Read Online Starting Point by N.R. Walker - Free Book Online

lectured me as she walked out, making the guys in the club laugh.
    I shook my head at the little girl, but stepped in stride beside her and we headed towards the old church on the corner of the next block. She wore the same simple clothes—a pair of shorts and a shirt that looked dirty, and her shoes were old and looked a bit too small. There definitely were no brand names and were most likely second hand when she’d got them new. Her black curly hair was wiry and wayward, but it added to her charm.
    “What are you going to see this man for?” she asked, as we made our way up the sidewalk.
    “Well, you know how we’re trying to organise some fundraising?” I asked.
    Claude nodded, so I said, “Well, we’re going to see if he wants to help out.”
    Claude looked up at me, and her big brown eyes narrowed. “I didn’t think churches had money.”
    “I’m not going to ask him for money,” I said, stopping at the steps to the church. I pointed towards the door. “I’m going to ask him if he wants to get on board with us.”
    I opened the heavy wooden door and waited for Claude to walk in under my arm, then I followed her in. It was a large rectangular shaped room, with stained glass windows and wooden pews in rows. It was empty, and even a little cold. Claude seemed a little hesitant so I headed up the aisle first and the small girl followed close behind me.
    We were met by a curious, middle-aged man. He was well-dressed for this part of town, wearing grey slacks and a white business shirt, and his thick short brown hair was kind of slicked down. He smiled warmly and wrinkles creased at the corners of his eyes. “Can I help you?”
    “I’m looking for Pastor Michael?” I asked. Boss had given me a name, or the name he thought belonged to the man who’d been the Pastor here for the last ten or so years. Boss wasn’t a religious man, or so he’d explained, but he thought that was the name someone had given him.
    The man in front of me smiled again, but it was cautious this time as he eyed me then Claude, who was still close behind me. I recognised the look. From my years as a cop, I could tell this man was street-wary. I concluded he was the man we were here to see before he confirmed it. “I’m Pastor Michael,” he said.
    I extended my hand and smiled. “I’m Matthew Elliot, and this here is Claudia.”
    He shook my hand and smiled more genuinely this time. “And what brings you to Saint Andrews?”
    “Well, as you probably know, the fight club on the next block has been taken over by the City of Los Angeles.”
    “Yes,” he said. “And are you in favour of this recent development?” he asked, obviously not sure of my purpose.
    “Very. I’m proud to say I had a hand in closing the drug-ring down,” I told him. “Leon Tressler was a grub and is well-placed behind bars.”
    Pastor Michael’s eyes widened. “You’re that Matthew Elliot?”
    “I am,” I told him. “And we now run drug and self-awareness classes, and fitness courses, for the local kids. I’m trying to get schemes set up for kids, to give them a chance, when no one else would.”
    “It’s very admirable,” he said.
    “It’s very costly.”
    He smiled knowingly. “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his deed,” he said, rattling off some biblical quote. Then he added, “But if you’ve come looking for funds…the church simply has none to give.”
    “No, not money. Advice,” I told him quickly. “We have some government funding, but it’s not enough to keep our doors open. We’re looking into additional sponsorship, but we’re trying to get a community fundraising day together.”
    “And you want advice ?”
    I nodded. “Yes, and your support.”
    Pastor Michael looked at Claude. “Do you like the new club?”
    She nodded. “It’s pretty cool,” she said. “Matt here treats me pretty good.”
    “Claude here is my second-lieutenant,” I said with a smile. “She