Pressure

Część II

THE INFORMATION about the event and the priest's death spread like wild fire throughout the town. Two random passers-by, whose faces the commander noticed in the rectory's kitchen window, had seen what was going on inside. Such a sensation will never be hidden for too long. Especially one in which the main character is a priest. The city was in turmoil. Everyone started speculating and gossiping. The arrival of the investigating team and their presence in the vicinity alone added fuel to the fire. It was even more puzzling that the police specialists from the county handled their cases on the spot, took the body of the deceased and left. Before leaving, a high officer of the county headquarters talked with the commander and the housekeeper. He obligated everyone to remain silent under the threat of disciplinary penalties and criminal liability. When asked by the commandant what to say to the townspeople, he replied with a smirk.

- You don't know, commander? It was an unfortunate accident and that's all.

The secretary of bishop Nowak did not know how to behave. After receiving the phone from the housekeeper of Father Stanisław, he was sitting at his desk, thoughts racing in his head. On the one hand, the death of a priest is nothing extraordinary. Priests die too, afterall. But on the other hand, he knew that Father Stanisław was, or rather now he was, a protégé of Bishop Kowalski from Pomorza, and at his request, Bishop Nowak gave him the parish in Borkowice. He knew priest Stanisław's history. His whereabouts around various parishes all over Poland, the type of man he was and his tendencies. He knew that he was a monster who would not let any altar boy walk by so easily. At the same time, he was a good enough actor that he was able to entangle the families of his victims that they, unknowingly, pushed the poor boys into the hands of a pervert. The secretary, a young priest himself, often saw Father Stanisław visiting Bishop Nowak. He felt both disgust as well as admiration for him. Disgust for what he did, although he felt that the families of the victims had themselves to blame; and admiration for the fact that Stanisław was able to position himself in such a way that such hierarchs as bishops Kowalski, Nowak and others concealed his actions. They made his perverted ways easier to execute by sending him from parish to parish once any suspicions arose among the people. Every time when he saw priest Stanisław - or whenever he heard about him, he wondered what kind of a 'catch' he held over his superiors, that they supported him in such a way. He knew what was happening among priests all over the country, how many of them were amateurs of children, boys, men, women, etc. He knew they would do anything to support and protect one another. Afterall, there is a reason why the clergy is said to be one big family.

He thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a bell and the blinking light of the intercom. Holy shit, the boss is awake! He thought and pressed the button.

- Praised be Jesus Christ - he said into the microphone

- Come to me - the loudspeaker croaked.

The secretary entered the bishop's bedroom and stood at the foot of the bed.

- Hello, Bishop - he said - Praised. The bishop cannot sleep?

- Praised - replied the hierarchy lying on his back - Tell Honorata that I will eat breakfast in bed. Something woke me up and I couldn't sleep anymore.

- Any news? - he asked while stretching.

- Of course I'll will pass it on to Sister Honorata - confirmed the secretary - and as from the news: the housekeeper of the parish priest from Borkowice, priest Stanisław, called.

- What's wrong with him this time? - he huffed.

- Father Stanisław has gone to the house of the Lord - the young priest said humbly.

- What? - the bishop stared at him dumbfounded.

- Yes, he died. The housekeeper found him lying in the kitchen. He was dead.