THE CHURCH OF BLOOD

Chapter Ten - Turnaround

Captain Dardell joined Beynolds, Nyles and Tabitha at the University of Philadelphia, the crime scene where Professor Rummingswas found dead, his right eye gouged out in brutal fashion.  Darnell's face was stern, his eyes set, his demeanor unpleasant.

"This case is really beginning to puss me off!" Dardell spat to his officers.  "We have five dead boys, two dead professors, and no damn leads!  Or do we have leads and I don't know about them?"

"I think we narrowed it down," Beynolds reported.  "One we didn't think of before."

"And who might that be?" Dardell seethed.

"Father Clark, the priest of Christ's Sacred Heart church."

Dardell regarded Beynolds with a cold stare.  "Are you telling me that a Father of a prestigious church is considered a suspect?!"

"Yes, sir."

"Is this a late April Fool's joke?"

"No, sir.  We're serious."

Tabitha stepped forward.  "If I may, sir?"

Dardell shot her with an aggravated look.  "Who is she?" he snapped at Beynolds.

"Captain, this is Tabitha," Beynolds explained.  "She works at the University where Professor Wallcliffe used to teach.  She has done information that is important to our case."

"Is that so?"  Captain Dardell turned his attention back toward her.  "And what sort of information might that be?"

"It deals with the Lady of Our Faith church," Tabitha offered.  "My grandfather used to preach there many years ago, and he committed suicide because of the same incident that happened to those altar boys recently."

"And what does that have to do with this case?" Dardell asked.

Tabitha turned to the detectives for assistance.  "I know about the object that started this whole thing."

"This pentacle, I assume?"

"Yes, sir.  I believe I can help in this case."

"How so?"

"I am a practicing Wiccan on the side..."

"What?!" Dardell laughed.  He glared at Beynolds and Nyles.  "We're trying to solve a case here and you bring a witch along?!"

"Perhaps if you'd calm, sir, and hear what she has to say, you'd understand why we need her," Nyles retorted.

Darnell's jaws clenched together as he considered the matter.

"Maybe we should all have lunch," Beynolds offered.  "You really need to hear what she has to say, Captain."

Dardell ran a hand over his face.  "All right," he agreed, albeit reluctantly.  "Food's on you."

                           ****

Captain Dardell never once touched his turkey on rye sandwich or drank from his now cold cup of coffee as he listened to his two detectives and their little (although rather attractive) witchy friend.  He continued to incredulously stare at all three of them when they finished their incredible tale of superstitious hocus pocus.

All was quiet at the table; uncomfortably quiet.  Beynolds, seated next to Dardell, cleared his throat and sipped from his glass of root beer.  Nyles and Tabitha glanced at each other then back to their plates.

"Anyone for dessert?" Nyles asked.

Beynolds inwardly winced.  If this was his partner's attempt at being funny, he picked a strange moment to do so.

Dardell gave Nyles an unamused look then shifted in the seat.  "This was an incredibly delightful tale," he muttered.  "Oddly enough, seeing that you all have been sincere in weaving such a fantastic tale, I have no choice but to believe you."

All eyes turned toward him.

My question is, where do we go from here?" Dardell asked.

"Well, Nyles and I have tried tonget into contact with Father Clark but have been unable to," Beynolds answered.  "We'd also need to hopefully get more information from that kid Antony.  We may need more persuasion to get him to cooperate better."

"And stop being a pyromaniac," Nyles cut in.

"Uh, yeah.  Sure."  Dardell still seemed unconvinced of that part of the tale he was told.

Nyles held his hands up.  "Just sayin', Captain.  Just sayin'."

"You really think test the Father is a suspect?" Dardell asked.

"Yes," Beynolds replied confidently.  "He was the last one who saw Father McClellan alive at the hosptial when we last went there."

Dardell cut his eyes toward Tabitha.  "And you?  What about you?"

"Provide any information I can to help these guys out," she answered levelly.

Dardell nodded.  "Okay then."  He picked up his coffee and brought it to his lips.  He grimaced and looked around for the waitress.  "Miss.  A refill, please?"

                             ****

Anita Jettison jumped at the sound of a loud thump coming from upstairs in Antony's bedroom, which was over the kitchen.  This was the second loud bang and this second loud commotion caused the light fixture to rattle noisily.  She was tending to the supper dishes when the noises started.  Eldridge had just left for work and Antony, claiming he wasn't hungry, stayed in his room.  All had been quiet for an hour but now...

"Antony?"  Anita stared at the ceiling a moment.  Another loud thump was followed by something breaking, like glass.

Anita again jumped, a sharp cry escaping from her throat.  Something was obviously wrong.

"Antony?"

She grabbed the nearby towel and dried her hands as she hurriedly proceeded toward the stairwell.  She looked up a moment then quickly ascended the stairs.

"Antony?  Antony!?"

She made it to his door in no time and pressed her ear against it as the silence suddenly seemed deafening.  She knocked.

"Antony, honey?"

Anita swallowed the lump in her throat and reached for the doorknob.  Her hand shakily gripped the bronze-colored handle and turned it, her heart thumping in her chest.

"Antony?" she whimpered.

Oh dear God.  Oh my dear God.

Pushing the door ajar, Anita cautiously peered inside.

Her hands flew to her bosom as she screamed.

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