“Laws catch flies but let hornets go free.” Scottish
The police came, dusted for fingerprints, took Khalil’s report, and assured him they would do everything they could to find out who these thugs were that had confronted him outside his apartment. Khalil was told to come to the police station and look through mugshots to see if he could identify the dudes.
Next, after the police left, Khalil went to the church office. Once he arrived at Holy Rock, Khalil called Eliana into his office.
“I need a cleaning service at my apartment ASAP,” he told her.
“Sure, I’ll get right on it.” She proceeded to get up from the chair but Khalil motioned for her to remain seated.
“That’s not all. Are you available to go shopping?”
“Shopping?” she questioned.
“Yeah, shopping. I need to buy new furniture, bedding, and oh, I need you to call the same real estate agent that’s helping my mom find a crib. I need one for myself…pronto.”.
“Uh...okay,” Eliana said, looking at Khalil strangely. What exactly was he up to? What had happened? When he walked into the church that morning, he rushed in with a look of anger on his face. He barely spoke, something that was quite unusual for his fine behind. She was used to him smiling, telling her good morning, and complimenting her. That was not the case today. He looked flustered and quite upset. Now he wanted her to call a real estate agent and go shopping? Yea, something was totally out of sync.
“I’m on it,” she said.
“When will you be available to go shopping with me?” he asked, finally releasing a smile so hypnotic she could barely respond.
“I’m...uh, whenever you say,” she finally replied, pushing the words from her lips.
“Okay, first I want to talk to that real estate guy, and then when Omar comes, send him straight to my office. Cancel any appointments I have, including today’s trustees’ meeting. On second thought, get my mother on the phone. I’ll have her sit in on the meeting.”
“She’s already in the office,” Eliana informed him. “I’ll go let her know you want to see her.”
“Okay, cool. What about Xavier? Is he here too?”
“Yes, he’s here. He’s in a meeting with the Finance team. It’s ten o’clock now, and he said he would be done by ten thirty, no later than eleven. Do you need me to interrupt him?”
Khalil showed his hands. “No, that won’t be necessary. Just handle those things I asked and we’ll go from there.”
“Will do. Anything else?”
“No, that’s it for now. Thanks, Eliana.”
“No problem, Pastor Khalil.”
“Khalil behind closed doors. Remember?”
“Yes, I remember…Khalil,” she answered and walked off, blushing.
Khalil picked up the phone and called Dee, accusing her of plotting the whole thing with Hezekiah. Detria cried and sobbed while denying she had anything to do with the attempt to hurt Khalil. She begged him to believe her. By the time he got off the phone with her, he believed her, but even if he didn’t, he remembered a saying that it’s best to keep your enemies close. He knew one of the first things she would do would be to call or go see his father. That was playing right into his hands.
Omar arrived and the two of them sat down to make plans about what their next move would be. Without telling him that he knew the possible reason for the guys wanting to bring him harm, Khalil did tell Omar he believed his father was behind it.
“Your own father?” Omar said, pacing the floor of Khalil’s office.
“Yeah, he’s still mad about me taking over his ministry. I guess he still feels like me, my mom, and my brother are out to destroy him. I always knew he could get violent, but I guess since he couldn’t handle things personally, he sent his goons to do it. But it’s all good. I’m going to play my hand and believe me, I can hurt him far worse than he can hurt me and I don’t have to lay a finger on him,” Khalil said while tapping a pencil on his desk.
“Good morning, son,” Fancy said after knocking on Khalil’s door and opening it without waiting on him to say come in.
“Good morning, Mother.”
“Oh, hello, Omar. How are you,” she said when she saw him standing inside her son’s office.
“Good morning, First Lady,” Omar said, still acknowledging her as such although technically she was no longer the first lady.
“Omar, I’ll get with you later. Oh, see Eliana. I need you to get the locks changed on my crib,” he said. “I’ll let the leasing manager know what happened a little later today.”
‘Sure thing, Pastor Khalil. Good day, First Lady,” Omar said, tipping his head, and walking out of the door.
“Locks changed? What’s going on, Khalil?”
Khalil told her what had happened minus the reason he believed he was targeted.
“Oh, my! Are you all right?” she asked, looking frantic and sounding upset.
Xavier appeared next, and again Khalil explained what had happened or almost happened to him.
“I don’t know how far they would have gone,” said Khalil. “All I know is my father, our father,” he said, looking at his brother, “has gone too far.”
“Yeah, way too far,” Fancy said. “Something has to be done.”
“Has the real estate agent found you a crib yet, Ma?” Khalil asked.
“Yes, I should be able to move into my own house in the next couple of weeks. It’s in Lion’s Gate in the Whitehaven subdivision.”
“Yeah, I know where that is. But Whitehaven? You sure you want to live in Whitehaven?”
“Of course. I looked at several houses in Whitehaven when I first started this house search with Stiles. Whitehaven is a wonderful area of the city. Lion’s Gate is still lovely, well-guarded, and quite safe—not to mention I’m tired of looking. I found a three bedroom, two bath home. Plenty of space for me and it was recently updated. I love it.”
“That’s good to hear, Ma,” Khalil said and Xavier agreed.
“And you, bruh,” Khalil said, turning his attention to Xavier.
“I was approved for my apartment and I’m moving next week.”
“Sweetheart, you’ll need to get furniture and dishes and utensils, towels, everything. We have to go shopping. Would you like to go when we leave here today?” Fancy asked, sounding excited and seemingly forgetting what Khalil had just shared with her and Xavier.
“Uh, Ma. I got this. I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but me and a couple friends are going shopping. I’ve already been looking too. But I promise, if I need you, I’ll let you know.” He leaned over in his chair and kissed his mom on the cheek as she sat in the chair next to him. He hoped it would soothe her some.
“Look, I just wanted to fill you guys in on what happened. I got some things to take care of and we’ll talk later. Ma, I’m going to use the same agent to find me something as soon as possible, even if I have to rent it until I find something permanent.”
“Yeah, you cannot live in that apartment any longer. You should have no problem getting out of your lease,” Fancy said.
“I know. Well, we’ll talk later.”
Khalil stood and taking queue from him, Fancy and Xavier rose and walked toward the door.
Khalil opened the door and Fancy walked out first.
“You sure you straight, bruh?” Xavier stopped and asked.
“Yea, I’m straight.”
They gave each other dap and Xavier walked up the hallway with his mother while Khalil watched in the doorway of his office until they rounded the corner and disappeared.