No old scores to settle. Balamani Kumar was not the man who�d pumped two nine-millimeter slugs into Christine Langston�s head last night. Or anyone else�s head, for that matter. * * * * The two priests sitting and drinking wine in the rectory of St. Ignatius Church could both remember celebrating Mass in Latin. Father Joseph was seventy-six years old and already retired. Father Michael would be seventy-five in July. He had already advised his bishop that he planned retirement, but now he was having second thoughts. The Code of Canon Law set the age of retirement at seventy-five, but Father Michael still felt young and energetic, still felt he could lead his parishioners in celebrating Mass, hearing confessions, baptizing, ministering the sacrament, performing any and all things necessary to the advancement of the Church. �How is it where you are, anyway?� he asked Father Joseph. �Actually, the center�s very nice,� the other priest said. �I mean, what do you do all day long?� �Well, it�s not like having an active ministry, that�s for sure.� �That�s exactly what I mean,� Father Michael said.
