Secret Sins: Murder in the Church (3 page)

Virginia is stuck in a traffic jam on Interstate
270. 270 is one of those highways where you can fly at seventy miles an hour and still be
bumper to bumper. There were times I had driven almost ninety miles an hour without
blinking, but this is not one of those days. I was later than I intended, but that did not
seriously matter that much. I have a lot of flexibility to come and go as it suits me.

Virginia pulls into the far left and signals her turn at the next exit. She breaks her speed
to thirty miles an hour and comes to a complete stop at the traffic light. “Shit! I hate this
light.” I glance at the convenience store across the street, and it’s jammed packed with
c a r s
w i t h
gasoline priced at $3.19 a gallon. Turning on the radio. I love my R&B
music, but I like listening to the Lucius Dyamond show. Lucius is a local DJ that dabbles
with playwriting. I think it’s just a slick way to avoid paying taxes on a surplus income.
All of his plays are performed in churches, and everyone pays cash at the door. It is the
perfect setup. Turning up the volume, “This is Lucius Dyamond! Check those lottery tickets
from Saturday night’s drawing! There’s a winner, and it was purchased here in St. Louis! I
checked mine, and I don’t have a Billion Dollar lottery ticket!”

Virginia says, “Jesus.” The
light finally changes to green as Virginia car continues
straight down a private road. She passes a police patrol car parked along the side of the
road. My guess he already ran my plates, and knows I am a cop that is way outside my
jurisdiction. I am less than a half a mile away from the Graves Estate’s main gate, but I
must have spoken to soon. I looked out my rearview mirror, and flashing close behind me
the Police Patrol car.

My
philosophy, “Better
safe
than sorry,”
Kimber CDP II .45
that
I
keep
concealed in
driver’s seat. It’s just small enough to tuck under my thigh and not be noticed. As I glance
out my left rearview mirror, I couldn't believe my eyes. It was none other than Christian
Kane.

Reaching and turning down the radio. Christian is six foot four and two hundred
twenty pounds with pale white skin. Even if you had no idea that Christian was NSA. His
expensive
shoes and suits would make anyone suspicious. Christian walks over to the
passenger side of Virginia car and gets in, and she asks, “What are you doing here?”

Shake my head in disbelief I asks, “Why?” “There has been a rash of considerable
fortune
among the parishioners of Spirit Temple Pentecostal Christian Church,” says Christian in a
dead serious tone.

“The details are on the device.”
so
without
much
thought
I pull
my
a special holster under the edge of the
I looked at the device. It made of gold, and it seems to be a
bit more sophisticated

than what I’m used to seeing, “Alright.”
“A large number of people from the same church have been having a run of good
luck playing the lottery,” and “Looks like Ray Murdock’s luck just ran out.”
“You mean to tell murder investigation is tied to defrauding the lottery,” states Virginia.
Christian looks
at me, “Someone hacked the lottery
gaming
system
and
hit
the
Fantasy 7 game seventeen times for over fifty million dollars.”
I laugh, “I go to that church, and the majority of the people don’t have the ability
or education to be capable of something at this level.” I knew full well with a church
that large that just about anything was possible.
Christian opens the door to get out, but stops and turns to Virginia. “I know it
goes against your grain, but we need this one by the book.”
“You know I always go by the book.” “Yeah, but try not to leave a bunch of
dead bodies in the process,” he said sarcastically.
I smile at Christian, “I always go back the
book.”
“It’s the stuff that’s not in the book that leaves a bloody
trail behind you,”
comments Christian “An old fashioned investigation is the only way to get at the bottom of
what’s going on.”
I ask, “Why me?”
Gesturing with his right hand, “They already
know
and trust you, and that’s
worth its
weight in gold.”
“Who do you think I am? Jessica Fletcher?” He gets out and slams the car door
and walks back to his police car, and pulls a U-Turn and hits Interstate-270 and
disappears out of sight.

THIS
IS NO
EXAGGERATION,
but
Virginia sat and listened
to Mother
Beulah entire story, and everyone
was waiting for
something, but what? Virginia laid her cell phone on the coffee table in front of Mother
Beulah, “

From the moment,
Virginia walks into
the Feng Shui Room I could tell she was
surprised to see Christians into this Asian Mysticism, and I would never admit to it, but it
was Nichelle and that decorator. I think her name was Ching Sue Ye. I believe Shawn
would have been crushed with just pictures of Jesus, but that’s my opinion. After all, I
never had to live here, not until now.

