by Donna Doyle
More silence.
Molly Gertrude now looked alarmed. Dora didn't dare to chew on her cookie, for fear she would miss an important detail. It was clear from Molly Gertrude's reaction that she was upset.
"And… have you called JJ Barnes?"
JJ Barnes? Something was clearly wrong.
JJ Barnes was Calmhaven's main law-enforcer. Molly Gertrude and Dora had often crossed paths with him in the past.
"No… I am here with Dora," Molly Gertrude continued. She nodded her head a few times and played with the telephone cord.
"Now? Of course. I'll ask Dora if she can drive us."
Drive us?
Dora looked at her watch. It was after six and she was hungry and tired.
"Bye, Pastor." Molly placed the receiver back on the hook and sighed. The conversation was done.
"What is it?" Dora asked. "Please don't tell me somebody got killed again."
"No murder," Molly Gertrude said as she moved back to her chair. "At least, not as far as we know."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
Molly Gertrude shrugged her shoulders. "That was Papa Julian from Calmhaven’s Trinity Church. There was a burglary."
"In his house?" Dora's eyes widened.
"No, somebody broke into the basement of his church."
"What's there? Usually basements are not the place where people store important things."
"You never know," Molly Gertrude replied. "I know for a fact that Malcolm O'Hara, Calmhaven's Catholic priest, has some jewel studded crucifixes stored in the basement of his church. They are not very valuable though, but Papa Julian had something of great value stored there, and now it is gone."
"What was it?"
"I told you about that manuscript, remember. Or rather the book that his old friend Preston handed to him."
Dora frowned. "Yes you did, but who cares about a book. It wasn't even an old Bible."
Molly Gertrude shook her head. "You don't understand. It was a very old, ancient copy of John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. Could have even been the first edition."
"You told me, but I never heard of it," Dora answered, feeling rather dumb.
Molly Gertrude peered at Dora. "It's a Christian classic, Dora. It's not a mystery story, but you really should read it sometime. It is an allegory of the journey of a Christian throughout his life all the way up to his arrival in heaven."
"And now it's stolen?"
Molly Gertrude nodded. "And Papa Julian thinks he knows who may have done it. He wants us to come over to his place and discuss it. Would you be willing to drive us there?"
"Who does he think did it?"
"He didn't want to discuss it over the phone, but he said he and his wife Bella had a visit from a real weirdo a few nights ago, and he seems convinced that man did it."
"A weirdo? What does that mean?"
Molly Gertrude finished her tea in one gulp and stared at Dora. "I do not know, Dora, but do you still have the energy to drive over there?"
Dora couldn't help but chuckle. "And you just said it was time for some action, didn't you?" She reached for another cookie and then got up. "Let's go, Miss Molly Gertrude. It seems we are back in business."
Half an hour later Molly Gertrude and Dora sat at the dining table in Papa Julian's living room. They were both stirring a steaming hot bowl of chili con carne with a spoon. When they had entered the pastor's small, one story house, right next to Calmhaven’s Trinity Church, Bella had spotted right away both women were in need of food.
"Have you eaten anything at all," she asked when Molly Gertrude and Dora entered the hall, "you both look famished."
"It's not that bad," Dora chuckled. "I had some of Molly Gertrude's cookies." Bella let out a deep sigh and shook her head. "That's no good, no matter how tasty those things may be. Sit down, and I'll serve you some proper food." Thus they were both served a generous portion.
"Tell me, Pastor," Molly asked in between blowing on her chili, "what happened?"
Papa Julian shook his head in dismay. "It's terrible, Miss Molly Gertrude. This afternoon I went down to the church. As soon as I entered I felt an unusual draft."
Molly Gertrude looked up from her bowl of chili. "A draft?"
Papa Julian nodded. "One of the glass stained windows was taken out of the wall. It was gone."
Molly Gertrude put her spoon down. "You mean somebody smashed one of those beautiful windows?"
"No, it wasn't broken. That's what's so strange about it. It was just taken out. There was nothing but a big, gaping hole in the wall." Papa Julian scratched his temple. "But then when I investigated it closer, it turned out that the stained glass window was carefully taken out of its framing, and was leaning against the wall on the outside."
