Page 16 of Fatal Strike
“She believes he was here to pray.”
“Did you see or hear him?” Jon said.
Father Gabriel shook his head. “Prayer is of the heart, not necessarily audible.”
Jon nodded. “The front door creaked when we came in. Do the back doors?”
“I can’t recall. I’ve been here many years, and noises are commonplace.”
Was the priest avoiding Jon’s question or responding candidly?
Father Gabriel eased back in his chair. “Dylan needs someone to champion him. But I agree he should talk to law enforcement about this morning.”
“Do you think his mother knows his whereabouts?”
Father Gabriel studied them before answering. “Maybe. I’ll talk to her, encourage her to cooperate with you.”
“What can you tell us about Dylan?” Jon said.
“In the years I’ve been at St. Peter’s, we’ve talked twice privately.”
“Do those times include confession?”
“My vows preclude me from answering your question.”
“So he’s attended confession?”
“I’ve spoken with him at his mother’s home and here in my office.”
A clever evasion, Leah noted.
“What were the discussions about?”
“Sports, church activities, and part-time employment for Judge Mendez.”
“Ms. Ortega told us you helped Dylan by recommending him for the job.”
“I did. And I’ve thought about it all day.” His mouth drooped as though emotion might overtake him.
“How long were the talks?” Jon said.
“Ten minutes at the most.”
“So after a total of twenty minutes’ conversation with Dylan, you went to Judge Mendez and recommended a man who’d done eleven months for armed robbery? Or was this a favor to Ms. Ortega?”
Leah scrutinized the priest in hopes of discerning the mixed emotional messages she was getting from him. Would Dylan kill a man who gave him a job?
“Yes, to both questions. Like God, I believe in second, third, and as many chances as it takes to help a person find the way to righteousness. It was the judge’s decision to hire Dylan.”
“I believe in helping others,” Jon said. “But Dylan has beenidentified by a credible witness, and Judge Mendez is the third victim of violence this week.”
“Eyewitnesses can be mistaken.”
Jon moved ahead. “If the witness made an error, where is Dylan?”
“If I knew, I’d be persuading him to talk to you.”
Silence swirled around the room, and Leah picked up the conversation. “Unfortunately, we’re unable to work the case effectively until we find Dylan Ortega. These killers who call themselves the Venenos must be apprehended.”
