Righteous Obsession (39 page)

Debbie nodded vigorously and pointed at one.  “That’s
Father Michaels!  He’s the one who tried to kill me!”

Madison picked up the microphone and spoke into it,
“Miss Debra Simpson has identified one of the composites as her assailant,
Father David Michaels.  It was faxed to me by Detective Marie Wickersham of the
New Orleans Police Department.” He shut off the mini-recorder.

Debbie looked surprised.  “Why are the New Orleans
police interested in Father Michaels?”

“He’s wanted by them for the attempted murder of Colin
Matthews and for the kidnapping and aggravated assault of Liam Matthews.”

“He actually tried to kill Colin,” Debbie asked in a
shocked tone.

“Yes.  Father Michaels stabbed Colin and very nearly
killed him, but I understand he is recovering.”  He took out the tape he’d been
taping Debbie’s interview on and inserted another tape into the recorder.  “I’d
like you to listen to this tape, Deb, and see if you can tell me anything about
it.”  He pushed the play button and watched Debbie’s face closely.  It was a
copy of the voicemail of the first call Father Michaels made to Colin,
threatening his life.  Wickersham had sent it along with the composite. He
turned it off and put the other tape back in. “Can you identify the voice
that’s threatening Colin, Deb?”

Debbie looked horrified.  “It’s Father Michaels’
voice!”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes!”

“Did you hear him threaten Colin specifically at
anytime?”

“One of the things he told me that night was not to
worry because my lover, meaning Colin would be joining me in hell!  I don’t
know if you can call that a threat, though.”

“Can you think of anything else that might help us,
Deb?”

“No, I’m pretty sure that’s everything.”

Madison shut off the recorder then stowed it in his
briefcase.  “I’ll let you get some rest now, Deb.  I know it was hard for you
to tell me about this, but you did a great job.  I think you’re really brave.” 
He took out one of his business cards and gave it to her.  “If you happen to
remember anything else that you think might be important, you can reach me at
either of these numbers.  I promise you I’ll do every thing possible to see
that Father Michaels is apprehended.”

Debbie nodded.  “I know you will.  Thanks.”

Diana looked at Madison.  “I’m going to stay for a few
minutes longer.”

“I’ll be outside with your mother, Diana.”

It was several minutes before Diana came out of
Debbie’s room.  “Mom?”

Diana’s mother came over to her.  “What is it?”

“Deb asked about her parents and I had to tell her
what they did, but now she’s crying and I can’t get her to stop.  I didn’t mean
to upset her, but I didn’t want her to hear it from a stranger either.”

“I know, Diana.  I’ll look after her,” Her mother
replied.  “Would you ask a nurse to come in, too?  Deb made need a mild
sedative to calm her.”

Diana did as her mother had requested then walked with
Madison as far as the elevators.

“You know, Deb was right on about how much Father
Michaels hates Colin.  We had he had this panel discussion one time, supposedly
on the pros and cons of rock music.  He only used it as his personal soapbox to
rant and rave about Colin’s supposedly evil lifestyle!”

“Do you have any idea where I can find Father
Michaels, Diana?”

She shook her head.  “He left here at the end of the
school year.  He said he was going to Rome to do some sort of graduate study,
but who knows now if that was even the truth!  He definitely does have family
in Minneapolis though because my mom has occasionally worked for his father at
IDS. You can probably find out where Father Michaels is by checking with the Diocesan
office in Minneapolis.”

Madison nodded.  “I’ll do that.  Thanks for your help,
Diana, and don’t worry – Father Michaels is going down!”

Caitlin was sitting in the family room, watching
television when the doorbell rang followed in seconds by a loud knocking on the
front door.  “What on earth?”  Caitlin muttered.  She hurried to the door and
peered out the peephole.  She saw two men, accompanied by two police officers
standing on the front porch.  She opened the door as much as the safety chain
allowed and asked, “Can I help you?”

