Criminal Intent

Chapter 1

The Gospel According to Daniel

I am not normally given to introspective writing, to self-immortalization, having throughout my career preferred to devote my time to others rather than myself. Moreover, given my current circumstances, this hardly seems a time conducive to starting new projects. I take this pen in hand now, however, at the urging of my attorney. He tells me I should write down everything, just as I remember it, from the very beginning of this protracted ordeal. For myself, I can think of nothing more dreadful, more unbearably harsh. But given my present situation, I must do what my counsel bids, no matter how unpleasant.

I cannot conceive of why this has happened to me, what possible purpose it could serve. True, God tested Job, but Job was a great man, a true servant of God. I’ve been nothing but a parish priest in a midsize church, and at times, not a very good one. True, our Savior was tested for forty days in the desert, but he was the Son of God. Satan needs no elaborate ritual to tempt me; I have succumbed far too often, with no malicious imp to blame for my own failings. In the dark of night, I am still tormented by secrets, things I have told no one, and hope to God I never shall.

Do I deserve the misery that has befallen me? I cannot believe that I do. I would not wish this on the vilest of sinners, the most heinous of infidels. I pray at night, when I am alone and no one is watching, as my Savior prayed before me, Father, let this cup pass from me. But I know in my heart that there will be no divine intervention. The sad truth is that my fate now rests in the hands of lawyers and judges-a considerably less divine and more fallible audience.

I have titled this document, perhaps in a moment of self-pity or would-be martyrdom, “The Gospel According to Daniel.” The word gospel, of course, was originally derived from Greek words meaning good news. It is familiarly linked with another important word-truth.

I just pray to God that this is. I’m not sure I know what the word means anymore.

Ben sat in the jailhouse cell facing his new client. “Eric, because you can’t afford an attorney of your own, the court has appointed me to act as your attorney with regard to this criminal charge. You may rest assured that anything you tell me will be held in the strictest confidence. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Eric Biggers was a big man; he outweighed Ben two-to-one. His broad and brawny chest was so large it fairly rippled out of his prison jumpsuit. “Sure, I got ya.”

Ben laid three forms on the table between them. “If you’re agreeable to having me represent you in court, then you need to sign these. That will demonstrate to the court that you have accepted me as your legal representative.” And will also allow me to get paid-no small matter.

“No problem.”

“Now, according to the information provided to me, you’ve been charged with assault and battery with a deadly weapon. Do you know what that means?”

“Sure, sure. I know.”

“And it also says-that the victim was your father.”

Biggers hunched forward, his chin drooping, his eyes sad. “Mr. Kincaid, I want you to know, I really regret what happened.”

Ben found himself warmed by this honest expression of remorse-something he saw all too rarely. “I’m sure you do, Eric.”

“I mean that, truly. I really regret hitting my daddy over the head with that gun.”

Ben nodded. This was good. The man had made a mistake, but wanted to make it better. This was why he was a defense attorney, Ben told himself. So he could help men of this caliber. “Well, Eric, I know sometimes temper gets the best of all of us-”

“I mean, it was a real nice gun. I loved that gun.”

“Uh, what?”

“It was a great little pistol, pearl-handled and everything. But I got blood and hair and guts all over it. Now it ain’t worth a damn.”

Ben drew in his breath, then slowly released it. “Just sign the papers, Eric. I’m late for a wedding.”

Jones pushed back his French cuff to check his wristwatch for roughly the three thousandth time. “Where is he?”

“Relax, he’ll be here,” Loving replied, glancing into a nearby mirror and adjusting his bow tie. “Doesn’t the Skipper always come through?”

Jones paced up and down the length of the small dressing room adjacent to the church sanctuary. “For petty criminals, yes. For his office manager, no.”

Loving spread his arms expansively. He was a big man, with a chest as broad as the Grand Canyon, especially by comparison to Jones’s slight frame. “Now you’re not bein’ fair, Jones. Didn’t Ben make all the arrangements for this weddin’? Didn’t he get it all squared with the church and rent all the mornin’ suits and everythin’?”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“The Skipper always takes care of his own.” Loving straightened the lie of his vest. “You know, there’s a certain symmetry here, Jones. He’s takin’ care of your weddin’, jus’ like he took care of my divorce.”

“A charming comparison.” Jones began wringing his hands. “I can’t understand why Ben isn’t here. The best man should be at the church on time. He’s got the ring! We can’t go on without him. You’re a private investigator, Loving. Can’t you go… sleuth around or something?”

“He’ll show up, Jones. Just you wait.”

“Wait until when? The honeymoon? He’s supposed to be here now!”

The door cracked open. Jones rushed forward-but it wasn’t Ben. The white-bearded face of Father Beale appeared through the opening. “It’s almost time. Has he arrived yet?”

“No,” Jones growled, looking even more agitated than before. “He hasn’t.”

Beale frowned. “Keep me posted.”

As soon as the door was closed, Loving jabbed Jones in the stomach. “Was that him? Was he the one?”

“The one that what?”

“You know. The one they say killed that-”

“Ben says he didn’t do it. We won that case, remember?”

“Yeah, but still. Kinda creepy, isn’t it? Bein’ married by a guy who-”

“Would you stop already!” Jones looked as if he were on the verge of a total meltdown. “Where the hell is Ben?”

Loving wrapped a burly arm around Jones’s shoulders. “Don’t fret, little buddy. I’m here. I’ve been through this before, and I know that you’re not really worked up about Ben. You’re worried about gettin’ married, whether you’re goin’ to be happy or whether you’re makin’ the biggest mistake of your life.”

“Oh God, you’re not going to get psychological on me, are you?”

“Paula is a wonderful woman, Jones. You two are a perfect match. You’re gonna be very happy together.” He paused. “And if you’re not, you know where you can get a divorce cheap.”

Jones removed Loving’s hand from his shoulder. “Loving, you’re supposed to be an usher. Go ush.”

At the opposite end of the sanctuary, in a small dressing room barely bigger than a closet, Christina and the bride-to-be, Paula Connelly, were huddled together with two elderly representatives from the ECW, Ruth O’Connell and her friend Ernestine Rupert. One of the women was adjusting the bride’s headdress while the other was messing about with her train.

“There, there,” the woman with the big white bouffant said as she adjusted the headdress a micro-inch. “I think that looks better, don’t you, Ernestine?”

“Ever so much better, Ruth,” replied the one with the blue hair and the expensive jewelry. “I’m having a bit of trouble with this train, though.”

“Here, dear, let me help.” Both women grabbed an end of the white lace train and started tugging herky-jerky.

Paula was staring straight ahead, her eyes wide and fixed. “I will not break down. I will not break down.”

Christina tried to intervene. “Excuse me, ladies, but I think it might be best if we left Paula alone for a bit.”

Ruth was not deterred in the least. “Oh, my-no, dear. This is Paula’s special day. We want everything to be perfect.”

“I want to be left alone,” Paula muttered.

“Seriously,” Christina said, gently tugging at the ladies’ elbows. “Let’s give Paula some quiet time. Let her meditate a bit, so she can get in a serene and bridelike state of mind.”

“Oh, very well.” Ernestine brushed her hands together. “Do you have something blue, dear?”

Paula blinked. “Excuse me?”

“Blue. You must have something blue.”

“I thought white was the traditional bridal color.”

“Well, of course it is,” Ruth explained. “But a bride needs more than just a dress. You need something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.”

“Why?”

“Well… you just do. It’s traditional. All the great brides of literature did it. Don’t you ever read?”

“I’m a librarian,” Paula said. Her voice had acquired a decided edge. “I have, on occasion, read a book, yes.”

“Well then, you must understand. Most brides come equipped with something new-their dress. And they usually have something old, even if it’s just their skivvies. Something borrowed is easy to come up with, but something blue can be tricky. So I wanted to make sure you had something.”

“Well, I don’t. We’ll just have to do without.”

“Nonsense.” Ernestine opened the door to the sanctuary a crack. “Bruce!”

A moment later, Ernestine’s nephew, Bruce Ashour, entered the tiny room, decked out in a gray pinstripe with a red carnation on the lapel.

“Bruce? We need something blue. Quickly.”

Amazingly, Bruce appeared to have no problem comprehending this request. “Are you wearing your turquoise necklace, Ruth?”

The elderly woman shook her head no.

“Aunt Ernestine, what about that cerulean lapel pin?”

“Not wearing it.”

He turned his attention to Christina. “What about you? Are you wearing anything bluish?”

“Sorry, no.”

“Are you sure? What about undergarments?”

Paula’s face grew taut. “I am not wearing someone else’s underwear!”

Ruth snapped her fingers. “Hair ribbon.” She reached inside her purse and removed a blue bow.

“Look,” Paula said, trying unsuccessfully to maintain some semblance of composure, “I’ve just spent three hours at the beauty shop getting my hair fixed. It is perfect. Impenetrable. Bulletproof. I am not messing it up with a blue ribbon!”

“I’ll pin it to the underside of your dress,” Christina said. “No one will ever see it. Now please, ladies, I think we should all-”

The door opened again. A mustached man in his mid-thirties leaned in. “I need to talk to someone about the music.”

“Who is he?” Paula said, fairly ranting now.

“Organist. Choirmaster,” Christina whispered. “Paul Masterson.”

Masterson entered the room. As soon as he did, Christina saw Ernestine remove a small book from her purse and rifle through the pages.

Masterson was a tall man, thin and ascetic in appearance, but when he entered the tiny dressing room everyone was forced practically nose-to-nose. “I’ve seen the play list that was submitted, and I have some serious objections to some of these music selections.”

Paula’s eyelids closed. “What’s he talking about, Christina? I don’t know what he’s talking about. I can’t take much more of this.”

Christina grabbed Masterson by the shoulders. “Look, you’re going to have to find Ben Kincaid. He chose all the music.”

“I looked for him in the other dressing room. They said he hasn’t arrived yet.”

“He hasn’t arrived?” Paula squealed. “The best man hasn’t arrived?”

Christina tried to calm her. “That’s just Ben’s way, Paula. He’s never early. But he’ll be here. I’m sure…”

As if on cue, the door opened again. Ben stepped through the opening. “Is this where-?” An instant later, he realized he had stumbled into the women’s dressing room. His cheeks turned bright pink. “Oops. Excuse me.” He ducked back out again.

All six people crowded into the dressing room spoke at once. “Wait!”

Ben reopened the door a crack. “Ye-es?…”

Christina yanked Ben in, stuffing the tiny room to its limit.

“Can you breathe?” Paula asked, her face ashen. “Because I can’t really breathe…”

“Ben,” Christina said, “the music dude has problems with your play list.”

“It’s the wedding march. From A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Masterson said, sniffing. “It’s an offensive piece of music, inappropriate to the sacred sacrament of marriage. I won’t play it.”

“What’s he talking about?” Christina asked.

“He’s talking about ‘Here Comes the Bride,’ ” Ben explained. “The wedding march everyone knows and loves is Mendelssohn’s incidental music for the play. It’s used in a farce wedding scene-some people say it makes fun of the marriage ceremony. So highbrows and snobs refuse to play it. But the reality is, almost everyone expects to hear this song when the bride walks in, and as long as we’re not making fun of the marriage ceremony, what does it matter what music we play? Most people don’t know where the tune came from.”

“I know,” Masterson said. “I find it offensive. How can I pour my heart into a performance when I find the music reprehensible?”

“I can’t take it,” Paula muttered, pounding her head against the wall. “I just can’t take it anymore.” She would surely have fainted, if there’d been anywhere to faint.

Ben started to speak, but Christina intervened. “If you don’t mind, Ben, I think this is more up my alley.” She stood on her tiptoes-it was hard to appear commanding given that she was barely five foot one-and revved up the volume. “Now listen up! All of you! Paula needs some quiet time before this wedding starts, and she’s going to get it.” She turned toward the two older women. “You’ve been very helpful. Now scram.” She jabbed a finger into Masterson’s bony chest. “You’re going to play the Wedding March, and you’re not going to give us any grief about it.”

Masterson tucked in his chin. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Now get lost! All of you!”

Ben raised a finger. “Christina, I still need-”

“After the wedding, Ben. Go!”

Ben walked in circles around the narthex, trying to remember where the other dressing room was. Sad to say, even though he’d been going to this church for months, he still got lost sometimes. Not that the church was so large-it wasn’t. But Ben’s navigational abilities were severely limited. Christina said he needed a GPS navigator just to get from his living room to the kitchen.

As he passed down the large corridor that flanked the Sunday school classes, he heard a commotion at the far end.

“I’m telling you, this is not the place!” he heard a familiar voice say.

“It never is with you. You’re always trying to buy time.”

“I’m performing a wedding, Kate. It’s not appropriate-”

“I’ve had it with your excuses! This has got to end! I can’t go on like this anymore. It’s wrong. It’s-it’s evil!”

Ben peered around the corner. Father Beale, decked out in his ministerial robes, was staring at a woman in her mid-thirties-Kate McGuire, he thought. She was the senior warden and had been in attendance during the ecclesiastical trial.

“It is not evil. You need to open your heart, broaden your mind-”

“Don’t lecture me, you sixties throwback.”

“It is not evil.”

“Well, let’s see what the bishop says about that, shall we?”

Beale’s eyes hardened. “Are you threatening me?”

Ben glanced over his shoulder. By now, the fight had attracted an audience of five or six parishioners. He needed to break this up and fast.

“Excuse me,” Ben said, strolling toward them as if nothing unusual had been taking place. “Can you tell me where the men’s dressing room is?”

Beale slowly took a step back from the woman. “This isn’t over,” he said. Then he turned and escorted Ben to the proper door.

Against all odds, the wedding was beautiful. Even Ben was moved by the formal yet warm Episcopal ceremony. Father Beale gave a lovely homily about the meaning of the marriage covenant and the service concluded with a full Communion, although Ben did not participate. Cynical as he might be about the “blessed sacrament of marriage,” as Ben watched his longtime office manager stroll off with his librarian sweetheart, he couldn’t help but feel a certain tugging at his tear ducts.

The reception was held in the parish hall, which was decked out with streamers and wall hangings following a fuchsia and lime green color scheme. Undoubtedly Christina’s design, Ben mused. Still, it was a pleasant contrast to Ben’s last visit to the parish hall, when he’d been handling Father Beale’s trial.

Ben skipped the reception line and scored a piece of the groom’s cake-chocolate, not white, thank goodness-and a cup of some pink, ginger ale-based punch.

At a table in the corner, Ben spotted the two teenage girls he had met during the trial. What were their names? Judy and… Maura, that was it. They appeared to be industriously cutting the bride’s cake and pouring punch.

One of them, the quiet pudgier one-Maura-nudged her friend. “It’s him,” she said breathlessly.

The other, Judy, looked up. Her eyes immediately brightened. “Mr. Kincaid!”

“Call me Ben.” He watched as they poured a liter of Seven-Up into the punch bowl. “Did Christina put you up to this by any chance?”

“Is she the redhead?”

Ben nodded.

“Yeah. How did you know?”

“Just a hunch.”

“Ben!” A slim, middle-aged woman dressed in a print dress and sensible shoes approached. “Just the man I need.”

“Andrea. Good to see you.” Andrea was Father Beale’s wife and had been for more than ten years. During the time Ben was working on the ecclesiastical trial, they had gotten to know each other well.

“You too. Got any turpentine?”

Ben patted his suit pockets. “Darn it, I guess I left my turpentine at home. Also my thinner, my shellac, and my WD- 40.”

Andrea grinned. “I’ve got glue all over me.”

On closer inspection, Ben saw that her hands did appear to be covered with glue and Scotch tape and bits of colored construction paper. “You helped with the decorations, I surmise.”

“No, but I cleaned up after those who did. A priest’s wife’s work is never done.” She wandered off toward the nearest rest room. Ben found an empty seat and concentrated on finishing his cake.

“Isn’t this the most romantic thing you’ve seen in your entire life?”

Christina had found the folding chair beside him. She was still wearing her pink maid-of-honor dress. Ben had heard that love is blind, and judging by most of the bridesmaid dresses he had seen, it was true.

Ben shrugged. “I’ve been to weddings before.”

“Yes, but these are our friends,” Christina enthused. “We watched the whole courtship. You were with Jones for their first face-to-face date.”

Actually, Ben had been Jones for their first face-to-face date, but the less he was reminded of that, the better. “Nice turnout, anyway.” He gave her a quick glance. “By the way, I don’t think I mentioned it before, but… you look lovely.”

Christina’s eyes brightened. “Really? You think so?”

“I do.”

“You’re just saying that because I’m wearing this bridesmaid getup.”

“For you, it is somewhat… conservative.”

“Boring, you mean. But of course, you like boring. Compared to my usual wardrobe, this outfit is pretty uninteresting.”

“Compared to your usual wardrobe, nudity would be pretty uninteresting.”

A small balding man with thick black spectacles slid into the chair on Ben’s other side. “Can you believe what a mess they’ve made of this place?” he muttered.

“I’m not sure what you mean,” Ben replied.

“All this grotesque pink and puke rubbish. A revolting display. Who’s responsible for this catastrophe?”

“That would be me,” Christina said, smiling.

The man’s chin dropped. “Oh.” He winced. “Open mouth, insert foot.” He tentatively held out his hand. “I’m sorry. I’m Alvin Greene. Head of the Altar Guild. And church bookkeeper.”

“Ah,” Christina said, taking his hand.

“You’ll have to forgive me. I just transferred over from St. John’s to fill the staff opening. I don’t really know many people.”

“You must be responsible for cleaning this place up after we’re all gone.”

“I’m afraid that’s true.”

“In that case, you’re forgiven. I might be grumpy about this decorating job if I had to take it down.”

“Still…” The man seemed to be having trouble removing his eyes from Christina’s face. “I should’ve kept my mouth shut.”

“Tell you what,” Christina said. “I’m not doing anything tonight. How about if I hang around and help clean up?”

Greene’s eyes widened. “Would you really? Oh, that would be-I mean, not that you should-but if you would-that would be-I mean-that would be-”

Ben frowned. It appeared Christina had another admirer, and not just for her dress, either. Which shouldn’t bother him…

“Oh, Bruce, wait. I want you to meet someone.”

Ben recognized the voice-unfortunately-before he spotted her face. Ernestine, the grande dame of St. Benedict’s. She was being squired by a middle-aged man with a soft face who Ben remembered from the ladies’ changing room.

“Bruce, this is Ben Kincaid.” She lifted her brows knowingly. “He’s the lawyer, you know.”

The man extended his hand. “Hello. I’m Ernestine’s nephew.”

“Pleased to meet you. Are you-”

“Bruce, do be a dear and fetch me a piece of wedding cake,” Ernestine said, interrupting. “Not too large a piece, please. Must watch my figure, you know. All right? There’s a good boy.”

“Yes, Aunt Ernestine.” Bruce obediently fluttered away.

“Ben, I am so pleased that I’ve been seeing you in the choir every Sunday,” Ernestine said. “It gives me great satisfaction to see you there in the loft, singing your heart out. You have a lovely tenor voice.”

Ben wondered how she could possibly distinguish his voice from the eight other lovely tenor voices, but a compliment was a compliment. “You’re very kind.”

“I’m so pleased that you took what Ruth and I told you to heart. I know that after all that… unpleasantness, you must’ve wondered whether you would really be welcome here at the church. I wanted to make it clear to you, on behalf of all of St. Benedict’s, that you are.”

Ben wondered if all of St. Benedict’s knew Ernestine spoke on their behalf. Presumably, when you were the church’s leading benefactor, you could get away with that sort of thing.

“Here’s your cake, Aunt Ernestine.”

Ernestine looked askance at the plate he proffered. Crinkles formed around the corners of her mouth. “Bruce, dear boy, I didn’t mean the groom’s cake. I couldn’t possibly eat chocolate. I need the white cake.”

Bruce appeared to be used to this sort of thing. “Yes, Aunt Ernestine.”

“And please find a piece a bit larger than that. I’m not diabetic, for heaven’s sake.”

“Yes, Aunt Ernestine.” Bruce disappeared again.

“He’s a dear boy,” Ernestine said, with a small sigh. “But not much up here,” she added, tapping the side of her skull. “I don’t know what he’d be like today if he hadn’t had me to take care of him.”

Probably a lot happier, Ben suspected, but he kept his thoughts to himself.

“Oh, Ruth! Ruth!” Ernestine waggled her fingers at her elderly friend. “I was just about to discuss our problems here at the church with Ben.”

“Oh, my,” Ruth replied. “These last few weeks at St. Benedict’s, ever since the trial, have been such a strain. Many families have left us, you know. And the ones that have remained have been very disappointed.”

Their disappointment, Ben assumed, being that they hadn’t been able to oust Father Beale, despite their best efforts.

“I think it will all blow over,” Ben opined. “You just need to give everyone a little more time.”

“I hope you’re right. But if this church is to survive, there are going to have to be some changes. Father Beale must recognize that he can’t simply go on doing whatever pleases him. He has a parish to consider.”

“Of course.”

“In fact, I think I’ll find Father Beale and talk to him on that very subject. I wonder if he’s in his office?”

For Father Beale’s sake, Ben hoped he wasn’t. Ruth left, Ernestine departed in a different direction, and Ben managed to return his attention to his cake, which for wedding fare, was not half bad. A few minutes later, he felt Christina giving him a gentle nudge. “Have you been watching the woman with the blue hair?”

Ben scanned the parish hall. “That doesn’t quite narrow it down.”

“Ernestine. Ruth’s friend.”

“Not in the last ten seconds. Why?” Ben spotted her at the other end of the room, chatting with George Finley, another member of the vestry. “What about her?”

“That’s the third man I’ve seen her approach. And every time she does, the man gives her something. And then she takes that little notebook out of her purse. For that matter, I saw her get that out back in the dressing room, when the minister of music came in. What do you think it is?”

“Who knows? She’s probably lining up volunteers for a bake sale or something.”

Christina’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t know. My great-aunt Bettie used to have something like that. It was her account book. She made a record of every penny she ever earned or spent, right down to the last postage stamp. She was seriously tight.”

“Must be that Scots blood.”

“Quite possibly.”

“There she is!” Paula came running toward them, still decked out in her bridal regalia, her full-length train trailing behind her. “Come on, Christina. It’s time for me to throw the bouquet.”

Christina jumped out of her seat. “You don’t have to tell me twice.” She raced to the center of the parish hall.

Paula reared back with a full fastball windup, then released the bouquet into the air. Several arms reached for it, but Christina sprang into the air with a leap that would’ve made Michael Jordan proud and snagged it.

“I got it!” Christina crowed. “I got it!”

“All right,” Jones announced. “Time for the garter.”

Ben began looking for an exit.

“Wait a minute, Boss.” Jones blocked his path. A moment later, Loving had a hammerlock on him and dragged him into the center of the parish hall, where several other mildly embarrassed males were waiting.

Ben tried futilely to escape. “This really isn’t my-”

“Shush,” Loving said. “Don’t spoil it.”

A moment later, Jones was at the front, garter in hand. He pulled it back on his thumb like a slingshot and let it fly-directly toward Ben’s face.

“You caught it!” Loving cheered, slapping Ben on the back.

“As if I had a choice,” Ben muttered.

Loving jabbed his knuckles into Ben’s rib cage. “And you know what this means, Skipper?”

“You’re all fired?”

“It means you’re gonna be the next to get hitched. You and-”

“Calm down, Loving. We don’t want to scare the boy off.” Paula stepped between them and placed her hands on Ben’s shoulders. “I have something for you, too.”

“No more undergarments, hopefully.”

“Hopefully is an adverb. You mean, No more undergarments, I hope.” She smiled. “But no. Just this.” She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. “Jones and I would never have gotten together if it hadn’t been for your kindness. Thank you.”

“Nonsense. I had nothing to do with it.”

Paula shook her head. “You’re a wonderful person, Ben. Even if you don’t know it.” She stepped away and took Jones’s hand. “And now, my love, I think it’s time you and I-”

Her words were cut off by a piercing scream. Half the people in the room jumped at the earsplitting sound. Plates and punch glasses crashed to the floor.

“What on earth?” Jones whispered under his breath.

Paula shook her head. “We’d better go see.”

Ben held them back. “You two go on your honeymoon. I’ll see what’s happening.”

Jones and Paula nodded, then headed toward the rear entrance. Ben started in the direction of the scream.

By the time he’d left the parish hall and walked down the long corridor, a crowd had gathered before him. They were blocking the entrance to the glass-encased area where all the church employees had their offices.

“I went in looking for Father Beale, and I found her there, just like that.” It was Ruth O’Connell, near hysterical, rambling to no one in particular. “I had no idea! I walked in and there she was, sprawled across the desk!” She covered her face.

Ben pushed his way through the crowd to one of the inner offices, the one farthest from the entrance.

“She’s the one,” he heard someone say quietly.

“Guess there’s going to be another vestry election,” said another.

Apparently Ben’s status as the lawyer gave him some official sanction in the minds of the gathering crowd; they parted like the Red Sea as he approached.

Ben stepped inside the office-and gasped. A woman’s body was sprawled across the desk, her skirt hiked up to her waist, her legs contorted in an unnatural position. The right side of her head was covered with blood. Her tongue was black and her face was an eerie, translucent blue.

He didn’t have to get close to know that she was dead. Very dead.

It was Kate McGuire-the woman he had seen earlier in the corridor, arguing with Father Beale.

On a sudden impulse, Ben glanced at the nameplate on the door.

This was Father Beale’s office.

Ben staggered out, suddenly overcome with a sickness rising fast from the pit of his stomach. Never eat wedding cake when you’re about to view a corpse, he thought, trying to comfort himself with sick humor. He pushed through the crowd, hoping he could make it to the restroom in time. Throwing up all over the spectators would certainly betray his cool demeanor.

“Someone call the police,” he grunted. And as quickly as possible, he found the nearest men’s room and rushed inside.

Someone was already there.

Father Beale stood at one of the sinks, the water from the faucet running fast. There was blood all over his hands. And like Pontius Pilate before him, he was doing everything he could to wash it off.

Chapter 2

Ben watched from a distance as the various white-coveralled technicians back-and-forthed over the crime scene. To an untrained eye, it might seem like chaos in action, so many different people crisscrossing one another’s paths in the tight, enclosed space of Father Beale’s office. To Ben’s more practiced eye, however, it was like watching scores of ants passing through the many-tiered tunnels of a complex ant farm, each drone performing his unique and specialized task. The fingerprint team scanned and dusted, the hair and fiber team scrutinized every surface with magnifying glass and tweezers, the serology team scraped, the coroner’s team sniffed, and the detective’s team interrogated. From the sidelines, the videographers recorded everything.

And beside the body, supervising every one of these complex and multifaceted operations, was Major Mike Morelli, Tulsa PD’s top homicide detective, not to mention Ben Kincaid’s former brother-in-law.

More than an hour after the police arrived, Mike left Beale’s office for the first time (“Isn’t there any coffee in this church?”) and Ben was able to grab his ear for a few moments when he stepped outside for some fresh air.

“Congratulations, Ben,” Mike said, once he finally had some caffeine in him to calm his nerves and amplify his wicked sense of humor. “Once again, you’re in the middle of some major nastiness. And on the side of the nasty.”

Ben ignored the gibe. “Any word on the cause of death?”

Mike strolled down the sidewalk parallel to the parking lot. Most people would be drawn to the prayer garden, particularly lovely this time of year when the flowers were blooming. But Mike avoided it. Too many unsettling memories, Ben supposed, of the last time he’d been to this church-also to take charge of a corpse. “Oh, you know how coroners are. They don’t want to say anything useful until they’ve had three weeks to write reports and run every test known to man.”

“What have you learned about the victim?”

