But these other cuts and stab wounds, Mackenzie said. Theyre made with a standard blade, right? The angles and edges
Yeah. You a religious woman? the man asked.
That seems to be a recurring question over the last day or so, she said. Despite the answer, though, I understand the relevance of a cut to the side. Its where Christ was speared while he was hanging on the cross.
Yeah, Yardley said from behind her. But there was no blood, right?
Right, Mackenzie said. According to scripture, water came out of this wound.
So why did the killer decide to make this wound stand out? she wondered. And why was it not on the others?
She stood back and observed the scene while Yardley chatted with a few of the CSI and Forensics members. The case had already unnerved her a bit but this random wound in Woodalls side made her worry that something deeper might be going on. There was symbolism but then there was layered symbolism.
The killer has obviously thought things out, she thought. He has a plan and hes being methodical about it. More than that, the addition of this very precise cut in the side shows that hes not just killing to kill hes trying to convey a message.
But what message? she asked herself quietly.
In the darkest hours of night, she stood in the entryway to Living Word Community Church and tried to find that message on the canvas of the dead pastors body.
CHAPTER SEVEN
In the time it had taken Mackenzie to leave Living Word and drive to the J. Edgar Hoover building, the media had somehow found out about the newest murder. While the murder of Father Costas had made the news, the death of Ned Tuttle had not. But with the lead pastor of a church with the status of Living Word, the case was going to blow up the headlines. It was 4:10 when Mackenzie arrived at the FBI offices, headed up to see McGrath. She figured that the details of Pastor Woodall and the case as a whole would be the main point of interest on local morning news programs and all over the nation by noon.
She could feel the mounting pressure of it all as she stepped into McGraths office. He was sitting at his little conference table, on the phone with someone. Agent Harrison was there with him, reading something from a laptop. Yardley was also there, having arrived a scant few minutes before Mackenzie. She was sitting, listening to McGrath on the phone, apparently awaiting instruction.
Seeing the two of them hovering around McGrath made her wish Ellington was here. It reminded her that she was still in the dark about where McGrath had sent him. She wondered if it had something to do with this case but if it did, why had she not been informed of his whereabouts?
When McGrath finally got off the phone, he looked to the three gathered agents and let out a sigh. That was Assistant Director Kirsch, he said. Hes assembling three more agents to spearhead this case on his end. The moment the media caught wind of this, we were fucked. This is going to go big and its going to go big quickly.
Any particular reason? Harrison asked.
Living Word is a hugely popular church. The President goes there. A few other politicians are regulars, too. Their podcast gets around five hundred thousand listens a week. Woodall wasnt like a celebrity or anything, but he was well known. And if its a church the President attends
Got it, Harrison said.
McGrath looked at Mackenzie and Yardley. Anything of note at the scene?
Yeah, maybe, Mackenzie said. She then went into detail about the peculiar and precise incision in Woodalls right side. She did not, however, go into what sort of symbolic gesture she was trying to decipher from its meaning. She had no real solid theories just yet and did not want to waste time with speculation.
McGrath, however, was in panic mode. He spread his hands out on the table and nodded to the chairs around the table. Take a seat. Lets go over what we have. I want to be able to give Kirsch the same information we have. Including you three, we now have six agents dedicated to this case. If we work together, armed with the same details, we might be able to nab this guy before he strikes again.
Well, Yardley said, hes not sticking to one denomination. We know that for sure. If anything, it seems like hes trying to avoid that. So far weve got a Catholic church, a Presbyterian church, and now a nondenominational community church.
And another thing to consider, Mackenzie said, is that we cant know for certain if hes using the position of crucifixion as his preferred use of punishment and symbolism, or if hes doing it as a mockery.
Whats the difference, really? Harrison asked.
Until we know which reason is behind it, we cant narrow down the motive, Mackenzie said. If hes doing it as a mockery, then hes likely not a believer maybe even some sort of very angry atheist or former believer. But if hes doing it as a preferred means of symbolism, then he could be a very devout believer, albeit with some pretty strange ways to profess his faith.
