A Preacher's Passion (6 page)

Robin sat in her car, staring dispassionately as the congregants of Kingdom Citizens’ Christian Center emerged from the sanctuary. She’d left her motel room an hour before with three things: her Cobra handgun, a pack of Kool Menthol 100’s, and a plan. She chain-smoked one cigarette after another as she watched the members of Kingdom Citizens bask in all of their fellowshipping glory. Robin pulled the baseball cap she wore farther down on her forehead, her eyes glued to the church’s parking lot. Robin watched—and waited.

The scene inside KCCC’s executive offices was not as festive as the one outside. In fact, Derrick was having a hard time holding on to his temper as he waited for a logical explanation as to why Kelvin had showed up for service just ten minutes before the benediction. Kelvin used oversleeping, lack of transportation, and LA traffic as excuses for why he and the friend who’d given him a ride had missed church. For Derrick, none of these reasons were good enough.

“You expect me to believe that an intelligent, capable young man such as yourself doesn’t know how to set his alarm? The same young man who is up at six-thirty during the week, sometimes earlier, to lift weights and run sprints? What kind of fool do you take me for, Kelvin?”

Kelvin sat slouched on a leather loveseat, silent. The air fairly crackled with tension as Derrick awaited an answer. Finally Kelvin shrugged his shoulders and said, “I don’t.”

“You don’t what?”

“I don’t think you’re a fool, Rev.”

“So since that’s not the problem, you’re going to have to tell me what is. Because I thought that after our last conversation, when I said in no uncertain terms that attending church was not optional, that this matter was settled.”

Kelvin sighed, not wanting to tell Derrick how he really felt, but not wanting to keep perpetrating a fraud either. Truth was, Kelvin didn’t agree with Derrick’s take on God, didn’t feel the need for religion. Even though he’d found out Derrick was his biological father only two years ago, Kelvin felt a special bond with him, respected his success. He enjoyed staying with the Montgomerys and getting to know his half brother and sister, Derrick Jr. and Elisia. In fact the only real disagreement he and his father had had since he moved in was that he didn’t like attending church. Kelvin hoped this fact wasn’t a deal breaker, but if he was going to continue to live with the Montgomerys, he had to have the freedom to live as he pleased.

“Look, Rev, you know I respect you and all that, but I just don’t believe—”

An urgent knock at the door interrupted Kelvin’s reply. It was Vivian. “Honey, we’ve got to go. Your uncle Charles has had an accident. They don’t know if he’ll make it.”

“Accident, what kind of accident?” Derrick asked, rising from his chair and grabbing his jacket at the same time. Charles Montgomery was Derrick’s favorite uncle, and his father’s brother. He was as close to him as he was to his own dad.

“Some freak happening. An electrical wire came loose and hit the water while he was taking a shower. He was electrocuted.”

Derrick leaned back against his desk. “Oh God, no,” he said quietly, as the gravity of the situation sank in. “Please help him, God. Please put Your arms around my uncle until I get there.”

Derrick’s assistant came into the office. He’d jumped into action as soon as Vivian had seen him on her way to Derrick and told him the news. “Just take it easy, Pastor,” he said to Derrick in a low, calming voice. “Everything is going to be all right. I’ve made your plane reservations and a town car is waiting to take you two to the airport. I’ve already called Mother Moseley. She said don’t worry; she’ll take care of the kids until you get back.”

Derrick had never valued Lionel’s levelheaded efficiency more than this moment. His assistant’s unruffled poise helped to calm Derrick’s rattled nerves. “Thank you,” he said. He turned to Kelvin. “I’ll deal with you later. Do me a favor and drive the Jag back to the house.”

Kelvin nodded somberly, trying to respect the serious mood and hide his excitement at driving the luxury car. But Derrick saw it anyway. “Give the keys to Mother Moseley as soon as you get home. I want the car to stay parked while we’re gone.”

Kelvin’s somber mood was no longer an act. “I can’t drive it at all?” he asked, having pictured in an instant cruising various California boulevards with his friends. “Can I at least go get something to eat first?”

Derrick was too preoccupied to argue. “Have that car home in a couple hours.”

“Sure, Rev,” Kelvin said as he took the keys from on top of the desk and headed toward the door. Just before he opened it he turned. “I’m sorry about not making it to church on time today, and I hope everything turns out okay with your uncle.”