Molly Gertrude and Dora glanced at each other.
"Most peculiar," Dora mumbled in between two bites of chili.
"It was," Papa Julian went on. "I am glad whoever it was that did it didn't break it. It's a very expensive window and of course, very beautiful." Papa Julian let out a little sigh. "I think the thief was afraid he would make too much noise."
"I doubt it," Molly Gertrude spoke thoughtfully. "It takes skill to take a window out like that. The average thief would not go through such trouble. There are ways in which you can break glass without making a lot of noise, you know." She pressed her chin and then asked, "What else happened?"
Papa Julian wrinkled his nose. "I went to the basement. It's funny, but as soon as I opened the door to the basement and turned on the light, I sensed something was terribly wrong. It was almost as if an evil presence was still hanging on in the basement."
"And then?"
"I prayed, and descended the steps. When I was downstairs I got out my key to unlock the door of the cellar. But I did not need a key."
"Why not?"
"The door was open. Somehow the thief had opened the lock."
"Did he break it?"
Papa Julian shook his head. "No, it still works fine. I don't know how he did it, but he didn't break anything."
Molly took a few bites of her chili and thought about it. When she had swallowed her food she mumbled, "So, we are dealing with a gentleman thief. Here's a man who doesn't like to break things. And then?"
Papa Julian's shoulders sagged. "I immediately went to the place where I had stored the book I got from Preston." He narrowed his eyes and studied Molly Gertrude's face. "Remember… Pilgrim's Progress?"
"I do," Molly Gertrude answered. "And then?"
"I already told you. It was gone. I had put that book in a wooden box, to preserve it from humidity and dust. The box was still there, but the book was gone."
"Was anything else gone?" Dora asked. She had finished her chili and leaned with her chin on her hands.
Papa Julian scratched his head. "Not that I know of. But there really isn't much of real value down there."
For a moment nobody spoke, each contemplating the possibilities. At last, Papa Julian broke the silence. "Nobody knew about that book, except that prophet that barged into our living room the other night."
Bella nodded as she folded her hands around Papa Julian's. "He was really weird. Out of nowhere he gave this prophecy that God wanted us to sell that book and give the proceeds to his organization so he could build a cathedral. Can you imagine that?" As she spoke her voice hardened.
Molly Gertrude crossed her arms. "Tell us about that man.
Papa Julian blinked his eyes. "He's strange. His name is Sharlan Tan, and he claims to be a prophet of God. I think the man is just plain weird."
Bella cleared her throat. "As I said, he's creepy. You should have seen the way he entered our room, so proud and arrogant. He said, he came to promote unity among the believers, but his speech was very condemning, not to speak of these weird prophecies he gave. He gave me the goose bumps."
"I heard about him," Dora piped up. "Isn't he the one that's going to give some sort of open air meeting one of these nights?"
"T
hat's him," Papa Julian said, irritation sounding in his voice. "How did you know?"
"I met a lady on the street. She pushed a flyer into my hands when I was on my way to pick up some donuts from Miss Marmelotte's tearoom. That was a few days ago already." Dora let out a sneer. "It was really rather uncanny as she told me all I had to do was to look up at the snake and my life would change."
"She said that?" Molly Gertrude tilted her head.
"It's probably in reference to that Bible passage in the Old Testament," Papa Julian explained, trying to be helpful. "That was the time when the people of Israel were weak and sick because of sin, and Moses put up a curled snake on a stick. Whoever looked at the snake would be healed. Jesus spoke of it too in reference to faith in Him."
Molly Gertrude rubbed at her brow and stared at Papa Julian. "And that man came to your house? Surely, you didn't tell this man about Preston's book?"
"I didn't have to," Papa Julian replied, while his shoulders sagged. "It was really strange, but all of a sudden he raised his hands and spouted out this prophecy. Some sort of utterance that he claimed was a message from God."
"What did he say?"
"Bella already said it. God had apparently revealed to him that I had a very valuable book, and that it was God's will to give the book to him so he could sell it, and use the proceeds for a cathedral that God had commissioned him to build in honor of his greatness."
