Righteous Murders/ Dark Minuet/ Adoption Murders

By Frances Walter

I am Frances Walter.

You are invited to step inside
My reading world...

I am introducing a series of Murder-Detective works
to intrigue you...

A collage of works to keep you wondering
the final ending...

Welcome to...


Righteous Murders
A Dark Minuet
Adoption Murders

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: May 28, 2013
• ISBN: 9781477262665

Frances Walter

“Simple imagination to get inside the mind of the law breaking perpetrator. Catching a person who willingly breaks the law. A decision on how to catch him and what to do with him after you have gone through the system. I am wearing the shoes of the Detective and must decide how all persons involved affect each other and the final outcome. Conscience and the laws of justice. How to use them. I was born in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. I have no special credits to literary writing. Imagination that grows. Every day crime and bad guys. I enjoy a good murder mystery. Authors who write and I can not put their work down. I call some of my work dark and bent. My emotion? Anger brings out a more sinister side of the writing works. My style, as if you are standing in the middle of the room watching it all. I unravel the plot as you go along, as you read, a few twists and turns. Sometimes you are not sure if the villain or Detective will win.”

Book preview

Righteous Murders

Dark Minuet

Adoption Murders

Frances Walter

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AuthorHouse™

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Bloomington, IN 47403

www.authorhouse.com

Phone: [phone]

© 2013 Frances Walter. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 5/28/2013

ISBN: 978-1-4772-6267-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-6266-5 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Righteous Murders

Journey To Perfection

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Challenging Perfection

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

One Steps Up

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

CHAPTER THIRTY

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE

CHAPTER FORTY

CHAPTER FORTY ONE

CHAPTER FORTY TWO

CHAPTER FORTY THREE

CHAPTER FORTY FOUR

Justice

CHAPTER FORTY FIVE

CHAPTER FORTY SIX

CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN

CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT

CHAPTER FORTY NINE

CHAPTER FIFTY

CHAPTER FIFTY ONE

CHAPTER FIFTY TWO

CHAPTER FIFTY THREE

CHAPTER FIFTY FOUR

CHAPTER FIFTY FIVE

CHAPTER FIFTY SIX

CHAPTER FIFTY SEVEN

CHAPTER FIFTY EIGHT

Redemption

CHAPTER FIFTY NINE

CHAPTER SIXTY

CHAPTER SIXTY ONE

CHAPTER SIXTY TWO

Jodie

CHAPTER SIXTY THREE

CHAPTER SIXTY FOUR

CHAPTER SIXTY FIVE

CHAPTER SIXTY SIX

A Dark Minuet

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

CHAPTER THIRTY

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE

CHAPTER FORTY

CHAPTER FORTY ONE

CHAPTER FORTY TWO

CHAPTER FORTY THREE

CHAPTER FORTY FOUR

CHAPTER FORTY FIVE

CHAPTER FORTY SIX

CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN

The Adoption Murders

Now

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

Then

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

Today

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

CHAPTER THIRTY

Welcome to…

Righteous Murders

A Dark Minuet

Adoption Murders

BETRAYAL?

A SET UP?

Detective Hannah Abel gets suspended from duty

due to a botched investigation. Evidence missing.

Search warrants never filed.

Hannah can keep her badge, with the catch

She try to close a dead case.

A Captain who sits back and watches. A Lieutenant

who calls the shots and wants things done by his rules.

Time brings together two major cases. A young

Woman holds the key and all

Hell breaks loose as they collide.

Please help the children.

A DARK MINUET.

THE DEVIL’S WALTZ.

Who leads? Who follows? Going in circles ’til one is totally dizzy.

An ugly twist. No control. Punishment for the keepers.

Parents are reminded to care and put one of God’s greatest gifts first.

A scary Dance. Warning, be careful who calls the dance steps. Someone will be asked for an accounting for failure.

The Adoption Murders

Adopted kids and adults murdered. Murders with no clues.

A stressed out cop. An adoptive honeymoon over.

Two children to raise and care for.

Domestic violence and child abuse on a mental scale. The squeamish or the offended should beware. The Author has not minced words for the unseen.

The final confrontation…

Murder versus the Delicate.

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Righteous Murders

Journey To Perfection

CHAPTER ONE

Prayer. Her lifeline. Without it, she would be nothing, have nothing, a failure.

She was the first Woman to be ordained as a Minister in Seattle, Washington. She was given, with no actual choice, to take an abandoned church as her place of worship.

Rules: ‘You were given a license by the state. You may think you have won a battle. To survive the judgment of your piers is the obstacle you have to jump. A Woman Minister or Priest, doesn’t matter how you phrase it, is not a move sanctioned by the religious sector.’

‘Women serving God? You do not know your Bible very well. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. Without their wives, a special part of Bible history would not have happened.’

She was facing a man. He signed his name and used a stapler gun to put a certificate on her license. He was a cold man who was a non-believer to know how God could change a person or even the world.

‘Good women? With a few whores, prostitutes and traitors mixed in. Can’t figure out how they fit into the grand scheme.’

