Covenant (47 page)

            “I had to guard against the possibility that the Bible would fall into the wrong hands.  If one of the Armor of God soldiers had somehow gotten it, they would have found out who Kelley was and dismissed the book as meaningless, a teenage girl marking up her study Bible.”

            “Why not go to the media yourself with the expose?”

            “I would have been incriminating myself, Anthony.  You’ve read the files?  My name is all over them.”

            “You could have sent it to the media anonymously.”

            “That would not have been satisfactory.  My point was not only to expose the bishop and the church.  I wanted a shot at redemption, and I thought I could get it by letting someone else expose them—someone who’s lost so much because of what I did.”

            Bob removed his sunglasses.  He noted the gun on Anthony’s hip, and anxiety glinted in his eyes.

            “Galatians, chapter four, verse sixteen,” Anthony said. “ ‘Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?’  I figured out what you meant by that—even though in the file from fifteen years ago, you still omitted your own name as the one who killed my father.”

            “But you knew,” he whispered.

            “In the back of my mind, I think I knew from the moment you contacted me.” Anthony grunted.  “That didn’t stop me from trying to beat the answer out of the bishop.”

            “I thought you might kill him.  In fact, I actually hoped you would.  You write those violent thrillers about that vigilante, Ghost.”

            “Ghost is a fictional character, Bob.  Killing the bishop would’ve given him the easy way out.  There are punishments worse than death.”    

            “No truer words.”  Bob finished the cola and placed the can on the small table between the chairs.  “So?”

            “So, what?”

            Bob glanced at the Beretta again.  “What’re you going to do about me?”

            “I’d long vowed that when I finally came face to face with the man who killed my dad, I was going to put a bullet in his head.” 

            Anthony drew the pistol out of the holster, and chambered a round.  Bob tensed, looked ready to bolt from the porch.

            For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.

            “But I’ve since changed my mind,” Anthony said.

            “Thank God.”  Bob sighed, visibly relieved.

            “I’ve been reading the Bible a bit lately,” Anthony said.  “That surprises me, really.  After all the terrible things I’ve seen in this world, I never thought that old book had much to tell me about anything.  I’m not saying I plan to start attending church anytime soon—though my wife would love that—but I’ve been reflecting on some things.”

            Bob said nothing.  Waited.

            “I’m going to leave you with a scripture to consider, for a change,” Anthony said.  “After I give it to you, I don’t ever want to see you again.”

            Bob was quiet. 

            “Isaiah, chapter fifty-five, verse seven,” Anthony said. “ ‘Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.’ “

            Bob bowed his head, hands clasped as if in prayer.  “I’d like to believe that, Anthony.  I really would.”

            “Good-bye, Bob.”      

            Bob slid on his sunglasses, and descended the veranda steps.  He pushed through the front gate and ambled down the sidewalk, hands in his pockets, and soon disappeared around the corner. 

            Anthony sat outside for a few more minutes, sipping cola and enjoying the sunshine. 

            Then, he went inside and called his nephew.  He had promised to take the kid fishing one day, and he intended to keep his word.

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About Brandon Massey

Brandon Massey was born June 9, 1973 and grew up in Zion, Illinois.  He lives with his family in Atlanta, Georgia, where he is at work on his next thriller. Visit his web site at www.brandonmassey.com for the latest news on his upcoming books.