Perfect Sinners

by Rick Murcer

  He bowed, the crooked smile on his face causing her to laugh. The man was still surprising her after thirty-some years.

  “I’ll do what I can, princess. Or is that queen?”

  “Dad.”

  “Okay. Okay. But you sound like you’re in control here and that works for me, as a dad and an ex-cop. I’ll work that angle. I’ve already seen four or five blues and detectives who will talk to me.”

  “Great. Same as Aaron. Let’s give it an hour or so then get back together here.”

  Big Harv ambled off toward one of the bright floodlights looking like he belonged more than most.

  “The man is still good at what he does,” said Bella, watching him walk away.

  Ellen cocked her head. Was that a trace of respect in her voice or something more? Even an FT like herself could hear that. Bella and Big Harv? She shook it off. She must have heard something that wasn’t really there.

  “He is,” said Ellen.

  “What do you need me to do, Chica?”

  “We need someone to question the help. You’re a detective. Even though they’ve been questioned to ad nauseam, they won’t be upset when they get it again. The murders happened about two hours ago so they won’t be releasing anyone for at least another hour. That gives you some time. We need to know what the staff saw and heard.”

  “The big picture, Bella. You’re good at that. Let’s put this thing together,” added Brice.

  “Consider it done. And, I like the way you think, Harper. We’ll make a cop out of you yet.”

  “Thanks, I think,” said Ellen smiling. That was her Bella. And she loved it.

  “What are you two going to do?” asked Bella.

  She glanced at Brice, feeling her stomach tighten at what was about to come out of her mouth. But she knew it was the right thing to do.

  Exhaling, she grabbed Brice’s hand, feeling the strength in his fingers. She fed from that strength and it fortified her thoughts.

  “We’re going to find the mayor. He is supposed to still be here. I have some questions for him. Starting with why this note was on his letterhead.”

  CHAPTER-60

  Ellen followed a step behind Brice as he led the way through the tangle of cops, K-9 teams, detectives, and the occasional reporter trying to get an angle on what had happened. She knew by experience that reporters weren’t always respecting or trusting of the official statements released by the CPD. She didn’t blame them. They were doing their job and wanted to see and hear firsthand, but more than one aggressive reporter had screwed up an investigation. By the looks of things, that wasn’t about to happen here. There was a blue practically handcuffed to each press and TV reporter. Every precaution to keep the true facts under wraps was being applied.

  The best laid plans of mice and men often went awry, however.

  “I think you are right. The mayor is probably up near the front of the mansion. He’ll be guarded by eight or ten cops, but he’s never been one to adhere to that kind of guard-me policy, so he will ignore that protection. He’ll be larger than life, doing what politicians do.”

  “That’s what I think, too. We should be able to approach him with our badges on our jackets. Then we can talk.”

  Brice moved left and she followed again.

  Politicians.

  She’d not thought about them much. There were local elections she hadn’t even bothered to vote in because she didn’t care who was elected. She worked in a lab, concentrating on what it took to process evidence and uncover truths for CPD detectives to use in solving cases. Or at least create questions to that end. What politicians thought about that process or even thought about those facts had been of little consequence to her.

  Until now.

  Someone had seen fit to involve the mayor in these cases including the odd behavior of a few cops. That part was obvious, and she wanted to find out why. No, needed to find out why. Like Brice had said, they had to find out why all of this violence had been perpetrated in such a short time.

  Bella was right, the real cop in her, mostly dormant until lately, was making a beeline to discover the truth.

  One more jog around three cops talking quietly and she saw the mayor. Brice stopped and looked at her. The floodlights were so bright that this area of the estate was like daylight.

  “There he is, in all of his glory,” said Brice quietly.

  “He’s not alone.”

  “We expected that.”

  “No, I don’t mean his aides and the CPD. I mean the woman. That’s Amanda Blunt.”

  Brice squinted. “Yeah, you’re right. I hadn’t noticed her. How fortunate for us. I hope.”

