For a moment, Johnson forgot about his cigarette. "n.o.body stings Albion and lives. You found a connection, albeit a tenuous one. Still, well done. All of you."

"What now?" Cooper asked.

"Go home. And keep your distance from this place until we've built our case against Albion. We've picked him up before on possession of a concealed weapon, a.s.sault and battery, and prost.i.tution charges, but he's got a slick lawyer and he's always slipped out of our net. The guy's an eel. One hundred percent slime."

"Don't worry, one visit to Club Satin was more than enough for me," Cooper replied.

Johnson unzipped the bugged cue case and handed Cooper the polished stick. "You earned this. I'd like you to keep it as a token of my grat.i.tude for placing your trust in me."

Cooper thanked him and then offered the envelope to Edward. "And you earned this. this. Your idea to enter the tournament was brilliant." Your idea to enter the tournament was brilliant."

Edward made no move to take the money. "I wouldn't touch that. I told you what tonight was about and now we're even. G'night." He saluted the group irreverently, got in his cab, and slowly pulled out of the lot.

Once the taxi turned the corner and disappeared from sight, Jake pointed at the envelope. "What'd you score, anyhow?"

"Three thousand dollars," Cooper answered as she counted out the money. "But every bill feels dirty."

"Then wash it clean," Nathan whispered and closed his hand over the envelope. "Think about those school kids and our hope that they might eat healthier foods."

Cooper beamed at him. Nathan's generous heart had steered her right once again. "Three thousand dollars could buy a lot of apples," she said and linked her arm through his.

Undercover officer Rich Johnson waited until the three civilians were safely out of the parking lot before he crushed his cigarette against the sole of his shoe and zipped his coat. He stared at the spotlights piercing the night sky and his eyes flashed with a determined zeal. "I'm coming for you, Albion," he whispered. "And this time, you will not get away."

14.

"So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!"

1 Corinthians 10:12 (NIV) Nathan and Cooper were nearly late for Bible study the next morning. Armed with travel mugs of strong coffee, they drove separate cars to Hope Street Church and hurried into the cla.s.sroom, jostling one another in the doorway to be the first inside. They elbowed each other like a pair of flirting teenagers and giggled, but Nathan's good humor dissipated the moment he crossed the threshold.

"Oh, no!" he exclaimed. "It's my turn to bring refreshments!"

"Phil's got a dozen bagels in the car," croaked someone from behind them. Cooper swiveled around to see Trish leaning heavily against her husband. "These are for this morning's Leadership Team meeting, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind running out to get more. Would you, honey?" She smiled tenderly at her husband and he kissed her on the top of her head.

"No, really. I can go out," a shamefaced Nathan argued but Phil waved off the protest.

"The girls didn't eat much breakfast this morning. They'd love a bacon, egg, and cheese bagel before worship. Let me just get Trish settled and I'll be back before you know it."

The rest of the Sunrise members watched as Phil helped his wife slide into one of the student desks. He then put a flat, square pillow behind her back and propped her legs up using the teacher's chair and another pillow. After depositing a tote bag containing a pink crocheted blanket, a water bottle, and a box of tissues within her reach, he cupped Trish's cheek against his palm, smiled at her with his eyes, and then walked out of the room.

"I have a confession-a dog ate my homework," Trish joked, but Cooper could see that her friend's recent chemo treatment had really taken its toll. A raw, bright red rash covered Trish's hands and face, her forehead was shiny with sweat, and there were several painful-looking sores on the chapped flesh of her upper lip. Her body looked diminished, and in her loose cotton pants and an oversized sweater, she seemed much older than her years. Yet her violet eyes were more luminous than ever and the light Cooper saw there spoke of hope.

"It's so great to have you here today," Cooper told her friend with a warm smile. "We missed you last week."

Trish readjusted the pillow behind her back. "I almost didn't come this morning. Look at me! I own twenty-five skirt suits, a closet full of designer shoes, and drawers of accessories. If you told me a few months ago that I'd be coming to church dressed in yoga pants and tennis shoes with my face covered in Neosporin, I would have asked you what drugs you were taking, but here I am. No pantyhose, no pearls, and no makeup. My mother would be appalled!"

"Then she'd be missin' the point. You dragged yourself to church, even though you'd rather be in bed. Still, your husband seems to be takin' real good care of you," Jake said.

