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Hope had been lost. Tossed right into the abyss.
“Hey.”
She snapped her head up, and Tiberius leaned against the back wall. “How long have you been there?” Heat flushed her cheeks.
“I’d say a few seconds, but I’d be lying.” He approached the altar, perusing the pews and the cross hanging on the back wall, then dropped lazily beside her. “I was raised in a cult. It was jacked up beyond belief. God said this and God said that, and I don’t think God was anywhere near that place or those people. Then my mom left only to join another one, in my opinion. My dad’s still in. With my brothers.”
“You don’t have to feel obligated to share a family secret because you eavesdropped like the jerk you are.”
“Oh, I know,” he said as he casually leaned back, his elbows on the altar stair. “It’s just we all come from messed up people, and we’ve all been raised in messed up places. You should still have a birthday party.”
She never celebrated hers. No one ever had. It was more a day of mourning. This past July when the team celebrated Ty’s, Violet didn’t want to go. But she had. Because people should be celebrated. And it had been fun, though she’d never admit it.
“None of what she’s saying is true about you, Violet. You should know this being a head doctor and all. It’s no different than how the religious people behave. You believe what you’re told over and over. They’re told there is a God and He is good. They must do x, y and z to get to heaven. They believe it, and they pass it down. But it’s not real. That woman who birthed you—’cause she sure ain’t no mama—she’s lying to you. Out of her own pain and suffering. She’s projecting. The fact I’m diagnosing this is sick.”
She did know this. Clinically. The facts behind the motive didn’t make the heartache less achy. “You really believe there’s no God?”
“Do you believe there is?”
“I did. Once. It felt real.”
“So do virtual-reality games. Or the interactive rides at Disney.” He rubbed his palms on his knees. “I don’t know, Violet. I mean maybe there is. Something has changed with Asa and Fiona, and it’s stuck. I definitely like them better. At least on most days. But then religions brainwash you. I was brainwashed for a long time.”
“Can we talk about something else?”
“Yeah, this is making me sweat.” He laughed. “Lab results came back on the sutures. They’re made of catgut, which I’ll tell you is not what you think. Well, it is. It’s intestines. Just not of cats. Sheep and goats. But still. What the—”
“Isn’t catgut used as strings for violins?”
“Who thinks, ‘Hey I need some new strings for my fiddle. How about this here sheep intestine.’ What is wrong with people?” He shook his head, dazed. “Anyhoo, most catgut sutures have been replaced with synthetic material.”
“But it’s still used for instruments.”
“Yeah.”
“Did we ever confirm Dr. Lanslow’s alibi? He went camping at a friend’s cabin. Ray Smith. Did Ray confirm it, and even if he did...can we ask around to see if he’s telling the truth?”
“Yeah. I’ll get on that. Have Selah make some calls. Get some information on Ray. Who are his friends, where does he work...the usual.”
Violet stood. “Can we keep this between us?”
“I mean the team is gonna wanna know Ray’s alibi.” He grinned knowingly. “Yeah. Can you keep mine in the vault too? Only Asa knows, but that’s because he’s the SAC and has our files.”
“Exactly. Fiona knows too—about me. I told her back in July. She’s been trying to help me find leads on this Adam.”
“Sounds to me he believed it was a mission by God as a new Adam. In Genesis, Adam was told to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. Now, life spans are shorter. It would take more than one Eve to get the job done. No offense.”
“None taken.”
“He never made contact with you?”
“Not that I know.”
Ty frowned. “Let me do some digging from the religious angle. I’ll be discreet.”
Violet appreciated it immensely. “Thank you.”
“Be nicer to me though.”
