Part 33 (1/2)
The power had faded when he wasn't watching.
He stumbled and almost fell.
My legs, he thought. My legs.
What happens when all the guys I've whupped find out?
I gotta see Nichols and get this fixed.
KYLE AND I SPOKE OFTEN by telephone or in person over the next few days, and prayed for the people who came to mind: Don, Adrian, Mary, Dee, and Matt being among them. We also discussed a hunch that kept nagging me but seemed terribly farfetched. He thought I should check it out, but I kept stalling. It would be hard enough just for me to make the phone call-I really did not want to talk to those people again. Once I got someone on the line, what in the world would I say? How could they have any idea if Nichols/ Johnson had ever been there?
Still, I couldn't shake the notion that our local messiah wanted me to make that call. He had mentioned L.A. and gave me the ”turn to somebody and say” routine. He was too subtle, too cunning, for that to be a blunder. ”We're both angry at the same things,” he said. ”We've been in the same places, felt the same pain. Herd them in, herd them out.” He was dropping clues.
He had to know I'd been down there-just like him.
On Thursday, nearly a week after my conversation with Nichols/Johnson, I got the number from information and placed a call to Los Angeles.
”h.e.l.lo,” said a cheerful female voice. ”Thank you for calling The Cathedral of Life. Our Sunday morning services start at seven, eight-thirty, ten o'clock, and eleven-thirty; our evening service starts at 6 P.M. Our Wednesday evening service begins at 7 P.M. Childcare is available for all services. If you know your party's extension, you may enter it now. For a ministry menu, press 9.”
I pressed 9.
”For nursery and Sunday school, press 1. For youth ministry, press 2. For college and career, press 3. For young marrieds, press 4. For family ministries, press 5. For seniors, press 6. For singles, press 7. For weddings and funerals, press 8. For more options, press 9.”
I could feel my throat tightening up. I often had that problem when Marian and I lived down there. I pressed 9.
”For men's ministry, press 1. For women's ministry, press 2. For children's ministry, press 3. For counseling, press 4.”
A counselor may have known him. I pressed 4.
”For marriage counseling, press 1. For addictions, press 2. For financial counseling, press 3. For other counseling, press 4. To learn how you can begin a new life in Jesus Christ, press 5.”
I banged 4.
A lady's voice came on the line. ”Norm Corrigan's office.”
”h.e.l.lo, my name is Travis Jordan and I'm calling from Antioch, Was.h.i.+ngton.”
”And are you calling for counseling?”
”No, I'm-”
”Well this is the counseling department. Did you dial the right extension?”
”It's all right. I wanted the counseling department. I'd like to speak to one of the pastors or counselors.”
”Are you currently attending The Cathedral of Life?”
I stifled a witty comeback and answered her question. ”No, I'm living in Antioch, Was.h.i.+ngton.”
”Are you attending a church there?”
”Uh . . . listen, I'd like to speak to a pastor.”
”Are you currently receiving counseling from a minister at your own church?”
”I am not calling for counseling. I need to speak to a pastor, somebody in charge, please.”
”Well, you've called counseling.”
”Then how about connecting me with Dale Harris's office?”
”Thank you.”
Praise music came over the line as I waited. ”Great and mighty is he, Great and mighty is he, Great and mighty, Great and mighty, Great and mighty is he . . .”
”Pastor Harris's office.”
”h.e.l.lo. This is Travis Jordan. I'm calling from Antioch, Was.h.i.+ngton and I'd like to speak to Pastor Harris.”
”Is he expecting your call?”
”No.”
”Pastor Harris is unavailable. I can connect you with someone on the pastoral staff.”
”Okay. Sure.”
”Great and mighty in the morning, Great and mighty at noon, Great and mighty in the evening, Great and mighty all the day through . . .”
”Norm Corrigan's office.”
”h.e.l.lo. This is Travis Jordan from Antioch, Was.h.i.+ngton. I'd like to speak to, uh-” The name escaped me. ”The pastor.”
”Well, this is Norm Corrigan's office. Did you wish to speak to him?”
”Is he someone in charge?”
”Oh, yes.”
”Then I'll speak to him.”
”He's out of the office right now. Would you like to leave a message on his voice mail?”
I don't know why I fell into it. ”All right.”
”h.e.l.lo. This is Pastor Norm Corrigan. I'm away from my desk right now or on another line. You can leave me a voice mail mes- sage after the beep, or dial one-two-two-zero to speak to my a.s.sistant, Joanne Billings. G.o.d bless you and have a great day.”