‘You are referring to Samson and Delilah. Jezebel. Bath Sheba. Mary, Jesus’ Mother. Mary Magdalene and the one Jesus held out his hand to take her out of the dirt.’

‘Don’t care. Women have their place. A Woman Minster is a long shot. So Madame … This is God’s new house, if he accepts. Does he approve?’ Sarcasm spitting in her face.

‘I am God’s chosen one. I prayed and followed him faithfully all my life. This is his blessing to me.’

‘Really? Now I have heard everything! Well, I will tell you one thing I know about God, he asks one special trait from his worshipers, Humility. I do not see or hear it from you. I see pious arrogance. And the Bible says somewhere, ‘It is a person’s downfall.’ ’

Insulted. No one insults her. Yet…She backed up in horror at his words. She showed weakness at his criticism. Her mistake.

He wasn’t done. ‘And Lady? A place of worship is good. I have met lots of new Preachers. You begin to see a pattern to know what kind of fabric they are made of. Good and bad character. I don’t like you. You passed all the paper criteria to get this House, I don’t agree. And me? I have a neat gift, I can see neat colors, prickly shiny stars floating over people’s heads. Like an aura. You have nothing.’ He waved his fingers in the air and over her head as if he was trying to pick them out of the air. ‘You are dark and cold.’

‘Maybe you are the sinner? God uses people like me to cast them out of his House.’

‘We will see. He who is without sin should cast the first stone, I remember that passage. I don’t think words count as stones. Are you so perfect to be God’s judge and jury?’ He asked her a question and he refused to move until he got his answer.

She was challenged. She tried not to show her hatred to this insolent man.

‘Yes, I can do his work. I can do anything I want in the name of God. I have been chosen to change things for him.’

‘I guess we both have new jobs. I watch you and you work for God. No! This is too funny…’ He stopped to re-evaluate his thought. ‘No. God works for you.’ Without laughing in her face he walked away.

She, in turn, wanted to slap and curse his face. As he walked away she knew how she would deal with her new flock. Her way and God’s way. Her way, because she was on earth and God was not.

CHAPTER TWO

A year had gone by. She was becoming doubtful of her choices. That silly man at the licensing bureau spoke of dirges, implying she was a possible impostor working for God. He was speaking an omen of bad things or failure. She was seeing few good results from her new church.

The church pews were empty. Fewer new parishioners. How to make changes and stand out from the rest of the religious world?

Prayer. Always her strength. Her small private place for a refuge against the bad. It was time for a change and a prayer vigil would give her the long needed answers. For the first time in a year she closed and locked the doors of her church house. She sat on the bare floor with her back to a stained glass portrait of Jesus hanging from the ceiling. Sat on the cold bare floor facing twenty double rows of pews with no people filling its seats.

Good Father, please…I need your guidance to make all the good changes. You are not here in the flesh; I will do the work you can not.

‘What kind of changes, Daughter?’

I see much sin in the world. Dark sin in my parishioners. I must cleanse your House of the evil controlling them.

‘Fire cleanses all. I left man guidelines years ago. It is the purest of rules and commands. It replaces all of mans’ laws. My orders, if followed, would erase all the sin from the earth.’

No one is listening to me.

‘Tell them, I sent you a sign in prayer. God’s commandments. You force them to be obeyed and fear will bring obedience.’

Which laws…? He was guiding her and she could not understand what direction she should follow. The Ten Commandments? And Fire?

‘Yes. I am guiding you. Fire. Sodom and Gomorrah. The Ten Commandments. The purest and most perfect law. You will not fail if you use these two tools. AMEN, Daughter.’

And the words brought her a quiet peace inside her heart. Peace she had not felt in years. Alone on this new journey or should she seek out an alliance to make this a reality?

‘Find a kindred spirit, Daughter. You are not alone. Others feel like failures. Power in numbers. Someone is suffering in his life, another person who needs you to hold out your hand to do this work. You have both been ordained and called to be my servant.’

Who? I do not know anyone who works with Evil.

‘You are mistaken, Daughter. I have many sons and daughters.’

My Son? Yes, my own Son. He is always sickened by his lack of success. I will call and speak to him. I will prepare a special plan and ask him to make it work.

Simple.

Thank you, Lord. I will not disappoint you.

‘YOU WILL NOT! Or you will be no better than all the other sinners I see on earth.’

All went silent. She got off the floor and straightened her clothes. God’s chosen, do not want to embarrass.

***

She sat in silence for the next two days. The church doors remained locked.

‘Did the Lord truly speak to her?’ She had pledged her life to serve him faithfully through the good and bad days. What did he want her to do? She was still confused what kind of method God wanted her to use to cleanse his House from sin.

Seek advice.

Hello?

Son, this is your Mother. Could you please stop by the church to speak with me?

I have a busy day, won’t be finished until seven, unless you would like to join me for dinner? I can pick you up.

I have so much to tell you. Will a public restaurant give us privacy?

No. I was trying to be polite and make all things easier for you.

I will make you dinner. I need your attention.

Yes Mother, a better idea.

