Natalie the day before in school that her family had just installed a wood stove. That turned out to be the source of the fire,” Father Mahoney said. “Face it, it wouldn’t have taken much for a girl with an active imagination like Natalie’s to mention the dangers of a fire.”
Sister Agatha said nothing. She knew that the archdiocese had put pressure on Father Mahoney to stop the rumors—at least until they could be verified or debunked.
“My sister has had a very hard life,” Father Mahoney continued, looking at Tom, then at Sister Agatha. “Her husband Henry took off and hasn’t shown his face around here since Natalie was born. Forget about child support. He never stays in one place long enough for anyone to track him down. For the past few years, Jessica’s been holding down two jobs just to make ends meet. By the time she gets home, my sister’s dead on her feet. Natalie hasn’t been getting the attention that she needs, and that’s what started this mess. When Natalie began talking about her angel, she got exactly what she wanted—more attention from Jessica.”
“Be that as it may, we have to deal with this current situation,” Tom said flatly. “Natalie is an eyewitness to a crime—maybe a hit-and-run, maybe much more. She was a target before, but it’ll be even worse now. She needs to stay out of the public eye for a while in some kind of protective custody.”
“I’d love to keep her with me at the rectory, but most people know that I’m her uncle. That’s the first place anyone would look,” Father said. “Especially someone who knows the rest of the family, like Henry.”
“I can arrange to have a social worker find a suitable foster home away from here,” Tom said. “Perhaps in Rio Rancho or Albuquerque.”
“Bad idea. That’s going to expose her to even more strangers,” Sister Agatha said. “And to Natalie, all they spell is trouble. If you’re hoping she’ll remember something that’ll help you with your investigation, you need her in an environment where she’ll feel safe. She won’t be able to think clearly unless she can relax.”
“Any suggestions?” Tom asked.
“The monastery,” Father said. “It’s the only answer.”
“Our
monastery? But—”
“I know what you’re going to say, Sister, but there are unclois-tered areas there, and if you think about it, you’ll see that it’s perfect,” Father said. “The monastery is out of the way, secure behind walls and locked doors, and has few visitors. There’s no safer haven for her, and since Natalie feels a special kinship to the nuns, she wouldn’t be frightened.”
“Reverend Mother would have to give her permission, Father. I have no authority to make that decision. Also, you should know that we’re going to need our roof repaired. That means we’ll have workmen around.”
“They’ll be on the roof and Natalie will be inside. It’ll still work.” He looked at Tom. “May I use your phone? I’m going to ask Reverend Mother myself.”
As Father Mahoney went back to Tom’s office, Sister Agatha gave the sheriff a skeptical look. “I’m not so sure Reverend Mother’s going to agree to this. We have other pressing problems at the monastery right now.”
“What could be more appropriate than nuns helping a child?” Tom countered.
“That’s not the point. The monastery separates the sisters from the world so they can pray for it more effectively—like a doctor who has to distance himself emotionally in order to work for his patients. We’re there to achieve union with God and to pray for a world that very often forgets Him. There are plenty of orders that remain active in the outside world, but that’s not the role of our monastery.”
She paused, then smiled slowly and continued. “All that said, I hope Reverend Mother says yes. Even if the cloistered sisters can’t come out and meet her, they’ll be able to visit her from behind the grill. I think they’d all really
Sister Agatha said nothing. She knew that the archdiocese had put pressure on Father Mahoney to stop the rumors—at least until they could be verified or debunked.
“My sister has had a very hard life,” Father Mahoney continued, looking at Tom, then at Sister Agatha. “Her husband Henry took off and hasn’t shown his face around here since Natalie was born. Forget about child support. He never stays in one place long enough for anyone to track him down. For the past few years, Jessica’s been holding down two jobs just to make ends meet. By the time she gets home, my sister’s dead on her feet. Natalie hasn’t been getting the attention that she needs, and that’s what started this mess. When Natalie began talking about her angel, she got exactly what she wanted—more attention from Jessica.”
“Be that as it may, we have to deal with this current situation,” Tom said flatly. “Natalie is an eyewitness to a crime—maybe a hit-and-run, maybe much more. She was a target before, but it’ll be even worse now. She needs to stay out of the public eye for a while in some kind of protective custody.”
“I’d love to keep her with me at the rectory, but most people know that I’m her uncle. That’s the first place anyone would look,” Father said. “Especially someone who knows the rest of the family, like Henry.”
“I can arrange to have a social worker find a suitable foster home away from here,” Tom said. “Perhaps in Rio Rancho or Albuquerque.”
“Bad idea. That’s going to expose her to even more strangers,” Sister Agatha said. “And to Natalie, all they spell is trouble. If you’re hoping she’ll remember something that’ll help you with your investigation, you need her in an environment where she’ll feel safe. She won’t be able to think clearly unless she can relax.”
“Any suggestions?” Tom asked.
“The monastery,” Father said. “It’s the only answer.”
“Our
monastery? But—”
“I know what you’re going to say, Sister, but there are unclois-tered areas there, and if you think about it, you’ll see that it’s perfect,” Father said. “The monastery is out of the way, secure behind walls and locked doors, and has few visitors. There’s no safer haven for her, and since Natalie feels a special kinship to the nuns, she wouldn’t be frightened.”
“Reverend Mother would have to give her permission, Father. I have no authority to make that decision. Also, you should know that we’re going to need our roof repaired. That means we’ll have workmen around.”
“They’ll be on the roof and Natalie will be inside. It’ll still work.” He looked at Tom. “May I use your phone? I’m going to ask Reverend Mother myself.”
As Father Mahoney went back to Tom’s office, Sister Agatha gave the sheriff a skeptical look. “I’m not so sure Reverend Mother’s going to agree to this. We have other pressing problems at the monastery right now.”
“What could be more appropriate than nuns helping a child?” Tom countered.
“That’s not the point. The monastery separates the sisters from the world so they can pray for it more effectively—like a doctor who has to distance himself emotionally in order to work for his patients. We’re there to achieve union with God and to pray for a world that very often forgets Him. There are plenty of orders that remain active in the outside world, but that’s not the role of our monastery.”
She paused, then smiled slowly and continued. “All that said, I hope Reverend Mother says yes. Even if the cloistered sisters can’t come out and meet her, they’ll be able to visit her from behind the grill. I think they’d all really
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