Chapter 31

That same night, Kendricks and Channary slept while Conley whispered into the phone.

“I thought you locked the church.”

“I did, Matt, I did, but someone got in again. I heard moaning, a God-awful sound.”

“Call the police.”

“I think I just did. This is no time for games, Matt. Get over here right away.”

Conley paced the dark living room. Outside, two Nahant police cars blocked the street, along with a maze of Jersey barriers. Between the added sentries and a special detachment of Massachusetts State Troopers, the place had become a very visible keep.

Kendricks stirred on the couch and pulled the blanket down from his head. He blinked. “What’s up?”

“Father McCarrick’s on the phone. He says someone broke into St. Ambrose’s.”

Kendricks sat up. “Could be important. Last person who snuck in there in the middle of the night was Rodriguez’s killer.”

Conley held his hand over the phone. “Ocean Park Police can check it out.”

“You sure? I got a feeling this is one of those times we’re gonna regret if we screw up. Could be Rodriguez’s killer come back.”

“All right.ˮ Conley found his jacket. “I’ll go.”

Kendricks punched the security code into the alarm, opened the front door, and spoke to the policeman on the steps.

“Detective Conley is leaving for a while.”

“Not a problem. No one’s getting past us. When will he be back, sir?”

“He’ll be back when he’s done, son.”

“Roger that. Will SOP still be patrols around the house on the half hour, sir?”

Conley smiled. SOP. Young buck enjoying his chance to play army.

“That’s right,” Kendricks said. “That’ll be SOP.”

“And you open the door only for us, right, Detective Kendricks?” He nodded at the end of the street. “Or for the State boys, of course.”

“Roger that, Officer.”

Conley caught the car keys Kendricks threw and saluted the young cop on his way by. In the street, Conley looked back over his shoulder and hesitated. He turned, studied the house, and tried to rationalize his reluctance to leave. Lloyd and Sage were warriors, with an army at their disposal, no problem there. Maybe he was the problem.

Dr. Larkin evidently thought so.

Life’s not all about you, Matt. Trust.

Trust.

Amen.

He continued to the car and didn’t look back.