Alex Kava Bundle - Alex Kava [687]
Keller must have realized they wouldn’t go on until he answered. He finally said, “I have no idea why I’m on the list.”
“Now, you see, that’s curious to me,” Maggie started to explain, keeping a calm, even tone though, she’d admit, a bit sarcastic. Surely sarcasm could be forgiven when what she really wanted to do was reach across the table, grab him by the collar and tell him he knew damn well why he was on the list. She continued, “We already know that the other priests have been accused of hurting little boys in one way or another. In fact, we believe the accusers may have somehow submitted the priests’ names to be on the list. What about you, Father Keller? Who might have submitted your name? Who would want you eliminated?”
She tried to stare him down, but he didn’t blink when he repeated, “I’m sure my name was submitted by mistake.”
“A mistake?” She couldn’t believe it. Did he really believe they would buy this crap? She looked to Pakula, hoping to see similar disbelief and frustration. Nothing. He was definitely the better poker player.
“What e-mail name does this guy use?” Pakula took over without missing a beat.
“The Sin Eater.”
“Does that mean anything to you?” Pakula wanted to know.
“Not personally. I’ve done some research. The sin eater was a prominent figure in medieval times. Villagers would leave food items, usually bread, on the chest of their deceased loved one. After everyone was gone the sin eater would come in, eat the bread and ritualistically take the sins of the dead person into his own soul, thereby absolving the dead person of his or her sins.”
“Bread?” Pakula shook his head and glanced over at Maggie. “We found goddamn bread crumbs on Monsignor O’Sullivan, and in Columbia they found some in Kincaid’s shirt pocket. This is freaky crap.”
“But wait a minute,” Maggie said. “This killer is eliminating abusers. Why would he want to absolve the abusers of their sins?”
“I believe,” Keller said, taking a quick swipe at his sweaty upper lip, “this person may feel he’s absolving the sins of the person he’s killing for, instead of the priest he’s killed.” He said it with almost an admiration for The Sin Eater, the same person who was attempting to kill him. He looked at Maggie and added, “Does that fit your profile, Agent O’Dell?”
She held his gaze without flinching. That actually made sense. The Sin Eater believed he was not only killing for the boys, but taking on their sins of submitting and wanting their abusers dead.
“Yes, actually it does fit my profile,” Maggie told him. “I think you’re right.” Keller blinked hard at her as if he didn’t hear correctly. Even Pakula did a double take. “Maybe he is rescuing abused boys from their tormentors by killing their tormentors.” She paused. “Unlike you, Father Keller, who thinks he’s rescuing abused little boys by killing the boys.”
Both men stared at her, silenced for a second time by her bravado. Keller plucked at a piece of packing tape on his box. The room had gone so silent she could hear the scraping, pinching and pulling of his long nervous fingers.
“Is that what you did with Arturo, Father Keller?” she asked. “Did you rescue him before you left Venezuela?”
“Agent O’Dell,” Pakula said, his warning calm but she could hear the impatience. “I think it’s best we remember why we’re here today. We’re trying to stop a killer.”
“Exactly,” Maggie said and she looked at Keller. That’s exactly what she was trying to do, stop a killer who should have been stopped four years ago. But she sat back, instead, and laced her fingers together in front of her on the table, preventing them from balling up into fists and slamming them into Keller’s smug, sweaty face.
“Why don’t you tell us what you have for us, Father Keller,” Pakula told the priest, but now Maggie could feel him watching her out of the corner of his eyes.
“I’ve included copies of our e-mails,” Keller continued, but now kept looking at Maggie, as if expecting her to interrupt. “I know there’s a way you can trace Internet e-mail.”
“Possibly,” Pakula