And this thin cut along Woodalls side, McGrath said. It wasnt on any of the other bodies?
No, Mackenzie said. It was new. Which makes me think it has some meaning to it. Like the killer might even be trying to communicate something to us. Or just going further off the rails.
McGrath pushed himself away from the table and looked to the ceiling, as if searching for answers up there. Im not blind to all of this, he said. I know there are zero clues and no real avenues to pursue. But if I dont have something resembling a lead by the time this shit is splashed all over national news programs within a few hours, things are going to get bad around here. Kirsch says hes already gotten a call from a congresswoman who attends Living Word asking why we werent able to crack this one as soon as Costas was killed. So I need the three of you to get me something. If I have nothing new to go on by this afternoon, I have to open it open widermore resources, more manpower, And I really dont want to do that.
I can check in with Forensics, Yardley offered.
Work alongside them for all I care, McGrath said. Ill make a call and okay it. I want you there the moment they discover anything from those bodies.
It might be a needle-in-a-haystack scenario, Harrison said, but I can start looking at local hardware stores to get records and receipts about anyone who has purchased the nails this guy is using in the last few months. From what I understand, they arent particularly common.
McGrath nodded. It was an idea, sure, but the look on his face made it clear how much time that would take.
And you, White? he asked.
Ill go the families and co-workers, she said. In a church the size of Living Word, theres got to be someone with some insight as to why this happened to Woodall.
McGrath clapped his hands together loudly and sat forward. Sounds good, he said. So get to it. And check in with me every hour on the hour. Got it?
Yardley and Harrison nodded. Harrison closed his laptop as he stood up from the table. As they made their exit, Mackenzie hung back. When Yardley had closed the door behind them, leaving only Mackenzie and McGrath in the room, she turned back to him.
Ah hell, what is it? McGrath asked.
Ah hell, what is it? McGrath asked.
Im curious, she said. Agent Ellington would have been a valuable asset for this case. Where did you send him off to?
McGrath shifted uncomfortably in his seat and briefly looked out the window of his office, to the early morning darkness outside.
Well, before I tasked him with this other assignment, I obviously had no idea this case was going to be this bad. As for where he is currently working, with all due respect, thats none of your business.
With the same respect, she replied, doing her best not to sound too defensive, you took away a partner I work well with, which leaves me on my own to work this case out.
You are not on your own, McGrath said. Harrison and Yardley are more than efficient. Nowplease, Agent White. Get to work.
She wanted to press the issue further but didnt see the point. The last thing she needed was for McGrath to be pissed at her. The pressure was already on and it was far too early in the day to be dealing with a disgruntled boss.
She gave a curt little nod and took her leave. Still, as she walked toward the elevators, she pulled out her phone. It was too early to call Ellington so she opted for a text.
Just checking in, she typed. Call or text when you can.
She sent the text as she stepped into the elevator. She rode down to the garage where her car was waiting. Outside, the morning was still dark the kind of thick darkness that seemed capable of hiding any secrets it wanted.
CHAPTER EIGHT
After grabbing a cup of coffee, Mackenzie headed back out to Living Word. She knew that it was a large church, so singling out anyone with possible information from within its staff or congregation would take forever. She figured that if the news had gotten out and phone calls had started to make the rounds, there was a very good chance that those close to Pastor Woodall would be at the church perhaps already setting up little memorials or just coming to the church to be closer to God as they grieved.
Her intuition paid off yet again. When she arrived at the scene, Woodall had been removed from the doors. And while there were still several local police and members of the bureau present, there were also other people scattered here and there, held back by yellow crime scene tape that bordered the edge of the concrete walkway that led to the front doors.