“Name’s Kate McGuire. By all accounts a lovely mild-mannered young woman. Member of the vestry-senior warden, actually-which I’m told was greatly at odds with Beale and had been trying unsuccessfully to have him removed. And-get this-she was engaged to be married for the first time.” Mike paused, then stared up at the sky. “She was in love. But that marriage will never happen.” He took another deep breath, as if he needed some oxygen coursing through his system. “For the sword outwears its sheath/And the soul wears out the breast/And the heart must pause to breathe/And Love itself have rest.”

“Very lovely. But what do you think? About the murder.”

“You know perfectly well what we think. What does everyone think?”

“Listen to me, Mike. I’ve known Father Beale since I was a kid. He wouldn’t do this.”

“Yeah, that’s what you told us the first time someone turned up dead here.”

“I was right then and I’m right now.”

Mike shook his head and inhaled another gulp of the coffee. “Well, I can tell you this, pal. It doesn’t look good for him.”

“I noticed you haven’t arrested him yet.”

“Give us a minute. This is going to be a very high profile case. Before we bring charges, we want to make sure we can make them stick.” He took another swig of java, then crumpled the Styrofoam cup in his hands. “Still, at least half a dozen witnesses tell me he had an altercation with this woman just before the wedding. Two witnesses saw him after the wedding with blood on his hands. And the body was in his office.”

“Which is a good point in his defense.”

Mike chuckled. “Only a lawyer with your imagination could turn that into a good point in his defense.”

“Seriously, Mike, think about it. If he planned to kill the woman, why would he do it in his own office?”

“I don’t think he planned anything. From what I’ve been hearing, he has an uncontrollable temper. Explosive and sometimes violent. I’m told he was ordered to get some therapy. I figure the woman came to his office to continue the argument, and he lost his grip and did her in.”

“You can’t prove any of that.”

Mike thrust his fists into the pockets of his trench coat. “Not yet, my friend. But give me a couple of hours.”

“You really want Beale, don’t you?”

“What I want is the same thing I always want, Ben. You remember what Shakespeare said in the thirtieth sonnet?”

“Oh, stop waving your English degree in my face and just tell me.”

“ ‘All losses restor’d and sorrows end.’ In other words, justice.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Is that so much to ask?”

Once everyone had been thoroughly questioned, names and addresses had been taken, and all had been cautioned not to leave town, most of the guests and the wedding party disappeared. No speed was too great when one was escaping a horror of this magnitude, Ben supposed. Only a few of the church diehards remained; some who had been at the wedding, and a few, Ben noted, who showed up as soon as they heard about the new tragedy. Ben thought he should stay as long as Father Beale did, in part, to lend his support, and in part, to make sure the man didn’t say anything he shouldn’t.

To suggest that Beale was not at his best would be a pitiful understatement. He was shaken, spiritually ruptured, to a degree that was immediately evident to anyone who came near him. In that condition, Ben knew even the most innocent man might say something foolish that would haunt him ever after-especially on the witness stand.

“Ben,” Beale said at one point, away from the ears of the police officers, “we-we need to talk.”

“You’re right,” Ben answered. “But not here and not now. Tomorrow morning, in my office.”

Beale’s lips moved slowly, as if finding each word was a major struggle. “I-have a vestry meeting tonight.”

“You’re not still planning to go through with it!”

“I have no choice. The bishop’s review council arrives tomorrow and-and-” He turned away, his head trembling. “We have to appoint someone to replace Kate.”

Ben placed his hand on the troubled man’s shoulder. “Come on.”

Ben found Father Beale a quiet room in the rear of the church where he could try to get a grip on himself, somewhere he would be safe from prying eyes and probing questions. Then he returned to the crime scene, hoping he could overhear some of the remaining interrogations.

Ben spotted Ernestine Rupert, once again on the arm of her nephew.

“Truly, Aunt Ernestine, we should leave. You shouldn’t be subjected to this macabre business. Let me take you home.”

Ernestine slapped his hand away. “Don’t be a ninny, Bruce. I can’t leave now, not with all this trouble about. I have a responsibility to the church.”

And besides, Ben thought, you might miss something good.

“But Aunt Ernestine, you shouldn’t be associating with all these police and-”

“Balderdash. The church needs me. I am becoming a bit parched, though. Would you fetch me a club soda?”

“They don’t keep club soda in the kitchen, Aunt Ernestine.”

“The convenience store down the street will have it. Please hurry, dear boy.”

He let out a long sigh. “Yes, Aunt Ernestine.” And disappeared.

Ben spotted two of Mike’s lieutenants quizzing Paul Masterson, the choirmaster. He appeared to be quite agitated about something. Probably attributing the murder to the fact that he was forced to play the Wedding March.

Not far away, he saw Christina, and clinging close behind her, Alvin Greene, the Altar Guild guy. Was this love at first sight, or was he just making sure she didn’t forget she promised to help clean up?

Ben grabbed Christina’s arm and tugged her aside. “Learn anything useful?”

She shrugged. “Lots of church gossip. I don’t know how useful it is. But there certainly seems to be a lot going on here at St. Benedict’s.”

“We’ll compare notes later. Jones and Paula?”

“Halfway to Eureka Springs by now.”

“Good. I didn’t want this to spoil their honeymoon. I’m sure it already spoiled their wedding.”

“Oh, I don’t know. They’re certainly going to have some interesting stories to tell their grandchildren.” She smiled. “So what do we do now?”

“Unbelievable as it may seem, there’s a vestry meeting tonight, and it isn’t being canceled. I have to be there with Father Beale. God only knows what will happen. Why don’t you start seeing what you can dig up about Kate McGuire?”

“Anything in particular?”

“Yeah. Why someone might want to suffocate her.”

“Ben.” Christina gave him a concerned look. “You realize that to most people… this looks like an open-and-shut case.”

“That’s why God invented defense attorneys, Christina. So people wouldn’t be convicted on ‘looks.’ ”

“Still… are you sure you’re entirely… impartial on this one? After all, Father Beale was your childhood priest. And technically speaking, still is.”

“As a matter of fact, I’m not impartial. I’m totally partial. In his favor. Which is what a defense lawyer is supposed to be, remember?”

“Yes, but-” She reached out tentatively. Her fingers brushed against his hand. “I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”

“Don’t worry about me, Christina. Worry about Father Beale. He’s the one who has problems.”

“Of course.” She slowly withdrew her hand. “It was a lovely wedding, though, wasn’t it? While it lasted?”

“If you like that sort of thing.”

“I do,” she said quietly. “Don’t you?”

He shrugged. “It had its moments. But the murder wasn’t one of them. Get me the scoop on Kate McGuire, okay?”

“Of course. I live to serve. Anything else I can do for you?”

“Well, now that you mention it… do you suppose there’s any of that groom’s cake left?…”

Chapter 3

Manly Trussell sat at the darkest corner of the long conference table, silently stewing. He hated meetings. And this had to be one of the worst. A lot of people sitting in uncomfortable chairs in a dark basement in a Unitarian church pontificating from ignorance.

These ecumenical committees were always abysmal wastes of time. Why had he ever agreed to be on this one? Perhaps because they were drawing talent from churches all over Tulsa, he thought this would be different? Perhaps because he had allowed himself to be deceived by the fact that it was called an action committee? The term was an oxymoron. All committees ever did was sit around and talk. And talk and talk and talk…

“What’s your take on the Sapulpa situation, Manly?”

Hearing his name jerked him back to earth. “What situation is that?”

“Haven’t you been paying attention?” The man at the head of the table drummed his fingers. “There’s a new rumor that a doc out at that free clinic is performing abortions.”

That was his idea of a new rumor? Another reason this committee never went anywhere-the chairman was a blithering idiot. Manly had first heard that rumor months ago. “I think it’s a lot of baloney, Craig.”

“You don’t think it’s true?”

“If I believed it, I wouldn’t be sitting here.”

One of the men on his side of the table laughed. “That’s our Manly. The original Danger Boy.”

A woman on the opposite side didn’t seem as amused. “What are you saying? That if you thought it was true you’d go out there with an AK-46 and blow him away?”

Manly leaned slowly back in his chair. “An AK-46 would be overkill, I think.”

The woman flipped. “I can’t believe this. I mean, is he serious?”

Chairman Craig smiled. “Manly’s Manly, that’s all, Pamela.”

“I don’t think this is something we should just shuck and grin about.” Pamela, an anorexically underweight brunette with long tapered fingers, was not prepared to let it go. “Our goal is to represent the entire Christian community. To create a perception of spiritual unity. One loose cannon like this could destroy our credibility. It could undermine our entire purpose.”

Manly ran his tongue along his bottom row of teeth. “And what exactly is that purpose, ma’am?”

“What we’re trying to do, for your information, is to unite the community behind the pro-life cause. We’re joining hands to educate and enlighten people on an important issue. We’re accomplishing an important goal through nonviolent means.”

Manly fanned the air with his hand. “Sounds like a load of crap to me.”

Veins stood out in Pamela’s neck. “I think we have a problem here. A serious problem. In some people’s minds, pro-life is already associated with dunderheads and backwoods bullies. Religious paranoids-those who think it’s acceptable to kill a doctor and call it pro-life.”

“I don’t think people should be criticized for taking action in support of their beliefs.”

“That depends on the action, doesn’t it?”

“When a doctor commits an abortion, he takes a life. That’s murder, pure and simple.”

“I don’t argue with that, but I do argue with-”

“Is it a crime to stop a murderer before he murders again?”

“It’s certainly a crime to shoot a doctor in cold blood when-”

“Doesn’t the Bible say ‘an eye for an eye’? Isn’t that what it says?”

Pamela tumbled back into her chair. “Oh, please. Here we go again.”

“Don’t duck the question. Doesn’t the Bible say ‘an eye for an eye’?”

“And ’vengeance is mine, sayeth the Lord.’ That’s the end of the quote, the part people like you always leave out. Retribution is for God, not man. We were told to love one another. Which you can hardly reconcile with shooting a man down in cold blood!”

“You know what I think?” Manly shouted back. “I think you’re a coward, that’s what I think. All of you! You don’t have the courage of your convictions. You don’t have the strength to do the hard jobs. You can talk the talk, but you can’t walk the walk!”

“Oh, sweet Jesus.” Pamela pressed her long fingers against her forehead. “Craig, I can’t work with this. I just can’t.”

The chairman cleared his throat. “I think perhaps if we stick to our agenda…”

“I’ll tell you where you can stick your agenda!” Manly bellowed.

Pamela’s eyes rolled. “Seriously, Craig. This kind of talk-much less action-could undermine everything we’re trying to do. How can we be taken seriously as a force for peace if we’re represented by a neanderthal wannabe murderer?”

“Are you talking about me?” Manly asked.

“If you could both please just calm down!” Craig glared across the table, as if challenging anyone to say another word. “We have work to do, people, and this isn’t getting it done.”

“I won’t let this go, Craig,” Pamela muttered under her breath.

“I’m calling a ten-minute recess,” Craig announced. He banged his little gavel on the tabletop. “Go get a drink and cool off! Both of you! When you return, I expect to get back to work!”

Manly stepped outside, but the ten minutes stretched to fifteen, then twenty, then more. Almost an hour passed before Chairman Craig emerged from a side room to talk with him. It was obvious he wasn’t looking forward to saying whatever he had to say. He didn’t sit down with Manly; in fact, he couldn’t even look him in the eye.

“Manly, we’ve been having a little impromptu meeting in there. I’m very sorry, but-”

“I’m out, aren’t I?”

Craig rubbed the back of his neck. “I wouldn’t put it like that. The committee just feels that our goals and… methodologies are radically different and that we will never be able to work together as a team.”

“Work? Who ever said anything about work? All you people do is talk. That’s all you ever will do.”

“Still, we feel that it would not be mutually beneficial to continue-”

“You’re afraid I’m gonna go lop off some abortion doctor’s head, aren’t you?”

“No, no, nothing like that-”

“Well, you should be,” Manly said, pushing himself onto his cowboy boots. “Because I just might.”

“Manly-”

“You people make me sick. You go on and on, talking about how ethical and righteous you are. But not a damn one of you has the guts to put your money where your mouth is.”

“We don’t feel that the most politic approach-”

“Did Christ care about politics?” Manly bellowed. “No, sir. He did not! He put his life on the line. Upset a lot of people, too. But he did what he knew was right.”

“He never killed anyone.”

“He tossed the money-changers out of the temple. He fought back the madding crowd.”

“Look, we’re never going to agree. And we’re never going to be able to control you. You’re not a team player, Manly. So we have to sever the relationship. We can’t have you on this committee. I’m sorry, but we just can’t.”

Craig hurriedly stole back to the conference room, leaving Manly to sit and stew. Goddamn cowards. Self-righteous dilettantes. What do they know about what it takes to get anything done in this world? Not a damn one of them has ever accomplished anything in their entire lives. They stroke themselves and tell themselves what a wonderful contribution they’re making to the world, but the truth is they never do a damn thing!

Manly was so absorbed in his thoughts that at first he didn’t notice the stranger’s approach.

“You’re upset, aren’t you?”

Manly glanced up. “Damn right I’m upset. Don’t I have every right to be?”

“Far as I’m concerned. All I wondered was… what you’re planning to do about it.”

“And what makes you think I’m going to do anything about it?”

“Instinct. I can tell just looking at you. You don’t belong on some committee chewing doughnuts and bulleting action items. You belong on the front lines.”

“Front lines? Is there a war?”

“I think there is, yes. Don’t you?”

“Maybe.” He rolled his tongue around inside his mouth. “So what do you want?”

“I’d like to propose a mutually beneficial relationship for both of us. A win-win situation. You get what you want, I get what I want. We both fight for the causes we believe in. Sound good?”

“Couldn’t say. Don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Well, you will. Soon enough. The great work has begun, you know.” The visitor’s eyes darkened. “But there’s still much to do. Ever so much more to do.”

Chapter 4

Ben sat at the darkest corner of the long conference table, silently stewing. He hated meetings. And this had to be one of the worst.

“This is supposed to be a house of God, not a house of horrors!”

“And we’re supposed to be loving Christians, not back-stabbing assassins!”

“How can we behave as Christians when we’re living in the third circle of hell?”

“Should I be putting this in the minutes?”

Ben had known having a vestry meeting tonight, so soon after the discovery of another murder, would be a mistake. But no one would listen to him-not even his client, Father Beale. The work of the church must go on, he insisted. And the vestry must select someone else to lead it, now that Kate is gone. So the meeting was convened, and Susan Marino, a thirtyish woman who appeared to Ben much too nice to even be on this vestry, was chosen to lead it. And from the moment the senior warden position was filled, the meeting had been nothing but an acrimonious succession of accusations, backbiting, and venom.

To her credit, Susan managed to keep her voice calm and even. “Father Beale, surely you can see why many people think this would be an appropriate time for you to step down.”

“Yes, I certainly can. Politics.” Beale seemed badly shaken, both by the discovery of the body in his office and the battering he’d endured in this meeting, but it hadn’t quelled his vigor. “This latest tragedy involving poor Kate is nothing but an excuse to accomplish what you people have been trying to do for months.”

“I think we have valid reasons,” said Ernestine.

“As you did before,” Beale replied. “If you’ll recall, the matter was subjected to a full-blown trial. And you lost. And after the trial, you were instructed to give it up. Except apparently none of you were listening, because now, here it is again.”

Ruth, the vestry secretary, talked while simultaneously taking notes. “That is not precisely what Father Holbrook said.” She would be the one who knew, Ben realized. Probably had the man’s every word scribbled down somewhere. “Moreover, he specifically said that he would revisit the matter in six months and that his ruling was contingent upon Father Beale’s compliance with the conditions laid down by the adjudicative panel.”

“There have been some rather extenuating circumstances since the trial,” Ernestine replied. Her bearing and manner were, as always, upper-crust and domineering. She had not put her name forward for senior warden, but Ben suspected she considered herself the true leader of the vestry regardless of who sat in the end chair. “When tragedy mounts upon tragedy, it’s only natural for people to want… change.”

“What are you saying?” Beale asked.

Ernestine pressed her hand against her bosom. “I’m only saying that given the circumstances-”

“You’re saying I killed Kate, aren’t you? And Helen?”

A deathly silence fell over the parish hall. No one spoke. No one even moved.

“Well, listen up, people. I did not kill Kate. I did not kill Helen. Or anyone else. And I will not be railroaded out of this church based on these false-and damned convenient-accusations.”

Ben cleared his throat, even though at heart the last thing on earth he wanted to do was to attract attention at this little get-together. “Father Beale, as your legal representative, I must caution you again not to comment in any way on the murders.”

“I am an innocent man,” Beale insisted. “Why shouldn’t I say so?”

“Believe me-it’s for the best. Don’t refer to the murders at all.”

After another moment of silence, Susan reasserted herself. “Let’s approach this matter from a different direction.” Ben had learned Susan was a divorced mother of two who worked full-time as an accountant for WorldCom. A stressful situation, but possibly good training for conducting this meeting. “St. Benedict’s has always supported the Episcopal doctrine of lay leadership. As a member of the vestry, and now acting senior warden, I also support lay leadership.” Her eyes rose. “Do you, Father?”

“With all my heart and soul.”

“Then how can you… persist in this refusal to step down, when it is perfectly apparent that the majority of the vestry believe you should resign?”

“I believe in lay leadership as to administrative matters of the church. You decide when services start and who teaches Sunday school. You can hire and fire janitors and select the menu for Lenten dinners. You can do basically anything-except oppose the will of God.”

“Are you suggesting that you are the embodiment of the will of God?”

“Don’t be absurd. What I’m saying is simply that God called me to this church and his representative in this diocese, the bishop, installed me here. The vestry does not have the authority, legal or moral, to undermine those appointments. You’ve tried everything possible, and it has all been unavailing.”

Another member spoke, a slender young woman Ben had seen teaching Sunday school classes. Carol Mason. “Father, all we’re trying to do is find some peace and harmony for this church.”

“No, what you’re trying to do is use rumor and false witness to accomplish a political goal-getting rid of me.”

“Speaking for myself, Father, I would never accuse you of anything.” Despite her agitation, Carol was quite lovely, with delicate features and gorgeous blond hair. Ben felt his heart beating faster just watching her. “But I do think it might be best for the church if you resigned. Best for everyone. Including you.”

“Do you believe in the doctrine of divine commission?”

Carol stuttered. “W-well-of course.”

“Then you believe God calls people into service?”

“Ye-es…”

“As do I. I believe God called me to be a priest, and I believe he called me to St. Benedict’s. Come to think of it, Ruth, I recall you saying the same thing when you were on the search committee that first issued my invitation to come to St. Benedict’s. Do you recall that?”

Ruth nodded, not looking up.

“Then please answer this question for me: If God has called me to this church, what right do we have to thwart His desire?”

“Father…”

“It’s a serious question. Either you believe God has a plan or you don’t. And if He does, if I was brought to this church for a reason, how can we unravel His design?”

“We can’t,” said Masterson, the organist, who Ben knew had been at St. Benedict’s much longer than Father Beale. “At the same time, we don’t always know His design. We thought God called you to this parish. But obviously we were wrong. We made a mistake.”

“You’re still sulking about All Saints’ Day.”

“Does this relate to the murders?” Ben asked. An embarrassing question, but he didn’t even know when All Saints’ Day was, much less to what incident Father Beale was referring.

“No,” Father Beale answered. “This relates to our choirmaster pouting like a five-year-old because I instructed him to play ‘I Sing a Song of the Saints of God’ on All Saints’ Day.”

“It’s a children’s song,” Masterson said, “trite and imbecilic, and it may be appropriate for Sunday school or Children’s Chapel, but it has no place in the worship service.”

“It’s a lovely little tune,” Beale rejoined, “and while it may be simplistic, it is liturgically correct and many parishioners, including me, look forward to hearing it during the All Saints’ service.”

Masterson made a sniffing noise. “Music should be left to those who know something about it.”

“Excuse me, but that’s exactly wrong. The Book of Common Prayer says the rector is in charge of the service and the other members of the staff take instruction from him. End of story.” Beale turned back toward Ben. “Could there be a clearer proof of what’s going on at this meeting than this? This dispute has nothing to do with murders. The deaths are just an excuse for excising a rector who has become inconvenient.”

Beale paused, and all at once the air seemed to go out of him, like a punctured balloon. He fell back into his chair, looking tired and unsure. “I know I’ve made mistakes. I know I haven’t handled myself… appropriately in all instances. I’ve done some things that-that I shouldn’;t have done. I know that. And I know I have a foul temper. I’m working to get it under control. Everyone makes mistakes. I’ve learned from mine. I’m confident that if we can just get past all this-this-hate, this unkindness, I can make a success of this. St. Benedict’s has some wonderful people. We could be an outstanding church, the best in the diocese, leaders in outreach. But we can’t do that when we’re still trying to hurt one another. We can’t do that until we’re willing to let the past be the past and join hands to work together.”

The parish hall fell silent. Ben couldn’t tell whether Father Beale’s speech had hit home with any of them or whether they were just too tired to argue.

“Look,” Ben said, his voice almost inaudibly quiet. “I’m a lawyer. I don’t know much about this church stuff, I admit. No one ever comes to a lawyer for moral guidance.”

“You can say that again,” Masterson grumbled.

“But I did grow up in an Episcopal church,” Ben continued. “And I have known Father Beale for a long time-longer than any of you, I think. And I can tell you this. He’s a good man. A very good man. Sure, he’s flawed, just like the rest of us. But he tries to do the right thing. Isn’t that what it’s all about?”

Susan turned her head away. “He may have tried, but he made grave errors. Some of which you… know nothing about.”

“He’s admitted that,” Ben said. “Who among us hasn’t made mistakes? The point is, he wants to make good here. Can’t we let him? Can’t we forgive his errors? Come to think of it, isn’t that what Christianity is all about?”

Ben gazed across the room, trying without much luck to read the faces.

“I’m speaking to you now, not as a lawyer, but as a member of this church. We haven’t passed the point of no return, the place where our differences become utterly irreconcilable. Let’s put an end to this unpleasantness before we do. Let’s give the man another chance. Let’s let him stay at St. Benedict’s and continue God’s work.”

“A noble sentiment,” said a familiar voice from the rear of the hall, “but I’m afraid that isn’t going to be possible.”

Ben knew the speaker even before he turned. Major Mike Morelli, Homicide.

Two uniformed officers stood by the door as Mike calmly crossed the parish hall. To Ben’s dismay, he saw that Mike was walking, not to him, but to Father Beale. “Daniel Beale, it is my very unpleasant duty to take you into custody immediately.”

Beale appeared stricken. “B-but-why?”

Mike’s face remained unexpressive as he gave what Ben knew was the only possible answer. “Sir, I’m afraid I’m under orders to arrest you on the charge of murder. Murder in the first degree.”

Chapter 5

The Gospel According to Daniel

It may surprise some to learn that this was not the first instance in my less than illustrious career when I had been incarcerated. For a time, the jailhouse and I were close friends, although those days now seem like distant reflections barely visible through the cracks of memory. But I grew up in the sixties, after all, and I came to view civil disobedience as a moral duty, an imperative no thinking man could deny.

When I first emerged from seminary, I still had that youthful desire to make a difference and the unquestionable certainty that I could. Now I can see my past self with a certain detached irony, but at the time, I marched out into the world with unquenchable enthusiasm, certain I could make the world a better place. I protested against the proposed Black Fox nuclear plant and won; I protested in favor of the passage of the ERA and lost. And both those activities got me thrown in jail.

Of course, in those days there was a certain radical chic to being the liberal activist priest. I was the Oklahoma version, but there were others like me all across the country, many of whom got far more press than I did, a fact which privately never failed to irritate me. We were the New Wave of religious leaders, men and women who were more interested in this world than the next, who found politics and religion inseparable. To me, “Onward Christian Soldiers” was more than a Sunday school song; it was a rallying cry. The Episcopal Fight Song, if you will.

But those days are long past. Nowadays, if you see a man of God mentioned in the papers, it’s because he’s been caught with the choirboys or because he’s bilked his followers out of another million dollars. Too much of the enthusiasm that spilled out of my youthful soul was squelched long ago, suffocated by the weight of the world and the seeming impossibility of bringing about any permanent change. Yes, we can improve our institutions, we can make our society more progressive. But people remain the same. Human nature, it seems, does not improve. The ego of man, the breadth of his folly, is without limitation. No matter how democratic our government, no matter how sophisticated our technology or how advanced our medicine, people remain people-at times noble, but more often petty and selfish and closed-minded.

But I digress. My attorney asked for a record of the case, not a whining jeremiad. The most ironic detail is that, at this point, I still expected the crisis to blow over. I didn’t know what had inspired the police to arrest me, but I never doubted for a moment that they eventually would see the error of their ways. I would be released, all would be forgiven, and I would go on about my holy business.

As I said before, the ego of man, the breadth of his folly, is without limit.

“Morning, Murray.”

Murray Plimpson, startled, jumped up behind his desk and tried to act as if he hadn’t been asleep on the job. “Uh, m-morning, Ben.”

“Is it too soon to see my client?”

“N-no, no. Not at all.” He fumbled in his pockets for his keys. He had looked peaceful a few minutes before, but now looked utterly wretched; Ben began to feel guilty for having disturbed his sleep. Murray was the night/morning shift superintendent for the downtown county lockup and had been for years. All the local criminals came here after they were arrested and remained until they were transferred to more permanent quarters. “You here to see that kid who clobbered his dad?”

“Clear out the cobwebs, Murray. I bounced Eric Biggers yesterday. Suspended sentence.”

“You got that scumbag back on the street with a suspended sentence?” Murray shook his head. “Man, you must be good.”

“It’s a gift.” Ben passed him the file he’d gotten from the desk clerk downstairs. “Actually, I’m here to see Daniel Beale.”

Murray ’s eyes widened a bit, droopy as they were. “You got the killer priest?”

“Accused killer, Murray. He didn’t do it.”

“Yeah, that’s what they all say.” Murray glanced over his shoulder toward the cells. “Literally.”

Murray opened the thick double-bolted steel door and led Ben down the main corridor of the downtown lockup. The grill floor rattled thunderously beneath their feet, notifying all present that a visitor was approaching. Ben knew his suit and tie immediately identified him; Murray might as well have announced, “Lawyer on the bridge!”

A scabrous man in a cell on the right reached his long arm through the bars. “Hey, lawyer! I shouldn’t be here. I didn’t do nothing!”

Another man on the other side shouted, “Me too! I’m totally innocent, man. I was framed!”

Murray gave Ben a sideways glance. “Whaddid I tell ya?”

Murray led Ben to the last cell on the right. Inside the dark, tiny room, Ben saw a hunched figure on the floor before his metal cot. He was on his knees.

Praying.

Murray turned the key in the lock. Father Beale heard the noise and looked up. Ben stepped inside.

“Let me know if you need anything,” Murray said.

“I will. Thanks.” Ben approached Father Beale. It was hard to think of him as Father Beale, dressed as he was in the standard issue orange jail pajamas rather than a black suit with a white collar. He didn’t look like a man of God. Sadly enough, he didn’t look like anything except another criminal, no different from any of the other poor souls who had proclaimed their innocence as Ben made his way down the corridor. His eyes were red and tired; he probably had not slept well. His back was slightly bent, even after he rose to his feet.

“How are you holding up?”

“Well enough,” Beale said. “When do I get out of here?”

“I don’t know,” Ben replied. Better to be honest than to disappoint.

“I’ve been in jail before, you know. Civic protests, that sort of thing. But I was never behind bars for more than twenty-four hours.”

“This is a capital murder charge,” Ben said. “This is… different.” He took a seat on the edge of the cot, since there were no other options. “We’ve got an arraignment set for tomorrow morning where I’ll ask the court to set bail. But I have to tell you, Father- Oklahoma judges almost never grant bail to capital murder defendants.”

“But surely in my case-where the evidence is entirely circumstantial-and I’m a priest, after all.”

“Believe me, Father, I’ll be playing every card I have. But it’s still a long shot.”

“Then I could be stuck here-until the trial?”

