Kee Patterbee - Hannah Starvling 03 - The Priest Who Ate a Poison Petit Fore (8 page)

Hannah started to respond, but Hym interceded. “Well, we think the same of him.”

“Walk with me,” Janus responded.

Hym walked almost beside the man. Magdalen followed one step back, Hannah noticed.
Instant respect
, she determined. Turning her eyes to observe Janus, she recalled his last words and analyzed them.
Not a request. Expected
, she concluded.
Authoritarian
.

Janus led them to an elevator, talking along the way. He explained that he was second behind Whipson as on staff clergy and a member of the episcopal faith. Hannah found that his conversation was a one sided affair.
He’s interested in what he has to say only
, she concluded.
No room for others
.
Odd
.

When they reached the third floor, the doors opened and everyone stepped off. Janus led the three to a small office. Upon entering, Hannah noticed the forward desk and a door leading to another room. Sitting behind was a young man wearing a black habit.
Late twenties. 5’10”” to 5’11”. Hazel eyes. Weighty. Dishpan blond. Glasses. Thick lips.
Glancing over his desk, she noticed it was unkempt, cluttered with stacks of files. The trashcan held several candy wrappers and an empty box.

Janus made introductions. “This is Brother Wessel.”

The man offered his hand but maintained a stoic expression. “Richard, if you prefer.”

“Brother Wessel works for the Reverend and here in the hospital as well.”

“Beyond these duties,” Wessel gestured toward the desk, “I’m part of the nursing staff.”

Hym and Magdalen nodded but Hannah found herself fascinated.

“How interesting. I wasn’t aware that you operated outside the church.”

“Most people are unaware. I believe they still have the impression we don’t talk, and hang around the church chanting or beating ourselves.” He smiled. ““I can assure you, we live quite full lives.”

“I’m sure you do.”

Janus cleared his throat and Wessel turned his attention to his duties.

“I’m sorry,” Wessel said in an apologetic tone. “Let me get the Reverend for you.”

The young brother moved to the rear door and knocked. Watching the situation, Hannah again reaffirmed her assessment that Janus was authoritative. She also noted he held a certain sense of demanded order.
Impatient
, was the word she applied to his growing mental file.

Whipson opened the door and smiled. He stepped out with open arms to entice a hug. Magdalen responded first, giving him a kiss on the cheek. Then Hannah gave him a hug. As he wrapped his arms around her, she noticed a second figure standing to the rear. His unexpected appearance startled her, though she sized him up all the same.
Smallish
.
Late
70s.
About the same age as Whipson. Square face. Bulbous nose. Hunched a slight bit.
Grey hair. Worn, brown eyes.
Glancing him over, she studied his clothing. He wore a medium blue coverall jumpsuit that was well maintained but worn. She determined him to be on the janitorial staff.
Custodian
. Seeing him lift a hand and gnaw at a nail, she added,
nervous and mousy by nature
.

After Whipson shook Hym’s hand, he introduced them to the man.

“This is Jackie Rhoades, an old friend.”

Rhoades gave a nervous smile and quick head bob of acknowledgement.

“Pleasure to make your acquaintance,” he expressed in a quick manner.

Whipson looked to Rhoades. “We’ll have to talk later. It seems I’m running behind.”

Rhoades nodded and produced a weak smile. He then moved past everyone and exited the door. Whipson watched, and once the man was out of sight, he said, “So, what brings this unexpected pleasure? I’ve got a meeting with Father Janus here, but it shouldn’’t take long, don’t you think?” He looked to Janus.

For a second, Janus said nothing, a slow smile forcing its way onto his face. “No, I wouldn’t think so. In fact, why don’t the four of you talk? We can reschedule for later.””

Though he was agreeable, Hannah could tell the change in plans aggravated the priest.
Controlling
, she added.
“Oh, no, it’s us,”” Hym half apologized, “we came unannounced. We shouldn’t have interrupted.”

“No, No, that’s fine,” Janus insisted. “I have patients that I can minister too.” He looked back to Whipson. “We’ll talk tomorrow, Jonathan. I’ll call with the time.” With that, he turned and exited as did Rhoades. After he was out of sight, Whipson turned to the trio with a smile. “Now, what can I do for you?”

