Secrets in the Shallows (Book 1: The Monastery Murders) (44 page)

John leaned back in his chair and whispered under his breath, “
This tape is going to help the case a lot. Without the hairs tying her to the murders, and the missing evidence in her desk, this wouldn’t be enough. This is like the cherry on the sundae to finish it off.”

As the CD continued to play, John fixed his eyes on the speaker. Continuing taking notes on the counseling session, he whispered to himself,
“I know I can win this case. All of the cards are stacking in my favor.”

Pausing for a moment, he picked up his phone and was about to hit speed dial when Katy walked in carrying a long garment bag. John hung up the telephone quickly and greeted her, “Hey, baby! Where’s my kiss?” John reached out for her.

Sashaying over to him, Katy gently laid the garment bag on a chair and playfully sat down on his lap. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pressed her lips against his. Katy squeezed his neck firmly and smiled before looking him in the eyes. “So, baby, have you been busy today?”

“I’ve gotten plenty done today. Actually getting Tom Green’s body exhumed tomorrow.”

“Wow! Well, I want to hear all about it, but let me get your mind off of the case for just a minute. Want to see my party dress?”

“Sure.”

Katy opened the bag and she pulled out a full-length, blue sequin dress with a stylishly dipping neckline. Holding it up for him to see, she asked, “Like it?”

“It’s beautiful, Katy,” John replied. His tone was less than enthusiastic, while he seemed to have his mind on something else.

Katy put the dress down on the leather chair and smiled warmly at him. Walking over towards him, she sat on his lap again and wrapped her arms around his neck.

In her sweet voice, Katy asked, “Did they find anything out about your big case yet?”

“Actually, they are arresting Mother Superior as we speak.”

Katy gasped. “Mother Superior? Really?”

“Yes, it’s true; believe it or not.”

Furrowing her brow, she replied, “I just don’t see how she could do something like that. She can be a bit crabby at times, but it’s just how she is. She’s not a murderer.”

John slipped an arm around her waist and said, “Well, all of the evidence says differently.”

“I guess you must be right then. Want me to take your mind off of everything for a while?” she asked him, patting his chest.

John leaned forward, forcing Katy to retract her arms and stand up.

“I’ve got a deadline to meet. I’m sorry, baby. It’s just not a good time right now. I’ve got the arraignment and bond hearing on Monday. I’ll need you to help me with processing some of the paperwork for this.”

“All right, I can help you with it some tonight if you like,” she replied.

“I understand. I’m on my way to see Emma. We’re going to go shopping for a bit. We hit it off when I bought that dress from her. Want to have dinner tonight after work?”

“Glad you’ve met a new friend. Enjoy your
girl time
. How about we have dinner at your place?” John smiled at her.

“Okay, I’ll let Mom know. What are you hungry for?”

“Just tell your mom to fix whatever. I know it will be great!”

Katy replaced the dress in the bag and zipped it back up. Picking it up, she slung it over her forearm before heading to the door.

“Hey, where’s my kiss?”

Katy walked over and looked John in the eyes. “I love you so much, sweetheart.”

Leaning in towards him as she closed her eyes, Katy firmly pressed her lips against his. Nibbling his lower lip gently, she tugged at it slightly and smiled. After releasing his lip, she kissed him fully. Their mouths parted as their amorous passions began to build up within them. Releasing their oral entanglement, Katy pulled her head away and rested it on his shoulder.

“How is that?” Katy asked teasingly.

John leaned the side of his face on her head and gently rubbed her forehead. “Wonderful, thank you. Now, I’m going to have a hard time concentrating on work,” he chuckled.

Katy smiled with satisfaction as she headed for the door. Looking back she asked, “I’ll see you tonight for dinner?”

John managed to lightly pat her on her butt as she walked away. He smirked as he smiled at her. “You bet.”

* * * *

Mother Superior Mary Ellen looked at the camera as she held her identification numbers under her chin. Trying not to cry anymore, she continued to pray silently as she went through the motions.
Help me, God, please?! I need a miracle right now. Do my years of service in your name count for anything, or is this a test? Are you making me go through this? Give me a sign, please!

“Okay, turn to the side,” Deputy Carol Baker barked. Her cropped brown hair and pudgy cheeks made her almost look like a bully you wouldn’t want to run into on any day.

Mother flinched with each flash as photos were taken.
Any time now, God?

“I need to get your fingerprints. This will not take long,” Deputy Baker said with a sterile smile.

Mother Superior trembled slightly as the deputy grabbed her hand for fingerprinting.

“Just relax, Sister,” she said to Mother.

“How can I relax? I’ve been labeled as a murderer, and I didn’t do anything wrong.”

Baker drilled her eyes at Mother Superior. “Yeah, I hear that all the time. Blah, blah, blah,” she said shaking her head. “Though, I have to admit we don’t get too many nuns in here for murder. Okay, let’s go get you a new set of clothes.”

The deputy went over to a stack of clothing and held up a hideous looking orange uniform. She held it out towards Mother Superior and said, “Here you go.”

“I’m not going to wear that!” Mother said adamantly.

“Sister, or whoever you are, you’re in jail now. Everyone, including you, must wear this attire. You’re no different from anybody else in this place,” the deputy said firmly.

“I simply cannot wear that,” Mother Superior said, crossing her arms.

Deputy Baker rolled her eyes and held out the uniform. “Go get dressed, before I have to get a big, bad guard involved here. You do not want that, I assure you. In addition, if you keep it up, “You’ll get a cavity check.”

