A few days passed, just like they always did and things were once again normal. Jesse decided to focus on things he could control to keep himself mentally strong. He was going to school, practice, working at the deli, and going to church with his uncle. He wasn't very religious but given the rescind circumstances everyone has started going to sunday mass regularly. There was one church in Green Hills, the priest was well known as well as the regular church goers who were typically elderly women. Father Mark was an interesting man. He kept to himself, the only places you could see him was in the church, and the grocery store 2 miles outside of town on Tuesdays 30 minutes before closing. Every other night he was in the church basement "going through scripture and psalms" there were only a select group of people who knew what really went on down there.
He wasn't really a man of faith but he did go to church every so often. About 2 weeks ago he stayed back after mass to give father Mark an update on his financial situation. He had been struggling a bit recently with the church. They had been losing money and I wasn't looking good. They had a brief meeting and Ben agreed to give him a loan from the bank.
"I'll pay you back Ben, I swear. This is so generous of you! I really do appreciate it." He said, shaking Ben's hand as he grabbed his coat to get back home.
"It's alright, I know you're good for it. Pay it back when you can." Ben said before father Mark pulled him into a suffocating hug.
"I really mean it, I'm so grateful to have a friend like you who understands." He said, reviling in the moment.
Before Ben could pull away he could shake the feeling that he picked up on the faint smell of alcohol. He figured it was nothing but couldn't help but think there was something unnatural about that smell, especially clinging to a priest.
"It's quite alright, I best get going now. I'll be seeing you on Sunday, Father." Ben said, giving his goodbyes and heading back home.
Well Sunday morning came around and in the basement of the church the priest laid hungover barely clinging to consciousness, his words slurred and his vision blurred. The relentless pounding in his head was so loud he could hear anything else. His alter server standing in shock looking at his impaired state.
"Father, we've got a mass in an hour!" Joseph said baffled that father Mark Has been drinking.
"Well, you b-better send them home then junior."
"Junior?- Father weve got to get you up." Joseph said not knowing what he could do.
"This is not okay, Ben just gave you that laon and you went and drank it all. Just because you guzzled down all your savings in the gas station's parking lot doesn't mean you get to steal from the church. I didn't say anything when I saw you stealing from the donation box for the poor because I figured it was an emergency but this, this is just sad." Joseph said so disappointed in father Mark's decisions.
He went to grab his arm to get him up but it was no use.
"Hey get your hands off me, ain't nothing wrong with me." He said as he attempted to get up out of his chair.
"What happened last night?" Joseph asked cautious not to touch him again.
"NOTHING! You young folk ask too many darn questions. I was just having a drink and blacked out a little." He said, stumbling over towards the bathroom.
"YOU BLACKED OUT!" Joseph accidentally yelled.
"Ye-yeah….." He stopped for a minute to check his balance.
"You blacked out?" He asked again, exercising Father Mark's last nerve.
"What part of blackout dont you understand, I thought you said you drink?" He stepped back causing his head to pound more.
"Yeah, like cool drinking, like sexy drinking. Not this trailer park, crush a beer can on your forehead garbage." He said still in shock letting his emotion get the best of him. He did not mean to be so disrespectful but he was genuinely confused and just surprised. He would have never suspected father Mark.Yet here he was face down in the toilet an hour before mass.
Mass was canceled to say the least and the church was temporarily closed. After Joseph got father Mark back to his house he drove right over to Ben's place to tell him what was going on. He pulled up in his old gray car and went to knock on the door.
"Oh Joseph, what do I owe such a surprise?" Ben asked, opening the door.
"Well I was wondering if you could talk for a minute, it's important."
"Alwright, come on in." Ben said as Joseph followed him into the house.
"Can I get you anything to drink?" Ben asked before he sat down.
"No, I'm fine, but thanks for offering."
"Well alright then." Ben said, sitting across from Joseph who was on the sofa.
"What did you want to talk about?"
"Well I was wondering if that loan you gave father Mark could be retracted, or invalidated some way?" Joseph asked, staring down as he fidgeted with his fingers purposefully not making eye contact.
"Now why would you want me to do that?" Ben asked, a little confused.
"Well, can I be honest with you Ben?" Joneshp asked, finally looking up.
"Of Course." Ben said, sliding to the edge of his seat out of curiosity.
"He's drunk." Joseph said with a sleigh.
"Always has been, I didn't know it was this bad though. He took all the money you gave him and went and blew it all on liquor. I'm really sorry Ben. I know you were trying to help us and I would have never let him call you if I knew this would Happen." Joseph said, trying not to break down.
"It's alright, I believe everything will end up fine. He will atone for his sins." Ben said, trying to offer some comfort to Joseph in an attempt to ease some of his guilt.
It had been 10 days, 6 hours, 19 minutes, and 52 seconds since Joseph had gone to tell Ben the news about Father Mark. Ben went mad because he knew he would pay for his wrongdoings. Ben had found him out behind a dirty bar just outside of town face down in a dumpster looking for booze.
"What are you doing out here Benny boy?" He asked his words dramatically.
"You're a disgrace to Green Hills stealing from the people who trust you, looking to you for guidance and this is how you repay them?" Ben asked calmly and collected, almost emotionless.
"What are you talking about?" Father Mark asked, almost stumbling over his feet trying to take a step towards Ben.
"It's ok, you'll see soon enough." Ben said, taking a deep breath.
"What do you mean by that?" He questioned tilting his head slightly, slipping back into the side of the dumpster.
"You won't be bothering us anymore." Ben said, pulling out his revolver from his pocket pointing it at Father Mark's head. Before he could say anything Ben pulled the trigger. A loud bang echoed through the parking lot as his body hit the ground.
A pool of blood surrounded him as his heart slowly stopped beating. Ben tucked his gun back into his pocket, pulled his collar up on his trench coat, and walked away as if nothing happened.
The next day front and center on the newspaper was the Murder of our towns priest, what was the cause? And who was the culprit? The sheriff's deputy investigated the crime scene and the body was taken for an autopsy.
The location played a large part of the investigation because what would Father Mark be doing behind a sketchy bar.
It shook the town, everyone was worried about what would happen next. The autopsy results came back and they had discovered that aside from the bullet in his skull he had severe liver damage. Along with that there was a high level of alcohol in his blood, a dangerous amount to be specific.
Of course all the journalists jumped on this newfound information and started speculating. They had their suspicions along with motivation and a few suspects.
After 2 months the case was ruled as a homicide. It took a while for the town to ease up again but eventually things started to go back to normal.
The local authorities clearly weren't doing too well. It was 2-0 Ben sliding under the radar for a second time. The town was so shaken up but they had taken comfort in hoping this would blow over.
Because, well everyone knows that the next axe murderer, or zodiac killer, or even the next black dahlia wouldn't be in Green Hills. It just isn't something that happens in a town like this one, or so they assumed.