Covenant

87

Kelvin Patterson walked around his desk as Senator Isaiah Black swept into his office with two staff on either side of him, extending his hand and smiling brightly.

“Senator, thank you for coming by at such short notice.”

Black’s jaw creased into a smile.

“My pleasure, Pastor, but we must be swift. The rally begins in an hour and I can’t afford to be late.”

Patterson nodded.

“I understand. Please,” he said, gesturing to one of the chairs behind the desk, “take a seat.”

The senator sat down, his two guards flanking him. Patterson took his place behind his desk, folding his hands together for a moment, looking at his own two security guards as they appeared in the office doorway before speaking.

“The polls are with you, Isaiah. The people are following you, with or without the support of the alliance. I realize that now.”

“Faith is no match for good policy when the people need a leader,” Black said simply. “That is the true power of our Constitution.”

Patterson gritted his teeth as he smiled.

“Indeed, and we must make every effort to sustain our campaign to ensure that the wishes of the moral majority are carried through by Congress and the Senate.”

Black took a deep breath.

“What’s your point, Kelvin?”

“That perhaps we can find a compromise between the practicality of leadership and the enlightenment of spiritual guidance that I can bring to your administration.”

“It’s not my administration, Pastor.”

“Not yet, but soon it will be.”

Black shook his head.

“You still don’t understand, do you, Kelvin? You expect your influence to penetrate the halls of Congress and the Senate, in direct opposition to the very voters who have considered your support for my campaign and rejected it. Democracy is the will of the people, and they do not want your theocratic agenda influencing our administration.”

Patterson struggled to control his frustration. “The people know not what they do,” he insisted. “What would you say if I told you that I could make you more powerful than you can imagine.”

“There’s no role more powerful than the president of the United States.”

“There is one,” Patterson said. “You could join the Lord’s sons, if you wanted.”

Senator Black sighed, and slowly stood.

“This may surprise you, Pastor, but even if what you’re saying was true or even possible, I’d still say no. You want to know why?” Patterson raised an eyebrow. “Someone like you should never be allowed to wield power because no matter how well meaning your motives, you’d still be a dictator.”

Senator Black turned away and strode for the door. Patterson nodded once to the guards. Instantly, they shuffled closer together, barring the senator’s path. Black paused in front of them with his two security guards, and then laughed out loud and turned back to the pastor.

“What are you going to do, Kelvin? Keep us here? Half of the country is expecting to see me on television within the hour. Don’t you think they might come searching for me?”

Patterson stood from behind his desk, walking slowly around it and approaching the senator until they stood barely a meter apart, their respective security teams glowering at each other.

“Yes, Isaiah, I do. In fact, I’m counting on it.”

Black’s eyes narrowed. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Patterson nodded to his men. Instantly, they produced pistols, standing clear of the door and aiming at the senator’s guards. Black’s jaw dropped open, and he turned to look at Patterson.

“Tell your men to stand down. Let’s keep this simple and without bloodshed,” said Patterson.

“You’re insane,” Black uttered in disbelief.

“The weapons,” Patterson insisted quietly.

Black looked at his men, and nodded once. Reluctantly, the two guards slowly lay down their pistols on the carpet. Patterson gestured to his men, and they grabbed the senator’s arms, pinning him between them. Even before he could shout out, one of them held a hand over his mouth as the other drove his knee into the back of the senator’s legs, forcing him to his knees.

Patterson watched as the senator was bound and gagged, and then smiled as he looked down into his eyes.

“Believe me, Isaiah, you will thank me for this before the night is over.”

For the first time since entering the room, Senator Black’s eyes betrayed the presence of fear, and Patterson felt an inexplicable rush of adrenaline surge through his veins.

“Bind and gag his men,” he said briskly to the guards. “And take the senator to the chamber.”