McKenna by Robert F. Clifton (best android ereader TXT) 📖

families, the children, the homeless men and women on the street. Who will feed and shelter them?”

“Wait a minute. You want to blame me because I arrested two men that committed two homicides?”

“Isn't it said, that everyone is considered innocent until proven guilty?”

“That's what they say. Keep in mind however that my job is not to try them but to gather evidence and present the facts and evidence, which I did. They're guilt or innocence is a problem for the county Prosecutor. Not me”.

“Meanwhile Reverend Simon sits in the county jail. As he does, the food bank is closed as is the kitchen. What are these poor people going to do?”

“I really don't know”.

“And, you really don't care. Do you?”

“Certainly, but I also know there are other charitable organizations and the city and county welfare systems”.

“That's not the same”.

“No it's not and you know why? Because they don't have you. You want to be the Mother Superior Of The Soup Kitchen.

Sure, you were poor, homeless even hungry, but at the same time you were getting attention. That's understandable for a little girl.

Now, you're a grown woman. I've watched you in the Mission House standing behind the food line having the needy pass by all of them thanking you over and over. I've seen the look on your face as you look down on them mentally saying, “You poor bastards. I made it. Why can't you?”

“That's not true”.

“Yes it is and as far as your Reverend Howard Simon? He is a scam artist with a correspondence course ordination”.

“I don't believe it”

“You refuse to believe it”

“You don't care about the poor and the needy. You only care about yourself and material things”.

“You know after meeting you and being accused of having a cold, stone heart in regards to the poor I did a lot of soul searching. Guess what I found? I found that when it comes to the homeless on the street I protect them from guys like your Reverend Simon, themselves and each other. And now when it comes to the problem of the Mission House I really don't know what will happen to it. Here's an idea. Quit your job as a teacher and take over the place. Keep one thing in mind however, Steven Barnett won't be sending left over food from the hotel or money from his bank account. You'll be on your own”.

“If I did, I'd be just fine. Please don't call me anymore or try to visit me”.

“Hey what an excellent idea, but I already thought of that”.

There was a loud click as Whitney Nelson hung up her telephone.

Kevin then went to the freezer. He had a choice. He could have either a frozen turkey dinner or a frozen meatloaf dinner. He chose the meatloaf, set the oven temperature to 350 placed the meal on an oven proof dish, closed the oven door and left the kitchen heading for a shower.

Even after showering and putting on clean clothes the meal still had twelve minutes to cook before it could be consider ready to eat. He looked at the wall clock, saw that it was near six and thought about calling Sheila.”I hate to wake her”, he thought to himself. “I'll wait until I'm finished eating”, he said aloud.

Just as he was taking his dinner out of the oven the telephone on the kitchen wall rang. Kevin placed the hot baking dish holding his dinner on the stove top, removed the oven mitts then answered the call. “Hello”, he said.

“I hope I'm not bothering you”, said Sheila.

“No, just taking something out of the oven”.

“Oh, I'm interrupting your supper. I'm sorry. I'll call back later”.

“Hey, it's no big deal. Don't hang up. As a matter of fact I was going to call you. What have you been doing?”

“Looking for a job. Holtz fired me”.

“Why?”

“For giving you the security camera video tapes”.

“Hey, I'm sorry”.

“It's nothing to be sorry for. Something will turn up. I can always sling hash. I was a waitress once. I can do it again. Why were you gong to call me?”
“Well, as you know we made the arrest's. The two cases are closed and it's a tradition for our squad to celebrate by having dinner at the Glass Menagerie. So, we're getting together Friday night. I was hoping that you would go with me”.

“Really? I've never been there. Sure I'd love to go with you.”

“Good. I hope you like to dance”.

“Yes, I do”.

*****************

On the following Saturday morning Kevin McKenna sat at his kitchen table taking sips from a mug containing hot coffee.

As he did he heard the front door of the condo open and then close. The sound of footsteps came from the foyer and hallway and then Cordella Jenkins appeared in the kitchen.

“Good morning Cordella, said Kevin.

“Ummmm hmmm. I hear water runnin. Somebody in the shower?

“Yep”.

“Well, I ain't goin to ask who. Ain't none of my business, but I bet you be glad I changed the linen”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Publication Date: 05-03-2015

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