AllFreeNovel
Share Us
There was a deathly silence with nervous glances around the room.
"That's fine," Valerie said. "Charlie, call in our back up and have everyone arrested here under suspicion of being an accessory to murder."
"Hold on!" the abbot said nervously.
"No, Collins," Samantha seethed again.
"Why should we be punished because of him, Samantha? Because he's gone too far?" Abbot Collins asked. "Should we watch more innocent people die?"
"For the first time," Valerie said, "you sound like a community leader. Who do you think is the murderer?"
"Logan Bartlett," he answered. "I'm not certain, but he stopped coming to the group before the murders began. And he was always so damning of people who came here. He said on more than one occasion he wished God would strike them down for doubting."
"Let me guess," Valerie said, now completing the profile finally in her mind. "Logan Bartlett comes from a family of disbelievers?"
"How ... how did you know that?" Samantha said, shocked.
"It's what I do," Valerie answered. "It would make sense if people close to him weren't actively part of the Church. Then he'd feel hatred towards those he loved. That anger would eat him up, and so instead of killing his family, he took it out on people who were part of your group."
Charlie had an intense look on his face as though he were considering the implications.
"Which monastery is Logan Bartlett connected to?" Charlie asked.
"Whiteheart," Abbot Collins answered. "He's been a volunteer there for over ten years."
"Valerie, we need to check that Will and Sheriff Carter are okay at Ridgewater Monastery, that's where the killer will strike next!"
Valerie took out her phone and dialed Will.
No answer.
She then tried to patch into Sheriff Carter's radio.
Again, no answer.
Valerie looked at Charlie with fear coursing through her body.
"We've got to get to Ridgewater before it's too late!"
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
Valerie held onto the dashboard as Charlie skidded the car to a stop. She'd never seen him drive so fast, but in less than thirty minutes, he'd made it to Ridgewater Monastery.
Unlike Whiteheart Monastery, Ridgewater was more in line with Valerie's estimations of what a monastery should look like, with its high turrets and steep walls.
As she leapt out of the car, a scream pierced the air from above. She looked up to a stone balcony and saw that Will was grappling with a man.
"Will!" Valerie screamed.
Charlie and Valerie rushed inside to the monastery, padding their feet against the stone and wood floors.
"We've got to find a staircase!" Charlie shouted.
"This way!" Valerie yelled as she spied a spiral staircase through a double set of doors.
The two of them raced up the stairs, taking them two at a time, their feet clanging against the metal steps. With each flight they ascended, Valerie could hear Will shouting at someone, his voice echoing through the stone of the building.
They reached the top level and Valerie could hear Will clearer than ever.
