“We need to stop this thing, Steve.”
He blew another stream of smoke into the air. “I know it.”
“You understand we might need the help of the Church to do that?”
“Yeah. That’s what makes this such a bitch to bear.”
“Can you do it?”
Curran tossed his cigarette to the ground. “I don’t have much of a choice anymore, Lauren.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Because this thing — this Soul Eater as you call him. The sonofabitch paid me a visit last night. And I don’t want that happening ever again.”
Chapter Eleven
Lauren caught the subway back out toward Brighton after leaving Curran. She wasn’t entirely sure what she hoped to discover going back to the school, but the old nun there had been the only help she’d gotten so far.
And there seemed to be something about her that led Lauren to believe she knew more than she let on about what they were going through.
Or I might just be imagining it, she thought. Throngs of students crammed the car, pushing their bodies into the other passengers. They passed through Kenmore Square and thankfully most of them got off to head to Boston University. Lauren found a seat and sat, staring out of the window.
The train roared up Commonwealth Avenue, its windows streaked now by the cold rain falling out of the black sky. Lauren fingered her cross and felt its cool metal soothe her.
If only it was that easy for Steve. She frowned. Certainly seeing a best friend raped and then almost getting the same treatment would make anyone hate the Church. After all, Lauren could sympathize to some degree. After her brother had raped her, she’d lain awake at night questioning in much the same way Steve had.
But her path had led her back to the Church, not away from it.
Not like Steve.
We’re so different, she thought. So different. And yet very similar.
She smiled at the thought of having him as a boyfriend. She quickly chastised herself for thinking such a foolish thing. He was a cop, after all. She was going to become a nun. There was no way it could work.
It shouldn’t work.
She shouldn’t desire him at all.
If only it was as easy as her mind told her it should be.
If only this whole thing hadn’t happened at all. She’d never have known someone like Steve existed. And each of them would have gone on with their lives blissfully unaware of the other.
God works in mysterious ways, she smiled.
Maybe she was supposed to know Steve. Maybe they figured into one another’s lives in way they couldn’t yet see.
She sighed and went back to looking out of the window. Maybe she just had a silly crush on him.
The rest of the trip passed without event. Lauren got off at the final stop, skirting the campus of Boston College and heading down a side street toward the seminary and academic buildings of the Archdiocese. Streetlights overhead cast long shadows that danced ahead of her on the sidewalk. The rain had stopped for the moment.
She turned into the grounds and headed for the administration building again. It was almost six o’clock but she knew a lot of the staff kept late hours. She hoped the old nun would be working still.
A cold wind kicked up some dead wet leaves and scattered them by her feet. Lauren looked around. She felt weird. Like someone was watching her.
She whirled, eyes scanning the deep dark but finding nothing.
You’re being silly now. After all, evil wouldn’t come here, would it? This was sacred ground, owned by the Church.
She reminded herself then that evil had breached the library with ease. Why should the school grounds keep it at bay?
At the admin building, she tugged on the door and it opened. She walked a bit faster toward the office.
The outer office where the old nun had sat the other day was empty. Lauren slumped against the wall and exhaled in a rush.
“Can I help you with something?”
Lauren whirled almost dropping her purse and jumping out of her skin at the same time.
Sister McDewey.
Lauren put her hand on her chest and felt her heart jumping around inside.
Sister McDewey frowned. “Did I startle you?”
“A bit.”
“I’m so sorry. I thought I heard someone and came to see.”
Lauren nodded. “It’s all right. I’m just a bit tired is all.”
“Your studies?”
Something like that, thought Lauren. “I was looking for the old nun who was here the other day.”
“You mean Sister Donovan?”
“I never got her name.”
Sister McDewey’s face creased with concern. “She’s not doing too well, I’m afraid.”
“How do you mean?”
“She took sick quite suddenly. The doctors aren’t sure she’ll make it much longer.”
“She’s in the hospital?”
“No. She said she wanted to be at her home. It’s close by. She’s got someone looking after her all the time now.”
Lauren frowned. “I wanted to thank her for helping me.”
“Oh?”
“She directed me to some valuable resources in the library that helped me with a project.”
Sister McDewey smiled. “Sister Donovan always had a great head on her. So many facts and figures rattling through there. I can’t tell you how many times she helped me. We’ll all miss her terribly.”
“She’s not dead yet.” Lauren hoped it didn’t come out sounding as bad as she thought it might have.
But Sister McDewey frowned. “Lauren, don’t be like that. The doctors were quite sure in their estimates.”
“I’d like to see her one last time.” Maybe she can give me some final words of advice.
“I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.”
“What can it hurt? A simple thank-you to let her know how much she helped? It might do her some good.”
“Are you sure there’s not some other reason?”
Lauren smiled. “What other reason would I have for bothering a woman close to death?”
“I don’t know.” Sister McDewey considered her for a moment and then nodded. “Very well. Her address is just a few blocks away. Do you know the neighborhood?”
“Well enough.”
“Then here’s how you go…”
Outside again, Lauren felt the first drops of cold rain hit her face. She opened her umbrella and hurried along the slick sidewalks toward the street Sister McDewey had pointed her.
Had she fooled Sister McDewey? Lauren sighed. She guessed it didn’t really matter. There were some things she was prepared to do in the interest of the world that might not jibe with the Church’s official position. And she was prepared for those decisions.
Her heels clicked on the cement and echoed out into the growing darkness. Breezes roared off to her right side, making the huge linden trees wave and sway, their branches clawing the fabric of night.
The house was small. A simple ranch with a single floor, painted in white with black shutters. There was nothing amazing about it. It was as ordinary as any other home nearby.
Lauren rang the bell.
The door opened a moment later. A young nun peered out through the screen door.
“Yes?”
Lauren smiled. The rain had increased making her face wet. “I’d like to see Sister Donovan, please.”
“She can’t be disturbed now. She’s asleep. Come back tomorrow.”
Lauren pressed closer to the door. “Please. It’s very important I see her right now. I understand she may not have all that much time left.”
“She can’t be-“
A voice behind the young nun interrupted her. “Let her in Mary, it’s all right.”
The young nun frowned but unlatched the screen door. Lauren ducked inside as a huge peal of thunder broke out behind her and the sky pissed down with cold rain.
“Just in time, aren’t you?”
Lauren looked and saw Sister Donovan wrapped in a robe standing in the doorway of another room. The young nun rushed to her side.
“Sister, sit down.”
“It’s okay Mary. I’m all right. The good lord doesn’t want me checking out just yet. I’ve got a few more things to do here before that happens.” Her eyes twinkled and she winked at Lauren. “Now, would you be a dear and go fetch me a cup of tea? Just a little sugar to sweeten it if you would. I so hate the bitter taste of sugarless tea.”