Chapter 3

'James? Can I have a word?' Father Brian panted catching up to him. 'I hate to intrude on your weekend, but there is a young lady here. I think you might be the perfect person to speak to her.'

Detective Inspector James Hathaway paused to let the elderly priest join him.

'I don't think of it as an intrusion. But why me, Father?'

'She's police like you, James. She… She asked...' Father Bryan Brian was hesitating over his words, 'She asked me if God could forgive a serial killer.' He shrugged his shoulders ruefully. 'I am afraid that I am totally out of my depth. Such a lovely young woman, dealing with such darkness.'

Mentally James ran through the people attending the retreat. Apart from his sister Nell, there was only one younger woman on the retreat.

'The Canadian? Tall redhead?' James guessed.

'Yes.'

She had caught James's eye immediately when they had all introduced themselves. 'She probably catches a lot of men's eyes,' he thought to himself. She had intercepted his appreciative gaze, and returned one that was full of mischief. She hadn't seemed dark or traumatized.

'If you think so, Father, then certainly. But she might not want to talk to me. '

He added to himself, 'Especially not after she knew I was checking her out.'

'She's down by the river. She said she misses her home, and the sight of water. She told me it brought her peace.'

James looked towards the apple orchard. The bit of blue behind the trees that was the river flashed in the sunlight.

'Ok Father.'

He watched her for several minutes before he approached. She was sitting on the dock dangling her feet in the water.

'Hi,' he said joining her on the dock.

She looked up at him but didn't answer. James's breath caught as he looked into her eyes.

He looked away abruptly.

'May I join you?'

'Depends. Are you going to keep looking at me like I am ice cream, or can we be done with that? You've been standing behind me for a while now, haven't you? Right now it's still flattering, but it might get creepy.'

He turned beet red.

'Yes, sorry' he mumbled sheepishly.

She laughed then. She had a full rich laugh, not whiny or high pitched.

'OK,' reaching out her hand to shake his.

'James Hathaway,' he responded, shaking hers. He sat down cross-legged next to her. 'Father Brian asked me to come and speak with you.'

'Ah, I see. I did scare him a bit. Why did he send you in particular?'

'I am a copper, and I was a seminarian. Gives me perspective from both sides, I guess.'

'A seminarian? 'The gleam was back in her eyes, 'clearly the celibacy thing might have been problematic.'

He didn't bother blushing that time, he just grinned back at her.

'Nah, ok, I am winding you up. I'm Diane Chisholm. I was a cop. A copper is a penny, 'she rolled her eyes, 'I'm currently on extended leave to do a PhD in criminal psychology.'

She reflected for a few seconds, and then continued, 'Father Brian is troubled that a woman can work in my field. Old school, I guess. He thinks I should be raising kids, not chasing pedophiles. You seem nice and all, James, but I don't think I want to talk to a stranger.'

'Earth to Hathaway!'

'Sorry, Lizzie, I was thinking about when I met her, over a year ago. She was a copper, but she left. She is doing a post-doctorate at the university, or was a year ago, anyway.'

He was back in control, 'Check CCTV. Let's see if we can't find images of the vehicle. You've notified local hospitals about our bloke with the broken nose?'

'I left Constable Bradley doing that. '

'Good. Get a current address for Miss Chisolm. I'm going to the hospital to see if she is up to more questions.'