Virginia in her normal take charge style, “I’ll need to record your statement for the
record.”
I was surprised and shocked, “Shawn!”
Shawn in his best calming, reassuring manner, “It will be okay, it’s just procedure.”
Virginia looks at my two black eyes and fat
lip, “Oh my God!”
I fail at attempting to reassure Virginia, “I’m OK. The doctor got me fixed up last
night.”
“You didn’t look this bad last night,” observed Virginia, “Looks as
though you’ve
been in a boxing match since I last seen you.” I tried to make myself look as best I
could by covering the bruises with makeup and wearing a wig I keep here, but Nichelle
said, “You look like you used a putty knife to apply your makeup.”
Virginia
looks
at
Shawn
and
Nichelle carefully
before
she
requests, “I
need
to
question Mother Beulah in private.”
I have never been in trouble, in my life, but I feel things are coming together to be
trouble, “I asks them to be here, or I do I need to call my attorney?”
Virginia replied, “That won’t be necessary…I just wanted to ask a couple of questions
and get a little bit more information about you and Deacon Murdock’s separation.”
I have known Virginia from since she was a small child, and I could tell by the glare in
her eyes there was something more on her
“Everyone knew Ray
Murdock
has
been
knew about Jean Newton.”
Nichelle jumps in, “Ray’s in his late sixties, and Jean Newton is 32 years old, and
he’s been messing around with her on and off for the past five years.”
“We used to go to church together, but a year ago, Ray said he had some work to
do at the office. He told me to drive myself to church, and he would see me l a t e r . Little
did I know that I would continue driving myself to church every Sunday from that point
on.”
“Mom’s had the same routine for the past forty years, change clothes and prepare
Sunday dinner,” comments Nichelle.
“Yes. When I arrived home, there was a moving truck parked in front of my house,
and movers were taking furniture from my house and loading it onto the truck.” Mother
Beulah pauses for a moment to catch her breath, “I didn’t say anything to anyone, but I
was thinking, what’s got into Ray?”
“You’ve wanted to redecorate the house for a long time,” commented Nichelle with a
smile.
“As I was walking up the driveway toward the front door, and another truck pulled
up. The truck was from The House of Fresno’s.”
mind, but I decided to play the waiting game.
seeing
other
women
for years, and everyone
“That place with all the imported and designer furniture,” expressed Shawn.
“That’s the store.” Beulah continues, “The men immediately got out of the truck,
and I headed into
the house. My
house
was empty, and there were men from Ray’s
construction firm putting up new wall- paper, and there was new carpeting and drapery.
The house was beautiful even if it is empty at that particular moment,” shaking her head.
Inquisitively Virginia wanted to know, “While you were at Church?”
“Well yeah. Between Sunday School, and Church, they crew had a seven hour jump,
and being they are professional commercial contractors makes it all the difference in the
world.” I
tried
explaining
to Virginia. “A
young man with a goatee walked up to me
with a clipboard, and asked “Mrs. Jean Murdock?”
Nichelle shouted, “No way!”
I declared directly, “I’m Mrs. Ray Murdock!”
“Mr. Goatee cleared his throat and looked at his clipboard and started flipped pages,
This order was placed by your daughter, Jean Murdock.”
“I don’t know how I felt, but I told him,” “She is not my daughter!”
“At about the same time, Jean came down the stairs and looked at Mr. Goatee, and
said, Great! You finally made it!”
Shawn sat on Beulah’s right and Nichelle to the left on the sofa, and Virginia sat in
a strange looking chair that looks and feels like a cold wet sponge. Virginia tried adjusting
herself with little success, so she got up and walked over to the coffee table and picks up
the cell phone, and glances at the recording display, then lays it back down in front of
Beulah. Virginia is not the type to sit in a lower chair, so he squatted down on the floor in
front of the coffee table. Virginia quietly instructs Mother Beulah, “Please continue.”
“Mr.
Goatee
recognized
Jean
immediately, “Ms.
Newton…I
guess
that’s
Mrs.
Murdock now.” It is a pleasure to see you. The maid was about to show me where you
wanted the furniture.”
“It was at that moment I lost all composure, and I looked dead at Jean and yelled,”
“What are you doing in my house?” “Ray’s construction crew exited the house and went
outside, and looked at Jean on the way out and said,” “Break time.”
Nichelle jumps in again, “Being the socialite she is, she smiled politely.”
I am trying to continue and get this over with, “Jean pointed to the living room, “Put
everything in there.” “Mr. Goatee nodded and left the room, and I smacked Jean so hard
that the sound echoed outside.” “And Jean fell backwards onto the floor yelling,” “Help!
Help! Why won’t someone help me?”
Anyone can look at me and tell I’ve never missed a meal, and I must admit, “I put
my entire two hundred and thirty pounds into that lick. I only wished I would have used
my fist!”
Virginia smiles, “I bet you wanted to kill her?”
“You bet I did! I just wasn’t sure how.”
Shawn, “Mother be careful what you say on tape.”

