The Good Priest by Gillian Galbraith Page B

Sitting down opposite Father Vincent, and linking his chubby hands across his rounded belly, he came immediately to the point.
    â€˜Vincent, I understand that you have a problem – a personal problem?’
    Sensing the man’s impatience both from his manner and his tone, Father Vincent determined to be equally businesslike and replied: ‘I have, Dominic. As you may know, I was the one to alert the police to the assault on the Bishop.’
    â€˜Did you now? I had no idea,’ the Monsignor replied, drawing his chair closer to his visitor and, after only a few seconds of silence, signalling impatiently for him to continue speaking.
    â€˜Yes. I heard about the Bishop’s predicament and dialled 999.’
    â€˜You heard?’ The man sounded surprised. ‘How could you have done? You weren’t here then. How could youhave heard? Did someone contact you about it or something?’
    â€˜All I can say, is that I heard ,’ Father Vincent said, fixing his inquisitor in the eye.
    â€˜Heard?’
    â€˜ Heard whilst attending to my duties.’
    â€˜Aaah …’ The Monsignor hesitated for a moment, and then, nodding, he said, ‘I see.’
    â€˜Do you? Thank goodness for that.’
    â€˜I do. How can I help, Vincent?’
    â€˜I heard, and having heard I don’t believe that Raymond Meehan was responsible for the attack. I know him. I know him well, including his voice.’
    The Monsignor nodded again, as if taking in this new information, paused, and then said, ‘The police, the professionals in these matters, however, are sure that he was responsible, they’re entirely confident of that. He confessed to as much in his note. The matter’s closed as far as they’re concerned.’
    â€˜I read about the note – but surely that isn’t all there is? There must be more than just that. Didn’t the Bishop see his attacker?’
    â€˜No, that is not all,’ the Monsignor said, correcting him and sounding vaguely affronted, as if the version of events known by him to be true was being challenged,.‘Everything points towards Meehan. The attack happened late at night and there was no break-in. He had a key to the place. In his note he apologised for “doing it”. What else could he have meant? Q.E.D., I say. And, yes, James, the Bishop, probably did see what happened but, unfortunately, hecannot remember. As a result of the concussion he suffered, he’s got both pre-trauma and post-trauma amnesia. He’ll be off recuperating for months and months. Furthermore, and this is, as far as I’m concerned, the clincher, the police are entirely satisfied that Raymond Meehan was responsible.’
    â€˜But what possible motive would Raymond have?’
    â€˜Vincent,’ the Monsignor said, the edge in his voice warning that he had little patience for any more of this time-consuming question-and-answer session, ‘It is no concern of yours, but a couple of days before the attack, Raymond was sacked. He was working out a week’s notice.’
    â€˜What on earth for?’
    â€˜I’m not sure that that concerns you either …’
    â€˜In these circumstances, it does.’
    â€˜Since you ask, then, for theft.’
    â€˜Of what?’ Father Vincent said in disbelief. ‘Raymond might be all sorts of things – backward, learning-impaired or whatever it’s called. But he’s not a thief. I don’t believe that.’
    â€˜You seem to be forgetting that I know Raymond every bit as well as you. Quite possibly better, since he’s worked here for over two years. Anyway,’ the Monsignor said, his severe expression indicating that further argument would not be tolerated, ‘I’m not sure that your belief has anything to do with it. I believe it, the Bishop believes it, the police believe it. That is belief enough. Now I’m due at a school prize-giving in Scone at three