His Mother was holy in his eyes. She was God’s vessel to serve him. His respect for her was almost obsessive. He let himself in the back door of the church. His second home, he had his own key. He brought a bouquet of flowers to cheer his Mother up. Was she sick? She was upset and pressed him to come to talk.

Mother?

My office. Please join me.

An embrace…To the onlooker…Almost creepy…They acted like lovers. A sick relationship.

Where are the boys?

They ate earlier. With their friends? I trust them, they are good boys.

They need structure. Almost time to find work. Prove their worth. Not lazy. God hates sloths.

In time. Dinner is ready.

All set. Eaten. Cleared. They returned to her office to sit with a glass of wine.

Mother, you called, are you well?

I am well. I have something extraordinary to tell you. I sat in prayer to God and he answered me. I was seeking his guidance to make changes in his House and I heard his voice as if he was standing in the room with me.

Truly? We pray every day. God answered you? Tell me. I have never heard of an answered prayer. We always hope. I have learned we must act on his behalf. He is not flesh and bone to be here on earth.

Son, I have been disappointed in his House. The pews are empty. I see sinners inside my church and they are not heeding any of his words. Deaf ears. I have failed him to fix all.

What did he say?

Cleanse sin with fire. He said, ‘Sodom and Gomorrah. Enforce the Ten Commandments.’ I think more respect will come if we push. He said ask for help. I do not know how.

Dalton sat quiet. How to make it work? A miracle from Heaven? God’s spirit, was God’s son returning to earth a second time? In his lifetime to witness? And he saw it all. A righteous answer to everything. He and his Mother together to fix the sin and crud.

All so simple. They would stand in God’s shoes on earth. They would be twice blessed representing God. He was kind and held out his hand to help Dalton in the same turn. He was almost jealous he had not thought of this himself.

Mother, you must listen. I can see our new path. You and I alone. Our secret or it will not work. I do the work. We clean up our city together. Your prayers were sanctioned by God.

Cassandra could not hold back her tears. Building a House for God was not in vane.

Mother, to make this work, you must make huge and drastic changes in everything you do. No more social classes in the church. Brother, Sister, Son, Daughter, their names. To demand more respect from your parishioners, you will be addressed as Pastor Mother. God has a humble title, you are the same. And you must change the name of this church to…Christ’s Hope Parish. Your new cleansing.

Are you sure?

"You are God’s chosen. You will tell the people God answered your prayers. People accept dreams as signs and direction. Prayer is more powerful. The Ten Commandments? I have seen with peoples’ beliefs, those ten little rules are the foundation for everyone’s life. A hidden conscience. If you pull apart the words, they haunt you with guilt. Especially if you have broken one. Unless you believe you are above any rules or laws. That is where my job must change.’

‘Mother, you do not know how happy you have made me with this revelation. Can you see how this will change you?’ "

Some. Cleanse with fire? Leave a brand mark?

No. Sin never stops. Excommunication or shunning them is a slap on their wrist. The doors of the church are closed to them, but they can still go about their lives with no rules. We weed out the ones who continue blatant sin. I will cleanse them with fire so they will not continue ever again.

When? How long?

Start your new sermons. You are everyone’s new confidant and see beyond the face they show you in God’s House. No one is perfect. It is time to bring them back into God’s good grace, as close as possible. Six months.

You have been blessed by God to help with this plan. Only you and I?

God only used one servant at a time. He said you needed an advisor. At the right time, without any doubt, you will tell me who you want to cleanse.

You are my Good Son. You have made me a happy Woman today.

Yes, Pastor Mother, I am blessed to be your family.

They kissed each other in a binding promise to do well in God’s name. Prayer had not let them down.

CHAPTER THREE

The peace he had been seeking was finally given to him with a few simple words. He made a decision years ago to be humble and not showy in his job. Decided to stay a Lieutenant instead of being boisterous with a new title. He would have to be a different person. A different set of rules to be accountable to. His job would change and he would have to do things by the rules. No bending. And it would make him sick going against his better judgment.

Prayer came full circle and changed his life. He had a purpose. Plan a style. Could he find an ally for his cause? All he needed was a smart ass cop to see a plan and a pattern. That person would become his scapegoat.

Plan and practice. Analyze the response. Witness and call in civilian concern. He would see if anyone cared or just wanted to enjoy the best of the gruesome. Or the best, none of their business. He would start with the nomads. A few from Ghetto City, no one would miss. Sin was done in the dark, cleanse in the dark. No special time, no exact night.

‘Son, go out and look at your city. Seek out and travel your road.’

Sergeant Maier, I must go out on a lead for a case that has crossed my desk.

We have a new case? I do not have a file or notes for reference.

Caught…

Don’t know the details. Phone calls and sticky notes. Not in our precinct. I want to drive around and look.

Did you check with the Captain? Sir, we are told to work with a partner. You should log out so we know where you are for orders.

Sergeant, I do not log out for a piss or go to the can. I think Hendrix can manage without me for one hour. You can do your job without someone wiping your nose or ass.

