Salvation by Nomar Knight

Salvation

By Nomar Knight

     Homicide Detective, Lieutenant Woods, pointed his Glock 19 pistol at Father McNally’s head.  Three uniformed officers surrounded the irate priest with their weapons aimed high.  

     Lieutenant Woods said, “Please Father, take the knife off the boy’s neck and let him come to me.”

     The wide-eyed priest glanced from the lieutenant to the cops.  Perspiration formed on his bald head.  “You don’t understand, James,” Father McNally addressed Lieutenant Woods directly.  “He has to die.”

     The lieutenant raised his gun, pointing the barrel up to the diner’s ceiling.  “Come on Father, we go way back.  He can’t be more than nine years old.  Let him go.”

     The priest grimaced, while he tightened his grip on the brown-haired boy, pinching the tip of the knife under the frightened kid’s chin.  “You’re not the only one with special abilities, Lieutenant.”

     Lieutenant Woods couldn’t believe his long time friend would reveal his secret in front of three of his peers.  The patrons had quickly evacuated the diner along with the employees.  The unusual standoff was accompanied by meat sizzling on the grill and the soft sounds of Billy Holiday singing the Blues are Brewin’  out of a couple of speakers which hung on the walls.

     The lieutenant holstered his weapon and raised his hands.  “No one has to get hurt.  If you let the kid go, I’ll personally assure that you’re treated humanely.  Anyone can have a breakdown.”

     More sirens stopped outside of the establishment.  The frantic movement of law enforcement controlling the perimeter drowned out the soothing jazz sounds. 

     “I’m not crazy.”  The priest grimaced.  “This boy mustn’t live.”

     One of the uniformed officers stepped forward.  Father McNally backed up against the counter and shouted, “Come any closer and I swear I’ll kill him!”

     Lieutenant Woods waved at the overzealous officer to back off.  He said, “No one will harm you if you let the boy go.”

     Father McNally uttered, “I knew I should have called the Vatican.”

     One of the uniformed officers was a Latino man.  He asked, “Is that boy possessed, Father?”

     Lieutenant Woods didn’t like where the conversation was headed.  He had to nip it in the bud.  “Officer Garcia, no one is possessed.  That’s not Father McNally’s specialty.”

     The priest’s eyes watered.  He said, “The boy is not possessed.  It’s something much worse.”

     Lieutenant Woods could see the color draining from the concerned officer.  He needed to change the topic or risk revealing his secret.  “Please Father; I’m begging you from one friend to another.  Let the kid go.”

      The boy cried.  A tiny droplet of blood cascaded down his neck. 

 

     “Don’t shoot!” Lieutenant Woods moved with outstretched hands toward the mad priest and the victim so the officers could see his gestures with their peripheral vision.  “I need you men to get out of here.”

     Officer Garcia said, “That’s not going to happen, Lieutenant.”  The other two officers nodded in agreement.

     The Lieutenant said with raised voice, “That wasn’t a request.  It’s an order!”

     Officer Garcia answered, “With all due respect, that’s not your call anymore.  SWAT is getting into position.”

     As if on cue, a red laser beam shot through the window and stopped on the back of Father McNally’s skull.

     Lieutenant Woods addressed the priest, “This doesn’t have to end like this.  Let me save you, my old friend.” 

     Father McNally broke down, but maintained the blade on the boy.  He muttered, “I’m not a killer.”

     The lieutenant eased to his friend and gently grabbed Father McNally’s hand.  The priest gave up the knife.  One of the officers snatched the boy and raced him out of the diner.  The other handcuffed the crying priest.  

     Lieutenant Woods said, “I know you’re not a killer.  What did you see in the boy?”

     Father McNally kept his head down and whispered, “He’s going to kill millions and change the world as we know it.”

     Officer Garcia and the arresting officer exchanged glances.  Lieutenant Woods said, “Gentleman, I’ll take him out.  Give me a few minutes alone with Father McNally.”

     Officer Garcia frowned, but both officers did as requested.  The lieutenant guided his friend to a chair and sat next to him.  They both ignored the stench of burnt meat and the rising smoke. 

      “Father, the last thing I want is for you to haunt me.”

      Father McNally sighed, “What a pair we make.  You see ghosts, and I see evil people’s future.”

     Lieutenant Woods affectionately gripped the priest’s shoulder.  Father McNally continued, “That boy mustn’t turn twenty-five.  He must die as soon as possible.”

     “Father, you know I’m not in the business of killing people.”

     “Neither am I, but that boy is going to make Hitler look like an amateur.  He will bring darkness upon the land.”

     Lieutenant Woods released his friend’s shoulder.  “Are you saying he’s the devil’s son?”

     Father McNally stared at the table and sighed.  “He’s the current antichrist.  Every time the Vatican kills him, he comes back.”

     Lieutenant Woods rose from the chair and helped his friend up.  “Take my advice Father, tell the shrinks you’re stressed out because of work, but come up with a different reason.”

     Father McNally met the lieutenant’s gaze and said, “And you take my advice, kill the bastard before it’s too late.

-          871 words

© Copyright 2010 Nomar Knight. All rights reserved.

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