Ben nodded. Or longer, he thought, but did not say.

“But who will look after the church? Who will take care of my parish?”

“Father-realistically, I have to assume your arrest will give the vestry the ammunition they wanted to have you removed. Even the bishop will be hard-pressed to back a priest who’s currently residing in the county jail.”

“A man is innocent until proven guilty. Not only in law, but in the church as well.”

Ben popped open his briefcase and took out a legal pad. “You have more faith in the system than I do, I’m afraid.”

“Faith is my business. Do you have any idea what possessed the police to arrest me?”

“Unfortunately, yes.” Ben removed a small file from his briefcase. “I’ve had a nice long chat with Mike-Major Morelli. In Homicide. They found a large acrylic paperweight in your office covered with blood.”

“The murder weapon?”

“Not exactly. They say the woman was suffocated. But she was struck by the paperweight. That’s what caused the wound on the side of her head.”

A shudder passed through Beale. “That’s horrible. Poor Kate.”

Ben showed him a photo of the paperweight, an irregularly shaped clear object about the size of a football. “Do you know what it is?”

“Of course. That’s my St. Crispin’s award.”

“And that is-?”

“It was given to me fourteen years ago by the Episcopal Council of Churches. In recognition of my humanitarian work. So is this why I’ve been arrested? Because my award was used by the murderer?”

“I’m afraid there’s more to it than that. They’ve found your fingerprints on the thing.”

“Well, of course my fingerprints were on it. It’s mine! It was on my desk. I probably touched it every other day!”

“Yes, but you see… your fingerprints were on it… and no one else’s. If the award was used by another person to club Kate over the head, that person’s prints should also be on the award, in addition to or obscuring yours. But there are no other prints. No partials or smudges. Nothing. Except yours.”

“Perhaps the killer used gloves.”

“A good theory. Except that no one on the premises was wearing gloves. Not even the bride.”

“They could’ve been hidden.”

“The police were on the scene less than five minutes after the body was found, and they searched the premises and everyone present before they were allowed to leave. No one had any gloves.”

“Then maybe it wasn’t gloves. Maybe they covered the award with a cloth or rag or… or something.”

“Perhaps. But anything used in that manner would’ve been covered with blood. And the police didn’t find anything. No rag, no cloth, no torn shirt, nothing.”

Beale’s eyes turned down toward the stone-cold floor. “Looks bad, doesn’t it?”

“I’m afraid so. I mean, the killer might’ve washed his hands. But I don’t think he could’ve done his laundry.”

Beale did not look up. “You think I did it, don’t you?” he said quietly.

“No,” Ben said firmly. “On the contrary, I know without a doubt that you did not do it. But it looks like we’re going to have a hell of a time proving it.”

“You saw me, didn’t you? In the bathroom. Washing my hands.”

Ben nodded. This time he was the one who didn’t make eye contact.

“About ten minutes after the wedding concluded I went to my office and found Kate lying across my desk. I rushed to her side, praying she was still alive. I held her in my arms and felt the side of her neck for a pulse; that’s when I got the blood on my hands.”

“That makes sense.”

“But then Ruth O’Connell came along and screamed, and all those other people arrived, and I knew the police would be along shortly, but-but-that still wasn’t really the problem. I can’t explain it. I had to get that blood off my hands. I couldn’t stand it.”

“That’s perfectly understandable, Father.”

“To you, maybe. But what will a jury think?”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.” Ben paused. He’d much rather skip the next topic that had to be addressed, but he couldn’t. And if they had to talk about it, it was better to do it now than later. “Father-I must tell you. I saw you talking to Kate just before the wedding started. You appeared to be having… well, a rather strong disagreement. And I wasn’t the only one who heard.”

Beale’s shoulders sagged. Each new development seemed to bring him lower. “It’s true. We were fighting. She threatened me and… and I got angry.”

“I have to ask what you were arguing about.”

“It was a… theological disagreement.”

“I heard her saying something about… evil. She said something you were doing was evil.”

Beale’s eyes darted up, then quickly looked away. “She was referring to my permitting a gay and lesbian group to meet on the church premises. She’s from the old school; she considers homosexuality an aberration, a sin against God. Evil. She thought that by allowing the group to meet I tainted the whole church with their sin.”

“I see. Do you have any idea why anyone would want to kill Kate?”

“I can’t imagine. I mean, sure, we had philosophical disagreements. She was on the vestry, and they all want to be rid of me. But people don’t commit murder because of philosophical disagreements. Do they?”

“Who knows why people commit murder? I’ve seen more than my share, but I still find it unfathomable.” Ben glanced toward his briefcase. “There’s more evidence, but the forensic teams are still working. Apparently they found a hair on the body, and they’ll try to link that back to you. They’ll probably come up with a few more tidbits before trial. They usually do.” He looked through his papers for a few more moments, then closed the lid on his briefcase. “Anyway, that should about cover it for now. We’ll talk again after the arraignment. We’ll know better where we stand. Anything I can do for you in the meantime?”

“Yes. Please tell Andrea everything you’ve told me.”

Andrea. Of course. Ben had been so concerned about Father Beale he’d forgotten about his wife. She must be worried sick. “I’ll do that. And she can come visit you, if she’d like.”

“I don’t know how she’ll feel about that. It might be… more stress than she wants. Or needs. But do keep her informed.”

“I will. Anything else?”

“Yes. I want you to know that I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, ever since these troubles started. But this is different. This is a murder trial, and it’s probably going to get a lot of play in the papers. I’m sure most of what they say about me will be negative, and that’s going to reflect on you. Much as I appreciate your help, speaking as your priest, I think it would be best if you stepped down and let another attorney handle my case.”

“No chance.”

“Ben, I’m serious. You’re a great lawyer-and a fine human being, I might add. But you don’t need this. Step down.”

“No.”

“You’re not thinking this through.”

“The answer is no.”

“Ben… I know what you do. In many ways, your law practice is your ministry, and you do important work. I don’t want to see that come to an end.”

“I am not going to resign from your case.”

“Ben-”

“Are you firing me? Because if you are, then I have to go. But I will not resign.”

“Ben, consider what your-”

“Do you remember the stained glass window?”

A small smile played on Father Beale’s lips. “It’s been a while. But of course I do.”

Ben nodded. “You were there for me. I’ll be here for you.”

Beale leaned back, letting his head touch the hard stone wall behind him. “It’s been good having you in church these past few months, Ben. Particularly since I know you’ve been a church absentee ever since you left home.”

“It’s been good for me, too.”

“Masterson tells me you’ve been a valuable addition to the choir, and that you help him out at rehearsals by playing the piano. You’ve done a fine job with the Old Testament readings.” He paused. “But I notice you never go up for communion.”

“Nothing gets by you, huh?”

“That’s my job. So, what’s the story, Ben?”

Ben thought for a long moment. “I don’t know. I suppose I’m still not… totally comfortable with this church stuff. I mean, I enjoying the singing, and the fellowship, and all that. But to take communion-” Ben stared at the stone walls, searching for words. “To get down on your knees and take the cup, that’s like saying, I believe.”

“No, you’re wrong,” Father Beale replied. He stretched out on the cot and closed his eyes. “That’s like saying, I want to believe. There’s a difference.”

Chapter 6

Someone is in my apartment, Ben realized as he approached the door. If I were in a horror movie, this would be a sure sign that I’m about to die. And even though danger is obviously afoot, I would plunge on in and get eaten or dismembered or whatever.

Happily, he recalled, I’m not in a horror movie, although some of my trials come close. His apartment had been broken into before, however, and the locks in this building were not what they should be. If he were smart…

But somehow, he was not inclined to call 911. Most of his friends had keys, and they used them with impunity. This could be Mike, raiding the icebox, or Loving, wanting to watch the football game on Ben’s big screen (nineteen inches).

Or Christina. “What on earth are you wearing?” he said as soon as he passed through the door.

Which was, of course, a rhetorical question. He could see what she was wearing. He just couldn’t believe it. A black leather skirt and black Metallica T-shirt with a sleeveless fleece vest and high black leather boots.

“Goth?” he asked.

Christina grinned. “It’s not just for kids anymore.”

Ben tossed his briefcase onto the coffee table. “I thought you were going to try to dress more… um… conservatively.”

“When I’m working, yes. Am I working?”

“Beats me. What are you doing?”

“Nothing in particular. I just thought I’d bring some sunshine into your dreary little existence.”

“Gee, thanks.” His eyes scanned the perimeter of his apartment. Something was very wrong. “Forgive me for asking this-I don’t want to offend you-but, have you been cleaning?”

“What do you know. I was wrong. You did notice. What was your first clue? The fact that you didn’t trip over your entire wardrobe on your way through the door?”

“No. The smell of Lemon Pledge in the air. It reminds me of my mother’s house.”

“Believe me, Ben, there’s no comparison between this dive and your mother’s house.”

“What on earth possessed you-?”

“Much as I would like to take credit for spiffying up your perpetually unkempt dwelling place, I can’t. Thank Joni. Or blame her, depending on how attached you were to the squalor.”

Ben hung up his coat and sat in the overstuffed chair opposite Christina. “She didn’t need to do that.”

“No, but she wanted to.”

“She should be concentrating on her schoolwork, not mucking about in my apartment. This was a total waste of her time.”

Christina puffed out her cheeks. “Ben, when are you going to get it through your thick little head that you have friends who care about you? This wasn’t a waste of her time. This was something she wanted to do. And something that seriously needed to be done.”

“Still, she’s in college now-”

“Only because of you. You’ve been her mentor, in more ways than one. You took a dizzy teenager and turned her into a responsible human being.”

“Oh, nonsense.”

“It’s true. Her whole life now is centered around other people. Care giving. And today she decided to give some care to your apartment. So be grateful.” She grabbed a file out of his briefcase and started thumbing through it. “What happened in the Beale case?”

Ben filled her in on all that had occurred since the arrest, including his visit with Father Beale.

Christina let out a long whistle. “Boy, Jones is not going to be happy.”

“Is he ever?”

“Well, no. But this case has Loser written all over it. And I’m assuming the good priest doesn’t have deep pockets.”

“He’s innocent, Christina.”

“You really think so?”

“I know so.”

“How can you know?”

Ben hesitated. “I suppose Father Beale would say it’s a question of faith. I have faith in him. And I have to stand by him. No matter what.”

She looked at Ben curiously for a moment, then let it pass. “I’ll get cracking, then. First thing in the morning. I’ve already uncovered a few interesting tidbits about the victim.”

“I want a team meeting right after the arraignment. Tell the others.”

“Already did. Efficient, aren’t I?”

“That’s why I pay you the big money.”

“In your dreams.”

“Got any plans for dinner?”

“Actually, yes. Three invitations from well-heeled suitors, plus a pot roast in my freezer that really needs to be cooked.” The corners of her lips tugged upward. “But I’d rather share that leftover pizza in your fridge.”

He grinned. “If you insist.”

Christina stayed until almost nine-thirty, filling Ben in on all the latest and greatest gossip in the legal world. She’d been a full-fledged attorney for less than a year, and she was already much better connected than he could ever hope to be. She knew all the latest scuttlebutt-which judge was sleeping with which lawyer, which lawyer was being investigated by the bar committee, which firm was teetering on the verge of bankruptcy. And she clued him in on what was happening in his own office-Loving’s latest conquest, the honeymoon reports from Jones and Paula. They talked about anything and everything-except the Beale case. After several hours of this, Ben was beginning to wonder if she would ever leave.

Until she did. And then he was alone again.

And maybe five minutes after that, he started kinda sorta wishing Christina was still around.

This wasn’t the first time this had occurred. Christina was such a vibrant, vivacious, unstoppable force that he supposed it was only natural she would leave a gaping hole in her wake. But she had other fish to fry-friends, colleagues, social groups. And he had… he had…

A cat, Giselle reminded him, as she shoved her black furry nose in his face. He had an overweight, utterly indulged cat. And he only had the cat because Christina gave her to him and insisted that he keep her.

And beyond that? he wondered, as he stroked Giselle’s soft silky fur. He had friends, of course. A few, anyway. Colleagues. He had a mother on the other side of the state. He had a sister so estranged he didn’t even know where she lived. And a nephew he hadn’t seen in months and months.

In the course of his many years on his own in Tulsa, he had managed, slowly but surely, to teach himself to be a decent lawyer. He had even managed to learn to get tough and forceful when necessary. But he hadn’t learned how to be… friendly. He was awkward in social situations. He could barely speak to strangers. He froze up at parties. In his heart of hearts, he was still the bespectacled ten-year-old geek with a speech impediment no one wanted to play with. Or so he saw himself, anyway.

He heard a scritch-scratch sound coming from the vicinity of the front door. He craned his neck in time to see a white envelope slide under the door.

He jumped up, sending Giselle flying off his lap. He scooped up the envelope. It had to be a rent check. Yes! Glory hallelujah!

He flung the door open. A tall woman in her fifties was quietly creeping down the stairs.

“Joyce!”

Joni and Jami’s mother slowly pivoted. “Oh… hello, Ben. I’m sorry-I didn’t mean to disturb you.”

“Not at all.” He glanced down at the envelope and grinned. “Believe me, receiving rent money is never a disturbance. Especially after all the unexpected maintenance expenses we’ve had this month.”

“Ye-es,” she said slowly. “I was pleased to see the central heating back.”

“You and me both. Would you like to come in for a moment?”

“Uh-oh-my-” She couldn’t have acted more awkward if he’d asked her to strip off her clothes and perform the dance of the seven veils. “I-no-the girls-”

“Sure, I understand. Well, I really appreciate this.”

“Ye-es.” She took a short step backwards down the stairs.

“I mean, another day or two and I would’ve had to mention it to you, and I just hate that. The worst part of being a landlord is hassling people for the rent money.”

“I’m sure.”

“It’s a real relief to not have to do that, you know?”

“Ben…”

“Yes?” Something about her expression finally tipped him off that all was not as he supposed. He took a closer look at the envelope, then opened it.

There was not a check inside. It was a note written in an awkward block-letter scrawl. SORRY, CAN’T MAKE ENDS MEET. WILL GET YOU NEXT MONTH. JOYCE.

Ben slid the note back inside the envelope.

“I really meant to pay you this month,” Mrs. Singleton said. She was speaking much more quietly than before. “But with Jack gone and Joni in college-I can’t tell you what a strain it’s been.”

“I thought we had your finances straightened out. You had a budget.”

“We did. But then Jami wanted to get her teeth whitened, and Joni needed these expensive textbooks for some class she’s taking, and the boys need school clothes, and-” She tossed her head from side to side, seeping embarrassment and pain like water from a sponge. “I just don’t know what to do anymore.”

Ben took a step forward. “You did the right thing, Joyce.”

“I know we owe you money. You’ve been so good about letting us stay even though we haven’t made a rent payment in, what, four months now? And I-”

Ben cut her off, hoping to minimize the pain. “You take care of your family, Joyce. That’s your first priority.”

“But the rent-”

“You’ll catch me next month.”

“But-”

He gave her shoulder a squeeze. “You’ll catch me next month.”

“Thank you.” She turned away, then all at once turned back, leaned forward, and kissed Ben on the cheek. Then she scurried down the stairs.

Ben reentered his apartment and closed the door behind him. Well, he’d just have to find another way to pay the bills, that was all. True, the repairs had way overextended his budget, but maybe if he cut back to the bare essentials and didn’t-

He felt something warm and wet and furry tickling his ankles.

Giselle? Meeting him at the door? Now this was a first.

He stretched out his arms and, a second later, Giselle jumped into them. Ben pulled her close, scrunching her up against his face.

Why, you old sweetie, he thought as he rubbed his nose against hers. You do love me, after all.

He smiled, then made his way toward the kitchen. As long as I feed you, anyway.

Chapter 7

When Ben entered Antony Canelli’s closet of an office on the fourth floor, he found the assistant DA behind his desk kneeling, prostrate against the desk.

“Praying?” Ben asked. “I’ve heard the thought of going up against me in court strikes terror in the hearts of DAs, but I hadn’t realized it was enough to drive them to religion.”

“Ha ha,” Canelli said, looking up. “I dropped a pencil.” He was a tall man, six foot four, which made him almost a foot taller than Ben. He was buff and muscular and exceedingly handsome-professional-model handsome. “Don’t worry about driving me to religion. Sister Mary Theresa and twelve years of Catholic school beat you to the punch.”

“Mind if we talk about the Beale case?”

“Is there any point?” He glanced at his watch. “The arraignment’s in fifteen minutes. Once your boy gets denied bail and pleads we’ll have a better idea where we are.”

“That’s what I’d like to avoid.” Ben plopped himself down in the nearest available chair. He hadn’t been invited to do so, but in his experience, DAs rarely invited defense lawyers to get comfortable. Might be bad for their reputations. “If we go to arraignment, there’s going to be an enormous amount of publicity. Which is going to make you look really lame when you lose. You know your case is weak. Cut Father Beale loose now before you get embarrassed.”

“Our case is weak? You must be kidding. Our case is sensational.”

Ben waved a hand in the air. “I know about the fingerprints. It isn’t conclusive.”

“How’d you find out about that? You been talking to your brother-in-law?”

“Ex.”

“Lemme tell you, Kincaid-the fingerprint evidence is just the tip of the iceberg. It’s good, but possibly not good enough to get a conviction. Happily, we’ve got much much more.”

Ben felt a gnawing in his chest. “Like what?”

“Hmm, let me see, I’m thinking back to law school.” He tapped the side of his face with a finger. “Do I have to tell you everything I know before the arraignment? Wait-no! There’s not a case yet. After the arraignment, after you file your motions, then, maybe-”

“Give me a break, Canelli.”

“Why not? I got a memo from the boss just the other day saying, ‘Tony, start giving the defense attorneys a break, okay?’ ” He gave Ben a long look.

“Have I mentioned that I find this new predilection for sarcasm most unbecoming?”

Canelli pressed a hand against his heart. “You have no idea how much that wounds me. I live for your approval.”

“C’mon. At least give me a hint.”

“A hint? Fine. Be sure to ask to see all trace evidence discovered on the body. You’ll be glad you did.”

“I would’ve asked for that anyway.”

“I know. Why else would I tell you? And be sure to check the witness list, especially the long parade of folks who saw your boy threaten the last victim. And the veritable horde who saw him stumbling around with blood on his hands.”

“That can be explained.”

“And I’m looking forward to reading the briefs in which you attempt to do just that. I love fiction.”

“You are really in a mood today.”

Canelli lowered himself into his chair. “Yeah, I guess I am at that.”

“I was kinda hoping you might be inclined to… go a little easy on this guy. Cut him some slack.”

“Because, after all, he’s only killed two people.”

“No. Because he’s a man of God.”

“Jesus and Mary.” Canelli slapped his desk, hard. “You have got to be kidding.”

“I’m not. Be sensible. It’s not like we’re dealing with some crack-addicted gang member here. He’s a priest.”

“Yeah. And you know what? I think that makes it worse.” Canelli swivelled around. “I can occasionally muster some sympathy for a poor kid who’s grown up in a crappy neighborhood with sorry excuses for parents, dumb as a post, who makes a mistake. I can at least understand that. But this man was a priest. A priest, for God’s sake. He had a responsibility to the people in his parish. More than that-he owed them a sacred trust. And he betrayed that trust. In the worst possible way.”

“You’re assuming he’s guilty of the murders.”

“I know he’s guilty of the murders, but even if he isn’t, from what I hear, this man has been betraying his collar for a good long while.”

Ben didn’t like the sound of that. “What do you mean?”

Canelli cocked an eyebrow. “You don’t know?” He eased back into his chair. “I think you need to a have good long sit-down with your client, Ben. The sooner the better. Because your client offends me, you know what I’m saying? He offends me at the most profound level. I want him behind bars-at the least.”

“You know, Canelli, I love it when you get feisty. You’ve got that great tough-Italian-kid thing working for you and I go for it in a big way. Gives me shivers.”

“Laugh all you want, Kincaid. I’m serious.”

“You’re more than serious. You’re starting to sound like some kind of zealot.”

“Maybe I am. Maybe I should be. A man like that, hiding behind a clerical collar. That’s depraved.”

“Don’t be so cynical. You have to have a little faith in-”

“Don’t you dare lecture me about faith!” Canelli’s hand shot out across the desk, finger extended. “I know what faith is. My whole life is about faith-faith in the justice system, faith in God. What have you got faith in, Kincaid? Your ability to put killers back on the street?”

“Canelli-”

“I’m a lifelong Catholic, Ben. Always have been, always will be. I know what faith is. Don’t get me wrong, I got nothing against the Episcopal Church. I mean, I think Episcopalians are Catholics who don’t have the guts to go into the confessional, but that’s got nothing to do with this case. This case is about a man who was charged with the most valuable treasures human beings possess-their souls. And he betrayed them.”

“Canelli, calm down so-”

“That’s a horrible crime, Ben. Absolutely horrible. Worse than murder, or rape, or incest, or anything else you can conjure up. Beale committed a crime against his parish and against God. And you want me to cut him some slack, basically because he speaks the Queen’s English and scrubs up nicely.”

“Be reasonable.”

“I am being reasonable. I’m being perfectly reasonable. And you can just forget it. There will be no deals this time. Don’t even bother asking. This man must be punished. And I believe-I have faith-that he will get the punishment he deserves.”

Masterson sat on one end of the organ bench, in such pain that tears nearly rolled down his cheeks. No, he was not suffering an internal distress, nor was physical discomfort being applied. This pain was an aesthetic one, or, one might say, a spiritual one. He was listening to one of his private students play the organ. And it was the godawfulest noise he’d heard in his entire life. Since his last private lesson, anyway.

“Listen to me, Tom,” he said, when at last the hideous caterwauling ceased, “the organ is not like the piano. It doesn’t matter how hard you strike the keys. The volume is controlled by the pedal your right foot is perched upon.”

“Yeah, yeah,” the kid said. “I know.” He was thirteen and in all likelihood hadn’t the slightest desire to play the organ. Lessons were the kid’s mother’s brilliant idea, not his.

“And go a little easier on the pedal keyboard,” Masterson added. He was doing his best not to scream: And get away from my organ, you bloody heathen! And never come back! “All it takes is a slight depression. You don’t have to kick them into submission.”

“Sorry, Dr. M. Guess it comes from playing soccer.”

Soccer. Now there was a worthless occupation of time much more suited to this abominable brat’s talents. Or lack thereof. “Why don’t we try it again from the top”-he couldn’t believe he was saying it even as he did-“and this time remember that this is a hymn, not a marching band tune.”

The boy repositioned himself to give it another try. Before he began, however, Masterson detected the presence of a third person in the church. He couldn’t explain exactly how-it was less than a throat clearing, and yet more than nothing. Like a disturbance in air currents. Or the spiritual discomfort that attended being in the presence of evil. He knew someone was there. He knew who it was, too.

“Just a moment, Tom.” He excused himself from the organ and walked to the back of the sanctuary.

Ernestine Rupert was waiting for him.

“Do I need to ask why you’re here?”

The elderly woman didn’t say a word. She just stared at him, one hand holding her purse, the other clenching her little blue book.

“I suppose you know I haven’t been paid this week. The vestry is in such chaos that nothing’s getting done.”

Ernestine didn’t blink. Masterson was beginning to wonder if the blue-haired bitch ever blinked. Maybe she didn’t have eyelids. Like a snake.

“If you could just wait until next week, it would make a world of difference. Seriously.” He heard his voice crack. He sounded stressed, desperate. Goddamn it but he hated this. “All the difference in the world.”

Still no reaction. And no sign of sympathy. Or mercy.

“I mean, it’s not like I haven’t been regular in the past, is it? I’m probably your most dependable customer.”

He attempted a small laugh, but it fell flat. Ernestine didn’t smile. Not even a smirk.

“Damn you, anyway.” He reached into his pocket and whipped out a twenty. He slapped it into Ernestine’s hand. “Will that do you?”

Ernestine’s hand remained outstretched.

“Damn!” One after another, Masterson slapped four more twenties into the palm of her hand. When he was finished, she slid the money into her pocketbook, then made a notation in her blue book in a tiny, crimped hand.

“Thank you so much,” Masterson said, his voice dripping with contempt.

“And thank you,” Ernestine replied. She pivoted on her orthopedic heel and disappeared as silently as she had come.

Heartless hag, Masterson thought. Can’t stand her. Can’t stand her! But at least it was over, for a while anyway. It was over, and now he could relax and try to soothe-

“Dr. M., do you still want me to play this song again? I’ve got twenty minutes left in my lesson, and Mom won’t like it if I tell her you didn’t give me my full hour’s worth.”

Masterson felt his canines drilling into his molars. Sartre was right, wasn’t he? Hell is other people. And St. Benedict’s, alas, was full of other people.

“Ben Kincaid for the defense, your honor. Waive reading, plead not guilty, request release on bail.”

Canelli, standing beside Ben at the bench, snorted. “You’ve gotta be kidding.”

“Is that your legal argument? Because if it is, you need a new research intern.”

Judge Pitcock, his eyes busily scanning the arraignment papers before him, ignored the banter. “This is a capital murder case, right, counsel?”

“That’s the charge, sir,” Ben replied. “At least, until the preliminary hearing.”

“Murder in the first degree,” the judge murmured. He glanced over at Father Beale, who was sitting at the table behind Ben. He arched an eyebrow. “Bail?”

“Yes, your honor. Absolutely. This is not your run-of-the-mill murder case.”

“I hope I never get to the point where I perceive any murder case as run-of-the-mill.”

“Of course you’re right, your honor. Let me explain.” Ben paused, using a deep breath as an excuse to slow down and think. He had to approach this argument carefully. Judge Pitcock, Ben knew, was not your standard issue hardcase war-on-crime judge. He was a reasonable man, a family man, a practicing Mormon. He believed in redemption, both in the church and in the courtroom. Ben liked him and was thrilled when he learned that he had been assigned to the Beale case. In Tulsa, Oklahoma, Pitcock was about as good as it got for defense attorneys.

Pitcock’s soft spot, as a general rule, was the sanctity of the family. Over the years, Ben had learned that he had a chance of persuading the man of almost anything if he could couch the argument in terms of the sanctity of the family. As in: Yes, your honor, he stole a loaf of bread, but it was to feed his starving family. Or: Your honor, if you give him the maximum, it will do irreparable damage to the psychological well-being of his six children. Or even: Yes, your honor, he robbed a bank-everyone makes mistakes-but he’s a very loving and attentive father…

The present case didn’t immediately lend itself to this approach. But Ben had a theory…

“Yes, sir. I’m quite serious about asking for bail. As I’m sure your honor is already aware, we’re not dealing with a hardened criminal here. We’re not taking about someone who ran a meth lab or hustled prostitutes. We’re talking about a priest. A man of God. There’s a bit of a difference.”

“I have to disagree,” Canelli said, predictably inserting himself into Ben’s argument. His enormous height advantage made him seem to tower over Ben. “This man committed a murder.”

“Accused,” Ben inserted harshly.

“Probably two,” Canelli continued. “As soon as that happened, he became a criminal, no better than the punk running the meth lab or hustling prostitutes.”

“This is not the place to argue guilt or innocence,” Ben said. “This is an arraignment, not a trial. And what I’m saying is, the risks that are normally attendant to anyone accused of murder simply do not apply here. Even the prosecution is not suggesting that this man is a psychopath or sociopath. Even viewing their evidence in the most favorable light-which takes some doing-their theory is that he was pressured and pressured and finally lost his temper-hardly a situation likely to occur again. He has strong ties to the community-the strongest possible, I would argue. He is well known and has many friends and connections throughout the city. The risk of flight is virtually zero.”

Judge Pitcock nodded thoughtfully. He ran his fingers through his thinning hair. His hair was pure white-prematurely so, given that he was only a few years older than Ben. In most situations, that would have been a detriment, but for a judge, it was an asset. It seemed to give him the sense of seniority, the gravitas, that a young man might otherwise have lacked. “I hear what you’re saying, counsel. But still-the charge is first-degree murder and-”

“Let me say one thing more, your honor, if I may.”

