Chapter 6 Chapter Six

Reverend Dick O'Malley didn't know: it was "Gravedigger" Johns' voice on the phone, but he knew it was a policeman.He hurried out of the phone booth as if fleeing the fire. It was still raining outside, he was drenched, and the heavy rain blurred his vision. Still, he saw the lights of a taxi coming down the steep slope of Nicholas Boulevard, and he waved to stop it.Get in the car, lean in the back seat, and say, "To Benny's Station." He sat up straight, wiped the rain from his face, and leaned his back firmly on the back seat.The broad-shouldered young black driver started the car, and the car was going fast like a spaceship about to go into space.

Reverend Dick O'Malley didn't care, he needed to hurry up.He was already behind the others, and the speed of the car at this time made him feel that it was possible to catch up.He thought he could trust Alice.Besides, he had no choice.As long as she hid his papers, she would be relatively safe.However, he knew that the police would monitor her, and he could not contact her recently.He didn't know what the police knew about him, which worried him just as much as the stolen money. Reverend Dick O'Malley had to admit: The robbers were shrewd, organized and gutsy.It can be said that the reason why this operation was successful is because they were bold enough.But for a measly $87,000, the operation seemed perfectly organized.Even if it's a million, it doesn't necessarily need to be so thorough.

Besides, there were other, easier ways to get eighty-seven thousand dollars.Unless the gang wants to use this to attack him and frame him.But if it's a gangster gang, why not just kill him? When Benny's Station arrived, he stopped thinking. Reverend Dick O'Malley got out of the taxi, saw the long line of public phone booths, and decided to call Mrs. Hale, the wife of the murdered young recruiter.He didn't remember what she looked like, except that she was a member of the church he founded. "Are you alone now, Mrs. Hale?" he asked in a falsetto. "Yes," the Negro woman replied, alarmed and frightened, "who are you?"

"I'm Pastor O'Malley." He replied in a natural voice instead.He heard her breathe a sigh of relief. "Oh, Reverend O'Malley, I'm so glad you called." Mrs. Hale breathed a sigh of relief. "My sympathy for Mr. John Hale's death, but I don't know how to express my sadness." He knew he sounded like an idiot, but she would think that was a good thing to say. "Thank you, Pastor O'Malley, you are so kind." He could hear her crying. "Enough! . . . " thought Reverend Dick O'Malley. "I'd do anything to help you."

"I would like you to speak at his funeral." "It's my honor, Mrs. Hale." Pastor Dick O'Malley nodded, "Also, with all due respect, if you need money, please don't be polite to me." "Oh, Pastor O'Malley, thank you, he bought life insurance, and we still have some savings. Besides, we have no children." "Well, if you need anything, please don't be polite." Pastor Dick O'Malley bowed deeply. "By the way, have the police come to you?" "They came, but just asked basic questions like 'where do we work' and about being involved in the Back to Africa movement. I'm proud to tell them everything I know, everything..."

"Thank God, it's just a little thing! . . . " thought Reverend Dick O'Malley. "Then they left," said the black-bottomed Mrs. Hale resignedly. "They're white and I don't think they have any empathy. I'm glad they're finally gone." "Yes, dear, we have to be ready, how to deal with them, that's why we, launched this movement." Pastor Dick O'Malley said excitedly, "I have to admit: I don't know, those greedy Who are the white robbers and who killed your righteous husband. But I will find them and let God punish them. But I can't do it alone, and I can't count on those white people."

"I don't understand." Mrs. Hale shook her head. "In fact, they're trying to stop me." "Why would those white people do that?" "Let's not think about why they did this. We have to accept this fact, move forward, and deal with others in the same way. I may need your help, Mrs. Hale." "Pastor O'Malley, I'm very glad to hear you say that. I understand what you mean, and I will do my best to help you find those vicious murderers and recover the money." "Thank God! . . . " thought Reverend Dick O'Malley, and he went on to Mrs. Hale. "I trust you so much. We have a common goal."

"Pastor O'Malley, I will not betray your trust." Mrs. Hale waved her hand excitedly. Reverend Dick O'Malley couldn't help chuckling at the exaggerated tone of her voice, but he knew she meant it. "The main thing is to keep the police from finding me during the investigation. The police must not know where I am. We will track down those vicious murderers together and bring them to court." Pastor Dick O'Malley He said firmly, "Before that, don't let them know that I contacted you, or that I will meet you." "I won't mention your name," promised Mrs. Hale earnestly.