And you, Lieutenant, do not need to be the ass wipe. Efficiency is not stupidity. If I get a call and you end up to be the dead victim, I do not want to be the one who was written up because of an empty pen cartridge. The time? Out to lunch. He smiled. At ten in the morning.

The great Lieutenant left on that note. On days like these it would have been nice to be the Captain, no one questioned him.

His plan for today, he would go out for one hour. Time. He would see what he could accomplish in one hour. Selections, work and finished accomplishments. He needed a few details to polish his plan. He was not going to waste anymore time.

‘Guide me Lord.’

He drove and stopped. Found out of the way places. And saw with a clear mind a way to bring a fiery cleansing. The hour was ending and it all fell into place. And…On the final hour they would remember their final breath.

He returned to the station. Gave a sloppy salute to Jacob Maier and tapped his watch in sarcasm. Jacob saluted back and held up a stack of messages and shrugged. Made the wonderful Lieutenant walk back to retrieve the messages.

See…I told you, you would be missed. You are funny returning in one hour. But made me look incompetent not knowing where and how to reach you. I guess, Lieutenant, you will be busy for the next hour. Oh, I am sorry, it’s lunch time.

Shut up Maier! Just do your job and quit minding my business.

Cop Business? Is all our business. He turned his back on him and picked up a ringing phone.

‘Asshole…I’m glad he ain’t the Captain…’ Jacob hissed.

And the rule of a ticking clock, the time moved at a snail’s crawl. His shift, because he was one of the main supervisors had to stay until six o’clock. His adrenalin infusion was making him hyper. He wanted to be gone. Wanted to play and watch everything. Wanted to see if he could make God’s plan a reality.

The hour came; he left quietly out the side door. Did not want to be seen in a hurry or be noticed. Be normal, act normal, nothing he did would stand out. Hell, he was a Lieutenant, a cop, last as a suspect. He had seen it as a Rookie, time to do it again.

***

Home. Wait for the darkness.

He dressed in two sets of clothes. Look like a rag-a-muff with dirty, greasy clothes. Put a wool toque on his head. Gloves on his hands not to leave finger prints. It was mind boggling when you sat down and looked at everything you touched or picked up during the day. Finger prints in the system, a left mark wherever you went. He couldn’t do his job if he left a print behind, only his new signature. He would strike fear in the community.

He drove down to one of the seedy parts of the city. Vagrants on street corners, either sleeping or a tin cup held up for one piece of help.

Need help Old Man? I got a dollar and sandwich to share.

Only if you want to. Can’t accept if it is not honest help.

Two hands held up two gifts. One person hesitated to take either. To entice, he put the money and food on the ground as an offering.

Your choice. He stepped back. A sin against God. Temptation. The old man knelt down to pick up the money and food. Thank you, Good Sir. You are kind.

And you are a sloth. He grabbed the man by the greasy dirty hair and put a cloth over his face. A sickening sweet smell to inhale. He clawed and struggled to be free of the black hole he was falling into.

I have a place for you to go to. No more taking up space and being a useless piece of shit.

A nicely emptied garbage dumpster. Earlier in the evening he had put a delivery palate covered with a soft stack of loose newspapers. ‘Must be comfortable.’

He picked up the homeless man and threw him in a heap inside the bin. Took a jerry can of gasoline and gave him a bath. Grabbed a two-by-four to move the papers around him like a blanket. Gave him a hard poke to wake him.

Hey? What the Hell?

After you! He lit a book of matches and dropped them in the bin and smiled. Thank you, Lord! Are you pleased?

A screaming ball of fire trying to run to a place of safety, only to hit a metal wall and knock him on his back. A hand reaching for help. No one. Only one to watch him stop his attempt. Only the sound of the burning wood and new stench of smoke being sent through the air from the wind.

No sound of people coming to help. No sound of sirens. Quiet peace. He looked at his watch, no noise for ten minutes.

He stripped and threw his clothes and gloves to disappear with the flames. He walked away to leave all behind him. He was there, not seen, no one cared. Tomorrow he would hear the outcome. Good or bad. A success or failure.

***

Morning came. Simple. A report. A body. Arson. Autopsy. A no-name body. Random? At first. A report filed and ignored.

Excellent!

CHAPTER FOUR

Just another bizarre file. No clues, never solved. Too random to connect to anyone.

Trevor Hendrix, too stupid to figure out the details. He was beginning to be the joke of the station. Riddles and guessing games to solve open files coming across his desk.

Open files that stayed unsolved were always given a name. Details and style. Multiple files with a perp were labeled ‘Serials’. This one? With a number of crazy suggestions, was dubbed ‘Righteous Murders’. One person smiled because he was extremely pleased with such a fitting tribute to his work. Simple. Clean. A religious cleansing. A christening of pure fire. No one caught or stepping forward to claim responsibility.

***

Six months into the file, Dalton went to visit one of his few friends at the station. Brought a stack of files with him to discuss a solution to close them.

Aaron, Sir, I brought a coffee to discuss a case with you.

You aren’t my boss. I don’t have to report to you. Have to swallow Hendrix as the Captain. And by the way, should be you with that title.

