His First Lady (39 page)

Leon opened his bible. “Ladies and gentlemen,
Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered; let them also that hate him flee before him.
”

Leon went blank. He didn’t even remember what he had prepared to say and there was so much to say. He felt all eyes on him but he could only focus on the cops sitting in the back. They weren’t there to give their condolences; they were staring at him with serious cold faces and methodical eyes.

Leon looked down at his notes. “Amen saints,” Leon said. “
Weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning
.”

The crowd responded with their ‘
amens
’. Leon knew they were watching him but he vowed to finish the service because this was his church and they had to do a lot more than show up for him to be intimidated. He was going to preach in spite of them. He removed the microphone from the stand and stepped away from the lectern. He began preaching and walking around the pulpit with sweat beads forming on his forehead taking control of his church.

The officers stood up once Leon began walking the pulpit with his microphone. Leon quickly noticed their abrupt movement as he watched them motion out of the pew and toward the side aisle of the church, walking next to the wall as not to attract too much attention. Leon continued to preach, keeping one eye on them and the other on the congregation.

“I pray that Rick, their children, and her family are comforted in knowing that earth lost a wonderful human being but heaven gained an angel.”

Leon looked in the corner of his eye then raised his hand for the choir’s selection. Dutiful, the choir began singing. Leon returned to the lectern and replaced the microphone. As the choir sang and clapped, Leon nonchalantly made his way to the side door of the pulpit. He knew that they were watching him closely so he had to be quick about it.

“What’s going on?” Rick asked looking over at Greg.

Greg didn’t answer keeping his attention on Leon as he headed toward the pulpit door that led to the church offices. Greg looked around at the uniformed officers to see where they were positioned. They were on the side aisle of the church near the wall while Ben made his way further down the slanted aisles toward the bottom of the pulpit. Greg had known what Ben had planned but coming all the way inside the sanctuary and approaching the pulpit was definitely not a part of the plan.

Rick leaned over. “Greg, what’s going on, man?” He asked again.

“I’ll be back,” Greg said standing up but keeping an eye on Leon as he began to walk out of the pulpit.

Greg knew that Leon’s attempt to leave was what had thwarted the plan but he hoped that Ben would take into consideration that this was a church. Greg watched Ben who hurried to the bottom of the pulpit then up the stairs toward Leon. Greg followed Ben’s lead but slower realizing that people had begun to notice all of the quick movement. Some members of the choir stopped singing at the sight of Ben rushing toward Leon while others tried desperately to save the song.

Greg’s attention was on Leon who he could see was going for the door knob. But before Leon could turn the door knob, Ben rushed toward him holding his badge up and out so Leon could clearly see it. “Pastor, let’s not do this here. Please don’t embarrass yourself.”

Leon looked stunned and suddenly the music stopped and all eyes were up on the pulpit although most could only see mouths moving but hearing nothing.

“Sir, are you Leon Ladson?” Ben asked.

Leon looked around as if unsure of his next move. He decided to remain calm. “This is a church and you’re intruding on a sacred service,” Leon bellowed.

Ben put his hand up to calm Leon down. “Sir, that it not our intention. So, if you’ll please cooperate.”

Leon glared at Ben. “Intention or not, this is a house of God.”

“Would you like to do this outside, sir?” Ben asked.

Leon smirked. “Do what outside?”

Ben looked at one of the uniformed officers and nodded. “Pastor, if you’ll step down.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Leon said. “This is my church.”

Greg looked at Ben then at Leon. “Leon, please think about Ariel and Rick’s families. Don’t do this here, please be considerate.”

Leon looked at Greg viciously. “You always wanted this church. Is this your way of getting it?”

Greg didn’t answer. He wanted to tell Leon that he wanted no part of the church but he didn’t.

Leon looked the uniformed officers up and down and rolled his eyes. Then he looked at Ben. “I have done nothing wrong. If you want to arrest me then do it openly in front of my congregation.”

Ben paused and stared at Leon. Then he nodded. “Leon Ladson, you’re under arrest.”

