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Authors: Rita Mae Brown
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there in the trailer. No tags, no records of who bought what so we could cultivate friendships. Used to drive Brother Sheldon mad as he’d try to figure out the money.”
“Do you think Brother Christopher was stealing from the order?”
“No. He just wasn’t detail-oriented.” Brother Morris frowned slightly. “Insider trading isn’t exactly stealing, but I know Brother Christopher repented of his misdeeds. He also repented worshipping Mammon.”
“A national affliction,” Rick smoothly said.
“I was guilty of it. That and pride.” Brother Morris warmed to his subject. “But I saw the light—literally, I saw the light—and I found my true calling. You will meet few men happier than myself.”
“You are most fortunate.” Rick waited a beat. “Who is the order’s treasurer?”
“Brother Luther. By the way, Officer Doak was very kind to Brother Sheldon. Sorry, I got off track. Well, what I was about to add is that Brother Luther is a worrywart. Then again, most treasurers are. We get by. The sale of the Christmas trees is a large part of our annual income.” He drummed his fingers on his knee. “May we open for business soon?”
“Our team should be out by four this afternoon. I see no reason why you can’t open. People’s love of the ghoulish may even increase business.” Rick wanted to see Brother Morris’s reaction.
Brother Morris replied, “That’s the premise behind horror movies, I think—to watch the fearful deed from a safe distance. Of course, in Brother Christopher’s case, who is to say what is a safe distance?”
“I don’t know,” Rick honestly answered. “Brother Morris, what are the vows of your order?”
“Chastity, poverty, and obedience. We’re all human. Each man struggles with his vows—some men more than others, some vows more than others. But everyone tries.”
“Do you punish a brother if he breaks a vow?”
Brother Morris smoothly replied, “We do not judge. That doesn’t mean I don’t assign extra chores or encourage more prayer.”
“Did Brother Christopher break his vows?”
“No. Not that I know of. Why?” For the first time Brother Morris displayed how intrigued he really was.
“In breaking a vow he may have upset someone else.”
“Another brother?”
Rick replied, “Possibly. But it could have been someone outside the order.”
Brother Morris cast his eyes down at the faded Persian rug. “Did he suffer?”
“Physically, no. Now, if he knew his killer, at the last moment he might have been shocked.”
“I hate to think of it.” Brother Morris’s voice was low.
“Could he have had an affair with any women in the area?”
“I doubt it. The usual signs—going off the grounds, staying out on some nights, being preoccupied—Brother Christopher never acted like that. This isn’t to say that he couldn’t have hidden it, but I don’t think he did.”
“I would imagine that celibacy is a trial.”
“You know, that depends on a man’s experiences in life, his age, and his drive. Some people don’t have a strong sex drive.”
“Yes.” Rick pressed on. “Has there ever been money missing from the treasury?”
“No. Brother Luther is a ferocious watchdog.”
“Do you know Greek mythology?” Rick asked.
“Thanks to opera I know more Norse mythology. Why?”
“An obol was found under Brother Christopher’s tongue.”
This puzzled Brother Morris, disturbed him slightly.
“Whatever could that signify?”
“I was hoping you’d know.”
The rest of the questioning continued in this vein until, frustrated by their lack of progress, Rick and Cooper left.
F ascinated by the obol under the tongue, Harry called the classics departments at the University of Virginia, William & Mary, and Duke, where she had friends who taught the early historians.
Given the thousands of years that the myths had persisted, slight variations existed concerning Charon. The standard version of him as a somewhat disreputable ferryman held
“Do you think Brother Christopher was stealing from the order?”
“No. He just wasn’t detail-oriented.” Brother Morris frowned slightly. “Insider trading isn’t exactly stealing, but I know Brother Christopher repented of his misdeeds. He also repented worshipping Mammon.”
“A national affliction,” Rick smoothly said.
“I was guilty of it. That and pride.” Brother Morris warmed to his subject. “But I saw the light—literally, I saw the light—and I found my true calling. You will meet few men happier than myself.”
“You are most fortunate.” Rick waited a beat. “Who is the order’s treasurer?”
“Brother Luther. By the way, Officer Doak was very kind to Brother Sheldon. Sorry, I got off track. Well, what I was about to add is that Brother Luther is a worrywart. Then again, most treasurers are. We get by. The sale of the Christmas trees is a large part of our annual income.” He drummed his fingers on his knee. “May we open for business soon?”
“Our team should be out by four this afternoon. I see no reason why you can’t open. People’s love of the ghoulish may even increase business.” Rick wanted to see Brother Morris’s reaction.
Brother Morris replied, “That’s the premise behind horror movies, I think—to watch the fearful deed from a safe distance. Of course, in Brother Christopher’s case, who is to say what is a safe distance?”
“I don’t know,” Rick honestly answered. “Brother Morris, what are the vows of your order?”
“Chastity, poverty, and obedience. We’re all human. Each man struggles with his vows—some men more than others, some vows more than others. But everyone tries.”
“Do you punish a brother if he breaks a vow?”
Brother Morris smoothly replied, “We do not judge. That doesn’t mean I don’t assign extra chores or encourage more prayer.”
“Did Brother Christopher break his vows?”
“No. Not that I know of. Why?” For the first time Brother Morris displayed how intrigued he really was.
“In breaking a vow he may have upset someone else.”
“Another brother?”
Rick replied, “Possibly. But it could have been someone outside the order.”
Brother Morris cast his eyes down at the faded Persian rug. “Did he suffer?”
“Physically, no. Now, if he knew his killer, at the last moment he might have been shocked.”
“I hate to think of it.” Brother Morris’s voice was low.
“Could he have had an affair with any women in the area?”
“I doubt it. The usual signs—going off the grounds, staying out on some nights, being preoccupied—Brother Christopher never acted like that. This isn’t to say that he couldn’t have hidden it, but I don’t think he did.”
“I would imagine that celibacy is a trial.”
“You know, that depends on a man’s experiences in life, his age, and his drive. Some people don’t have a strong sex drive.”
“Yes.” Rick pressed on. “Has there ever been money missing from the treasury?”
“No. Brother Luther is a ferocious watchdog.”
“Do you know Greek mythology?” Rick asked.
“Thanks to opera I know more Norse mythology. Why?”
“An obol was found under Brother Christopher’s tongue.”
This puzzled Brother Morris, disturbed him slightly.
“Whatever could that signify?”
“I was hoping you’d know.”
The rest of the questioning continued in this vein until, frustrated by their lack of progress, Rick and Cooper left.
F ascinated by the obol under the tongue, Harry called the classics departments at the University of Virginia, William & Mary, and Duke, where she had friends who taught the early historians.
Given the thousands of years that the myths had persisted, slight variations existed concerning Charon. The standard version of him as a somewhat disreputable ferryman held
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