Ch. 16f Tomorrow is Another Day

[Silver Priest]

Alex shares Ivy's suspicions. It does seem a bit odd Father Ortega did not mention this. Then again, wasn't confession supposed to be private? Maybe he was being paranoid; this work can make you so. And in this, he was not just talking about his time as a police officer.

"Thank you very much for your time ma'am," he offers, planning to confer with the others in private.

[Philulhu]

Mrs Trahan just nodded grimly, waiting for them to leave.

[Mr. Handy]

William leads the way toward the church, hoping to talk to the others on the way there.

[Silver Priest]

"We need to be careful around Father Ortega." Alex says once they're out of earshot. It may be nothing, but I did find it odd he's not brought his association with the younger Mrs.Trahan up. There's also the fact he's arrived in town while the older father is at least semi active; what does a town this size need with two religious leaders?"

"Regardless, we know Mrs. Trahan had some experience with snakes. Part of me wonders if she made it back home, but it seems like she did talk with Billy before leaving. I wonder if we can spare the time to track her down and learn anything she may know."

[Mr. Handy]

"Yes, I suspect they may have been having an affair," says William. "Still, we have to ask him about her. He's our best source of information about her obsession with snakes, and that has to be connected. We can't leave here for six more days, so we won't be able to track her down until afterwards. Leaving may have been all that kept her alive."

[Philulhu]

Saturday March 14th, 1931 2.30pm
Church of the Hallowed Souls, Coast Road, Johnson Bayou, Cameron Parish, Louisiana

”Back so soon?” said Father Ortega with a smile when the party returned to the church. “Father Daigle has gone for a rest, so it’s just me here at present.”

[jp1885]

"Is Father Daigie nearby?" Ivy asks - not entirely sure about either priest but more suspicious of Ortega. "I'd quite like to speak to him - I won't disturb him for long."

As she talks, she idly fingers the snakeskin bookmark, surreptitiously watching the young priest's reaction.

[37] = 37
Psychology 60 1d100: [ 37 ] = 37

[Philulhu]

”He’s just in the vestry,” said Father Ortega, nodding towards to rear of the church. He looked at the Bible Ivy carried and frowned, but didn’t say anything else.

[Mr. Handy]

William also notices Father Ortega's reaction.

Psychology roll (67% skill) about Father Ortega:
d%

[Philulhu]

Any further questions/action?

[jp1885]

Ivy nods.

"I'll be sure not to disturb him for too long," she says, before heading to the vestry to locate the older priest.

[Silver Priest]

With a respectful nod, Alex follows.

[Mr. Handy]

"See you later, Father," says William, following both of them.

[Philulhu]

The old priest frowned as he looked up at his guests. He had been sat in a chair with his eyes closed and his shoes off, and he blinked a few times before his guests came into focus. He glanced behind them to where Father Ortega sat in the main body of the church, clearly wondering why his naps was being disturbed.

”Is there something I can help you with?” he asked.

[jp1885]

Ivy repeats her 'fingering the snakeskin bookmark' routine.

"Please excuse our intrusion Father, but we found an interesting bible passage during our investigation. I thought you might be able to shed some light on its meaning - being more experienced than Father Ortega."

She repeats the underlined passage from Mrs. Trahan's bible, all the time studying the old priest's reaction.

[18] = 18
Psychology 60 1d100: [ 18 ] = 18

[Mr. Handy]

William also watches his reaction.

Psychology roll (67% skill) about Father Ortega:
d%

[Silver Priest]

As does Alex.

1d100

[Philulhu]

”Romans 3:13. Paul speaks out against the sins of humanity. The poison he speaks of is falsehood, lying, and deception,” said Father Daigle.

He looked at them and frowned again. ”Is that it? I’m sure Father Ortega could have told you that!”

He seems annoyed that his rest has been disturbed, but that’s about it.

[Mr. Handy]

"There's a reason we wanted to speak to you first," says William. "This verse was marked in a Bible that belonged to Billy Trahan's wife, but she left it behind when she went away. The verse mentions a snake, and the bookmark is made of snakeskin."

[Silver Priest]

"There's also the worker who was so afraid of snakes and died by them, along with the snake carved into one of the pews here. Seems to be a common concern amongst the town, or at least more common than one would think. Perhaps Billy's wife was harboring similar concerns and her leaving was not just a case of boredom and homesickness. Can you recall anything about her attitude and demeanor? Did she show an excessive fear of snakes?"