Didn’t want it. Don’t need the desk to be good.

Humble aren’t we? I won’t refuse the coffee. Not your style to be nice, what do you want?

He smiled. He was in the right office. Time for questions and answers. Politely, he sat down after putting the files on his desk.

What do you think of the case ‘Righteous Murders’?

Unsolved. Not good. But…Whoever is doing this; I would like to shake his hand.

Murder? You want to make him your friend?

He or she is doing what we are failing at. Derelicts. Useless air being used. Don’t know the actual reasoning behind it all, but can you imagine if this person expanded his selections? This would be a Royal Cleansing.

What to do with these?

Dalton, you are an odd duck. You and I don’t discuss cases. You want off the book Detective work? You let this one go his merry way. You screw with the evidence to help him.

Really? Can you screw with these?

I don’t know you. We didn’t have this talk. On another day, stuff gets moved and changed. You are the one with the questions, what would you do? Do you know who is doing this?

No. I should have pressed Hendrix. But they are unsolved and he is coming up empty. So…We follow our great Leader.

Then our conversation is over. Thanks for the coffee.

Dalton left. He forgot his list of files. To two people? No one cared if these were solved.

Aaron flipped through the files after letting them collect more dust. He got up to take a walk across the station’s floor.

Captain, you got a moment?

Sure… Open door, come and talk. Closed door, beware, make an appointment. His way of doing stupid riddles. Figure out and guess at his mood.

What are you doing with the Righteous Murders? No leads or suspects.

It’s still open. A shame these people are dead. The perp hasn’t slipped up. I can only apologize. It’s not to the point to put it in the basement dungeon. You want to take it for awhile?

I would be in charge? I’d get the collar?

Hendrix…Never…Did this…

You are the first one in months to voice his opinion. Why not? My plate is a little too full to bite my teeth into it.

You never do files.

I get involved from my desk. This one? Is a bit too extensive. Meet me in the middle. Report back to me.

No games? Simple.

You do your job. I do not play games. Thank you for coming in. Few words, his curt dismissal. Close the door.

Captain Trevor Hendrix, thought to be a dim-wit. Slow to get things done. Made jokes and got others to do his grunt work.

Captain Trevor Hendrix shook his head. This file box grew legs and walked around the station to end up back on his desk.

The file was to get thicker or end up dead. Six months, finally some results. Other than the dead victims it was coming back to life.

Thank you, Lord. Don’t know if you had a hand in all this, but you and I are going to fix these Righteous Murders. I could have gotten this job done with a little less gore. Thanks for the shove to get going. He wasn’t one for prayer, but he had to thank someone.

A knock to interrupt.

You talking to yourself? I can hear you talking or praying.

Detective Hannah Abel, I was just thinking out loud. Or you worried about my sanity behind the door?

Not sure. Maybe waiting for you to impress me.

I am taking you from Rookie status to front and center. Good? Have a partner for you, Daniel Bowe.

No riddles? Daniel Bowe I can handle.

No riddles today.

Sir, don’t push your riddles. You may be the Captain, but I can out run you at a crime scene. I don’t like stupidity.

And finally…Someone who doesn’t dish out crap. I have been waiting for someone like you for years. He had met his equal. And she was how old? He could only smile.

Tomorrow. You start. Get out.

Yes, Sir. Hannah left. ‘Where the Hell did this come from? This I have to see.’

Captain Trevor Hendrix lied…He just pulled one of his riddles. He was pleased!

CHAPTER FIVE

The Pastor Mother began a new style of sermons. She used prayer and God’s message to form her congregation. God’s word was power and she used it. And to keep the power she added a mix of fear to control.

Make God as real as possible. So real he could be seen and heard. Make them believe she was God’s spokesperson. With the right words she could command obedience. She was God’s chosen.

From her personal prayers, she started again. All or nothing. Sunday morning she was facing a parish with a rough count of forty people. The church held some two hundred.

‘This is my House…’ She took a heavy, labored deep breath… ‘No…Show humility … They are in God’s House.’

The Pastor Mother stepped out from behind the podium, although standing, was not looking down on the people.

Welcome to God’s House. She began slowly. His spirit offers peace and calmness in our daily trials. I have been praying and with vigilance, how to bring more voices to his House. I have been praying and God has answered. He asked me to share his new grand plan.

People stirred, fidgeted in their pews. ‘Unheard of for God to answer prayers. Imagination and hope. A person’s wish to bring a miracle?’ They listened.

God would like singing in his House. Volunteers? Or I will pipe in music. Sundays, we will offer the podium for you to step up and talk. Ask for help, a prayer to feel better because you are ill. Offended at an ill-spoken word. An open hand from us all to be stronger. We will take your pain away.

Whispers. Hesitation. Bare their souls? Will criticism and laughter follow? Or honest help? The Pastor held the room. Progress.

God offered me his guidance for us all. Time for a change. He says we are all sinners. We lie, cheat, steal and do wrong. He has ordered us all to stop. We are to follow the Ten Commandments. They are our new guide. If we fail today, we will stand up and desist from our mistakes on a new day. We are not perfect but we can achieve it by following God’s rules on a stricter level.