"Do you think they will come tonight?" "I'm sure they won't be coming back." "Then, I'll go to your house in an hour. We'll use your place as the investigation headquarters, and then start the investigation." Pastor Dick O'Malley said solemnly, "Do you think it's okay?" "Pastor O'Malley, I'm more than happy to do something to avenge my husband - I mean, to see those white murderers punished - instead of just sitting here and grieving." "Yes, Mrs. Hale, we will definitely let these murderers be punished by God." Pastor O'Malley said firmly, "You have to close the curtains before I come."

"I'll also turn off the lights so you don't have to worry that someone will see you." "Turn off the lights?..." Pastor O'Malley was startled, as if he saw himself walking into a dark trap, and was caught by the police.Suddenly he realized that there was no need to guard against Mrs. Hale. "Fine," Pastor O'Malley said with a smile, "that's fine. I'll call you when the time comes, and if the cops are there, you say 'yes, fine,' and if it's just you, You just say 'Pastor O'Malley, yes'." "I'll do as you say," promised Mrs. Hale.Reverend Dick O'Malley could hear the excitement in her voice.

"But I'm sure they won't be here." "Nothing is certain in life," said Pastor Dick O'Malley. "Just remember what you're supposed to say when I call in an hour." "I will remember, then, see you then." Reverend Dick O'Malley hung up the phone.Sweat dripped down his face, and then he realized how hot it was in the phone booth. Reverend Dick O'Malley found a bathroom and was about to go in and take a shower.He took off his clothes and handed them to the Negro waiter, who told him to iron them while he bathed.He savored the thrill of the warm water, letting it wash away his worries and fears.Then turn on the air conditioner, feel excited and full of energy, and no longer feel tired. "Dick O'Hara is unbeatable! . . . " thought Reverend Dick O'Malley triumphantly. "With all these fools around, why should I worry about eighty-seven thousand dollars?" "Your clothes are ironed, Father." The waiter interrupted his reverie. "Okay, kid." Dick O'Hara dried off, dressed, and paid and tipped the waiter.Then he sat in his seat, waiting for someone to shine his shoes, while reading the "Daily News" report about the robbers and himself.The clock on the wall reads two twenty-one in the afternoon. Mrs. Hale lived in the Riverton complex on the north side of 135th Street, near the Harlem River.Reverend Dick O'Malley knew: the woman with the black ass would wait patiently for him.He knew her kind well, young and pretty, and thought: prettier than any white woman; who was so anxious to get ahead, who wanted to be popular with white men, and who hated them because they let them fail. eager to get rid of the boring life, if she can't join the upper class and live in a big house in the suburbs, then she would rather give up all this and go back to Africa.Although Mrs. Hale knew nothing about Africa, she felt that there she would be important.He doesn't like this kind of people, but because of these, he can trust her. Reverend Dick O'Malley came out of the bathroom and went to the ramp to hail a cab.Two empty taxis driven by white men passed by him. A black driver saw his embarrassing situation, so he passed several white customers and stopped in front of him.The few white police officers who supervised the traffic did not see this scene. "White drivers won't take you in Harlem, man," said the black driver. "Let them go, they are the losers, not me." Dick O'Malley responded.The black driver laughed silently. Reverend Dick O'Malley asked the cab driver to wait for him at the 125th Street stop, and he went first to make a phone call.The banks of the river were deserted.The moment he rang the bell she opened it hastily, and he went up to the seventh floor to find her waiting by the half-open door.The room behind her was dark. "Pastor O'Malley, I was worried," she said as she greeted him. "I thought the police had you." Reverend Dick O'Malley smiled mildly, entered the room, and patted Mrs. Hale's hand.She followed into the house and closed the door behind her.They stood in the small dark vestibule, their bodies slightly touching. After a while, he said, "We can turn on the lights, it should be safe enough here." She turned on the light, and the room suddenly became brighter. With the lights on and the curtains closed, the house was just as he thought it would be. A wide porch connects the living and dining rooms.There is a closed door in the dining room, which should be the kitchen.There is another door leading to the bedroom and bathroom.Furniture is fabricated from planed oak plywood emblazoned with the Credit Store logo.At one end of the living room, there is a sofa bed.At