Saturday 9:35 A.M.

 

Ian and a man dressed as a monsignor in the Catholic Church, white collar, red piping on his cassock, walked in. Ian nodded to them. He and his companion got coffee. The Monsignor went to add cream and sugar to his. Ian came directly over to their table. Ian said, “Barb Dams told me you were here.”

Fenwick asked, “Who is he?”

“Monsignor Schneider with the Catholic Church. He was at the station looking for you. Says he knows a buddy of yours, a Mrs. Wolchevitz. He’d taken a cab to the station, but he was leery of walking the few blocks here in the rising wind.”

Turner had seen healthy people blown over after being caught in the cross-canyon winds of the tall buildings of Chicago. Monsignor Schneider looked to be close to ninety.

Turner swallowed his anger. He guessed that this was part of Ian trying to say he was sorry, by trying to help with the case. Right now, he’d take help from wherever he could get it.

The Monsignor tottered over to them.

Turner and Fenwick stood and introduced themselves. Everyone sat.

Schneider said, “I work in the Diocese Central Office. I’m semi-retired, but I hear everything, and have excellent sources. I got a call from Mrs. Wolchevitz early this morning.” He pointed at Ian. “This gentleman was kind enough to help me struggle the few blocks over here. The wind is up.” He gave a small cough. “I was told to talk to the two detectives.” He raised an eyebrow.

Ian began to stand up.

Turner said, “It’s okay. He’s helped us with a few cases.”

Schneider said, “Very well. I may have some information for you.”

Turner said, “Thank you for coming.”

The Monsignor nodded. “Mrs. Wolchevitz is a dear woman. I hope I can help.”

Turner said, “We talked to Father Benedict last night. He was helpful in putting together a bunch of people to talk to.”

The Monsignor gave a discreet cough, sipped his coffee, and said, “I know. I was his Master of Novices during his novitiate year in the seminary. He called me. We are old friends. He is a true believer in causes. I admire him. I’m not sure how effective he really is, but the man believes in real tenets of Christianity, and actually tries to treat all people he meets by them. So many of us get caught up in fund-raising and petty disputes. Benedict believes and tries. He’s a good man. He said kind things about you as well. And I saw you on television saving that young man.”

He sipped more coffee. The detectives waited.

“I have some inside information for you. A few members high up in the church are trying to influence your careers including this Carruthers mess and your current investigation, at least enough to make you fail and look bad.” He paused, took another sip. “Or kill you.”

“Why?”

“Because, in their view, you disgraced the church in that investigation of the murdered bishop.”

Fenwick said, “We just worked the case, followed leads.”

Schneider said, “As the old cliché goes, you gave scandal to the faithful.”

Fenwick said, “I can dish out scandal with the best of them.”

Turner said, “They’re hiring people to shoot at us?”

Ian said, “Are you suggesting the Catholic Church is hiring terrorists to kill non-believers?” He finished with a mutter under his breath, “Wouldn’t be the first time.”

Fenwick asked, “Anything specific since the Inquisition or specific to this case?”

Turner ignored Ian and Fenwick and asked his question again.

The Monsignor shook his head. “No, they wouldn’t hire people, not directly. That would be out of character, and if someone broke and told, it could be traced back to them. No, they’d work behind the scenes, as they most often do, first to help discredit you, if they could, but even more, to put pressure on those who did have the wherewithal to try to destroy you. They might also help with the planning, but not necessarily the execution of the plot. Remember, Carruthers is one of theirs.”

Fenwick shook his head. “That we are perceived as such a threat amazes me. In the long history of the Catholic Church, we’re nobodies.”

Monsignor Schneider said, “You know the quote, Emerson I think it was, ‘If the single man plant himself indomitably on his instincts, and here abide, the huge world will come round to him.’ That’s you two.”

Fenwick said, “Bullshit. We have no such power.”

The Monsignor said, “Not quite as philosophical as I would have hoped, but what I was told to expect.”

Fenwick said, “About as good as you’re going to get this morning.”

Turner said, “You know us?”

“I also have ways of getting information.” He took another sip of coffee. Turner noticed the old hand trembled slightly as he raised the cup to his lips.

The Monsignor smiled, “You should have seen the Cardinal’s residence as we watched the coverage of the storm from last night. Your rescue of those children was prominently played. You could have cut the hatred in that room with a knife.”

Fenwick said, “I’ve got a quote for you. How many divisions does the Pope have?”

Another smile from the Monsignor. “Well played, but quoting Stalin to me may be clever, but not effective.”

“They’d prefer that we let the kids die?”

“Well, no. They’d prefer you’d have been at the bottom of the tree when the lightning struck.”

“They are that vindictive?” Fenwick asked.

The Monsignor said, “Somebody mentioned Inquisition earlier.” He took a sip of his coffee. “Look, I came here to warn you. Part of the pressure you’re getting is because the church still has influence, a great deal of influence.”

“Specifically, with whom?” Turner asked.

“Start with Commander Palakowski. He and the new Cardinal talk. There is also someone high up in the mayor’s office. I presume Edberg who is a church stooge. And then there’s Clayton Griffin, the assistant Chief of Detectives. He and the priests in the central office go way back. They are out to get you and the planning is extensive.”

Turner asked, “Enough influence to cause them to commit murder?”

“My opinion is unfortunately, maybe. And I can give you no direct proof. Just what I’ve gleaned, heard, summarized, and on a few occasions, been confided in. I know it’s not enough.”

“More than we had before,” Turner said.

Ian asked, “Is Carruthers part of the planning?”

Schneider smiled. “I met him once. In that brief time, I was as unimpressed with his intelligence as anyone else. No one would be stupid enough to let him near the planning. I believe he played a part in the first scenario on the street. Even then he screwed it up. He was never part of planning. Now he’s part of nothing.”

“Why are you coming to us?”

“Because,” the Monsignor said, “I can see a man, in this case, two, standing indomitably on their instincts. I wanted to be among the ones who come round to them.”

Turner said, “I appreciate the compliment, but…”

The Monsignor interrupted. “Also, and this I only heard second hand, do not trust your Commander or the Superintendent of Police.”

Fenwick asked, “And why should we trust you?”

The Monsignor said, “Touché. I can but say, I wish you well.”

Turner and Fenwick were not going to discuss their Commander and their relationship with him with this stranger.

Ian said, “The Carruthers incident and these murders are connected.” He looked to the two detectives. Ian had not been privy to the information and insights they’d gotten yesterday. Turner didn’t have the time or inclination to go into all that, especially with the monsignor still present.

Turner and Fenwick shrugged. They thanked Schneider for his information. Ian offered to help the older man on his way. They left.

Turner and Fenwick gazed at each other for a few moments. Turner broke the silence. “It’s confirmed. It’s one huge incident.”

Fenwick said, “We’ve got to figure out the specific details, and precisely who did what.”

“Yeah, lots of convoluted shit.”