Praying for Peace

by Carolyn Ridder Aspenson

  “No, Ms. Adair, I didn’t, but if you must know, I wasn’t entirely honest with you before. Even after all these years, from what I heard that night, I believe Mr. Grimes was the one responsible for the fire. I think he might have had something to do with Pastor Alabaster’s death, accident or not.”

  “But you said you left during the argument?”

  “Yes, I did, but that doesn’t mean I’m wrong.”

  “And do you think someone avenged the pastor’s death by killing Mr. Grimes?”

  She nodded slowly. “I’m worried that Pastor Newton, that maybe he sought his own justice.”

  13

  I rushed out of the church and snuck over to Georgia Alabaster’s home. She sat on the front porch, again waving at the same two dead women standing in the cemetery. They waved back.

  “Oh, hello again.”

  “Hello, Mrs. Alabaster. I was wondering if you needed help getting to the service today?”

  “Oh, I don’t make it much anymore. It’s hard on my old bones, sitting in those pews now.”

  “It’s hard on my bones too, so I understand.”

  She had a pitcher of iced tea and two glasses on the small table next to her chair. “Would you like a glass?”

  “Yes, that would be lovely.”

  She went to pour it, her hands shaking.

  “Here, let me get it.” I poured myself a glass and topped hers off.

  “Thank you, sweetie.” She gathered one hand in the other and held them together. “My hands have never been good. They’ve shook my whole life. Always been a bundle of nerves. Had to give up sewing because of it.”

  “Mrs. Alabaster, I’d like to talk about the night of the fire again. Would that be okay?”

  “Newton doesn’t like me talking about it. Do you promise not to tell him?”

  “I promise.”

  “I guess I might could try to remember then.”

  “Great. I won’t keep you. I know you have things to do. So, the other day you mentioned that you brought food back to your husband while he was arguing with William Chamblee. Do you remember?”

  “Oh, did I say that? Goodness, I don’t think that’s right. I think I brought food for Jeremiah and William, but William had already left. The man that was upset and arguing with Jeremiah was Acel. Yes, I think it was Acel. Rest his soul. Even Alice Mae was alarmed at how upset he was that night. I didn’t want to bring it to them because I was worried about interrupting, so I offered it to her, and she said she’d just hold onto it till after the argument settled.”

  “You gave Alice Mae the food?”

  “She came out to see what all the fuss was about and offered to take it from me. She knew I was upset and didn’t want me worrying. She said she’d stay and give it to Jeremiah after Acel left. And besides, it was late, and very hot that night. I could feel the heat all around me. It was that suffocating kind of hot.”

  I was confused. Was she talking about the fire? Was she there when the fire started? “So, you weren’t there when Acel left?”

  “Jeremiah had helped me out, and I wanted to stay, but Alice Mae made sure I went home to keep Newton safe.”

  “Safe from what?”

  “He was so young. His life changed so much.”

  I was losing her. “Do you know what happened?”

  “It was so hot. Alice Mae told me not to worry, that she’d watch for Jeremiah.”

  “I don’t understand. Are you saying you were there when the fire started?”

  Her eyes glossed over, and she stared off into the distance before speaking again. I waited as patiently as possible for her to continue.

  “Poor girl, she was quite attached to my husband. She always said she tried hard to keep him safe, but she just couldn’t, not that night.”

  “What do you mean, keep him safe?”

  She angled her head as she thought about it. “You know, from harm.”

  I’d gotten all I could get from her. She’d stopped making sense, and I needed to put the pieces together. I finished the last of my small glass of tea. “Thank you for talking with me, and I’m sorry to rush off, but I’ve got to get home to my son.”

  “Oh, it’s okay. My Jeremiah will come visit me soon. Maybe today will be the day he talks to me. I can see him, you know. I don’t know if he knows, but I can see him.”

  I had no doubt she could.

  I climbed in my car and called Jack, but it went to his voicemail. “Hey, I need to run some things by you. I’ll be home in a bit, but first I’m making a pit stop at William Alabaster’s house. Can you call me when you’ve got a chance? Thanks, bye.”

