Page 38 of Silent Prayer

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Sheila stood in the observation room, her eyes flicking between the two monitors showing the separate interrogation rooms. In one, Jasper sat rigid and defiant, his jaw clenched. In the other, Celeste seemed to have aged a decade since their encounter at the shop, her earlier mystical demeanor replaced by a look of weary resignation.

Sheila's stomach churned with a mix of anticipation and dread. These two might hold the key to unraveling the mystery of the Coldwater Confessor, but extracting that information wouldn't be easy. She took a deep breath, centering herself. Years of experience had taught her that interrogations were as much about patience and psychology as they were about asking the right questions.

"What do you think?" Finn asked. "You take one, I'll take the other?"

After a moment's consideration, Sheila decided to start with Jasper. His youth and bravado might make him more likely to slip up.

"I'll take Jasper," she said. "Afterward we can compare notes."

"Sounds like a deal," Finn said as he left the room.

Sheila took another deep breath, steeling herself before entering Jasper's interrogation room. The young man glared at her as she sat down across from him. "I told you, I'm not talking," he said, his voice laced with defiance.

Sheila leaned back, projecting an air of calm. "That's fine, Jasper. I'll do the talking for now." She opened a file folder, making a show of reviewing its contents. The rustling of papers filled the tense silence. "You've got quite an interesting background. Dropped out of college two years ago, started working at your aunt's shop. But before that, you were studying astrophysics. Quite a change."

A flicker of surprise crossed Jasper's face before he masked it. Sheila noticed the slight widening of his eyes, the momentary tension in his shoulders. She pressed on, her voice casual but probing.

"What made you give up on the stars, Jasper? Or did you just find a different way to pursue them?"

Jasper's eyes narrowed, but he remained silent. His fingers drummed a nervous rhythm on the table.

Sheila changed tactics, her tone softening. "You know, your aunt is in the other room right now. She seemed pretty upset. I wonder what she's telling my partner."

Jasper's composure cracked slightly. A muscle twitched in his jaw. "Aunt Celeste wouldn't say anything. She believes in the cause."

"The cause?" Sheila asked, leaning forward slightly. "You mean the 'Divine Paradigm'? The 'Eternal Convergence'? Tell me, Jasper, do you really believe in all that?"

For the first time, uncertainty flickered in Jasper's eyes. He shifted in his seat, his gaze dropping to the table. "You...you wouldn't understand. It's bigger than you can imagine."

"Then help me understand, Jasper. People are dying. If this cause is so important, so meaningful, make me see it."

For a moment, it seemed like Jasper might break. His lips parted, a conflicted look crossing his face. But then the shutters came down again. He crossed his arms and leaned back, his expression hardening. "I've got nothing more to say."

Sheila leaned forward, her voice softening. "Jasper, I know you believe in this cause. But people are dying. Innocent people. Is that really what you want?"

Jasper's eyes flickered, a hint of doubt crossing his face before it hardened again. "You don't understand. Sometimes sacrifices are necessary for the greater good."

"Greater good?" Sheila asked. "What greater good could possibly justify murder? Help me understand, Jasper. If your cause is so important, make me see it."

Jasper remained silent, his jaw clenched.

Sheila changed tactics. "Look, I get it. You're protecting someone. But think about this: If you cooperate, tell us what you know, we can work something out—reduced charges, maybe even immunity."

For a moment, Jasper seemed to consider this. His fingers twitched on the table. But then he shook his head. "I'm not a snitch."

Frustration building, Sheila tried one last approach. "Let's talk about the stars, Jasper. You studied astrophysics, right? What drew you to that field?"

For the first time, a spark of interest lit Jasper's eyes. "The vastness of it all," he said softly. "The patterns, the cosmic dance of celestial bodies..."

"And how does that relate to this new belief system of yours?" Sheila asked.

Jasper's expression closed off again. "Nice try," he muttered. "But I'm done talking."

Realizing this was going nowhere, Sheila stood up, her chair scraping against the floor. "Think about what I said, Jasper. This is your chance to do the right thing."

She left the room, the door closing behind her with a soft click. In the hallway, she leaned against the wall, closing her eyes for a moment. Jasper's unwavering belief in this 'cause' was troubling. It spoke to a level of indoctrination that wouldn't be easily broken.

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