MURDER RITES: THE JOHNNY SUNDANCE MYSTERY SERIES (JOHNNY SUNDANCE MYSTERIES Book 1)

by Ronald Yarosh

  "A few weeks later, my anxiety began to reappear whenever I saw Lupe at the Rectory. I’d sometimes stop by for a cup of coffee or tea and chat with Bart Small. Perez kept looking at me in a weird way. It was like she knew something about the murder. She kept saying, ‘Our Lady knows what happened to Brian.’ whenever I was around, and it made me feel uneasy. Since she worked in the Rectory, I began to have the crazy idea Brian might have told Perez something about the murder of the Price boy. Paranoia and panic started to set in again. I decided I had to do something about her as well. I did a little research. Then, one morning when we were alone in the Rectory, I slipped a good amount of methamphetamine into her tea. It was the stuff I had found in Price’s locker. It didn’t take long for the drug to react and she stroked out. I thought she would die right there. I heard the door to the Rectory open. Bart Small walked into the kitchen. I told him something had just happened to Lupe. He called 911. Within minutes, an ambulance arrived. Some paramedics took her away. I visited Lupe in the hospital. I had thoughts of finishing her off there, but her daughter Ann, or her son Joe, were always present. In order to cover up the possibility of anyone finding out about the methamphetamines, I convinced Ann that her mother preferred cremation to burial. Lupe died a few days later. She was cremated shortly afterwards. At that point I was sure my troubles were over."

  "Your troubles weren’t over," Jake said. "They were just piling up. Things were getting worse for you."

  "Why did you drug Ben Gurney and take him to the lake?" I said.

  "I heard you were at the church talking to some of the kids in the Youth Group. Later, I overheard some of them mention that you had talked to Ben, and that he told you he had seen someone near the statue of Our Lady the afternoon of the murder. Suddenly, I remembered I saw Ben that Saturday afternoon. I began to worry he might realize it was me there instead of Greg Lyons. I had to do something. So, I arranged a meeting with him under the pretext of helping him get a Scout Merit Badge. Being an Assistant Scoutmaster, I knew he was one short of becoming an Eagle Scout. I convinced him to get the Fishing Merit badge to complete his requirements. I drugged him like I did Justin. Then, I drove him to the lake. You know the rest."

  "Three murders, one attempted murder and numerous drug charges, by an ordained Franciscan Priest," Jake said. "I don’t know what to think. I’ve never heard of a priest being a serial killer. I guess it takes all kinds."

  Preston cleared his throat. "I guess I might as well tell you the rest."

  "The rest?" Jake said.

  "Yes. There’s another thing I need to confess."

  "Go ahead. I’m listening."

  "There was this incident with a boy in Pennsylvania. He’s buried near Lake Wallenpaupack in the Poconos. I’ll give you a statement on that too if you’d like."

  "Yes," Jake said. "Please do that."

  Just after Preston signed his statement, there was a knock on the door. A tall gray haired man in a stripped blue suit entered. He was carrying a briefcase. "I’m Edward Conway. I’m an attorney for The Franciscan Friars. I’m here to represent Father Preston. I’m advising him not to say anything more."

  "You're a little late, Mr. Conway," Jake said. "The good Father here, waived his rights, and gave us a full written confession. He just put his John Hancock on it. We also have it on video. And, we have all the evidence we need to put him away for a long time. He will be booked in regard to three separate homicides here in Florida, and on other charges. He also confessed to the death of a child in Pennsylvania."

  Conway looked down at Jimmy and shook his head. "If you don’t mind, I’d like a private moment with my client."

  "Be my guest," Jake said. "But, your boy isn’t going anywhere."

  Jake and I left the room. He got two uniform policemen to guard the door. We walked to his office. He turned to me, and then he grabbed my shoulders. "You did it again, Johnny. Pure genius. I can’t thank you enough. I really think you should come back to work for us. What do you say?"

  "Come back to the daily grind of police work and have another officer get shot while accompanying me? Next time it could be you. I couldn’t handle that. But, I appreciate the offer. Of course, I’ll be available if you need any help in the future."

  "I’ll be counting on you, Johnny."

  21

  The next morning I made a call to Bishop Brennan’s office. Sister Maria Anna answered the phone in her usual businesslike manner. I told her who I was. She told me the Bishop was out and wouldn’t be back until 11 o’clock. I told her to pencil me in for that time. I hung up. I decided to have breakfast at Cassie’s. I hopped in my car and drove over there.

  Jake was there. He was passing out cigars like a new father to anyone who wanted one. They weren’t the Coronas. He told everyone he was celebrating the closing of a two-year-old cold case and the arrest of a serial killer who had murdered four people. A lot of folks were shaking his hand and patting him on the back. When Jake saw me he shouted, "Johnny, old boy. Get over here."

  I walked over. His face was beaming. He hugged me. He turned to everyone and said, "This is the genius who solved the case." He put down the cigars and then began to applaud me. Everyone else, including Sands and Horowitz joined in the applause. There were also whistles of approval. I felt my face get hot. Cassie came over. She hugged me. It seemed like more than a friendly hug.

  When things settled down, I had breakfast with Jake, Sands and Horowitz. He started going over the events surrounding the visit to San Sebastian, what happened at the lake and the interview of Preston. He noted, that during a search of Preston’s room at the Monastery, officers found several personal items which belonged to some of his victims. They included a gold necklace, a ring, and several photographs. Serial killers are known for their penchant to take what are called "trophies" from their victims. The items were in the lab being analyzed. They also found what was left of Father Watson’s bloody stole buried right where Preston said it would be.