Pitcock shrugged. “You may speak, but I really don’t-”

“I know that in the past we’ve talked about the importance of the family, and the sanctity of the family unit, and you’ve very candidly expressed your concerns about what’s happening in this modern world, how the family is being torn apart by outside forces that sometimes seem unstoppable and irresistible. Because I know you’re sincere in your beliefs, and because I know you’re the kind of judge who means what he says, I must urge you to allow bail to issue in this case.”

A crease appeared in the center of the judge’s forehead. “Is Father Beale a family man?”

Canelli inched forward. “He has a wife, sir. No children.”

“Then I don’t understand-”

“Your honor,” Ben continued, “I would suggest that Father Beale has the largest family, the most important family-and the most threatened family-in our modern community. Because his family is the church. His family is the four hundred and thirteen people that compose the parish of St. Benedict’s. These are the people who look up to Father Beale, who love and respect him”-Ben worked mightily to maintain a straight face-“who look to him for spiritual guidance. His family is the family of God. Is there any family more important?”

Canelli looked disgusted. “Oh, puh-lese-”

Ben ignored him. “As your honor well knows, in this modern, seemingly godless world, the church is being attacked from all directions. Assaults on faith-and those who have it-have become so commonplace that we almost don’t even notice. Some people have already perceived the arrest of Father Beale-on the thinnest of evidence-as an assault by an atheistic and amoral government on the traditional church. And now, if Father Beale is torn away from his flock at the time of its greatest need, it will do irreparable damage to that little church. It will do irreparable damage to the community of God.” Ben stepped forward. “I urge this court-indeed, I implore it, not to let that happen.”

Both attorneys stared straight ahead, trying to read the judge’s professionally inscrutable face. Seconds ticked by like hours. Pitcock rattled the papers on his desk, read and reread, frowned. He stared across the courtroom at Father Beale, in his orange coveralls, seated at the table behind the attorneys, flanked by two men from the sheriff’s office.

Finally he spoke. “Will you wear a collar?”

Ben knew Father Beale would understand what the judge meant; Ben had briefed him on the possibility of being released with the proviso that he wear an electronic tracing collar that would allow the sheriff’s office to monitor his location at all times.

Father Beale slowly rose to his feet. “I already wear one collar,” he said, with a faint trace of a smile. “Why not another?”

“Good.” Pitcock reached for his gavel. “Counsel, I am persuaded by some of your remarks that this case does require special consideration. What’s more-I’m moved by your thoughtful and eloquent argument. We are dealing here with a trusted counselor in whom many have invested their faith, and even when faced with charges that seem…” He paused, glancing at Canelli. “… difficult to believe with regard to the defendant in question, some special accommodation seems appropriate. The court rules that bail will issue in this case, with the requirement that the defendant wear an electronic tracing unit at all times. Any attempt to remove the collar, or to leave the fifty-mile radius of its effective range, will result in the immediate and permanent revocation of bail.”

Canelli leaned forward, obviously agitated. “Is there going to be a financial requirement?”

“From a priest?” Pitcock looked at him as if he were some sort of bug. “The court has ruled. This arraignment is concluded. The court is in recess.” He banged the gavel, then excused himself out the back door of the courtroom.

As soon as the judge was gone, Canelli whipped around to confront Ben. “I thought I’d seen it all, Kincaid, but this has got to be an all-time low, even for you. Playing the God card.”

“I’m just doing my job, Canelli.”

“In the sleaziest possible way.”

“Don’t be a sore loser.”

“You’ll resort to anything, won’t you?”

“I’ll use the natural and obvious argument in my client’s favor, yes.” He turned and began repacking his briefcase.

“You embarrassed me in front of the judge. I won’t forget that.”

“If you’ll recall, Canelli, I tried to work this out with you privately, before the arraignment, but you were too hardheaded to listen. I was trying to talk sense, and you were giving me your I’m-on-a-mission-from-God routine.”

“I’m filing a motion in limine today, Kincaid. I’m not going to let you drag God into the trial.”

“Oh, heaven forbid that.”

“This case is going to be tried on its merits. And your… your man of God is going to pay for his crimes. I’ll be damned if I’ll let you get away with your little tricks again!” Canelli marched out of the courtroom.

Ben glanced over at the table. Father Beale, of course, had been listening to every word. “I’m sorry you had to hear that diatribe.”

“Not at all,” Beale replied. He was remarkably calm, given all that had been said about him in the last ten minutes. “I found it most illuminating. Are all prosecutors like him?”

“No. He’s one of the better ones.”

“In a way, it’s very encouraging. Think about it-we put a Catholic, an Episcopalian, and a Mormon in a room together. And we still managed to get something accomplished. And no one was killed.”

Ben clicked his briefcase shut. “The important thing is, you’re out of jail. You can return to your church.”

“Yes.” He almost smiled. “Won’t the vestry be delighted?”

“No comment.” Ben tilted his head toward the door. “C’mon, Father. Let’s go pick out your new collar.”

Chapter 8

John Phillip Crater never intended to become a social activist. He was a simple unpretentious man who grew up on a small farm in Muskogee. His family was always poor. One summer their house burned down and the whole family lived in a boxcar. He left home when he was old enough and set out to make something of himself. At first, he took what work he could find. He’d been a truck driver, farmer, ore mine assessor, auto mechanic, Dairy Queen cashier. But he never stopped trying to better himself. Twenty years after he left home he was the senior vice-president of ITT Financial. Then he started his own commercial finance company and was partnering in multimillion-dollar deals with major entertainment corporations. He’d done all right, although you would never hear him say that. He’d taken good care of his wife, Deb, and his three children. He’d made his mark in the world. But social activism? No. That just wasn’t part of his life.

Until his next-door neighbor’s girl got into trouble. In the classic sense. He hadn’t held it against her; these things happened, even to sweethearts like Alison. And when she decided to terminate the fetus, even if he didn’t much like the decision, he resolved that he would stick by her, right or wrong. It was her decision.

But no one had the right to do what happened next. Some pro-life organization got a hold of her name and published it in a newspaper advertisement. They held public meetings downtown, flashing her name and others on their roll of “murderers.” She was publicly embarrassed and humiliated. She still did what she had to do-although she went to another state to do it-but the toll on her was profound. She had a total mental breakdown. Even now, years later, after she’d been released from the institution in Norman, she wasn’t the same. She wasn’t the beautiful girl he’d known before. She was something different, and something… less.

And he didn’t blame the abortion, although that was undoubtedly traumatic enough. It was those zealots who thought they had the right to single out and destroy Alison, just to make a petty point that was already apparent to everyone. Just to deny her the right to decide for herself what to do with her own body.

Two weeks after she’d gone into the institution, John had joined the South Central pro-choice organization, and he hadn’t missed a meeting since, regardless of how busy he was, where he was, or how many religious zealots were marching outside, shouting obscenities, showing horrible pictures, throwing blood. He didn’t let anything stop him.

Including tonight. But he was running late, he realized, glancing at his watch. Walking, so he could get some air, had been a good idea in principle. But he was going to have to walk a little faster…

“Going to the meeting?”

That broke John’s stride. He stopped, looking all around him. It was dark out, and since this part of the apartment grounds was dark and spotted with trees, he had trouble locating the source of the voice. “Is someone there?”

“Oh yeah.” A man stepped out of the shadows, someone John did not recognize. He was a thick, sizable man. He looked strong.

“Do I know you?”

“You’re about to.” The man came close, much too close, especially for someone John didn’t know. “You’re going to the PCSC meeting, right?”

“As a matter of fact, I am.” He tried not to be intimidated, but the man cut an imposing figure, particularly when silhouetted across John’s face. “May I ask why this is any of your concern?”

“You’re going to meet with the other babykillers.”

John felt a chill race down his spine. “Look, I don’t know who you are-”

“I’m a friend of the unborn.”

John felt his anger rising, and it helped him overcome his growing panic. “We’re not going to be intimidated by your bullyboy tactics. I have a right to hold different beliefs than you, and I’m not going to-”

The man shoved him back hard. “If anyone should be accused of bullyboy tactics, it should be you and the rest of your murdering friends. Have you no shame?”

“I don’t think this is the place to discuss these complex issues.”

“Like what? Like the fact that we want to save lives, and the rest of you want to kill unborn babies? You’re murderers, every one of you. You should be punished accordingly.”

Okay, John thought, now he was scared. He tried to brush past the man. “Look, let me get on-”

The man grabbed his arm, clutching it so tightly it hurt. “You don’t get off that easy.”

John tried to shake free-unsuccessfully. “Just let me go. If I don’t appear at the meeting soon, they’ll-”

“I don’t think so.” He grabbed John’s other arm and squeezed just as tightly. “You’re so fond of killing. Let’s see how you like it.”

The first blow caught John beneath the chin, shattering his jaw. He clutched it with both hands, as if trying to hold himself together. He fell to his knees, but not before the second blow crushed his nose. Blood spurted out, covering his face and hands and neck. He had never been a fighter, not even in grade school, and he lacked even the most fundamental means of defending himself. A quick kick between the legs sent him reeling forward on his hands and knees, broken, like a pathetic oblationer prostrating himself before a cruel god. After that, one kick after another rained down on his ribs and stomach, so fast and furious he couldn’t keep track. All he could feel was the immense pain, like nothing he had ever experienced in his entire life. He would have cried out for mercy, if he could have mustered the strength, and when at last he lost consciousness, it was the sweet release for which he would have prayed, if he could still believe that any God would permit such cruelty to be visited upon one of His children.

Inside his small single-story home, Manly Trussell wiped the blood off his hands and arms. In the fifteen minutes it had taken him to run home, some of it had congealed and matted with the hair on his arms, creating an awful mess.

“Is it done?” Manly’s newfound friend had come inside. Not that that was particularly surprising.

“Oh yeah. It’s done.”

“Good boy. Did you… deliver your message?”

“I think he got the point.” He grabbed a towel off the rack. “Loud and clear.”

“And he’ll pass it along to the others?”

“If he lives.” He winced slightly as he scraped the blood off his hands and face.

“You seem… disturbed.”

“A little, yeah.”

“Surely you’re not losing your nerve. After all that time belittling those who would talk but wouldn’t act. Are you going to become one of them?”

“No. I’m not. But still… that man was seriously hurt.”

His friend considered this for a moment. “Have you studied the Crusaders?”

“Yeah, sure. I’m mean, not really…”

“The Crusaders were dispatched to the Holy Land, something like eight hundred years ago, to deliver sacred sites from the hands of the infidels. They were forced to fight, even to kill. Hundreds and hundreds of the Saracen heathens fell before the swords of the Crusaders. And yet, history remembers them as great heroes. There is no doubt that they were doing God’s will. And so are you.”

“I know.” He threw the towel down on the floor. “Still… it’s hard.”

The friend laid a hand on Manly’s shoulder. “Of course it is. Which is why not just anyone can do it. Why God needs you. The day of the Crusader has not passed. God still requires soldiers. And he will save them a sacred seat at his right hand in heaven.”

Manly’s resolve appeared to return. “I was being weak. Indulging myself. It won’t happen again.”

His friend clapped him on the shoulders. “Good. What next then?”

“Next?” Manly lifted his chin. His eyes glistened as he pressed one strong fist against the other. “We carry on God’s work.”

Chapter 9

“You have got to be kidding me!” Jones paced around Ben, etching a well-worn circular track into the office carpet. “I don’t believe it!”

“Take a chill pill, Jones,” Ben replied. “It’s just a case.”

“Just a case? Just a case?” He pounded his forehead with the palm of his hand. “I was gone for four days. Four lousy days! A guy can’t even go on his honeymoon without someone torpedoing the firm while he’s away!”

“I think you’re exaggerating…”

“Do you? Do you really? Did you even consider the financial ramifications of this case before you accepted it?”

“Well…”

“I thought after that disaster with the Blackwell parents we had an agreement. No one was going to accept any unduly risky or expensive cases without it being put to a vote of the entire staff.”

Ben squirmed. “I don’t see this case as being all that expensive…”

“Oh, this is going to be one of our bargain-basement capital murder defenses? Have you mentioned that to your client?” He threw his hands up into the air. “Nothing personal, Boss, but as my grandmother used to say, you don’t have a lick of sense. Which is why I’m the office manager. And you’re not.”

“I also don’t see the case as being particularly risky…”

“You don’t? Well, let me explain it to you.” He swiveled Ben’s chair around to face him. “Your client is the chief suspect in two murders. He’s already been crucified in the press. Everyone in town thinks he’s guilty, including the prospective jurors, whoever they may be. He was seen arguing with the last victim minutes before she turned up dead. He was seen with her blood on his hands. His fingerprints were found on the murder weapon.” He grabbed Ben’s shoulders and shook them. “Does this case sound winnable to you?”

Ben shrugged. “I’ve seen worse.”

Jones pounded his head against the chair. “I’ve already heard the flak on the streets. Every lawyer in town thinks you’re going down in flames.”

“Then everyone in town is wrong. Father Beale did not commit those murders. And we will get him off. We have to.”

“And may I ask how this priest, whose salary is even punier than mine, is supposed to pay our fees?”

Ben coughed. “Well… I was really perceiving this case as more of a… a… more of a pro bono thing…”

“Aaaargh!” Jones threw himself against Ben’s desk. “Why am I not surprised?”

“I am hoping he’ll be able to cover some of his expenses.”

“Oh, well, wouldn’t that be dandy?” Jones stared at the carpet. “I can’t stand it. I just can’t stand it!”

At that opportune moment, Christina sailed through the front office doors. She took one look, then spoke. “What’s wrong?”

Jones lifted his head. “Christina, is there some kind of twelve-step program for attorneys addicted to unwinnable cases?”

She smiled. “Welcome back, Jones. We missed you.”

“We missed you? What is that? Some kind of patronizing remark? Why do I get the impression that no one is taking me seriously?”

“I can’t imagine.” She patted him on the head. “Now you run along and play. Mommy needs to talk to Daddy.”

Jones threw up his hands and stomped over to his desk.

Ben pushed himself out of his chair. “How did the oral argument in the Wooley case go?”

“Well, at least we managed to avoid summary judgment. We’ll be going to trial. But it still looks like my man breached the contract.”

“Have you got a defense?”

“Yup. Bad faith.”

Ben nodded. As every first-year law student knew, a contract can be voided if one of the parties acted in bad faith, by making misrepresentations or failing to disclose material facts. “Made the house sound a bit nicer than it really was?”

“No. Failure to inform. The roof suffered a lot of hail damage between the final showing and the closing. Seller forgot to mention that.” She tossed a newspaper down on the desk. “Read about the guy who got beaten up on his way to a pro-choice meeting?” She shook her head. “Is it just me, or do there seem to be more creeps, scumbags, and psychopaths out there every day?”

“It’s not just you. But at the moment, we have to focus on uncovering the creep, scumbag, or psychopath who killed Kate McGuire.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Ben saw some movement at the front door. He greeted Father Beale and his wife, Andrea. Beale was in his usual priestly regalia, black suit with white clerical collar. Ben knew that somewhere under all that he was also wearing another collar-an electronic one-but happily, it didn’t show.

Andrea fidgeted with her hands and seemed nervous. That was not altogether surprising; most people were when they visited a lawyer’s office for the first time.

Ben shook her hand. “Thank you for coming, Andrea. I can imagine how hard all this must be for you.”

She did not disagree. “Daniel wanted me to be here.”

“I wanted you to be here, too,” Ben said. “But I didn’t know if I would get my wish. Sometimes I think criminal prosecutions are harder on the spouses than the defendants.”

Again, the woman did not disagree.

“Nonetheless, I’m glad you could come.”

Her head nodded slightly. She glanced quickly at her husband, then back at Ben, then answered, simply, “I didn’t have any choice.”

Five minutes later, everyone was assembled in the main conference room-Ben, Christina, Jones, Loving, and Father Beale and his wife. Ben decided to plow right into the heart of the matter. Difficult though it might be, this was not the kind of occasion that lent itself to icebreakers. The best he could hope for was to get the work done as efficiently and painlessly as possible.

“I still haven’t been able to get the straight scoop on the forensic evidence,” Ben reported to all present. “But I’m convinced they have more that they’ve said-or think they do, anyway.”

“Can’t you file a motion to produce?” Christina asked.

“Already done. And they will eventually answer. But not any sooner than is absolutely necessary. They know the trial date is fast approaching, and since most of their work is done and ours is just beginning, they know that time is on their side.”

“I don’t understand,” Father Beale said. “Why play games with the evidence?”

Even Loving could answer that one. “ ’Cause prosecutors like to win.”

“But this isn’t a game,” Beale replied. “This is a forum of justice. Both sides should work together to arrive at the truth.”

“A noble sentiment,” Ben said. “But unfortunately, not the way it works. At least not here in the good ol’ US of A.” He glanced down at his notes. “We do know that they have some compelling fingerprint evidence. And we know they have many witnesses prepared to testify against you. Some of them”-he cleared his throat-“some of them are members of your parish.”

“Can’t say that I’m surprised,” Beale mused. “So what do we do?”

“Well, it goes without saying, the most wonderful thing we could do would be to discover who the killer really is.”

“Any chance of that actually happenin’?” Loving asked.

“Not without a lot of legwork. Which is where you come into the picture. And Jones.” He glanced at his office manager, who was still fuming. “And Paula, too, if she’s got time.”

“She has time,” Jones said. “And needs extra work. Since her husband will soon be declaring bankruptcy!”

“Where do we start?” Loving asked.

“I hope you’ll forgive me for saying this, Father,” Ben answered, “but I think we begin at the church. Both victims have been church members-members of the vestry, in fact. All indications, therefore, are that the killer has some connection to the church. We have to start our investigation there.”

“Got it,” Loving said. “Any idea who the likely suspects are?”

“Not really. But I’ve made a list of the most prominent names-the other members of the vestry, the leaders of the various departments and committees. It’s a starting place, anyway. You’re going to have to talk with everyone, see what they think, see what you can uncover. That goes for both murders. The DA has only charged Father Beale on the second murder, because that’s where they have their evidence. But common sense suggests that they’re connected. So if we can learn something about the first one, we may also learn something about the second. Problem is-I know these people. I’m not objective, and they probably wouldn’t talk to me openly, anyway. So I’m going to have to pass the buck to you.”

“I’ll get right on it,” Loving said.

“And I’ll help,” Christina added.

“That’s fine.” It was more than fine; Christina was a good interrogator and had an instinctive understanding of most people she met. “But I’m going to need your lawyering skills, too. There will be countless motions and oral arguments and discovery hassles before this case is completed.”

“No problem. I specialize in multitasking.”

“Marvelous.” He turned his attention to the other end of the table. “Jones, I’d like you and Paula to do some deep background checks, both on the church itself and the parishioners. Start with the two victims and the names on my list.”

“What am I looking for?”

“How should I know? Anything suspicious. Any dark secrets. And especially anything that might give someone a motive for murder.”

“We’ll do our best. And after that?”

“Well… don’t get too excited. But I think this may be another case where you actually need to get out into the field and do some legwork.”

Jones’s eyes widened. “Me? Really?”

“Absolutely.” With Paula at your side, he thought, to keep you from getting yourself killed. “There are too many tangled webs in this case. Loving can’t possibly unravel them all.”

“I agree that we may need some outside help on this one, Skipper,” Loving said. “Do we have a budget for additional investigators?”

“Well…” Ben tried not to look at Jones. “Do whatever you need to do.”

“I could use an intern on some of this legal briefing,” Christina said. “Especially if I’m going out in the field during the critical pretrial period.”

“Get whoever you need.”

“That’s just great,” Jones said. “And since our budget is unlimited, maybe we could fly in a team from the Mayo Clinic to take DNA samples from the communion cup!”

Ben’s neck stiffened. “Look, we will do anything we can to win this case.”

Father Beale edged forward. “You sound as if you may have some idea what really happened.”

“I wish I did,” Ben replied. “But I don’t. Suspicions, yes. But facts, no. That’s what we have to remedy. The fact is, we have more than just two murders taking place in a church here. We have two murders committed in such a way that it was inevitable that you would become Suspect Number One. I know I’ve asked you before, Father, but-do you have any idea why anyone would want to frame you?”

Beale shook his head. “Granted, I know there are many people who want me out of the church. But to resort to this-”

“It’s politics.”

The two words, though spoken barely louder than a whisper, riveted the attention of everyone in the room. It came from Father Beale’s heretofore silent wife, Andrea.

“Excuse me?” Christina said.

“It’s all politics. Religious politics, true. But it’s still politics. These people have been trying to get Daniel out for months. They’re willing to do anything-anything at all. So when ordinary means didn’t work-they turned to extraordinary means.”

“You’re sayin’ they killed two people just to get a new man behind the pulpit?” Loving scowled. “Sorry, but I have a hard time buyin’ that.”

“You wouldn’t, if you’d been married to a priest as long as I have. People have been murdered for much stupider reasons.”

Ben found himself shocked to hear such strong words-about churchgoers-coming from the previously subdued woman. “But these people, let’s remember, think they’re doing the work of God. They consider themselves crusaders, fighting evil for a holy cause. The God of the Old Testament never hesitated to spill a little blood to get what he wanted. Why should they?”

“Still,” Ben said, “that seems an extreme reaction to doctrinal disputes.”

“Does it really? Think about it. Daniel has been active in every major social issue since the sixties-and that has seriously ticked off a lot of people. Daniel marched with Dr. King in Selma -did you know that? He was at the forefront of the Oklahoma ERA movement. Now he’s gotten himself involved in the gay rights movement-and how many Oklahoma rednecks have committed acts of violence against gays? How many murders have been committed by pro-life crazies? Face it-many people take these issues to heart-and are willing to commit murder in support of their beliefs.”

“Do you have anyone in particular in mind?” Ben asked.

“Where to begin? I think at least half the vestry would be capable of it. Especially that superzealot, Susan Marino. She’d do anything to get rid of Daniel. She’d kill her own mother if she thought it would help.”

Father Beale frowned. “Andrea. I don’t think-”

She ignored him. “And what about that witch, Ernestine Rupert? She thinks she owns the church and everyone in it. Probably figures she has the right to murder anyone she wants.”

Again Beale interrupted. “Ernestine is in her late sixties.”

“Then she would hire someone to do it.”

“Really-”

“Oh, stop it, Daniel. She’s a horrible person, and you know it as well as I do. The only restraint on her willingness to swing her money around like a club is that nephew of hers, and he can’t do much, scurrying around like her indentured servant. I know you like to think the best of everyone-or act like you do, anyway-but this is serious. You’re on trial for your life.”

Ben moved quickly to cover the awkward moment. “Anyone else you think is a possible suspect?”

“As I said, the list is too long to mention. Don’t forget that egomaniac music minister. He’s been at odds with Daniel since we came to St. Benedict’s. Probably still nursing a grudge because Daniel wouldn’t let him sing ‘Amazing Grace’ at the Christmas service or something. And what about the rest of the vestry? These are magnificently petty people, all shouting Peace be with you while they plot to get rid of their priest!”

Beale took her hand and squeezed it. “Andrea. Please.”

She yanked her hand away. “I’m not going to let them do this to you without a fight, Daniel. And I’m certainly not going to let them throw you in jail-or worse-without giving your lawyers the information they need to fight them.”

“I appreciate your candor,” Ben said. “Any time you have information you think might even conceivably be of use to us, please don’t hesitate to let us know.”

She settled back and folded her arms across her chest. “I’ve been married to Daniel for over ten years. Some of those years have been better than others. There have been things I-I-didn’t exactly enjoy. Or approve of. But I don’t-I-I can’t conceive of a life without him.”

Ben tried to sound reassuring. “We’re not going to let it come to that, Andrea.”

“Absolutely,” Christina echoed.

“Your husband did not commit this crime,” Ben said. He broadened his gaze, bringing everyone at the table into view. “And we are not going to let him be convicted. We will win this case.” He paused, then looked at each of his staff members in turn. “We will.”

Chapter 10

The Gospel According to Daniel

As a theologian and a former philosophy major, I’m aware that most of the great minds of human history have written about “home” at one time or another.

Robert Frost: “Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.”

Thomas Wolfe: “You can’t go home again.”

And, of course, the greatest of them all, Dorothy Gale: “There’s no place like home.”

But today, as I sit down to write a few words on the subject, I find I have mixed feelings-and mixed definitions-regarding the elusive word. Most people would assume that the house Andrea and I shared on Sandusky would be my home, but to me, in both my heart and mind, home was St. Benedict’s. It was there I felt most relaxed, most comfortable. It was there I did my most important work. The house on Sandusky was chosen by a Realtor; my home at St. Benedict’s was chosen by God. St. Benedict’s-during the good times-gave me a sense of contentment and fulfillment far more intense than the ambiguous signals that often attended the tiny cottage on Sandusky. At St. Benedict’s, I felt closer to myself, and as a result, closer to God.

Therefore, despite all that had gone before, and some might say, despite all common sense, I looked forward to my return to St. Benedict’s after my brief all-expenses-paid sabattical courtesy of the Tulsa Sheriff’s Department. I naively thought that with the worst behind us, we could begin to rebuild, to do God’s work. I saw it as a fresh beginning.

Alas, I was the only one. None of my detractors had altered their opinions in the least; to the contrary, their animosity had intensified, something I would not have thought possible. Even those who had previously been my supporters did little to welcome me back; they seemed weary of the fight, more than ready to admit defeat and end the protracted power struggle. Indeed, more than one of my most ardent advocates suggested that it might be best for all concerned-for me and the church-if I resigned. Why protract the misery? they would say. Why involve the church in a high profile criminal prosecution? Everyone seemed convinced that this was the time when I should finally throw in the collar and call it quits.

Except me. I wouldn’t hear of it. I have been called to this church, I must’ve said a million times. The bishop installed me here to do God’s work. Who am I to say that His will should not be done? Did Job quit when he was persecuted? Did Christ? Of course not. They survived their tests-for that is what this surely must be-and went on to do great work. To be cherished messengers of the Word of God. I would do the same. I would not betray my divine commission.

That was my thinking at the time, at any rate. Now, looking back on it after so much has happened, I wonder if my reaction had more to do with ego than religion. No doubt the role of the Christian martyr appealed to me subconsciously, particularly when there was so much trauma in my life. It was all a matter of where I mentally pictured myself, of what I called home. Did I prefer to locate myself in the cottage on Sandusky, with a wife who had never really accepted the lifestyle I adopted-we adopted? Was it in the political arena of St. Benedict’s, arguing with the vestry and disputing even the most minor points of theology and liturgy? Or was it on the cross, suffering with my Savior? What would I choose? What would anyone who perceived himself as a man of God choose?

Viewed through the refracted light of memory, my choices made a sort of irrational sense. But now, after all I have seen and experienced, and in the light of the tragedy that has befallen, I can see myself for the fool I was. And am.

Ben felt as if he must be carrying a magnetic charge, because as soon as he stepped through the front doors of the church, everyone began to gravitate toward him.

Ernestine, being squired as usual by her puffball nephew, reached him first. “If you’re looking for your client,” she said sniffily, “he’s in his office. Alone.”

“Thanks. But I’m just here for choir practice.”

Alvin Greene, the Altar Guild man, rose up behind Ben. “Is it true? Is he going to stand trial?”

“It’s true,” Ben said ruefully.

Ruth O’Connell tottered beside Ernestine. “Isn’t there anything we can do to end this?”

“No, I’m afraid-”

“Do you mean end the trial,” Ernestine asked, “or the occupation of our church by this priest?”

“Now, Aunt Ernestine,” Bruce said, patting her hand. “Let’s not be testy.”

“I’m sixty-seven years old,” she said sharply. “I can be testy if I want to be. Go fetch me some lemonade.”