A few of them were openly crying. Several were wrapped in the embraces of other onlookers. She took note of one man standing by himself, his head turned away from the scene. His head was lowered and his mouth was moving just slightly as he offered up prayers. Mackenzie respectfully gave him some time to finish his prayer before she approached him. As she neared him, she saw what looked to be an expression of anger on his face.
Excuse me, sir, she said. Do you have a moment? She finished her question by showing her ID and introducing herself.
Yes, the man said. He blinked and rubbed at his eyes, as if trying to swipe away the last remnants of sleep or a bad dream. He then offered his hand and said, Im Dave Wylerman, by the way. Im head of the music department here at Living Word.
Theres a music department?
Yeah. We have a rotating ensemble of about fourteen musicians that make up three worship bands.
So youve worked closely with Pastor Woodall in the past?
Oh, absolutely. Im in meetings with him at least twice a week. Outside of that, hes become a dear family friend to my wife, my kids, and I over the past decade or so.
Can you think of anyone who might have been capable of doing this? Anyone who might have some sort of a grudge or grievance against Pastor Woodall?
Well, its a big church. I dont think theres a single person that works here that knows everyone that attends. But as for me, no, I cant think of anyone right off the top of my head who was angry enough with him to do this
The early morning darkness had hidden Dave Wylermans tears to this point, but when he looked up into her eyes they were quite clear. He looked troubled, as if he were struggling to figure out how to say something.
Do you have a moment to talk in private? Mackenzie asked.
Yeah.
She waved him forward to follow her. She stepped away from the concrete entryway to the church and headed back to her car. She opened the passengers side door for him, figuring it might do him some good to get off his feet and feel relaxed. She got in the drivers side and when she closed her door, she could tell that Wylerman was struggling to keep himself together.
Has the rest of the church body been informed? Mackenzie asked.
No, just the elders, myself, and a few of those close to Pastor Woodall. But calls are being made. Everyone will know within an hour or so, Id imagine.
Good, Mackenzie thought. Theyll personally receive the news from someone they know rather than hearing about it for the first time on the news.
So, correct me if Im wrong, she said, but it looked like you were struggling with something back there by the church. Is there something you can tell me that you didnt want to share in front of everyone else?
Well, as you know, its a big church. On any given Sunday, if you count both services we hold, theres anywhere between five thousand and seven thousand people that attend. And with such a large group, we require several elders to handle the business and concerns of the church. Here at Living Word, we have six well, we had six. One of them had started to sort of raise some concerns among the others before he left. I dont think he would have it in him to do something like this butI dont know. Some things he had been insinuatingit sort of caught everyone else off guard. Other eldersemployees
Whats his name?
Eric Crouse.
And what sort of things? Mackenzie asked.
He kept spouting off about how things left in the dark will come to the light and how that light could be blinding. That maybe being burned by the light is exactly what Living Word needed.
And how long had he been behaving this way?
About a month or so, Id say. From what I understand, he left of his own accord about two weeks ago but there was talk before that among the other elders and Pastor Woodall about releasing him. But the thing of it is that everything Eric was saying was scripturally accurate. Things Jesus said, things that most people that attend Living Word believe. Butand I know this is going to sound dumbit was the way he said the things. You know? Like, he had some hidden context to them. More than that, he never spoke like that before. He was an elder, sure, but never one to just spout off scripture or starting giving these hellfire-and-brimstone-type talks.
So if you dont think he was capable of murder, why are you mentioning him? Was it just the sudden personality change that alarmed everyone?
Wylerman shrugged. No. Some people started to notice that Eric was doing everything he could to avoid meetings or small groups where Pastor Woodall would be in attendance. Theyve never been best friends, but always got along. Then all of a sudden, when he started talking about all of this light shining in the darkness stuff, he also seemed to distance himself from Pastor Woodall.
And you say he left the church two weeks ago?
Yeah, give or take a few days. I dont know if hes attending somewhere else now or what. And whats strange is that its almost as if Eric knew Pastor Woodalls schedule. He had just gotten back from a retreat a few days ago.