Chapter 36
David’s only task right now was to deliver Uriah’s body to Shreveport. He was having a hard time getting to the right person. He yelled at Wade. “Get Uriah’s body here, or someone will be looking for another job.”
“Yes, Mr. King,” Wade said.
Thirty minutes later David received a call informing him that what remained of Uriah would be shipped to the air force base in Bossier City the following day. Once he got that taken care of, he went into the living room.
“Where’s Sheba?” he asked Delilah, who was sitting on the couch alone.
“She’s taking a bath,” Delilah informed him.
“Do you think she’s going to be okay?” he asked as he sat in a chair across from the couch.
“She’s going to need folks who care about her to help her.”
“I’m here. I will not let her go through this by herself,” David said.
“David, let me be honest with you. I think you’re the last person who should be here. I mean, if it wasn’t for you, her husband would be safe and sound. He would be here.”
David knew there was some truth in Delilah’s words, but he felt enough guilt. He didn’t need someone else accusing him. Delilah seemed to see right through him. She talked as if she knew he had set Uriah up to go speak with the government officials.
Sheba entered the room, looking fresh. Her hair was up in a bun, and she was wearing a jogging suit. Her face was without makeup. David couldn’t recall a time when he had seen her without makeup. She didn’t need any. She had a natural beauty. Being pregnant with his child made her skin glow. He wanted to reach out to her but knew that now was not the time to do so.
“Sheba, your husband’s body will be flown to the air force base tomorrow. I have to take care of some things in Dallas, but I will be back tomorrow, before his body arrives.”
Sheba hugged him and said, “Thank you, David. Thank you for everything. Thank you for getting my husband back to me.”
David squeezed her before leaving the room and walking out her front door. Guilt weighed him down as he got in the back of the waiting car. He hoped Sheba never found out the truth about him purposely sending Uriah to set up his Afghanistan’s office when he could have easily sent someone in Uriah’s place. This was a secret he planned on taking to his grave.
When David got back to the office in Dallas, it was in disarray at the news of what had happened to Uriah. He was the first casualty the company had experienced at any of its foreign locations. Uriah’s death also made the national news.
Trisha said, “Nathan’s waiting for you in your office.”
David turned to walk in another direction. Nathan came out of his office at that moment.
“David, there you are. I came to check up on you.”
Not wanting Trisha in his business more than she had to be, David turned back around and followed Nathan into his office. He closed the door. “Have a seat,” David said. Nathan sat. David went and sat behind his desk.
Nathan said, “I’ve been waiting to hear from you, but when I didn’t, I thought I would just drop in. You haven’t been returning my phone calls.”
“Well, as you know, I’ve been busy. I have reporters and a grieving widow to deal with.” David nervously tapped a pen against his desk.
“I have a question for you.” Nathan had a serious look on his face.
“Man, now’s not the time.” David’s forehead wrinkled.
“Please. Answer this question, and I won’t bother you anymore.”
David twisted his neck from left to right. “I’m listening.”
“What would you do if one of your employees, who you’ve paid a nice salary to, purposely stole from one of his or her poor relatives?”
“If I found out about it, he would be fired and, I would hope, prosecuted for being a thief.”
“My beloved friend, the Lord has placed this on my heart to tell you, but, David, you are that man. God has given you an empire. You are the CEO of one of the largest media conglomerates in the world. Women flock to you, beautiful single women, and yet you had your eyes on one woman. Another man’s wife. God showed me in a vision what happened to Uriah. I saw it before I heard about it on the news. You didn’t bomb his truck, but you might as well have. David, you killed Uriah, and God is not pleased with you.”
David’s head wanted to explode. He felt naked and ashamed in front of the Lord and in front of Nathan. His head dropped into his hands. “God is going to punish me. What have I done? I’m going to lose it all.”
“God is a God of grace and mercy. Repent now, my friend,” Nathan pleaded.
Nathan left David alone with his thoughts. Once alone, David cried out to the Lord. “Oh, my Lord, my soul is in despair. I have sinned against thee and have broken several of your commandments. Have mercy on me, my Lord. I’ve been disobedient. I humbly bow down before you and ask that you please let your wrath pass me by. “
David prayed until sweat dripped from his forehead.