this point the sofa bed has been made. Mrs. Hale saw him surveying all this, and said apologetically, "I thought you'd like to sleep first." "You're very thoughtful," laughed Reverend Dick O'Malley, "but first we have to talk." "Okay." Mrs. Hale sounded pleased. The only surprise is this woman.She was a real beauty, with an oval, smooth brown face; black hair naturally curly; eyes like black thorns; a small, upturned nose that cast a faint shadow on her upper lip; His mouth is large and full, with rosy lips, and when he grins, he will show his neat and white teeth.She was wrapped in a sky blue pajamas, the curves of her whole body were fully revealed, and her figure was very hot. The Reverend Dick O'Malley sat down at a little round table—which she had pushed aside when she made her bed—and motioned for Mrs. Hale to sit on the other side.Then he spoke to her with all the seriousness and dignity that a bishop should have. "Are you ready for John's funeral?" "No, the body is still in the morgue, and I want Mr. Clay to undertake the funeral, in your—our—church, with you preaching." "Of course, Mrs. Hale, I hope that by then, our money will have been recovered, and this time of deep sorrow will become a time of gratitude." "You may call me Mabel, it is my name." "Okay, Mrs. Mabel Hale, go to the police station tomorrow to see what they have learned, and then we can discuss it." Pastor Dick O'Malley said to Mabel with a charming smile, "You Will be my Mata Hari. Mabel - God's side." Mabel Hale's face was radiant with a bright smile of confidence. "Yes, Reverend O'Malley, how excited I am," Mrs. Hale said happily, leaning towards him involuntarily. The Reverend Dick O'Malley was amazed at Mrs. Mabel Hale's behavior. "My God! . . . " thought Reverend Dick O'Malley, "this woman has, in the blink of an eye, forgotten her husband, who had just died and was not yet buried." "I'm so happy, Mabel!..." He stretched out his hand, took one of hers, and looked into her eyes affectionately, "You don't know how much I trust you." "Pastor O'Malley, I would do anything for you," Mrs. Mabel Hale swore solemnly.He had to make great efforts to control himself. "Now we get down on our knees and ask God to save the soul of your dead, poor husband," murmured Reverend Dick O'Malley. Mrs. Mabel Hale burst into sobs and knelt on the floor beside Reverend O'Malley. "Lord, Savior, Almighty, receive the spirit of our dead brother - John Hale, who gave his life to our humble desire - to go back to Africa." "Amen! . . . " said Mrs. Mabel Hale, "he's a good husband." "Listen, Lord, take him away. He's a good husband, a good, upright, honest man. Take his soul, Lord, and have mercy on his poor wife." Dick Pastor O'Malley held up his hands and prayed, "Without her husband, her longing cannot be satisfied, and the fire in her body cannot be quenched. She can only wash her face with tears." "Amen! . . . " Mrs. Mabel Hale sobbed softly. "Lord, give her the right to live a new life. Please give her a new man. Because life must go on, even in the face of the abyss of death, life must go on." Pastor Dick O'Malley prayed loudly, "Lord, we're only human, we're all only human." "Yes! . . . " cried Mrs. Mabel Hale excitedly, "Yes." Reverend Dick O'Malley realized he didn't want it to go to bed, so the trick had to end.He doesn't want to complicate things, he just wants to get his money back.So he said, "Amen." "Amen! . . . " Mrs. Mabel Hale followed the preacher, disappointed. They stood up.When Mrs. Mabel Hale asked Reverend Dick O'Malley if she wanted something to eat, Reverend O'Malley ordered scrambled eggs, toast and coffee.So Mrs. Mabel Hale took the Reverend Dick O'Malley into the kitchen, and made Reverend O'Malley sit in a straight cushioned chair to wait while Mrs. Mabel Hale went to prepare the refreshments. This kitchen is connected with other rooms.Electric stoves, refrigerators, coffee pots, egg beaters, potato blenders and other electrical appliances are all neatly arranged, polished and very clean.When Mrs. Mabel Hale was busy walking up and down the kitchen, stooping to get cream and eggs from the refrigerator, and turning quickly, her exquisite curves wrapped in blue silk pajamas suddenly appeared. Captivated Reverend Dick O'Malley.Mrs. Hale walked from the stove to the table, wriggling her hips and fascinating Reverend O'Malley.She sat across from him, looking very coy.The smooth brown skin was slightly reddish, making her look even more charming. The dim sum was delicious, tender pork, fluffy scrambled eggs, crunchy toast with a layer of butter on top. Reverend Dick O'Malley tried to keep the conversation on how much virtue Mrs. Mabel Hale's dead husband had, and how he would be remembered by the Back to Africa movement.But, slowly, Pastor