Chapter 3 - The Reckoning of Oak Creek
Julian walked toward us.
Each step was deliberate.
Each step was a promise of violence.
Garrick tried to stand his ground.
He puffed out his chest, trying to play the man of the house.
"Now see here!" Garrick shouted over the dying whine of the helicopter.
"I don't know who you think you are—"
Julian didn't wait for him to finish.
He didn't use the crowbar.
He used his fist.
It was a short, brutal punch that landed square in Garrick’s stomach.
Garrick folded like a lawn chair.
He collapsed into the very grass he wanted me to mow.
Julian didn't even look down at him.
He walked past the groaning man and knelt in front of me.
"Elena," he whispered.
His hands, usually so steady, were shaking as he touched my shoulder.
"I’m here."
"I’m sorry," I sobbed.
"I’m so sorry I didn't listen to you."
"Shh," he said, pulling a clean cloth from his pocket.
"The talking is over."
"The healing starts now."
He looked at the man with the medical kit.
"Get her to the chopper. Now."
"Wait," I said, grabbing Julian’s sleeve.
"My medicine. She flushed it."
"My drains. He threw them in the trash."
Julian’s eyes shifted to the porch.
Miriam was trying to sneak back into the house.
"Stay right there, Miriam," Julian called out.
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried the weight of a death sentence.
Miriam froze.
"I know all about you," Julian said, standing up.
"I know about the 'charity' funds you’ve been skimming from the church."
"I know about the properties you’ve hidden in your sister’s name."
"And I know exactly what you did to my sister today."
Julian handed the crowbar to the man with the camera.
"Go inside," Julian ordered.
"Retrieve the master key."
"And find the trash can."
Garrick tried to crawl away.
Julian stepped on his hand.
Hard.
I heard the small bones in Garrick’s fingers snap.
He screamed.
"You’re a Christian, right, Garrick?" Julian asked.
"You believe in an eye for an eye?"
Julian looked at the sun.
"It’s a beautiful day for some outdoor chores."
"Since my sister didn't finish the lawn, I think you should."
"But I think you should do it with a little handicap."
Julian looked at his men.
"Tie his hands behind his back."
"He can push the mower with his chest."
"Just like he wanted her to do."
"You can't do this!" Miriam yelled.
"This is kidnapping! This is assault!"
Julian turned his gaze to her.
"No, Miriam."
"This is an audit."
"By the time I’m done, you won't have a penny to your name."
"You won't have a church."
"You won't have a roof over your head."
"I am going to strip you of everything until you are as bare as the woman you tried to humble."
The men lifted me onto a stretcher.
As they carried me toward the helicopter, I looked back.
Garrick was being tied to the lawnmower.
Julian was standing on the porch, staring at Miriam.
He took a slow sip from her glass of iced tea.
Then he poured the rest of it over her expensive shoes.
"The Lord works in mysterious ways," Julian said.
May you like
"Today, he sent me."
***