Nods of approval.

No more slaps on the wrist or kicking you out of God’s House. Disobedience will make your conscience bring you guilt. God will pull his blessings from you. Obedience to the Commandments will bring you prosperity. No stealing, honesty. No lies, truth speaks. Morality, honor and a good home life. Respect. Can you feel the effects just speaking the words?

Did she hear an attempted applause?

We will finish early. A prayer to finish. I have tea, coffee and cake set up in the basement. Today we will visit and become friends. From this day, I invite your friends to become our new family.

AMEN…AMEN…AMEN…

CHAPTER SIX

Two plans were forming a strong structure. Two people were pleased it started with a desire and a prayer.

Fear and power causing a problem. Causing havoc with everyone’s security blanket. All were pleased.

The Righteous Murders were causing a citywide panic. People of all social levels were disappearing and ending up in garbage bins with a match. Rumors of God coming down to earth and cleansing the sins from the city in person.

The Righteous Murders were slowly paralyzing the city. A hidden label if you were a good or bad person. Were you on a special list to end up in Hellfire?"

The cops were pissed off. All too random, no letup in sight.

Changes had to be done. All was fine, only to a point. Continue on a steady road, or escalate? He wanted more information to keep his control. He dialed… Mother, are you busy? I need to speak with you. Please?

Your gracious company for supper? Please, six o’clock.

Yes, Mother.

***

Dalton picked up flowers, his tradition to make her feel special. No business until all the pleasantries of supper were finished. He was her guest. He was embarrassed as he set down a note book on the side table to ask her questions like a case file.

Dalton, why are you here? Speak plainly and do not mince words because neither of us are playing games.

You and I have been traveling a secret journey in God’s name. I believe with our success God has blessed us.

Yes, He has. I have no regrets. I see the results in my church. I hear doubt in your voice.

I am fine. I make a decision and act. You, on the other days, are melancholy. You are seeing results but you are not ecstatic to the outcome.

Because…They continue to sin after they have left my House. A few have spoken to me in private. I am upset, I feel I have let them down. You have levels of sin. Broken commandments, abuse, lack of respect, obsession. An ugly, different circle.

Mother, your heart is breaking. It is time to take my help. Today you need me. Tell me and I will fix this. I am God’s servant, command me.

She got up from the table to take an envelope from a side drawer and set it down on Dalton’s note pad.

Help me fix these atrocities. Make a statement so everyone will notice. I know one thing, people can come and go. Some…Are missed because they are truly loved. Some …Are pure evil and they will never change. They incite fear which is not holy. They give pain and no remorse.

Dalton read. Not a simple list. Details a Detective would be impressed to use on a case to solve.

We have an oath never to speak of this again. I will do this, no questions. This is a different level than anything I have done on my own. We are serving God. Prayer is the only time we speak of anything. We have been blessed because we have stayed innocent.

He thanked his Mother and left. They were of the same spirit. He would do her bidding without question. She had answered his prayer and was pleased.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Jonas and Caleb liked the sound of the serial murders. The name brought inspiration.

A cleansing. Don’t know what kind of sin they did, but someone’s finally got the right idea. Mother wants us to stay pure. No sins like the Bible teaches us. How are we supposed to know what is right and wrong if we don’t have more choices? White lies, black lies, gray areas. Sins, acted out or just think about it. What do you do to cleanse? A slap on the wrist or death like these Righteous Murders?

I don’t know. Words. Scare tactics. We are just supposed to know without being told. I read. A bunch of passages in the Bible, one moment you are sinning, next it is condoned because the person is chosen. So I decided…A compromise. We do our own Righteous deeds. We don’t tell.

Right. Then we will end up on the Righteous Murder list. How is your idea better? Mother would string us up if we stepped out of line and broke Her rules.

The boys analyzed a new line of rules. They were confused. Mother’s rules? God’s rules?

Their Mother was instilling fear in Her congregation. No one could argue she was making a difference. And that was the scary part of it all. You could see the results of her preaching. People came, people went. Again, through the eyes of their Mother, she simply didn’t like certain people or they became part of the elusive Righteous Murders. Or maybe…As simple as making them leave Her congregation. Either made sense.

Jonas, the stronger of the two brothers, watched and took notice. He liked the power and control. And…He wanted it. And…Didn’t want to be caught or told he was overstepping his place. The adults were the keepers. He wanted what his Mother possessed, but as his own sacred secret.

Jonas, hey, where’s your head? Caleb clapped his hands and snapped his fingers for his brother to come out of a trance he had put himself into.

Thinking! Shut up! Give me a moment. He closed his eyes to concentrate.

Stupid! How come you always have to be the thinker? Then you got no answers. Smart ass!

Not this time. Time to ask Dalton.

A cop. A police file. And you want information? This I have to see.

They borrowed their Mother’s car. No permission, not really stealing, not really polite to assume they could just take what did not belong to them. It just felt good to do as they pleased.

***

They walked into the downtown precinct like they owned the place. No fear. These people were the servants for the people. On good days, Caleb was the one who pushed people out of their way. Everyone had their place and he liked reminding them they looked good at his feet or under them.