O'Malley lost patience and wondered when she would go to bed.He was finally relieved when she piled the dishes in the sink, said goodnight shyly to him, wished Mrs. Hale a good night's sleep, and turned back to her room. The Reverend Dick O'Malley waited until he thought Mrs. Mabel Hale was asleep, and knocked softly on her door.He heard Mrs. Hale's steady breathing and turned on the bedroom light so that he could see the alluring Mrs. Mabel Hale more clearly.If she woke up, he pretended to look for the bathroom, but she fell asleep soundly, with her left hand clasped between her legs and her right across her bare breast.He closed the door, went to the phone, and dialed a number. "I'm looking for Barry Water Field!..." Reverend Dick O'Malley said when the call was connected. A drowsy man said roughly to Reverend Dick O'Malley, "Damn it, it's so late, I can't wake up the tenants. I'll call tomorrow morning." "I just arrived in the city, and I have to go to Atlanta again at 5:45 tomorrow morning." Pastor Dick O'Malley said, "I have something important to tell him, and I can't delay it." "Wait a minute," said the voice impatiently. Finally, another voice rang on the other end of the phone, rough and hoarse, full of suspicion: "Who is it?..." "I'm Dick," said Reverend Dick O'Malley. "Oh!..." Barry Water Field exclaimed on the other end of the phone. "Listen to me. The police are looking for me. I'm hiding with the wife of the brother who was killed, John Hale." He gave his phone number and address. "Only you know I'm here. No If you have to, please don't call me. If she answers, just say you're James and I'll give her a brief explanation. Stay safe today and don't go anywhere. Hang up now." Reverend Dick O'Malley heard: the "click" of the phone hanging up, and then he waited a moment to see if the phone was still on, if someone was listening. No one, he hung up the phone with satisfaction, went back to bed, turned off the light, and lay on his back. All kinds of thoughts flashed into Reverend Dick O'Malley's mind. He shook them off and finally fell asleep. Reverend Dick O'Malley dreamed that he was walking through a dark wood and seemed terrified. Suddenly, Pastor Dick O'Malley saw the moon through the woods, and a shadow of a woman appeared in the woods, shaking two huge breasts like big coconuts, and then Pastor O'Malley "plopped" into the a trap.Yet the trap was warm, and he felt a rush of pleasure as the warm, moist air embraced him. "Pastor O'Malley! . . . " cried Mrs. Mabel Hale.The light from the bedroom shone on her.She was only wearing a piping nightgown, and her ample brown breasts stood out.She was shaking violently, tears streaming down her face. Reverend Dick O'Malley jumped out of bed in shock when he heard the yelling, and when he saw Mabel in this state, he put his arms around her trembling body and wondered if he had attacked her in his dream.When she sobbed hysterically, he could feel the warm, hard muscles shaking under his hands. "Pastor O'Malley, I had a terrible dream," said Mrs. Hale in a tearful voice. "It's okay, it's okay!..." Pastor Dick O'Malley comforted gently, "Dreams are not real." Mrs. Mabel Hale sat up, put her face in her hands, and stifled her sobs. "Pastor O'Malley, I dreamed that you were seriously injured, but when I came to save you, you looked at me as if I had betrayed you." The Reverend Dick O'Malley sat beside Mrs. Mabel Hale and began to stroke her arm gently. "I trust you will never betray me," he reassured Mrs. Mabel Hale. Reverend Dick O'Malley counted the number of strokes with his hands and strokes on the smooth bare arm, thinking that any woman would surrender within a hundred strokes or less. "I trust you completely. You will never hurt me. You will bring me joy and happiness." "Pastor O'Malley, I don't think I'm all right," said Mrs. Mabel Hale excitedly. Reverend Dick O'Malley continued silently counting the number of times he stroked Mrs. Mabel Hale's arm, and said, "Lie down now, and don't blame yourself for a dream. If I get hurt, That's God's will, too. We have to obey God's will. Come on, now you follow me and say: 'If Pastor O'Malley gets hurt, that's God's will.'" "If Reverend O'Malley is hurt, it is God's will," whispered Mrs. Mabel Hale mechanically. "We must submit to God's will." "We must submit to God's will." With his other hand, Reverend Dick O'Malley slowly opened Mrs. Mabel Hale's legs. "We must serve God," Reverend Dick O'Malley continued softly. "We must serve God," Mrs. Mabel Hale added dully. "It's God's will," Reverend Dick O'Malley said hypnotically. "It is God's will," said Mrs. Mabel Hale dreamily. When Reverend Dick O'Malley entered Mrs. Mabel Hale, Mrs. Hale knew only that it was God's will, and she exclaimed, "Oh, you are wonderful!  …"