ee

y-two

t, never in the same room, never making a sound, just traces of his presence around the house. A

t time. But it was driving me crazy. I had already calmed down,

e bar during a slow shif

est's latest trick?

like living with a damn shadow. He's up at five, gone before I can say good morning, and locks himself away whe

w," she said

led out from everything I've

s at you like you're the root of a

w what else to do." Clearly, he does because he'

espond, the bar

l man in an expensive black suit, silver at the temples, eyes sharp so slim that they seemed closed from afar. He looked a

r. Sterling. From the diocesan review board. He's

eated. "What is he, a

held behind his back. "Ms. Petrova. A pleasure. I un

l in. Somebody had to give him one and

ain incidents that led to Father Moretti's temporary absence. For his sake and the Chu

st here for Daniel. He was h

ng the room like he owned the place. I haven't known him for up to 24 hours but I

upposed to offer you a drink, or

time before he properly acknowledged me. "Simply ensur

appropriate. So I ask again, what do y

me feel like a bug under glass, ignoring the hostility in my ey

y a word. Didn't

on one side, I'm on the other. We've even got a safe

his is not a joke, Ms. Petrova. A priest's vocation is d

. He me

t be fucking kiddin

htened, but stil

finally muttered, "maybe the dioc

othly. "Until then, I'll be a freque

s man can't be s

after, but the

aniel. "You let him talk to me like tha

filled with something I couldn't read. "What would you

corrosive influe

cracks. "My life isn't mine. Hasn't been for a long time. Men like him decide if I s

vival? What is it he's holding against you, D

dn't stand the sight of me.

lked off, his door

, shaking, to

as his own, sipping water, asking questions that weren't questions. Dan

d. "They see Father Moretti here. Livin

to talk about," D

eyes slid to me. "And the perception is that a woman w

ch knot. He'd d

s side, but his voice stayed

on short yesterday. A young woman was speaking of

w flexed. "

? Or t

anded like

ent stil

ity of mind. Purity of body. That is

ooth as always, leav

bearable. Daniel stood r

l, loo

turned, and the pain in his e

I don't want t

the night, leaving me alone with Ste

ce. I was scared of it. Scared of what Sterling knew, what he held over him. Scared of what Dani

lse. I wasn't the corrosiv

he'd destroy him and drag me alon