Free Sanctuary by Ken Bruen Page B

. . .’
    She made the sign of the cross, then said, ‘Siobhan was raped, I believe in the most brutal way possible.’ She shuddered. ‘There was of course a trial and the two guards were maybe more involved than was said. I don’t like to cast aspersions but they definitely played a part and the rapist was exonerated, charges dismissed.’
    She had to stop to compose herself. I could see the toll it was taking on her and I realized that the two guards who had been killed were the two bastards involved. What the fuck had the judge been thinking?
    As if she read my thoughts, she said, ‘The judge, may God forgive him, commended the guards on their diligence and devotion to justice.’
    Jesus Christ, no wonder the two guards were on thekiller’s list – and the damn judge, he sure belonged on it. I’d have gone after all three myself.
    â€˜Then Siobhan . . . as you know, took her own life. That put Jo right over the precipice and she started to babble in voices, telling me that God would extract justice in this world and that He had selected His instrument. Mother Superior tried to get her to seek professional help and she blew up. There was a terrible scene and she was asked to leave the convent.’
    She was weeping now. I was afraid to offer her a tissue lest she stop the flow of the story – I had to hear it. She was nearly done.
    â€˜The last time I saw her, she was packing her meagre belongings and had a sheet of paper in her hand. She said, in the most chilling voice I’ve ever heard, “I shall be the instrument of the Lord.” I tried to give her a hug – she was my sister in all the ways that really matter – but she flinched when I touched her and said, “Benedictus will not be touched, but will, by the mighty wrath of God, touch all those who caused the death of the innocent.” I never saw her again.’
    Her coffee had gone cold, and the remains of the biscuit floated near the surface like defeated dreams.
    â€˜But why is she targeting me?’ I asked her. The drive for revenge on all who had wronged her sisterwas clear enough. But me? What was my part in all of this?
    Sister Maeve stood up abruptly. ‘I must get back to my class.’
    And she was gone.

 
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Part Two
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    â€˜If you work on your mind with your mind,
how can you avoid an immense confusion?’
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    Seng-Ts’an

 
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22

Loaded
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    Next morning I’m energized, gulp down some coffee, literally gallop out of my flat.
    Stewart gave me the address of Benedictus’s brother, so I head for his house. Maybe he knows where she is now. And if he doesn’t tell me, I’ll beat the fucking daylights out of him and enjoy it.
    I knock on the door. I have the revolver in me right pocket. If she comes at me with a hockey stick, I’ll blow the cunt to smithereens. Sorry for the language, but I’m spitting iron over the hurt to Stewart.
    I hear real heavy footsteps. The door opens on the most overweight man I’ve ever laid eyes on. I mean, 300 lbs and change. He’s wearing what appears to be a blue tent and it’s lined with sweat.
    He puffs, ‘May I help you?’
    The butt of the revolver is sweaty in my hand and I let go lest I shoot me balls off from nerves.
    â€˜I’m looking for your sister.’ Let lots of aggression into my tone.
    He sighs, more like a rumble, says, ‘Taylor . . . Jack Taylor. It is, isn’t it?’
    I nod and he waves me in. He doesn’t walk so much as waddle and we go into a surprisingly neat front room, and he flops down in the largest chair I’ve seen.
    He says, ‘I had to have it made special and it cost. Would you like a drink? You’ll have to get it yourself – in the cabinet there, and some water for me. I’m trying to cut back.’
    He laughs at the sheer ridiculousness of this. He has a warm, embracing