He was astounded at how quickly the next sinner had presented himself. Yet, when he considered who it was, it shouldn’t have come as a shock. He had been the town gossip for years, stirring up trouble wherever he went. Worse than a woman, some of the old-timers were fond of saying. In fact, the gossip legacy was long, as the whole family had carried the same badge. The whole family was disliked by all, and yet the weak still turned a listening ear to their venom. What drew The Priest to him was his vicious lashing of Deputy Nicolette Rivers. Out of all the people calling for penalty on the female cop, his was the voice calling for blood. It was time to end it. This sinner would prove more difficult in confessing atonement. The Priest would need more contact and access to him. He had a few ploys in his arsenal that he’d yet to use. He meandered along the sidewalk, window-shopping at the quaint businesses that lined Eider’s town square. There was a strong sense of conservatism and piety in this town, on the outside.