  That new feeling of rushing adrenaline returned with a vengeance. It took a few seconds to control it before she spoke, not getting there totally.

  “What are the chances of those two being together in this situation, at this moment, without having some connection to what’s been going on the last few days?” asked Ellen.

  “I’d say low as shit.”

  “Me too. Let’s go. We need an audience with the king and queen.”

  Brice grabbed her hand. “Slow down. We have to do this without looking out of place or threatening. If you rush up there, you’re going to draw attention to us. We want to not do that until we get close enough to talk.”

  “So they won’t be able to get away from us?”

  “Right.”

  Out of the blue, he bent down and kissed her flush on the lips. Wonderful didn’t cover his act.

  “What was that for?” she said.

  “Because if we screw this up, it might be a while before I get to do it again.”

  “I liked the kiss, but what does that mean? We’re cops doing our job.”

  “I love your FT instincts for the facts. It’s helped to get us here. But we’re about to go up to the mayor, and by the looks of things, his good friend, the rich philanthropist, and ask them questions about six murders, her serial killer brother, and how this note got from his office to your hand. They may not like the implications, yes?”

  Ellen reached up and kissed him back. “You’re right. And, yep we are. If they want to ignore us tonight, fine. They can’t do it forever. Justice, right?”

  He smiled, nodding his head slightly. “Justice is a grand ideal. Truth too. Money and politics, however, can trump those things.”

  “I get that. Let’s go play cards anyway, Detective.”

  Ellen started toward the mayor and Amanda Blunt, Brice took a couple of strides to draw even.

  They stepped through the moist, plush grass, her mind focused not on Brice’s warnings, but on what she needed to know. Period. This could all be circumstantial. Maybe Blunt didn’t know about her brother. Maybe someone stole the mayor’s letterhead. Maybe this was all part of a wild puzzle that couldn’t be put together to make sense. But, by God, she was going to find out.

  They reached the edge of the wide driveway and turned slightly left toward the house.

  She could hear the mayor encouraging one of the officers walking past on the way into the mansion’s front door.

  Two more steps and she stopped, feeling her eyes widen.

  The Father’s location was no longer a mystery. He had just stepped up to Amanda Blunt, wrapped an arm around her neck, and placed a gun to her temple.

  CHAPTER-61

  “Don’t any of you move or I’ll kill her. Right here on the spot,” he demanded in that rich voice that commanded one’s attention. Yet, he remained calm, fully in control of himself.

  “Take it easy,” said the mayor, slowly stepping away.

  “Don’t leave us, Mayor Griffin. You’ll need to be present for the next few minutes. We have much to discuss.”

  His request had the desired effect. The mayor stopped. The Father nodded.

  “Thank you, Leonard. This confession wouldn’t be complete without you present.”

  The Father scanned the now-silent brigade of cops. “I know that some of you think that you might be a
ble to get a shot off or sneak up behind me and become instant heroes. Let me assure you that my training and my military experience will allow me to kill this woman and maybe even your beloved mayor before I go to stand before my Eternal Maker. So let’s make this clear. If I get the slightest impression that anything fishy is happening, well, any blood will be on your hands. Are we clear?”

  “We are very clear. Just relax,” said the mayor.

  “Good and I’m just fine, Leonard. Very relaxed, in fact.”

  By the end of the twenty seconds or so from when she first noticed The Father, Ellen had recovered, yet again, from another surprise twist in this case. Obviously, Mayor Griffin and The Father knew each other. Somehow, that made some sense. She just didn’t know how, yet.

  Her gaze then went straight to Amanda Blunt. Her expression was almost as calm as The Father’s.

  “Abraham. What are you doing?” Amanda asked quietly.

  “Thank you for actually remembering my name. But you will wait a moment, Amanda, before you begin smooth talking like Jezebel.”