“Aunt Ernestine, I-”

“And hurry. My throat is dry.”

“Yes, Aunt Ernestine.” He slinked away down the corridor.

The questions continued to fly. “What evidence do they have against him?” “Do you think you can get him off?” “Is the DA seeking the death penalty?”

Ben was reminded of the “Heal thyself” crowd Jesus had to bust loose from. He held up his hands, backing away. “Please,” he said. “I’m not here to be a lawyer. Or to hold a press conference. I’m just here for choir practice.”

“I don’t see that it hurts you to answer a few questions,” Ruth said.

Ben didn’t care. He was already halfway down the corridor, scrupulously not making eye contact with anyone he met. He passed Father Beale’s office and could see through the glass windows that he was in. He was seated in the chair behind his desk, all by himself. He didn’t appear to be working or reading or anything. Just thinking. Staring at the wall and thinking. Ben couldn’t guess what he might be thinking about-and didn’t want to. The possibilities at this point were all too painful.

Ben continued down the corridor, ducked inside the choir room, and closed the door behind him.

Practice had not yet begun; most of his fellow choristers were standing around chatting. Masterson, the minister of music, saw Ben and headed his way.

“We have two new members tonight,” Masterson whispered. A small smile danced on his lips. “And I believe I have you to thank for it.”

Ben’s eyes swept across the room, searching for the newcomers. It didn’t take long. Two pink painted fingernails waggled at him in front of two tightly braided pigtails.

Judy. With her friend Maura.

“A little young for the adult choir, aren’t they?” Ben asked.

“Not really,” Masterson answered. “I’ve always welcomed teenagers. I just never got any. Until now. Thanks to you.”

“I doubt if I had anything to do with it.”

“Oh? Then why are they both insisting on singing in the tenor section?”

Masterson wandered away to his piano and began pulling out bolts of sheet music. Judy skittered down from the back row, Maura close at her heels.

“Ben! Ben!” Judy leaned forward conspiratorially. “Everyone in the church is all abuzz about Father Beale and the trial.”

“I’m sure it will blow over soon enough. I’d recommend you concentrate on more interesting subjects.”

“Are you kidding? This is the most exciting thing that’s happened to this church since-well, ever. Have you been investigating?”

“Well…”

“When you investigate, do you wear disguises? Or do you prefer to stake people out?”

If only a lawyer’s life was as exciting as it seemed to a fifteen-year-old girl, Ben mused. “I have a private investigator who does most of that sort of thing,” Ben explained.

“Does he use disguises?”

“Oh, yes,” Ben said, trying not to laugh. “And accents and wardrobe. He has eighteen different ways of limping. He’s a veritable Laurence Olivier.”

“Way cool. Can I go on a stakeout with you sometime?”

Ben shook his head. “I don’t think your mother would approve of that.”

Judy snorted. “I don’t think she’d ever notice.”

“I hardly think-”

“I want to help you, Ben. I feel it’s my duty to uncover the truth, being a member of this church and all.”

Maura giggled. “She just wants to get close to you.”

Judy jabbed her hard enough to leave a bruise. “I’d like to see you in the courtroom. I mean live, in person. It would be good experience. Like I told you, I want to be a lawyer someday.”

“Then the best thing you can do is read good books and concentrate on your schoolwork. Going on stakeouts won’t get you there.”

“But I need field experience!”

“All in good time.” Over her shoulder, he saw that Masterson had approached his music stand and was ready to begin. “We’d better get into our places.”

“All right,” Judy said. “But don’t forget. Next time there’s a big stakeout, I want to go!”

“I’ll make a note.”

Masterson, to his credit, managed to get through the rehearsal without so much as a mention of the murders or the trial. He did announce that they would be able to sing certain favored tunes that previously had been unavailable-no doubt an oblique reference to the fact that Father Beale had other things to do at the present than police the hymn list. But that was it. He took them through the songs in his usual professional manner. They ran through all the hymns for next Sunday’s service, then practiced the anthems they would sing during the offertory for the next three weeks. Next Sunday’s was one of Ben’s favorites-a tune called “The Gift of Love,” based upon the traditional Celtic folk melody “The Water Is Wide.” It was so beautiful it gave Ben chills, although the closing passage contained some high Fs and Gs that were out of his range, as well as that of most of the other tenors. Happily, tonight they had two teenage sopranos in the tenor section.

About three quarters of the way through the practice, Ben saw Ernestine slip quietly out the door. An odd thing for a devoted chorister to be doing, he thought. She had a determined expression on her face; Ben felt certain she wasn’t just going to the water fountain or the bathroom. Something else was going on.

Thirty seconds later, he was out the door, too.

He stayed well behind her, out of sight. Fortunately, there weren’t many places to go in a church building that wasn’t that large, so it wasn’t necessary to keep her in sight at all times. Given the direction she was headed down the corridor, she could only be moving toward the parish hall, the kitchen, or the Altar Guild office.

Ben casually eased over to an open door, hoping to get close enough to hear what was being said without attracting undue attention. He couldn’t see them, but he could hear most of what they were saying.

Alvin Greene was speaking. He sounded agitated. “You have to give me more time.”

“I’ve already given you too much.”

“But I need more!” Alvin was begging like a baby. “You don’t know what it’s been like at home. Everything’s been in turmoil. Joel practically totaled his car, Julie got braces, our roof leaks. Pam has been a wreck.”

“I know something that would make her even more upset,” Ernestine said quietly.

“Please!” Alvin said. “Please!”

But it did no good. Nothing was forthcoming. Except cold dead silence.

“Oh, all right. All right!” The man was weeping now. Ben heard a rustling denim sound; he guessed Alvin was pulling something out of his pocket. More rustling, followed by a decided click.

“I’ll be back for the rest,” Ernestine said.

Alvin was still in tears. He could barely speak. “M-Maybe-maybe next week-”

“I’ll be back tomorrow.”

Ben heard a squeaky heel that informed him Ernestine had made a sharp pivot. He scrambled down the hall and around a corner. Rather than be caught halfway down the corridor headed in the wrong direction, he reversed himself so she would meet him as soon as she rounded the bend.

Which she did. “Is choir practice already over?” she asked.

Ben shook his head. “Not yet. I’m… not feeling well.” He pointed toward the men’s room.

She nodded, then passed brusquely by him, but not so quickly that Ben couldn’t see that she had her little blue notebook clutched tightly in her right hand. Ben wondered how many names of the members of St. Benedict’s appeared in that book. Because unless he was very mistaken, this woman was running a money-lending racket that would put Ebenezer Scrooge to shame.

Chapter 11

Loving had a strong hunch that talking to the two giggling girls in the parish hall was not going to accelerate his investigation, but no one else seemed to be around at the moment, and when you had a list of suspects to interview as long as the one in Loving’s pocket, every second counted.

As he approached the table where they were folding acolyte robes, the giggling intensified. What? he wondered. Do I have something in my teeth? Is my fly unzipped?

“Maura likes your muscles,” Judy explained, after the introductions were completed. “She thinks you’re a hunk.”

Maura slugged her hard enough to crack a rib. “Do not.”

“She does. She’s lusting after you. She wants to have your children.”

“At least I’m not lusting after the lawyer,” Maura retorted. “He doesn’t have any muscles.”

“Girls, girls,” Loving said, suppressing a grin. “This is flatterin’, but I’m a confirmed bachelor-type. Always have been.”

“Maybe since your divorce,” Judy replied. “Not before, obviously.”

Loving did a double-take. “Now how on earth do you know about that?”

“Got it off the Internet,” Maura explained. “She’s read everything about Ben Kincaid and his friends and coworkers. She’s head over heels about the guy.”

Loving looked incredulous. “About the Skipper?”

“She is,” Maura continued, being surprisingly garrulous. “She follows all his cases. She’d have his poster up over her bed, if he had one. Frankly, I don’t see the attraction.”

“Maybe I just prefer someone with brains over some big dumb hunk of muscles!” Judy said.

Loving tried not to take offense.

“Maybe I think there’s more to love than a physical attraction!”

Maura was unimpressed. “Maybe you’re afraid that if there isn’t, you’ve got no hope!”

Loving frowned. “Now that seems kinda harsh.”

“Oh, I don’t mind,” Judy said. “Normally Maura doesn’t say anything at all. She’s just talking now because she’s desperate to impress you because she wants to be your love puppy.”

“Judy!”

Loving held up his hands. “Girls, please! Personally, I love all this Truth-or-Dare stuff, but I’m kinda busy right now. Could either of you tell me where I might find Alvin Greene? He doesn’t seem to be in the Altar Guild office.”

Judy checked her watch. “It’s after five. I’d try the White Swan.”

“What’s that? Some kind of prayer meeting?”

Judy laughed. “It’s a bar. Well, a pub, technically. Very British. As you may know, all Episcopalians are closet Anglophiles. They love all that Old World steak-and-kidney-pie fake accent stuff. Of course, they don’t like to admit that’s the real reason they’re Episcopalians, but honestly, why else would anyone want to be an Episcopalian?”

Loving decided not to engage in this dubious theological discussion. “Can you give me directions?”

“Of course.” She grabbed a piece of scrap paper and started to draw. “By the way, stick with the Bass Ale. That Guinness stuff is really nasty.”

Loving peered down at the fifteen-year-old girl. “And how would you know, may I ask?”

Judy winked as she handed him the map she had drawn. “Oh, I get around. I’m very worldly.”

The White Swan was, as advertised, the spitting image of a British pub. The walls bore a dark wood finish, decorated with pictures of soccer matches and fox hunts. The dining room was furnished with cozy little round tables, all laden with bottles of vinegar and HP Sauce.

Loving passed quickly through the restaurant area to the real center of action. The bar was a big brass affair, imported from a Manchester saloon dating back to the 1870s, according to a plaque on the wall. The room was packed and then some; almost all the seats were taken, and at least twenty more people were standing. The room was thick with smoke, the only drawback from the otherwise charming image. Loving didn’t like to admit it, because it didn’t go with his rough-and-tumble rep, but he hated smoking. He didn’t do it (anymore), and he didn’t like to be around people who did. For that matter, he wasn’t that crazy about bars. There had been a time… but why think about that? He’d made a whole new life for himself since he linked up with the Skipper. It was a good arrangement, because it had come at the right time and Loving liked and needed it.

He grinned. And Ben sure as hell needed him.

Well, he was burning daylight. He took a deep breath and plunged into the smoky fray. The sacrifices I make for the Skipper, he mused, not for the first time.

He saw several people he believed were members of St. Benedict’s. Some he recognized from the wedding, some not. And he saw at least a dozen strong young men wearing matching jerseys-a soccer team, if he wasn’t mistaken. And in the far corner, sitting by himself, was Alvin Greene.

Against all odds, there was an empty chair at his table. Apparently no one wanted to sit with Alvin this evening. After taking a look at the glum expression on the man’s face, Loving could see why.

Loving introduced himself. Alvin didn’t seem exactly pleased to see him, but he didn’t chase him off, either. When you worked for an attorney, that was almost as good as an engraved invitation.

“Look like you’ve seen better days,” Loving observed. Not exactly a probing question, but Loving conducted interviews a little differently than the Skipper-especially when they took place in bars. If he could loosen the guy up a bit, both verbally and liquidly, he was far more likely to get some useful information. “Money problems?”

Alvin looked up slightly. “How’d you know?”

“Aww, you’ve just got that look on your face.” That, plus he read Ben’s report on what he’d overheard at choir practice. “I’ve been there.”

“Yeah?” This time Alvin ’s eyes remained off the table. “I never thought it would happen to me.”

“It’ll get better. It always does.”

“Well, it sure as hell couldn’t get much worse.”

“Laid off?” Loving asked.

Alvin nodded. “Two months ago. And I’ve got three daughters and a son to support. Lost my wife to cancer a year back. Now one daughter needs braces, the other wants to go to Mexico for spring break, the boy wrecked his car…” He waved his hand in the air. “I just can’t stand it.”

“Got any prospects?”

“Not really. I came over from St. John’s so I could fill this bookkeeper vacancy. It pays a little, but I need a real job or I’m going straight down the tubes.”

“Can you borrow?”

“Who’d lend money to me?”

“I know a guy,” Loving answered. “Downtown. Mark Sloan. He’s a good ol’ boy. We’re not talkin’ Mafioso or usury rates. He’s a straight shooter. And he likes to help good people who’ve just gotten themselves into a little trouble. I could put in a good word for you, if you want.”

“Really?” Alvin sat up straight for the first time. “Man, that’d be great. I don’t need much. Just something to get me through the next few months.”

“I’ll call my friend first thing in the morning. I’ll bet you can work somethin’ out.”

Loving scribbled an address on the back of a napkin and Alvin took it. “Man, I didn’t think there was a chance anyone would ever loan me money again.”

“Why’s that?”

“Oh, I just… I don’t know…”

“ ’Cause you still owe Ernestine Rupert?”

Alvin ’s alcohol-impaired eyes seemed to gain their focus. “How do you know about that?”

“Hey, I’m an investigator. It’s what I do.”

“I didn’t think anyone knew about that. Except Ernestine, of course.”

“So she loaned you some money, and now she’s callin’ in your marker?”

Alvin hesitated a moment. “Something like that.”

“The old bat leanin’ on you pretty hard?”

Alvin wiped his hand across his forehead. “Like you wouldn’t believe. She’s done everything but send out some boys to break my thumbs.”

“Sounds miserable.”

“It is. Especially now, on top of everything else.”

Loving waved at the bartender. A minute later, two pints of Bass Ale were headed their way. “You’re talkin’ about all the trouble at the church, right?”

Alvin took a deep swallow. “Yeah.”

“What’s your take on the murders?”

“I don’t know. I just don’t know.”

Well, at least he didn’t immediately blame Father Beale, like every other witness to whom Loving had spoken. “You know anybody who’d have any reason to kill those women?”

“No, I don’t. I can’t imagine. It doesn’t make any sense. Kate was a lovely woman. Lovely. We went out a few times, after my wife died. Did you know that?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Yeah. And you probably don’t believe it, now that you’ve heard. A beautiful woman like that going out with a homunculus like me? Doesn’t seem right, does it?”

“Oh, I don’t know…”

Alvin waved it away. “Don’t bother. I know what I am. They were probably more pity dates than anything. Still… a man can’t help but hope… even if he knows how unlikely it is.” His eyes seemed to drift somewhere far away from the bar. “She let me kiss her, the last time. Only on the cheek. But still…”

“You musta been pretty torn up when she was killed.”

His eyes remained fixed. “You could say that. Yeah.”

“What about the other woman? Helen Conrad.”

“Aw, I never dated her. She was married.”

Loving almost smiled. “Do you know anyone who might’ve had a reason to kill her?”

“No. Makes no sense to me.”

Loving would have to agree with him on that score, but he’d seen some strange things in the time he’d been working at the Kincaid factory. “So you don’t think the murders had anything to do with the church?”

“Oh, I never said that.”

“But then why-?”

Alvin seemed to withdraw back into himself. “I told you. I don’t know.”

“ Alvin…”

“Don’t hassle me.”

“ Alvin, you know somethin’. Somethin’ you’re not telling me.”

“I don’t. I don’t know who the killer is.”

“But you know somethin’! What is it?”

Alvin glanced back over one shoulder, then the other. “I’ve already said too much.”

What the hell was going on here? “Gimme a hint, Alvin. Is it about some religious thing? Abortion? Evolution?”

“No, nothing like that.”

“Then what?”

Alvin looked away. “I can’t tell you. It’s… secret.”

“Secret? Churches aren’t s’posed to have secrets!”

Alvin scoffed. “Don’t be naive. All churches have secrets.”

“They don’t all have murders!”

Alvin pulled out his wallet and tossed some bills onto the table. “I have to go. I’ve said too much already.”

Loving held out his arm to block the man’s passage. “If you think I’m going to let you tease me and then just disappear, you’ve got another think coming.”

“Let me pass.”

“I can get your butt subpoenaed.”

“Won’t matter. I won’t say anything.”

“ Alvin, tell me what you know!”

“No. Let me pass.”

“No!”

“I have friends in here!”

Loving gazed at the man’s stony face. This was a loser situation, of course. He had no way to make the man talk, especially not in a public place. He could only come out of a confrontation looking stupid. Like it or not, he would have to back down.

He reluctantly lowered his arm.

“Thank you,” Alvin said. He began to walk away.

“I still can’t believe it,” Loving muttered, to himself as much as anyone. “I can’t believe a church could have some secret so big no one will talk about it. Even after two people have been murdered.”

Alvin paused. He stared down at the floor. And just before he plunged into the smoke and far away from Loving, he whispered: “You wouldn’t believe what’s going on in this church. You wouldn’t believe it.”

Chapter 12

Christina liked to think of herself as a paragon of feminine grace, but as she approached the front porch of Apartment 10B at 2952 South Peoria, she had a near-collision of a distinctly ungraceful nature. Just as she neared the front door, a tall woman wearing sunglasses and a hoodlike scarf came barreling out at about three times Christina’s speed. A last-minute sidestep avoided a collision, but the woman was thrown off balance. She teetered sideways onto the steps, turned her ankle, and tumbled.

Christina knelt beside the woman, who was sprawled across the concrete walkway. To her credit, the woman had not cried out in pain, but the expression on her face suggested that her landing hadn’t been all pillows and marshmallows, either. The fall had knocked off her sunglasses, and her face was familiar, but Christina couldn’t quite place her. She was someone Christina had seen at St. Benedict’s, though-someone she’d seen the day Kate McGuire was killed.

“Are you all right?”

The woman ran a quick inspection of her immediately accessible body parts. “Nothing broken, anyway.”

“I’m sorry. I’m so clumsy sometimes.”

The woman shook her head. “Not your fault. I was moving too fast.”

Which was true, Christina was forced to admit. And which also raised a question: Why was the woman leaving the apartment of George Finley-the vestry member who supposedly lived alone-in such a hurry, her face hidden behind shades and scarf? At eight o’clock in the morning.

The woman struggled to push herself up.

“Let me help you,” Christina said.

“No, no. I can manage,” she replied, but Christina helped her just the same. “I need to be moving along.”

At eight A.M.? On a Saturday? “Are you sure you shouldn’t come inside and sit for a moment? Just until you’ve collected yourself?”

“No, really, I must be-”

“Susan?”

George Finley was standing in the open doorway. “Are you all right, Susan?”

Susan. That was it. Christina remembered now. This was Susan Marino, the new senior warden, now that Kate McGuire was dead.

“I’m fine, George.”

“You don’t look fine.” He took her arm and steered her back toward the door.

“I’m okay. Really,” she insisted, but George kept a firm hand on her arm. He turned and, for the first time, his eyes drank in the fact that there was a third person on the sidewalk.

“I’m Christina McCall,” she said, extending her hand. “I’m the legal-the lawyer who called yesterday.” It still required a conscious effort to keep from calling herself a legal assistant. Of course, she’d been a legal assistant for almost a decade and a lawyer for less than a year. “You said I could talk to you.”

“Right,” George said slowly. “I guess I wasn’t expecting you quite so early.”

No doubt, but Christina had learned it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing to catch people when they weren’t expecting you, as this morning was proving, big time. “Sorry. I have a lot of people to talk to, and only a little time till the trial begins.”

George frowned, but accepted her story. “Very well. Come inside.” He maintained his grip on Susan’s arm and led both women into his apartment.

George’s place was nice enough, for what it was-basically a modest-size midtown two-roomer. The furniture was adequate, if not extraordinary. Christina suspected he had probably taken the apartment prefurnished. The room was tidy-no underwear on the floor or thick layers of dust. Surprising, really, for a man his age who lived alone. If he did in fact live alone.

“How can I help you?” George asked Christina as he led Susan to the couch.

“As I told you on the phone,” Christina said, seating herself in a nearby chair, “I’m working on Father Beale’s defense. My associates and I are talking to all the prominent members of the church, trying to learn anything we can about what happened.”

“I see,” George said quietly.

“What can you tell me about the murdered women?”

George almost shrugged. “I think Father Beale killed them.”

“But why?”

“Kate McGuire was his fiercest opponent in the church,” Susan explained. “And she was the leader of the vestry. What’s more, she was a strong, very effective, capable businesswoman. He knew she would eventually boot him out of the church.”

“She hadn’t had much luck so far.”

“But she would. She hadn’t been senior warden long, remember. She was a forceful woman who knew how to get what she wanted. It was just a matter of time.”

“So you’re saying he killed her-just to keep his job?”

“I’m not saying it was planned or anything,” George explained. “The man has a temper like the wrath of God. He was seen fighting with her at the wedding, you know. I think his temper got out of hand. He lost control and grabbed the paperweight and killed her.”

“What kind of person was Kate?”

Susan answered first. “Serious. Hardworking. Efficient. She was an accountant for Helmerich and Payne. Had been for years. She was doing well.”

“What about her social life?”

“I think she spent most of her time at work, which probably cost her her marriage.”

“Was she engaged in church politics?”

“Obviously. She was senior warden.”

“What about church social activities?”

George and Susan exchanged a look. It was brief, but not so brief that Christina couldn’t catch it. “She did… some of that,” George answered.

“Bake sales, Lenten dinners, prayer meetings, that sort of thing?”

“Yes. That sort of thing.”

Christina paused. Something was going on here-something they weren’t telling her. Ben often rattled on about what keen instincts Christina had, but instinct could only take you so far. Right now her instincts were telling her something was up, something hidden that she needed to uncover. But how to do it?

She tried a shot in the dark. “Wasn’t Kate on some committees? Other than the vestry?”

“I think so,” George muttered. He looked to Susan for help. “Didn’t she head up the Stewardship committee?”

“No,” Susan said. She had been staring at the door. She didn’t like being here, Christina was certain of that. But why? Did she really have somewhere else she needed to be? Or was there something more? “Ernestine headed Stewardship, then and now. But Kate was on the committee. She and Ernestine worked together. On many things.”

Christina frowned. This interview was nowheresville. She wasn’t going to get anything out of these two-at least not until she had enough information to force them to tell the truth. “Anything else you can tell me about Kate? Or Helen? Or Father Beale?”

“The man’s a menace,” George said emphatically. “He’s devastated our little church. Despite what Beale says, this is not a dispute over politics. It was always more than that. Beale has been…” Again he looked at Susan. “… a-a moral disaster. He’s hurt this church in-in more ways than you can imagine. We’ve lost half our members in the past year-did you know that? People are sick of the controversy, sick of him. Afraid that if they hang around, they’ll be his next victim. Is it any wonder our church is a shadow of its former self?”

“As vestry members,” Susan explained, “we’re charged with preserving and protecting this church. And we’ve tried everything possible to expunge this monster. But no matter what we do, he keeps coming back, like Jason or something. Every time we think he’s finally gone for good-he isn’t.”

“Did you know,” George added, “that the minute that insane judge granted Beale bail, thirteen more families turned in their requests for transfer of membership?”

“No,” Christina answered. “I didn’t.” She folded up her notepad. “Well, I’ve taken enough of your time.” She walked over to Susan. “Sorry again about the head-on collision on the doorstep.”

“Forget it. I feel much better.” She rose. “And I must be going, too.”

“How long have you two been dating?”

George and Susan stared at one another, their faces frozen. After a few beats, Susan smiled, but it struck Christina as forced. “We’re not… dating. I’m married.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Christina said. “I just assumed… since you were over here so early…”

“Susan and I were discussing church business,” George said. “Kind of a planning session for the next vestry meeting. They’ve become so overwrought and complicated that… well, if you hope to get anything done, you need to start early.”

So he said, but Christina had read the expression in his eyes when he first saw Susan sprawled out on the sidewalk, and it convinced her that their relationship was something more than professional. Susan had insisted that they were not dating, though. And if they were, she would’ve surely heard about it by now. Wouldn’t she?

Christina let George lead her to the front door, then walked to her car, still pondering all she had seen and heard. There was something strange going on here. Christina had no idea how to get to it. But she knew they had to, and quick, before the trial. Because if she had learned anything from her years in the law, it was this: When you went to trial without all the facts, the price was always high. And in this case, the price might well be Father Beale’s life.

Chapter 13

“Your honor,” Ben said, “clearly in this case the evidence of past crimes is more prejudicial than probative.”

“I disagree,” Canelli responded, as if this might be a surprise to someone. “It’s crucial that the jury know that the defendant is a repeat offender.”

“Repeat offender? We’re talking about a man who was arrested at an ERA sit-in. Not exactly Charles Manson.”

“A crime is a crime. And the jury has a right to know who they’re dealing with.”

“I agree,” Ben rejoined. “That’s why we have witnesses testify. But the jury won’t be aided by the minor detail of a past conviction. It will, however, give the assistant district attorney something he can distort and misuse at trial.”

Canelli glared at Ben. “I resent that remark!”

“Resent, or resemble?”

Ben turned away, avoiding Canelli’s wrath. For all his movie-star looks, Canelli had been anything but suave and debonair at this hearing. Ben didn’t know if it was some weird Catholic-Episcopalian thing, or what. But something definitely had his dander up.

Judge Pitcock, on the other hand, was his usual cool, collected self. If anything, he seemed somewhat amused by the sputtering of the attorneys and perhaps more than a little pleased to see so many members of the press in his courtroom.

Ben was also impressed by the number of newspaper and even television reporters in the gallery-far more than had been in attendance at the preliminary hearing. Of course, the preliminary hearing had been a foregone conclusion. Everyone knew Beale would be bound over for trial, so Ben had no incentive to reveal any of his case strategy or theories. This pretrial hearing was different. The outcome was not preordained, and if Ben could keep some of the prosecution’s evidence out of the trial, it would be perceived as a major success for the defense.

“Mr. Canelli,” Judge Pitcock asked, “are you suggesting that the defendant’s prior arrest and conviction-which I note took place many years ago-are somehow related to the present case?”

“Not as such, your honor. But there’s a pattern here.”

“A pattern? How so?”

“A pattern of… disregard for the law.”

Pitcock cocked an eyebrow. “Well, I suppose we could say that about any conviction, couldn’t we?” He drummed his fingers. “Explain to me how the fact that he was previously arrested during a social protest is probative on the issue of whether he murdered a woman in his church?”

Canelli hesitated. “It shows that he… that he… he is subject to strong feelings. Temper. That leads him to commit criminal acts.”

Ben looked at the judge. “This no doubt explains the outbreak of mass murders on Greenpeace boats.”

That one got a hearty laugh from the gallery. Judge Pitcock frowned at the disruption, but unless Ben was mistaken, he was forcing back a grin himself.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Canelli,” Pitcock said, “but I’m not buying this one. I don’t think you need this evidence. I don’t think it helps you. Frankly, I think you may be better off without it.”

Ben had entertained similar thoughts himself. Defense attorneys always tried to keep out past crimes to prevent the jury from being negatively biased. But in this case, if he drew the right jury, it might actually be helpful. It would make clear that Father Beale was a man of convictions, a man who cared deeply about causes and people. Or in other words, the last person on earth you would expect to commit a murder.

“Your honor,” Canelli said, “may I expand on my argument?”

“No, I think I’ve heard enough on this one. The defendant’s motion to suppress evidence of past crimes will be sustained.”

Out the corner of his eye, Ben saw the reporters in the front row of the gallery breaking out their pencils. That’s right, Ben thought, keep score for all the people out in newspaper land. Kincaid, one; Canelli, zero. And be sure to spell my name right.

“Have you got anything else, Mr. Kincaid?”

“Yes, your honor. I’ve also moved to suppress evidence regarding my client’s political beliefs.”

Pitcock scrunched up his face. “Why would a man’s politics ever be relevant to the question of whether he committed a murder?” He paused. “Unless, of course, the victim was a Democrat.”

Ben blinked. Did the judge make a funny? My, but he was in good spirits. Ben should bring an entourage of reporters with him every time he entered the man’s courtroom.

“It’s not remotely relevant,” Ben answered. “It’s just another attempt by the prosecution to prejudice the jury.”

