Let there be no doubt, I am a cold-blooded killer. My confession may surprise you. For I am a Catholic Priest, a Man of God – someone you may believe to be a messenger of peace. But it is my unwavering duty to kill. For my God demanded it. He came before me once, as an apparition in my dreams, and said it would be. I was here to rid the world of those who stained it with their sinful filth. As Exodus 21:24 foretold, eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth. I was to be the Lord’s angel of vengeance.
The following morning a wayward young man from my flock handed me a gun; fearful it would eventually lead him into trouble. With it he passed 13 bullets. It was a sign from my Lord and I would not fail him.
1st Apostle: Peter was a local fisherman, a hard drinking man with a fearsome temper. During confession he told me of a violent argument with another man. They had come to blows and beside himself with the devil’s rage Peter had bitten off the other mans ear. I told him he would answer to God. Two nights later I shot him dead.
2nd Apostle: James had recently returned from a boys’ holiday in Spain. There he had committed sinful acts of the flesh with many different girls, whilst his wife had remained at home caring for their newborn son. He came seeking absolution and God’s forgiveness. Instead, I took him into the vestry, placed the gun against his head and pulled the trigger.
3rd Apostle: A week later John, the brother of James, came to see me. James was missing and John was afraid that his brother may have discovered that John was really the father of his son. I said I would pray for them both and then shot him through the heart.
4th Apostle: Whilst in the village one afternoon I bumped into Andrew, the brother of Peter. I asked why he had not attended the recent funeral of his brother. Andrew explained he had always hated Peter and was glad his bullying older brother was dead. That night I visited him at home and he was dead by the time I left.
5th Apostle: Detective Phillips visits me asking if I have seen Jimmy Bartholomew, the young man who had handed me the gun. He explains that the police wish to talk to Jimmy about the murders of Peter and Andrew, that the bullets came from a gun like Jimmy was once seen waving around in public. I panic and shoot the detective dead on the spot.
6th Apostle: I track down Jimmy Bartholomew to a local doss house. I can’t risk him being found and telling the police he had given me the gun. He’s surprised to see me, but not as surprised as when I pull out his gun, stick it in his mouth and pull the trigger.
7th Apostle: I decide to stop the killings for a while. But then a particular officious man called Mr Matthews visits from the local tax office. He is investigating some tax evasion issues around loans taken out for the church roof. I offer to show him the church accounts, and shoot him in the back of the head as he sits stooped over my fraudulent accounts.
8th Apostle: A second detective visits me. There’s no doubt they’re on to me. Detective Thomas says that his colleague Phillips and a Tax Officer who had both come to see me in recent weeks were now both missing. I say I saw them both, answered their questions and they then both left. He asks to see the church catacombs. I take him down and shoot him in the back.
9th Apostle: As I am coming back out of the catacombs Nancy James, the church organist, is stood by the altar. She says she was passing and heard a gunshot, so came to investigate. She’s a damn nosy woman at the best of times. I tell her there is nothing to worry about and then blow her face off.
10th Apostle: I am dragging Nancy’s body towards the catacombs when my sister Jude suddenly appears, with my 5 year old niece Caroline. Jude stares in disbelief at the bloody faceless body I am dragging across the altar. She begins to scream, so I have no option but to shoot her dead. I tell Caroline she saw nothing and if she told anyone she would burn in hell forever. With that I flee the church.
11th Apostle: A few days later as I board a train for Europe I notice a fellow passenger eyeing me suspiciously. I ask his name, to which he answers Simon. “Simon,” I say. “May I read your newspaper?” Reluctantly he passes it over. There on the front page was my photo beneath the headline “Wanted! The Killer Priest!” No wonder Simon was staring. There’s only one thing for it. I shoot him dead and flee the train.
12th Apostle: That night I break into my brother-in-laws house. I find my niece Caroline in bed. “You’re a Judas Caroline! You told the police didn’t you?” As she starts to cry I press pillow against her pretty face, place my gun against it and pull the trigger.
The house is surrounded now. There’s police marksman with guns aimed at the windows. All that is left is for me to write this note, to explain how it came to this. I hope it goes someway to explaining why I have done what I have done.
As for that final bullet, it’s obvious – isn’t it? I am the thirteenth apostle. My duty is done now.
And I will answer only to my God.
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Winning entry in the Crime Time 13 Bullets Competition.