“I don’t have any cavities,” replied Mother. “I have dentures.”

The deputy stared at Mother Superior, and in an instant, she let out a hideous laugh. “That’s not what I mean, Mother. Don’t worry; I’ll keep your habit nice and safe, in case you ever get to wear it again.”

“Is there someone you can talk to?” Mother asked as tears swelled in her eyes.

“No, you have to wear this. Those are the rules,” Deputy Baker said as she held up the uniform again. “Now, stop wasting my time.” She put on latex gloves, snapping them at the wrist. “I need to search you. Sorry, those are the rules, Sister.”

“Before you take your clothes off, do you have any needles or any sharp objects in your pockets?”

“No ... But I am a diabetic, and I must have my insulin.”

Mother Superior raised her hands while the deputy frisked her.

Baker looked at her. “Well, we can arrange for a doctor to see you.”

Mother Superior felt humiliated undressing in front of another person, something she had never done before. One-by-one, she shoved her feet through the orange pants legs. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she pulled the scrub-like shirt over her head. Finally, she slipped on some plain socks followed by some basic shoes they provided.

“Okay, time to put these on.”

Deputy Baker held up handcuffs and put them around her wrists.

“Don’t I get to make a phone call? My lawyer’s business card is in that right pocket.”

Baker replied, “You get your phone call once we finish this up, lady.” Reaching in to the habit pocket, she pulled out a business card and handed it to Mother. “You can keep this. I don’t see it creating any problems.”

Guiding Mother Superior down the hallway, Deputy Baker led her to a sparse office with only a few chairs and a desk with a phone on it. Unlocking the cuff to Mother’s right hand, the deputy said, “I’m going to lock you to the chair so you can make your call.”

Mother looked at the plain, white business card with thick, black letters and picked up the phone. Dialing the number for Charles Posey’s office, she only got his voicemail.

After hearing the beep, she began to cry as she said, “Mr. Posey, this is Mother Superior Mary Ellen. The sheriff is arresting me for the murder of Timmy Fields. He said they have enough evidence to charge me for his death, and maybe even Tom Green’s. I need to meet with you right away. Please, come and help me get out of this horrible place. I can’t stand it here. I hope to see you soon. God bless you. Good-bye.” Hanging up the phone, Mother wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

Deputy Baker unlocked the handcuff from the chair and replaced it on Mother’s wrist. Mother Superior stood up as the deputy guided her out the doorway. They continued through several corridors until they arrived at the central guard hub to the jail.

A bored female guard with short, sandy blonde hair stood up and asked, “What you got for me?”

Gesturing to Mother Superior Deputy Baker replied, “Here’s our newest addition to your group, Janice.”

“That old lady? You’ve got to be kidding me?”

“I know. Hard to believe it myself, but I’ve got the orders right here. The sheriff signed them himself,” Baker replied.

“I’d never have guessed that one. Isn’t she a nun or something?”

“She’s the Mother Superior herself. Not sure that her praying is doing any good these days.”

“Doesn’t look like it. Well, sign her in,” Janice said, handing the guard a clipboard.

Deputy Baker scribbled on the clipboard, then handed it back as she said, “I imagine her lawyer should be coming to see her soon. She just left him a message.”

“All right, I’ll take care of it if he comes,” Janice replied, pushing the button to release the gate.

A loud buzzing noise resounded throughout the hub, indicating the gate was unlocked. Nodding at Janice, the guard grabbed Mother’s arm and opened the ominous doors. Continuing on their way, she led Mother Superior to the cell block.

Several mirrors stuck out between the bars to allow the prisoners to see the new arrival. Arriving at Mother Superior’s new cell, the guard gestured for her to enter and then closed the barred door behind the frightened nun.

A large, stocky female covered in tattoos stood up in her cell and yelled, “We got us some jerky meat now. Look how old the hag is!”

“Stick your hands through the bars,” Baker ordered.

Mother Superior did as she was told, and the deputy removed the handcuffs.

“Is there anything you need before I go back upstairs, Sister?”

Mother Superior Mary Ellen raised her head and looked despondently at Deputy Baker. “Can I have a Bible for my personal studies, ma’am?”

“I’ll see what I can do. They’ll let you know when your lawyer shows up. I’m sure he can tell you more about your arraignment and bond hearing. I think it’s supposed to be on Monday morning.”

“Thank you,” Mother replied softly. Resigned to cause as few problems as possible, she went over to her cot and sat down to quietly pray. Dropping her gaze to the floor, Mother Superior Mary Ellen felt the most frightened she had in her entire life. Tears streamed down her cheeks as the circumstances overwhelmed her. She laid down with her face in the pillow and began to weep quietly.

Deputy Baker replaced the handcuffs on her belt and walked away, unconcerned for her prisoner’s frightened state
.

C
HAPTER
40

Exhausted, Sheriff Johnson sat at his desk and rubbed his weary eyes. It was obvious that the overtime he had put in, while working on the monastery murder cases, had begun to take their toll. Leaning back in his chair, he took in a deep breath in an attempt to clear his mind of all the clutter. No matter what he did though, images of Timothy Fields and Tom Green took over his every thought.

Standing up to stretch his aching legs, Sheriff Johnson walked around his desk. Looking at the evidence photographs taped to the white dry erase board he placed his index finger over Timothy Fields’ photographs. A wave of sadness engulfed him as he thought about his own children, who were safe at home with his wife.