"Yes," Bella sneered, "I wonder whose greatness he was talking about. Almost sounded like he was talking about himself. I just don't understand how he could have known about that book."
Papa Julian shrugged his shoulders. "There could be a spiritual component to all of this. After all, nobody knew about this, except for you Bella, and of course, you Molly Gertrude. You didn't tell anyone about this, did you Molly Gertrude? We were supposed to keep this between ourselves."
Molly Gertrude puffed out her cheeks and blushed. "Me, telling anyone? Of course not. My lips were sealed. I mean, I did tell Dora, but she's practically an extension of me, so that's the same as not telling anyone."
Papa Julian's eyes widened. "You knew about the book Dora?"
Dora's face flushed. "Well… eh, I did. Just a little. Miss Molly Gertrude told me about it."
"And…," Papa Julian asked while he peered at Dora, "…did you tell anyone else?"
"Of course not," Dora cringed. "Miss Molly told me it was a secret, so I only told deputy Digby about it. But he can be trusted. He's a good man. He would never tell anyone else."
Papa Julian sank into his chair and grunted. "So, the whole world knows about it. Maybe Sharlan Tan did not get a prophecy at all, but he had just heard about it from somebody else."
Molly Gertrude grimaced. "The bottom line is that the book is gone. Somebody broke into your church and stole a very precious item. What are we going to do about it?"
Nobody knew what to say and they all stared at each other. Molly Gertrude scraped the last bit of chili out of her bowl and asked Papa Julian at last, "And JJ Barnes? You mentioned you did not contact him yet. Why not? He's got all the legal power."
Papa Julian scratched his head again. "I just wanted to talk to you first, Molly Gertrude. I was hoping not to involve the police."
"Nonsense," Molly Gertrude objected. "This is a serious crime, and JJ Barnes may be a bit rough on the outside, still, he's got his heart in the right place."
Dora's eyes lit up. "And his deputy Digby is really smart."
Papa Julian frowned. "Sure. And only God knows whom he shared his knowledge about the book with."
Dora looked down, but Papa Julian gave her a faint smile. "It's all right, Dora. Don't worry about it. We all messed up, one way or the other." He turned to Molly Gertrude and said, "I think you are right, Molly. I'll contact JJ Barnes first thing in the morning. Will you go with me?"
"Sure," the old woman answered and motioned with her head to Dora that she should come as well. "And tell me Papa Julian, when did you say these open-air meetings are starting?"
"They have begun already," Papa Julian grunted. "That girl told me the first meeting was on Wednesday, so that was yesterday. There will be another one tonight. I believe Pastor Tan is using the activity field near Waterside Snomp, in the poor area of Calmhaven."
Molly Gertrude raised her brows. "Waterside Snomp?"
"Yes," Papa Julian nodded, "You know, that field where they have the yearly fair, and where they hold the cattle market in June."
Molly Gertrude pressed her lips together. "In that case, I guess we will be very busy tomorrow. Maybe we can go and see the prophet in action for ourselves, but first we will go to see JJ Barnes." Molly Gertrude pushed her empty bowl of chili away and grunted in satisfaction. "Thank you, Bella. That was very tasty."
"More chili?" Bella asked.
"Thank you, Bella," the old woman replied. "This was the best chili I ever had, but if I eat more, I am afraid I will burst."
"I second that," Dora said with a grin.
Papa Julian forced a smile on his face, but Molly Gertrude could see that the worry lines on his gentle face had deepened.
Chapter Six
Sheriff John Joseph Barnes, or simply JJ Barnes to most folks in Calmhaven, was a serious looking police officer. His square shoulders and the muscled arms that stuck out of his short-sleeved uniform shirt gave him the impression of a seasoned price-fighter, and his square face with the sharply chiseled jawbones, the bristly moustache, and the piercing eyes matched the picture. He liked to keep a tight ship in the office, and his frustrated roar could often be heard throughout the whole department, even as far as the lavatory, when things weren't going the way he wanted. Thus, his personnel knew crossing him too much would cause more problems than it would solve.
