Chereads / My Sinful Queen / Chapter 7 - Gabriel Korvenus

Chapter 7 - Gabriel Korvenus

Fatigued and restless, Drayce's frustration reached its limit. He had been up all night, trying desperately to find some clue he had overlooked in Phoebe's murder.

"There has to be something I missed, damn it!"

He had gone over all the documents and photos a million times. This time, however, he had more incentive than ever to crack the case. If he could somehow figure out who might have killed his wife Phoebe, and do so before midnight, he could simply decline Fiona's offer, and she would go away. Rather, he hoped she would stick to her word and disappear. He looked at the clock: 3:46 p.m. There wasn't much time before midnight.

The sudden knock on his apartment door startled Drayce. Who could that be? Hopefully not Fiona, though she had already proved to be the type not to knock.

Looking through the peephole, Drayce saw someone he didn't recognize. A man about his age with a goatee and dark hair, wearing a black suit, waited patiently. The reversed collar and prayer beads dangling from his neck hinted at his calling. A priest maybe?

Drayce cautiously opened the door just a few inches.

"Yes? Can I help you?"

"Good day, sir. I'm looking for Drayce Knight. Is he around?"

"Who wants to know?" Drayce asked suspiciously.

"I'm sorry, where are my manners? My name is Father Gabriel Korvenus. I am with the Congregation of the Holy Cross."

"Sorry, but I'm not looking to find God today," Drayce said coldly as he started to shut the door.

"Wait! Please, Detective Knight! I think I have some information about the recent night club murder."

Curious, Drayce opened the door and invited the man inside. Gabriel looked around and beheld a motley mess of police documents and gruesome crime scene photos. He fingered his prayer beads and mumbled something under his breath. The gruesome nature of the photos would unnerve anyone -- anyone except Drayce, who had unintentionally made it his home decor.

Gabriel looked at a picture hanging on the wall of Drayce and Phoebe on their wedding day. "Is she the one in the other photos?"

"Not that it's any of your business, but yes," Drayce said sternly. "I thought you had information for me?"

The priest shifted his focus back to Drayce. "Right. The news reports claimed you saw a woman in the room with the victim. Did you notice anything odd about her? For instance, did she have tattoos of large bat wings on her shoulders?"

Those were not tattoos of bat wings. Those were actual bat wings, and a long tail. However, the similarities were entirely too coincidental. Did this man know about Fiona, and what she actually was?

"Sorry, but I didn't see any tattoos. Why do you ask?"

Gabriel turned to Drayce. "The day of the murder, a young girl of great physical beauty came into my church for confession. She mentioned that she was about to do something horrible but never said what exactly. As she left, I noticed she had bat wing tattoos on her shoulders that covered most of her back. I thought maybe there was some kind of connection."

All those years as a detective had refined Drayce's ability to detect bullshit down to a fine art. This man was hiding something, and he wasn't a very good liar. He seen tattoos on her shoulders? That would mean she would have to have worn an open back dress or something else equally revealing. Who would show up in church like that? Not to mention, who would confess to something before actually doing it? It seemed too far-fetched for Drayce's taste.

Drayce suspicions were further heightened by a small cross-shaped scar on the side of Gabriel's neck. He wouldn't have noticed it if Gabriel's collar hadn't shifted while looking around the room. No kind of accident leaves such a mark on one's skin. It had to have been done on purpose.

Nonetheless, this priest must know something about Fiona. Was he one of the 'entities' that she mentioned she was trying to avoid? Drayce thought for a brief moment about disclosing what really happened. But then he also thought about what Fiona said before she left. She would kill him if he said anything, and with her ability to read minds, there would be no hiding it. Best to play safe for now.

"Doesn't sound like a connection to me. She could have been about to cheat on her husband for all you know. Sorry, but I think you've wasted your time."

Gabriel exhaled a deep sigh. "Perhaps. But God sent me to you this day, so it isn't a total loss. I know a great burden must weigh heavy on your heart, Mr. Knight. Such burdens tend to lead men to do things they wouldn't normally do. The path to Hell is paved with good intentions, and desperation leads to the first step."

It was as if Gabriel could see right through Drayce's facade. Maybe Drayce wasn't the only one with a bullshit detector.

"I appreciate you coming by, Father, but I have work to finish down at the precinct. If you find out anything else, don't hesitate to stop by."

"Sorry I couldn't have been more helpful." Gabriel reached into his pocket and fished out a business card. "If you are ever in need of my services, you can reach me here."

Gabriel handed Drayce the card and walked out the door. Before Drayce shut the door, Gabriel turned back toward him. "Remember my words, Mr. Knight. They may save your soul someday."

Drayce twitched a quick nod and closed the door. He looked at the clock again: 4:27 p.m. Time passed much faster than he liked.