Cooper noticed that he had dark shadows under his eyes and wondered if her lack of sleep had created similar discoloration on her own face. She'd been too sluggish earlier that morning to bother with foundation or eye shadow and had settled for applying mascara and lipstick and pulling her dark blonde hair into a headband. But Nathan had told her more than once that she was beautiful, and between his compliments and the pleasure she felt over having aided the police to move forward in Miguel's case, her skin seemed infused with a contented glow.

Trish nodded. "Like I said before, cancer is teaching me quite a few lessons. Phil and I and the girls have never been closer." She picked up her Bible and held it to her chest. "And Paul has taught me so so much over the course of this study. As a family, we are all trying to be as hopeful as Paul is in chapter five of the second book of Corinthians. We get on our knees every day before we go to bed and pray to be released from the fear of death, to fully believe that if 'my earthly tent is destroyed' that I 'have a building from G.o.d.' " much over the course of this study. As a family, we are all trying to be as hopeful as Paul is in chapter five of the second book of Corinthians. We get on our knees every day before we go to bed and pray to be released from the fear of death, to fully believe that if 'my earthly tent is destroyed' that I 'have a building from G.o.d.' "

"It seems to me," Savannah spoke softly, "that you're growing brighter in the Spirit every time we see you. You may feel physically weak, Trish, but your faith is burning like a lamp on a stand."

Bryant said, "That's true! And I've been inspired by you, Trish." He opened his thick study Bible. "In verse seven, Paul says, 'We live by faith, not by sight.' For me, that's easy to say say, but hard to do do. When something unexpected comes up, something that disturbs the peace of my world or my plans, I kind of shake my fist at G.o.d and question whether He knows what's right for me." He reached over and squeezed Trish's shoulder. "You remind me that faith requires trust, that we can't have one without the other."

At that moment, Phil tapped on the open door of the cla.s.sroom and entered carrying a cardboard box from Einstein's bagels. "A baker's dozen, one plain cream cheese, and one tub of honey walnut cream cheese for the more adventurous." He put the treats down and wagged an index finger at his wife. "Send someone for me if you get too tired."

Quinton jumped out of his seat and rubbed his hands together over the box of bagels. "Let me take orders. I'll prep the bagels and hand them out so we have enough time to go over all our homework questions. I admit that I'd like to hear what happened last night at Club Satin before we go to our morning service. Even though I was with Gloria," his boyish face tinged pink at the sound of her name, "I was thinking about you guys."

"Let's begin our discussion with the definition of agape agape," Savannah suggested after giving Quinton her bagel order. "Any volunteers?"

"Agape means 'G.o.d's kind of love,' " Jake answered. means 'G.o.d's kind of love,' " Jake answered.

Savannah continued. "How does Paul use the word in the second book of Corinthians, chapter seven?"

Cooper checked her answer, which she'd written down several days ago and had already forgotten. "Paul calls his audience 'loved-people.' He's addressing those who believe what he believes. Those first church people."

The Sunrise members went on to discuss false apostles and Paul's sufferings, and then Bryant shared his homework answer concerning Paul's reference to the "angel of light."

"Paul's description reminds us that evil people can present themselves as holy, church-going people. Even Satan was an angel once." Bryant concluded, "Personally, I prefer terms like the Father of Lies or Prince of the World over Angel of Light. It sounds like someone too pure and beautiful on the outside to be corrupt on the inside."

"I know," Nathan concurred. "I hear that t.i.tle and I immediately picture someone in a white choir robe."

Cooper's mind conjured the image of Albion in his translucent white shirt and cream-colored pants. She thought of his pale face illuminated beneath the harsh white lights of the fixture hanging above their table. A shiver ran up her torso. If Albion was responsible for Miguel's death, for drug trafficking, and for the other charges he'd managed to acquire acquittal over, then he was truly one of the Prince of the World's ministers.

She looked up from her workbook and noticed that Trish hadn't taken a single bite from her sesame seed bagel. Cooper had wolfed down her own cinnamon sugar bagel in mere minutes and had also drained her coffee cup completely dry. Surrounded by her friends, it was almost easy to forget about the trials of others.

For example, she hadn't spent much time thinking about Maria Gutierrez, the woman who worked for Love Motors and whose son had been murdered a few days earlier. She hadn't even called the video store to find out if the Hector working there was the same young man who'd been killed. She hadn't prayed for Trish lately, uttered many prayers of thanksgiving, or taken the time to complete the last few homework questions as she'd been too busy focusing on her new job and Sat.u.r.day's events.

