Fear the Wicked (Illusions Series Book 2)(50)

I had to get out of there, had to jump online and look for myself to see that he wasn’t lying. The only problem was that now Timothy knew something wasn’t right in that small parish, that there was a possibility that more attention should be given to the small, rural town. The only way I could knock him off course without killing him and hiding his body was to go along with the assumption that I was someone else.

“I didn’t kill anybody,” I admitted honestly. Well, not intentionally, at least. Cassandra and Eve both were no longer breathing because of me.

Shifting my position on the cushion of my chair, I slouched like a man who’d been caught in a lie, a man who was giving up the pretenses of being someone he was not.

“Fine, you caught me. And I’ll admit that I’m here because I wanted to know what happened to the people who’d abused me for many years of my life. Unlike what you suspect, I didn’t kill them. Not my father, not the priest or the music director. I-“

Intentionally letting my voice trail off, I played the part of a shamed man, of a person who was giving up the lie and who wanted nothing more than to abandon it entirely.

“I should go.”

Timothy sat up, his movement urgent and sudden. “No. You don’t need to leave. I might be able to help you, Jericho.”

The sound of my brother’s name was a spear piercing my side. If what Timothy was saying was true, than Jericho was impersonating me, acting like the friendly Catholic priest in a town that wouldn’t know any better. What the fuck was that sick bastard doing to a town full of people who wouldn’t recognize the monster behind the starched white clerical collar?

“I’m sorry I bothered you,” I stuttered, “I shouldn’t have come here. Please forgive me.”

Standing up from my seat, I’d made it three steps toward the door before Timothy was on his feet racing toward me. His hand gripped my bicep and spun me around, his eyes meeting mine with sympathy. “I can help you, Jericho. I can give you the peace of mind you’re seeking.”

With the amount of anger and concern that was flooding through me for my former parish, I highly doubted he’d give me even a fraction of peace. I knew I needed to leave this city, knew I’d have to face my brother at some point to confront him about the games he played. Learning about what happened to him as a child had softened my heart toward him, but now that I knew he’d stepped into my parish to take my place, I felt only fury and worry for the game he was apparently still playing.

Why would he do such a thing? What did he stand to gain?

Shrugging out of Timothy’s hold, I bowed my head in feigned embarrassment. My voice was low and morose when I lied just to have an excuse to leave. “I didn’t want you to know I’m Jericho. Didn’t want you to look at me and know what was done to me. I need to process the fact that you figured it out and I can come back once I get over my embarrassment and shock. Give me a few days to deal with this. And I hope you can accept my apology for having lied.”

Timothy breathed out a heavy breath, but his expression softened again before he inclined his head. “Take all the time you need, Jericho. But it’s my hope you return. I’m sure I can help you find peace, that I can help you understand and forgive the evil that was committed against you. It wasn’t God who allowed those men to do evil things, and I don’t want you wandering lost in this world because you aren’t able to see that. Men have free will, they have the ability to prey on people that are weaker than them. But God also has a way of healing the people who have been hurt. Please allow me to help you see that. Not every priest is a bad man.”

I knew he was honest in his offer, knew he was one of the good men who truly wanted to help the lost. For that alone, I couldn’t give an answer that would hurt him.

“I’ll return,” I promised despite knowing I’d never come back. The look in his eyes told me he knew I was lying, but that he still hoped I’d change my mind.

Inclining his head again, he reached out a hand to shake mine. When I accepted, he placed his free hand on my shoulder. “Walk with God, Jericho. And when you’re ready to come back and let me help, I’ll be waiting.”

Without thanking him or saying another word, I released his hold and practically ran from his office.





ELIJAH


After sitting in the parish for several hours listening to the pathetic confessions of townspeople who truly believed their little white lies and common human behaviors were worth the guilt that led them to confession, I made my way home to the compound. Upon arrival, I took the time to talk with a few of the family members, to pretend like I gave much of a damn about their spiritual help. I toured the gardens like I was expected to do, I lavished praise and prayers on the fruits of the family’s labors and after playing the role of a man who would lead them all to the gates of Heaven, I slipped away into my private bedroom to look upon a woman I hadn’t paid much attention to over the past few days.

Eve hadn’t left the compound since the night of my last sermon, and I’d tasked Richard with continuing to give her the special herbal teas I’d prepared. According to his reports, he’d kept her so tangled up and twisted that any inclination she may have had to remember oddities between her time with me and the time she’d spent with Jacob was now buried deep beneath the haze of the chemicals we were feeding her.