Chapter 35:Church

They ate the rest of their meal in silence. When they finished eating, Raziel called the waiter to come for the bill. They swiped their ID card on a POS machine to pay for their meal.

They stood up and walked outside. The sky was cloudy. It was gearing up to rain again.

Raziel took in a deep breath of the fresh morning. He checked his wristwatch, it was almost ten in the morning. He turned to Maya, "So what do we do next?"

Maya flagged down a cab, "We'll go to the church and get a list of all their old members.

"The perpetrator knew their houses. He must have known them for quite sometime to know their houses."

A yellow cab came and they both got in the backseat. Maya said to the driver, " 51, 3rd Commeo Street." The driver opened his earth map and tagged the location, then they started to move.

Raziel was sitting behind the driver. He looked at the driver through the rear view mirror. He whispered to Maya, "I think we should check the Pastor's alibi again."

Maya nodded, "It's best we don't discuss the case here."

They sat in silence for the rest of the ride. Twenty minutes later, they arrived at their destination. The distance to their destination made Raziel wonder how big Tenebren is. They alighted out of the cab and Maya paid the driver.

Raziel asked her, "The money you gave the driver will be reimbursed, right?"

Maya laughed, "Of course, I can't be investigating a case out of my own pocket.

"When we're investigating a case, we document every expenses we make on the case everyday.

"After we submit our report, we will be reimbursed."

Thank God! He didn't think his monthly salary would be enough for him considering the expenses of a superhuman. He didn't want to be using his money to solve cases.

Raziel stopped Maya before she walked into the church. He asked with caution in his voice, "I have a favour to ask."

Maya removed her glasses to clean them, "Shoot."

Raziel clasped his hands behind him to hide his nervousness, "If the perpetrator is a level 1 superhuman, can you let me use him to advance?"

After a few seconds of silence, Maya responded. "There's a prison for superhumans. When we catch superhuman criminals, we charge them to a special court. If they're guilty, they go to a special prison."

Raziel replied with a little sadness in his voice, "I understand."

Maya moved closer to him and spoke in a low voice, "If our culprit resists arrest, we have the right to kill him. Only then can you use him."

Raziel's face lit up.

Maya smiled, "If you want me to look the other way, then you have to do something for me."

Raziel asked with wariness, "What is it?"

Maya shrugged, "It's nothing much. You are going to have to help me when I want to advance to level 3."

Raziel was happy. It wasn't crazy request. "Deal!"

Maya started to walk into the church, "Come on, we have to catch this perpetrator first."

When they were about to enter the church, they met a young man at the door. He appeared to be in his early thirties. He nodded at them, "Good morning. There's no service this morning."

Maya replied and showed him her ID, "We know. We're looking for the Pastor of this church, Pastor Emmanuel. He told me on the phone yesterday that he would be here."

The man at the door raised his eyebrows at the ID, "I'm Zachariah. Zach for short. I'm Pastor Emmanuel's son." He stretched his hand towards Maya for a shake. Maya shook his hand. "Come in, my father is in his office."

The trio went into the church. It was filled with rows of empty wooden benches that were very long. Zach walked in the front and directed them besides the altar.

Maya asked him, "Do you know why we're here?"

Zach nodded his head, "It's about the person kidnapping members of our church." He said with a little anger, "I hope whoever has been kidnapping our members is caught. He's been scaring other members from attending church."

As they arrived at a small door beside the altar, Zach opened and said with piousness, "I'm praying for the redemption of the soul of the kidnapper. I hope my prayers will make him come forward and confess his sins."

Raziel almost laughed at the ridiculousness of Zach's word. He and Maya entered the small office and Zach closed the door behind them.

Pastor Emmanuel was sitting at in the office reading his bible. He looked up at them, "Welcome officers." He shook both their hands and asked them to sit. He then took out a file and passed it to Maya, "I guess you're the one that called me yesterday. I've compiled a list of all old female members of my church."

Maya took the file and passed it to Raziel. She faced Pastor Emmanuel, "I want you to confirm your alibi."

Pastor Emmanuel frowned, "I explained everything to the former officers on this case. Didn't they document it?"

Maya lied, "No." She wanted to know if Pastor Emmanuel was going to change his story.

Pastor Emmanuel relaxed in his chair. He was a thin man like his son. He spoke in a clear and soft voice, "The day the first victim was kidnapped, I was at home with my son watching baseball. I can remember clearly because Black Beret was our team and they were playing in the finals. No way we would miss that.

"The day the remaining four victims happened I was at home with my wife."

Maya jotted his statement down, "In the file you gave us, did you include all the men in your church?"

Pastor Emmanuel nodded, "Yes, but I don't think someone from my church is the culprit. Everyone in my church is born again. They won't do something as sickening as kidnapping people."