  William Chamblee greeted me at his front door. “Heard your car comin’ up the drive.”

  “I’m sorry to bother you, but I’d like to ask you a few more questions if you have a minute?”

  He held the door open for me. “Got all the time in the world. Come on in.”

  We sat on his outdated couch once again.

  “I’m just going to be up front with you. I don’t believe you had anything to do with Jeremiah Alabaster’s death.”

  “Thank you for that.”

  “Georgia Alabaster confirmed that she’d left to get food for you and her husband, and when she returned with it, Jeremiah was arguing with Acel, so she left the food with Alice Mae.”

  “Okay.”

  “Georgia also says that Alice Mae was always saving him. Do you know what she means by that?”

  He smiled. “Everyone thought Alice Mae had feelings for the pastor. I don’t think she was protecting him as much as she was looking out for him, defending his actions. She used to get on me all the time after we’d argue.”

  “Do you think she could have started that fire?”

  “Why would she? Even if she had feelings for Jeremiah, she wouldn’t hurt the church. It was a second home to her.”

  “Could it have been on accident?”

  “I’ve been thinking about it since you came by before, and all I can think is someone knocked over that candelabra on accident like I said before. Probably the pastor himself, settin’ his bible down on the table, or maybe Georgia did it when she put the food out for him. Don’t know for sure though who could have done it.”

  I headed back home in the middle of the church crowd, dealing with a handful of traffic that wouldn’t normally have bothered me, but that day, it did. I honked my horn at the stop sign on the corner of my street. “Come on, move it,” I mumbled through gritted teeth.

  A second later I felt bad for honking. I wasn’t in Birmingham anymore, and Castleberry folk didn’t honk at each other unless they were saying hello.

  Austin wasn’t home when I arrived, but he’d left a note saying he’d gone to Justin’s to play video games. Justin had the newest something or another, and Austin wanted it, badly, so I didn’t expect to see him until at least dinner time.

  I rushed inside, grabbed a glass of sweet tea from the fridge and went back to my notebook and photos. I went over what I thought happened—Alice Mae overheard the arguing between William and the pastor, but I believed William was telling the truth, and he wasn’t involved. She also said she didn’t see the food, but Georgia said she gave it to Alice Mae. Who was telling the truth there? Granted, Georgia’s mind was not right, so did she simply remember it that way? Alice Mae claimed to have left while Acel and Jeremiah argued. She said Acel was responsible for the fire and claimed that Newton Alabaster sought revenge and killed Acel.

  But that didn’t make sense. If Georgia was telling the truth, which I had no way of knowing, and Alice Mae would lie about something as simple as the food, what stopped her from lying about something more serious like Newton killing Acel? And after years of working with Acel Grimes, why would Pastor Newton decide now to avenge his father’s death and kill him? Wouldn’t he have made that decision years ago?

  William Chamblee said those candles were knocked many times before. You’d need a steady hand to bring the food to Pastor Jeremiah and set it dow
n without knocking over the candle and igniting the cloth in flames. Steady hands Georgia Alabaster said she hadn’t had in years. Could Georgia have brought the food and set it in the chapel, knocking the candle over? If that was the case, then why hadn’t anyone said that when the fire happened? If that was what happened, it was an accident, not a criminal act.

  I jerked when my doorbell chimed. I’d been so deep in thought, so wrapped up in what I thought happened, I didn’t expect the ringing.

  “Coming,” I hollered. I pushed myself off the floor, my bones feeling like Georgia Alabaster’s did when she sat on the church pews and opened the door to Newton Alabaster. “Pastor, hello. Come in.”

  He stepped inside. “I thought I’d come by before I visited with my parishioner.”

  “Thank you, I appreciate that. Would you like some iced tea? Don’t tell anyone, but it’s a secret Castleberry family recipe I got from Olivia Castleberry.”

  “I’m fine, thank you. So, what did you want to discuss?”

