The Unifier by Richard Shekari (best book club books for discussion TXT) 📕

with this.”
“That’s not what the Lord told me,” Palm said. “Go home, Jessy. Do as I’ve told you; look underneath her ears, maybe it might open your eyes.”
"I've seen the devil, and may not really know him," he responded, "but Mariah, I know. So do not tell me anything about my woman."
"That's not her, Jes." Palm said, "She's the whore of..."
“Enough!” Jessy yelled as he turned and angrily grab hold of Palm by the neck, he held him up against the wall. His eyes turned red with anger. “Do not speak such of Mariah, you hear me?” He yelled, “She was there for me and by me all the way while you were busy trying to meddle in my affairs. So, shut up! Who are you trying to save anyway? God-never-cared!”
“He wanted the two of you to have a good relationship, but you were more interested in what He’s got to offer to please your flesh than more of Him, which would delight your soul for eternity.” Palm said, “He loved you…but you broke His heart. If you had stood your grounds, all other things would’ve been added to you, Jessy.”
They both panted, and stared into each other’s eyes.
“What happened to you, my friend?” Palm added as tears fell from his eyes and unto Jessy’s cheek.
Jessy turned his face away and gently let Palm down.
“I am so…sorry,” Jessy said.
“Jessy, you need to stop.” Palm said, “Don’t be an instrument that’s being used to drown the people in an ocean of deceit.”
“You’re too soft to be called a man.” He remarked, and slipped his hand in his pocket. “No wonder He was able to toy with you even though He made it clear He has given you free will.” Jessy paused, and sighed. “Don’t say I didn’t try; if you want to rot in here then be my guess. Goodbye, friend.” He turned to walk away.
“Jessy…” Palm said, “You need to put an end to this madness.”
Jessy ignored him and walked out of the cell.
Palm moved to the bed and went to his knees in tears.
“Father, I can’t do this.” He cried out, “If it is your will, strengthen me Lord.”
As Jessy stepped out of the precinct, all the officers, bodyguards and the prisoners could tell he was upset. No one had ever seen him in such a state. He called the attention of the chief. Jessy wore his sunglasses and entered the limousine.
“No one should know about his location, not even my wife. Feed him well and have him properly looked after.” He ordered, “Not a scratch on his skin. And I want the head of the man who shot his wife.”
“Yes, your majesty.” The chief said as he trembled, “It is my nephew. My late sister’s son, Derick. It was an accident, your majesty. Exercise mercy upon him. I’m all he’s got, that’s why I let him join the force. To teach him something I felt would make him feel useful, his mother passed away when we weren’t in good terms. Please forgive him, your majesty.”
“Send him on exile.” He said, “I want him away from the capital!”
“Consider it done, your majesty.” The chief said in tears, “Thank you! Thank you, thank you very much, your majesty.”
Jessy ordered the driver to drive off.

Chapter Four: A Familiar Face.

