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"That is the man's personal affairs," the old priest insisted.
"I mean no disrespect, Father Bryant," Valerie explained. "But we have to find justice for Father O'Hara, and that means leaving no stone unturned."
Valerie looked through the pages and realized that it was filled with various religious phrases.
"He must have used these in his life," Valerie said. "Religious affirmations. I wonder if ..."
She stopped dead in her tracks. There it was, staring up at her in black ink. Scribbled in presumably Father O'Hara's handwriting itself.
Valerie slowly turned the notebook to face the others.
"Post Tenebrus Lux," Charlie said nodding.
"Light after darkness," the old priest offered. But they all knew by now what it meant.
"That's three victims at least with the connection," Charlie said. "Maggie had it tattooed on her wrist. Mark Jacobsen was noted to have used the saying, and now Father O'Hara has it in his notebook."
"I think there's only one conclusion," Valerie said, her voice as cold as stone.
"And what's that?" asked Sheriff Carter.
"The killer isn't predatory like many," she said. "He isn't killing people he hunts."
"He isn't opportunistic, either," Will mused.
"No, he's not," Valerie said. "This phrase ... I think it suggests that the victims are connected, and that heknowsthem."
Valerie took off her latex gloves and paced for a moment.
"Do you need a seat, young one?" the father offered.
"No, thank you, Father," Charlie answered for her. "She does this when she's thinking about a case or getting into people's heads."
Valerie was trying to piece together the connection between the Latin script and the victims. A theory was formulating.
"Father," she said, suddenly, "do you have a list of everyone who has attended the seminary?"
"Yes, of course," he said.
"I'd appreciate if we could have access to that," Valerie replied. "And any list you have of volunteers in churches around Kerry County."
"I'll have it emailed to you."
"Email?" Charlie asked. "I was expecting parchment."
The old man gave Charlie a disapproving look. "You might think religion antiquated, but we don't live in the past."
"Thank you, Father," Valerie said. "And we are terribly sorry for your loss. We'll have a forensics team come by in the next couple of hours."
"And someone from the Sheriff's Department will take some statements," the sheriff added. "I am so sorry, Father Bryant ... For everything. We'll do our best.I'lldo my best to find out who did this."
"You're a good lad, Glen," the old priest said, patting the sheriff on the cheek affectionately. "I just wish you'd put all that nasty business aside and come to chapel."
"Maybe one day," the sheriff said.
Valerie noticed a look of pain on Glen Carter's face. She wanted to ask what was wrong, but there was no time for that. Not now.
"While we wait for the list," Valerie said, turning to her team. "We should go over the first victim, Greta Young. She's the only one we have no connection toPost Tenebrus Luxyet. If we find the link, then maybe we'll finally figure out why all the victims have this phrase in their lives."
