The Omega Factor(25)

She’d realized her artistic calling in college and, by age twenty-eight, when she joined the sisterhood, she’d already assisted on several notable American restoration projects. Her superiors spoke highly of her skills, and she hadn’t wanted to lose her passion for art. She entered the convent to do more, not be shut away. Many convents kept to themselves, maintaining the old ways. But many more did not. The Vatican II Council in the 1960s changed everything. Latin was abandoned for English. Religious names were dropped in favor of your birth name. Choices were provided for what work you could do and where you would do it. Family connections were encouraged, not prohibited. The Congregation of Saint-Luke had long embraced those reforms, which had allowed her to satisfy both of her inner desires.

Three police cars had accompanied the one she and Nick had ridden inside. No sirens or flashing lights. Just a quick drive north through light traffic. Two cars parked out front while the others turned, rounded the corner, and their uniformed occupants headed for the rear courtyard that Nick had told them about.

Nick led the way through an iron gate to the lit main entrance where he banged on the heavy slab of oak. An Inspector Zeekers directed more uniformed police to stand ready. A few moments later the door opened, revealing an older woman dressed in a plain gray dress and light veil. She had neatly clipped silver-gray hair and a face as smooth and rosy as a child’s. She introduced herself as the resident mother superior.

Zeekers stepped forward. “Forgive this intrusion, but we have reason to believe that a criminal has sought refuge here.”

The older woman’s face tossed a puzzled look. “It is the middle of the night, Inspector, and this is a convent. A house of God. We provide no sanctuary for criminals.”

“This man says otherwise.”

And Zeekers pointed at Nick.

“Forgive us, sister,” Nick said. “But there’s a woman dead not far from here who might be part of this convent. And I followed another woman straight here. I entered the building and retrieved a laptop that had been stolen. All that occurred after her accomplice set fire to a part of the Ghent Altarpiece.”

“You were here?” she asked, incredulous.

He nodded.

“Those are incredible accusations you made,” the mother superior said. “I certainly hope you have proof.”

“My own eyes and ears are not enough?”

“Not in this instance.”

One of the uniforms approached and whispered into Zeekers’ ear. A concerned look spread across the inspector’s face. “There is no motorboat or dinghy in the river across the street.”

Kelsey watched as Nick considered the information.

Nick found his phone and displayed the screen to the mother superior. “This is the dead woman. Do you recognize her?”

The nun gave the image a quick glance, winced at the sight, then shook her head. “She is not of this convent.”

“Is Sister Claire?” Nick asked.

“There is no nun here by that name.”

Kelsey watched carefully. She had no reason to believe that Nick was lying or exaggerating. Not his style. And he had retrieved the laptop.

“Mother Superior,” she said. “I noticed that you answered the inquiries with not of this convent and no nun by that name here. Have you ever seen the woman pictured on the phone and do you know, or know of, a Sister Claire?”

The older woman stared her down. “And you are?”

“Sister Kelsey Deal of the Congregation of Saint-Luke.”

The mother superior’s face remained set in stone. If she was cornered, nothing revealed her predicament. “Let me be clear, there are no criminals here, nor any Sister Claire.”

Still not an answer, which only raised more questions in Kelsey’s inquisitive mind. And she could see that Nick and even Inspector Zeekers were not convinced either.

“Mother Superior,” Zeekers said, “we have no choice. I must search the premises.”

“Inspector, we are but a group of aged sisters who serve the poor and live out our remaining days in peace. We have nothing to hide. Please, search away. I will wake the sisters who are asleep.”

Zeekers gestured toward the officers, but Nick stopped him and said, “We just need to see one room. On the second floor.”

The older nun led them upstairs and he walked to where he’d found the laptop. The door was wide open. He stepped inside and saw only the furniture from earlier. Nothing else.

“There’s no need to look any further,” Nick said to Zeekers. “Whatever was here is gone.”

Kelsey studied the mother superior, trying to gauge the situation. Her own prioress was a well-disciplined, bookish woman with a no-nonsense approach too. But there was one thing she could say about her superior. Never had she lied.

Unlike this woman.

They left the room and descended back to the entrance foyer. All of the uniforms waited outside. Zeekers apologized for the intrusion and left out the front door, along with Nick.

Kelsey lingered a moment and faced the older nun. “I hope you go and pray.”

“For what?”

“Forgiveness for your deceit.”

And she left out the door.





Chapter 16



Nick entered the small apartment where Kelsey had been staying for the past few weeks. They’d left Zeekers, who’d agreed with them that the mother superior was lying. But, without more, there was little they could do. The maidens had certainly covered their tracks. But that didn’t mean they did not bear a thorough investigation. He’d given Zeekers his recommendations but the inspector had been noncommittal on what would happen next. The arsonist was dead. The laptop retrieved. Only a copy of the Just Judges was destroyed. And nothing led from the convent to anywhere else.