“That’s not true,” Canelli said. As tall as he was, he hovered over the bench. “The defendant’s political beliefs-and his political activities-were a major cause of the disharmony between Father Beale and many members of his church. It is our belief that this conflict eventually led to the murders.”

Ben looked at him harshly. “My client has only been charged with one murder!”

Canelli looked contrite. “Murder,” he corrected himself.

“People were discussing politics in a church?” Judge Pitcock asked. “That doesn’t seem right. Church and state are separate. And for a good reason.” Ben wondered if the judge’s Mormon background was influencing his thinking. The Mormon church had a long tradition of resisting government interference. “Bound to cause trouble.”

“And it did,” Canelli said, pouncing. “Of the worst kind.”

Pitcock did not appear enlightened. “I’m still not getting it, gentlemen.”

“That’s because we’re both dancing around what we’re really talking about,” Ben explained. He checked over his shoulder to make sure the reporters were still listening. They were going to love this. “We’re not talking about nuclear proliferation here, judge. We’re talking about gay rights.”

Pitcock pursed his lips. “Indeed.”

“Father Beale was and is a strong supporter of gay rights. He believes gay people should be allowed to be Episcopal priests, he believes Episcopal priests should be allowed to marry gay couples and he has allowed a gay activist group to meet at the church for some years.”

“Without the knowledge or consent of the governing body of the church,” Canelli couldn’t resist adding.

The judge nodded. “And you believe this plays some part in the intrachurch disharmony that provides your theory of motive?”

“Exactly so, your honor. That’s what we intend to argue.”

Ben couldn’t contain himself. “Does anyone in this room believe that Father Beale knocked off a vestry member because she disagreed with him about gay rights? Give me a break.”

“It does seem a bit tenuous,” Judge Pitcock agreed.

“Your honor,” Canelli insisted, “we have considerable evidence that-”

“Give us some credit, Canelli,” Ben interrupted. “We all know perfectly well this has nothing to do with motive. The only reason you want this evidence in the trial is because you know that even with half a million people in the metro area, Tulsa is still basically a big small town, and we have our share of rednecks and mental midgets who don’t like gays and don’t like people who like gays, either. You’re hoping to play on homophobia and ignorant prejudices to help you get your conviction. It’s totally improper. More than that-it’s disgraceful.”

Canelli’s handsome face turned stone cold. “Your honor, I very much resent defense counsel’s remarks. He’s insinuating that I’m acting pursuant to an improper motive.”

“I don’t think he’s insinuating,” Judge Pitcock said laconically. “He pretty much came straight out and said it.”

“Well, it isn’t true!”

Behind him, Ben saw the pencils were back in action again. “There’s no other rational reason for trying to admit such grossly improper evidence.”

“There’s nothing improper about informing the jury of the true facts of the case!”

“Calm down, gentlemen,” Pitcock said, pushing air with his hands. “These histrionics are not necessary.”

“Your honor,” Canelli said, “I want to assure the court that I’m acting in good faith. Let me restate my argument.”

“Don’t bother,” the judge replied. “There’s no way I’m letting this evidence in at trial.”

Canelli looked as if he’d been sideswiped by a truck.

“Regardless of your motive theories, this is grossly prejudicial evidence. Even if I believed it might be probative-and I don’t-I still wouldn’t let it in. It’s much too inflammatory. Let’s move on.”

Ben resisted the temptation to give himself a high five. Two for two! And the reporters were getting every word of it. Now if he could only score on the third item on the agenda-the one that really mattered.

“Your honor,” Ben said, “our third motion to suppress relates to an acrylic award that was found by the police in my client’s office. And, of course, the fingerprints that were taken from that award.”

“Your honor,” Canelli said. “Now he wants to suppress the murder weapon!”

“And with good reason. The award was discovered and seized pursuant to an illegal search.”

“There was nothing illegal about it,” Canelli insisted. “The police were called to the premises. The award was near the body at the scene of the crime.”

“That is not precisely correct.” Ben removed Mike’s SOC report from his notebook. “The victim’s body was found at the church, in Father Beale’s office, atop his desk. The award was in a desk drawer. But, as the report of the chief officer on the scene makes clear, the drawer was closed.” Ben looked up at the judge. “I will grant you that the police had the right to be in that office, and they probably had the right to examine anything that was in plain sight. But they did not have the right to open the desk drawer. For that, they needed either the permission of Father Beale or someone in charge of the premises, or they needed a warrant. They had neither. They had no business rifling through my client’s desk. The search was improper; therefore, all evidence uncovered as a result of the illegal search must be suppressed.”

Judge Pitcock rubbed his forehead. “These are very serious charges, Mr. Canelli. Do you have a response?”

“Yes, your honor,” Canelli replied. “My response is that this argument is absurd.”

Judge Pitcock rose slightly out of his chair. His calm exterior was betrayed by a flash of anger. “Mr. Prosecutor, let me assure you that there is nothing stupid about the Fourth Amendment protections against unlawful search and seizure. I take the Constitution very seriously, and so does the Supreme Court, and their decisions, may I remind you, are binding on this court. Now, if you don’t want to see your case crumble right before your eyes, you’d better explain what your officers were doing in that desk drawer!”

Canelli frowned, then took a step back from the bench. “They were looking for a pencil.”

“Excuse me?” the judge said.

“They were looking for a pencil. There was no intentional misconduct. No one expected to find the murder weapon. But the homicide detective on the scene-Major Morelli-likes those fancy fountain pens, and his ran out of ink and he needed something to write with, so he naturally opened a desk drawer. And there it was.”

“And that’s your story? That he was looking for a pencil and stumbled across the murder weapon?”

“That’s it. Major Morelli’s affidavit is on file.”

Pitcock turned toward Ben. “You agree with that?”

“Up to a point, sir. Major Morelli’s affidavit is uncontested. He’s a straight shooter, and I have no doubt that he was doing what he says he was doing. But the absence of improper intent doesn’t alter the fact that it was an unauthorized search, contrary to Constitutional guidelines.”

“Actually, it might.” The judge already had one of his law books out and was thumbing rapidly through the pages. “The Supreme Court has ruled that intent is relevant as to the propriety of unwarranted searches.” He flipped through some more pages till he found what he was searching for. “Yes. State versus Pezzoli. Inadvertent discovery of evidence while looking for something else unrelated to the case. As I recall, the officer found a vital piece of evidence while searching for a bathroom. Anyway, the court ruled that since there was no intent to conduct an illegal search or seizure, the evidence did not have to be suppressed.” He looked up from his book. “Sorry, Mr. Kincaid.”

“Your honor,” Ben implored, “think of the precedent. If you allow this, every time a police officer conducts an illegal search, he’ll claim he was looking for a pencil. Or something like that.”

Pitcock pondered. “True, this does have potential for abuse. I hate to take us down a slippery slope.”

“Your honor,” Ben urged, “consider the impact on the sanctity of the home. Of the family.” Cheap, Ben knew, but when you’re dying fast you have to pull out all your guns. “Can the family survive in a world without privacy? When personal space can be invaded by any officer who claims he’s looking for a bathroom?”

Judge Pitcock thought a long while before answering. “Your argument is not without merit, Mr. Kincaid. I don’t like improper searches any better than you do. But the case law is clear, and I am bound to follow it. If you’d like, I’ll grant you leave to take an interlocutory appeal.”

“Taken,” Ben said, but he knew it would make no difference. The Court of Criminal Appeals would follow the Supreme Court’s prior ruling.

“Very well. In the meantime, your third motion will be denied. Is there anything else?”

“No, your honor.”

“Good. This court is now dismissed.” He rapped his gavel and disappeared into chambers.

Canelli grabbed Ben on his way back to counsel table. “I don’t appreciate what you said back there, Kincaid.”

“Oh, go model some underwear or something.”

“You know what I mean. Suggesting that I was playing dirty tricks. That I wanted to railroad your client.”

“Forgive me. Prosecutors never want to get convictions, right? And your boss doesn’t care at all whether you win this incredibly high profile case. What was I thinking?”

“I’m warning you, Kincaid. If this happens again, I’m asking for sanctions.”

“Ooh. Please stop. You’re giving me shivers again.”

“You know, it doesn’t have to be like this, Kincaid. I’m not attempting anything improper. The only thing I want to do is put away a murderer.”

“Then get a new defendant!”

Exasperated, Canelli marched off to his own table. Ben sat down beside Father Beale.

“So how’d we do?” Beale asked. “When you lawyers start lawyering, I can’t tell what’s going on.”

“We won two, lost one.”

“Which one was most important?”

“Which do you think? We knew trying to get the murder weapon suppressed was a long shot. Christina found the Pezzoli case days ago; we tried to distinguish it from this case in our brief. But I figured Judge Pitcock would feel compelled to follow it.”

“What are our prospects at trial?”

“Oh, about the same as they always were. Maybe slightly better, now that we don’t have to worry about any gay-baiting tactics. We’re in good shape. Really.”

“Glad to hear it.” He paused. A thin line creased his forehead. “You know, before, I was only in jail overnight. But I didn’t like it. And the thought of being in prison, perhaps for years and years-or worse…” He shook his head. “I just don’t think I could survive it, Ben. Not now. Not at my age.”

Ben clasped him on the shoulder. “We’re not going to let that happen, Father.”

Beale nodded, but Ben could tell his words of reassurance were useless, because when all was said and done, words were just words, and words could never combat the greatest demon of them all-fear. Not even for a man of faith.

Chapter 14

“Would you like another cup of tea, Mr. Loving?”

“Yes, ma’am. Please.”

“Digestive biscuit?”

“Yum.”

Loving sat in a violet overstuffed chair with a demitasse, saucer, cookie (which the ladies insisted on calling a biscuit), and a little lace doily that he thought was supposed to serve as his napkin. Not the usual look for Loving; it was rather as if the Selfish Giant had dropped in on Alice ’s tea party. Just as well, he mused, that he’d come alone. If Jones or the Skipper got a look at this, he’d never hear the end of it.

“Chamomile, or Earl Grey?” Ernestine asked.

“Um… yes, please.”

Ernestine hesitated a moment, then began pouring the Earl Grey. “A strong man like you needs a strong drink.” She used a tea towel to catch the last stray drop from the teapot. “I’ll save the chamomile for my nephew.”

Over his shoulder, Loving saw Bruce, the nephew, wince.

Loving sipped his tea and tried to act as if he enjoyed it. Tasted basically like hot water to him; he was used to drinks of a somewhat stronger nature. Still, it seemed to give the ladies, Ruth and Ernestine, pleasure to have him join them. And he didn’t want to disappoint. He only hoped the feeling would be mutual.

He’d come by Ernestine’s home hoping to interview her about the murders. Finding Ruth here was a stroke of good fortune; her name was also on his list, which was already far too long. And to make it even better, Ernestine had her nephew Bruce in tow. Now he could kill three birds in one throw, so to speak, and interview them all without a lot of running around. It could be a great break for him-if he could get any of them to talk about something other than tea.

“I do so love a good cuppa in the early afternoon,” Ernestine said, putting on what Loving thought was a faint trace of a British accent. “Don’t you, Mr. Loving?”

“Oh, yeah,” he answered enthusiastically. Especially if it’s laced with a little Jack Daniel’s.

“Ruth and I go to England every year or so to take the waters, don’t we, Ruth dear? Of course, I love Oklahoma, too,” Ernestine said, and an almost melancholy twinge entered her voice. “But I do feel that England has… well, just a bit more culture than we have here, don’t you think, Mr. Loving?”

“I think we’ve got culture here, too,” Loving answered. “It’s just diff’rent.”

“Of course you’re right. Still, in England, everything is so much more… civilized, somehow.”

She paused wistfully, which Loving took as his invitation to move on to subjects of considerably greater interest to him.

“Did you know the most recent victim?” he asked. “Kate McGuire?”

“Mr. Loving, I’ve been a member of St. Benedict’s for over forty years. There isn’t anyone I don’t know.”

“Did you know her, Ruth?”

Ruth nodded silently.

“Do any of you know of any reason anyone had to kill her?”

The ladies exchanged a meaningful glance. Ruth took a deep breath, then spoke slowly and regretfully, as if it were an unpleasant duty. “Mr. Loving, I realize you’re working for Father Beale, so you may not want to hear what we have to say.”

“You think he did it?”

Ruth stopped stirring her tea. “I know he did.”

“And how d’ya know?”

She paused reflectively. “I suppose it’s because I’m a lifelong student of human nature. I have an instinct-it’s a gift, really. A fundamental understanding of how people behave.”

“And that tells you Father Beale’s guilty?”

“It takes a certain kind of man to commit a murder. To kill a woman, no less. Most couldn’t do it. But Father Beale could. I’ve seen the look in his eye when he loses his temper. I’ve seen how his fists clench, how his arms and legs tremble. The man simply loses control.”

“And you think that’s what happened?”

“Yes. Twice. He lost control and strangled those poor women.”

Loving turned toward Ernestine. “What about you? You agree?”

Ernestine checked her friend, then nodded. “I can’t think of any other explanation.”

“This last victim was on the vestry, wasn’t she?”

Ruth answered. “She was. As was the previous victim, Helen Conrad.”

“Is it possible that they were killed ’cause of some… vestry problem? Some church-related thing that didn’t involve Father Beale?”

“Such as what?”

“I dunno. Maybe someone wanted to rub out their votes. Maybe someone wanted them dead so someone else would become senior warden.”

“I think that unlikely in the extreme.”

Well, so did Loving, but he had to explore every possible explanation. “What about… some kind of rivalry? Some infighting.”

“There has been strife in the past between those who support Father Beale and those who do not, but frankly, at this point, he has so little support that I don’t think the conflict exists anymore. Everyone now seems to agree that-guilty or not-it would be best for the church if he left. Everyone except Father Beale, of course.”

“Maybe it didn’t have anythin’ to do with church business. Maybe someone got mad for some other reason. Maybe some guy thought somebody was slee-er, showin’ too much attention to his wife.”

“I haven’t heard anything like that,” Ernestine said primly. “And I would’ve.”

“What about money?”

“What about it?” Ernestine replied. “Your question is a bit vague.”

“I know. Because I’m just fishin’ around. But I have been doin’ this work long enough to know that, more often than not, these things come down to money. And churches usually have money, right?”

Ernestine cleared her throat. “Well, ours is a small parish-getting smaller every day Father Beale remains. But we have been fortunate enough to receive financial gifts and legacies that are… far beyond what you might expect from a church of this size.”

“Really?”

“Thanks to my aunt Ernestine,” Bruce explained.

“Ah,” Loving said, nodding.

“Please, Bruce,” Ernestine interjected. “Don’t let’s be vulgar.”

“Aunt Ernestine, there’s nothing vulgar about-”

“Oh, Bruce, please don’t be tiresome. Fetch us some more of these cinnamon scones, would you?”

“Aunt Ernestine, I don’t-”

“Please, Bruce. Now.”

“Yes, Aunt Ernestine.” He drifted off into the kitchen.

“Poor Bruce,” she said, shaking her head, after he was gone. “He never played sports, you know. Preferred to stay inside and read books all day long. I tried to talk to his parents, God rest their souls, but they wouldn’t listen to me. ‘If he keeps reading all the time, he’s going to turn into a book,’ that’s what I said. But no one listened.”

Loving’s heart went out to Bruce. How long had he been putting up with this?

“And you see what the result is,” she continued. “The man is in his forties, and what is he? Nothing. Oh, he’s nice enough, in a puppy-dog sort of way. But he’s got no job, no family. And to think this man is the last surviving member of my family. My sole heir.” Her eyes brightened, as if by sudden inspiration. “You know, Mr. Loving-I think Bruce could learn a great deal from a man like you. Perhaps you two could… spend some time together.”

Gee whiz, maybe I could teach him to play catch! “That’s sounds nice, ma’am, but I’m afraid I’m very busy just now.”

“Oh, I should’ve made it clear-I would expect to compensate you for your time, of course.”

Loving could see she was a woman who thought she could get anything if she came across with enough money. Which made him all the more determined to decline. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but I’m spendin’ all my wakin’ hours on this case, at least until trial.”

“Perhaps if I just gave you a little something up front.”

Ernestine popped open her handbag and a large wad of bills tumbled out. Ernestine scooped them up quickly, but not so quickly Loving couldn’t see there was a seriously large amount of cash in there. More than you would expect an elderly lady to be carrying around.

“Mind if I ask why you’re carryin’ so much scratch?” Loving asked.

“It’s not-I just-” She seemed flustered. “I have some bills to pay.”

In cash? Come on, lady…

“If you’ll excuse me,” Ernestine said, “I have an appointment.”

Why was she in such a hurry to leave all of a sudden? Loving started to get up, but Ernestine waved him back down. “No need for you to leave. Ruth has keys. She can lock up when you’ve all finished chatting. I apologize for leaving so abruptly, but as I told you on the phone, I have some… errands I must attend to.” Without giving anyone an opportunity to object, she ambled toward the front door and closed it behind her.

Bruce returned with more of the cookies, and Loving dutifully wolfed down a few. They seemed fairly tasteless to him, but he supposed he should be grateful they weren’t serving little bitty cucumber sandwiches.

“Can either of you think of anythin’ else that might help this investigation? Anythin’ that might relate to the murders in any way?”

Both of them appeared to be trying, but no one offered any assistance.

Ruth was the one who finally spoke, but she wasn’t answering the question. “Will you be seeing Father Beale today?”

“I dunno. Maybe. Why?”

“Would you please talk some sense into him? This business of hanging on as priest at the same time he’s being tried for murder-it’s destroying St. Benedict’s. It makes a mockery of everything we do. Our membership has been decimated. Who wants to take the sacrament from a murderer?”

“I heard Father Beale say he was brought to St. Benedict’s for a higher purpose. He thinks he was called by God.”

“Delusions of grandeur.”

“Maybe.” Loving slapped his thighs and began clearing away all the tea paraphernalia. “But if the man thinks he’s takin’ his instructions from God, far be it for me to interfere.”

“But he’s a murderer!”

“Ben says he isn’t. And in my experience, he’s usually right.” Well, two times out of three, anyway. “Thanks for talkin’ to me.” He shook Bruce’s hand. “Thanks for the cookies.”

“Digestive biscuits,” Ruth corrected.

“You can call ’em whatever you want, ma’am,” Loving said amiably. “But a cookie is still a cookie. And God willing, always will be.”

Jones and his new bride, Paula, sat in the front seat of his blue Volkswagen Beetle parked on a side street off Lewis.

“Have I mentioned how much I love you?” Jones asked.

“Yes,” she replied, coiling her brunette hair around a finger, “but as a newlywed, I think I’m entitled to hear it several times a day.”

“More than the moon and the sun. More than the stars in the sky.”

“How Elizabeth Barrett Browning.” She giggled. “You give me chill bumps when you get all poetic like that.”

“Your eyes are diamonds. Your hair is silk.”

“Do tell.”

“You’re a beauty like the world has never seen before.”

“Such as.”

“Excuse me?”

Paula twisted around in the car seat. “A beauty such as the world has never seen before.”

Jones frowned. “Why did I marry a librarian?”

Her fingertips danced across his chest. “I’ll remind you.”

About a minute later, their lips finally parted. “Wow,” Jones murmured breathlessly, in a wobbly, slightly drunken sounding voice. “Don’t quit on my account.”

“I’m not. Our target is on the move.”

In the rearview mirror, Jones saw that Ernestine Rupert had left her house. She was on foot, heading toward Lewis.

“Let’s go,” Jones said. He started the car but stayed out of sight, a good distance behind. Jones knew for a fact that the elderly woman was nearsighted, even with glasses, so the chances of them being spotted were remote.

About ten minutes later, Ernestine approached a modest white-walled house with an extraordinary garden out front. A middle-aged man of slight build was working diligently in it, pulling weeds and putting down mulch.

“Do you recognize him?” Paula asked.

Jones nodded. “Alvin Greene. Altar Guild. I’m going in closer.”

Paula held tight to his arm. “Loving said to just follow. See where she goes.”

“Because he was afraid that if I tried to do anything more, I’d screw it up. I want to hear what they’re saying.” He slid out of the car and quietly ran to the next house down, crossed through the unfenced backyard, then slowly crept into the area between the two houses. He was still out of sight, but he could pick up some of the conversation.

“I know what day it is,” Alvin was saying. “But I just can’t do it.”

Was Ernestine replying? Jones wondered. If she was, he couldn’t hear it.

“Please. If you could only give me a little more time. There’s been so much turmoil and chaos and-and-”

Jones couldn’t see his face, but it sounded as if the man was sobbing.

“Please, I’m begging you. Pammy is still sick. Jenny has so many needs.”

The despairing quality in Alvin ’s voice was tearing Jones apart. What on earth was that woman doing to him?

“Fine!” Alvin shouted. Jones didn’t need to be nearby to pick that up. It was probably heard in the next county. “Take your goddamn blood money! I hope you rot in hell!” Jones heard sounds of movement, then nothing but Alvin ’s pathetic crying.

He crept to the other end of the house in time to see Ernestine walking back toward the sidewalk, clutching a small blue notebook in her hand. He ducked back behind the hedge till she was gone. Then he made his way back to the Beetle.

“Did you get anything?” Paula asked.

“Oh yeah. Did you read the Boss’s report? He thinks Ernestine’s been lending money at usurious rates and demanding repayment.”

“And? Didn’t you tell me Ben is usually right?”

“About legal matters, sure. But about people?” He shook his head. “This is a situation where Ben’s naÏveté clouds his judgment. He’s blinded by the woman’s age, her blue hair, her grandmotherly face.”

“So what’s the sweet old biddy doing? Organizing a renegade sewing circle? Setting up an unauthorized Scrabble tournament?”

“Not quite.” He fished the keys out of his pocket and started the ignition. “Hold on to your hat, sweetheart. That sweet old biddy is no moneylender. She’s a blackmailer.”

Chapter 15

Christina walked briskly down the carpeted steps of Philbrook Museum, thinking, Would they never stop changing this place? It was originally the private Italian-villa style mansion of Frank Phillips, oil baron extraordinaire and founder of Phillips Petroleum. After it passed out of the family hands, it became a tourist attraction and locus for traveling art exhibitions. Then the big change-millions were spent adding wings to create a museum, with room for a permanent collection, traveling shows, a restaurant, and, of course, a gift shop. Personally, Christina thought the mansion got somewhat lost, now that it was buried under all these additions, even though it was lovely having another great art museum in Tulsa.

And now they’ve updated the restaurant, she noted. Spiffy modern metal chairs and matching tables, and an all-new California-style menu. It seemed a bit antiseptic to Christina, but she supposed it hadn’t really been designed with her in mind. They were presumably going for the ladies-who-lunch crowd, of which Christina was definitely not a member.

Andrea Beale, however, was. She was on her second or third glass of white wine by the time Christina arrived. Christina detected a change in Andrea’s manner almost immediately. Some of the fire she had displayed in the office had fizzled. There was a disconnected look in her eyes. A fuzzy wall between her and the rest of the world which, alcohol-induced or not, Christina sensed Andrea preferred to have surrounding her.

“Thank you for inviting me to lunch,” Christina said, taking her seat at the table. “I think this is a much friendlier environment than the office.”

Andrea shrugged, a minimalist gesture. “Beats eating alone.”

“I suppose your husband is busy preparing for trial. I know Ben is.”

Andrea took a sip of her wine. “Daniel never takes lunch with me. He’s too busy. Always on the go. Lots of projects. Saving the world.”

Even if Christina had been sloshed herself, she could not have missed the note of irony. “Ben’s told me about some of his political and social work. I was impressed.”

“Oh, yes. Everyone is.” The waiter appeared at her side. “Glass of wine, Christina?”

“No, thank you. I have so much work to get done today. I’ll have the flavored tea, please.”

Andrea smiled slightly and ordered another glass of wine for herself.

Christina scanned the menu. It was all too haute cuisine for her taste. She knew the portions would be too small and everything would have too much goat cheese or sun-dried tomatoes. After some deliberation, she went with the Caesar salad. Andrea ordered some sort of pasta.

Once the waiter brought Christina her raspberry tea and Andrea her next glass of chardonnay, Christina decided to start the questioning.

“I want you to know that Daniel is in good hands,” Christina said reassuringly. “Ben is a great criminal attorney. The best, I think.”

“He seems rather young.”

“That’s just because he’s slim and baby-faced. Trust me, he’s got more experience with murder trials than anyone I know. And he’s very smart. Fast on his feet.”

Andrea nodded. “And cute, too.” She eyed Christina carefully. “I think he’s cute, anyway. Don’t you?”

Christina cleared her thoat. “I’ve been working with him so long, I hardly notice those things anymore.”

“Indeed.”

“But I know he’s determined to win this case. And so am I.” She readjusted herself slightly. These metallic chairs might be stylish modern art, but they were damned uncomfortable to sit in. “Do you have any theories about what happened?”

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“At our meeting last week you said you thought it was all politics. That Daniel’s enemies at the church were out to get him. At trial we’ll need some alternative explanation for the murders, and we may well use that one, if we can come up with some evidence in support. But to blame the church is a little nebulous. It would be better if we could name an individual or individuals who could have been behind the killings.”

“So you can call them to the stand Perry Mason-style and try to browbeat a confession out of them?”

“So we can raise doubt in the minds of the jurors as to Daniel’s guilt. That’s what it’s all about for the defense, remember. We don’t have to prove who did it. We just have to establish that there’s reasonable doubt about Daniel.”

“I hope you’ll do more than that. Daniel shouldn’t have this hanging over his head for the rest of his life. Some people will always assume he was guilty, even if he gets off. Unless you discover who the murderer really was.”

Christina nodded. Andrea wasn’t telling her anything she didn’t already know. But at this juncture, their first priority had to be getting a not-guilty verdict-regardless of what other people thought. “We’ll do our best.”

“I really couldn’t single anyone out. I don’t know who might be a murderer. I mean, I can tell you who the ringleaders of the anti-Beale movement were. Both of the dead women. Susan Marino. George Finley. And of course, Ernestine Rupert.”

“Hard to imagine that elderly lady strangling two young women.”

“Well, she wouldn’t do it herself. She’d hire someone. Ernestine believes she should be able to buy anything she wants-including control of the church. Daniel was able to hold her at bay for a time, because he supported that pro-choice organization she founded and still chairs-the PCSC. But after a while, that wasn’t enough for her. She wanted him gone. And she had full vestry support.”

“Have you seen anything at the church-or elsewhere-that you think might possibly be connected to the murders? Something… suspicious? Something unusual?”

Andrea shook her head. “I’m sorry. Nothing comes to mind.”

“Has anyone said anything out of the ordinary? Made any threats?”

“Well, almost everyone in the church has threatened to do one horrible thing or another if Daniel doesn’t resign. Which he won’t.”

“And what’s your take on that? Why won’t he go?”

“He’s too proud,” she said flatly. “He won’t admit defeat. Ego.”

“Not that he thinks he’s been called to the church by God?”

“They’re the same thing. How could any man ever believe he was doing the work of God unless he had a little ego? How could any man cling so tenaciously to his position unless he believed he was doing the right thing? Believe me, most priests-probably all other priests-would’ve resigned long before it got to this point. But not my Daniel. The stronger the storm, the more resolute he becomes. He’s like a character out of the Old Testament.” She laughed bitterly. “I’ll bet Moses’ wife had a hard time of it, too.”

“What’s your take on why Daniel has had so many problems at this church?”

“Well,” she answered thoughtfully, “Daniel is a child of the sixties. And the members of the vestry are children of the nineties. The 1890s.”

Christina smiled.

“Churches have different personalities,” Andrea continued. “People don’t realize it, but it’s true. The members create a group mind-a gestalt, if you will. Back at St. Gregory’s in Oklahoma City, the largest slice of the membership was composed of raised-in-the-sixties liberal activists-or would-be activists. Daniel was a perfect fit. But the transfer to St. Benedict’s was a mistake. Suddenly he was confronted with a group of people who voted for Reagan and carry NRA sharpshooter certificates in their wallets. It was a disaster from the get-go.”

