Kate took a breath to quell her frustration.Like many elderly people, Carlotta was speaking as though they knew what she was talking about.“What exactly did you think she might not need?”
“My dog.”
Kate recalled the photograph.“That would be the stone lawn ornament.”
“Well, I kept it on my porch, not my lawn, but yes.I didn’t say anything when she took it years ago.I liked Ruth in spite of her problems, and I didn’t want to embarrass her.But now…” She flushed.“Oh, it’s not important.I shouldn’t snoop.”
“You said you saw the priest,” Marcus said.“Did you talk to him?”
“Oh yes.He took my confession.”
A chill ran down Kate’s spine.“That’s why you said it could have been you.”
Carlotta nodded and shivered.She reached for the back of the porch swing standing to the left of the door.Marcus grabbed her hand and helped her sit, but this time, she didn’t smile.The color had drained from her face, and her eyes were as big as saucers as she imagined Cox throttling the life out of her instead of her thieving neighbor.
Kate understood that fear.She knew firsthand what it felt like to have Cox’s hands around her throat.Carlotta’s eyes were the eyes of a woman who realized all at once how narrowly she had escaped death.
The rising sun broke through the clouds and bathed the trio in warmth.Carlotta visibly relaxed, closing her eyes and breathing deeply.When she opened her eyes again, they had regained their focus.
“When did you first encounter the visiting priest?”Kate asked.
“This would have been about a month ago,” she told the investigators.“I attend mass when I can, but I no longer drive, so unless my grandson is in town, I typically confess at home.Father Harkness was out of town for a conference in Rome at the time, so I assumed the diocese sent Father Archibald to cover for him.”
Kate started.“Father who?”
“Father Archibald.”
“Can you describe him?”Kate asked.
“He was tall.”Carlotta nodded at Marcus.“Almost as tall as you but much thinner.He had brown eyes and short dark hair, but I believe it was dyed.There were streaks on the forehead at the roots.I remember believing it was rather vain of a priest to die his hair, but he was kind, so I decided to avoid the sin of judgment.”
Kate and Marcus shared a grim look.Cox had changed his appearance.That could be why their public announcement hadn’t yielded his location.
“Did he approach you at home?”Marcus asked.
“Yes.He knocked on the door and introduced himself.He told me that Father Harkness approached him about an elderly woman who was unable to attend mass and required confession at home.I saw no reason to doubt him.He had such a kind smile.”She lifted a wavering hand to her face and wiped the corner of her eye.
“What did you two speak about?”Kate replied.
Carlotta gave her a knowing smile.“Darling, confession is between the penitent and her priest.”
“I understand,” Kate replied, “and I’m not asking you to share what you confessed with him.Specifically, I’m wondering if he asked you about the eighth commandment.”
“He didn’t reference it specifically,” Carlotta replied.“I brought up Ruth’s habits, and… Oh, I suppose I can tell you.I confessed to lingering hurt and anger over the theft.I told you a moment ago that it wasn’t important, but it was.To me, at least.I was quite fond of that dog.”
“What was his reply?”
“He said that I should trust in God.He reminded me of Romans 12:19.‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord.’I remember I laughed.I said God couldn’t possibly care enough about my old porch dog to punish Ruth for stealing it.He took that quite badly.”
“Badly how?”
“Well, he stopped smiling.His eyes became cold.His voice changed too.He said that I shouldn’t take God’s name in vain.
“Naturally, I was confused.I asked him what he meant by that, and he replied that if God in His Word said that He would take vengeance, then He would.I…”
Her lower lip trembled.She looked over Kate’s shoulder warily, as though Cox was approaching from behind Kate.The skin on the back of Kate’s neck prickled, but when she looked over her shoulder, she saw only a kid on a bicycle passing by, giving the trio of adults only a passing glance as he moved on to enjoy the pristine world most children were granted.
“I didn’t think much.I felt guilty but not scared.He was a priest, after all.He admonished me for my own protection.I apologized and asked if I should pray the rosary for forgiveness.He smiled again and told me that God had already forgiven me for my repentance.That was the key, he said.To repent.Sin was inescapable, but to commit it and offer no penitence was unconscionable.He told me he would talk to Ruth and give her a chance to confess and to make amends.I told him…”
