I was reluctant to say anything about Stephanie, because I didn’t want to talk about Duff. Of course I had mentioned that he was present the first two times I had seen the General—or that he was on the scene either before or afterward—but I hadn’t said anything about the accident or his other troubles.

“Stephanie Weber, Mrs. Reddy’s granddaughter, lived with us for several months, taking care of my husband after he fell and broke his leg,” I said. “You’ve probably heard that she was found murdered yesterday.” Then I told him about going to the Weber house and seeing the meeting room and the General’s portrait.

“I’ve been in that room,” Dr. Tully said. “That’s where I attended the Black Mass.”

“I’d like to go to one sometime,” said Father Jackson. “Just out of curiosity.”

“I wouldn’t, if I were you,” Dr. Tully said. “They’re a bit obscene and also it might be dangerous for you, if it was discovered you’re a priest. Whether or not you accept the supernatural, some of those people do seem to have extraordinary sensory powers. Now will you have dessert? I can recommend the pawpaw compote and the sesame pudding.”

When we declined he ordered the compote himself and went on, “I saw the headline about the girl in a newspaper, but I didn’t realize who she was.”

I told him what the deputies had revealed about the murder, and then Father Jackson asked him if he thought it might be related to the activities of her mother and grandmother.

“It’s quite possible. Human sacrifice used to be a part of the ritual in the past, and these people could have taken it up again if they thought they could get away with it. It’s also possible that the girl was killed by General Caine himself, acting independently of Mrs. Reddy and her associates, although they may have summoned him.”

“Summoned him from where?” Father Jackson inquired.

“Where do such beings usually reside, according to the teachings of your religion?”

“Oh, come on.” Father Jackson looked at me. “I was hoping that Dr. Tully could help us make some sense of all this.”

“I should like to very much,” said Dr. Tully, eating his compote.

“To commit a physical act, General Caine would need some sort of physical body, wouldn’t he?” I said.

“Seemingly.”

I hesitated. It seemed monstrous to even consider such things. “His own body seems to have been dug up from the Caine graveyard,” I said finally.