspicions about Nathan. Griff told me he would check things out, first by paying a visit to Councilman White. He and Bookie got a chance to talk for a while. They hadn’t seen each other since Bookie got his new job. Then Griff left. That gave me the opportunity to talk with Bookie. It was a talk that was long overdue.
The Future of My Past Page 18
