The Believer Read online

  “Chief,” Delilah spoke up, “do you have children?”

  “No ma’am.”

  “Then you don’t know how much I love my Devon,” Delilah said.

  James coughed. “I can imagine,” he responded, struggling with a dry throat that he refused to soothe.

  “Can I get you something for that?” Cai asked.

  “I already offered him something; makes me think that he don’t want to drink after us,” Delilah said.

  “No, ma’am,” James rebuffed. “It’s not like that at all. I’m fine,” he looked over at Cai, “but thank you.”

  Cai took DJ by the hand, “I’m taking DJ outside.”

  James tried not to watch Cai walk past him. She smelled like fresh lilies. Delilah sighed loudly, eyeing James and catching his attention. “Ms. Rice, I just wanted to stop by to give you the latest developments on what was occurring in the investigation.” He looked toward the door that Cai left open. “Remember that you can call me anytime day or night if you need to talk or if you just want to know what’s going on with the investigation.”

  Delilah didn’t smile or pretend to; she simply glared at him. But his eyes were fixed on the screened door which allowed him quick glances of Cai playing with little DJ in the front yard.

  “I’ll keep you posted ma’am,” James added, nodding at her as he headed out.

  James flipped his hat on his head and closed Delilah’s front door behind him. He stood on the top step watching Cai playfully chase DJ in slow motion as he giggled and ran in front of her. James smiled.

  “Where’d you get a name like Cai from?” he asked. Cai stopped and looked over at him then went back to chasing DJ without a word. Making up his mind that he wasn’t going to give up on this beauty, James removed his shades from his jacket pocket and placed them on his face. “I think it’s unique.”

  “It’s short for Cairo,” she said, still not looking at him.

  “That’s nice,” he said. “You’re a natural with DJ. Do you have any of your own?”

  “Does it matter?”

  James shrugged, folding his hands in front of him. “Not to me.”

  Cai kept her eyes on DJ. “Then why did you ask?”

  James followed her every move as she walked around the yard after DJ. Those long brown legs were spectacular. He bit his bottom lip. “Just making small talk.”

  She finally looked over at him. “I don’t talk small so if you don’t have anything big to say then have a nice day.” She turned away from him and clapped her hands to get DJ’s attention. “DJ, come on snuggle bug, it’s time to go back inside.”

  “I can tell that your mom’s really proud of you but I didn’t think modeling required a college education.”

  Cai turned again to James, arching a brow. “Apparently, being a police chief doesn’t either.”

  “You’re funny,” James chuckled, looking her up and down. “But I didn’t mean anything by it. You’re just so beautiful that I assumed you were a model.”

  Cai rolled her eyes. James noticed an ivory Cameo necklace around her neck. It looked genuine and expensive. “That’s an interesting necklace that you’re wearing. I haven’t seen anything like that in a long time. It’s distinctive.”

  Cai looked over at him then looked away. “My grandmother gave it to me when I graduated from Howard. It means a lot to me and I never take it off.”

  James nodded. ”So you graduated from Howard? That’s impressive:” He looked around the houses surrounding them. You made it out of this…place.”

  Cai made a face. “You used a compliment to insult me?”

  “No, no, not at all,” James sighed. “I was just thinking that someone as beautiful as you deserves to live somewhere that fits her, somewhere beautiful and safe; that’s all I’m saying.”

  “You say a lot to say so little.”

  James put his hands in his pockets, “Look, I was just trying to get to know you because your mom is concerned about a lot. I’m sure this is difficult for you as well.”

  “We’ll be fine. Delilah exaggerates sometimes.”

  The corners of James mouth curled slightly. He watched as the slight breeze blew the strands of hair away from her gorgeous face. “I just wanted you to know that if you needed to talk…”

  She grinned. “I should come to the police station and talk to you? You’re a counselor, too?”

  He could watch her all day even if she was pouty and spoiled. “No, I’m not. The city’s victim assistance program assists victims and their families and they offer counseling as well.”

  “No thanks.” Cai folded her arms. “What are you doing to find my brother’s killer?”

  “A lot, and if you would have dinner with me, I could go over all of the new developments.”

  Cai laughed. “Excuse me?”

  James watched her and couldn’t help but smile. It was true that she was young enough to be his daughter. “I’d like to discuss Devon’s case with you and provide you a good meal while I’m at it.”

  Ignoring him, Cai looked over at DJ. “It’s time to go back inside, snuggle bug.”

  A text message tone sounded from James’ phone. Removing the phone from his pocket, he read the text message. Dinner @5. He had to go. That’s just the way it went when business was involved. He stuffed the phone back in his pocket and pulled out his wallet for his business card.

  “You know I think you’re pretty intriguing and,” he looked around pointedly, “a woman like you shouldn’t be in a neighborhood like this.” Cai glared at him. “Call me if you change your mind about dinner,” he said holding out his business card to her.

  Cai turned away from him and walked toward DJ, leaving James watching her with the card still between his fingers. She picked DJ up. “Pretty sure I won’t.”

