*ENEMIES OF THE CHURCH:*
EPISODE 16
Pastor Jim had taken over Reverend Leo’s office and position. He had practically changed everything in the office. An air conditioned office with CCTV c@m£ras everywhere. He had secretly installed a CCTV c@m£ra in the treasurer’s office because he has been looking for a reason to drive him away. He finally got the opportunity when he saw the Treasurer taking some money from the offering box last Sunday without telling him. He then invited him to his office.
As the Treasurer stepped into Pastor Jim’s office, Pastor Jim wore a look that could scare a new born baby.
*Treasurer:* My Pastor, this one you are looking like this. I hope all is well? Hope there is no problem?
*Jim:* Have your seat.
The treasurer took the seat that was directly opposite the Pastor. Then, he observed and noticed the changes that has taken place in the office.
*Teausurer:* Pastor, you sure have a good taste for good things. See how this office has transformed just few days of your coming in. You really know how to enjoy life. Do you know if it was still our Reverend that is here, he will never decorate this office like this, new chairs, AC, TV. Haba, never! he will never do it, he will say they are material things and God is not interested in material things. I am glad he is gone and no one will challenge your authority. I am so glad.
*Jim:* Erm, listen that’s not the reason for which I called you.
*Treasurer:* Erm sorry my Pastor, don’t mind my manners. What is it exactly that you want me to do.
Jim picked up the TV remote and put on the tv. Then, the treasurer saw himself opening the tithe box and taking some amount of money from it. He quic-kly put the bunch of thousand notes in his pocket before stepping out of the office.
*Treasurer:* What is the meaning of this?
*Jim:* Exactly, what you are seeing sir.
*Treasurer:* Are you spying on me?
*Jim:* Is that the issue on ground? I just showed you a video of you stealing from the church box and you are here talking of spying or not spying on you.
*Treasurer:* Stealing? Really?
*Jim:* Anyway, I didn’t call you to batter words with you, I only called you to let you know that the position of Treasurer is suspended for the now in this church until further notice.
*Treasurer:* Oh, really?
*Jim:* Yes, for now there is no Treasurer in this church. We are still un-dergoing some renovations in the church and we are putting some positions on hold for the time being until when we are done.
*Treasurer:* We or you? Who is the we? I am asking you? Even Reverend Leo who is the foun-der of this church never for once spied on me. And you who just took over for how long now? Few months? You just want to change everything? It will not work.
*Jim:* What do you mean by, it will not work?
“I say it will not work, I agree I took ten thousand naira from the money because my son was not feeling well and I nee-ded to get him some drugs. These days since you as-sumed your new position you have made yourself unreachable. No one can access you anymore, or you are simply avoiding me I don’t know and I don’t want to know. I would have told you about the money. But you were inaccessible, I had to do what I had to do and now you are sitting there judging me.
Listen, you can’t kick me out, do you un-derstand? You simply can’t do that? We’ve done deals together for years and you can’t just wake up one day simply because you are now in charge and you just decide to kick me out. Never, it won’t work okay? Better have a rethink”
Jim smiled to himself before talking.
*Jim:* I knew you would bring all this up, I knew it but I am not bothered. You can go ahead and do whatever you have in mind. My decision is final.
“It can’t work, it won’t work. I will go to Mummy Reverend and I will tell her everything. Afterall, she is the one who is supposed to be on that chair you are sitting not you. The whole church will hear.” The Treasurer’s was furious as he spoke.
Jim laughed out loud.
*Jim:* Is that your plan? Such a weak plan, I thought you had something big for me. Anyway, like I said. Go ahead with your plans okay? I am not going to try to st©p you. Let’s see who the world will believe. Meanwhile, for Mummy Reverend, plea-se don’t bother wasting your time okay, she is not interested in church activities and voluntarily as-signed and handed everything over to me but you can try if you want okay, let me not st©p you.
“We shall see” the Treasurer said as he storms out of the office with Pastor Jim laughing non st©p.
__________________
It’s been more than four hours since Alfred left and Rachael had begin to suspect that something was wrong, she has been calling and calling him but he wasn’t picking. She has s£nt several text messages and eventually the phone had gone off. Rachael was furious as she stormed into the house and got her car keys.
*Rachael:* (to herself) Enough is enough, who the hell does Alfred think he is. Tonight his wife and everyone will know the truth I don’t care. He thinks he can just bluff me off like that. No way. Alfred wait for me I am coming to your house.
She zooms off without even locking her gate.
Meanwhile Alfred and his wife were busy trying to carry their loads into the truck. Mrs. Alfred saw from the look on her husband’s face that he was scared. She un-derstood that Mummy Reverend is behind this fear, she wished her husband could open up and tell her what was wrong.
*Mrs. Alfred:* Honey, you are acting strange, you are in so much hurry to pack, you are acting as if you are being chased by the devil. You have practically broken so many things simply because you just cannot calm down and do things gently. Honey, plea-se calm down nob©dy is chasing us. Let’s take our time to do things plea-se.
*Alfred:* Woman get out of my way, If you won’t help me pack then don’t distract me plea-se.
*Mrs. Alfred:* But Honey…
*Alfred:* Don’t honey me, time is of the ess£nce, time is what we don’t have. So, it’s either you help and join me in packing or you get off my way.
Mrs. Alfred kept quiet and silently joined her husband in the packing. In few minutes, they were finally throu-gh with everything. Alfred took another look at the empty house and he smiled as he urged his children and wife to get into the truck.
They quic-kly climbe-d and entered the truck. As they entered and tried to leave the driver started the engine but it refused to start. He tried and tried but it refused to start. And so he asked everyone to get down so he can check to see what was wrong. Just then a text message entered Alfred’s phone.
*”So, you know you are supposed to be with me, you went home to be with your wife and kept me in the cold. Well, wait for me as I come to you. Tonight you will know that nob©dy messes with Rachael.”*
Alfred almost coll@psed when he saw the message, he started pacing up and down and screaming at the driver.
*Alfred:* What is wrong with your truck. I kept asking you over and over if it’s in good shape and you kept as-suring me that it is the strongest. What is this? What is this?
“I really don’t un-derstand this, this truck was in good shape and condition and I honestly can’t explain now why this is happening. I don’t even know what is wrong?
*Alfred:* Oh my God, what is this?
Alfred runs to the road to see if Rachael’s car was close by.
The driver went un-der the truck and did some check up and then c@m£ back to start car, but still it won’t come up. He c@m£ down again to check. Mrs. Alfred saw fear all over her husband. She has never seen her husband that terrified and seeing him like this scared her.
He shouted at them to climb into the truck and remain there and not come down or look out no matter what. He kept on begging the driver to hurry. For he knew that if Rachael should meet him trying to escape with his family then he was definitely doomed.
WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 17