  We sat in the den and he eyed the photos spread out on the floor. “I see you’ve been busy. Have you thought of a way to convince the mayor to keep the church intact?”

  “I think if Acel’s murder is solved, we’ll be able to save the church.”

  “I understand the police believe it’s gang related?”

  “I’m not sure they do anymore, but I don’t have all the details.” I sipped my drink. “But about the fire—"

  “Ms. Adair, with all due respect, my father is gone and dragging all of this out again isn’t good for anyone, especially my mother. I told you she’s not been well mentally and physically, and she’s suffered for years without her husband. She doesn’t need this. She can’t handle it. She’s too emotionally unstable.”

  “Pastor, were you bitter toward Acel Grimes because you believed he had something to do with your father’s death?”

  He sighed. “There was a time when I was young that yes, I was bitter, but that ended years ago. Acel and I made our peace and had a good professional relationship.”

  “Alice Mae disagrees.”

  His mouth twitched. “Excuse me?”

  “Pastor, I think I know what happened the night of the fire.”

  “And what is that?”

  “Do you recall what your mother did with the food she’d brought for her husband?”

  He blinked. “She left it with my father and Acel. Why do you ask?”

  “Did she tell you that?”

  “It’s been years since we’ve discussed it. I don’t remember exactly, and again, my mother’s mind isn’t well. I don’t know if I can take anything she’s said for truth.”

  “I spoke to your mother, and she said she left it with Alice Mae, but Alice Mae didn’t say that.”

  “What does that matter? What are you saying, Ms. Adair?”

  “I think your mother set the food down and accidentally knocked over the candle that started the fire, and I don’t think she remembers it. Maybe she’s blocked it out of her mind or something.”

  His face reddened. “You need to leave this alone.” He stood and marched to my front door.

  “Wait, please. It was an accident. The police will understand.”

  Instead of walking out like I thought he’d do, he locked the door. When he turned around, the panic in his eyes sent shivers down my spine. I backed up, hitting the coffee table with my calves. “You knew. You knew she knocked the candle down, didn’t you?”

  He pulled a switchblade out of his black jacket pocket. “After all these years, you have to dredge up what’s long past. If you’d just left it alone, we wouldn’t be here right now.”

  “You killed Acel, didn’t you? He found out the truth, and you killed him.”

  “I’m protecting my mother. She’s struggled her entire life with emotional problems. She doesn’t see things like we do. She thinks she sees my father, and she’s constantly waving to imaginary women at the cemetery. Her mind,” he held the tip of his knife to his temple, “isn’t right. She needs to be protected from this. She can’t handle knowing she caused that fire, accident or not.”

  “Acel was going to say something, and you killed him.” I backed around the coffee table and circled back to the TV sitting on the cabinet along the wall. The only thing I could see to grab was an eight by ten photo of my parents when Austin was five years old, and I knew it wasn’t heavy enough to do any damage. But when I realized Austin’s game station was on top of the cabinet too, and the cords weren’t attached, I stuck close to it. If needed, I could at least throw that at the pastor to get away.

  He cut the space between us to just a foot or two out of reach. “Stay where you are.”

  “Acel knew. He was going to tell the police, wasn’t he?”

  “My mother can’t handle knowing the truth, and I don’t want her institutionalized. I’m taking care of her. She needs me.”

  “You’re not protecting her, you’re hurting her.”

  “I’m protecting her, and so is Alice Mae. She promised. She promised to keep my mother safe. If she said something back then, who knows what would have happened to my mother.”

  “But Acel found out, didn’t he? He found out, and he wanted to get your mother help.” I finally made the connection. “Your mother said Acel had been good to her all these years. She told him, didn’t she? She either remembered, or she let it slip, but she told him.”

  “He wanted her put away, put her in some dirty hospital for people with problems. I couldn’t let that happen.”