  “Just in case,” he said, placing the card on the bottom step of the front door entrance knowing she’d have to step over it to get back into the house. James watched Cai, with DJ on her slight hip, step over the business card to open the door before walking inside the house. He smiled and turned to walk to his patrol car. When he passed the front window, he noticed Ms. Rice staring at him.

  Chapter 11

  James pulled up to the secluded log cabin that William, his business partner had built in the woods. The text read, dinner @ 5 and James was late but the cabin was two hours from the city and Cai was as good a reason as any to have gotten a late start. Surrounded by huge trees, William’s private cabin was nestled in the heart of the forest near a large private lake. There were no people around for miles. He hated these appointments; he knew that if something didn’t go right, he might never be found out here in these woods.

  The two story log cabin didn’t look like much from the outside for good reason but the inside was elaborate with a deliberate rustic feel: large cedar log walls, ceiling to floor windows, fireplaces, brown leather furnishings and skylights illuminating natural light from cathedral ceilings. William had spared no expense as he rarely did with anything in life. Grabbing the envelope from the passenger seat before stepping out of his patrol car, James noticed William standing at the top of the porch with a large whisky glass in hand and a larger smile on his face.

  “James! Come on in, buddy,” William said, a pale white man, tall with deep wrinkles and dull green eyes.

  “William, how are ya?” James asked, shaking William’s hand before walking into the cabin. William patted James on the back before closing the door behind him. James plopped down with a relaxing groan on one of the leather chairs in the living area.

  “Jack Daniels?” William asked holding up his whiskey glass.

  James shook his head. “Never; the usual please.”

  William walked past him to the bar, picked up a bottle of vodka and poured some in a shot glass. “How is your beautiful wife doing?”

  “She’s fine,” James responded shortly, hating the attempt at small talk.

  “Good to hear that. Fine lady you got there.”

&nbs
p; William could have gotten punched in the face, had James not wanted to mix business with pleasure. William was one third of their business and he only tolerated him because he had to. James threw the thick envelope on a wooden table in front of him as William walked over with the shot glass of vodka. William’s red face told James that the drink he sipped on was one of many he’d already had.

  James placed the glass to his lips, taking a quick shot. “Ahhh,” he savored the taste, looking at the glass. “Good stuff.”

  William picked up the envelope from the table and sat in a chair across from James. “You know me; only the best, my friend.”

  James watched William count the bills in the envelope, noticing that only remnants of William’s once thick blond hair remained on his head. Even thousand dollar custom made suits couldn't keep William’s years of wheeling and dealing on the streets from catching up with him.

  “Get yourself another shot,” William suggested.

  James laughed off the invitation. “No way, I’ve got to drive back.”

  William stared at James meaningfully. “How’s everything going?”

  “It’s all well. How’s Leon?” James asked, putting his glass down on the wooden coffee table.

  “He’d be better if he wasn’t in jail,” William said with a laugh.

  James’ eyes shot over at the man who was holding on tightly to the envelope. “Whose fault is that?”

  “Oh, not yours,” William smiled taking another swig of whiskey then glaring at James.

  “I know it isn’t mine.” James sat forward. “Hell, he almost got us all locked up.” James was tired of the insinuations that somehow he could have done more to help Leon. If Leon would have controlled his impulses, he wouldn’t be where he was. Nobody, least of all James, had expected that Leon would let his personal matters jeopardize all of their lives and business dealings.

  “Relax,” William said.

  “You relax.” James pulled at his sleeves. “I didn’t come here for this,” he said.

  William stood up and walked to the bar. “Let’s get down to business. We need to speed things up at that church.”

  James raised his eyebrows. “Excuse me?”

  William leaned on the bar. “You were supposed to be the head trustee by now.”

  James laughed. “You think that’s how it works? You’ve obviously never gone to church.”

  “I can’t say that I have.”

  “Well, Leon knows how it works and moving up that political ladder isn’t easy,” James said. Stupid prick.

  “It may not be easy but it’s possible. We know that there’s a lot of money in that church so we can get ours and get out without anyone being any wiser,” William said. “The longer we delay it, the closer we are to slipping up somewhere.” William placed his whiskey glass on top of the bar and reached beneath it, removing an antique wooden cigar box. William held out a cigar to James. “Have one?”

  James shook his head. “Don’t smoke.”

  William closed his eyes and brought the cigar up to his nose savoring the smell. “Hand rolled, made with 18 year old tobacco.”

  James turned his head. William snipped off the end of his cigar and lit it, puffing a few times. “Who’s the head of the trustee board?”

  “Deacon Howard,” James answered, “and he can’t be bought.”

  William puffed the cigar then smiled. “Maybe not bought but certainly moved.”

  James shook his head. “That won’t work. Greg used to be one of my cops and he’s no dummy and some of those folks on that board support him 100 percent. They keep him in the loop and in case you or Leon forgot, that man was the reason Leon got put away in the first place.”

  “I don’t think anyone could forget that easily,” William said. “Perhaps Leon knows a way.”

  “Perhaps,” James answered. He placed his hands on the armrest and motioned to stand up; he was ready to go.

  “One more thing, James,” William said. “About that boy’s case; it’s getting to be real annoying.”