"List some ways Paul suffered for his beliefs," Savannah prompted.

"I got this one," Jake volunteered. "The poor guy was beaten with thirty-nine lashes, hit with a rod, stoned, shipwrecked, spent a night and day in the open sea, feared bandits, rivers, and his own countrymen. He was hungry, thirsty, and sleep-derived. got this one," Jake volunteered. "The poor guy was beaten with thirty-nine lashes, hit with a rod, stoned, shipwrecked, spent a night and day in the open sea, feared bandits, rivers, and his own countrymen. He was hungry, thirsty, and sleep-derived. Plus Plus, those Corinthians called him weak and made fun of him because he didn't look physically tough or charge them a pile of money as a speakin' fee." He snorted. "Paul was more patient and gentle than I woulda been, that's for d.a.m.ned sure." Jake's hand touched his lips as he glanced at Savannah. "I mean, darned sure."

"Yet in his letter, Paul still calls the Corinthians his dear friends," Quinton said as he fixed himself a second bagel. "Even though he fears they're going to sink back into a pit of temptation, he doesn't give up on them."

"Remember the Corinth we discussed during our first session?" Savannah's question was rhetorical. "It was a place of anger, envy, gossip, boasting, l.u.s.t, and debauchery. Paul writes this letter before visiting Corinth for the third time in hopes that the Corinthians have been practicing faithfulness and self-examination. I think we could all benefit from receiving such a letter. Every once in a while, we need to take a pulse-to stop and consider how our faith walk is progressing. Are we all talk or are we all action?"

The group fell silent, reflecting on Savannah's words. She allowed the silence to settle on them for a while and then smiled. "For what it's worth, I've been a witness to the growth in faith of everyone in this room. It has been a great joy to accompany you through another study. You enrich my life with each meeting."

"And I know you've fed me strength through your prayers and your love," Trish whispered weakly.

Several of the Sunrise members blinked away tears. They joined hands as Savannah led them in a closing prayer, and then exhaled in unison as they raised their heads and opened their eyes.

"Guess what? Gloria will be joining us for our next study!" Quinton proclaimed happily as though he couldn't refrain from sharing the news another second. Turning to Bryant, he said, "Why don't you invite Jane?"

Bryant blanched. "Um, I'm not sure about that. This is kind of my safe place. I totally let my guard down with this group. That would be a pretty big step-to have her here."

Trish jabbed his forearm with her pencil. "Haven't you learned anything, anything, you big oaf? Bring that woman to this circle and show her who you really are! You're ready, Bryant. Take the plunge! At the very least she'll find out that you're not the type to go hanging around Corinth-like places like Club Satin." She winked at Cooper. "Now tell me everything that happened last night. You've got this you big oaf? Bring that woman to this circle and show her who you really are! You're ready, Bryant. Take the plunge! At the very least she'll find out that you're not the type to go hanging around Corinth-like places like Club Satin." She winked at Cooper. "Now tell me everything that happened last night. You've got this glow glow about you today. I've seen you like this before, but only after we'd had some big breakthrough in one of our investigations." about you today. I've seen you like this before, but only after we'd had some big breakthrough in one of our investigations."

"It's that superhero, good-triumphs-over-evil kind of glow," Quinton added.

"Well, I did look at the face of a devil and he was was dressed in white," Cooper began. "And I hope I never have to do that again." While refilling her coffee cup, she began to tell those members who hadn't been present at Club Satin what had happened. As she spoke, she encouraged Nathan and Jake to fill in details and it wasn't long before her friends knew the full story. dressed in white," Cooper began. "And I hope I never have to do that again." While refilling her coffee cup, she began to tell those members who hadn't been present at Club Satin what had happened. As she spoke, she encouraged Nathan and Jake to fill in details and it wasn't long before her friends knew the full story.

"But how will we know if the police can pin Miguel's murder on this guy?" Quinton asked, troubled. "He seems to pull himself out of hot water all the time."

"We'll have to settle for reading about the case in the newspaper," Bryant answered. "Frankly, I'm relieved that we're not going to be involved. This Albion sounds like a dangerous character."

"He is," Cooper a.s.sured them. "Fortunately, none of us will have to lay eyes on him again."

She'd used her arms to emphasize her point, but her left hand knocked into the ceramic coffee cup perched on the edge of Bryant's desk. It fell to the floor and smashed into pieces, startling everyone.