Time seemed to stop as Leon looked at the faces of those surrounding him as if attempting to digest what was happening to him. “This is ridiculous!” Leon exclaimed causing the choir and the organist to stop playing with all eyes on him.

“Sir, you don’t have to do this because we’re not trying to cause a scene,” Ben said walking up close to Leon.

A uniformed officer turned Leon around and grabbed his wrists. Fear covered Leon’s face as the officers handcuffed him. “What am I being arrested for?” Leon yelled jerking away from the officer. “Get your hands off of me!”

Both officers and Ben reacted rushing Leon and grabbing his body. Greg immediately went into police mode holding up his hands to the ministers and deacons attempting to approach the pulpit. He looked back to see Leon on his face flat on the pulpit floor.

“Calm down, sir,” One of the uniformed officers instructed Leon. “You’re making this worse.”

Leon calmed down as he breathed heavily. “I…I just want to know what I’m being arrested for.”

“You’re being arrested for aggravated assault,” The cuffing uniformed officer answered.

“What?” Leon scoffed looking around with his hands behind his back. “Against who?”

“Mr. Ladson, you have the right to remain silent…” Ben began reading Leon his Miranda rights as another officer kept his arm on Leon.

“This is insane! What are you stupid or something?” Leon asked closing his eyes and placing his head back as if in disbelief.

“You have
the right to remain silent
. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law,” Ben said. “You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand the rights I have just read to you?”

Leon laughed. “This is crazy and you’ve obviously made a huge mistake that’s going to cost you your jobs. I promise you that,” Leon threatened.

“Leon, please don’t make this worse,” Greg said.

“Shut up,” Leon said to Greg staring daggers into him.

Ben looked over at Greg then directly at Leon. “Do you understand the rights I have just read to you, sir?”

Leon scoffed. “Yes, I do. I hope you understand that you’ve just made one of the biggest mistakes of your career.”

“We’ll just have to see how this mistake ranks among the many in my career, sir,” Ben said.

Greg had never seen Leon so vulnerable. He always seemed so big and now he was clearly just a poor pathetic excuse of a man.

Leon glared at Greg. “This is my church! I built this church!”

Greg and Leon held each other’s gaze; Leon for authority but Greg with pity. He turned away as Leon was being led away. Greg looked out at Rick who placed both hands on his head watching the unfolding scene. Ariel’s mom sobbed uncontrollably as members of Ariel’s family gathered around her and others watched in utter horror and disbelief at Leon’s arrest. Flashes from cellphone cameras splattered throughout the audience as a shame faced Leon looked back at Evan being led down the aisle past Ariel’s casket in handcuffs.

“Ev, call Paul and tell him to meet you at the police station. And get the governor on the phone now!” He shouted to her.

Evan was expressionless watching Leon being led away. Greg walked over to Rick who sat with his head down. “I’m sorry, brother,” Greg said regretting that Leon’s arrest had not only occurred at Ariel’s service but overshadowed his grief.

Rick looked over at Greg as if in a daze but said nothing.

“Let’s continue the service,” Greg said to Rick who didn’t respond.

Greg stared at the lectern. He had made up his mind never to stand in front of this congregation again to preach and now God was showing him that it was not his decision to make. He walked slowly toward the podium. He felt Evan’s gaze and he looked over at her. She smiled. Greg closed his eyes and prayed for God to take this out of his hands. He felt the piercing disconcerted stares from the congregation.

“Praise always be to God,” Greg said with his head up high.

The attorney jumped up and held out his hand as Leon walked in; Leon looked down at the man’s hand then up at the man’s pale young face without shaking it. He wasn’t in the mood to meet a new attorney. He was passed being angry, he was pissed. This pathetic excuse of a judicial system had humiliated him in front of his congregation and the world and he still had yet to stand before a judge.

“Why haven’t I had a bail hearing yet?” Leon demanded to know of his attorney once the guard closed the door leaving the two alone. Leon stood intimidating, dressed in a gray prison jumpsuit and slippers. He was exhausted, disheveled, and unshaven not even recognizing himself when he looked in the mirror.

