Chapter Four
Spooked
The Cathedral of St. Patrick
50th Street and 5th Avenue
Manhattan, NY
Tuesday, March 23
Lupo and Bernard had already interviewed two of the three regular priests who ministered at the cathedral.
"Well, if somebody here knew Dennehy, then somebody's not talkin'," said Lupo.
"Why would they lie? They're priests," said Bernard.
"Come on, B, you know how secretive these guys can get," said Lupo. "The Catholic Church hasn't exactly been making itself attractive to people."
"They're not all corrupt, Lupes," said Bernard. "Yeah, as an establishment, they definitely need to go through an overhaul, but you can't generalize like that."
They'd been moseying down the church aisle way between the sets of pews.
Just then, they saw a priest they hadn't yet spoken to emerge from the sacristy. He looked like he was close to Dennehy's age.
"Excuse us, Father," said Bernard, as he and Lupo approached him and stood at the foot of the steps up to the altar. "N.Y.P.D.," he added, as he and Lupo presented their badges. "We need to speak with you."
"Sure," said the priest.
He went down the steps and stood next to them.
"Afternoon, Father—I'm Detective Bernard, this is my partner, Detective Lupo," said Bernard.
"Father John Brumley," said the priest, shaking hands with each of them. "What can I do for you?"
"Did you know Conrad Dennehy?" asked Lupo.
Father Brumley sighed.
"Let's go somewhere else and talk," he muttered.
He led them back to the room where the priests administered confession to parishioners.
"Sorry, I know this is cramped, but…at least we have some privacy," he said after closing the door. "It's just…I feel like I shouldn't be talking to you—or rather, I feel like my boss wouldn't want me to talk to you."
"You're doing the right thing," Lupo said.
Brumley gave a wry smile.
"So I take it you did know Dennehy," said Lupo.
"Yes—I did," said Brumley. "Me, him, and Richard Crane used to be the resident priests here."
"The two other priests we spoke to are Patrick Conners and Bartolo Milano. Are they new?" said Bernard.
"Fairly," said Brumley. "They've only been here for two years. They were assigned here after Richard Crane retired and Dennehy…left."
"Why do you say it like that?" asked Lupo. "Did he not leave on the best of terms?"
"That's putting it lightly," said Brumley. "Listen, I don't mean to be cryptic or evasive, but I'm not the right person to talk to. I know the situation but only secondhand. Richard Crane is who you need to talk to. Trust me—he'll be more than happy to tell you everything you need to know."
"So Richard Crane talked to you, I take it?" said Bernard.
"Yes—Richard is one of my good friends," said Brumley. "We still keep in touch—go out for a drink, catch a Yankees game or a Giants game every now and then…Richard is a good man. He was a good priest—not a drop of religious hypocrisy in him. This church needs more priests like him…People are leaving the church in droves, and I can't say I blame them…"
He shook his head.
"Richard set a great example for his fellow priests. And how does Archbishop Dugan repay him? By making an example of him—an example Richard had no intention of being," he said. "Well—I'd better get back to work. We have a large group receiving confirmation tomorrow."
"All right," said Bernard. "Thank you for your time, Father."
"Not at all, Detectives. Unlike some people, I don't have a problem with law enforcement," said Brumley.
Bernard and Lupo exchanged glances.
"Detectives?"
"Yeah?" said Lupo.
"Please don't mention my name," said Brumley. "I don't want my boss to know that I'm the one who led you to Richard Crane."
Bernard nodded.
"Sure thing," he said.
"Thank you," said Brumley, shaking hands with each of them.
"No, thank you," said Bernard.
Brumley then sighed.
"Who knows?" he said grimly. "Maybe it's time I left, too."
As Lupo and Bernard walked out the front doors of the church—
"Wow—something's got Brumley spooked," Lupo muttered.
"No kidding," Bernard said, also keeping his voice down.
After they got in the car—
"Man…something happened that's got Father Brumley scared out of his wits," Lupo replied.
"You're tellin' me," said Bernard.
"I wonder what happened between Crane and the archbishop—why'd the archbishop feel the need to 'make an example' of Crane? What kind of example? And who does Brumley think has a problem with law enforcement?" Lupo pondered aloud. "Moreover, what's all that got to do with Dennehy?"
***DOINK!DOINK!***
