Disaster averted...
I. Am. In. An. Abbey. Jesus.
I havent had sex in nine days. Nine!
Ben Rader, come back.
Give my roaming filth a destination.
6
Eleanor Jensen led them through a beautiful carved wooden door into a white marble hallway.
Well go up to the library, she said.
Well, thats an offer we cant refuse, said Ren.
It is rather beautiful, said Eleanor. The first abbess here was a well-known author. She wrote many books on the Benedictine life. We pretty much live by those principles.
You are babbling for comfort. You came to this remote place for a reason, to shelter from the cruel outside world, and now it has crept in after you.
Rens cell phone rang, startling her, a violation in the quiet hallways. It was Janine.
Im sorry, Ill have to take this, said Ren. She stopped.
Ren? Apparently, there was a second call from The Darned Heart saying that they had the burning vehicle under control, that there was no need to involve the fire department or the Sheriffs Office. I just called them there to tell them, under the circumstances, that we would be sending investigators.
And whose vehicle was it? said Ren.
A car belonging to Burt Kendall from Kendalls Auto Sales and Auto Parts. He also provides machine operators for his vehicles. Theyre digging foundations for building work at the ranch. They dont work Mondays. They had left some vehicles and machines there over the weekend.
OK, said Ren. See you in a little while.
Eleanor Jensen was guiding Gary through the door of the library, a spectacular room with a line of floor-to-ceiling arched windows overlooking the grounds. The remaining walls were lined with mahogany bookshelves.
Wow, said Ren, as she followed behind. This is beautiful.
Please take a seat, said Eleanor. I believe you are the bearers of bad news.
Yes, said Gary, waiting for the women to sit down before he did. Im afraid we found the body of a young woman on Stoney Pass Road. Were trying to piece together what happened, and wed like to ask you a few questions.
Oh my goodness, said Eleanor. Thats terrible... what happened? Can you say?
It was a shooting, said Ren. We found her in her car.
I cant believe it, said Eleanor. Its so safe here. Ive never questioned that for a second.
Wed like to talk to everyone who was here today, said Gary. How many people live here?
Thirty-four, said Eleanor. At least I can make your workload a little lighter; the bus you met... there were twenty-two women on that who have been in Boulder for the past two days. We lend our support to different causes in different places, depending. Eight more women are in Denver at a seminar. So, including me, there were just four of us here.
If we could get a list of all the residents before we go, that would be great, said Gary. Just mark in the four who were here. Investigators from the JeffCo Sheriffs Office will be arriving to take care of interviews.
OK, said Eleanor.
Can you give us a sense of what you do here at the abbey? said Ren. What kind of women come here, how does it work?
Well, a lot of women have come here from very different lives, said Eleanor. Theyre looking for freedom of all kinds. Usually theyve been controlled by something else addiction, a violent partner, sex, money... They dont want to feel controlled by anything else, by what they may see as the restrictive nature of being, for example, in a religious order. Its psychological. So the abbey suits them, in that its a spiritual community.
Garys cell phone rang. Excuse me, he said. He stepped outside.
Im sorry, said Eleanor. Im talking too much, Im babbling... please stop me. I know youre busy people...
Youre being very helpful, said Ren. Dont worry. I was wondering, could you tell me a little about The Darned Heart?
Garys cell phone rang. Excuse me, he said. He stepped outside.
Im sorry, said Eleanor. Im talking too much, Im babbling... please stop me. I know youre busy people...
Youre being very helpful, said Ren. Dont worry. I was wondering, could you tell me a little about The Darned Heart?
Well, theyre a private organization some of those kids are from important families. And theyre vulnerable. The owners are very protective.
Ren nodded. Your property adjoins the ranch do you see much of the kids?
A little, said Eleanor. Theyve got stables, so we often see the kids trekking. And we take care of the ranchs laundry. Sometimes Kristen sends kids over here to work she wants to show them a different life to what theyre used to. These are often privileged kids, they have everything done for them, they have that sense of entitlement you cant really blame them. Its all they know. They have no respect for anything. Its really sad that their parents have allowed that to happen. And in a few hours here, theres little we can do to change that. All I could wish for is that they see something that inspires them to change, but Im probably being a little naïve. They probably laugh at us over there, Ive heard them call us Dyke National Forest... you know, the ranch borders Pike National Forest... but some of them, some of them are nice, polite, respectful kids. Some of them talk more than others, tell us a little bit about their lives. Others come in, do their duty like its the worst penalty theyve ever been given.
