THE CHURCH OF BLOOD

Chapter Nine - Missed Suspicions

When detectives Beynolds and Nyles arrived at the hospital, Father McClellan was already pronounced dead.

Beynolds finished speaking with the nurse on duty at the desk then joined his partner as they made way to the elevator.

"The nurse said he passed forty-five minutes ago," Beynolds reported.

"Damn," Nyles said solemnly.  "He may have been able to to help us with any additional info."

"I know."  Beynolds and Nyles entered the vacant elevator, Nyles punching the appropriate buttons.  "She also said that Father Clark was his only visitor."

Nyles pondered a moment.  "Did the nurse say what was the cause of death?"

"Heart attack."

Nyles let out a huff and directed his eyes upward.  "Lord, help me."

Beynolds snickered.  "What's up?"

"What if that kid Anthony was right?"

"About...?"

"Father Clark."

The elevator door opened and they stepped out into the lobby.

"Are you insisting that some snot-nosed punk kid is ratting out his own priest?" Beynolds shot.

"Anything's possible, man," Nyles insisted as they continued out into the afternoon air.  "Explain how the pentacle when up in flames when were questioning Antony."

"I can't."

"Exactly.  That shit blew my mind.  So, think of it.  Nothing here is making sense naturally.  It's apparent we've been dealing with something beyond explanation.  What if Antony is telling the truth about Father Clark?  And also -- have we gotten any closer to figuring out how those altar boys died?  And what about the secretary of that professor that was found dead?  What was her name?"

"Uh...Tally...Tab...Tabitha."

"Yeah."

They approached their vehicle, Beynolds stopping at the driver's side door.  "What about her?"

"Didn't Father Clark tells us that she had a particular interest in that pentacle he had?"

"Yeah.  I believed he did."

"Did we ever consider her a person of interest?"

"No.  But at this point, she's at the top of my list.  The way this case has been progressing, anything goes.  Normal or abnormal."

Nyles gave an affirmative nod.

Beynolds glanced at his watch.  "It's almost two.  You think she'd be at the University?"

"We could give it a shot."

"Let's go for it."

They got into the car.

                           * * *

Tabitha was at her desk busily typing away at her computer when Beynolds and Nyles approached her.  She looked up and greeted them with a smile.

"Hello?  May I help you?"

"We hope so," Beynolds answered.  "I'm Detective Beynolds, my partner Detective Nyles.  We're the ones investigating Professor Wycliffe's murder."

"Oh, I remember," she recalled.  "How is the investigation going?"

"Well, that's why we're here.  Is there a place where we can talk privately?"