Pastor John preached about fellowship, trust, and community, and how important it was for each of the congregation members to watch each other’s backs.
“I think he might be creating friends,” she whispered.
Huck nodded. “He’s definitely hitting hard the ideals of loyalty and small-town community. That’s interesting.”
Pastor John finished with a flourish and then stepped down to take a seat in the north transept.
Pastor Zeke Caine then advanced to the pulpit, his bald head gleaming, his body looking tight and powerful beneath the black robe. His stole was made up of a darker purple with bright silver threads.
“That was a lovely sermon, Pastor John,” he said, his booming voice reaching the highest rafter.
“Whoa,” Huck murmured.
Laurel swallowed. She’d never heard his pastor voice, commanding yet comfortable, with a heavy thread of power. Her hatred for him felt red-hot, and she wondered if it was okay to feel such emotion in a church. Probably not. Of course, it wasn’t appropriate for a pastor to be preaching after the atrocities that Zeke had committed.
Zeke also talked about fellowship and community, and then he switched topics abruptly to right and wrong, saying that sometimes doing the right thing or saying the right thing could be painful.
Huck slid an arm over Laurel’s shoulders and pulled her close. “Buckle up,” he whispered.
She could feel something coming but couldn’t quite discern where Zeke was going.
He sighed and looked down at the pulpit before placing both hands on the polished wood and facing the congregation. “This is very difficult for me to discuss. But as Pastor John eloquently stated, we are a community, and we must be loyal to each other. A basic tenet of that loyalty is honesty. Do you agree with me?”
Several “yeses” and “you bets” and “of courses” echoed through the crowd.
“Good.” He sighed. “We are recording this sermon, although our nationalized television debut has been postponed until this spring because of events happening in town.” His face shifted into somber lines. “In an effort to be transparent and honest with my community, I have to unfortunately inform you that our own Pastor John Govern is under investigation for the murders that have happened here recently.”
A shocked gasp echoed through the crowd.
Pastor Zeke held up a hand. “Let’s not jump to conclusions, and we must be loyal. There are not enough facts, but Pastor John has admitted to having an affair with Teri Bearing, a married woman and a victim of a brutal killer. I believe we all need to be honest about that. How many of you knew about this breach of trust?”
Several people in the parish raised their hands.
“Holy crap,” Huck muttered.
Pastor Zeke’s chin dropped. “I wish more of you had come to me. I do appreciate the few of you who did. However, as a church, we need to address this situation. Sin is something that needs to be eradicated. Forgiveness, of course, must be granted. We are all human. But first, we need to deal with the sin.”
Pastor John jumped up and stormed out of the church via a back door.
Laurel could almost feel sorry for the man.
Pastor Zeke shook his head. “I do apologize for bringing in such negativity today, but secrets are what destroy a community.” He stared directly at Laurel as he spoke. “No matter how closely guarded, a secret always comes to light. Also, anybody who sins and fails to adhere to the ten commandments shall pay. ‘Thou shall not commit adultery’ and ‘Thou shall honor thy father and mother’ are two good examples.”
Huck leaned forward.
Zeke looked away from Laurel and smiled. “We have a wonderful community here. We will get through this together, my friends. I promise you.”
Chapter 32
Zeke Caine caught them just as they reached Huck’s truck after the sermon. “Hold on a minute, daughter.”
Huck turned, standing between Laurel and Zeke as he smoothly opened the passenger-side door for her and made sure his body stayed between them. “I suggest you stop calling her that,” he said calmly.
Zeke stepped to the side as several people looked in their direction. “It was kind of you to attend my sermon today.”
Laurel paused near her open door and turned. “That was quite the attack you levied on Pastor John. Apparently, he’s out of your way now as you take the church onto national TV.”
Zeke put both hands in his black robe. “The truth must come out, daughter. When one violates a commandment or is disloyal to the community at large, one must pay.”
