Read Online Until Judgment Day by Christine McGuire - Free Book Online

title?”
    â€œPastoral Associate,” Escalante answered, “and I agree he’s following orders to keep his mouth shut. We asked to see Thompson’s personnel file, but Leahy said it had been transferred to the Diocese in Monterey.”
    â€œThat’s what Shotwell told me about Benedetti’s when I called her,” Miller added.
    â€œSo Escalante and I drove to Monterey to see Monsignor Donald Winfield, the Vicar General.”
    â€œThe what?” Fields wasn’t Catholic.
    â€œA Vicar’s a mouthpiece for a Bishop—in this case, Bishop Jeffrey Davidson, who didn’t make a personal appearance, and according to Winfield, doesn’t know anything either. Winfield’s also Diocese Operations and Personnel Director.”
    â€œThen he’s got Thompson and Benedetti’s personnel folders.”
    â€œThat’s what we figured.” Escalante’s face showed a rare emotion—frustration. “But he wouldn’t confirm or deny that their files were transferred to Diocese headquarters or, for that matter, that they even have personnel records.”
    â€œOf course they have records.” Granz sighed. “Did Winfield say anything at all?”
    â€œYes, he said if police want personnel files, we’ve gotta get ’em through legal channels.”
    â€œThat’s what he said?”
    Miller pulled an unfiltered Camel out of his pack, started to light up, glanced around and thought better of it. “Can’t smoke anyplace anymore. It’s un-American.”
    He dropped the cigarette on the table. “Escalante sugarcoated it. Winfield said if cops want to see their records, they have to get a court order, and they better be ready for a, quote, ‘hell of a legal battle.’”
    â€œGreat.” Granz ran his fingers through his hair.
    â€œIt gets worse. Winfield says we can’t contact any Diocese employee without clearing it through the Bishop first.”
    Mackay frowned. “They can’t tell us who we can and can’t talk to.”
    â€œNo, but they can make it as difficult as possible if they want to,” Miller told her.
    â€œDid you ask whether or not the Diocese has received complaints of sexual misconduct against their priests?”
    â€œYeah, we did. Winfield said the Diocese handed over a dozen cases involving allegations of sexual abuse of minors by priests to the Monterey County DA. I checked with Monterey—they’re looking into cases from nineteen fifty-three through ninety-four but haven’t filed any charges yet.”
    â€œWhat about our county?” Mackay asked.
    â€œAccording to Winfield, there’ve been no reportable cases in Santa Rita.”
    â€œDid you remind him of the four civil lawsuits filed against the Diocese in the past twenty years, alleging sexual misconduct on the part of priests at three of our local parishes?”
    â€œDamn straight.”
    â€œAnd?”
    â€œHe said they involved consensual sex with adults and the cases were settled—there was nothing to report to authorities. He says they’ve cleaned house.”
    â€œYou think he was being truthful?” Mackay asked.
    Miller glanced at Escalante, who answered, “It’s impossible to say for sure, but he emphatically denied that any priest now serving in the Monterey Diocese is a pedophile. My gut instinct says he was telling the truth.”
    â€œLet’s hope so,” Mackay said. “On the other hand, let’s not overlook the possibility they’re misleading us. When there’s a cover-up, it usually comes from the highest level.”
    â€œThat’s true,” Miller continued, “and it looks like word got to Monterey that we wanted to talk to them before Escalante and I did. Winfield gave me this.” Miller handed Mackay a sheet of paper. “Legal Department letterhead.”
    â€œGerald Scalisi, of Counsel,” Mackay read