“Police, Miss,” The man in the suit announced then
held up his badge and identification.

Caitlin saw his name was Paul Madison and he was a
detective on the Brunsville police force.  She had an uneasy feeling as she stared
at his badge. The other man identified himself as a Detective Hoelscher from
the Minneapolis force

“May we come in and talk, Miss …”

“Michaels, Caitlin Michaels.”  She opened the door for
them.  “I’m sorry.  Please come in.”  They followed her into the living room
and sat.  “What can I do for you, Detective Madison?”

“I need to speak to your brother, Father David
Michaels.”

“I’m sorry, he’s not here.  He’s in Mankato.  He’ll be
back in a week.”

“Caitlin …May I call you Caitlin?”

“Sure.”

“I spoke with the Diocesan office this morning and
they told me I’d find your brother here.”

Caitlin seemed puzzled by his statement.  “I don’t
understand.  That’s what mom told me when I asked her where Dave was.  She’d
said he’d gotten a phone call from the Diocesan yesterday asking him to sub in
Mankato for another priest.  He left some time yesterday afternoon.”

Madison shook his head.  “I don’t know who that phone
call was from, but it wasn’t from the Diocesan.  Maybe, it’ll help us both
understand things better if you can tell me about yesterday, Caitlin.”

She shrugged.  “I heard the phone ring around one.  I
assume that must have been the call for Dave because I heard mom and him leave
shortly after that call.”  Caitlin paused then asked, “There’s something wrong,
isn’t there?”

Madison seemed to hesitate for a moment then slowly
nodded.  “I need to speak to your brother about his part in the attempted
murders of Debbie Simpson and Colin Matthews and the aggravated assault of Liam
Matthews.”

Caitlin’s mouth dropped open in shock.  She suddenly
felt light-headed and her ears began to buzz.  “Here, put your head down
between your knees, Caitlin,” Madison said.  His voice seemed to be coming from
far away, but she did as he instructed and within a few minutes she began to
feel better.

“Are you okay?  I’m sorry, but there wasn’t any way to
break it to you more gently.”

She lifted her head and steadied herself.  “I can’t
believe Dave could do these things!  What evidence do you have?”  She demanded.

Madison silently took out the same tape he’d played
for Debbie, popped it into his micro cassette recorder and pushed the play
button.  He watched the color drain out of Caitlin’s face as she listened to
the tape.  He shut off the tape when it finished.  “Miss Simpson has already
identified this as being your brother’s voice.”  He took the composite and
another photograph out of a manila envelope and slid them over to her.  “Can you
identify either of these?”

She picked up the composite, looked at it then dropped
it and said in a monotone voice, “It’s Dave.”  She looked at the photograph,
her eyes widening.  “Is this the knife that was used to stab Colin?”

“Yes.  Do you recognize it?”

“Yes.”  She gulped and fought to get herself under
control.  “Daddy gave it to Dave for Christmas last year.”

“Do you know where your brother is now, Caitlin?”

“Don’t tell him anything, Caitlin!”  A strident voice
suddenly warned.

Caitlin turned, “Mom!”

Kathleen, her head held high and her eyes blazing,
stood in the entrance to the living room, gazing hatefully at Madison and the
other law enforcement officials in the room.

“Mrs. Michaels, I’m Detective Paul Madison.  If you know
where your son is then I strongly suggest that you tell me.”

“I won’t tell you anything!  My husband made up these
lies to protect that bastard of his!”

“Mom, Colin isn’t a bastard,” Caitlin said tiredly. 
“Daddy and his mother were legally married.”

“What lies are you referring to, Mrs. Michaels?” 
Madison asked quietly.

“I know all about the lies he and that bastard are
telling!”  She snapped.  “They’re saying Dave was the one who supposedly
stabbed that pervert, Colin Matthews, and tried to kill that little slut,
Debbie Simpson!”

