Page 196 of Misrule
“Twenty-five?”
“Perfect,” he said with a bright smile, starting to pencil in.
Roxy cleared her throat, jumped to her feet, and grabbed the first pen she saw, thrusting it out to the money-hungry motherfucker. “Bribery is a fucking sin, too, motherfucker.”
He snatched the pen from her. “I am the Shepard of this fine congregation, madam. My lambs see to it that I am well-taken care of.”
Once he’d finished writing in his calendar, he set his pen down as Roxy plopped into her chair again.
“I require a deposit. Half.”
“Will a check do?” Bailey asked.
“Am I set up to take credit cards and run checks to see if they are valid?” he fired back. “However, as good as that would be, I’m afraid I can’t leave a paper trail. I take cash only, Mrs. Banks.”
Bailey nodded. “I’ll bring it by tomorrow afternoon. Will that work?”
“Perfectly,” Father Wilkins responded and sat back in his chair. “I forgot to ask if you are bringing the ceremony to me or am I going to where it will be held?”
“We’re having it in the church,” Bailey said without hesitation. “I want my marriage blessed.”
“You should try having the man blessed,” Father Wilkins said with a superior smile.
Bailey frowned at him.
“However, that news brings on another set of issues. It is expensive to open up my church. Resources will be used. Lights. Water. I will need to pay for cleaning services. I cannot pay for these things with my looks.”
“Motherfucker would be on the condemned list if we had to rely on your damn looks to pay for cleaning,” Roxy grumbled.
“Shouldn’t the diocese pay for those things?” Bailey asked, shaking her head at Roxy, her signal for taking over the conversation.
Father Wilkins laughed softly. “How little you know, Mrs. Banks. Of course, I should understand that, shouldn’t I? If you knew things, you wouldn’t have involved yourself in the club.”
“You’re part of the club,” Bailey reminded him. “Jazzman. Remember?”
“Ahhh, yes, I do recall that. But I’m not afullmember. Only honorary. I’m still on the periphery. As a matter of fact, all the business I once enjoyed from the club has all but ceased.”
Roxy studied her nails, swallowing when she saw her engagement ring. She never removed it, in case she forgot to put it back on when the situation called for it. “Vengeance is mine says the Lord.”
“Do I look like the Lord to you?” Father Wilkins said.
Roxy opened her mouth to reply, but Bailey quickly interrupted.
“You’re being petty because you feel as if the club has abandoned you?” she asked.
Father Wilkins tsked. “Petty is such a harsh word.”
“Motherfucker is much better,” Roxy said sweetly.
The priest glowered at her. In response, she smirked.
“Would fifty be enough, Father Wilkins?” Bailey asked.
Roxy gasped and said, “I know you’re not about to give this motherfucker fifty fucking thousand dollars, Bailey,” as Father Wilkins nodded and replied, “I’ll accept that.”
Bailey got to her feet, so Roxy stood, too.
“I expect half of that also, Mrs. Banks,” Father Wilkins said.
