247 The Little Church Murders

"You were right, Chief," the sergeant told the police chief. "It happened again, like you said."

"Another mobster?"

"Yeah. Won't miss him," the sergeant added.

"Yeah, but we can't have these people getting murdered right under our noses. Wasn't the little church covered?"

"Four uniforms and two undercovers. Still, no one knows where the bullet came from. And now another dead. Same M.O."

"One shot to the back of the head?"

"Yep. And on a Sunday, an hour before Mass. And the folks just walk on in to the church like it was normal and stay for Mass. Crazy."

"How many Radostas is that now? Can't be many left."

"Fourteen. And you're right—it's just the Radosta women left. You think the killer's gonna move on to them?"

"No," the chief answered. "Don't think so. If he was gonna kill the women, there'd be some already. My guess is he's gonna move on to the Marsiglias."

"Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Chief. What we gonna do?"

"Well, this means another press conference. And another one-on-one with the mayor."

"Ya think he might fire you?"

"Who knows? But that happens when the citizens get all riled up and demand it. 'Tween you and me, I think the citizens are liking the sweep. I might get fired if it stops."

"Jesus, Mary, and Joseph," the sergeant sighed.

The next morning the sergeant informed the chief the killer turned himself in. No one expected it. He just walked in and confessed it all.

"Who is he?" the Chief asked as the sergeant led him in to the holding cell. He didn't have to be told. He knew him.

"Father Herren! Why?" he asked. "You're a man of God."

"Simple, really," the priest answered. "It was always right after Confession—right after their Absolution. What they confessed was very disturbing. As Christ, I forgave them; as me, I executed them. You see, it was the only way they'd go to Heaven. That' s what I'm supposed to make happen for everyone. Killed before they sinned again."

"So, they get to go to Heaven," the Chief said.

"Yes. And I get to go to Hell. Counting souls, it's not a bad trade, is it?"

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AUTHOR'S NOTES:

For Tuesday, September 3, Day 247 of the 2024 Story-a-Day Challenge

366 WORDS (without A/N)

Accompaniment photos were AI-generated but the skuldduggery was not.

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WHAT I COULDN'T FIT IN 366 WORDS:

I was going to have the Chief ask him why he just doesn't go to Confession himself. His answer: sinning while planning to merely confess it makes the confession part of the sin. FYI

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THIS CHALLENGE BEGS ON, 366 BEGGARS AT A TIME.

There are currently three surviving, sinning, repenting, confessing Vocal penitents still asking for forgiveness in the 2024 Story-a-Day Challenge:

• L.C. Schäfer, (sinner)

• Rachel Deeming (winner)

• Gerard DiLeo (wiener)