“Mom, the police have evidence,” Caitlin tried to say
calmly.  “They have Dave’s voice on tape, threatening Colin.  They have the
composite of Dave the police artist drew from Liam Matthews’ description and
they have the knife used to stab Colin.  Mom, it the knife daddy gave Dave for
Christmas last year.”

“I don’t care!”  Kathleen shrieked.  “It’s all a
vicious fraud to ruin Dave’s spotless reputation!”

“Mom, why would Colin do that?  Until a few days ago
he didn’t even know he had another brother,” Caitlin said, trying to reason
with her.

“I know your father’s a sick, pervert who’s only doing
this because he wants his bastard to take Dave’s place and I won’t let that
happen!”

“Mrs. Michaels, if you know where your son is and you
refuse to tell me; I must inform you that you’ll be subject to arrest for
obstructing justice.  Other charges could be added later.”

“Mom, please tell him whatever you know about Dave!”

Kathleen ignored her daughter’s plea, glared at
Madison and snapped, “Do whatever you have to!  Dave is a good and holy priest
and I won’t stand by and allow my husband or that bastard of his to slander my
son and ruin his reputation!”

“I was hoping you would be reasonable about this, but
if this is the way you want it,” Madison replied, his tone a mixture of
frustration and resignation.  He turned and spoke in a low tone to the other
detective.   He nodded and went outside.

About five minutes later the doorbell rang.  Caitlin
answered it and found an attractive female police officer.  Her heart sank and
she knew without being told, that the officer was here to take her mother into
custody.

She smiled pleasantly at Caitlin.  “Hello, I’m Officer
Peel.  May I speak with Detective Hoelscher, please?”

Caitlin nodded wordlessly because there was too big of
a lump in throat to reply and she stepped aside so Peel could come inside.

“Officer Peel?”  Hoelscher called.  “Over here,
please.”  He turned back to Kathleen.  “I’ll ask you one last time, Mrs.
Michaels.  Where is your son?”

“As long as you’re continuing to persecute my son and
protect that evil pervert I’m not telling you anything!  Colin Matthews is the
one you should be arresting – not my Dave!”

“Mom, please tell them where Dave is and then we can
get this all sorted out!”  But Kathleen remained stonily silent to Caitlin’s
plea.

Madison sighed as Hoelscher said, “Kathleen Michaels,
you’re under arrest for obstruction of justice and for aiding and abetting a
fugitive in his flight from the law.  Officer Peel, please read Mrs. Michaels
her rights and take her into custody.”

“Mom!”

Officer Peel did as Hoelscher ordered then escorted
Kathleen outside and put her into her patrol car.

“If your family has a lawyer, you’d better give them a
call,” Madison suggested to Caitlin.

She nodded vaguely.  “I’ll …I’ll call Daddy.  He’ll
know what to do.”

“Are you all right, Caitlin?”  Madison asked in
concern.

“I feel like somebody just turned my whole life inside
out!”

“Do you have any idea where your brother’s gone?”

“Will it help mom if I tell you what I think?”

Madison shook his head.  “No, I’m afraid it won’t have
any bearing on your mother’s case.”

Caitlin had a sick expression on her face, but she
took a deep breath and squared her shoulders.  “Dave was supposed to leave in
two weeks to do graduate study in Rome.  Maybe, he decided to leave early.”

“I know this has been hard on you and I wish there was
an easier way to do it, but there isn’t.  We’ll be coming back later with a
search warrant.”  After the police had left, Caitlin ran into her father’s
study and picked up the phone.

Jeff was about to leave his room to go downtown and
see Wickersham.  The deadline had come and gone without any news.  He had been
praying that Dave would realize how grievous his acts were and do the right
thing, but since he obviously hadn’t, he would have to do it for him.  His cell
rang just as he was going out the door.  He came back into answer it, hoping
with all his might it was Kate saying Dave had turned himself over to the
police.  “Hello?”

“Daddy!  The police just arrested mom and they’re
saying Dave tried to kill Colin and Debbie Simpson!”