Hym gave a weak smile. “Is there somewhere we can talk?”

Whipson studied Hym’s face for a moment before assenting. He motioned for all to follow. He led them out the door and across the way to a small conference room. “Will this do?” he asked as they entered.

Everyone settled into chairs around a small round table. Whipson removed his glasses and began cleaning them. He looked first to Hym, then to Magdalen and last to Hannah. “Such serious faces. Is it the case or the wedding?”

At first, no one responded. Then Hannah spoke up. “Well, sir, we’ve been checking into things. It seems there may have been more than just the victims you found.”

Whipson returned his glasses and adjusted them on his nose as he nodded. Hannah noticed that the news disturbed, but did not surprise the man.
Almost expected
, she considered.

“I thought you might also want to know that little ties them together.” She paused to gauge his expression, which was stony. “Just one thing so far.””

“Susan and Calvin.”

Whipson’s sudden acknowledgement took Hannah by surprise. The response was one that had been happening with increased frequency of late. When she looked to Hym and Magdalen, their half-open mouths affirmed the same.

“That’s why I wanted you to check into all this,” the Reverend explained. “I knew you’d find that to begin with, but it’s my hope that along the way, you’ll also find evidence that exonerates them.””

“That’s our intention,” Hym interjected.

Whipson took hold of Hym’s hand. “I know. You’ve always been a good friend to them.” He looked over to Magdalen. “You too,” he said with smile. He then scrutinized Hannah. “But you, young lady. You are the one I am counting on. These two are like my own children in many ways, but their eyes are a little rose colored as are my own. Yours aren’t. You’re open to all possibilities. Good or bad.” He scanned around the room at all three. ““I know they have nothing to do with what’s going on, but someone does. I need to know why it’s happening around them.”

A spasm of coughs overtook the clergyman. Magdalen sent Hym for some water. By the time he got back with a small cup from a hallway dispenser, the Reverend had settled down. He drank the glass down and waited. Hannah, as usual, broke the silence.

“A friend of mine has been checking into the backgrounds of everyone. All the victims. Susan and Calvin… You.”

Whipson’s eyes widened for a second before they returned to normal in short order. “Well, that must have been interesting,” he offered with a grin. ““I suppose my egregious past had to climb to the surface sometime.”

Chapter Seven

“You were young,” Hym assured, “a different person.”

“I was, but that’s just an excuse. I did what I did and much more than I paid for, but that’s neither here nor there. In the end, I found the light and changed my ways. Tried to do more good than bad. Raised a good family. Touched the lives of others.” He smiled again at Hym and Magdalen. “Looking at you two, I like to think I had a hand in leaving better than I gave.”

For the first time in their relationship, Hannah saw Hym’s eyes well up. She saw him clap his hands around Whipson’s and squeeze. His admiration of the man overwhelmed any doubts he may have harbored. Unlike her brother, Magdalen could not contain her tears. She pinched the corners of her eyes to clear them. Hannah let them have their moment.

Whipson looked to the sleuth. “Now, I suppose there are questions that come with that.”

Hannah affirmed and apologized. “It’s going to get personal, so…You said you did a lot more than you paid for. Was it just the cars? Or was there more?””

Whipson let out a slow breath as his eyes wandered to the table before he brought them back to meet with Hannah. “Back in the day, I was different. I wasn’t angry or abused or poor. My parents made plenty of money. In fact, they were rich. They left it all for me. As a child, I didn’’t want for anything I needed and most often didn’t want for what I wanted. In a word, I was a privileged and spoiled brat. More so, life bored me. I started stealing things with two other boys. Little things at first. Candy bars and comic books. Kid stuff. Just for kicks. However, like a drug habit, it grew and grew. By the time I was nineteen, we were into high-end vehicles. There was this one car. A Jaguar. White and beautiful. I set my eyes on it. One night, we go to a rich man’s house. We watched him leave, and then we made our move. We went in through a back window of the house. I was the last to enter. Just when we found the door leading to the garage, I heard something. I turn around and there’’s this lady. Pale. Trembling. A maid. I didn’t know what to say.”

