Life after Death: The Afterlife of Hezekiah Chamblee

Chapter Forty-Two: Vigil

Third-Person POV

Boston General Hospital, One Hour after the Chamblee Wedding Shootout...

"Father God, if it's in Your will, have your Holy Spirit touch and anoint this young soul and keep him from the hands of Lucifer," Minnie Jean Simmons led the prayer circle as she, Horace and his wife Lois, Ty'Reek and his grandparents Emmett and Lizzadene Mae Clark, and even the Colemans held vigil over the now-comatose Cameron as he was hooked up to machines. Minutes after the shootout, the former head maid of the Chamblee family immediately took action and had the police arrested the corrupt family while the bride and groom were immediately escorted out of the church and in protective custody. And now the ones who were keeping watch over the unconscious teen were praying for his healing and deliverance. "Have Your angels encamp around him wherever he goes, Lord. I've already lost one soul to the hands of that family that's full of darkness, so I cannot bear to lose another. But if it's in Your will, Father, let him be in Your loving bosom and in the glorious appearing where the darkness will be conquered in the final days. In Jesus' name, amen."

"Amen," everyone chorused as they let go and scattered around the hospital room.

"This is a nightmare and a half," Ty'Reek muttered angrily as his grandmother rubbed his back. "First, those people killed Hezekiah and now this. Cameron's a good kid, not like his twin brother. If I wasn't planning to head to Stonehill, I'd gladly fight those folks myself."

"No need to get angry, Chandler," Horace replied, his Southern drawl thick yet firm. "We all should've seen this coming from the get-go. But I never imagined that ol' Micah had the hots for the missus. Shows how this world can be full of nasty surprises."

"Well, the main thing is that we've finally gotten Jeffrey and his wife and two of their kids arrested," Michael intoned as he rubbed his fingers through Cameron's hair. "Thank the Lord that these doctors worked extra hard to get that bullet out."

"Let's not forget to mention that the bullet didn't hit any of the essential organs," Minnie Jean added, Blanche nodding in agreement just as Captain Slater and the doctor (a motherly Black woman) came into the room. "How's it looking, Doctor Phipps?"

"Cameron should be awake any moment now, but we had to put him in a medically-induced coma for safety measures," the doctor intoned. "Thankfully, it wasn't too serious and the surgery was a success. When he wakes up, he'll have to stay here for a few days and rest before he can go back to England."

"What about his schooling there?" Ty'Reek wanted to know.

In stepped Valentin Noguiera, him dressed in casual jeans and a form-fitting T-shirt with two older man following behind him. "Sir, I'm Cameron's roommate and friend," he said as he introduced himself to everyone. "The headmaster and all the teachers told me what happened and my aunt's attorneys insisted that I come here to let you know what's happened. Cameron specifically told me that he wanted no part with his parents or his siblings after today and wanted to make a new start for his life. Before he came here for the wedding, he talked with my lawyers and, with Captain Slater's permission alongside yours that are pending, he wants to liquidate all the funds and assets that are kept in his late brother's name."

"Wait, you mean that Cameron's parents owned everything in Hezekiah's name?!" Minnie Jean said, eyes widening in shock. "How?!"

"Why?!" Ty'Reek asked in disbelief.

"Since when?!" Horace wanted to know.

"Well, for as much as we know, Jeffrey and Adelle saw Hezekiah as an expendable liability- meaning that he was as worthless as they thought unless he was able to bring something to the table," Captain Slater intoned. "My undercover agent did enough investigating to learn that the parents acquired enough properties and cars alongside various bank accounts that were placed in Hezekiah's name. As it turns out, Leigh-Anne and Alex were also in all of this as well and also placed monetary assets in his name. It all rounds up to the grand total of nearly a billion dollars."

"Good Lord Almighty," Lizzadene Mae breathed. "What happens now?"

"As Mr. Noguiera said, Cameron plans to liquidate all the assets and donate the money to better causes," Captain Slater, "provided that we have the permission to allow the means to do so since Cameron is underage."

"I'm all for it," Minnie Jean remarked. "Since I'm basically Cameron's guardian with his family heading to prison, it's only fair that I allow the liquidation to take place."

"I'm like his grandfather," Horace commented. "You have my support."

"And I'm his cousin with the street smarts, so you know that I'm down," Ty'Reek piped up. "And I'm sure that I'll be speaking to Kim and the others about everything and let them know what's  going on. I'm betting that they're all for it."

"Same for me and my wife," Michael intoned, Blanche nodding in assent. To Valentin, "Son, you're lucky to have a friend in Cameron. I can honestly say that you boys are going to go very far in life."

"I can't agree more," Captain Slater remarked. "The wheels of justice are moving forward, ladies and gentlemen. And once we get the full statement from Cameron Chamblee, his family's diamond standards will be beyond repair."

Gentle reader, the statement couldn't be any truer. And as everyone continued their vigilance, a miracle was soon to take place in the heavens.

Well, folks, the fall of the Chamblee Diamond Standard is close at hand. And we're not far from the grand-finale extravaganza. But we gotta handle some other affairs with the rest of the Chamblee clan, starting with Mariah and Andrew in the next chapter!

Vote.
Comment.
Share.
Follow.
Add.
FAN!