  He lunged at me with the knife. I grabbed the game station with both hands and swung it into the side of his face. Pastor Alabaster went down, crashing into my thin wood coffee table and breaking it in half. I scanned the room for my phone, but I couldn’t find it, and I had no idea what I’d done with it. I bolted for the door, but the pastor grabbed a hold of my leg and dragged me down. I punched him in the side of the head, and he screamed. I forced myself up and ran for the door, screaming for help as I struggled to unlock it.

  He dragged himself up and came at me again with the knife. Just in time, the dead bolt clicked open, and I ran outside and nearly knocked down Alice Mae.

  “Alice, thank God. Call 9-1-1. Pastor Alabaster just tried to kill me. He killed Acel. Hurry.”

  She smiled and pointed a gun at my chest. “Well, isn’t that sweet of him, taking the blame for my transgressions.”

  I stood there, confused and scared. “What are you—I…I don’t understand. He killed Acel. He admitted it. He said his mother started the fire, but it was an accident.”

  She tapped the gun to my chest and told me to get back in the house before someone saw us. “No sweetie, that was my doing. I killed Acel. I was doing my job, protecting the pastor and his family. Now get back in the house.”

  I did as she said. Pastor Newton lie on the floor, struggling to get up.

  Alice Mae saw him and laughed. “Stay down there, son. Don’t want you suffering more than you have to.”

  “Alice Mae, don’t do this,” Newton said. He rubbed the side of his head.

  “I told you to keep this woman away from Georgia. Told you I’d take care of it.” She kept the gun aimed at me. “Had you kept your nose out of our business, I wouldn’t have to do this.”

  “I was trying to help.” I shifted toward Newton. “She’s not going to protect you now, now that she knows I know. You’re too much of a risk.”

  She laughed.

  “You knew he wasn’t responsible for the fire. You knew what happened that night because you were there. You saw it, didn’t you?”

  She gritted her teeth. “’Course I did, and I tried to keep Pastor Jeremiah out, but he had to go back in, had to get his bible. Said he couldn’t let all his notes burn with the church. He got Georgia and me out, but I couldn’t stop him from going back.” She waved the gun at my chest again. “I made Georgia go home. She didn’t need to see her husband dying like that in that fire, that would have sent her over the edge. She had
little Newton at home. She needed to be with him. I told her I’d save Jeremiah. I was always saving that man anyway. Saving him from arguments with Acel, keeping him on track best I could with church business. I thought I could save him from the fire, too. But I couldn’t. He needed that bible, and it didn’t matter what I said.”

  “And you let her think she left the food with you? But why’d you say something different to me?”

  “The more Georgia got wrong about that night, the easier it was to protect her. We didn’t want her going into an institution, and I knew if she remembered that night like it happened, it would break her.”

  “And you killed Acel because he knew. He left before the food even arrived, didn’t he? He wasn’t there, but Georgia told him the truth, whether she intended to or not.”

  “Told him exactly what happened. Don’t know how she did it, but she did. He said she needed help for her mental problems, and said we needed to get her that help or he’d do it himself. He’d tell what happened.”

  “She does need help.”

  “She’s got us. She doesn’t need to spend the rest of her life chained to a hospital bed. She’s like family to me, and I told Acel that, right before I smashed that candle stick over his head. And it all would have been good if you hadn’t stuck your nose into it.”

  I searched the room again, hoping for something magical to appear to throw at Alice Mae, to force her to drop the gun, but there was nothing. “The police are coming. Detective Levitt is on his way. I just talked to him.”

  She smirked. “That trick won’t work on me, sweetie. You just said you wanted me to call him. Now come on, let’s get this over with.” She swung the gun to the right, and I made my move. It wasn’t on purpose. I just instinctively lunged at her, and I slammed her right onto the ground, knocking the wind out of her at the same time. The gun went flying. I pushed myself off her, and ran toward the door, kicking the gun further away from her as I did. I should have picked up the gun, but I was too freaked out and confused to even consider that.

  I thought I was in the clear, but Newton Alabaster had crawled over to the gun, and was in the process of standing up and aiming it at me when I raced down the front steps.