Chapter Text
Will Graham had never even heard of this town; Saintsville, a bit on the nose for a rural Catholic community. Upon arriving he had remarked the overwhelming presence of Biblical imagery and shuddered. He had never been a religious man but there was something ominous about such an overwhelmingly religious community overcome with such an unholy ordeal. Something about praying for salvation and receiving only sorrow. He felt as if he was only bringing more with him by even stepping foot there.
Unfortunately there was always a job to do.
“This is Rebekah Edwards. Last night her husband Ezra came home early from a work event to find her dead in their bedroom. There's no sign of forced entry, no one was seen coming in or out and there is no sign of struggle. Mrs Edwards was found dead at the foot of the bed with her rosary strung tight against her throat and had only been dead for a few minutes when Mr Edwards found her. She has no history of mental illness but all signs lead to her committing suicide.”
Jack Crawford explained the case to Will who simply looked at him confused.
“It can’t simply be a suicide if you asked both myself and Dr Lector here Jack. What do you think is really going on?”
The FBI agent sighed.
“In all honesty, you’re here simply because I have a gut feeling it isn’t. Local police would have marked it as a suicide if we hadn’t already been tracking their list of missing persons report. Ever since summer of last year there’s been twenty five people reported missing, just vanished without a trace. This body appearing tells me it could be something more sinister than just a suicide.”
“It would make sense. Such a small town, it is odd for such high numbers of missing people. Are you suspecting a serial killer?”
Hannibal asked and Will almost wanted to scoff at the man’s use of the term. The way the man could throw around those two words so casually. Then again he knew and no one else. Only he knew.
“I want to rule out anything of the sort. Will, I want you to use your insight. Connect the dots we’re not seeing.”
It was like a routine by this point.
“Give me the room.”
Everyone left almost immediately like it was rehearsed, as if this whole thing was a ballet recital and he had the big solo. His eyes fell shut as he focused on the corpse in front of him. Everything fell away item by item until it was just Will and the victim.
“Whoever I am I am welcomed into this house with open arms. I am loved by her. She doesn’t suspect anything is going to happen. She believes I am here to bed her. There is excitement about this but not just from cheating on her husband. I am something she was never meant to have.”
The pair walk across the room and he is pushed back onto the bed.
“This is our first time. She is eager. She has wanted this for so long but never thought it would be reality. She is walking to the foot of the bed to undress, trying to entice me.”
The woman closes her eyes and moves to remove her dress.
“She is distracted by lust. I do not feel the same for her. In fact I feel disgust. She is nothing but a puny bug to me in this moment. Her emotions cloud her judgement and she can’t see me moving for her neck.”
Will suddenly lunges for her neck and pulls the rosary tight around it. The woman gasps.
“She doesn’t realise I am going to take her life. She believes this is part of the seduction. I pull her against me and whisper to her. He will forgive you. Your sins will be forgiven soon enough. When she realises she can’t breathe it is too late to fight back. This is my design. The design that has been ordained to me.”
The woman falls limp and he drops her to the floor.
“She isn’t meant to be here when he returns. I am meant to take her but as I go to…”
The door unlocks downstairs and footsteps can be heard.
“I have to act fast. I head to the bedroom window and carefully let myself out. No one would suspect I was there.”
As he disappears out the window, the real Will comes back to reality. The sight of the corpse ground him before he quickly leaves the bedroom.
“She was planning to cheat on her husband. Whoever she was with she trusted them completely, didn’t even realise she was being murdered until it was too late. That's why there’s no sign of struggle or forced entry. They wanted to hide the body but the husband got home earlier than expected.”
Jack nodded along as Will explained his theory.
“Did you pick up any motive?”
“Whoever this was saw her as nothing but a bug in the moment. Something to be put out of its misery like they were freeing her. This was their way of salvation.”
“This community is small. Whilst forensics finish up here I want you and Hannibal to start asking questions. Maybe someone knows who she was cheating on her husband with. Word must get out somehow. Meet me back here in an hour to report any updates.”
The pair left the building and got into Hannibal’s car.
“How much do you know about Catholicism Will?”
Hannibal was looking directly at him; Will hesitantly met his gaze.
“I wasn’t raised religious so I am not intimately acquainted with it. It always left a sour taste in my mouth.”
There was a humoured smile on the man’s face.
“What part did you not like?”
“Putting all your faith into a being that is supposedly benevolent but seems to take pleasure in torturing his creations. Seems just like the murderers I investigate.”
“Yes, God is supposedly a force of mercy but he enjoys playing with us. I suppose being omnipotent would do that to a person,” the words felt almost ironic as they fell from his mouth, “However there is a force of mercy in a religious community. Confess your sins and they will be forgiven. Perhaps Mrs Edwards confessed her infidelity to the priest. He is the most likely to know.”
He started the car engine and began to drive to the church in the town centre. Will dropped his gaze back to the road ahead.
“You are usually quiet Will but if you don't mind me saying you seem distracted. You felt something you didn’t share with Jack.”
Will chuckled.
”Ever observant Hannibal. I can’t hide anything from you, I mean how could I you are practially in my head.”
He looked back over at him.
“All I could feel was an overwhelming sense of love. An unconditional love. He thought she was a bug in that moment and yet he comforted her.”
“As if it was love only God could feel. This is a religious community, it would make sense for them to feel love for their fellow man even in their worst moments. ‘Love thy neighbour’.”
“I’m not religious but I’m sure the Bible also says ‘thou shalt not kill’.”
Hannibal pulled up to the Cathedral and looked back at Will.
“Yes, unless God commands you too.”
They walked towards the church and Will was almost surprised they didn't burst into flames the second they entered. The architecture was gorgeous; one couldn’t deny that. The dark, mahogany pews were aligned with such perfection as if God had placed them himself. The April sun shone dimly through the windows, the stained glass casting a kaleidoscope across the room. Walking through the pews led you to a raised stage with an altar where the priest delivered the words of God to the hungry mouths of his children. Up there you could see everyone. Judge them.
Everything was pristine and clean. Everything was in order. Everything was to design.
A woman was busy dusting as if to drive home the point.
“Excuse me ma’am. I’m Will Graham and this is Dr Hannibal Lector. We’re here with the FBI and would like to ask your priest a few questions, is he around?”
The woman spun around and beamed. Her cheeriness made Will uncomfortable.
“Good afternoon gentleman! God bless you! Father Amos is in his office, would you like me to take you to him?”
Hannibal smiled.
“That would be perfect sister…”
“Celia.”
“Sister Celia. Please, take us to him.”
They followed the woman into the back of the building. A small room was tucked away in the back with the words on the glass reading ‘Father Amos’. Celia knocked and opened the door.
“Father there are two gentleman here to see you. They are with the FBI.”
They heard the voice before they saw his face.
“Thank you Sister Celia, please let them in.”
It was authoritative but kind, as if God truly used him as a vessel for his words. They entered the room and sat down opposite the man who smiled warmly.
“Welcome gentleman and God bless you on this day. I am Father Amos and I am honoured to assist in anyway I can.”
Red robes clung loosely to his frame as he held an arm draped in crimson fabric to shake their hands.