  "Preston might have gotten a lawyer," Jake said. "But, I think we have enough goods on that predator to get him the needle. You're a Catholic, Johnny. So answer me this. Why in hell did the Franciscans send over a lawyer? And, how did they find out we had Preston in custody?"

  "Your guess is as good as mine. These days it’s very hard to keep a secret with cell phones and the Internet. And, we did go over to San Sebastian looking for him. Someone there must have thought he was in trouble when he didn’t return. I imagine they later decided to call their lawyer."

  "Yeah, I see what you mean. Sometimes I think this modern day technology is going to be the end of us."

  "I hope not," I said. "I expect it will make things easier for us in the long run."

  "Oh well," Jake said. "I guess there isn’t much we can do about it. That's progress."

  "What are you doing later, Johnny?" Sands said.

  "Well, I have to brief my client on the outcome of my investigation. After that, I’ll probably go over to Manny’s for some Mexican and a margarita."

  It was getting close to 10:45. I stood up to leave. Jake rose from his seat and shook my hand again. Sands and Horowitz did the same. They thanked me for my efforts in solving their case.

  22

  As soon as Sister Maria Anna saw me enter the office, she called Bishop Brennan. She looked at me and smiled. "He’s waiting for you."

  I walked into his office. He rose from his desk and walked over to me. He shook my hand, and then hugged me. "Congratulations. You did it. As you might imagine, I’m both happy and sad regarding the outcome. I got the news last night from Fred Manning at San Sebastian. I just returned from a meeting with Cardinal Ross. It’s always sad to hear that a fellow priest has done something despicable. Apparently, Preston killed a woman, a child and a fellow priest. I don’t know what to say."

  "And, a boy in Pennsylvania," I said.

  "No. Another murder? What is this world coming to?"

  "He confessed to all of it, Sean. I’m sorry it turned out that
way. But as you know, Christ himself was betrayed by one of his own. With humanity, those things often happen. Too often if you ask me."

  "Spoken like a true son of God. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. You would have made a wonderful priest and a wonderful Bishop. Sit down. I’ll pour you a drink."

  "I thought Alberto was the bartender around here." I laughed.

  "He’s back at the seminary now. I have to wait on myself."

  "Well, it’s not every day I get served a drink by a Bishop. I’ll have more of that Chivas if you don’t mind."

  He poured us each a drink. Mine had a little ice. He motioned me to sit in one of the leather bound chairs. He sat in the one next to me. "So how did you manage to figure all of this out? Or, is it a detective’s secret?"

  I outlined the major points of my investigation and how I came to the conclusion that Preston was the culprit. Sean nodded his head as I laid it all out for him.

  He went back to his desk and returned with an envelope. "As promised, here’s the rest of your fee. I said it would be five thousand. Here's the remainder."

  "I can’t take your money."

  "Why not? Where I'm going, it's useless. I don’t need it for my burial. My funeral and all the hoopla afterwards is already taken care of. I’m sure you can use the money. You have expenses as well. I insist you take it. I’d give you more if could."

  "All right. I’ll take it. But, I want you to know, I’ll be spending some of it for Mass Cards in your name." I finished my drink.

  "I won’t argue with you over that. Prayers are worth their weight in gold." His phone rang. He walked to his desk, and picked up his cell. "I see," He said. He put down the phone, and then turned to me. He raised his glass. "Here’s to the afterlife. I’ve just been told I have to call a press conference. The media are chomping at the bit for details on this messy business. I have to prepare my remarks. So, we must part. Keep in touch." He finished his drink. He then walked over to me. He hugged me again, and kissed me on the cheek. I knelt and kissed his ring. I left his office feeling that the next time I would see him, he would be lying in state. I didn’t like the thought of that.

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  Also by Ronald J. Yarosh

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  The Johnny Sundance Series!

  MISSING OR MURDER?

  A young woman is missing. The police have given up on her. Her mother is frantic. She doesn’t know where to turn. Is she alive or is she dead?

  MURDER OR SUICIDE?

  A young man is found dead. The Police and the Medical Examiner call it a suicide. The victim’s sister thinks otherwise. She can’t persuade the police to reopen the case. The dead man’s fingerprints were found on an empty pill bottle, a water glass and a suicide note written by the victim. The sister is determined to find out the truth.

  MURDER BEFORE MIDNIGHT

  When two City Councilmen are found shot to death in a sealed home, the questions pile up faster than they can be answered. The Medical Examiner insists they were killed instantly, three hours before the shots were heard. How could the time of death, and the time the shots were heard, differ so much? Could the ME be wrong? Did the victims shoot each other? Did someone murder them? If so, how could the killer escape leaving the doors locked from the inside? Is it a perfect crime? Find out now, in the latest Johnny Sundance Mystery.

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  Copyright © 2016 by Ronald Yarosh

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  This is a work of FICTION. Names, characters, places, and incidents, are products of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

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  Acknowledgments

  The author wishes to thank Judy Loudon and Kathy Yarosh for their assistance in the production of this book. I would also like to thank Ms. Kendyl L. Stewart for her assistance with English to Spanish translations.

  About the Author

  Ronald J. Yarosh is the author of the new, breakout series, Johnny Sundance Mysteries.

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