  “Yes, but—”

  He pressed the gun tighter to her temple. “Do what you’re told,” said The Father, his voice still as calm as a glassy stream.

  She nodded.

  “Thank you. Now, I’ll need some help. My strength isn’t what it once was.”

  Ellen found herself moving away from Brice and moving to where the surreal scene was unfolding. He reached for her. “Ellen, wait.”

  “Relax. I think he’ll talk to me.”

  She stook a few steps.

  The Father’s eyes focused on her and he smiled.

  “FT Ellen Harper. I see God has spoken to you.”

  “What does that mean?” she asked.

  “He’s calling you to fulfill my request for help. And I agree with His choice. I can trust you.”

  Ellen tilted her head. “How do I know I can trust you?”

  His smile grew wider as his grip on Amanda remained steady. “Because you moved from your place of safety to stand where you are now.”

  His point was well taken. “Okay, what would you have me do?”

  “Firstly, remove you weapon and lay it on the ground. Then I would have you turn on the recording feature of your cell phone and step closer to the three of us. I want every word and image captured so there is no mistake what will be said in the next few moments.”

  Ellen reached for her weapon at her side.

  “Easy, Miss Harper, easy,” said The Father.

  “Easy it is.”

  She then placed the gun on the cool ground, pulled her cell from her back pocket, and stepped slowly to within five feet of the unusual trio.

  “Alright. It’s running. Talk to me, to us.”

  The Father hesitated as if he were dealing with one last round of remorse at being where he was. Then it was gone. His eyes bore into Ellen’s face as if she was the full target of his words. That would be fine with her. She wanted to hear what was next and then some.

  “I will address you directly, Miss Harper, but for all the world to hear, as well. I have much to say.”

  After a deep breath, and securing his hold on Amanda, he spoke.

  “My God-given name is Abraham Murphy,” he began. “I haven’t always been a preacher and, I assume you may have located information that tells you Amanda hasn’t always been a shining pillar of the community.”

  She nodded.

  “Good. While God is good and faithful to forgive our sins, there are consequences to what we do and have done. Amanda and I are of that complex ilk. I know that because this woman and I go way back.”

  “Abraham. Let’s not do this in this manner,” she said, in spite of his order to remain silent.

  He shook his head, an expression of sadness draping his face. “Please don’t speak again until asked, Amanda. You have used the last of my grace, child. Or I will do what I should have done those years ago.”

  Amanda said nothing, but her anger was apparent.

  “Abraham. Please tell me what you mean by way back,” said Ellen, trying to get him to focus on her.

  “Yes. Yes of course. But the devil can’t be allowed to speak in the presence of what is holy. And this confession is just that.”

  “This is your show and your rules. What confession, Abraham?” asked Ellen gently.

  His eyes softened. “The confession that I’ve been hiding in my heart of hearts for sixteen years.”

  Once more, she watched him gather his strength. Whatever he had to say would be akin to confessions she’d seen in interrogation rooms when perps had been confronted with the unescapable truth of their crime. She suspected this man would also be relieved as well.

  “I met Amanda, her brother Henry, and the third member of their triad in the armpit of Detroit sixteen years ago. They were all addicted to heroin and for reasons I can only guess, they showed up at the mission I’d just opened. All on the very same day, almost within the hour of one another.

  “Mind you, this was my very first attempt at helping others who had been seduced by the wretched fingers of the drug realm. Like the people who had helped me. I wanted to give back. So when the calling of the Lord grabbed my heart, I said yes and opened Christ’s Mission on the East side of Detroit on a song for a budget, but with faith that God would provide.”

  He tapped the side of Amanda’s head with the barrel of his revolver. “She came in first, dragging her teenaged brother with her. Once inside, they both collapsed on the floor. Neither had eaten in days and looked to be closer to death than life. I knew what kind of withdrawal they were going through. First hand. The three people on my staff helped me to get them into chairs, put some food and water into them, and got them to lie down on cots afterwards. That’s when Raymond walked into the door. More like crawled, as I recall. He said he needed help. That if we didn’t help him at that moment, he would be dead in a couple of hours. A little dramatic, but perception is reality for many. So we did the same for him as Amanda and Henry.”