Jessy got home that night but looked disturbed. His wife, Mariah was not happy with his behaviour. He was quiet. After taking a shower, he sat down in the diner with his two hands on the table and stared at the meal placed before him.
“Is anything the matter, darling?” Mariah asked as she poured some red wine in his glass. As if she could read his mind, “I’ve never seen you this worried, would you like to talk about it, baby?” She sat on the chair next to him.
Jessy gently raised his head and gazed into her eyes, she smiled and turned her head the other way.
“Darling,” Mariah said. “I am here for you.” She placed her warm hand on top of his, and smiled in a concerned manner, “I want you to be happy. You deserve to be happy, they’ll find him. Do not let…”
“I’ll be in the study.” He responded, “Got a speech to write for this meeting coming up with these African leaders, darling. Will join you in the bedroom once done.” He got up, kissed her on the forehead and walked away.
“It’s your favourite; lobster covered in egg on a bed of fried potatoes, darling.” She said, “Are you sure about…”
“I’ll be fine, dear.” He responded.
“Okay.” She said as she sighed heavily, “Love you!”
“Love you too.” His voice fainted.
Jessy took his time in the study, he waited until he was sure his wife was asleep. Around midnight, he walked into the bedroom and as usual, gently lied beside her. Mariah was on the bed; the right side of her face rested on the pillow. Jessy was behind her, he switched on the bedside lamp on his own side of the bed and picked a novel that was kept next to the lamp. After a long thought, when he was sure she was dead asleep, he gently brushed her hair as though trying to kiss her, and with his thumb he cautiously lifted her left ear. As Mariah turned, Jessy kissed her, she then buried her head in his chest.
He could hear the sound of his heartbeat.
Jessy was terrified with the glimpse of what he had discovered. Palm was right.
“Goodnight, my king.” She whispered.
“Goodnight, Mariah,” he responded.
It took him a while to shut his eyes. Jessy’s mind wandered in fright. He tried to remain calm so she wouldn’t notice.
The following morning, Jessy dressed up and was about to rush out when Mariah woke up.
“Darling, where are you going?” She said, “What’s going on lately, I don’t understand you. Is everything okay, my love?”
Mariah got off the bed in her night gown and walked to him. “I told you not to worry too much," she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.  "The Rel-Pol will find him.”
“There has been some disturbances at the temple, I think some resistance tried to destroy the altar according to the message I received.”
“Let the police and the temple guards deal with it, you can’t go about showing up every time something goes wrong, relax.” She said as she bit her lower lip seductively, “But if you insist then let me get dressed and follow you.”
“No, my love,” he interjected. “I don’t want you putting too much pressure on this sexy body. You just stay home okay, you’ve really tried, you know, been with me throughout the festival and all. You’re a queen and should stay close to the throne.” He kissed her on the forehead then her lips, “Hmm! Your breath, just like jasmine.” He tapped her on the bum, “Your eyes, they always make me feel like my heart is riding on the fastest horse!”
“Aww!” She responded, “Alright cowboy…just one ride before you leave then.” She bit his left ear, pulled down her nighty and seductively walked backwards to the bed. She laid on her back and spread her legs to the delight of his sight, “Come, baby.”
Jessy stood there for a few seconds, then walked towards the bed.
“Take-off-your-shirt.” She commanded, “You naughty boy.”
He took his clothes off.
While they made love, she could tell his mind was far away from where his body was.
Jessy didn’t hesitate to leave as soon as they were done. He kissed her, got dressed once more and quickly walked out of the bedroom.
Jessy arrived at the precinct in his white limousine. As usual, he asked his driver to wait behind. On sighting him, the officers were about to leave as they did the previous day but he ordered them to stay. He collected the keys to Palm’s cell.
“How do I get her out of Mariah’s body?” He said.
“You can’t. That body must be destroyed before she vacates it.” Palm said as he stood to his feet.
Jessy could not look him in the eye.
“You were right.” Jessy said, “All along I thought…”
“She’s your handler.” Palm said, “You don’t make this kind of deal with the enemy of man’s soul and expect to be in control of everything. You are a great asset to the kingdom of darkness, Jessy. So they made sure the right person to manage you is placed right next to your heart. This thing you did is no joke, it’s not some dream you’d wake up from. I wish it was.”
“Mariah.” Jessy responded, “What…where is she, how can I get her back?”
“You can’t,” he answered, “She’s trapped on the other side.
“Is she going to hell?” He asked.
“I’m not the one to judge,” Palm said, “We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. And all shall witness Him in His glory. He’ll pour His mercy upon the righteous and they shall be one with Him. When it’s all said and done there won’t be need for a human body, for it is like a tent. The children of God shall inhabit new heavenly bodies.”
“She’ll make it. I know.” He said, “Do you think he’d ever…forgive me?”
Palm sighted, walked to Jessy and placed his hand on Jessy’s shoulder then looked straight into his eyes.
“I understand,” he said, “Palm, I now understand why she wanted you dead. You’re the only one I trust; if I was the ship, you’re that anchor that always secure me at the shore. Your words have always been a keystone to my heart. But I have failed you, and I’ve failed Him. It’s now I see why He placed you in my life; to support me and also to hinder me from making the wrong decisions. He placed you in my life so I’d learn from you. You always put your trust in Him no matter what, even when death visited you, you called out to Him. I didn’t take advantage of such knowledge, I refused to learn anything from it.”
Palm hugged him. They held each other and cried together.
“I’m so sorry, Palm.” He said as he sobbed, “I am sorry about Tamara, I know I can’t bring her back or undo any of these foolish things I’ve done. I know it’s unforgivable in His sight but, you have to find a way to forgive me. I’m sincerely sorry.”
“Say no more, Jes.” He said, “Say no more. I’ll pray for you.”
“Now, how do we kill this bitch?” Jessy said.
“I’ll need any type of liquid once we get near her.” He said.
“Let’s go and pay the whore…in her own coins then!” Jessy said, “But first, I want to pull something to its knees!”
“You don’t have to,” he said.
“Do you know what I’m talking about?” Jessy asked.
“The statue.” He said, “It won’t fall, yes it was erected by men but shall not fall by their hands. It’ll stay erected until the second coming of the Lord.’
“But I’m done with this shit, Palm!” He said, “This thing ends today, friend.”
“No, Jes.” Palm said, “It won’t just end like that.”
“What do you mean?” Jessy asked.
“When you traded your soul for all of these, there were pages in the contract that’d stretch to ends of the