Shane moved forward and said tightly, This city is crawling with coppers, and theyre all looking for me. You know what Im supposed to have done?
Father Costello nodded gravely. A particularly revolting murder.
Shane sagged into the chair and fumbled for another cigarette. They say Im insane and Im not even sure theyre wrong any more. Doesnt that frighten you?
The priest held out a match in a steady hand and shook his head. I cant say it does. Perhaps the only person you really frighten is yourself.
Shane stared into the kindly grey eyes, trying to understand what he was getting at, and then all the fears, all the uncertainties of the past few days welled up inside him and he knew that more than anything else he wanted to pour them out to this man.
He said slowly, Maybe if I told you everything right from the beginning it would help. Perhaps Ill get some glimmering of light or see some reason for what happened.
Father Costello leaned back in his chair and smiled gently. I know something of your story from the newspaper accounts, but I think youd better start by telling me why you came to Burnham in the first place.
Shane eased his bruised body into a relatively comfortable position. Thats easy, Father, he said calmly. I came to Burnham to kill a man.