As
they pulled into the parking lot, Father Donovan emerged from
the side door.
“Hello, my
child.” He welcomed Lady with open arms. She went up to him and
accepted his hug. Stepping back, he eyed her from top to bottom.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,
Father. Fortunately, Boothe saved me in time.”
The priest
turned to Boothe and also gave him a critical eye. “Praise God
this ended successfully. Come in.” He waved for them to follow
and opened the door. “I was expecting you much later.”
Boothe caught
the sly grin Lady cast him and shook his head. He knew what she
was insinuating.
We could’ve had more time together.
Sadly, he’d thought the same
thing.
“Father, I
need to catch up with my reports to the Cardinal. Mind if I use
your computer?”
The priest
turned to show his surprised expression. “You report directly to
a Cardinal?”
“Cardinal
Lopeski, yes. He’s in charge of—”
“I’m familiar
with the name,” Father Donovan told him.
“Father?”
The priest
turned to Lady. “Yes?”
“It’s
Wednesday. Do you still take confessions on Wednesdays? I have a
few years to catch up on. And after what I’ve been through these
past twenty-four hours, and since I’m here…”
The man
looked over at Boothe as he replied. “I believe I can take one
more parishioner. Go take your place at the confessional. I’ll
be with you shortly.”
He headed
across the nave, toward the alcove on the other side of the
church where his office was located. After giving Lady a raised
eyebrow, Boothe followed him. The priest led him into the office
where he picked up the pile of clothing left there and set it on
the seat of a nearby chair. “Let me turn it on and enter the
password.”
“Thank you,
Father.”
Boothe took a
seat in the office chair as the priest went to hear Lady’s
confession. He wondered if she was going to mention the two of
them, then brushed it off. If she did, what did it matter?
He was almost
finished when Father Donovan returned. The priest sat himself in
the only other available chair to wait. After sending the email,
he pushed himself away from the desk. He knew there was the
chance that the man would bring up the report to read for
himself. Boothe wouldn’t blame him if he did.
“Want me to
shut it down?”
Father
Donovan waved a hand. “Go ahead.”
Shutting the
laptop’s lid, Boothe started to get up but the priest gestured
for him to remain sitting.
“After what
Lady just told me, I’m surprised she’s as cool-headed as she
appears,” the man commented. “Is it true? Do you think there’s a
nest of them around here?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Even though
it was just the Tonner boy who was possessed.”
“Don’t forget
the guy who went into the bar and confronted her last night,”
Boothe noted. Seeing the priest’s shocked expression, he
chuckled. “She forgot to tell you about him?”
“She did, but
she glossed over it.”
“That’s two
in less than twenty-four hours,” Boothe continued. “That’s not a
coincidence.”
“Where do you
think this nest is located?”
“I’m thinking
somewhere in or around Valsally. That’s where the demon
possessing the Tonner boy was making her go.”
“Is Lady
safe?”
The question
made him wince. “I hope so. You might want to bless her again
before she leaves here tomorrow morning.”
“So you think
there still might be a chance she could be targeted.”
“I’m not
ruling out anything at this point.”
“Why did the
Tonner boy go after her? Do you have any idea?”
“It started
with the stranger who showed up at the tavern in Pendletown last
night,” Boothe informed him. “Why it was in town in the first
place, I haven’t a clue. Maybe it was on its way to Valsally and
got sidetracked.”
“Sidetracked?”
“I’m
pretty sure it sensed me at the bar, which is why it came in in
the first place. Lady and I had been conversing for a while, so
some of my aura must’ve still been around her, which is why it
challenged her.”
“And
the Tonner boy? It travelled all the way from here to Pendletown
to go after her because of your ‘aura’?”
Boothe knew what the man was insinuating and decided to put the
kibosh on the speculation. But, as he had before, he didn’t tell
the whole truth.
“During our talk, I asked her to recommend a local motel where I
could spend the night. After what she witnessed, she was
spooked. She came over to the motel because she felt safe with
me.” Boothe nodded. “Yes, she spent the night, but nothing
happened between us. Unfortunately, that close contact only
reinforced my aura around her. The next morning, she left for
her apartment, and I came here.
“After Chuck Tonner ran his friend off the road and nearly had
him killed, he fled. Since he was already on the highway to
Pendletown, he must’ve picked up my aura from her and followed
her. That’s why he wrecked out next to the tavern, and why he
kidnapped her to take him to Valsally.” He waggled a thumb over
his shoulder. “I believe the demon was heading to that town to
join up with its nest. Same for the guy who came into the bar
last night. They were both going there.”
“But
why would they kidnap her? Why didn’t they attack her? Or try to
take possession of her?”
Boothe took a deep breath. “Because I think they intended to
sacrifice her after they got there.”
He
wasn’t surprised when Father Donovan’s face turned several
shades paler. “A s-sacrifice?”
“We’re talking demons here, Padre. What else do you expect them
to do when they gather? Have a picnic?”
A
soft knock sounded on the door. Lady opened it and stuck her
head inside. Father Donovan waved for her to enter but addressed
Boothe.
“I
offered her a bedroom over in the rectory, but she prefers to
stay inside the church.”
“I
don’t blame her. So do I.”
The
priest got to his feet. “I’ll have Connie bring some more
blankets and a pillow. Is there anything else I can do?” He gave
Boothe an expectant look.
“No,
thank you. Lady will be returning to Pendletown in the morning,
and I’ll also be on my way.”
“Back
to Valsally?”
“Yes.
Oh, and while I’m thinking of it, is there a Catholic church
there?”
“St.
Daniel is the only one within a thirty-mile radius.”
“Well, then, you might be seeing me again,” Boothe said with a
smile.
Walking up to him, Father Donovan made the sign of the cross on
Boothe’s forehead. “Good luck and God’s blessing on you, my
son,” he solemnly said. As he turned to leave the office, he
stopped in front of Lady and also gave her his blessing. “I’ll
be praying for both your safety.” After one more look back at
Boothe, the man left, shutting the door behind him. |