  James relaxed his hand and sat back down. “To who William? You?”

  William chuckled at James. “I speak for all of us. People want to know why the case isn’t closed,” William said. “The community wants somebody’s head.”

  James nostrils flared, looking at William. Does this nut think things run perfectly by themselves? “When we made the decision to get rid of Devon, you didn’t have much to say but now you’re community conscious?”

  William lifted his brows. “We’re in this together.”

  “The spotlight’s on me,” James said, pounding the chair with his palms. Arrogant schmuck. “Something happens and I have to answer for it.”

  “Make this case die James, for everybody’s sake,” William said taking a puff of his cigar.

  Fury ran through James’ veins staring at the man as smoke billowed from his cigar. “And who do you suppose goes down for it?”

  “Where’s the other boy?”

  “I don’t know,” James answered.

  “He can help us get back to business as usual,” William said with a smile. James could feel his temples throbbing; he was tempted to strangle the man with his bare hands but William’s sophisticated security system would give it away. William threw the envelope on the table. “Everything’s there,” he said looking relaxed in the chair.

  “Isn’t it always?” James asked.

  “Right.”

  James stood up from the chair and walked to the front door. He didn’t bother to look back. He didn’t care. He slid into the front seat of his patrol car and started the ignition, then reached for his cell phone. He needed Hernandez and White to find Tim—quickly.

  Chapter 12

  Deacon Howard was supposed to be relaxing in the oversized studded chair alone in the family room watching Notre Dame versus Michigan State. Mother Howard knew not to bother him when the game was on and she didn’t; she kept his glass filled with fresh ice cubes and Pepsi on one table and chips and peanuts on the other.

  “Ahh!” he screamed, causing some soda to spill on the floor. Mary would no doubt have something to say about that. “Why they gave that boy the ball!” he yelled out at the television set. “He can’t play no ball!” He shook his head, mad at it all. He was glad when a commercial came on so he could get his blood pressure back under control. He looked down beside his chair at Rex, his six year old Golden Retriever who was the only one allowed in the family room with him when the game was on. The dog accompanied him all the time anyway and faithfully followed the deacon everywhere around the house. Deacon Howard ran his hand over the retriever’s shiny coat, causing Rex to lift his head.

  “That’s my boy,” the deacon said, smiling at the dog while rubbing the thick golden coat. He picked up the paper from the floor beside his chair, intending to read during the break. Throwing a fistful of peanuts in his mouth, he looked at the article with the smiling, attractive faces of Pastor and First Lady Pharell. Greg was his usual self in the article, afraid of self-promotion, but Howard expected that before he began reading.

  The article was well-written. Greg did a great job of acknowledging how God had blessed JMC in spite of the events that brought it to its knees, which is where Greg said the church needed to be. It was funny though. Greg spoke on the issues that the church experienced but never once mentioned Leon’s name. He was proud of Greg.

  Initially he had to admit that he had his reservations about staying at JMC under Greg’s leadership. But when Greg came back, he personally approached the deacon and asked for help. He agreed of course, and it was a wise decision. Besides, what other church was going to allow him to walk in and hold the same position he had worked so hard for at JMC? Not one.

  Deacon Howard removed his reading glasses and smiled as he placed the paper back on the floor. With his arms behind his head, he leaned back on the chair and closed his eyes, waiting for the game to start back. ESPN ran too many commercials, he hated them. The phone rang, causing
Deacon Howard to open his eyes and let out a loud groan.

  “Mary, will you get that?” he yelled out. “They know not to bother me when I’m watching my game.” The phone continued to ring. Howard reluctantly leaned forward out of his chair to answer the phone, hoping that whoever it was heard in his voice that he didn’t appreciate the interruption.

  “Hello,” the deacon snarled.

  It was an automated caller. “This is a collect call from an inmate at the Virginia State Correctional Facility. To accept this call, press 1, to decline press 9 or hang up.”

  Shock froze the deacon’s seasoned face. Who would be stupid enough to call him knowing he didn't accept collect calls from anybody. Come to think about it, he knew only one inmate in that prison. Leon. He looked around to see if Mary would be walking in the hallway but there was no sight or sound from her. His hands began to shake, unsure of how to respond. What could Leon possibly have to say to him after so long?

  He looked at the phone as the automated voice repeated the message. Nervous, as if Leon could see what he was doing, he immediately hung up. The game was back on but Deacon Howard sat up in his chair, staring at the phone instead of the television screen. What in the world does Leon want with me?

  Chapter 13

  “Okay gentlemen, I think that’s it,” Minister Byron said, standing up. Deacon Howard stood up and stretched his long legs. “I agree. I’m too old to sit down for this long.”

  “Nonsense Deacon,” Greg laughed as he leaned back in his chair, massaging his own neck.

  “You’re still young Pastor, enjoy it,” Deacon Howard added.

  “He’s not that young,” Rick said, leaning back in the chair across from Greg, “and when are you going to get a bigger office?” he asked with a scowl on his face.

  “I agree, Pastor,” Minister Byron added, “you need to be comfortable.”