Hey, Maier! Is my brother in? Never mind, I’ll go directly to his office.

He is in. And little boy…that’s SERGEANT MAIER. I can show you ways how respect is handed out.

And people in higher positions than you, can make you become the janitor.

Bring it on! The Lieutenant is in his office. He picked up the phone to announce this snip of a kid. Out of sight. Out of mind.

What are you two monkeys doing here? He eyed his two brothers. They never did this. A pair of sloths with a silver spoon in their mouths.

Caleb lost his backbone and sat in a chair. A coward facing his brother. Jonas looked around the room and at the setup. Plain, drab. An office, no pictures, true to his brother’s tastes. No frills, serious, work first. A second look, he wouldn’t mind having this job and office. So much he could do. Too bad it wasn’t a job he could usurp. You had to earn the shiny badge. Too much work. Jonas was here and he wanted something and it was his ticket to power. And it was so different than his brother’s desk or his Mother’s church.

Jonas, what are you doing here? You never come here. You don’t work or want to.

I want information. You can draw the lines between the dots.

Chinese checkers?

With a pool cue.

Jonas, why are we bothering Dalton? We were to talk about our plan to change everything.

Dalton turned a gray color. His two brothers were being the two musketeers, either at mischief or stupidity.

What plan?

We were just thinking. But you could help. We are reading stuff in the papers about those Righteous Murders. Okay, murder isn’t according to the Bible rules, but this is different. I can’t see a pattern, but I can see a purpose. I like it. Tell us about the file.

We are handling the case. You aren’t cops or Detective.

You can’t find a clue. No direction. You like this and really don’t care? Jonas smiled. This was something his brother would do in the name of God. He would sanction this perp’s actions.

Random. Sometimes we have to swallow a case until the perp slips and leaves a clue.

Jonas smiled again. Excellent! It was to continue. Hats off to the Perp.

One more question, then we are leaving. Inside the perp’s mind and reasoning, why is he doing this? Got a Detective’s clue?

Righteous cleansing. The victims did something to be erased. The fire is a permanent cleansing. Fire erases everything.

Can Righteous Murders be done any other way?

This file has a signature. It is a cleanup job. Someone has a plan to use the Bible to clean up the crap we see. They are using God’s rules from a man’s perspective.

An answer. Again he applauded the Perp. One last question. Should he ask? No…Just think it.

Thanks Dalton, we gotta go. We were just curious.

Dalton didn’t smile. ‘LIARS!’ They were never, ever children. Never curious. They were Mother’s sons. They were always grown up.

We should have a nice supper with Mother. I will suggest it.

If you have to. Jonas smirked.

They left the precinct. Lots to think about and his last thought out question. ‘The Righteous Murders…The style. The concept. Could his Mother have orchestrated this? Brilliant!’

CHAPTER EIGHT

Six months later.

If a dozen bizarre murders had caused havoc and upset the community, the next barrage was the icing on the cake.

A few less cars on the road. Car pools increased. A fear if your friend or neighbor would make you disappear with a liquid cocktail and a match.

Churches were feeling the new terror. People questioning the Priest and Ministers what was happening on the streets. A hidden hand of God with Hellfire coming down? The Bible was telling a truth, God stepping in to cleanse the earth? No one had to wait for the proverbial Armageddon?

For once the almighty Clergy had no answers.

We believe it a righteous zealot who has decided to be a vigilante in the name of God. TRUST US! We are talking among ourselves to find the answer. We want to remove sin from the world and our hearts. But we would not do something so horrifying in God’s name. BELIEVE. TRUST US.

The pews became empty. All tried business as usual. Others had to shut the church doors until this wave of violence ended.

***

One new thing changed at the downtown precinct. A short little gray haired Pastor came to find a new chair to sit on.

He offered prayers. Said polite greetings. Touched your sleeve to give comfort for a frown instead of a smile. Sat quietly without food or water. A humble man who only held a Bible in his hand.

No one disagreed. No one sent him away because it was not policy. Not an ordered Priest with a requisition form to give a psyche test to the cops. With the Righteous Murders on everyone’s doorstep, he was God’s blessing to bring calm.

One new, half green Rookie came to join the precinct part of a year earlier. Her habit, rain or shine, brought a box of donuts to start her shift. ‘Donuts! Fresh coffee! Good day!’ And she went to work.

She witnessed the new arrival of the sweet little Parish Father and loved him at first sight.

‘Father, would you like tea? A sandwich?’

‘Can I sit with you?’

I don’t know what to say, but I like you here.

Your name, Child?

Hannah Abel.

I am Father Simmeron. I feel you will be a special person in this house. And you should take my words as a compliment, because I can feel and see things I can not explain.

You are a charmer. I am simple.

You are not. A soft kind word can bring God’s miracle into any heart and house. You should never doubt that gift. He looked straight at her and spoke as if he was a voyeur. God’s true messenger and servant.

Another person noticed the new changes and refused to argue and send Father Simmeron away.

