William Kienzle - Bishop as Pawn

“Improving. He took in a ton of dope. Time is the only thing that can tell now.”

Tully left disheartened. If Ramirez died without a coherent confession, they had no case. Even if he lived, he could be so spaced out he’d be useless.

Then he recalled what Salveigh had said … something about Mr. Wayne not being infallible. Maybe this whole thing was just a dead end. Tully figured he’d better start getting used to the idea that, as ugly as that possibility was, Quirt might just be right.

By the time he’d walked back to headquarters, Tully was feeling glum. A number of phone messages were stacked on his desk. He thumbed through the pile. One of the calls was from Father Koesler. Tully decided to return that one first. Koesler had been most cooperative. He deserved consideration.

The murder of Herbert Demers had happened far too late in the night for inclusion in Detroit’s morning Free Press. But the news was on radio. Television was trying to catch up.

Koesler watched as Father Carleson was once again taken into custody. Avery Cone, Carleson’s attorney, was shielding his client from the intrusive cameras and responding over and over, “No comment!”

Koesler was sitting transfixed before the TV set when the phone rang. It was Lieutenant Tully returning his call.

Tully brought Koesler up to the moment, after explaining all the overnight developments. “The thing of it is, Demers was terminal. Hell, he could have checked out last night on his own.”

“The thing is,” Koesler responded, “maybe he wouldn’t have died last night. From all you’ve said, Mr. Demers has been dying for a long time. He could have gone on a long time more. Father Carleson had no way of knowing.”

Tully was surprised. “Hey, you don’t think Carleson did it, do you? Somehow, I thought no matter how convincing the evidence might be, you wouldn’t believe it. I mean, I thought euthanasia or assisting suicide was against your religion.”

“Well … yes.”

“You have doubts?”

“Not doubts so much as developments.” Koesler realized that expounding on this topic might compromise Father Carleson, but it seemed important to be candid with Tully. After all, they had confided in each other throughout this case.

“There’s been a lot of talk among theologians,” Koesler said, “about what happens when one’s productive life is over. When all that a person planned to do is accomplished and all he or she faces is pain and vegetation.

“See, the Church teaches that it is not necessary to prolong life if the only way to do it is by extraordinary means. This-euthanasia-is the next step. This is not pulling a plug to let nature take its course. This means actively doing something that will take a life.

“There hasn’t even been much written on this. The theologians that propose these ideas are afraid of retribution. The present Pope would not tolerate such an idea. The next one might.”

“Uh-huh,” Tully said. “Would Father Carleson know about this kind of talk?”

Koesler hesitated. “I don’t really know. We haven’t discussed it specifically. But he strikes me as being well informed. I still don’t believe that he was involved in a mercy killing. It’s just that I can sympathize with him if he was. I’ve watched people die too slowly when there wasn’t any purpose left to their lives. It’s one of those things we might be able to do something about someday. But not yet.”

“And Father Carleson is not the type to wait, is he?”

Koesler considered the question rhetorical. Though unconcerned with replying to that, another question occurred to him. “What does Father Carleson say he was doing last night?”

“I didn’t tell you?”

“No.”

“It slipped my mind. He claims he had a sick call. At just that time.”

Koesler was relieved. He’d half feared Carleson might have claimed he hadn’t left the rectory. “That must’ve been where he was going when we saw him.”

“You saw him?”

“Yes. It was late in the evening … 11:30, as I recall. Father Dorr and I happened to look out and saw Father Carleson getting into his car. And then he drove off.”

“Did you hear the phone ring before that?”

“N … no. But there was a lot of conversation going on. And also, Father Carleson and Bishop Diego had their own line. So the phone would’ve rung upstairs in his room. With all the noise downstairs, we probably just didn’t hear it.

“But that would confirm his alibi, wouldn’t it? I mean, whoever called him could testify for him.”

“If such a person exists.”

“What?”

“He claims there was no such address. He says he drove around for a while to see if he could see any signs of anything going on in case he’d gotten the wrong address.”

“Bad luck! But it’s happened to me, Lieutenant. I’ve been called out on an emergency on a false alarm more than once. What sometimes happens is that the person who calls is so caught up in the excitement that he gets the house number wrong, or maybe the wrong street name, or both. So for the priest it’s a wild goose chase.

“Then, usually the next morning, someone will call, angry because you didn’t show up, or apologetic about giving the wrong address.”

“Only thing is there hasn’t been anything like that. Nobody’s gotten in touch with anybody. We’ve got nothing but Carleson’s story. And nothing to back it up. He says he was called out on an emergency-that no one else knows about-at just the time a bunch of hospital personnel claim he was there. When he gets to talk to his lawyer some more, he may want to retract that statement and claim he never left home. But now that you’ve said you saw him leave, he’s not going to be able to back away from his first statement.”

Koesler got the clear impression he hadn’t done his friend any favor.

“Funny thing,” Tully said, “he was sailing pretty well on that first charge. It was all circumstantial. And I had a pretty good lead on a suspect. If only he hadn’t pulled the second murder.

“But I suppose he’s saying that same thing to himself right now.…

“Well, anyway: Does all this answer your questions?”

“I guess so, Lieutenant. I think I’ll just wander over to Receiving later to set my mind at ease about a couple of things. Any objections?”

“Nope, none. And thanks for all your help, Father.”

As Koesler hung up he realized that Tully’s last statement seemed to indicate that his further services would not be required or requested.

Maybe this case was closed, and all the hope in Koesler’s heart would not change that.

By the time Father Koesler’s last appointment left, it was almost 10:30-much later than he had planned. He was tired. A perfect time and a perfect mood to call it a day. Maybe jot a few notes about tomorrow’s schedule. Maybe have a little nightcap, watch the late news on TV, and then to bed.

But he was all too conscious of what he had told Lieutenant Tully earlier in the day. In effect, he had asked Tully if visiting Receiving Hospital would interfere with the ongoing investigation.

Koesler didn’t have any clear plan; he just wanted to help Father Carleson in any way possible. Not only was a fellow priest in trouble, but also Koesler felt that, in a brief period, a budding friendship had begun.

With no other strategy in mind, Koesler thought of just walking through what Carleson had done last night. Perhaps something would surface. What? He had no idea.

He drove to Ste. Anne’s rectory. Everything was quiet. Quite a change from last night.

Diego’s funeral had been held this morning. But last night had marked the clergy’s celebration of what was hoped to be Diego’s entry into heaven. Whether or not the bishop made it, the clergy had had their little celebration.