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I take the papers from her hands and begin reviewing them before signing each one.
“Thank you, Patricia. For everything. You’ve been a big help to me here, and I wish you the best after I leave. This place couldn’t run without you.”
Patricia eyes me with suspicion.
“Father Lachlan, go find a pretty girl to make babies with. Getting out of this stuffy place is the best thing a young man like you could do.”
To say I’m stunned would be an understatement.
“I’ll take the lead on Saturday—you enjoy yourself. I’ll let you know if I need anything.”
And with that, Patricia gets up and leaves my office. I shouldn’t have expected anything more sentimental. I think that probably would be considered loving for her.
Some time passes at the office when I hear whispers right outside my door. These whispers catch my attention after everything that’s been going on around here. I slowly get up and make my way to the wall near my open door.
It’s Greg talking to someone. I usually keep my office light off throughout the day unless I have a visitor. Yes, I treat my office like a cave most days. I can concentrate better like this.
Greg must not know I’m here. Fuck, I can’t get away from this mess.
Wait… these are the same voices I heard last time, aren’t they? Trying to be as quiet as possible, I listen for more.
“What do you mean leaving?” I could make out being mumbled.
“Leaving as in resigning, he gave me his notice. We can’t try to use him any longer,” Greg replies.
“Fuck,” I hear muttered from the unknown source.
I look down at my watch and see it’s a little after noon. Greg probably assumes I’m at lunch. Patricia is stationed near his office and always takes a late lunch since most parishioners stop by around this time if they need anything.
“Don’t blame me; you’re the one who lost your pawn early on,” Greg scoffs in return.
“Watch your step,” the other man replies defensively.
A silent war is happening on the other side of my door. I can almost recognize the other man’s voice. I haven’t heard it much, but I know I have before.
For a fact, I know Greg is referring to me. What was he going to use me for?
“It doesn’t matter. The deal will still take place at the gala on Saturday. Then we’ll be free and clear of this mess.”
“Kevin, don’t you forget who helped you with that money problem you were having. If it weren’t for this church, you’d be in jail already.”
Kevin? Fucking hell. Avery’s Kevin. Of fucking course. Another secret meeting. Only this time, I’m listening in.
Kevin’s secret meetings with Greg, the large lumps of money he’s been donating to the church, the withdrawals from his personal account, the shell company, all of it is connected.
I have to tell Avery. From the sounds of it, I was a planned fall guy for a piece of it. More importantly, this has to do with the company she’s listed as the CEO of, I’m fucking sure of it.
This whole situation is more complicated than either of us really know. It’s time we involve the police officially. Avery and I need to get to the bottom of this today.
“Get out of here, I’ll see you Saturday.”
I can hear Kevin’s hurried footsteps leaving, and the front parish door slams closed. Greg hasn’t made any movements.
I can’t move until he leaves, so he doesn’t question me. At this point, if he does see me, it’ll be pretty fucking clear that I’ve been in here listening.
Finally, Greg’s heavy footsteps walk right past my office and down the hallway. A door slams shut in the distance.
“That was close,” I mutter.
