“No, certainly not,” came Malachi’s swift response. He looked back to the constable at his desk.

“Father Richards would never do such a thing. Rather, I believe he was the… victim, so to speak,” he confessed. “You see, I have been allowing a homeless man shelter at the church, as he has nowhere else to go and I wished to help. However…”

There was a pause, as the priest was clearly hesitant to go on.

“Well. I do not want to cause him any harm. But he has harassed Father Richards and myself several times since.”