Sanctuary

4

The killer was staring at the montage on the wall.

There were photos of two guards, a nun, a judge, a young child and, heading them, a large photo of Jack Taylor. Posted above this in gothic letters was the word Benediction. A small table beneath the display held six candles. One had been blown out.

‘The first shall be last,’ said the killer, addressing the photo of Taylor. The killer had left out that little detail from the letter, wanted it to be a surprise.

‘Sanctus.’

Kill Taylor.

The killer took a long carving knife from the table and began to cut a deep wedge along the right arm. The pain was a moment in arriving and when it did, the killer let out a deep aah of agonized pleasure, whispered, ‘The blood of the innocents.’