“Cait, calm down and tell me everything that’s
happened,” Jeff urged.

“A Detective Madison, from Brunsville came here and he
wanted to talk to Dave.  I said Dave wasn’t here; he was in Mankato because
that’s where mom told me he’d gone.”

“Wait a second, Cait.  Dave’s gone?”

“Yes.  He left yesterday and mom told me he’d gone to
Mankato to fill in for a priest, who’s on vacation, but Madison checked with
the Diocesan and they said Dave was here.  The police asked mom where he’d gone
and she wouldn’t tell them so they arrested her!  Madison said he was coming
back later with a search warrant.”

“It’s okay, Cait.  I’m calling Josh Taylor. I’ll have
him go to the police station and find out exactly what your mother’s being
charged with and why.  I’ll ask him to be at the house when the police come back
with their warrant and accompany them while they’re searching.  As soon as I
hang up, I’m calling the airport to see if I can book a flight, but even if I
can I probably won’t be home until later tonight.  I don’t want you to be alone
so will you please call Jemma and ask her to stay with you until I get home?”

“I will,” she promised.  “Daddy?”

“What, Cait?”

“Do you think Dave really did these terrible things
he’s been accused of?  I know Detective Madison showed me some pretty
convincing evidence, but it still could be a mistake, couldn’t it?  I mean Dave
seems sanctimonious and self-righteous a lot of times, but that doesn’t make
him guilty.”

“I don’t know, Cait, as you said there seems to be
some convincing evidence against him, but I’m also having a hard time believing
he could deliberately try to take the lives of three people.  We’ll talk some
more about this when I get home, alright?”

“Okay, Daddy.”

When he hung up, Jeff phoned the airport and was able
to book a seat on a flight leaving that afternoon.  As he suspected, it
wouldn’t get into Minneapolis until after six that evening.  He called Caitlin
back to tell her of his arrival time and added a caution, “Please don’t answer
the door for anybody who isn’t family or friends.”

“I’ll be careful,” She assured him.  “I love you,
Daddy.”

“I love you, too, Cait.  I’ll see you later tonight.” 
He hung up and hurriedly began to pack, cursing Kathleen’s selfishness in
letting Caitlin face these horrendous events alone.  If she continued to
protect Dave when she knew the terrible things he’d done; she could stay in
jail!  He checked out then had the taxi take him to the police station.  He
asked to see Detective Wickersham.

“I’m sorry, sir, but she’s in court and I think it’s
safe to say it’s going to be an all-day thing,” The female desk officer
explained.

“I’m on my way to the airport so I won’t be able to
stop back.  Can I leave her a note?”

“Certainly.”  She provided him with a sheet of paper,
an envelope and a pen.

Jeff quickly wrote a note, identifying himself and his
relationship to Colin.  He identified Colin’s assailant as his son and Colin’s
half-brother, Father David Michaels.  He wrote that Dave had left town and
strongly suspected he’d fled to Rome.  He urged Wickersham to call him and
wrote both his home and office numbers.  He folded the sheet and stuck it in
the envelope then gave it to the officer.  “Would you make sure Detective
Wickersham gets this as soon as she returns?”

“I’ll keep it right here at the desk so she’ll get it
first thing when she comes in,” she assured him.

“Thank you.”  Jeff left the police station, got back
into the taxi and drove straight to the airport, barely in time to make his
plane.  As the plane took off, he thought about Colin and greatly regretted he
hadn’t had time to see him and explain things, but decided he’d call him after
he got home.

Caitlin sat in the living room with Jemma while the
police, accompanied by Josh Taylor, searched the home.  They had finished
searching the downstairs and had gone upstairs.  They watched as two officers
carried out clothes Dave had left behind.  They heard more footsteps coming
down the stairs then and Taylor, followed by Madison and Hoelscher, came into
the room.  Caitlin noticed that Madison carried a manila file folder under one
arm.  They sat down across from her and Jemma.