“There’s more where that came from.”
“That true, said Jean.”
“As soon as everyone was out of sight I looked Ray dead in the eyes”

“He grinned before he attacked me. One hand tightened i t s grip around my throat as
he punched my face with the fist of his other hand.
Nichelle comments, “If his workers hadn’t rushed down the stairs to pull Ray off of
Mom… I’m sure she would be dead now.”
In a cheap attempt, to bait anyone, for a little information in the room Virginia says,
“Deacon Murdock’s the one that’s dead?”
Nichelle commanded Shawn, “Honey get our attorney out here!”
Shawn get up, “Excuse me,” and he leaves the room.
I love this mansion, but I do not care for the location. It takes forever to get out
here from downtown St. Louis. By the time, the lawyer makes the drive Virginia will be gone.
I tried to gather my thoughts are not be too distracted, “Someone and I don’t know who,
helped me get off the floor. He walked me to my car. My purse was still on my arm, and
I took my car keys from my purse. Ray ran outside as I was about to get into my car,” Ray
cells, “You’re not taking that car no damn where!” Ray snatched the keys from my hand, and
he started slapping and kicking at me until I left walking down the street. I cried for
help, but none came.
Virginia wanted to know, “What about the construction crew?”
“Well you know how that works. I looked up at the upstairs windows, and Jean and
the workers were watching, but they did nothing.”
Hostilely Nichelle says, “If they want their job then they’d better not say or do
anything!”
I tell them, “The workers don’t mess with Ray!”
Virginia looks at Nichelle, “Is Ray Murdock your father?”
“Yes, but he does not allow me to call him Dad.”
Virginia asks, “Didn’t you think that was strange?”
I
was
about
to
answer,
but
before
I
had
a chance
Nichelle
stopped
me,
and
informed Virginia, “It was done for business purposes.”
Virginia looked Puzzled, “Business?”
I know Nichelle bought the act, but I didn’t I know that Virginia is smart. Nichelle
answers, “Yes I’m Vice President and Co-owner of Murdock construction.”
Looking around the room, there was no sign of Shawn anywhere, and I could tell
that Virginia was going to be to inquisitive, so I tried to continue where
I left off, “I
continued walking until someone stopped to help me, and it turned out to be the same
man that helped me off the floor a few minutes earlier.”
Virginia asks, “Who was he?”
Beulah muttered to herself, “I don’t Tony Rome!”
From out of the blue, Virginia’s tone changes, “A few of your members have been a
little lucky lately, and I want to know what you know about the lottery.”
I froze, but Nichelle quickly replies, “Gambling is a sin.”
“I didn’t ask about the bible and gambling. I want to know why there were so many
lottery winners f r o m Spirit Temple Pentecostal Christian Church?”
They refused to answer any more questions. Shawn returned to the room. Shawn
informed Virginia, “Our Attorney will be contacting you Detective Breeze as soon as he
gets out of court.” Shawn remains standing and ready to show Virginia out.
The Eleventh Commandment: Thou Shalt not get caught lying.

I am not afraid to say it, “I’m glad that dirty
Bastard is dead and I hope he rots in peace.”
Nichelle asks, “Th a t n o t t h e t h i n g
t o s a y .”

“Just because I have sense enough
not to mourn his passing doesn’t mean anything’s
wrong with me,” replies Mother Beulah.
As Nichelle and Mother Beulah are getting
into Nichelle’s BMW, Nichelle asks, “Don’t you think it’s important that you appear to be
the grieving widow?”
“I didn’t kill him, and I don’t know who did, but
I’m
not going
to tell a lie,”
comments Mother Beulah to
her daughter,
Nichelle as she stops
at
the
Graves
Estate’s
Main gate.
Nichelle flashes a smile and waves at the guard Daniel.
“Why so friendly with the hired help?”
“I don’t know what
you’re talking about,”
snaps Nichelle.
“You never smile and wave like that at your husband,”
observes
Mother
Beulah,
“He’s not even a member of our church. How in the world did he get a job working for you
and Shawn?”
“I’m not sure, but I think he’s someone Shawn, and Ray might have met through the
prison ministry.”
“He’s a convicted felon, and he’s carrying a gun!”
Nichelle started fumbling with the radio, “You know I don’t much about it.”