Ch 7 : A Man of God

"Osbert !? Osbert !? Where are you" echoed a voice in the grand hall of the mansion

"Yeah, tell me Luther" replied a voice

"Oh you're here" Luther saw Osbert reading 'The Prince' by Niccolo Machiavelli.

Osbert kept the book down

"So, you have any message for me, Luther?" Asked Osbert

"Yeah , a good news actually - did you hear? That Devil guy is dead"said Luther

"The Devil who ?" Asked Osbert

"Ughh.. yeah, the guy from Japan, who threatened you" replied Luther

"Well, that's good to hear.. by who?" Asked Osbert

"I don't know ,by some detective. I don't know his name" said Luther

"Whoever it is, find out his name, I owe him one" says Osbert

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Katashi came back to the crime scene at the church. Then he went to the surveillance room to continue where he left

Yukio said "ewww man , why should it always be me" with a shaking voice

"What" Makoto questioned

"It's the second time y'all made me sit near some half dead person covered in a trashbag" said Yukio

"Atleast we left him in the hospital" says Makoto

"What if he escapes like last time" asked Yukio

"He wouldn't, Katashi left him in the hospital where Katashi's close friend is a doctor, and he intimated him about Luigi's fleeing tricks" confirms Makoto with a confidential tone.

Katashi watched the devil (the dark green hoodie guy) approaching Father Godson. But oddly , he just went away after talking to him. While going off the church devil's face is seen in the CCTV.

Katashi's eyes opened wide. He could not believe that a cold blooded serial killer like Devil who had an excellent chance to assasinate Father Godson just walk away without doing any harm. In addition to that Father Godson was one of the richest priest in that church.

And now, he was sure the killer wasn't the Devil

And the Father left to his room

About five to seven minutes later , Father Godson came again in the screen. Katashi saw some dust and objects falling from the ceiling and just after some time the screen shook and went noises. The cable was destroyed. The last scene they saw on the CCTV was 7:00am sharp.

Katashi analysed the video once again and suspected 4 members who didn't seem to exit the church after the holy mass ended and even after the Father's blessing.

Kenji Tsubasuke a graduate with no job, Linda Morgan an American journalist on her trip to Japan, Teresa Midori a regular church attendant, Akira Moustache who is an old worker t the church (his last name is unknown , Moustache is his nickname for his signicantly big moustache) ; these people were gathered again in the church as they were the main suspects through the CCTV

Katashi also had another suspect in his mind but he wasn't ready to believe it

"So , you all know why you are here , right?" Asked Katashi

"Umm.. you suspected us for killing him, I guess I'm right" said Mr.Moustache

"Oh my god , no way I was just here for the first time " said Linda

"I don't wanna hear your excuses nor your fake alibi. All I want is...." Paused Katashi

"Truth" said Yukio

"Yeah , he's right. That's what I want" said Katashi

Katashi noticed Teresa still sobbing over the Priest's death

"Tears from your eyes can't wake him up back alive , you are not saints to do miracles.. and crying makes me angry" said Katashi (threatening tone)

Teresa was scared at Katashi. Of course who wouldn't.

"Now, tell me your fairy tales" says Katashi sitting in a chair

Katashi interrogated each one in person

Suspect 1 (Kenji): "I'm Kenji Tsubasuke and uh.. I came here to the church to pray get a good job which will be helpful to run my family good that's it and I didn't leave the church because I still sat praying. A- And- I saw the chandelier fall right in front of my eyes , then I fainted by the collapse.. then the old man picked me up and sprinkled some water on my face I guess. I woke up to see Father Godson's corpse in an unsettling manner. I think, by seeing that upside down cross , it was some work of blasphemy doers or some Antichrist cult ."

Suspect 2 (Linda) : "well I'm a journalist from America and I'm just chilling on my trip in Japan. I've been here for 2 months and covered as much news as possible and uploaded it in my website. I even covered some news of the priests here in this church and even about the infamous Devil. As I'm returning back to my country tomorrow, I came to this church for one last time. I got the blessing from this father and picked up my phone to get a taxi but before it showed up , this tragedy happened. When I heard a big collapse sound I rushed inside and saw this. But at that time the cross wasn't on him and his eyes wasn't plucked out"

"Despite being a woman , you saw that bloody scene and looked through it ?" Questioned Katashi

"Excuse me sir, I'm a journalist. This is my job. This might be a murder or case for you but for me , it's just another content I come across.. The taxi arrived and I left and was busy writing about this at my house. Despite I was the one who intimated this situation to the worker here" said Linda

"This woman's eyes are straight forward . She's definitely not lying" thought Katashi

When Katashi called in Teresa for interrogation, she refused and said

Suspect 3 (Teresa) : "I-I don't know what happened.. I forget something if I see something terrible or traumatizing, it's a condition. It's kinda like the mental shock. But I remember that Kenji guy was the only one inside the church along with father"

Teresa tries not to cry as she says this whole story

"So!! Are you framing me!!?!" Yelled Kenji

"You might be the one , admit it" sobbed Teresa.