Whipson’s lips pulled into his mouth as he grimaced.

Remorseful. Full of regret. A painful memory,
Hannah thought, filing it alongside all she had done before about the man. She glanced over to Hym and Magdalen, each wearing strained expressions as they hung on the man’s every word. She wondered if his unfinished confession would alter their opinion of the clergyman.
Not my intent
, she added, before deciding to address that with both later. Turning back to Whipson, she encouraged him to go on.

Whipson motioned to his face in a near trancelike state as he continued. “She got this… horrified, painful look on her face, gasped and fell to the ground.” When he looked up, twin sets of insistent tears were rolling down his cheeks. “By the time I got to her, she was gone.”

Hannah noticed the silence of Hym but could not draw herself to look in his direction. Instead, she pushed forward. “What happened after that?”

“I called for an ambulance. The other two had long since left. I waited for a minute, looking at her before I left too. When the police arrived, I was across the street, watching. I found out later that she had a heart attack.” Whipson stiffened and leaned back. Then he shook his head. ““I killed that woman, and I never had the decency to pay for it.” Coughing, he cleared his throat. “A few nights later, I got caught with the other two taking an old Buick. Funny thing is, it wasn’’t worth anything. I had no reason to do it. I should have been able to boost that car and been gone by the time anyone caught up to us.”

“You didn’t get away…,” Hym said, ““because you wanted to get caught; on the inside at least.”

Whipson agreed. “I’ve thought about that woman every day since then. The look on her face. What might have been? Every night in prison for six years, I told myself I belonged there. Not for the cars they linked us too, but because of her. Tina Beaumont.”” He shuddered as he again coughed. “Then one day, another prisoner told me that you can’t live in regret. You have to take responsibility and do the most good to repair all the bad. I went from a killing thief, to a religious family man; from wolf to lamb.”

For a moment, no one stirred. Then, with a sudden motion, Magdalen reached out and hugged the clergyman.

“You didn’t kill her.”

“I did her no physical harm,” Whipson corrected, “but I am responsible for her death.”

“What would that have to do with this?” Hym inquired as he peered over to Hannah.

Hannah shrugged. “I would imagine nothing, but then again, the old saying is true. Revenge is a dish best served cold.”

“Are you kidding me? You think someone waited sixty years to take revenge for an accidental crime that was never investigated?” Magdalen interceded. “That’’s crazy.”

Hym gave a disbelieving chuckle. “No offense, Sherlock, but I have to agree. That’s kind of out there.”

“I didn’t say that. I just asked a question, which leads to another. That’s how this all works,” Hannah responded in an irritated tone. “Who all have you told about this over the years?”

“Up until today, the only two were Adam and Jackie.”

Hym stiffened and crossed his arms as Magdalen pushed back in her seat. They glowered at the minister. Hym gestured toward the door. “Wait, the custodian? That guy? He was one of your partners?”

Whipson confirmed.

“This Adam, he was your other partner?”

“Adam Cook. He died several years ago.” Whipson twisted in his seat. “I regret to say, he left with bad blood between us.”” The clergyman sighed. “I may serve the Lord, but I sin all the same,” he added.

“Could you explain?”

“When we got caught, Adam flipped on us. He got out after twelve months, but Jackie stuck with me, never turned. He even took the brunt of the investigation into the thefts, even though I was top dog. I got out after six years. Jackie…” he shook his head before continuing, ““he always found trouble. On the inside that comes at a price. Between fights and escape attempts, his sentence expanded from ten, like mine started off as, to most of his adulthood. Over the years, he’s spent more time in than out. For a while, I thought civilian life almost seemed foreign to him, but I owe the man. I always kept in touch. He got out the last time twelve years ago. That’s when I found him a job and watched after him. When I came here, he followed, doing the one thing he was always good at. Cleaning up after others.” He paused and scanned all three. ““But if you think he had anything to do with this, you’re mistaken. He was a thief, not a murderer. Jackie had his problems over the years, but he was never violent. All the fights he ever got into in Draper was to protect me, himself, or someone else. He never started them.”