“Please sit down Mr. Ladson; we have a lot to go over,” The man said sitting down not at all daunted by Leon’s show of brawn.

“I don’t want to sit down,” Leon said standing behind the chair at the table and holding on to the top of it. “Who are you?”

“Mr. Ladson, my name is Flint Shiffman. I don’t know if Paul told you anything about me but if I’m going to represent you then we need to agree that the battle isn’t between you and I; it’s between you and a jury of your peers. I’ve been hired to help you, not compare size.”

Leon stared at the man. Paul had met him at the station once he was arrested and mentioned that he was referring him to a criminal attorney and would assist as necessary. The only other information he was given was that the attorney graduated in the top 5 from Harvard law school and was the best in criminal law. If that was the case then why hadn’t the Ivy Leaguer been able to secure bail, a first year law student knew how to do that. With the absurd charges, he should have been able to post bail that night but if first impressions meant anything then Leon believed that he might never get out of jail. The young blond looked green and any judge in his right mind would laugh him right out of court.

“Flint did you say?” Leon asked. “You graduated from Harvard, right?”

Flint nodded. “Yes sir, I did.”

“Well, Mr. Ivy League,” Leon stared the man in the eye, “it seems that a first year law student could have gotten me a bail hearing as absurd and simple these idiotic charges are.”

Flint picked up his pen and began flipping it between his fingers. He leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table. “I agree that a first year law student might have gotten you a bail hearing on the assault charges by now but since, it’s no longer that simple; you need me, Mr. Ladson.”

“No longer that simple?” Leon scoffed. “Oh, it’s that simple.” Leon balled his fists up and began pacing the floor. “The charges are absurd. I didn’t batter my wife,” Leon said furiously. “We fight like all married people fight; but I don’t put my hands on her. I’m sure she’s hit me so do I get to have her arrested and humiliated like I’ve been?” He asked with fury running through his veins wanting to punch the wall but knowing that it wasn’t an option.

“Mr. Ladson,” Flint said with a deep sigh.

“Mr. Flint,” Leon interrupted. “I don’t know how much you knew about me prior to this but I’m a well-known pastor of one of the biggest churches in this state and I have a reputation to uphold. I would never hurt my wife. With that information, I want you to make sure that I’m out of here ASAP before any further damage is done.”

Flint remained calm watching Leon pick up the chair across from him and slam it back down on its legs causing the metal legs to hit the concrete floor hard.

“I understand your concern,” Flint said.

“No!” Leon shouted. “My mother could understand my concern; I don’t need understanding.” Leon held his fingers up and counted. “One, I’m on the national news and I’m running for a council seat. Two, it’s her word against mine and I’m not even getting the benefit of the doubt. Three, get me in touch with the First lady and she’ll straighten all this out. We’re married and we’ll work through this like we work through everything else.”

“Sit down, Mr. Ladson,” Flint said.

Leon looked the young man in the face and pulled out the chair and sat in it. Flint slid a stack of papers across the table to him.

“What’s this?” Leon asked staring down at the papers then up at Flint.

“Divorce papers,” Flint said. “Your wife’s attorney had them delivered this morning.”

Leon picked up the papers then flipped angrily through them growing angrier with every page turned. Enraged, Leon threw the papers across the room. “I’ll burn that house down before she gets it.”

Flint stared at him. “That’s the least of your worries right now. I have good news and terrible news. The good news is that the DA dropped the domestic assault charge.”

Leon looked at the young man but said nothing figuring as much; they couldn’t prove anything anyway.

“The terrible news is that they’ve filed more serious charges of 1
st
degree murder, conspiracy to murder, and sexual assault of a minor.”

Leon felt the bottom drop out from under him and all he saw was a bottomless black hole that was swallowing him whole. He stared at Flint seeing Flint’s lips moving but hearing nothing. Anxiety and terror filled his body and the steady thumping of his heartbeat sounded like drums in his ears. Leon felt his temperature rise and wasn’t sure if his spirit had left his body because he no longer felt a sense of reality.