“Ten years.”

“You use it for an office?”

“Yes.”

“You don’t have enough working space in your office at the church?”

“Sometimes I like privacy.”

“How often do you come here?”

“Depends on my mood.”

“Why are you here today?”

Bram was quiet.

Decker moved into the bedroom, starting with the closet. A few shirts hanging from the bar as well as a couple of pairs of black pants. Resting on the closet shelf were several clerical collars, socks, and underwear, and a pair of sneakers. Decker picked up the mattress and peered underneath.

Nothing.

He went into the bathroom. It was connected to both the bedroom and the living room. A few towels and washcloths stored in the lone cabinet. A single towel hanging beside the sink. On the rim of the bath was a bar of soap, a razor, and a bottle of shampoo. Boringly devoid of anything incriminating. Yet, never once did the priest ask Decker what he was looking for. And that was significant.

So much for the quick overhaul.

Now for the detailed inspection. Decker gave the walls a couple of knocks just to hear what they sounded like. Cheap paneling over thin drywall. If there was a hidden compartment, it wouldn’t be hard to find.

First, he decided to look behind the bookshelves. He started with the texts in the living room, since that was the biggest wall in the apartment. Standing on a chair, he began with the top shelf. Swiftly, he pulled down religious volumes and let them drop to the floor with a thump, did this several times as the books scattered across a worn shag carpet.

Bram hurried to pick them up.

Decker regarded the priest as he collected his tomes, noticed he was wincing. Decker was unnerving him.

And that was good.

Decker purposely moved faster and with greater abandon, carelessly tossing the texts about.

Bram continued to retrieve them, then stopped. “You know, to me these are holy books.”

“Sorry about the mess.” Decker let another volume topple downward. “I don’t have time for the niceties.”

“It’s called respect. Something your wife knows a great deal about.”

Decker ignored the barb and let several more books land on the floor.

“I can’t believe…” Anger had seeped into Bram’s voice. “Can you hand them to me at least?”

“Sorry. It’ll take too long.”

“You’re not going to find anything behind the books, Lieutenant.”

Decker turned and faced him. “And where will I find things, Father?”

Bram maintained eye contact, but didn’t speak.

Decker said, “You know, if you’re hiding something, I’m going to find it. I’m going to toss every book, knock on every piece of paneling, look under every single floorboard, and rip up your mattress if necessary. So why don’t you save both of us some trouble and show me what you have.”