Crimson Falls (The Depravity Chronicles) Read Online Free PDF

Probably from not getting laid , Jake thought to
himself with a chuckle. The priest looked at him almost coldly, probably
wondering why Jake was laughing.
    “Are you
serious?” Father Matthew asked.
    “Do you think I
would joke about such a thing?” Jake asked, somewhat insulted.
    “Of course not,”
he answered, though a confused look remained on his face. “Well I didn’t know
Mr. Brickton very well. If I am not mistaken, Pastor Amy visits him once a
month or so and takes him communion, and I am pretty sure you are aware of
this. Why aren’t you speaking with her? She would be the one to assist with the
funeral arrangements.”
    Jake leaned
forward in his chair. “I’m not here about that, Father.” He liked making
suspects feel uncomfortable.
    “Okay,” Father
Matthew said. “It seems to me you’re here on official business. Why don’t you
just tell me what it is you need from me?”
    “Well, I have a
few questions,” Jake said, frustrated that the priest didn’t seem even remotely
shaken.
    Father Matthew
leaned back in his chair. “Then ask them.” Although jovial and said to be one
of the funniest men in town, the priest had an unrivaled poker face.
    “Can you account
for your whereabouts today?”
    Father Matthew
actually laughed out loud, surprising Jake. “Jacob O’Reilly, are you asking me
if I have an alibi?”
    “Um, why? Do you
need one?” Jake was caught off guard by his priest’s candid speech.
    Father Matthew
began laughing again. “I’ve been here all day with the Loving Hands Women’s
Quilt Group. We have been making blankets to send to the troops overseas.” He
leaned forward in his chair, mimicking Jake’s actions from only a moment ago.
“You are aware that your nephew William is in Afghanistan?”
    Jake’s face
turned three shades of red, nearly matching the color of his hair. “How dare
you!” he said loudly.
    Father Matthew
held his hands up in protest. “Now, now, Jake. I mean no disrespect. I only
mean to say that your sister and mother have been here with me. In fact, your
mother brought her famous green bean casserole. She is still in the Social Room
if you would like to speak with her.”
    Jake sank into
his chair. “No, Father, that won’t be necessary.”
    “Jacob, what’s
happening here? You seem angry with me. It is not my intention to upset you.
What’s troubling you?”
    Jake
deliberated. Did he really want to talk to a priest again after all these
years? His gut told him that Father Matthew was genuine. His mother, the rest
of his family, and come to think of it, everyone he knew had only positive
things to say about him. He decided to take a leap of faith, something he
wasn’t used to doing.
    “Father, we’re
not sure what happened today. To be honest, I think Anna is in over her head.”
    Father Matthew
looked at Jake, making him feel as though he was peering into his soul. “Is
that really your concern?”
    “What do you
mean?” Jake asked.
    “I get the
impression that you have deep feelings for her. I am not making any assumptions
about those feelings, but they seem conflicted.”
    Jake wondered
how the priest could have possibly known about his feelings for Anna. Sure, if
he ran against her and took her job it would complicate things. But he believed
that deep down Anna just wanted a man to take care of her and her children. God
knows Trevor needed a firm hand. Anna wouldn’t need to work anymore. He became
so lost in thought that he forgot to answer Father Matthew.
    “Jake? I’m sorry
to pry, but it seems there’s something you need to say.”
    Against his
better judgment, and certainly against what Anna would want, Jake unloaded his
concerns onto the priest as if he were in a confessional booth. Father Matthew
listened intently, sometimes holding up his hand and motioning for Jake to
pause. After a few seconds of deep thought, he would have Jake continue the
story. When he had finished, Jake immediately regretted telling the