Rivers to Blood by Michael Lister

Author:Michael Lister [Lister, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Mystery; Thriller & Suspense
Goodreads: 20891867
Publisher: Pulpwood Press
Published: 2014-01-16T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-two

The new warden’s office was as different as it could be and still have the same carpet, wall-color, and furniture. Gone was Edward Stone’s framed crayon-colored drawing his son had made just before he died. Gone were his degrees and Florida Department of Corrections citations. Replacing them were framed photographs of inmates working on the Angola farm, Louisiana Department of Corrections citations, and religious and motivational posters of sentimental images and clichéd sayings.

LSU memorabilia, including a football signed by the team and coaching staff, lined the bookshelves between DOC manuals, religious and law enforcement books, and a handful of Gideon Bibles.

When I had arrived, Bat Matson was drinking coffee from a Styrofoam cup and talking with the colonel, the major, the shift OIC, the inspector, and Chaplain Singer.

“You boys ’scuse me a minute,” he said. “It’s come-to-Jesus time for the chaplain.”

My heart was pounding and I felt angry and embarrassed, and I was disappointed in how I was handling this––especially my ego response to being humiliated in front of the security staff and the man who was supposed to be my assistant.

As the security staff walked out, none of them spoke or even looked at me.

The colonel closed the door, and only Matson, Singer, and I were left in the room.

“Have a seat,” Matson said.

I sat beside Singer in one of the chairs across from Matson’s desk.

“Chaplain,” Matson said, “I’m not sure what kind of asylum Warden Stone ran, and I know a real well-run institution takes some getting used to—especially by the more free thinkers on staff, but I’ve made it clear what I expect.”

He paused, but I didn’t say anything.

“Do you have anything to say?” he asked.

I shook my head.

“Chaplain, I think you have real potential,” he said.

Beside me Singer nodded.

“You seem to be pretty popular with the staff and the inmates. And you seem to like being a chaplain.”

I nodded.

“Just not enough to do what I tell you and stop playing detective.”

I didn’t respond. He was obviously going somewhere with this and I decide just to let him get there on his own.

“After repeated verbal warnings,” he said, “you have continued to neglect your chaplaincy duties. I have no choice but to place a written reprimand in your personnel file.”

There were few things more difficult than firing a state employee. Only teachers on continuing contract had more job security. He couldn’t just fire me, but he could make me so miserable I left on my own, all the while establishing a written record justifying a dismissal if I didn’t.

“What exactly am I receiving a reprimand for?” I asked.

“Dereliction of duty,” he said.

I shook my head. “You might be able to argue I do more than what’s in my job description,” I said, “but no one can say I do less.”

“This other stuff you’re doing—the stuff I specifically told you not to do—is taking time away from your ministry.”

“Give me one example,” I said.

Matson looked at Singer. Singer said, “You came in late yesterday and left early.”

“And

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