“I don’t normally think of religion as being so… political.”

“Well, religion isn’t. But churches are. Oh, don’t get me wrong. Daniel had some supporters, at least at the outset. But not many. Not enough.”

Something about the tone in her voice inspired Christina to take the conversation down a side road. “What about you? Were you a supporter?”

Andrea’s eyes flickered upward. “I’m his wife.”

“Come on, Andrea. Don’t give me that Pat Nixon my-husband-right-or-wrong stuff. Did you support him?”

“I’ve known Daniel since the sixties. We didn’t get married until much later. I was an activist in my own right. The day we both marched with Dr. King in Selma -that was also the first day we kissed. In fact, in those days, I was probably more active than he was.”

“So you knew what you were getting into when you married him.”

“Of course. It was part of what made me fall in love with him.” She paused. “I’ve always supported his political activities.”

“Is there something else, then? Something you don’t support?”

Andrea hesitated. Her body seemed to retract, to withdraw into her chair, just as she had done back in the office. “I have always been a supportive wife. Free-thinking. Open to new ideas. But some things… some things are just… wrong. Worse than that. Evil.”

Evil? According to Ben, it was the same word Kate McGuire had used with Father Beale. Just before she was killed. “What are you talking about, Andrea?”

“N-nothing in particular. I was just speaking generally…”

“Don’t give me that. There’s something you’re not telling me.”

“No, really…”

“Tell me, Andrea.”

“I-don’t-” She spun her head around, as if hoping the waiter might come to her rescue. “Let’s talk about something else.”

“Andrea, listen to me. Ben and I are Daniel’s attorneys. We’re trying to help him. But we can’t do our job if there are important things we don’t know. It’s absolutely crucial that you tell us everything-everything-that might relate to these murders. If we know about it now, we can prepare accordingly. Minimize the damage. If we get bushwhacked at trial, the damage could be irremediable.”

“It has nothing to do with the murders,” she insisted. “It has nothing to do with anything. I was just-just-” She gasped slightly. “Nothing.” She picked up her wineglass and downed at least half of it in a single swallow. “Where’s my pasta, anyway?”

Christina tapped her fork against the table. Rarely had she felt so frustrated during an interview. She was certain this woman knew something she and Ben needed to hear about before trial. She was also certain this woman was never going to tell her what it was.

“All right,” Christina said, trying another approach. “We’ll avoid the specifics. But-is it something that might’ve turned some of the church members against Daniel?”

Andrea’s head was trembling. “It’s-possible. I mean-I don’t really know what you mean-I don’t-I-”

“Is it something that turned you against him?” Christina knew she was pushing-probably too hard. But the questions had to be asked. “Tell me the truth, Andrea. Is it something that turned you against him?”

“It’s… so… hard…” Christina felt as if Andrea were squeezing each word out of a narrow toothpaste tube. “I’m his wife. I mean-that’s what I am.” She spread her arms wide, her face strained, as if she was trying to explain the most complex matter with a hopelessly insufficient vocabulary. “I will always be his wife, no matter what. And we’ve shared so much-there was so much I could put up with. Effortlessly. So much I could tolerate, with barely a shrug.”

Her voice broke down. Her head hung low, barely hovering over the table. “But there comes a point when it’s more than just disappointment. More than just… obscenity. There comes a point when it is… betrayal. Betrayal of everything I hold most dear. And that’s the one thing I could not forget. Or forgive.” Tears sprang out of the corners of her eyes. She took her cloth napkin and wiped her face. “Not then. Not now. Not ever.”

Chapter 16

Manly crouched down among the azaleas, waiting for his prey.

His friend had informed him that there was some sort of meeting on Wednesday night; all the doctors and their staff would be there. All who played a part in the mindless murder of babies. So he just needed to be patient. And he could do that. Willingly. Because he knew what he was doing was important, that it mattered. He was defending the martyred, fighting for a holy cause. It was only right to expect to make some sacrifices. Like the sacrifice of time. To boredom.

His boredom didn’t last long. After waiting barely half an hour, he saw a tall, slender woman in a midlength skirt moving past him. He was glad; women in skirts were always more vulnerable. They knew it and felt it. It would make what he had to do all the easier.

She must’ve parked in the north parking lot. By the faint blue glow emanating from a street light, he saw chestnut-colored hair, slim hips, ample bust. It was Dr. Laurie Fullerton, if he wasn’t mistaken. The chief of staff at the clinic. The abortion doctor.

His eyes glowed with excitement. He’d scored the jackpot.

He waited until she was just past his hiding place, then pounced. He knocked her forward, face first. Her chin thudded into the concrete, stunning her. Before she had a chance to react, he rolled her over onto her back. Straddling her, he stuffed a dirty sock into her mouth.

“Listen to me, bitch,” he said, his hand clutched tightly around her throat. “We can do this easy, or we can do this hard. It’s not gonna be pleasant for you, either way. But if you try to make any noise, try to scream or shout, it’s gonna be so much worse you’ll wish you were dead.”

Dr. Fullerton was still conscious. Her eyelids fluttered and her chin was bleeding, but she was awake, alert, aware.

“I got a message for you. And I want you to carry it back to all your buddies at the clinic. Stop killing God’s children! Got it?”

Fullerton nodded her head.

“I’m on a crusade, lady. I’m trying to save four thousand babies a year, while you and your friends get paid to be their executioners.”

Some muffled noises were audible beneath the sock. Fullerton was trying to do something-to protest, to deny, to plead for help. Whatever it was, no one heard it.

“Now I’m going to have to hurt you,” Manly growled.

Fullerton twisted her head furiously back and forth.

“It’s not something I want to do. It’s what I have to do. What I’m called to do. We don’t like violence, but sometimes it’s necessary. Just as the Crusaders had to slaughter the Saracen hordes.”

Fullerton continued shaking her head, faster and faster. Her face was transfixed with fear. Tears welled up in her eyes.

“Don’t look at me like that!” Manly bellowed. He brought his hand back and slapped her hard across the face. “It’s your own fault! You have no one to blame but yourself!”

The tears flowed faster now. Fullerton was pleading, begging for mercy, in every possible way except verbally. But it didn’t help. Manly brought his arm around, this time fist clenched, and smashed it down on her jaw.

Even with the sock stuffed in her mouth, her cry of pain was audible. Her eyes clenched shut. She writhed and twisted under his weight. But he was far too heavy for her. She was powerless.

“It’s going to get worse now,” Manly muttered. “I can’t let you off with just a warning.”

No, no, no! Fullerton screamed behind the gag.

“Did those four thousand babies get a warning?” Manly asked. He pressed his knees down into her chest. “Did anyone give them a second chance?”

Fullerton mustered all her strength, trying to break free. But she didn’t even come close.

“Time to pay for your sins,” Manly said. “You, and everyone like you.” He reared back with his fist, this time even higher than before. He tightened his muscles, readying himself to make the maximum impact. He leaned back to get more height…

And the instant he reduced the weight pinning her down, Fullerton whipped out her right hand. She was holding something; it made a hissing sound. A second later, Manly felt an intense burning in his eyes.

He clutched his face, reeling backwards. Pepper spray! Where did the murdering bitch get that?

Fullerton scrambled out from under him. Not a second later, he felt a sharp kick in his groin.

This time, he was the one who cried out. He lurched toward her, but she was already running full tilt toward the clinic. He knew he had no chance of catching her; he could barely see. The smartest thing he could do was get out of here fast, before she returned with friends.

He limped away, heading toward the side street where he had parked his car. Damn everything! How could he let her get the drop on him? And what was he going to say when he got back home?

One thing was certain. His friend would not be pleased.

“You stupid bastard!” Manly’s friend slapped him across the face. “Couldn’t even keep control of a woman?”

“I didn’t know she had the spray,” Manly mumbled. “I didn’t see it comin’.”

“You couldn’t handle one lousy piece of ass in the dark. You probably outweigh her by two to one.”

“She was fast. She must’ve had it in her purse.”

“That’s no excuse!” Another slap, then another, and then another. “Do you think Jesus made excuses when he went to Gethsemane? Did Abraham make excuses when he was told to sacrifice his son?”

“You don’t know what it was like.”

“And I don’t want to know, you sorry sack. Don’t make your excuses to me. Get down on your knees and pray to your God.” Manly’s friend shoved him downward.

Manly did as he was told. He folded his hands and prayed for his soul. It was a full five minutes before he got up again.

“I’m so sorry,” Manly said, hanging his head low.

“That much is certain.”

“Will you forgive me? Will you still help me?”

“I shouldn’t, you know. I should find someone else. Someone competent.”

“Please!”

His friend considered for a long moment before speaking. “One more chance then. But this will absolutely be the last one. I will tolerate no more failure!”

“I understand.” Manly looked up expectantly, like a naughty puppy who still hoped to be stroked. “I’ll go back out tonight.”

“Don’t be a fool. They’ll be looking for you.”

“Then-?”

“Don’t worry. I have a plan. A target.” The friend’s eyes darkened, contracting to tiny points of light. “One even better than what you’ve had before. One no one will be able to ignore.”

Chapter 17

Ben crawled on his hands and knees close behind Dr. Masterson. It was dark in here; the light from Masterson’s flashlight provided the only illumination, and it wasn’t enough, at least not as far as Ben was concerned. The air had a musty, heavy smell-not unusual for attics, he supposed. Neither were the cobwebs, but they were atmospherics he could’ve lived without.

“Almost there,” Masterson said.

They crawled on. The levers and hoses overhead were so low that Ben was forced to go down on his elbows and practically slither forward. And why did he have to choose this morning to wear his new suit?

“I didn’t even know this place existed,” Ben said, making conversation. “Dark, convoluted, inaccessible. This could be a perfect hiding place.”

“I suppose it could at that. Here we are.” Masterson laid the flashlight on the wooden planking beneath them, opened a metal panel, and went to work.

This was the first time Ben had been in the St. Benedict’s organ chambers-and the last, he resolved. He had never considered himself claustrophobic-look where he lived-but this place might change all that. He hadn’t wanted to come up here at all, but Masterson insisted he had to work on the organ electronics right now, and Ben was somewhat pressed for time himself, so it was talk now or never.

“What exactly is it you do up here, anyway?” Ben asked.

“Oh, these pipe organs require a lot of maintenance,” he explained as he worked. “Just general stuff. Checking the wiring. Tuning the reeds. Making sure everything is behaving as it should.”

“For this you got a doctorate degree in music? Seems like there should be someone else who can handle this sort of thing.”

“Like I’m going to let some boob from the Altar Guild mess with my organ? Think again.” He tightened something with a pair of pliers. “Now a trained professional, sure. That would be permissible. But it would also be expensive. And given the current sorry state of St. Benedict’s financial affairs after losing half its members… well, it’s best I attend to it myself.”

“Where’d you learn how to do this, anyway?”

“Juilliard, believe it or not. It’s not all just singing and dancing up there, you know. Sometimes we actually learned something practical.”

Ben was impressed. “You went to Juilliard? I didn’t know that.”

“Well, I don’t have it engraved on my business cards the way some of my colleagues do. But yes, I went to Juilliard. Got in when I was fifteen.”

Ben whistled. “That’s impressive.” Impressive-but also somewhat incongruous. “And then when you got out, you took a position with the Church?”

Masterson made a coughing noise, deep in his throat. “No. Not exactly.” He reached for another tool. “My initial goal was to be a concert musician. I played piano on a per-service basis with the Cleveland Orchestra. And the Boston Symphony.”

“Really?”

“I even played Carnegie Hall. Not alone, of course.”

“That’s tremendous. And then you… I mean, and after that you…”

“You’re searching for a graceful way of saying, What the hell happened to you? Right?”

“Well…”

“Yeah. Don’t worry about it. It’s a sensible question to ask.” He gritted his teeth, applying force to a stubborn connection. “Have you ever known anyone who worked as a musician?”

“I’ve worked as a musician,” Ben answered. “In college. And again, not too long ago. Played the piano. Sang a little.”

“Indeed. I didn’t know we had a former professional in our little choir. What kind of music do you like?”

“Well, I played jazz, in a club down in Greenwood. My personal taste leans more to folk music.”

Masterson’s voice became quizzical. “A folk pianist?”

“Yeah, well, that was the problem.”

“Who are your favorite folk musicians?”

“Classical or Celtic or modern?”

“Whatever.”

“Well, big picture, no one was ever better than Oklahoma ’s own Woody Guthrie. Modern? I liked Harry Chapin. I’m still crazy for Christine Lavin. Janis Ian.”

“Mmm.” Masterson made a swooning sound. “Janis Ian. She’s got to be one of the greatest songwriters of our time, don’t you think?”

“You know her work?”

“What, you thought I just listened to church music all day long?”

“Well…”

“You thought I just listened to stuffy boring classical music.” He chuckled. “Well, I suppose I deserve that. I’m a bit uppity about my music at times. So how long did you play in this club?”

“About six months. I eventually returned to practicing law.”

“Couldn’t live without the big bucks, huh?”

Ben snorted. “Yeah, that’s it. Big bucks.”

“Well, my story is much like yours, only in reverse,” Masterson said wistfully. “You probably know what’s been happening to symphony orchestras lately. Funding dries up; the community doesn’t support serious art. They try to limp along doing those embarrassing pops concerts-which is a nice way of saying they’re playing drivel to make money-but it doesn’t last long. I don’t know how the Tulsa Philharmonic has survived as long as it has. Anyway, to make a long story short, I got laid off.”

“So that’s when you started playing in churches?”

“No. That’s when I became so thoroughly disgusted that I gave up music altogether. I managed a bookstore in a Boston suburb. Had nothing to do with music for three years.”

“But you eventually came back.”

“Yes. I remember one of my professors at Juilliard saying, in essence, that you have to leave music for a while to find out if you really have what it takes to spend your life there. I guess I learned that I did, or at the least, that I couldn’t live without it. But no one was hiring in the concert halls. So a friend steered me toward an Episcopal church near Boston that needed an interim organist. I took the job-and loved it. The parishioners were highly educated; they appreciated quality music. The rector was a delight. He let me do my job without interference. It was a pleasure.”

“But it ended.”

“Yes. As I knew it would. It was only an interim position. I managed to work at a series of different churches. And each one, if you’ll forgive me for being blunt, seemed to be smaller and more ignorant than the one before. Until finally I ended up here.”

“St. Benedict’s is a long way from Juilliard.”

Masterson made a grunting noise. “No comment.” And he went right on tightening.

“Still, it isn’t the worst church in the world.”

“You mean, it wasn’t,” Masterson corrected him. “That’s true. In the early days, before Father Beale arrived, it was a nice place. Small, of course, and filled with hicks, but nice. Didn’t pay me squat. I was forced to moonlight, taking teaching jobs at ORU or filling in at special events downtown. Playing the celesta for the Nutcracker every Christmas. Now there’s an insipid piece of pabulum if ever there was one. But I made ends meet. I was fine.” He paused. “Until Father Beale arrived.”

“You don’t like Father Beale much, do you?”

“I have no personal feelings for him one way or the other,” Masterson insisted. “But he’s been a horrible rector. Look what he’s done to this church. I realize he’s your friend and client, Ben, but let’s be honest-he’s torn this place apart.”

“I’m not sure everything that’s happened can be blamed on him.”

“I am. I saw disaster coming the first day I met him. And I was right.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve been around enough priests to know when trouble is brewing.”

“But what exactly did Father Beale do wrong?”

“It’s not really what he did, Ben. It’s who he is. Whether you care to admit it or not, the man is a raging egomaniac. I mean, all that save-the-world folderol, with the protest marches and equal rights and gay rights, et cetera. What is that, when you get right down to it, but egotism? ‘If only the world was as truly holy as I am.’ ”

“Did you have trouble working with him?”

“Always. And without exception. And I am mindful of the fact that the church canons say the rector is the boss. But any sensible rector, anyone with a modicum of respect for other people’s work and talents, would not constantly interfere.”

“But Father Beale did?”

“He was always overruling me, choosing different hymns, vetoing anthems. And he didn’t have the foggiest idea what he was doing. Some of his selections were flat-out tasteless. He favored trite familiar hymns to anything interesting or of quality. He would choose too many hymns too similar, instead of giving the congregation some variety. It was an artistic outrage.”

“I’m sure he was trying to do what he thought best for the church.”

“I don’t think so. I think he was trying to show his total and utter contempt for me. He was trying to prove that he was the boss. That this was his church so he could do anything he wanted. It was egotism, pure and simple.”

“So… you were hoping that… somehow… he would leave the church?”

Ben could not see, but could hear, the grin on Masterson’s face. “Trying to find a motive, are we?”

“Can’t blame me for trying.” Ben wondered how much longer they were going to be in this cramped attic. Both his legs had fallen asleep. If he was here much longer, he probably wouldn’t be able to move at all.

“I didn’t frame him for murder.”

“Can you think of anyone who might’ve done it?”

“Ben, virtually everyone in this church might’ve done it. They certainly had cause. But I don’t believe they did. Because when all is said and done, to commit crimes of this nature, horrible crimes, requires an anger, a… a meanness, that no one here has. No one but Father Beale.”

Ben sighed. He’d heard this story far too many times. “What about the two women who were killed? Do you know of any reason anyone might’ve had to do that?”

“Other than the strife in the vestry regarding Father Beale? None whatsoever. They were both lovely women. Treasures. I knew them both and loved them both. What happened to them was an atrocity.”

“Ernestine Rupert suggested to my investigator that Kate McGuire might’ve been in some sort of trouble.”

“Ernestine Rupert.” The words dripped with contempt. “Well, she would know, of course.”

“You don’t like Ernestine?”

“Let’s move on to another subject.”

“Why don’t you like Ernestine?”

No answer. Masterson was ignoring him. So of course, he plowed right on ahead. “Was she blackmailing you?”

Masterson dropped his wrench. “What has she told you?”

“She hasn’t told me anything. But my assistant thinks she’s blackmailing… someone else, and judging from the thickness of her little blue book, I’m guessing he’s not her only source of illicit income. Am I right?”

Masterson’s voice became hard. “I told you, I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Okay, let me ask you a slightly different question. Why was she blackmailing you?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. And if you don’t drop this line of inquisition immediately, I’ll toss you out of my attic. Headfirst.”

Ben let it pass. Whatever it was, Masterson obviously didn’t want to talk about it, or he wouldn’t be paying hush money. It probably wasn’t germane to the murders, and Ben was in no position to browbeat Masterson, with his legs fast asleep and his nose pressed against the floor. “I’ve noticed that you talk about the importance of music and the purity of the selections, but you never actually seem… oh…”

“Devout?” Masterson said, completing the sentence.

“Yeah. Are you an Episcopalian?”

“Got bad news for you, Ben. I’m not even a Christian. Not in the organized religion sense, anyway.” He slapped his hands and closed the metal panel. “Oh, I am on paper. But after all I’ve seen…” He shook his head.

Ben was stunned. “Isn’t that sort of like… a requirement for being a minister? Even of music?”

“Nope. All they ever quiz me about are my musical credentials. They assume religion from the fact that I work in churches. And to be fair, I do consider myself religious. But as for all this kneeling and bowing and such-forget it. I mean, it’s pretty medieval, isn’t it? With the robes and the candles and incense and all. Primitive. And rather creepy. Don’t you agree?”

“No, I don’t.”

“You say that, Ben, but I don’t see you up at the communion rail Sunday mornings.”

“Well… that’s different.”

“You know what the difference is?” Masterson squirmed around on his elbows until he was facing Ben. “The difference is-I’m honest about it. I don’t believe in all this hocus-pocus, and I won’t pretend that I do. I won’t put on a show for the audience. I don’t hedge my bets with heaven just in case I’m wrong. I try to be intellectually honest. And I don’t make exceptions. Not even for God.”

Chapter 18

Ben was sitting at the piano in his apartment, trying to learn a Janis Ian tune called “Hopper Painting,” when he heard a knock on the door.

“Who is it?” he asked.

“Lasagna,” came the reply.

Ben flung open the door. Joni Singleton stood on the other side, cradling a baking pan in her arms.

“Lasagna who?”

She smiled. “If this is a joke, I don’t know the punch line. Make way, Benjamin. I fixed you dinner.” Without waiting for an invitation, she pushed past him and made her way to the kitchen.

Ben checked his watch. “Isn’t it a little late for dinner?”

“What, like you’re going to tell me you’ve eaten already? You’ve been banging on that piano since you came home.” She peered down at an open box of Cap’n Crunch on the coffee table. “Honestly, Ben, you eat like an eight-year-old.”

“I like to keep my life simple.”

She opened the cupboard and began removing plates and silverware. “You need someone to take care of you, Ben. In the worst way.”

“I beg your pardon. I think I get along quite nicely.”

“For a sad-sack thirtysomething who isn’t married and as far as I know isn’t even dating regularly and lives alone and thinks dip made from onion soup mix is a gourmet treat, yeah, you’re getting along great.”

God save me from twenty-year-old college students, Ben thought. “Well, it’s a treat, anyway,” Ben corrected her. “It’s only a gourmet treat if you wash it down with chocolate milk.”

Joni cringed. “Don’t make me barf, Ben, okay? I’m trying to fix a meal here.”

Ben watched quietly as his tenant and part-time handyman (handywoman?) set the table. She was looking good these days. Of course, she always had, but even more so tonight. Ben suspected she’d been visiting the gym, although how she fit that in with going to TU full-time, working part-time, and helping her divorced mother manage her much-too-large family, Ben couldn’t imagine.

When she was finished, Joni fluffed her curly hair behind her head, took a seat at the table, and instructed Ben to take the one opposite. Ben picked up his fork and started toward the lasagna.

“Who’s going to say grace?” Joni asked.

Ben froze. He made a coughing noise. “Uh… perhaps you… should…”

“Fine.” Joni bowed her head and clasped her hands. “Good bread, good meat… good God, let’s eat.” She giggled. “Amen.”

Ben cocked an eyebrow. “I’m not familiar with that particular catechism. Did you learn it in Catholic school?”

“Oh, yes. But not from the sisters.”

Ben scooped up a large helping of the lasagna. He wasn’t remotely hungry-Cap’n Crunch is deceptively filling-but he knew Joni had gone to a lot of trouble for him.

“This is excellent,” Ben told her. “Is this an old family recipe?”

“Yes, but I’m the only one who makes it anymore. Mother just buys the frozen lasagna tins at Sam’s. It’s sad, really.”

“Agreed.” He took a second helping. “So, how’s school? If you don’t mind my asking.”

“Mind you asking? If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t even be there. And I’m doing great. But that’s not what I wanted to talk about.” She paused. “I’ve got a favor to ask.”

Uh-oh. Was this where he paid for the pudding? “And what would that be?”

“You remember me telling you about Milo?”

Ben nodded. “New boyfriend. Very intellectual. Likes to rattle on about Kierkegaard and the works of William Faulkner.”

“Yeah. Well, see… he’s got this sister…”

“Ye-es? Some people do.”

“Yeah. Well, her name is Brita and she’s very nice and smart, too, and Milo has been wanting to double-date with her ’cause there’s this play they’re doing at Theatre Tulsa they want to see, except she doesn’t have anyone to go out with right now…”

Ben put down his fork. “Ye-esss?”

Joni drew in her breath. “So, we were wondering if you would maybe come with us. Just to make it a foursome.”

He gave her a stern look. “Joni Singleton. Are you trying to fix me up?”

She waved her hands in the air, a bit too energetically. “No, Ben. Nothing like that. It’s just that there’s this play we want to see, and I know you like plays and all that cultural stuff…”

“Uh-huh.”

“And she’s older than Milo, so she’s actually closer to your age.”

“How much older?”

“Like… almost two years.”

“So, I’d only be, say, a decade older than her?”

“Well, a little more than that, actually, but what does it matter? It’s just a play.” She giggled nervously. “So what do you say?”

“You want me to go out with a woman who’s barely old enough to drink?”

“She can drink chocolate milk, so what do you care?”

“I don’t think so, Joni.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m too old for her. I might as well be dating you.”

He had meant it as a joke, but for some reason, the instant he said it, the table conversation went dead. Joni coughed into her hand. Ben wiped his mouth with his napkin. They avoided one another’s eyes.

“Now that really would be ridiculous,” Joni said finally, her voice a bit warbly. “But like I said, Brita is older than I am.”

“Joni,” he said, “The Beale trial starts Monday morning. I’m very busy right now.”

“Busy with work, yeah. But you can’t spend your whole life working. You never spend any time hanging with girls.”

“That’s not true. I hang with girls all the time.”

“Like who?”

“Well, Christina, of course. And… and… well, Christina takes up a lot of time.”

“There’s Christina, and there’s me. And unless I’m missing something, you’re not dating either one of us.”

“Forgive me, Joni, but this is none of your business.”

“I know it’s none of my business, Ben. But I care about you. I’m sorry, I know that sentimental stuff makes you uncomfortable, but I do. You’ve done so much for me. I just wanted to do a little something for you, you know?”

“Like cleaning my apartment?”

“More than that.”

“I’m perfectly able to meet women on my own.”

“Oh, sure, I know you are. In theory. But I also know that you tend to be a little shy and backward-”

“Backward?”

“I mean, not mentally. Not that you’re stupid, exactly. But, like, socially. You tend to be a little…”

“Backward?”

“You know what I mean.” She slapped her hands down on the table. “So what do you say, Ben? I really wish you would come. I think we’d have fun.”

Ben chewed his lower lip. He could think of about a thousand reasons to decline, but somehow, when he peered into Joni’s big brown eyes, he couldn’t make himself do it. “If I can get away from work, I’ll join you.”

“Yippee! Oh, Brita’s going to be so excited. I’ve told her all about you, how smart you are, and talented, and erotic-”

“Excuse me?”

“Okay, so I improvised a little. But she’s going to be so happy!”

After Joni cleared the table and wrapped up the leftover lasagna, of which there was enough to last Ben a month, which was probably Joni’s plan, they set a tentative date. Joni glided out of his apartment.

As he fed Giselle some of the leftover lasagna, his mind inevitably drifted back to what Joni had said. Backward? Was she right? Was that why he was still alone? Was that why he wasn’t seeing anyone seriously? Why he really hadn’t seen anyone seriously for any length of time-since Toronto and Ellen?

Ellen. She used to haunt his dreams. And now she haunted his nightmares. He could never forget. No matter how hard he tried.

Was that the problem? Or was it just his natural reticence? His wariness of other people. Because after all, other people were nasty. Could be, anyway. He smiled when he recalled where he had first heard that. Because, against all odds, he had first heard it long ago, when he was not yet even a teenager.

And he had heard it from a priest.

Father Beale, the much younger, beardless version Ben had known twenty-three years before in Oklahoma City, tried to counsel him. They were sitting in folding chairs set up in the back of the sanctuary for the choir. It was just the two of them; no one else was around.

Father Beale peered down at the twelve-year-old boy. “So, you’re saying you don’t want to participate in acolyte training?”

“No,” Ben replied quietly. “I don’t.”

“And may I ask why?”

“Because I don’t want to be an acolyte.”

Father Beale tilted his head. “Flawlessly logical.”

“Why does everyone think I have to be an acolyte, just because I’m twelve?”

“It’s traditional. A time-honored rite of passage in our church.”

Ben squirmed. “Well, I don’t believe in all that church stuff, anyway.”

Beale’s forehead creased. “Are you telling me you’re an atheist?”

“No,” Ben replied. “I’m a nihilist. There’s a difference.”

“I see. A twelve-year-old nihilist. Interesting.”

“I hope you won’t repeat that to my parents.”

“Of course not. Priest-communicant privilege.”

“Good. I’m not sure they’d understand.”

