The Prodigal Nun by Aimée Thurlo Read Free Book Online Page A

meet them.
    “How may we help you, Mr. Sanchez?” Sister Agatha askedgently. Louis still looked dazed and disoriented, as if he hadn’t been able to fully take in what had happened.
    The young woman with him, her tanned face showing only a trace of lipstick, was wearing a black blouse and a long, pleated dark blue skirt. She stepped forward and immediately introduced herself.
    “I’m Evelyn Sanchez-Bennett,” she said, shaking Sister Agatha’s hand. “We’ve come to ask permission to set up a
descanso
, a small memorial where my mother—” Her voice broke, and she swallowed hard. “Where my mother passed away,” she finished at last. “Just a few candles, a cross, and some flowers.”
    Sister Agatha knew the New Mexican custom well, having seen countless of the small, makeshift roadside shrines at scenes of fatal accidents.
    “We are so very sorry for your loss,” Sister Agatha said. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll go ask Reverend Mother for permission to set up a
descanso.”
    “I’ll go, Your Charity,” replied Sister Bernarda, who was standing a few feet behind her.
    Sister Agatha shook her head. “I need to speak to Mother on another urgent matter.”
    As Sister Agatha hurried inside, she turned and saw Sister Bernarda comforting the grieving family. Though normally a gruff woman, Sister Bernarda had a wellspring of gentleness inside her that always came to the surface in situations like this. Jane’s family couldn’t have been in more caring hands.

6
    S ISTER AGATHA KNOCKED ON THE PRIORESS’S OPEN DOOR. Reverend Mother was facing the small statue of St. Joseph in the far corner, lost in prayer.
    As Sister Agatha silently waited for her to finish, she could hear the sounds of Sister Maria Victoria at the sewing machine farther down the hall. She could also see Sister Ignatius busy with an arrangement of flowers placed at the feet of the large statue of the Blessed Mother by their library’s entrance.
    “Praised be Jesus Christ,” Reverend Mother said at last, turning around.
    “Now and forever,” Sister Agatha answered, coming in.
    Sister Agatha quickly updated Reverend Mother on what was happening with the sheriff’s investigation, the incident with the intruder at the Sanchez home, and the apparent threats to the sisters. Last, she told her about the request they’d received from the victim’s daughter.
    “It’s an old New Mexican custom to erect a small shrine near the place where a loved one has died. We’d have her place the
descanso
off to one side, of course, out of the flow of traffic, maybe among the lilacs,” Sister Agatha added.
    “All right. Tell them to go ahead. It’s the least we can do for the family.”
    “Thank you, Mother.”
    Sister Agatha excused herself, then hurried back outside to join the others.
    Sister Bernarda came up to meet her. “Jane’s son-in-law is a deputy, one of Sheriff Green’s men,” Sister Bernarda whispered, then gestured to a white and brown department vehicle. “That’s Deputy Gerry Bennett’s patrol car.”
    “It’s understandable he’d want to be with his family at a time like this,” Sister Agatha said, “but that’s probably as close as Deputy Bennett’s going to get to this case. Tom won’t allow him to take an active part in this investigation, for obvious reasons.”
    When Louis and Evelyn went inside the chapel, Sister Agatha followed. Sister Bernarda, a half step behind her, moved to intercept the photographers.
    “Show some respect, please,” she said, then faced them, arms crossed in front of her chest. “This is God’s house. You will
not
turn it into a photo gallery.”
    Knowing things were being handled outside, Sister Agatha closed the chapel door and followed the mourning family down the center aisle. Evelyn genuflected, crossed herself, and knelt at the altar railing. Louis stood behind her, his shoulders sagging.
    Sister Agatha’s heart went out to them, and she stood back, giving them their moment of