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He walked down the foggy cobblestones street, as plenty of people passed him, families with their kids in dress up, elderly folk heading into the church to pray and students exiting the university for their trips home. “Evening, Father, where are you headed at this hour?” A man erupted, he was a regular sinner, always in the church for confessions to ease his guilt and nothing more. “I’m off to get a brew.” He spoke rather chipper, he held himself rather high as he spoke, his hands intertwined together over his a stomach. The man waves him a good bye with a smile, “Enjoy yourself, don’t stay out too late though, the killers still out there.” Father Mayhew gave a fake laugh through gritted teeth and quickly turned it to a face of distain as the man left his view. “Fucking malevolent piece of shit.” He muttered to himself as he walked down a set of stoned steps painted with fallen orange leaves.

He pushed open the mahogany doors of the church, and made himself greeted by the eyes of the parishioners and the lady in black by the alter. She looks magnificent and Father Mayhew loved smelling the scent of her perfume, it counteracted with the woeful mourns of the grieving as she preserves the body from which they weep.

“Ah, Miss Jones.” Father Mayhew charms as he smiled to you, taking the memorial card you handed him. “Agnes Berthel.” Charlie sighs, she was a devoted Christian woman, taken by her old age, and her spite as Charlie figured. “She will be missed.” You looked at the priest, annoyed with him, not because of what happened just now, but because it keeps happening, you’ve been here 6 times this past week for 11 different deaths, there’s been that many that you needed to double up the burial times.

“Where were you?” You asked as it seemed odd he wasn’t in the convent getting ready for the funeral. He looked at you as if you had some gumption questioning his whereabouts but he just smiled. “I was on a stroll, getting a cup of cocoa, and enjoying the windy weather. Is that such a bad thing?” You rolled your eyes at his taunt and you took a look at the body in the casket, flowers gracing the coffin, and a few people already settled into the pews, ready to hear her send off to heaven. “It’s not a bad thing if you don’t have a funeral to speak at.” You bit back. You’ve known Father Mayhew long enough to know he wasn’t the average priest, he was a snarky, know-it all who assumed he knew faith better than anybody else. He has hopes for this church and he’d stop at nothing to fulfil it.

“I’ll have you know that I have worked hard to build up a relationship with each person in this community, and I’ll be damned if I let you question me once more.” He spoke behind you, over your shoulder, he then moved his arm over you and fixed the position of the coffin, moving it ever so slightly. “Wouldn’t want her four sons to be disgusted at the placement of this thing, now, would we?” He’s sickening to hear but also you craved being corrected by him, you knew he didn’t know everything but you liked when he made himself seem of higher intelligence at you for your own job. Maybe it’s because of his occupation, or maybe it’s just his face.

He took his stance on the alter now, behind the podium, fixing the mic as it fit the level of his face and he sighed before he began. “May everyone be seated as we begin this service.” He lowered his hands, ushering everyone to rest on the wooden bench. He softly moved his head as he looked at you, his face firm, telling you to swallow your pride and take a seat for the mourners. You sat by the husband of the deceased. He reached his hand out to hold yours for support and you did so. For some reason, when Charlie saw this a ripple of distain ran through his very core.

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to mourn the passing of Agnes Berthel, loving mother, wife, sister, and devoted Catholic woman.” Father Mayhew had everyone’s attention, and they depended on him to make this a safe space without fear of it being distasteful. Little did they know of the reasoning there’s been a but-load of deaths recently. He’s been on a spree, obviously to get people into the church, there’s really been a lack of worship nowadays and he needed to scare people into believing in his lord.

As you listened to him talk, you noticed the tacky red boots he wore, and remembered a saying. About how the red symbolises the blood you step on or something, your mind was running amuck you couldn’t get the words in your brain to function. But he was guilty of something, going off of colour alone.

The service ended, the woman was buried. And your mind was still not put to ease. You couldn’t help but feel a sense of disturbance looming over Father Mayhew. “Miss Jones?” He called over to you from the placement of biscuits and coffee in the church function room. “Uh, yes?” You broke out of your conspiracy and his smile brought you back to hypnosis. “Your handbag.” He handed it over to you tauntingly, pulling it back everytime you tried to grab it. “Ah ah ah, not so fast.” He teased you with a cocky smile. You glared at him and then his hand reached into the bag to show all the memorial cards throughout the past sermons that have happened this week. “A little morbid, don’t you think?” He asked as he looked at it with fake confusion, he was the real sick one.

“It’s evidence.” You spoke. So assured in your word, making the priests brows spike up, and his mouth wrinkle in mocked disturbance. “God you’re more insane than I thought.” He was really one to talk, he’d have had to rifle through your handbag to find those in the first place, to then present them to you as if it was the first he’s seen them. “It’s proof that there’s been an over excessive amount of deaths recently.” You crossed your arms with a cup of coffee in your hand, the styrofoam almost crumbling in your firm grip.

Father Mayhew just laughed, nodding as if he had something smart to say. “And you think some pity cards are going to bring them back?” He huffed. “They’re dead, and they must’ve died for a reason. God’s plan.” He kissed his fingers and put them to the air, he’s a devilish man. You scowled at the man, as imperfect and unholy as anything you’ve ever seen. “It’s not easy, you know, seeing the state some of these bodies are in. Then having to conduct a post-mortem, seeing the horrific ways in which they died. You’d have a heart attack if you saw the rawness they come to my funeral home in.” He nodded along in fake sympathy, knowing he’s the one that made the bodies that very way, all on purpose too, he needed the community to see just how disturbed their minds were in the physical realm. Bring them to God’s house and let them find sanctity once more.

“Let’s suppose you’re right. You can’t stop this killer. He doesn’t want to be stopped.” Father Mayhew stuck the memorial cards back in your bag before dropping it on the floor purposely. Your eyes shot up at him in a glare, he really was a piece of work, like a child throwing a tantrum. Sickening man. “That’s why the police are solving it. To take this guy down.” Father Mayhew then shook his head and stood very close by your side, moving a strand of your hair behind your ear. “But think of it this way, this killer is helping you out.” He whispered, with a small sigh, wishing you’d just understand him. “You’ve made more money this week than you would in an entire year, correct?” You wondered where he was getting at and finally, he dropped the bomb, money. Greed. Financial pride. “Greed is a sin, father. You know this. Don’t tell me you’re okay with the greed of the killer.” Father Mayhew gave a low chuckle at your reasoning for your distain for the murders. “All I’m saying is, it’s getting you paid, bringing more people to church, and allowing the police to work overtime and hopefully get Christmas off. This man is helping the dutiful workers of our city, is he not?” He was convincing enough to not be suspected, that’s for sure, he even had you nodding along and agreeing with him. What disgusting ways of manipulation he has.