‘He is not a paper file. He is not paid. He sits on one hard chair and waits for…I don’t know…A word…A miracle or a beam of sunshine to peek through that dirty window. He removes some of the ugliness we put up with.’

He decided he would do his job from a new unorthodox manner. Jobs and riddles to open and close cases. He made himself look silly and half incompetent to be the Captain of the precinct.

Rule: The best leaders had a kinky tick to get the job done. And the best leaders were either feared or hated. And he got the response he wanted.

Coffee time. Time to look like he was on one long coffee break.

She brings donuts. I hate them. Tastes like ground up sawdust. Can’t she bring me a piece of chocolate cake? Even those éclairs Maier gets look better than these.

Talking out a riddle, Captain? Jacob Maier interrupted getting his coffee. Trevor Hendrix getting a coffee in the office area? Not good.

Mine’s out. You got a piece of cake hidden instead of these?

Well…IF I had to share, my sister made me a banana loaf. Do I hear a ‘please’ in there?

Please…Please…Please… Laughter. And you…Sergeant are not at your desk…a problem…Or are you going to answer my riddle?

No. Give you one to contemplate. I know you read every case file and see it to the end …But these new files are not really stacking up. You have two styles. Amusement or mistaken identity? Some dead. Some left for dead. See if you can make a riddle out of these. He put them down beside the donuts and walked away.

Hey…My…

On top of the files. A very huge piece of banana loaf wrapped in plastic.

Thank you.

I want a riddle to decipher this new crap.

Trevor Hendrix read through the files. How many and he was just finding out.

Shit! Street walkers. Common walkers. A new panic on the streets. No woman safe. Everyone had to wear a nuns’ habit? And…could this be a new spin on the Righteous Murders? This was all he needed. Fine! Head this off at the pass. He hit the phone. Detective Carrere, could I have your gracious company in my office?

Yes, Sir… Sarcasm and a riddle. Crap! Kristina walked into his office without knocking. Shut the door behind her and dragged the chair across the floor and flopped herself into it.

You shut the door, people will talk.

You are the Captain. Don’t act like an ass. What do you want?

I have a case that requires a woman’s touch. Some alive, some dead. Rape and beatings.

I see. And you want what from me?

To investigate from top to bottom. Any resources you need or help with, ask or demand. This will be your case. Your control. Until it stops, you will investigate.

I can do this. Trevor, is there a riddle in this case?

No, I give out riddles to make people think. This case is an atrocity on women. Help stop it.

What about the Rookie? Hannah Abel?

Half Rookie, six more months. Don’t count her as an upstart.

She watched him give her the file with a new set of job responsibilities. Something wrong? He was not playing a game today, usually she could see past his antics.

Trevor Hendrix, what is the catch with this file?

I do not know. I see a signature but can not piece it together because they are not the same. I need a few of us to step outside the circle to do our jobs.

No riddles…Because…One of these days…One of us is going to end up dead because of your riddles. And one day someone is going to call a reckoning. This case? I will be glad to do it.

Kristina left. She wanted this case. He asked for help…But what did he see to ask for help?

CHAPTER NINE

His desire to be great became an idea. His idea became a plan to be God-like and invincible. To make it a reality became his new obsession. He could do it alone but he wouldn’t have an audience to share the glory. A partner who had no fear.

To get where he wanted to be, he needed the power which would give him the control. To get going he needed to show humility; which was a trait he did not have.

Caleb, need your attention.

I want to get some food from the kitchen. Talk after.

Jonas watched his brother. Held his breath to muster up one small bit of patience for one useless piece of flesh using up air. No ambition or backbone. Fear to try made him a panty-waist. Crap, use his brother, couldn’t use a stranger.

So, you finished filling your face?

No. Mother made a cake, I want a piece.

That’s for Dalton or church on Sunday.

So what! I want a big piece. Without permission, he cut a big, crooked piece, and without a fork or plate he stuffed the cake in his mouth.

Classy, Man. He shook his head in disgust.

A big, vile burp and Caleb wiped his face with his hand and licked his fingers instead of washing them. No wait…He wiped his hands on his pants. Great! Chocolate! A stain to leave.

You are such a jerk! No wonder their Mother loved Dalton more. First born or not. Time to listen, I am talking.

Caleb was walking away. Again useless!

Caleb, one of these days I am going to slap you to pay attention. He grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and slammed him in a sitting position on a chair. Another good move, a rubber scrape mark on his Mother’s waxed floor.

Leave me alone!

You ass! I got a plan. We are going to talk to Mother about a plan to be independent of her and this church. We are going to make our own. We talk to her together. You listen and agree while I talk.

Mother won’t agree.

You don’t know her very well. You go to her and offer a plan. Ask for her blessing. You make it her idea. Start thinking like her. Change your clothes. Clean your face. Do not upset Mother or we will have nothing.

Have what?

Power. Respect. We must be united as her two sons or we will be nothing. I will not stand in anyone’s shadow from this day on. He cursed under his breath as if was a prayer. Jonas gave Caleb part of an hour to clean him up. He half dragged his brother down the back