"SHUT UP! huh these guys are annoying" ; these words weren't from Katashi's mouth but from Yukio's

Makoto starred at Yukio and said "well that's exactly how we feel when you annoy us"

Teresa started weeping

Katashi called Akira for questioning

Suspect 4 (Mr.Moustache) : "howdy detective , I've surely seen you multiple times in this church. By the way I came to the church morning at 5:15 and did all the arrangements and cleaning work , at 7:15 I was in the clinic with that boy who fainted . And then blah blah blah and finally I was having my tea when that American lady rushed to me and said the chandelier fell down. Saying that she climbed into a taxi and went off. By the church door I saw Teresa standing still looking at something in horror and I peeked inside only to see this death, I was sure Fr.Godson was dead. I left Teresa at the church clinic and went inside the church. And then I noticed that graduate guy and sprinkled some water on his face because he was unconscious , I guess he got hit in the collapse. Then took him out to the church clinic. Went back inside and cleared as much rubble as possible. And that's it . I really feel sorry for that Father "

"Hmmm. This guy's story is matching with everyone else's" said Katashi to himself in his mind

"And what was about the cross and his eye displacement ?" Asked Katashi

"I don't know I took out some rubble , carried it outside and threw it in the wasteland behind the church , then one time the doors were locked from inside. I tried so much but couldn't open so I waited sometime and opened it and saw the cross and his eye seperated from his face" replied Akira

After the interrogation, Katashi couldn't decide anything yet. So he went on asking details about Father Godson from other priests

Makoto got the information from Father Rader

"Godson?, he is a man of God.. true to his name" said Father Rader , "as I know he helped many people during the time of earthquake and he donates his own money to many trusts. And even though he is rich he had some financial problems. Many people were jealous of him. So it must be one of his financial enemies to do such act causing his death" ; "yet he will serve the Real God in hevean forever" he added.

"Thank you for your cooperation Father" said Makoto as he left the room after interrogating.

"And Makoto..." Said Father Rader

Makoto turned towards him

"Nevermind..... God bless" he said

By that time, Katashi was hearing from Father Vincent .

Father Vincent : " I think Father Godson finally got the price for his sins. Even though I respect him , he was not actually a very good man."

"Not a very good man ? What do you mean?"

"Yeah he is true to his service but he never actually donated anything. One day , I was with him when he went to a old age home for donation. During the donation many press and journalists came there and took pictures and stuff . After the donation I got into our van but he wasn't there yet , so I went out to call him. There I saw him arguing with the head of the home about returning the money back to him. He came back to the van with his money back. I asked him why, he said "it isn't mine...it's the God's , we worship the God with prayers and he gives us the money". He is always with Father Rader , but when with him he acts very innocent, he must be mentally ill or something. I wasn't sure about his character. But I am sure he is true in his service..... His service to the False God." Said Father Vincent.

"When did that donation incident happen ?" Asked Katashi

"About a month ago" said Father Vincent

Then Katashi left the place and met Makoto . They both shared the details and analysed together.

After that Katashi went to Mr.Moustache's room in the church

"Oh howdy detective, i wasn't expecting you? Did you find the killer?" Asked Akira

"Well no, I'm just tired. Would you mind making me a coffee?" Asked Katashi

"Sure thing"

Katashi looked through his room and saw many photos of him with many famous priest.

"Looks like you are famous among the priests" said Katashi

"Hehe might be" replied Akira

"What is this ?" Asked Katashi looking at a stone kept in showcase

"Oh that? Father Godson gave me that after his trip to Jerusalem. It is a piece of rock from the tomb of Jesus " said Akira

"Well he's Lucky ... My wife always wants to go to Jerusalem " said Katashi

"Lucky? Lucky with what ? Sins?" Asked Akira , "because of him , an old man my age committed suicide in that old age home hearing he took away his money back... That guy is not what I thought he would be"

Katashi glanced through Akira's room completely when the requested coffee came to the table.

Katashi thanked him and took a sip of it.

"Oh it's sugar , I prefer sugarless" said Katashi

"Oh sorry for that, my mistake.. lemme get another one for you" hurried Akira

"That's no need sir. I guess I've to get back to my work. Thanks for giving a room" he left

Katashi went to the church washroom and spat out the sugar mixed coffee which he kept in his mouth.

"What is this case? Everybody has a strong proof that they weren't the kil- wait up. It's him , no , THEM !" Katashi spoke these words inside his mind

Katashi came out calling Makoto " Makoto !! Call that American journalist, Now!!!" He said with a dominant voice

"You are just like other criminals. Leaving a damn proof visible" muttered Katashi to himself...

(Chapter 8 - to be continued)