The Other Path
Chapter 26
"We're here," Rick notes unnecessarily, parking in the half-filled lot at the Giles Building.
Kate checks her watch. "Our appointment with Bethany Stempel is in five minutes. It will probably take us that long to get past the front desk and her assistant. We should get in there."
Rick gazes at the surrounding empty parking spots. "It doesn't look like this place is a beehive of activity. But they probably went lean. They discontinued the dead tree issues of 'Open Eyes' and 'Worldview' over a year ago. The situation with magazine publishing is almost as bad as the travesty of the disappearing bookstores. Black Pawn would be out of business by now if it weren't for Kindle. But at least Giles is still here."
"And so is Bethany Stempel," Kate adds. "So move that amazing butt of yours."
As he gets out of the car, Rick quirks an eyebrow. "And where would you like me to move it?"
Kate rubs against his side. "For now to Bethany Stempel's office. We can talk about the rest later."
Popping up from her visibly worn desk chair, Bethany extends her hand to Kate and Rick. "Detective Beckett, Mr. Castle, it's great to meet you."
Rick points at the stack of Nikki Heat novels on the credenza next to Bethany's desk. "Ms. Stempel, I see we don't come unheralded."
"No, you don't, Mr. Castle. Nor do you, Detective Beckett. I enjoy books about women who know how to make their way in the world, especially in a profession full of skeptical men. And I appreciate Mr. Castle for writing about one."
"It doesn't hurt to fall in love with your muse," Rick confesses. "And you are also a woman who's made her way in the world, despite skeptical men, Ms. Stempel."
"Which is why you may be able to help us with a case," Kate adds. "Eighteen years ago, you were among women hired by Esther Finkelman. Do you remember Esther?"
"Of course, I remember Esther. She gave me the break I needed to have a life. It was a tragedy when she was killed. I must have gone through three boxes of Kleenex, and I watched the papers to see if the cops back then caught the killer. But they never did, did they?"
"No," Kate admits, "but murder has no statute of limitations. If we have a new lead on a case, even one eighteen years old, we reopen it. You know how Nikki Heat feels about justice for victims and their families. I feel the same way. And I'm following a new trail on Esther's murder. But I need your help."
"Of course. Anything I can do. But honestly, I don't know what that could be."
"We have a theory," Kate explains, "that Esther's death and the two other Slasher Murders were in response to women, young women, that the victims hired. We know that two of them had something in common. I was wondering if you shared it."
"Did your family support you coming to work at Giles?" Rick asks.
Bethany gives an unladylike snort. "Support it? They would have tied me to a chair to prevent me from working here or anywhere. But I was lucky. I had a friend from school who let me stay with her, hid me, really, until I got the job and could afford a place of my own. Otherwise, I would have had no choice but to get married and live the same life my mother did."
"And what kind of life would that have been?" Rick prompts.
"One that revolved totally around my husband, my church, and to some extent my children, but nothing else."
"Your church?" Kate probes.
"My parents' church." Esther corrects, "The Tower of Truth."
"That wouldn't have anything to do with The Temple of Truth or The Chapel of Truth, would it?" Rick asks.
"It was a sister church to both of them, same tenets, same straitjackets for women. An asshole named Jonah from the Temple showed up every so often to make sure the congregation didn't stray from his notion of the righteous path. And the leadership had meetings with the nutcase elders of a place called North Star. Does any of that have something to do with Esther's murder?"
It may have a lot to do with it," Kate considers. "Thank you."
"Uh, Mr. Castle," Bethany tentatively requests as Kate and Rick prepare to leave, "could you sign my Nikki Heats? I think Esther would have loved Nikki, and I know my book club would go crazy if I had your autograph in my whole set."
"Your set so far," Rick interjects. "I have a new one coming out this year. I'll send you a signed copy. And I would be delighted to sign those."
Bethany regards Kate while Rick is writing. "Detective Beckett, I know Nikki wouldn't quit until she solved this case. I'm counting on you to be like her."
"I'll do my best," Kate promises.
"The way I see it," Rick ruminates as he and Kate return to his car, "The slasher could have come either from North Star or one of Jonah's churches. And my money would be on Jonah himself. He did put on that display with the blade of truth."
"Talking to Jonah would be the next step," Kate agrees. "But I can't see him saying much to a female cop or a man who writes about one. I think I'll send Ryan and Esposito."
"Between Ryan's Catholic School training and Espo's macho act, they should be perfect," Rick agrees.
"So, what do you think this Jonah is like?" Ryan wonders as he and Esposito mount the stone stairs to the Temple of Truth. "I'm picturing Charlton Heston when he played Moses. You know, tall, imposing."
"Classic piece of miscasting," Esposito insists. "Heston was lily white as you are. Moses was born in Egypt. He would have looked more like Rami Malek."
A robed figure meets the two detectives at the door. "I'm Elder Felix. You wish to seek the truth?"
Ryan holds up his badge. "That is our calling."
"We need to see Jonah, now," Esposito insists.
"I can't disturb Jonah. He is in his daily meditation," Felix protests.
"Then get him out of it," Esposito demands. "We're investigating a triple murder. So unless you want us to charge both of you with obstruction, tell him to finish meditating later."
Felix takes a step back. "If you're seeking the justice that is God's will, he may grant you an audience."
Ryan stares at the man who finally appears. His vision of a Heston-like figure wasn't even close. For one thing, he doubts Jonah is taller than five-two. The suspect's hair is long but flows from a rapidly receding hairline. His robes are purple, gold, blue, and red. He wears a breastplate and a hat like Paul Freeman does to release God's wrath in "Raiders of the Lost Ark." Unlike Heston's resonant tones, Jonah's voice is high-pitched. Yet it is strangely commanding. "You men are in error. No one here knows anything about any murders."
"Then," Esposito retorts, "you can explain to us why the victims all hired women who were under the thumb of your churches."
"I'm sure you've been misled," Jonah declares, even as the parts of his face still visible between his beard and his headgear lose color.
"Matt Fleming, Zina Zarofsky, Esther Finkelman," Ryan recites. "Throats slashed after hiring Zepora Miller, Miriam Halpern, and Bethany Stempel."
"You will talk to us," Esposito continues. "And you'll do it at the 12th Precinct."
A/N Jonah's outfit comes from Exodus 28.