We told Kristen and Ken that if they want to send a child here, the condition is that they help prepare, serve and eat a meal with us. Whether theyre here to wash one of the pick-ups, build a wall, clean out a barn, they need to get a feel for what it is like to be more than just a republic of one. Theyre alone a lot at home, they have parents who work, they communicate with people through technology. Theyre disassociated. And when theyre together with their friends, its not exactly a time for spiritual growth.
Ren nodded.
Eleanors gaze drifted. Im sorry. Im just... shocked by all this.
Ren nodded. I understand. She stood up and walked over to the window.
Do you think this was a random shooting? said Eleanor.
We dont know yet, said Ren. At the edge of the property, she noticed a small timber cabin.
Whats that cabin over there? said Ren.
In there is the closest thing youll find to a nun at Evergreen Abbey, said Eleanor, joining her. We kind of inherited her. Delores Ward. Shes in her seventies, shes been here forever. She might be moving into the abbey, though... theres an ongoing boundary dispute with the ranch. Technically, the land Delores cabin is on belongs to the ranch. None of us knew until the Faules had a survey carried out when they decided to build the theater. When they realized, the land its about four acres was incorporated into the building plans by the Faules architect, without consulting us. They all just assumed that wed go along with it, because it was the law. Obviously, its not as simple as that. Delores has been there for over fifty years. She wants to live there until she dies.
Well, I guess its her home, said Ren.
Of course, said Eleanor, but it got water-damaged. One of the excavators struck a pipe. The cabins damp now, it smells. Delores could have a beautiful room here overlooking the grounds, wed do it just the way she wanted it, but she wont hear of it.
Whats the current state of play? said Ren.
Well, it had reached a stalemate, said Eleanor. Realistically who is going to sue a little old lady and an abbey devoted to charitable works without bringing down a load of bad publicity on top of them? The abbeys been here over a hundred years. The ranch, in this incarnation, only four. The Faules cant rock the boat around here. They need the local community.
Ren nodded.
Theyre being very understanding, actually, said Eleanor.
As they try to flood, then burn a little old lady out of her home. What next?
Really? said Ren.
They drained the land, repaired the pipe and agreed to halt construction works for six months to see if Delores would reconsider. They even offered to buy her a new cabin and install it wherever she wanted on the grounds of the abbey.
Well, thats very generous, said Ren. Im surprised she didnt take them up on that. Does it really matter exactly where the cabin is? Is it a matter of principle?
Principle, sentimentality, fear of change... I dont know. I tried to reassure her about helping her with the transition, but she was steadfast. Shes a tough cookie for such a lady.
It cant be the warmest place in the winter, said Ren.
It isnt, said Eleanor. I just have to keep reminding myself its her home.
Were you here earlier today? said Ren.
In the library, no, said Eleanor.
Did you see smoke over at the ranch around lunch time? said Ren.
Eleanor nodded. Yes actually Kristen called us to let us know that a car had caught fire by the cabin, but that it wasnt at risk, that we werent to be alarmed. And I knew Delores was in the chapel, anyway.
Can you please check with the other women if they saw anything? said Ren.
Yes, I can do that.
Eleanor, has a woman called Laura Flynn ever been in touch with you? said Ren.
I couldnt say off the top of my head, but I can check my emails and talk to the others, see if they heard from her. I dont handle the website there may have been some contact that way.
Do you think we could get a hold of any inquiries people made about the abbey in the past six months? said Ren.
Absolutely, said Eleanor. I can have that emailed through to you by tonight.
Ren handed her a business card. Thank you. And could we also get a list of anyone who carries out work here at the abbey... landscapers, carpenters, etc.
Yes, said Eleanor. But were pretty self-sufficient, we take care of most of the work...
Good for you, said Ren.
Gary came back into the room, but stood just inside the door.
Ms Jensen, thank you for your time, he said.
Thats my cue, said Ren. Thank you again.
Ren and Gary walked down the steps of the abbey. She talked him through the rest of her conversation with Eleanor.
Id like to find out if anyone saw the car before it went on fire, though. Its a little too coincidental...
Because of the robbery? said Gary.
Yes, said Ren, but also Im wondering about how close it was to Delores Wards cabin.
Gary nodded. That call I got? It was Eli Baer in New York.
Eli Baer was Safe Streets favorite contact in the New York office. He was a short, perfectly-groomed nerd who threw himself into all tasks with an intensity and efficiency that had clearly been with him from birth. It was easy to imagine him in kindergarten with a pristine shirt buttoned up to his neck, slim pants that were maybe an inch too short and shiny, shiny shoes.