chapter 17c 

(The Reverend) 

Moïse Berri 

and the Reconstruction of the Haitian 

Space Agency 

by Jude Jarda 

17c 

The Reverend 

Reverend Lamisère stole just about everything before fleeing the country, including the rainy days money left in the security fund of the New Golgotha Baptist Church. His frequent visits to the Atlantic City casinos were not only to fuel his gambling problem. The pastor was also laundering money, withdrawn systematically on a weekly basis from the congregation's bank account. The investigation didn't take long, and its conclusion was very simple and indefensible. It looks like if the cleric wanted to get caught. One quick stop to a nearby ATM machine and a print of the reverend's transaction history was enough to build the entire case. The District Attorney was notified of the matter. The senior members of the Church met soon after at the Camden temple; trying to find a way to digest the devastating news together. 

“We should have reacted more vigorously when all of this began, right after the first sexual misconduct allegations came out against Sylvestre,” Freddy Odelin maintains. “Even if his accusers later admitted that they were paid to make these false accusations.” 
“I spoke to his daughter, Immaculée” Dudley says. “She was also a victim of intimidation. A local gang leader sent her a threatening email prompting her to leave Haiti immediately or be set ablaze along with the building housing her NGO. You all know about Immaculée's temper. She told that punk to hurry up and get down with business while she lacked ammunition to welcome his whole posse and his sorry ass. She asked me to reassure her father and tell him that everything was going to turn out okay. Immaculée told me that Sylvestre is completely innocent and has absolutely nothing to worry about. She added mysteriously that despite the appearances, Jesus Christ and Moïse Berri were playing offense and defense for her team. That brave woman believes that all these trials and tribulations she is going through have a deeper meaning. Well, Immaculée was about to tell me how she was going to twist the neck of whoever would stand between her and her God-given mission, when I heard a great clamor and a series of explosions coming from behind her. Immaculée suddenly shouted: “Lord, have mercy on us! The idiots just blew up the power plant!” The phone line was then cut. 
“The reverend should not have run,” Achille Hector Legitime reflects. “Being isolated makes him more vulnerable. We must find good old Sylvestre, my good friends. With that kind of cash involved, he is probably in danger as we speak.” 
“Aren't you supposed to fly to Chicago for your sibling's sake?” 
“Ulysses-Hercules will have to get out of this one alone. I did not pick him as a brother, but I did select Sylvestre Lamisère when I chose him to become my kin.”