“My decision has nothing to do with that. I empathize with both Carmen and her mother, but letting Carmen move in here like she’s some loyal family member, well, that’s just not something I can do.”
Alicia didn’t say another word, so JT followed her downstairs. When she walked out to the garage, he set the alarm system and closed the door behind him.
“So, I guess you’re not speaking to me, huh?” he asked, realizing this was officially their first major disagreement. They’d had a few discussions that weren’t the most cordial, specifically the day she’d wanted to know about those accusations Barb had made, even though she thought Barb was someone named Donna, and also last Saturday when he’d lied and told her he had to go see a sick church member-that day when he’d actually spent the entire evening with Veda, but this argument was much more severe.
She opened her car door. “There’s not a lot else for me to say.”
“Can we talk about this some more when we get home tonight?”
“If you want,” she said, putting on her sunglasses.
“I do. And I love you.”
Alicia got in her vehicle, started the ignition, backed out of the garage, and drove off. JT did the same, but as he left their subdivision, he knew it was time to get rid of Carmen. It was time to cut her off and also find a way to end her relationship with his wife.
When JT steered his car into the church parking lot, closed the convertible top, and stepped out onto the asphalt, he saw Minister Payne and Minister Weaver heading inside. He had asked both of them to come in for a short meeting so he could update them on the marketing agenda, and he was glad they were right on schedule.
“Have a seat,” JT said when the three of them walked into his office, and JT went around and sat behind his desk. “This won’t take very long but since I’ve decided to go a slightly different route with the marketing plan in comparison to what we discussed three weeks ago, I wanted to fill you in. That way you can share it with the other ministers and officers when you have your weekly meeting with them this evening. Actually, I may stop in for a few minutes just in case they have questions.”
“Sounds good,” Minister Payne said.
However, Minister Weaver was a lot more forthcoming. “So, what’s the change?”
“Well, for one thing, I’ve hired a firm to coordinate and schedule a full broadcasting blitz. We’ll have spots promoting the church and myself, as well as what we can offer the overall community.”
“That sounds like a great idea,” Minister Payne said. “Are we doing both radio and TV?”
“Yes, we’re doing both, although I’ve asked the ad rep to gear more of the money toward radio, specifically during the morning and evening drive times.”
“Good.”
“How long will these ads run for?” Minister Weaver asked.
“For at least a month.”
“On how many stations?”
“All the top stations in Chicago. Gospel, R &B, pop, and talk radio.”
Minister Weaver raised his eyebrows. “That sounds awfully costly, so how are we going to pay for all of this?”
“Well, that’s the good news,” JT said, smiling. “I’ve located several private donors who really believe in what we do here.”
“Who?” Minister Weaver asked. He was starting to annoy JT.
“I wish I could say, but these contributors have asked that I keep their identities confidential. Every one of them has made it clear that, while they are very happy to help get out God’s Word, they don’t feel the need to make their names known.”
Minister Weaver glared at JT, his eyes practically screaming the word “liar,” but JT ignored him.
“So, are both of you okay with this?”
“I’m more than fine with it,” Minister Payne said. “We need some daily publicity, and I think it’s a blessing that you’ve found a few good people who are happy to pay for it.”
“So, what about the committee we talked about creating?” Minister Weaver asked.
“We’re going to do that, too. Just not right away. Maybe in about a month or so. When this media blitz has completed, we’ll focus a lot more on the other things we discussed.”
Minister Weaver seemed skeptical, but this wasn’t the first time he had silently disagreed with something JT had come up with. In the end, though, Minister Weaver would basically back down because one fact always remained: JT was the founder of NLCC, and he really didn’t owe anyone any explanations about anything. Keeping the two of them, along with the others, abreast of any new business was mainly just a courtesy, but it definitely wasn’t something JT was required to do.
They reviewed the rest of this week’s schedule as well as this coming Sunday’s, and then JT said, “Well, unless you have something else, Glenn, Steve needs to speak with me on a private matter.”
“Of course,” Minister Weaver said, and stood up. “Also, have you had time to take a look at the information we spoke about at our last meeting?”
JT knew he was referring to his and the other ministers’ possible salary increase but said, “No, not yet. And with everything I have going on, I probably won’t get to that for a long while.”
“If I recall,” he stated matter-of-factly, “you said you would review it by the end of the month, and today is already the twenty-sixth.”
“Well, unfortunately, this isn’t a good time,” JT replied, his voice curt.
Minister Weaver made no attempt toward hiding the disgruntled look on his face and soon turned and left the office.
JT pursed his lips tightly. “Sometimes that man really gets under my skin.”
Minister Payne cracked up. “He’s a trip all right. And what is he worried about now?”
“Money. He wants more of it, and he wants me to take a look at all of your salaries. He says you’re not getting paid nearly what you deserve.”
“I disagree. We get paid fine.”
“Well, clearly Weaver begs to differ. But on the other hand, I think you actually do deserve a bonus, and especially if you agree to do a small favor for me.”
“Sure. Whatever you need.”
“Well, I’ve sort of gotten myself into a jam, and you’re the only person I can trust to help me out of it.”
Minister Payne sat up straighter in his chair. “Go ahead. I’m listening.”
“It’s really bad, Steve. To be honest, it’s the worst.”
“This sounds serious.”
“It is, and there’s no sense beating around the bush. I’ve been sleeping with this woman named Carmen for the last four years, and now she’s saying that if I don’t leave Alicia and marry her, she’s going to go public about the affair we’ve been having. She’s threatening me more and more, and she has to be stopped. This woman is crazy, and I have to get her out of my life.”
“Man, Pastor, that’s pretty deep.”
“I know. And if I could do things over, I definitely would, but it’s too late for that.”
“I guess you’re right. So, what do you want me to do?”
JT gave him more details, mainly about how she’d slithered her way back into Alicia’s life and how she’d never bothered telling him that she and Alicia were childhood friends. Then he said, “I’ve thought about this long and hard and since I can’t kill her, although it would be nice”-he chuckled-“the only way I can see getting rid of her is by sending her to prison. So, what I was thinking was that maybe you could contact one of your boys from your old neighborhood, purchase a batch of weed, cocaine, and crack, and then plant it inside her apartment. That is, if you’re willing.”
Minister Payne nodded in agreement. “Of course I am. Whatever it takes.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” JT said, happy he’d chosen to mentor and groom such a loyal and dedicated subject.