Page 75 of Nun’s Prayer

“You’re a public servant; you can’t talk to us—”

Stepping forward, I placed my gun against Keith’s head. “I’m done with this shit. I ain’t a cop, and I will fuckin’ end you. The woman I love is in danger, and you’re prancing about and sucking your own cock. Where do we find him?”

“Benjamin went to work! He’s a truck driver!” Catherine yelled.

“Do you have his plates?” Cassidy demanded.

“Arrest this man!” Keith bellowed.

I withdrew my gun and held Cassidy’s gaze. Cassidy didn’t do anything.

“Where’s he going?” Blue asked Catherine.

“I don’t know. He never tells me,” she stammered as the seriousness of the situation sank in. “Benjamin’s not a killer! You’re all wrong; this is just Margaret being a bitch!”

I yanked my cell from my pocket and shoved it in her face, showing her the pictures of the tortured women. Marion and Hillary stepped back, but Catherine paled further.

“No. No. Go back!” she exclaimed. I did, and Catherine took the cell. “That’s Sister Elizabeth Antony!” she screamed.

Marion grabbed the phone from Catherine’s shaking hands.

“Is she known to you?” Cassidy demanded as Marion dropped it seconds later; her hands shook violently.

“She was one of those arrested for Margaret’s lies. She spent time in prison.”

“How the fuck did your department miss that?” Blue snapped, turning to Cassidy.

“We were searching for former nuns, not those who’d been in the system. Catherine,” Cassidy’s voice turned gentle, “this will be hard. Tell me, if you recognise anyone else.”

“Don’t you dare! This is all some elaborate scam by Margaret; I’m going to report all of you,” Charles hissed.

Tears streaked down Catherine’s face. “These are real, aren’t they?”

“Yes,” Cassidy said, holding her eyes. “And this monster has your sister, and I’m sorry, Catherine; it’s Benjamin.”

Catherine let out a heart-wrenching sob, but reached out and took the phone. She scrolled through the pictures before stopping and covering her mouth with a trembling hand. She flicked through three and shook violently. “That is Sister Hildegard, Sister Mary Immaculate, and Sister Theresa Clare. All of them were jailed with Elizabeth Antony.”

“Catherine, where does Benjamin work?” Cassidy pressed.

She wrung her hands together. “I don’t know.”

“How can you not know?” I exclaimed.

“Don’t ask! That’s what you drummed into me. Obey, be quiet, and don’t ask questions!” Catherine yelled at her parents. “You married me off to a serial killer! Oh God, Benjamin’s a monster!” She wrapped her arms around her waist as tears streamed down her face.

“Don’t listen to them! They’re lying!” Charles thundered.

“Yeah, we just made this up to fuck with you,” Blue said mockingly. “Can you tell us anything? Because those photos—Benjamin plans to do that to your sister.”

“She deserves it,” Charles sneered. “She’s a slut.”

Blue was closer than me, and he let rip with a blow that knocked Charles down.

“Nun’s kind, honest, caring, loyal, and someone I’d lay my life down for. She’s fuckin’ genuine; what the fuck would you understand about that. Well, listen up, buddy boy, your life is going to unravel. Because I’m gonna make sure your family’s shit is out there. I’ll drag up the scandal from before and attach it to this. By the time I’m done, the public will be baying for your blood,” Blue snarled.

Marion and Keith paled while the nutcase Hillary continued praying. She needed a psych ward for sure.

“Catherine, is there anything? Like a holiday home or something similar?” I pressed. Cassidy was on the phone relaying the information to Hatton.