‘So, I told our Lord that it was time for a different approach. That when it came to punishing the wrongdoers and heathens, He needed to involve His true followers. And I asked him what deed I could perform on his behalf. I wanted to make my mark, to make a difference, to show the world that evil will not prevail. I wanted Him to know that I was prepared to do battle with the devil no matter what the cost. It was to be my final contribution to the greater good.

‘And His message to me was clear. He told me to do what I believed in my heart to be the right thing, regardless of the consequences. And so I set out to punish some of those who are doing the devil’s bidding.’

The priest flicked his head towards Annie, who was now standing behind James. ‘Your own wife is one of them. A child killer. A woman who doesn’t deserve to live. Charlie Jenkins was an adulterer. Daniel Curtis was a child molester. And Lorna Manning was a murderer. None of them deserved to live.’

James felt a dark fury well up inside him. ‘You’re insane, Father. And what you’re saying makes no fucking sense.’

‘Maybe not to you, Detective. But the people I’ve killed were the devil’s disciples. And so too were the other nine sinners on my list who will now go on living because I failed to complete my task.’

‘Who were they?’

‘It doesn’t matter now. I only wish I had crossed one more name off my list. One of them was going to die tonight, before you turned up at the church and ruined everything.’

‘And who was that?’

‘Janet Dyer. The village slut. I knew about her affair with Charlie Jenkins because several months ago I saw them together. He used to go to her house when her children were at school. She’s been very lucky. Twice. I was actually on my way to end her life when I saw Daniel on that deserted street. It was pure coincidence. He was fifth on my list but presented an opportunity that was too good to pass up. And the same happened tonight. I was preparing to visit Janet again but you showed up. I realised that Annie would be here alone and when I found the keys in your pocket, I decided to move her up from ninth place on the list.’

‘It still doesn’t make any sense to me,’ James said. ‘What was the point of the Christmas cards?’

The priest smiled again. ‘It took me several weeks to decide who should die. I finally reached the figure of twelve. It so happened that on that very day I’d purchased some cards in the store – those with the Twelve Days of Christmas design on them. It struck me that it would be a good way to ensure that my mission would have maximum impact and grab the attention of sinners all over the world. Twelve days. Twelve murders. I also knew it would cause confusion and that delivering a card to myself at the church would make it less likely that I would become a suspect.’