Page 38 of Dark Side of the Cloth (The Righteous 1)
“Hmm? Oh sorry, I was thinking out loud.”
“I’m sorry, Sheriff, what you saw must have been very upsetting for you to show up here and be so distraught. How can I help?”
The sheriff leaned against the pew. His eyes averted to the wooden floor.
“I know people come to you and that they share their deepest and darkest secrets with you.”You don’t know the half of it. “I know that this is wrong to ask, but has anyone mentioned may be seeking revenge or wanting to be a vigilante?”
“You know I cannot share the secrets of those that come to me. I called you about Tim Baker because the person called as an anonymous individual not seeking the confidence of my silence, and I believe they wanted you to find what Tim had done.”
“I know, I just thought… maybe this one time you could make an exception?”
Dean sighed and made his way over to stand across from the sheriff and mirrored the relaxed position.
“I can tell you this, no one has come to me mentioning anything like what you have asked, but if you want names of those that have come to confess making ill-advised statements, I will not incriminate them.” Dean rubbed his face. “Sometimes people just need an ear. They are angry and need to vent, then ask for forgiveness for their dark thoughts. But, it’s not my belief that any of the parishioners that come into this church would actually hurt anyone.”
The sheriff tapped his hat once more against his leg.
“Yeah, I thought so too. None of them fit the profile. Thank you for sharing that with me Father, I think I just needed a few moments here in your presence and God’s. You know?”
Dean stepped forward and placed a hand on the older man’s shoulder.
“You are a good man. Take as long as you like to collect your thoughts. The Lord is here for you, as am I.”
Dean left the sheriff leaning against the pew and made his way to the office. One day he may be discovered, and one day he may need to kill to keep his secret, but luckily today was not that day, but he definitely needed to be extra careful.