  “I don’t know who he is,” said Ellen. The quiet, especially with this many people in the area, was eerie, if not unsettling. Even now, The Father’s words demanded an audience.

  “No, I don’t suppose you would.”

  The Father pulled Amanda’s head back, closer to his mouth. “Do you want to tell them, dear Amanda, or shall I?”

  Amanda didn’t respond, unless one counted the now full-blown rage exposed only by her eyes.

  “Very well. I’ll do it. Raymond is the reason the drug war and gang trouble has escalated on the south side. He runs the new, ruthless group that has put most of the other drug rings into hiding. He’s also responsible for the unholy murder of the gang leader, Avery Breck, who he once called friend, plus many more murders.”

  His blue eyes took on another light now. One of regret and resignation as he loosened his grip on Amanda. The man understood the art of communication, but what he was doing now was genuine. So was his pain.

  “All of this, my dear, was and is orchestrated by Miss Amanda Blunt. She is, as they say, the brains of the operation.”

  “Why do you say that?” asked Ellen.

  “Because it’s true. I know it’s true because, in a real way, I helped her become what she is.”

  Ellen caught a slight movement from the corner of her eye, twenty feet or so behind The Father. That’s when it occurred to her that there was a circle of blues and detectives slowly tightening their ranks, their purpose obvious. The Father didn’t have much time before he’d be taken out, one way or the other.

  She couldn’t allow that, not yet. His story could wrap up a plethora of cases and give law enforcement an upper hand in solving cases all over the city. Provided that his story was considered to be true.

  Apparently, someone in authority didn’t think that was the case. Or, wanted to shut him up even at the risk of harming Amanda Blunt.

  Ellen couldn’t allow that. The Father was an honest, if not a broken, man. He had to fi
nish his confession.

  Without thinking a second thought, she stepped closer to both of them, hands in the air. “Abraham. Please explain what that means. That you’re a part of this.”

  He tilted his head, and smiled. “You are a brave woman, Ellen Harper. I saw the movement of your companions a few moments ago. I know that I won’t make it out of here alive. I knew it the second I decided to put myself in this position.”

  She turned to Brice, he shook his head to say that he had no control of the situation. That he’d been overruled.

  Turning back toward The Father, she caught the mayor’s look. There was no question who had orchestrated the attempt to finish this standoff before the man was done talking. Was this a cover-your-own-ass attempt or was he concerned for Amanda?

  “Let him finish. What’s the harm? He’ll release Amanda when he’s done with the sermon, right Abraham?” she asked, still looking at the mayor.

  “I will let her go and soon. As Miss Harper suggests, Leonard Griffin.”

  The mayor raised his hands in an unhappy surrender. Smart. It would have been unwise to be caught on record trying to silence a witness who had information about several major crimes. Especially with the press as thick as the tension in the air.

  After the blues settled in, dropping their weapons to their sides, Ellen nodded to The Father. “Abraham?”

  “Thank you Miss Harper. I knew you’d do the right thing. At any rate, I’m guilty because I knew about all of these crimes, this evil from the devil himself, and didn’t say anything.”

  “Why? Why not come to us?” asked Ellen.

  He licked his lips. “I’m a shepherd first, Miss Harper. Please understand that. I protect my sheep. I love them unconditionally, the best I can. I understand their weaknesses because I have them as well. I made allowances for their behavior. They were sinners in my eyes, but perfect sinners. I just wanted them to change, to be the children I envisioned. I should have known that wouldn’t happen. My own arrogance at being able to foster that end is my cross to bear.”

  The tears began to form in his eyes. “I knew what Henry was capable of. I saw it in Detroit. All of those innocent people, but I thought . . .” his voice trailed away.