LITMIR.BIZ

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Knight shook his head. “No.”

      “I thought not.” Pastor Landris leaned in. “So how much is it going to set me back?”

      Reverend Knight tore off a piece of yeast bread. “I’m not interested in your money.”

      Pastor Landris looked at him and began a fake chuckle. “Yeah, okay. So what are you looking for in exchange—my soul? To agree to come on board with you, regardless of what I want to do? Oh, I know…we can pretend I’m in charge; meanwhile, you’ll be the puppet master pulling my strings.”

      Reverend Knight leaned back and shook his head slowly. He turned down the sides of his mouth in a smirk. “No…strings…attached.” He placed both hands on the table. “Nothing in my hands.” He then turned them over, both palms showing.

      Pastor Landris sat back and cocked his head to the side. “You must really believe I’m the most gullible person you’ve ever run across. First, you show up at a building I just happen to be checking out. I’m curious—how did you know I was there?”

      “The realtor called and told me someone was going to look at it. Naturally, she was excited. We had been aggressively encouraging them, if you will, to hurry and secure a buyer. I don’t own that building alone, just in case you’re wondering.”

      “Okay, so she calls and lets you know someone is going to look at it. Did you know it was me when you happened to show up?”

      He gave a short laugh. “Of course I knew. You don’t honestly think I would waste my time showing up for just any old body, do you? Please.” He placed a forkful of grilled salmon in his mouth, followed by a bite of heavily sprinkled, pepper-sauced collard greens. He closed his eyes, savoring the taste, and said, “Your food is getting cold, Pastor.” His eyes opened. “At least eat while you grill me.”

      Pastor Landris dipped his jumbo shrimp into cocktail sauce and stuck it in his mouth. He chewed slowly. “So you specifically showed up to meet me?”

      “If the mountain won’t come to the sea, then the sea must come to the mountain. I believed you’d visit my church when you first hit our city. You didn’t. Even though I had my secretary send you a personal invitation on my official stationery, there was no response. Not a peep.” His cell phone buzzed.

      “I’ve acknowledged I received it.”

      “So I figured it was divine intervention when the realtor called to inform me that this pastor was looking for a building to either buy or lease, and he was interested in ours. When I happened to ask who this fine minister might be, she, of course, blurted out your name—not even realizing who you were. She couldn’t know that a building that size would only contain you, for what? A year? Maybe. She’s so used to regular folks trying to figure out how they’re going to make their payments. She had no idea that if you chose to buy the place, you most likely would be handing her a cashier’s check for the entire amount without a mortgage.”

      “Who said I have that kind of cash to be dropping on a building?”

      “You were buying a ten million dollar radio station. Cash, from what I heard.”

      Pastor Landris paused. “How do you know about the radio station?”

      “I know about a lot of things—including the fact that the deal fell through, and that you’re having a little trouble getting your cash back.” He reached down and picked up his cell phone. “Pardon me. Someone appears desperate to speak with me.”

      He answered the phone, talking in code as far as Pastor Landris was concerned.

      “Sorry for the interruption,” Reverend Knight said when he finished. “Looks like I have to cut lunch short. I have a preacher friend who may be having a heart attack. He’s one of those faithful friends. You know, the ones that start out with you and stay until the very end. I need to see him.” Reverend Knight took a few rushed bites as he beckoned for Sherry.

      “Yes,” Sherry said, seeing his plate practically empty. “You two ready for dessert?”

      “Duty calls, my dear,” Reverend Knight said as he pulled out cash and handed it to her. “This should cover our meal as well as dessert, should the good pastor here decide he’d like to indulge himself.” He looked at Pastor Landris, then Sherry, and grinned. “The rest is for your tip, madam, and for the fine way which you have served us today.” Sherry was then summoned to another table.

      “Pastor Landris, I highly recommend the peach cobbler,” he said. “I’m somewhat of a cobbler connoisseur. And I’ve yet to find any that can touch this establishment’s cobbler, including my own mother’s—God rest her sweet soul—who was a champion cobbler cook, hands down.”

      He stepped into the aisle and slipped on his overcoat. “Doc, if you want the building, let me know. You have my number. It’ll be available for as long as you want it at no charge. Think about it. Pray about it. Talk it over, but get back to me one way or the other. The sooner, it would seem to me, the better—for you.” He placed his hat on his head.

      “However, if you choose to pass on my offer,” Reverend Knight said, “there are others right now who have—out of nowhere, it seems—lined up to purchase it. Two other groups must have heard you were looking at it. Now they want it and are willing to pay our asking price. I enjoyed lunch, I truly did. Maybe you and I can do this again soon.”

      “Thank you,” Pastor Landris said. “And thanks for lunch. I’ll be in touch.”

      Reverend Knight patted Pastor Landris twice on his shoulder as he left. He acknowledged various people as he made his usual showboat exit.

      Chapter 8

      Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.

      (Psalm 119:133)

      When Pastor Landris walked into her office, Johnnie Mae was working on the computer but actually waiting for him to get back from his meeting with Reverend Knight.

      She looked him in the face to be sure she saw every expression. “So, what happened?” she asked. “Don’t keep me in suspense.”

      “He offered me the building.”

      “How much does he want for it now?”

      “He said he wants nothing.”

      “What?”

      Pastor Landris took a deep breath. “He offered me the building. He wants to give it to me to use for as long as I want. Reverend Knight…the organization…whoever is doing this, wants to give me the building for nothing.”

      “Wait a minute. You’re telling me he wants to let you have that building for free?”

      “That’s what he said—nothing. But he did try again to get me to come on staff with him.” He told her about the Eastside/ Westside congregation idea.

      “I sincerely hope you turned him down,” Johnnie Mae said.

      “You know I did. I just don’t get him, though.” He shook his head. “I haven’t quite figured him out. On one hand, he seems to want me to join him. But on the other, it appears he’s trying to set me up. For what, I’m not sure.” He sat down.

      “He knew about the radio deal.”

      “Who?” She threw him a hard frown. “Reverend Knight?” Her voice cracked.

      “Yes.”

      “How?”

      “I don’t know how. I was just about to find out when he was conveniently interrupted by an emergency phone call. There’s just something about him I don’t get. But he wants me to pray about his offer. He said, ‘No strings attached.’”

      “You and I both know what’s probably going to happen,” Johnnie Mae said, shaking her head. She turned to her computer and clicked the Save button to make sure her last

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