TWENTY-EIGHT
Jessica, Byrne, and Maria Caruso stood on the corner in front of the church. A crowd had already gathered on the other side of the street, despite the early hour. Jessica had asked Byrne to tell her what had happened the night before – the incident with DeRon Wilson that landed him on the news. Byrne promised to tell her the whole story, and added that he was scheduled to see the captain. There were many possible outcomes to that kind of meeting: nothing at all, suspension, even firing.
As Maria Caruso began to direct the neighborhood canvass, a young man walked out of the crowd. It was clear to Jessica he was crossing the street to talk to them. He looked familiar, but Jessica couldn’t immediately place him.
Then she did. It was Father Michael Raphael. Today, instead of his cassock and collar, he wore a heavy parka and knit cap.
‘Father,’ Jessica said. ‘What brings you down here?’
Raphael pointed across the street, at the TV cameras. ‘I saw it on the early news. This is terrible.’
Jessica introduced the young priest to Maria Caruso. They shook hands.
‘Is there any way I can be of assistance?’ Raphael asked.
Jessica looked at Byrne, at Maria, back at the priest. ‘Not really, Father,’ she said. ‘But thanks for asking.’
Raphael nodded, took a moment. Clearly there was something else on his mind. ‘I’ve been thinking about your visit,’ he said. ‘May I speak freely?’
Jessica figured he was talking to her. ‘Of course.’
‘Detective Byrne asked about whether or not there was a formal ritual when a church was closed.’
‘You’re talking about deconsecration,’ Byrne said.
‘Yes. I did a little research.’
‘What did you find?’ Byrne asked.
‘Nothing yet. Nothing formal anyway, at least as it applies to Catholics. The only real control the church has over what the sacred ground becomes is at the time of sale, I’m afraid. After that, with subsequent tenants, there really is not much the church can do.’
‘So there is no rite?’
‘Not that I could find,’ Raphael said. ‘But I found a few instances where churches – or at least sacred objects within the churches, like the altars – were destroyed to keep them from being desecrated.’
Raphael took a piece of paper from his pocket. ‘This might help to explain things.’ He handed the sheet to Jessica. ‘It’s from the code of canon law. The section on sacred places.’
Jessica unfolded the paper. She began to read. As she did, Father Michael Raphael quoted what was on the sheet, word for word.
‘Sacred places lose their dedication or blessing if they have been destroyed in large part, or have been turned over permanently to profane use by decree of the competent ordinary or in fact.’
‘So a church is deconsecrated by default,’ Byrne said.
‘Yes,’ Raphael said. ‘More or less.’
Jessica held up the paper. ‘May I keep this?’
‘By all means.’
The moment drew out. ‘Is there something else?’ Jessica asked.
Raphael pointed at the church. ‘Would it be okay if I said a brief prayer?’
‘Of course,’ Jessica said. ‘We’ll take all the prayers we can get.’
Jessica lifted the crime-scene tape. As Father Raphael said his goodbyes, and ducked under the tape, Jessica got the attention of the uniformed officer guarding the church door. With a nod she told him that Father Raphael was allowed on the scene.
Jessica read the excerpt again.
Turned over permanently to profane use.
There could be no doubt about that, Jessica thought, considering what had been done in the three crime-scene churches.
‘Detective?’
All three detectives looked up. It was one of the CSU officers. He was talking to Maria Caruso.
‘I’ll be back,’ she said.
While Maria returned to the church, Jessica and Byrne walked over to his car, each lost in their own thoughts.
‘Seven churches,’ Byrne said, echoing the words the caller had spoken, words that began this dark odyssey, uttered what seemed like months ago.
‘I don’t want to think about that right now, Kevin.’
Byrne ran a finger over the small, V-shaped scar over his right eye. Jessica knew this meant the wheels were turning. It really was Byrne’s only tell. To a great degree, Kevin Byrne was a cipher. Jessica had no idea what was coming, but she knew something was.
‘I think we need a little spiritual guidance here,’ Byrne finally said.
Jessica glanced at the steps leading to St Regina’s. Father Raphael was no longer standing there. She scanned the crowd. He was gone.
‘Do you want me to try and catch Father Raphael?’
‘I’m not talking about the church,’ Byrne said. He took his keys from his pocket, unlocked the passenger door on the Taurus, held it open for Jessica. ‘I’m talking about something else.’