Cooper looked down at the jagged fragments and the rivulet of steaming brown liquid that seemed to slide, snakelike, along the tiled floor. Swallowing, she felt a p.r.i.c.k of dread.

Perhaps she had spoken too soon.

[image]

Later that evening, Cooper had completely forgotten about the broken mug. While mouthwatering scents emanated from her parent's kitchen, Cooper helped her father insert a leaf into the dining room table. Nathan, Ashley, and Lincoln would be joining them for Sunday supper, so Maggie decided to celebrate Valentine's Day for the second day in a row. She'd even made place cards out of red paper hearts and hung up paper streamers. Tiny red, pink, and silver cupids hung from each streamer.

"I don't think we've used this table for a meal since Grammy invited all the church ladies over for a luncheon about ten years back." Earl chuckled. "She crammed them in this room and then paraded in all her orphaned animals."

"That must have been quite a sight," Cooper remarked with a smile.

Earl picked up the folded tablecloth and held it to his chest, lost in the memory. "You shoulda seen those women. They thought Grammy was servin' them real real turtle soup and was tryin' to show 'em just how fresh it was by bringing in a live turtle. Your mama advised her to start off by bringin' in a dog or cat first, but Grammy wouldn't listen!" Earl rubbed the polished oak leaf. "You could hear a pin drop when Grammy carried that thing in here. I never heard twenty-five women go so quiet in all my life." turtle soup and was tryin' to show 'em just how fresh it was by bringing in a live turtle. Your mama advised her to start off by bringin' in a dog or cat first, but Grammy wouldn't listen!" Earl rubbed the polished oak leaf. "You could hear a pin drop when Grammy carried that thing in here. I never heard twenty-five women go so quiet in all my life."

Cooper laughed, picturing the group of women dressed in their church finery expecting to share in a pleasant meal, and perhaps some harmless gossip. Instead, Grammy had thrust skittish bunnies, mangy cats, and flea-ridden puppies into their white-gloved hands. Looking around the room, Cooper could almost hear the women's shrieks of surprise and dismay.

"You two speakin' ill of the nearly departed?" Grammy asked crossly from the next room.

"Your hearin' seems to be just fine now!" Earl responded with a smirk. Lowering his voice, he leaned toward Cooper. "It wasn't ten minutes ago that I begged her to change the channel so I could hear the spring-trainin' news, but she pretended her ears weren't workin'."

"Well, who wants to hear a bunch of men yappin' about baseball? I like to watch those boys in tight pants as much as the next woman, but not when Cary Grant's on TV. No sirree!"

Earl threw out his hands in surrender.

As Cooper set the table, she hummed the Beatles' "Do You Want to Know a Secret." All day long, she'd been feeling as though a burden had been lifted from her heart. Now that her encounter with Albion the drug lord was over, she felt as though she could truly trust Rich Johnson and his task force to put the devil clothed in white behind bars.

I wonder if anyone knows Albion's last name. No one ever mentioned it, she thought briefly but the ringing of the doorbell banished further thoughts of the sinister criminal. she thought briefly but the ringing of the doorbell banished further thoughts of the sinister criminal.

Cooper opened the door to find Nathan standing on the welcome mat, his face partially obscured by a spray of pink roses.

"How beautiful!" she declared and reached for the flowers.

Looking sheepish, Nathan held them out of reach. "Sorry, lady. These are for your mother."

Maggie made a big deal of her gift, hugging Nathan against her generous bosom while she chastised him about spending too much money. "I'm glad enough just to have you here, dear boy! You don't ever ever have to come bearin' gifts, you hear?" have to come bearin' gifts, you hear?"

"Of course I do," he argued pleasantly. "I'm being fed dinners that would put Emeril Laga.s.se to shame! The least I can do is find a way to show my grat.i.tude to the master chef." Nathan extricated himself from Maggie's warm embrace in order to remove his overcoat.

"Master chef, huh?" Maggie mused. "I like the sound of that." She elbowed Earl as he removed a pitcher of sweet tea from the refrigerator. "I think you you should start callin' me master chef from now on." should start callin' me master chef from now on."

Deadpan, Earl replied, "We all know who the master of this house has been since day one. I'm just grateful to bask in your light, my love."

Ashley and Lincoln arrived amid the laughter. The married couple had their arms linked and seemed to be leaning against one another for support. Suddenly, Cooper remembered that they had spent several hours with Hector Gutierrez's bereaved mother the day before. The experience must have taken its toll on them both.