Derrick walked over and hugged his son. Moments like this made him all too aware that tomorrow was not promised, and that one should always be satisfied that if the last words spoken ended up being your last words period, that they were ones you’d want to leave behind. He almost lost his composure then, not knowing what he’d do if he didn’t reach his uncle in time. “I love you, son,” he said.

“I love you too.”

Derrick turned to Vivian, who’d gathered up his briefcase and a couple personal items from atop his desk. “You ready?”

Vivian nodded.

“Let’s go.”

Robin sat up as a black town car and a black Mercedes, both with tinted windows, hurriedly exited the church parking lot. The car turned in her direction and passed directly by her. She tried hard to peer through the dark glass, but she had left her prescription glasses at the motel. Staring at the car as it traveled away from her, she wondered if her target was inside, but quickly dismissed that possibility. A shiny, pearl-white Jaguar was the cage that would be carrying her prey. Robin watched as the town car took the on-ramp to the 10 freeway. Seeing that, she sat back and lit another cigarette. The Montgomerys lived in Beverly Hills and never took the freeway home, at least not on the two or three occasions that she’d followed them. No, her plan was still solid. She just had to bide her time.

Kelvin called Princess as soon as he stepped out of the executive suites. “Where you at?”

“What kind of greeting is that?” she replied.

“The kind that’s gonna get you a ride in the Rev’s Jag if you’re still out front. He and Lady Vee had to bounce—an emergency situation. They’re on their way to the airport and he gave me the keys to drive his car home.”

“Ooh, for real? Where are we going? Hey, let’s roll to Malibu, or maybe even Las Vegas!”

“Girl, are you out yo’ mind? You know the Rev wasn’t gonna leave without putting the car on lock. Old Ms. Moseley is already at the house waiting to confiscate the vehicle soon as I get there.”

“Why you calling me then?”

“Where you at?!” Kelvin walked to the car, which was parked directly in front of the executive offices. “Come over here, to the buildings behind the church. And lose your entourage. It’s just gonna be me and you today.”

Kelvin showed his swagger by striking a pose of cool as he leaned against his father’s car. Within minutes he spotted Princess walking toward him. There was a sway in her hips and a smile on her face as she headed to her man.

Kelvin frowned, turned, and got in the car. He started the engine and began backing out before Princess had barely gotten the door closed.

“What’s your problem?” Princess asked, looking at Kelvin as if he’d lost his mind.

“You, that’s what,” he responded. “Walking over like you want me to tap that ass right here in the parking lot.” Kelvin gave her a sideways glance as he smoothly and carefully navigated the Jaguar out of the lot. “Thought you wanted to keep us on the down low around the folks.”
And around the other girls at this church who I’m trying to get with.

“I do,” Princess pouted.

“Why? I never understood what that was about, being all secretive and thangs. So Derrick knows your parents, so what? You’re eighteen, grown. They think you’re not gonna date nobody? Who knows, it might make them feel better that you’re with their good friend’s son.”

Princess wondered how she could tell Kelvin that he was the last person her parents would want her dating.

“Lemme call the home front and tell Ms. Mother Moseley that a brothah’s got plans.”

After the call, Kelvin connected his iPod to the car’s stereo system. An up-tempo original hip-hop beat, produced by one of his college friends, pulsated from the high-end system and reverberated off the soft, leather seats. Kelvin was so busy profiling and Princess was so deep in thought about what and what not to share with Kelvin that neither of them noticed the beat-up Dodge that began following them as soon as they left the church.

Robin drove, shoulders hunched, hands gripping the wheel. She kept one eye on the road and one eye on the white car weaving in and out of the heavy Sunday traffic. Fortunately Derrick wasn’t in much of a hurry today; even in her hoopty, she was keeping up just fine.

Robin took a hand off the wheel long enough to take the gun from the passenger seat and place it in her lap. She thought of her plan, about what she had in mind for Vivian, and a sneer appeared on her face. There’d be no guard to stop her this time. Robin would jump out of her car and pop a cap in Vivian before their fancy garage door was halfway up. “It’s been a long time,” she said aloud. “But you’re finally gonna get what’s coming to you. And I’m gonna get what should have come to me a long time ago…Derrick.”

