05/21/2025 Snippet, TOM VARGAS AND THE CASE OF THE MEDDLING PRIEST.

Did a lot of words today. Here’s some!

“But we have to find out what’s going on with this relic of yours, Father Miguel. Is it the kind of thing people kill over?”

“Only if they’re fools.” Mike shook his head. “Of which there are still far too many, in this Fallen world of ours. Pieces of the True Cross cannot be used for evil purposes, at least. Even trying is dangerous. I need hardly tell you that God would not approve of such things. Nor that His wrath would fall upon anyone who tries.”

“So if somebody grabbed it,” I mused, “it’s because they’d want to keep it locked away, like it was. What would the Church have used it for, anyway?”

“It’s a relic,” Mike shrugged. “We’d keep it on hand for times when a fragment of the Holy Presence would be beneficial for our tasks. So… exorcisms, spiritual cleansings, meditation and prayer. Nothing earthshaking. I am at a loss to wonder why anyone would risk damnation by trifling with it.”

“Same here,” I told him as I checked my suit jacket. The blood had rolled right off, just like it was supposed to. “That’s why we need to start hitting those pawnshops. We find the guy who bought the jewelry, he can tell us about who sold it. We can go from there.”

“Do they usually do that? Talk, I mean?” Mike asked. “What’s in it for them?”

“They get to talk,” I explained to Mike as we headed out the door. “Usually, that’s enough.”

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