The Church Envelope

Greer did not keep the final recording in his pocket.

He kept it with his priest.

That was what Paul said after Roslyn reminded him that partial honesty was still obstruction with better shoes. Greer had given a sealed envelope to St. Brigid's after Vivian died, marked as a personal confession to be opened only by counsel.

Roslyn stared at the note. "Of course he hid murder evidence in a church."

Elise said, "Can we get it?"

Nadine answered. "With a warrant, a fight, and an annoyed judge."

"We have all three."

St. Brigid's smelled like wax and damp wool. Father Keane looked less like a spiritual shield than a tired man who had been handed too many rich people's secrets and called it pastoral care.

"I did not know the contents," he said.

Roslyn held the warrant. "Now none of us has to guess."

The sealed envelope was in a parish safe. Inside was a small drive and a letter from Greer to his counsel. The letter said the audio was leverage against Martin in the event of betrayal.

The drive played on Roslyn's evidence laptop in the church office.

Vivian's voice came first, weak and furious. "You ran me off the road."

Martin answered, breathing hard. "You should have left the account alone."

"Elise will find it."

"Elise will be dead by paperwork before she gets a key."

There was a sound like fabric dragging over gravel.

Vivian said, "You always needed documents because you were too cowardly to look at a body."

Martin's voice dropped. "Then look at me now."

The recording ended with Vivian gasping once.

Elise stood very still. No one touched her. That was good. If anyone had been kind, she might have broken.

Father Keane whispered a prayer.

Roslyn closed the laptop. "That is murder."

Elise looked at the old priest, the warrant, the drive, and the rain against the church window.

Vivian had not been saved by proof.

But proof had finally caught up.