“Probably not.” Beale’s eyes turned toward the rafters. “Especially not your father.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Oh, nothing really. Except that I’ve noticed that you and your father are… well, what’s the phrase? Not exactly a perfect match.”

“That’s one way of putting it.”

“I’ve noticed in church that sometimes he’ll put his hand on your shoulder and you… sort of cringe, don’t you? You pull away.”

“I don’t mean to.”

“I’m sure.” Father Beale locked eyes with Ben. “I’ve also noticed more than once the bruises on your arms. Your legs. That black eye you had last winter. A lot of injuries for a boy who doesn’t play sports.”

Ben fell silent. He looked down at the floor tiles.

“That’s what this is all about, isn’t it?” Beale continued. “You don’t want to be an acolyte-because you father does want you to be an acolyte.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I just don’t believe in all that mumbo jumbo.”

“I expect I’ve got a lot of acolytes who don’t believe in all that mumbo jumbo, but they’re still happy to be acolytes. If for no other reason, it’s fun. Lighting the candles, wearing the robes. Hanging out with the other kids.” He batted his lips with a finger. “But that doesn’t really speak to you, either, does it?”

“I just don’t want to be an acolyte, okay already? Are you going to make me?”

“No, Ben, I’m not going to make you. I think it would be good for you. I think God wants you to do it. But you have to come to Him willingly, or it’s meaningless. Don’t you agree?”

“I agree that it’s meaningless.”

Beale grinned. “I like you, Ben. I really do. You’re a rebel, just like me. And we need more rebels in this world.” He stretched out in his chair. “I do think it would serve you well to have some friends, though.”

“I have friends.”

“What? Books? I’m talking about the other kids in this church. Why aren’t you out in the back shooting the breeze with the other boys your age?”

Ben’s voice was soft and halting. “I don’t really… get along with the other boys. They always talk about… weird stuff.”

“Like sex?”

Ben’s eyes widened. “How did you know?”

“For starters, I was twelve once. In my experience, the conversation of twelve-year-old boys principally deals with bodily functions. Sex being the most popular.”

Ben looked down at the floor. “I just can’t… follow all that dirty talk.”

“Dad hasn’t had the chat with you yet, huh?” He sighed. “Well, your father is a busy man. Tell you what, Ben. I’ve got a book I’m going to lend you. You like books, right? It should solve some of the mysteries. But, uh…” He tugged at his collar. “You don’t necessarily need to tell your parents I lent it to you. In fact, I don’t think they need to know you have it at all. We’ll just make it our little secret. Okay? That shouldn’t be a problem for a twelve-year-old nihilist.”

“Okay. Cool.”

“Read it through a few times. Then you should have no trouble conversing with the other boys on this all-important subject.”

“But-even when I know what they’re talking about… they talk so dirty. They make fun of me ’cause I don’t talk like them.”

“Well, other boys can be nasty. Other people, actually.” Father Beale pondered a moment. “May I make a suggestion? Another one that your father probably wouldn’t approve of?”

“Sure.”

“Next time you see the other boys, just say fuck a few times.”

Ben gasped. “Wha-wha-”

“You heard me. Just say fuck, loud and clear. It’s a very flexible word. An Anglo-Saxon classic. You can use it, or a form of it, as a noun, a verb, an adjective, or an adverb.”

Ben gaped. He’d never in his life heard any grown-up use that word. Especially not a priest.

“Just do it and get it over with. God won’t hold it against you, I promise. And once you’ve done it a few times, you’ll be in the club. You’ll be one of the gang. And,” he added emphatically, “you won’t have to do it any more thereafter. Understand?”

Ben nodded.

“Good. Now run along. I’ll tell your father we’re doing some soul-searching, and we’ll put off this acolyte decision for a while, till you’ve had more time to think about it. I want you to join-I want you to feel that you’re dedicating your life to a higher cause-but it’s something you have to come to on your own.”

“Okay.”

“And be sure to admire my new stained glass window on your way out of here. It’s a beaut, isn’t it? I’ve waited eight years to put something that exquisite in this church.”

Ben did admire the new window, a full-length, multicolored portrayal of a dove rising above a rainbow. The conclusion of the Noah’s Ark story. He could see why Father Beale was so proud; it was positively breathtaking.

What he did not know then, what he could not possibly imagine, was how that window-and Father Beale-would change his life forever.

Chapter 19

The Gospel According to Daniel

My first service after my release from jail was not, I would have to say, a rousing success. I had feared a boycott, but when the parishioners began to arrive in their usual numbers, I was lulled into the false belief that all was well, that they were willing to give me another chance. No one spoke to me, true, but that in itself was not unusual before a service, when both they and I are in a contemplative and prayerful state. They took their seats in the pews and all proceeded as usual. The choir sang, the readers read. I preached a sermon on the importance of forgiveness. I’m sure many in attendance thought I had chosen a self-serving topic, but in fact I had based my homily, as I always do, on the gospel reading for that Sunday prescribed by the lectionary. Whatever their thoughts, everyone sat quietly and listened. I was elated.

Until it came time for communion. At St. Benedict’s, as at many Episcopal churches, we take communion at every Sunday service. I went through the usual procedures, breaking the bread, blessing the wine, singing the Sanctus and the Agnus Dei and so forth. But when I opened my eyes, the congregation was not moving forward to take the sacraments of Christ. One by one, they were moving in the opposite direction. They were leaving.

My people would not take communion from me.

Like Christ in the Garden, I stood alone.

That afternoon I cried like a baby. Cried and cried and cried. Cried to myself, cried out to God. Why would he visit this upon me? I still believed I was following his calling, that he wanted me to be at St. Benedict’s. But if that was true, why was he punishing me so? For a shepherd to watch his own flock walk out on him-that went beyond testing. That, it seemed to me, was pure cruelty. But I did not-I could not-believe that my God was a cruel one. I do not believe that God causes tragedies to test us, that he kills tiny children to bring about some greater scheme. So why then was this happening? Either God truly was cruel, or God was powerless to stop the chain of events that had ensnared me. There seemed no other possible explanations.

And I did not know that I could live with either of those.

“All right,” Ben said to all those gathered around the conference table, “this may be our last chance, so if there’s anything you’ve learned, anything you’ve suspected, anything you haven’t told me yet, this is the time. The trial starts Monday morning at nine a.m., and I intend to be ready.”

Despite the fact that it was a Sunday afternoon, Ben had his whole staff gathered in the office-Christina, Loving, Jones, and Paula, just for good measure-as well as Father Beale. Everyone was trying to put a brave face on it, since the defendant was present, but Ben knew they were all conscious of the same omnipresent fact: The prosecution had a lot of evidence against Father Beale, and they had come up with precious little in his defense.

“What about all the people from St. Benedict’s you’ve interviewed, Loving? I’ve read your reports. Is there anything more? Any suspicions you couldn’t quite nail down? Any possible theories or motives?”

“I keep comin’ back to the fact that Alvin Greene dated the last victim, Skipper.” The large man shifted his weight uncomfortably in a chair that was much too small for him. “And that no one else in the church seemed to know anythin’ about it. Seems suspicious to me.”

“Alvin Greene?” Christina said. “That sweet little Altar Guild guy? He couldn’t harm a fly.”

“Yeah, that’s what they said about Ted Bundy. Looks can be deceivin’. I know this guy is hidin’ somethin’. He practic’ly admitted it to me, but I couldn’t pry it out of him, come hell or high water.”

“You think it has something to do with the church?” Ben asked.

“I know it does. The question is-what?”

“Maybe he was hinting about Ernestine’s blackmail racket,” Jones suggested.

Father Beale did a double-take. “Ernestine Rupert? A blackmailer?”

“Like I said,” Loving grimaced, “looks are deceivin’.”

“Now there’s a woman,” Jones said, “who strikes me as being capable of doing just about anything.”

“Like hirin’ a hit man?” Loving suggested.

“I don’t know if I’d go that far. But she’s a strong-willed woman. And even if it’s just gossip, everyone seems to think she’s quite wealthy.”

“Fabulously wealthy would be more like it,” Paula said. She opened a red folder and slid a report across the table. “I went onto the Internet and researched all our suspects. She’s loaded.”

“How rich is fabulously rich?”

“Well, she’s not quite up there with Elizabeth II, but it’s impressive, just the same. Her estate is around eight or ten million.”

Ben whistled. “That could buy you a few hit men.”

“Yes. And anything else you wanted.”

Jones frowned. “If this woman is so wealthy, why is she blackmailing people?”

“Greed,” Loving suggested. “Coupled with fundamental meanness.”

Ben addressed his client. “Did you know how wealthy she is?”

“I knew she had a lot. I knew it because she reminded me of it constantly. Reminded me what an outsize proportion of the St. Benedict’s budget comes from her annual tithe. She frequently implicitly threatened to withdraw her support if I didn’t give her what she wanted.”

“And did you?”

“More often than not. Though not often enough to please her. We have a lot of wonderful, warm, giving people in our church-but few who have any money to speak of. The truth is-if Ernestine withdrew her pledge, I don’t know if we’d survive.”

“What about her nephew?” Ben asked.

Loving grinned. “Now there’s someone who really couldn’t harm a fly. Though I suspect he’d like to. But he’s totally under his aunt’s thumb.”

“You can’t see him slipping away to cause a bit of mischief?”

“When would he have time? He’s too busy fetchin’ his aunt’s slippers and stirrin’ her tea.”

“I talked to Paul Masterson yesterday myself.” Ben turned toward Father Beale. “He’s got a few axes to grind with you.”

Beale stroked his beard. “The man is a consummate musician, but unfortunately, he suffers from a huge inferiority complex. I have suggested that he try some counseling, but of course, he was not receptive.”

“He says you overrule him and change his hymn selections for the services.”

“That’s true. Did he tell you why?”

“Not really.”

Beale tried to explain. “Selecting a hymn is more than just picking a pretty song. Masterson is untouchable when it comes to musicality-but he sometimes forgets that there is more to a hymn than an interesting tune. There is a text, too. They’re little homilies. Short sermons. The Book of Common Prayer sets forth our scriptures for each service-chooses our topic, if you will-and the hymns should be coordinated with that topic. When Masterson forgets to do that-or does it poorly-I intervene.”

It sounded rational enough to Ben, but he had a hunch Masterson might have a rebuttal. “What about you, Christina? Did you find anything out from George Finley or Susan Marino?”

“Well, I told you, I think they’re very close.”

“Are we talking romance here?”

She shrugged. “They denied it. But there was definitely something between them. Some tension or uneasiness or… something.”

“More secrets,” Loving mused. “How many can this church have?”

“We need all the information we can muster in that courtroom,” Ben said. “I can’t cross-examine people effectively when I don’t know what’s going on.”

“We know, Skipper,” Loving said. “We’re still lookin’.”

“Good. I need Christina with me in the courtroom. But the rest of you-keep investigating. Follow these people. Talk to their friends. Dig around on the Internet. The most trivial detail might turn out to be important.”

Jones nodded. “Got it, Boss.”

“I know we’ve been in tight scrapes before. And there have probably been cases where we went into trial with less information, too. But this is different.” He tried to avoid looking at Father Beale. “This time we know the prosecution has a strong case. We know public sentiment has already tried and convicted our client. We know there are secrets no one is talking about.” He paused. “We know the odds are stacked against us.”

He took a deep breath. “But we can’t let that get to us. No matter what-we have to win this case. We-we-” His voice broke. He turned to Father Beale. “We will win this case. That’s a promise.”

After the rest of his staff departed, Ben remained in the office with Father Beale. Beale had uncorked a bottle of merlot, and he and Ben were sharing a drink.

“Hope you don’t mind,” Beale explained. “But I know this trial could go on forever, and I know once it starts, drinking will not be an option.” He winked. “So I wanted to get in a few good gulps while the getting was good.”

He swirled the burgundy liquid around in his glass. “I do love red wine, don’t you?”

“Well, I’ve learned how to drink it,” Ben answered. Not a cool response, he supposed, but you can’t lie to your priest. “I’m not much of an aficionado.”

“You should be. It’s smart and relaxing and-in my opinion-even holy. Benjamin Franklin said beer was proof that God loves us.” He smiled. “It’s all part of making the most of what God has given us. Taking comfort from his treasures. While we can.”

Ben arched an eyebrow. “Excuse me, but are you promoting the consumption of alcoholic beverages?”

“Well, I am a priest, aren’t I?” He took a deep swallow. “And speaking of religion-”

“Do we have to?”

“I noticed you still didn’t take communion last Sunday. It would be hard to miss-since virtually everyone else in the sanctuary walked out on me.”

“I’m sorry about that, Father. I thought that was nasty and… and inexcusable. Regardless of the circumstances.”

“Yes, but don’t change the subject. When are you going to stop toying with religion and really commit yourself? Take a leap of faith?”

“I’m not twelve anymore, Father.”

“Do you have to be a child to believe?”

“Father, if you’d seen some of the things I’d seen…”

“Oh, please.”

“Look, I’ve got too much to do at the moment, Father. More than I can handle, what with this trial and everything.”

“Have you asked God for help?”

Ben’s neck twisted. “You see-that’s what I dislike most about religion-the power-of-prayer bit. People say, God answers prayers, so pray for what you want, and you’ll get it. Unless you don’t. Then it means God said no. Which is pretty convenient, isn’t it?”

“We can’t begin to understand why God answers some prayers and not others.”

“I mean, it’s really like a celestial Santa Claus. You make out your list and send it up. If you get some of it occasionally, it proves Santa exists. Except, of course, that he doesn’t.”

“But you’re so wrong, Ben,” Beale said. “Santa does exist. If you don’t believe me-ask a five-year-old. Santa is the spirit of Christmas.”

“Oh, don’t give me that ‘Yes, Virginia ’ rot.”

“But it’s true. You have to realize-just because things don’t have tangible reality, that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Ideas are just as real as people and property. Ideas have changed the world, profoundly, to an extent most people never approach. The idea of Santa-the spirit of Christmas-is very real and wonderful.”

“I think you’re stretching a point to win an argument.”

“You can’t ask me to explain the unexplainable, Ben. Some questions simply have no answers. It was meant to be that way. If we could prove empirically that God exists-what would be the point? That wouldn’t be faith. That would be… science class. True religion requires an act of faith-that’s what defines it. That’s what makes it important.”

“This is all sounding pretty mysterious to me, Father.”

Beale settled back into his chair. “I’ve talked to your partner, Christina. I like her a lot.”

“Everyone does.”

“Including you?” He grinned. “Never mind. None of my business. But she tells me that you’re very good at solving mysteries.”

Ben shrugged. “I’ve gotten lucky a time or two.”

“Well, then,” Father Beale said, wrapping his fingers around the silver cross dangling from his neck, “isn’t it time you tackled the greatest mystery of all?”

Chapter 20

Ben almost missed it, in the early twilight, as he crossed the parking lot to get to his car. A plain piece of paper, folded over once, and tucked under the driver’s side washer blade.

He looked all around. As far as he could tell, no one else was present. Of course, he’d been in the office almost all day. This note could’ve been left at any time.

He unfolded it. The short message was spelled out in block capital letters: meet at shed behind church at nine. we must talk.

He crumpled the note in his hand. He knew the place-a storage shed where they housed seasonal decorations and gardening equipment and anything else that didn’t fit in the church itself. But who was it from? And what did his correspondent want to talk about?

He knew one thing for certain-if Mike were around, he would tell Ben that under no circumstances should he make this rendezvous. It could be anyone-someone who thinks Ben knows too much, someone who hates lawyers, someone who’s convinced Beale is guilty and wants to take it out on his attorney.

But there was also the possibility that the person who wrote the note knew something about this case, maybe something he or she couldn’t say on the record. Something that might help Father Beale. And if there was any possibility of that…

His throat dry, Ben slid behind the wheel and started toward Seventy-first. This was probably stupid-possibly even dangerous. But he had no choice. He simply had no choice.

As Ben entered the north parking lot at St. Benedict’s, he was surprised to see several other cars already there. Had other people gotten mysterious notes under their windshield wipers? he wondered. Or was something else going on here?

Up ahead, passing by the prayer garden, Ben spotted Father Beale heading toward the church. That was odd. He’d given his client strict instructions to go home and get some rest-because once the trial started, he would have little spare time and even less rest.

Ben ran up behind him. “Father Beale? What are you doing here?”

Beale stroked his snowy white beard. “Vestry meeting,” he said, without much enthusiasm.

“You’re kidding!”

Beale shook his head sadly. “It is Sunday night.”

“I told you to go home and relax. A vestry meeting is about the most unrelaxing thing I can imagine.”

“I am the rector of this church,” he replied evenly. “I can’t miss the vestry meetings.”

“But what’s the point? You know how those people feel about you.”

“I am the rector of this church,” he repeated.

“I need you to be one hundred percent tomorrow, not all strung out from some aggravating, traumatizing meeting.”

“I have to be there,” he said simply.

Ben let him pass, but he was not happy about it. The last thing on earth they needed was another angry confrontation fueling the prosecution theories. Most of the vestry members were on Canelli’s witness list. This would only give them one more horror story to relate to the jury.

Inside the church, Ben saw Dr. Masterson and George Finley and Ruth O’Connell and several other vestry members in the parish hall, waiting for the meeting to begin. They looked about as enthusiastic about this as Father Beale did. Ben toyed with the idea of getting on his cell phone and calling in a bomb threat, just to break up the meeting. Illegal, true, but it would be a mercy to all concerned.

Carol Mason, the gorgeous Sunday school teacher, met Father Beale at the door outside the parish hall. “We have to talk,” she said quietly. She took Father Beale’s hand into her own and held it, leading him away. A surprisingly intimate gesture, Ben thought. He wondered if he was the only one who noticed.

Behind him, outside the parish hall, Ben heard voices-angry voices. He turned quietly and followed the sounds. They were coming from the nursery, of all places, but they were not the voices of children. Two adults were in there, one male, one female. He pressed up against the wall just outside the door and listened.

“Hell, yes!” the man said. “Of course I knew the trial started tomorrow. But I didn’t expect to be subpoenaed!”

“It’s just a precaution,” the female assured him. “Standard procedure. To make sure you’ll be there when they need you.”

“Maybe so, but I still don’t like it. What if they call me to the witness stand and start asking a lot of questions?”

“Like you thought you’d be one of those witnesses they didn’t ask any questions?”

“You know what I mean.”

There was a protracted pause, long and deadly.

“There’s no reason why it should even come up. It has nothing to do with the murders.”

“Susan, I don’t know that.”

There was another pause, even longer than before. Ben took the opportunity to quietly inch his head toward the door, just enough to see who was in there. As he surmised, the woman was Susan Marino, current leader of the vestry. And she was speaking to George Finley.

“A little late to be having second thoughts, isn’t it, George?”

“How did I know it would come to this?” he said, his voice escalating. “How did I know people were going to be murdered?”

“You didn’t, George, and you still don’t. You don’t know anything.”

“Susan-I’m warning you. I do not want this to get out.”

“Then keep your head together and your mouth shut. Look-it’s almost nine. Let’s go to the meeting.”

Ben crept away from the door and segued into the hallway. Bad enough to be eavesdropping; he certainly didn’t want to be caught. He drifted into the narthex and talked to other members of the vestry, but didn’t learn anything of interest. After a few minutes, he gave it up. The meeting was getting ready to start, and he had no desire to experience the acrimony that was sure to follow. Besides, he had a rendezvous to make.

He passed through the front doors of the church and walked around to the back. About fifteen feet away from the south wall of the church was the barn-shaped storage shed.

The door was open, just barely.

Slowly, Ben crossed the darkened yard to the shed. Twilight had given way to night, and there was no moon out, or if there was, it was hidden behind heavy cloud cover. A little light spilled out of the top windows in the back of the church, but not much. If the shed had been any smaller, he might not have been able to find it.

The wind was cold on his cheek; rain was coming, if he wasn’t mistaken. It gave him a shiver. Or something did, anyway.

He took the doorknob in hand and slowly pulled it open. The door creaked like something out of a haunted house, or so it seemed, there in the chilling darkness.

He stepped inside. It was much too dark to see anything. He knew from previous visits that the shed was stacked high with boxes and decorations and lawn care equipment, but he couldn’t detect any of that yet. Maybe in a moment, after his eyes adjusted. Although what they were going to adjust to, he didn’t know, because it was just as dark outside as it was in here.

“Hello?” he said into the darkness.

There was no response.

Maybe this was a mistake, he thought, staring out into the void, goose pimples crawling across his flesh. A killer had already struck twice at this church. Maybe for once he should play it smart and get out while the going-

He heard something. A rattling noise, something moving ever so slightly.

“Is someone in here?”

Still no answer. Ben’s pulse was racing. He was breathing harder and deeper and his knees were beginning to shake.

He was terrified, but it wouldn’t do to let that show. He tried to sound tough. “Look, if you have something to tell me, let’s get it over with, okay? Otherwise, I’m out of here.”

There was a sudden rustling sound in the rear of the shed. He heard footsteps fast approaching. And some kind of muffled shuffling or murmuring or-

Giggling? Did he really hear giggling?

All at once, the overhead light flashed on and Ben saw two small figures standing before him. Two teenage girls.

“Judy! Maura!” His eyes flashed red with anger. “What in the-?”

Control your language, he told himself. Not in front of the children. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Only having a little fun,” Judy said. She was grinning from ear to ear. “Didn’t you think that was exciting? And mysterious?”

Ben could still feel his heart thumping in his chest. “You don’t want to know what I thought it was. Did you put that note under my windshield?”

Judy nodded her head guiltily.

“Judy, do you understand that I’m starting a murder trial tomorrow morning? You shouldn’t be telling me you need to talk if you don’t.”

“But I do need to talk to you,” she said. Both eyes and voice dropped a notch. “I-I’ve been needing to for a long time.”

“Why? What is it?”

For once, Judy appeared to have lost some of her brashness. “I… wanted to ask you something.”

“Yeah, yeah. What is it?”

“I wanted to ask…” Her eyes roamed all around the shed. “I wanted to ask if you’d like to go out to dinner with me.”

Ben’s lips parted. “You’re kidding me. You brought me here-to ask me out on a date?”

“She’s been wanting to ask you for weeks,” Maura said, piping in. “She has the most gigantic crush on you.”

“Maura,” Judy said out the corner of her mouth, “clam up.”

“Well, it’s not like he doesn’t already know. She worships you. She doodles your name in the margins of her papers with little hearts all around it.”

“I do not!” Judy turned back toward Ben. “She’s so immature sometimes. So what do you say?”

“What do I say? You mean-about going out with you?”

“Sure. Why not? I checked with your investigator, and he said you’re not seeing anyone.”

Remind me to give Loving my thanks, Ben thought silently. “Judy, you’re a charming girl with a lot of energy, but you’re-how old? Sixteen?”

“Fifteen. Sixteen in July. But I’m very mature for my age.”

“Granted. But I still can’t be dating someone who’s two decades younger than I am.”

“I don’t see why not. Lots of men marry younger women.”

Shades of Joni. Why was everyone trying to fix him up with teenyboppers? “Not fifteen-year-olds. Besides, what would your parents say?”

Maura made a slashing gesture across her throat, but too late.

“I haven’t seen my father for years,” Judy said quietly. “He doesn’t live with us anymore. And my mother is much too busy with the new baby and the rest of her brood to even notice that I’m alive.”

“I’m sure that isn’t true.”

“It is. She hates me. She thinks I ruined her life because she got pregnant with me and then she had to get married and she’s been screwed up ever since.”

It was amazing how in a few short strokes you could get a complete picture of where someone had come from and why they were what they were.

“Look,” Ben said, “you’re a great girl, but you’re just fifteen and I can’t date you.”

“Fine,” she said quietly.

“But I’m thinking this summer, when school lets out, I am going to have to hire a clerk for my law office.”

Her head turned up. “Seriously?”

“Seriously. And I can’t think of anyone who’d be better for the job than you. Since you’re an aspiring attorney and all.”

Her face was transformed by an unrestrained grin. “Seriously? And I could work with you on all your important life-or-death cases and stuff?”

“Well… in some capacity.”

“And you’d pay me and everything?”

“Of course.” He couldn’t wait to see the expression on Jones’s face when he heard about this.

Judy was bouncing up and down, bubbling with excitement. “Maura! He’s going to let me come to his office and work with him and be part of his elite dream team!” She stopped suddenly. “But what about Maura? Could you find a job for her? Maybe she could mop the floors or something.”

“I don’t mop,” Maura said flatly.

“I’m sure we could find something for you to do, Maura. If that’s what you want.”

“Oh, I’m so excited!” Judy said, bouncing again. “Thank you so much!” She plunged forward and, before Ben could avoid it, wrapped her arms around him. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Now get home, both of you.”

He watched as the two girls skittered out the door, talking excitedly as they went. Well, it would be fun to have some new blood in the office, come summer. And they could use an extra hand or two, particularly during trial crunch times. Although, if Christina and Judy ever got together, they might create an elemental force unstoppable by mortal man.

Well, he’d worry about that in June. For now, he had a trial coming up. He needed to get home and-

A terrifying scream pierced the darkness, splitting the night apart. Ben froze.

“Judy! Maura!”

If anything, the night seemed even darker than it had before. The lights in the church were out. Ben saw two shadowy figures about ten feet away, in the direction of the street, huddled beneath a river birch. He ran toward them.

“Judy? Maura? Was that you?”

“It was Judy.” Closer now, and with the faint glow of a street light somewhere on Seventy-first, he could barely make out their faces. “She got scared.”

Judy was sitting on the ground, her hands pressed against her face, breathing hard enough to induce hyperventilation.

“Take it easy,” Ben said, crouching beside her. He put his hand on her shoulder and tried to calm her. “You’re okay. What happened?”

“I-don’t-know,” she choked out between gasps. “I guess I panicked.”

“Why?”

“We-we were walking toward the street, and suddenly the lights in the church went out, and I felt something on my shoulder and-and-I guess I just freaked.” Her eyes were wide and teary. “I guess it was just the tree branch, but I thought I was dead. I thought-I thought-”

“I know what you thought,” Ben said. After two murders, who could blame her? He looked over his shoulder, back at the church. Sure enough, the lights in the top windows were now out. “Can you walk okay?”

“I-guess so,” Judy said quietly.

“Good girl. Now both of you-get out of here. Don’t stop till you’re home.”

Judy and Maura linked arms and started back toward the street. Ben headed for the back door of the church.

Inside was even blacker than out; all the lights appeared to be dead. He could hear movement and whispers in the parish hall.

“Is everyone all right?” Ben asked, shouting at figures he could barely perceive.

“How the hell should we know?” someone replied-George, Ben thought. “I can’t see a damn thing.”

“What happened?”

“The lights went out,” replied an older female voice. Ruth? Ernestine? He couldn’t be sure. “We were conducting our meeting, having the usual titanic shouting match with our priest, and then suddenly everything went black.”

“Father Beale? Are you there?”

There was no answer. Ben felt the short hairs rise on the back of his neck. Where was he?

“Father Beale?” Still no answer. Clinging to the wall to guide himself, Ben entered the main corridor. “Father Beale?”

The response came as a thunderclap of shouts and ear-piercing screams. The tumult sideswiped him like a knockout punch from a prizefighter. He reeled, trying to figure out from which direction it came. How many times had he heard screams in this church? he asked himself as he raced down the corridor. How many times had his flesh crawled and his knees knocked, dreading what he might find?

He was one of the last to make it to the utility area behind the parish hall. Most of the vestry were already there, and one of them-George-had managed to locate a flashlight. Courtesy of the illumination of the narrow beam, Ben could see that the room was in disarray-folding chairs fallen and scattered on the floor, overturned tables. The breaker box was hanging open.

And Susan Marino’s upright body was in the center of it all, the side of her head covered with blood, her eyes lifeless.

She was dead. Ben could see that in an instant. And he could also see how she managed to remain upright.

Father Beale was behind her, cradling her in his arms.