The Other Path
Chapter 27
For Kate, standing behind the mirror at the 12th Precinct with Rick lends a comforting familiarity to observing Jonah's interrogation. Apparently, Ryan and Espo established good cop and bad cop from the get-go at the Temple of Truth. Although of the two of them, she suspects Ryan finds Jonah more disturbing. As angry as he remains about abusive nuns and forced catechisms, he's still strongly bonded to his faith. Esposito goes through the motions inculcated in his early years but doesn't let it stop him from enjoying strippers. Kate doesn't want to know what else he enjoys.
Jonah sits erect in his chair, blue eyes piercing the air between him and the two detectives. "You're keeping me from my holy duties."
Esposito smirks. "And what might those be?"
"Preventing the sheep from straying from the flock. There are demons out there tempting them from the true path," Jonah declares.
"How do you keep your lambs from the wolves, Jonah?" Ryan inquires.
"I lead them in the paths of righteousness according to God's word. I show them the ways of service."
"And are those the same for ewes as they are for rams?" Ryan asks.
Jonah's color rises. "Of course not! The women bear the young and serve their masters who do God's work."
"And by masters, you mean men?" Ryan prompts.
"Of course," Jonah insists. "God gave the law to a man. Men wield His swords and enforce His ordinances. The women must support them. And the church must defend against demons that call them from that sacred purpose. Demon voices must be stilled."
"By slashing throats?" Esposito throws back.
Jonah's hands curl into fists. "I don't know anything about that."
"The hell he doesn't," Rick growls as he observes. "If he didn't kill those people himself, he knows who did."
Kate chews the end of her index finger. "He might. But if someone told him as a member of the clergy, he's within his rights not to reveal it. And I don't think Jonah's our killer. Little tin gods like him send others to do their dirty work."
"Or have followers so fervent they decide to do it on their own," Rick suggests. "Either way, where are you going to go from here? You don't have enough evidence to hold Jonah, do you?"
"Not enough to charge him, but I can keep him 24 hours while we try to dig something up."
"Like what?" Rick asks.
"No idea."
"Then what about not keeping him?" Rick proposes. "Let him go but watch who he sees or who comes to the temple to see him. That way, you won't have a time limit. And you can always pick him up again if you get something, or he tries to take off."
"You may have a point," Kate allows. "But the murder is 18 years old, and no development's threatened Jonah so far. He could decide to sit tight and stay quiet, and there would be nothing we could do."
"Unless someone sticks a pin in him," Rick considers, "like a story about the murders."
"This isn't just a 12th Precinct case, it's a squad case, and Simmons has a lid on it."
"But it's also a Giles case," Rick points out. "A victim was one of their own. What if someone there, say Bethany Stempel, decides to put out an online retrospective? Simmons wouldn't have anything to say about it. It would be pure freedom of the press. A bloody tale would be great for picking up readers. And it could panic Jonah into doing something stupid."
"But we can't just suggest the idea to Bethany. I have to put our interview in my reports. Simmons would know. So would Gates."
"How about if I volunteer to talk to her book club?" Rick offers. "In a group of lovers of the written word, I imagine the idea for an article could arise from a mouth other than my own – however much self-control that would require."
Kate giggles. "Yes, I imagine it would. And Bethany will probably be over the moon to show off her favorite author. All right. Give her a call."
"I'll have Paula do it. Fewer NYPD fingerprints."
"Fine. Tell your agent I said hello."
"I will and … wow! I almost forgot. I promised Leah I'd help her make the move to Mrs. Flavin's apartment. Not that she has that much to move except a ton of stuff from Goldstein's."
"And the various additions to her wardrobe you financed," Kate adds.
"Only necessities," Rick argues. "A woman can't take on a nanny job without sufficient clothing. Who knows how many needs for changes Flavin's little darling might engender? Remember our emergency care of Bennie, the mystery baby? One night and two extra loads of laundry. And you have no idea how many shirts I needed when Alexis was a baby."
"I'm sure your tailor was delighted. OK. Go ahead. I have paperwork to do, but I'll see you later."
"Looking forward to it."
Jonah checks the velvet-lined case where he kept the original Blade of Truth. It's empty. It's been empty for eighteen years. He'd hoped that God would somehow restore the symbol of His strength, returning the only physical link between Jonah and what the unbelieving world considers crimes. But that was a prayer God chose not to answer, at least not in a way Jonah could understand.
Perhaps no answer was necessary. As upsetting as it was when the police questioned Jonah, they learned nothing. And from what he was able to learn from their questions, they have nothing but suspicion. So if he tells them nothing, that's all they ever will have.
Jonah is well aware that God continues to send challenges. But he's always met them. He allows himself a smile. He's more than met them. He's triumphed. His congregations have given generously enough that he's almost ready to erect yet another edifice to the truth. He should be concentrating his thoughts and prayers on that. The cleric kneels more stiffly than he used to. He'll pray as he always does, that demons will be stopped from interfering with his pursuit of God's will. And he also has a few words about the women's movement. Sighing, he closes his eyes.
"Better put your shpiel together fast," Paula Hass instructs Rick on a matter-of-fact Facetime call. "The book club meeting where you're doing your act is meeting at eight tonight. I'll text you the address."
"That soon? Well, Kate will be happy if it moves the case along."
Paula's eyes roll. "Never mind the case. Are you going to get another book out of this, Ricky?"
"No such luck," Rick confesses. "I promised I wouldn't write about any of Kate's Homicide Squad cases. But I've got another Nikki Heat that's making Black Pawn happy so far."
"That's fine, Ricky, but you know you have to keep them coming. If you don't keep the readers hooked, they move on. And aging mysteries don't earn much in royalties."
"Meaning that you wouldn't be earning much either," Rick retorts. "Don't worry. I'll put out enough words to keep you in Jimmy Choos."
"Why'd you agree to not writing about squad investigations anyway?" Paula probes. "The whole idea of you following Kate around was supposed to be to get material for your stories."
"My promise was the only way the squad captain would agree to let Kate in on their cases," Rick explains.
"You really are whipped, aren't you, Ricky?"
"I'm in love, Paula. You should try it sometime."
"No thanks. I don't need that kind of tsuris. Just don't be late, Ricky. Angry tweets are bad for sales." Paula shakes her head as she hangs up the phone. Lovesick clients can be a real pain in the ass.
