Page 30 of Silent Prayer

"...and police are still searching for leads in the case of the so-called 'Coldwater Confessor'," she was saying, her voice carrying just a hint of tension beneath its professional veneer. "Sources close to the investigation suggest that the killer may be targeting individuals based on perceived moral transgressions. However, the recent murder of Rachel Kim, a known atheist, has thrown this theory into question."

The Father leaned forward, interested. They knew more than he'd anticipated. The police were proving to be more capable than he'd given them credit for.

Samantha continued, her dark eyes looking directly into the camera. "Sheriff Dawson had this to say at this morning's press conference."

The screen cut to footage of Sheriff Dawson, his face set in determination as he addressed a crowd of reporters. "We are pursuing all leads and will not rest until this killer is brought to justice. We urge the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately."

The Father allowed himself a small smile at the moniker they'd given him. They really had no idea why he was doing all this, did they?

He hadn't planned for these cleansings to become so public, to garner such attention. He was simply fulfilling his mission,not looking for acclaim. Still…there had to be a way to leverage the situation, didn't there?

The Father stood, pacing the room as his mind blossomed with possibilities. This platform, this attention—it was an opportunity. A chance to spread his message further, to make more people understand the importance of his work.

Yes,he decided, nodding to himself. It was time to take control of the narrative. To show them all the true purpose behind his actions.

He moved to his desk, opening a drawer and carefully removing an object. It was a vintage ink stamp, its handle worn smooth with age. The stamp itself was in the shape of a crucifix surrounded by a halo of thorns.

The Father held the stamp up to the light, admiring its craftsmanship. Yes, this would do just nicely. This would prove his identity—

And let everyone know he wasn't going to hide in the shadows. He had a message for the world…and he was going to tell it using the biggest microphone possible.

Death itself.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Sheila stared at the whiteboard in the conference room, her eyes tracing the connections between the victims' photos. The faces of Laura Hastings, Sophie Tournay, and Rachel Kim looked back at her, smiling in blissful ignorance of the fate awaiting them.

"Okay, let's go over this one more time," Sheila said, turning to Finn, who was nursing his third cup of coffee. The lack of sleep the previous night and the intensity of their investigation were taking their toll on both of them.

Finn nodded, setting down his mug. "We believe the killer poisoned Jason Reeves to ensure Rachel Kim would be home."

"Right," Sheila said. "But we're still no closer to figuring out how the killer managed to poison Jason's takeout."

Finn sighed, rubbing his temples. "I know. We checked every angle. The restaurant's clean—all employees accounted for, no suspicious temp workers. The delivery service, too. We even got the security camera footage, but there was nothing out of the ordinary."

"And Jason swears he didn't leave the food unattended at any point," Sheila added. "It's like the poison just appeared out of thin air."

"Therewasthat one manager who mentioned a surprise visit by a health inspector. Could that have been the killer?"

Sheila shrugged. "Possibly. No camera footage, though, no name or other identification, nothing more than a vague description: 'good-looking and of average height.' Not very helpful."

They were both silent for several moments.

"I know it's frustrating," Sheila said, "but we have to face facts—we don't know how the killer poisoned Jason's food. So for now, let's move on to the next thing we know."

Finn cleared his throat. "Alright. We believe the killer convinced Laura that he was a priest named Father Wayland, and probably did the same with Sophie."

"Right," Sheila said. "And he killed each of them with a blunt object—a candlestick with Laura and Rachel, and possibly the same with Sophie. But why these women? What's the connection?"

"It can't be about religion," Finn said. "Rachel was an atheist, while Laura and Sophie were devout."

Sheila nodded. "And they come from different backgrounds. Laura was a teacher, Sophie a volunteer, and Rachel a high-powered executive. Different education levels, different income brackets."

"The only common thread is that they're all women in their twenties," Finn said, his brow furrowed in concentration.

Sheila sighed, running a hand through her hair. "There has to be something we're missing. Some connection we haven't found yet. Let's dig into Rachels' background more—maybe we'll come across some kind of transgression similar to the infidelity Laura and Sophie were involved with."

"I'll start with her social media," Finn said, opening his laptop. "You take her financials?"

---