Simply put, JJ Barnes was a sturdy officer, unbreakable, always in control, and not easily fooled. At least, that's how he liked to see himself. His all-time favorite police officer was detective Columbo from the famous TV show in the seventies. Admittedly that was a bit puzzling, because with his immaculate starched uniform and his bulky torso, he looked nothing like the sloppy detective that constantly outsmarted the most cunning crooks. But somehow it was Barnes' understanding that he was at least as smart as Columbo, and to prove it, he had memorized many one-liners of the show that would frequently stream out of his mouth when he was hoping to impress whoever it was sitting at the other side of his desk.
Of course, not everyone saw him like that. In fact, some evil tongues proclaimed the man had more brawn than brains, was way too impulsive, and had a little too much love for fame and glory.
And some of that was possibly true. Nevertheless, those who knew him better, and among them were Molly Gertrude and Dora Brightside, would be quick to say that underneath that stern mask of the smart, unfeeling police officer, there was a jolly man, close to retirement, who was the only perfect candidate in town to dress up like Santa Claus during the holiday season. Shiny, harmless and bright.
Strangely enough, that's how he looked today as well, even though he was fully dressed in his police uniform, and the golden buttons on his jacket seem to glimmer with joy.
Molly Gertrude, Dora and Papa Julian sat before him on the small, creaky office chairs, and JJ Barnes peered at them from behind his desk with eyes that sparkled and gleamed.
Molly Gertrude tilted her head and glanced at Dora. She could not remember the last time she had seen JJ Barnes this relaxed and happy.
Was it his birthday, was that why the smile seemed to be glued to his face?
"Sorry," Molly Gertrude began, "I suppose we forgot your birthday?"
JJ Barnes picked up a pencil from his desk, leaned back in his chair, and began to chew the wood. "My birthday?" he mumbled. "Why do you say that? That's not for another five months." But then his face cleared up. "But… in a way, I suppose you are right. I had a life-changing experience, so in that sense, you could say that I had my birthday." He grunted in satisfaction. "But what can I do for you all?"
Papa Julian cleared his throat. "I guess it's because of a theft. We want to report a theft."
"Really?" JJ Barnes put both of his hands behind his head. "What got stolen?"
"A manuscript," Papa Julian explained, "…or rather, a book."
JJ Barnes narrowed his eyes. "That's hardly a crime. I don't think I can take my men off their important work of patrolling the streets, just for a book. What was it anyway? A cook-book? A telephone book… A pocket book?" He snickered at his own joke.
"You don't understand," Molly Gertrude stepped in. "This is a very old book. It's hundreds of years old and of enormous value. The thief broke into the basement of Calmhaven’s Trinity Church and took it."
JJ Barnes leaned forward and pressed his lips with his left hand. "That does sound like a burglary," he finally said.
"Yes," Dora added, "and we think we know who did it."
A slight smile appeared on Barnes' face. "That always makes solving a case a lot easier. Who do you think did it?"
Papa Julian glanced for a moment at Dora and Molly Gertrude, smacked his lips and said, "Sharlan Tan."
His words hit JJ Barnes hard. Instantly, Molly Gertrude could feel how the atmosphere in the room changed and became cold, almost as if somebody had opened the door to the outside. JJ Barnes rolled his eyes, patted his index finger on the desk and shook his head. "Impossible."
"Excuse me?" Papa Julian asked. "Why is that impossible?"
"For two reasons," JJ Barnes replied. He leaned back in his chair, a smug grin on his face. "Reason one, we have already arrested the man who broke into your church. Reason two, it wasn't Mr. Tan." He leaned forward again and pointed his left index finger at Papa Julian. "Mr. Tan is a man of God, pastor. You, of all people, should know that. Sharlan Tan is a man who knows the way, and who has a heart for the lost souls of Calmhaven."
Molly Gertrude rubbed her brow. She wanted to say something, but she was at a loss for words. She looked at Dora and Papa Julian. They seemed to be as amazed as she was herself.
"Y-You made an arrest?" Molly Gertrude mumbled at last. "Who is it, and did you find the book that was stolen?"