The white Jaguar took a turn that Robin wasn’t expecting. “This isn’t the way to your house, muthafucka!” she screamed. She gripped the wheel with both hands again, speeding through traffic until there was only one car separating her car from Derrick’s.

The unexpected turn befuddled and unnerved Robin. She shook her head, tried to clear its fuzziness. Wanting to be sure she was thinking straight, she’d taken three times the normal dosage of Peridol before she’d left the motel, an act she thought would make her feel good. Unfortunately, the opposite effect was happening. Robin felt foggier than ever. And she was even more delusional.

“Yeah, thought you could lose me, didn’t you? Just like all those years ago, back in Georgia, I mean Florida, I mean…you know what I mean! You took my man, Vivian,” Robin whined, pointing to the head on the passenger’s side of the car. “Why you always got to come and take my man?”

Robin’s maniacal mind merged memories of working with Derrick at his first church with those of the twenty-something mistress who enticed Robin’s husband away from their ten-year marriage. “I told you I was gonna get you,” she bellowed. “I told you that nobody took my man and got away with it.” Her voice dropped to a raspy whisper. “Nobody, muthafucka…”

A totally different drama was unfolding inside Derrick Montgomery’s Jaguar.

“Okay, so let me get this straight,” Kelvin said. “Your dad used to roll with
my
mom before he married
your
mom?”

“Right.”

“And then after your dad got married, he was
still
hittin’ it with my mom?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Damn. So then what happened?”

“Mama found out about it and my parents separated for a while.”

“Real talk?”

“And…” Princess paused before revealing the extent of her and Kelvin’s unique connection. “She was pregnant with me at the time.”

“Naw…c’mon now!”

“Serious.”

Kelvin changed lanes and merged into the freeway traffic, which was fairly light for a Sunday. He moved over into the fast lane and increased his speed.

“How you know all this?” he asked after a pause.

“Heard Mama talking about it with Aunt Viv. That’s why I know they all would freak the bump out if they found out we were together.”

“Damn girl, you almost my sister!” Kelvin shoved Princess playfully before placing a hand on her leg.

“Almost ain’t is, nucka. And somebody’s glad about that.”

Kelvin squeezed Princess’s thigh. “Somebody sure is.”

Kelvin saw his exit and looked over his shoulder to change lanes. “Damn! What’s that car doing?” Kelvin watched as an old, beat-up hoopty almost broadsided his father’s spotless ride.

“What?”

“That car almost hit us,” Kelvin said, suddenly exhibiting the frightened nervousness of an eighteen-year-old. “Let me get away from this fool!”

Instead of exiting the freeway, Kelvin merged back into traffic and accelerated. He looked in his rearview mirror. The rusted out hoopty had dropped farther behind him, still weaving in and out of traffic.

“That fool must be high,” he said, relaxing with the distance building up between them. “’Cause he’s trippin’!”

Princess looked back and didn’t see the car. She relaxed as well, taking her hand and placing it near Kelvin’s crotch.

Robin grabbed the gun, her mind in a frenzy. “What, you tryin’ to shake me? You tryin’ to lose a muthafucka?” she yelled at the Jaguar. “I told you that I was gonna get your ass. I told you!” Robin pressed the gas pedal down as far as it would go, and zoomed around the slow-moving semi that had temporarily hidden her from view. Thinking she might lose them again, Robin stuck her left hand out the window and tried to aim the gun at the Jaguar. Being right-handed, trying to use her left one was a risky proposition; her shot hit the side mirror of an unfortunate SUV. Robin continued firing wildly, her car wobbling as she tried to aim, drive, and shoot.

“Dammit,” Robin exclaimed, even as drivers around her reached for cell phones to dial 911.

Kelvin and Princess were oblivious to the crisis they thought they’d outrun. Kelvin slowed down, tilted his body into a mean lean, kept one hand on the steering wheel and placed the other one back on Princess’s leg.

“Where are we going? I’m hungry,” Princess asked.

“Um, me too,” Kelvin replied with a mischievous grin.

“Shut up,” Princess said playfully, batting Kelvin’s hand away from her breast.

The hip-hop track that had been bouncing off the car’s interior came to an end, replaced by the sounds of horns honking. Both Kelvin and Princess looked around, finally realizing that LA traffic was crazier than usual. Cars were speeding around them, or pulling over. Kelvin looked in the rearview mirror and saw the reason why.