“But it does not all have to be decided here and now,” Peter said, breaking the quiet. “I heard that the case was passed to a taskforce. How is your detective holding up?”
Anatoly sighed, letting Peter see his concern. “She is relentless. I have great faith that she will solve Father Abrams’s murder. However, I worry she is too headstrong and will get herself into trouble.”
“I can see that,” Peter nodded. “In the few minutes I met her, she proved to be quite tenacious.”
“Very,” Anatoly agreed. He was unable to keep the smile off his face at the thought of her. “Case is proving difficult to crack. I am not so sure how best to help, but faith remains.”
Peter tilted his head, folding his hands in his lap and regarding Anatoly with genuine curiosity. “What seems to be the problem?”
“Latest victim does not fit profile,” Anatoly admitted. “She was counselor at Starry Meadows Rehab Facility, not clergy. Maggie cannot find connection, but we are both confident is same killer.”
The bishop’s eyes went wide and he sat up straighter all of a sudden. “Well, there’s your connection, Anatoly. This is not widely known about Father Abrams, but before he became a priest, he struggled with drugs. I checked him into Starry Meadows myself when he relapsed and visited him frequently during his stay there. It changed his life. I do not know if he knew the other victim, but perhaps that closely guarded secret might help your detective.”
It felt as though a brick had struck him. Anatoly could only stare as he processed this information. He had only known Father Abrams a few years and it wasn’t like they had spoken in great detail about their pasts. Not when Anatoly’s involved becoming a vampire. It seemed they had both been hiding something from each other.
“But… Surely Maggie would have found evidence of Father Abrams’s stay?” he finally asked, trying to think it through before he got his hopes up.
Peter shifted uncomfortably at this. “I did not want to ruin Abrams’s reputation, so I checked him in under a false name. He was trying hard to get his life in order… I really thought it would be for the best…”
“What name?” Anatoly was already standing and heading for the exit. If this were all true, he needed to tell Maggie right away.
Peter hesitated for only a heartbeat before divulging the answer. “Tell her to look under the name Robert Johnson.”
Chapter Forty-Seven
Maggie was just sitting down in her recliner with a hot cup of coffee when furious knocking sounded at the door. Her body tensed, suddenly on edge, wondering who it could possibly be when Anatoly’s voice boomed from the other side.
At that, she got up so fast she nearly spilled coffee all over, but she somehow managed not to slosh too badly. She was practically giddy with excitement to see him again. Somehow, she thought he’d be gone longer, not that she was complaining.
“Maggie!” He knocked again, more urgently this time and she started to think something was wrong.
By then, she had reached the door and was opening it. No sooner had she that he barreled inside without preamble. “How’s the bishop?” she asked, once again eyeing the hot coffee as she scurried to get out of his way.
Anatoly only babbled something in Russian, sighed in frustration, and then took the mug from her hand. “There is little time to explain,” he tried again, setting the cup down on the bookshelf and then taking her hand to lead her toward the bedroom.
“Whoa, slow down, what’s the problem?” Maggie was incredibly confused.
“I learned what connection is between Father Abrams and Starry Meadow!” The words came out in a rush, his thick accent making comprehension a little difficult, but Maggie caught enough that she didn’t need him to repeat anything. “Father Abrams was patient at Starry Meadow!”
Maggie shook her head as they arrived in her bedroom. “No, that would have come up in the investigation, Anatoly. I’m sorry, but whoever told you that?—”
“It was under different name,” he insisted, swinging the closet open and turning away from her just long enough to grab a shirt and slacks off their hangers. “Robert Johnson. Bishop Peter told whole story. Father Abrams struggled with drugs, even after becoming priest, and Peter took him personally to Starry Meadow under false name.”
“Whew, that is one hell of a bombshell if it’s true…” She was baffled as he put the clothes in her hands and then started to leave the room. “Wait, where are you going?”
He stopped short, half-turning to face her. “I am leaving so you can change.”
Maggie almost laughed and would have if his expression wasn’t so serious. “You’ve already seen everything, but okay. Do you want to tell me where we’re going at least?” She slipped the oversized t-shirt off as she asked, not bothered in the slightest if he saw her naked again.
Anatoly seemed almost impatient as he glanced away and answered. “Starry Meadows. We need to find out if Father Abrams knew counselor, da?”
That was good enough for her. She wasn’t sure how much information the facility would be willing to share, but if Anatoly was confident that Father Abrams had been there, she’d take the time to confirm.
Maggie only took a few minutes to get dressed and throw her hair up before following Anatoly out to the car. She had to practically run to catch up with him, but she didn’t tease him for it like she wanted to. He was entirely too serious right now and so she put her cop mask on and focused on the case.
“Okay, let’s say they knew each other,” she started to say once they were en route to the facility. “What’s the motive? Why kill people connected to Starry Meadow?”
“I do not know motive, but connection is there,” he insisted. “Peter would not lie to me.”