"How did your visit with Maria go?" Cooper asked softly while she and Ashley hung up coats on the hall tree.

"It was really hard, but I'm glad we went." Ashley unwrapped a chenille scarf from her neck and draped it over her coat. "You were right about her just needing to talk. We just sat there and listened. Every now and again I'd pat her hand. Lincoln's decided to set up a scholarship fund in Hector's name. When Maria heard that, she smiled for the first time since we got to her apartment." Ashley sighed. "After we left her place, I kept thinking about how someone can go on living after they've lost a child. I'd just crawl into my bed and give up."

"That's not true," Cooper replied softly. "You haven't quit trying to have a child, even though things have gotten rocky. You didn't give up on your marriage and you've always stuck by me through thick and thin. You're made of tougher stuff than you think."

Ashley ran her hands through her silky, blonde mane and grinned, pleased by the compliment. "Maybe. And now you've given me just the opening I was looking for." She glanced down the hall to make sure no one was nearby. "I'll tell you a secret." She paused for effect. "I'm late."

Cooper shrugged. "What else is new? You're always late. Shoot, I had to hold the schoolbus for you for years!"

"No, no!" Rolling her eyes, Ashley pointed at her belly. "This kind of late." kind of late."

"And?" Cooper grabbed Ashley by the shoulders, longing to shake the news out of her.

"It's too early to take a home pregnancy test. I'll have to wait a few more days." Ashley put her finger over her lips. "Don't say anything to anybody about this, but Coop, I already feel feel different." different."

Examining her sister's hopeful face, Cooper felt a rush of excitement course through her body. She hugged Ashley and whispered into her hair, "I pray it's true, sis."

"Just think," Ashley murmured happily. "It'd be a Halloween baby."

"A treat for all of us," Cooper said with an affectionate smile and the two sisters rejoined the rest of the family.

Over dinner, Nathan and Cooper told a filtered version of their Valentine's Day activities. They completely omitted all mention of Club Satin and instead focused on the revitalization of the East End elementary school.

"Wait until that princ.i.p.al finds out you've got three thousand thousand dollars to spend on healthy snacks for those kids!" Maggie stated buoyantly as she served Nathan a second helping of beef burgundy. dollars to spend on healthy snacks for those kids!" Maggie stated buoyantly as she served Nathan a second helping of beef burgundy.

"We may have more than that," he replied, happily eying the squares of wine-soaked meat served over egg noodles. "There was a special collection at church yesterday and I believe folks dug real deep. That school might be receiving a year's worth of fruit as well as a crateful of new books for the library and and a computer or two. We're going to let Quinton tell the princ.i.p.al the good news because he convinced the execs at his company to match the donations penny for penny." Spearing a piece of meat with his fork, Nathan added, "I'm so glad he found someone who'll appreciate his big heart." a computer or two. We're going to let Quinton tell the princ.i.p.al the good news because he convinced the execs at his company to match the donations penny for penny." Spearing a piece of meat with his fork, Nathan added, "I'm so glad he found someone who'll appreciate his big heart."

"Hrmph! He's likely to get hitched before you two do," Grammy issued an irascible mutter while chewing on a mouthful of glazed carrots. "Nice girls really do do finish last." finish last."

Refusing to rise to her baiting, Cooper reached across the table and took her grandmother's hand. "I'm doing just fine, Grammy. I've got a new position at work, a loyal group of friends, a wonderful boyfriend, and the folks around this table-my precious family."

"Oh, please!" Grammy scowled. "I ain't talkin' about you you here. here. I I don't wanna be in a wheelchair by the time you two get yourselves into the church to take your vows! I do don't wanna be in a wheelchair by the time you two get yourselves into the church to take your vows! I do not not wanna be wearin' a diaper when y'all say 'I do!' " wanna be wearin' a diaper when y'all say 'I do!' "

"Let's just enjoy the here and now," Ashley cut in as the rest of the diners tried not to laugh. "What did you whip up for dessert, Mama? I'm still still hungry." hungry."

Maggie's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "I declare, Ashley! I've never seen you put away so much food!" She observed her daughter thoughtfully and then collected several empty dishes. "I was in the mood for somethin' pretty, so I made a triple-berry lemon trifle. That That oughta coat your Grammy's sharp tongue with a layer of sugar." She leaned over and kissed her mother-in-law on the cheek. oughta coat your Grammy's sharp tongue with a layer of sugar." She leaned over and kissed her mother-in-law on the cheek.