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“I’ve been doing the same thing for Dan for years,” she explained, referring to her aged editor Dan Goory, who also has an issue with the concept of a clean desk.

“So what did you want to discuss?” said Father Reilly finally, as he steepled his fingers and leaned back, the picture of the wise old man, ready to confer with his fellow clergymen about some important theological dilemma, be it the number of angels dancing on the head of a pin or even the baffling mystery of their gender.

“You heard about what happened to Neda?” asked Chase.

“Tragic,” said the priest as he sadly shook his gray head. “An absolute tragedy. Cut down in her prime—and by a burglar, or so I’ve been told?”

“That remains to be seen,” said the cop. “All we know for sure is that she was attacked and that her safe was burgled, and presumably those two facts are related.”

“I hope you catch this person soon. Several of my parishioners have approached me, expressing concern that a burglarious murderer is allowed to run amok in our small and peaceful community, slaying one of our own in such a heinous and brutal fashion.”

“We’re doing our best. So we wanted to talk to you about the choir, Father.”

“Yes? What about the choir?”

“Neda had only recently been appointed your new director, and as I understand, her appointment didn’t go unchallenged.”

The priest displayed a wan smile.“Human foibles have caused a certain amount of friction, that is true. But I can assure you that the large majority of our beloved choir was very happy with Neda.”

“Janette Bittiner wasn’t happy. Yoko Bricknell wasn’t happy.”

“No, but that was only to be expected, as they both had hoped to rise to the position themselves. But there really was no doubt, as far as I was concerned. Neda had the capacity and the ambition to fill Samuel Smalls’s large shoes.”

“And Janette and Yoko didn’t?”

“I’m not saying Janette wouldn’t have made an adequate conductor. She certainly is passionate. But it’s not enough to have a passion for the position. You also need to have the necessary leadership skills.”

“And Janette didn’t have those.”

Father Reilly shook his head.“Janette is a dear, dear soul, but she’s not leadership material, I’m afraid. Neither is Yoko. You shouldn’t underestimate the challenges a choir director faces, my dear friends. It’s not just about musical talent, or, as I said, passion. You have to get a group of fifty people to work together and extract a certain result from them. It’s hard.”

“And Neda had that talent.”

“In spades.” He sighed. “But sadly it wasn’t to be. I’ll have to start from scratch, and find a new director.”

“Janette Bittiner?”

“Absolutely not. Janette would only create discord and chaos if she took the reins.”

“Yoko?”

“Too impulsive and inexperienced. And I’ve told her so. No,” he said, a pensive look coming over him. “I think this time I’m going to have to look beyond the choir. Bring in an outsider. Which just might be for the best. As this whole experience with Neda has proved, if you promote someone from the main group to director prominence, all you reap is jealousy and spite.”

“Do you think Janette Bittiner is capable of murder?” asked Odelia, now putting her cards on the table.

Father Reilly looked startled at this.“Janette? A killer? Oh, no. Absolutely not. Janette may be a gossip and a busybody, but she’s harmless.” He shifted uncomfortably on his hard wooden chair, which as I could see from my vantage position on the stone floor didn’t even have a cushion. “The only person I can think of with thewherewithal to commit murder…” He hesitated.

“Yes?”

“Well, I’m not saying she’s responsible for what happened to Neda, mind you.”

“Just spit it out,” said Chase.

“There was an incident a couple of weeks ago. Neda had just been selected as the new head of St. Theresa Choir, and being a passionate and forceful woman, she had a tendency to direct the choir with a vigorous hand. And so when they told me what happened, frankly I wasn’t surprised.”

“What happened?”

“I think Neda was doing the Brahms,” he said as he directed his mild blue eyes heavenward, as if searching his memory for those salient details that make all the difference. “She was conducting it with a wide and powerful sweep of her arm, really driving home the importance of adhering to those delightful harmonies. And of course Amadeo always has a tendency to arrive late, and not to look where he steps.”

“Amadeo Larobski?”

“Indeed. Amadeo is one of our senior members. Pushing seventy now. Not the best voice in the chorus, but we like him, even though I have had to ask him several times now not to sing too loud, as he sings so terribly out of tune he distracts the others.”

“What happened to Amadeo?” asked Chase, an edge to his voice. Chase is a patient man, but even a patient man can be pushed to the brink when the interviewee is intent on taking the scenic route before coming to the point, if indeed there even is a point.