Chapter 1
Woodhaven Queens, NY 1993
The coach held out his stopwatch as the short blasts from his whistle blew, “Fweet! Fweet! Fweet!”
Ten sweat-soaked boys labored to sprint from baseline to baseline, up and back again as the shrill sound of the whistle sounded each time they reached the line, commanding them to turn and sprint back.
Just when they thought they had been pushed past their limit, they heard, “All right, boys! That’s enough for today. We need to save some energy for tomorrow’s big game.”
The boys stood, grabbing the hem of their shorts as they hunched over, trying to catch their breaths, sweat dripping onto the old wooden floor of the high school basketball court. Being an unusually warm day in March, the gym had grown hot, and the practice had been intense and grueling. Erick glanced up at his brother, Jack, and winked before mumbling, “What energy?”
The coach shook his head. “Mr. Comghan wants to know if we have any energy left. Let’s find out if he has ten more in him.”
The other boys watched as Erick reluctantly pushed himself to run ten more wind sprints before collapsing into Jack’s arms, gasping out, “Why does he always push me so hard?”
Jack quipped, “Why do you always test him so much?”
The coach walked the boys out through the gym doors and into the foyer, where a glass case held a handful of trophies and a 1957 championship basketball signed by the winning team. “Boys, tomorrow is our time. Someday, young men like you will be staring into this case and see your names on the State Championship trophy, but only if you give it everything you’ve got and play like champions. Go shower up and get some rest tonight.”
As the boys filed out of the foyer, Erick remained with his arm around his twin brother’s sweaty neck. “Erick and Jack Comghan. New York State Champions. I can see it now. Norwich is a tough team, but no one’s going to beat the lads from Woodhaven this year!”
Jack laughed. “Wouldn’t that be nice? But in the meantime, let’s get showered and have some fun. The girls are waiting for us, and how often do we get a sixty-five-degree day in March?”
Within ten minutes, they were showered, dressed, and out the gym door to a glorious day that had that first-day-of-spring feel to it. The sight of Addie Kerrins leaning against her mint-green convertible with the top down brought instant smiles to their faces. Addie was a cheerleader for the basketball team and had caught the boys’ attention from day one.
“So, what are the two handsomest boys in Woodhaven up for on a day like this?” asked Addie with a smile and raised eyebrows.
“I vote for a cruise along Rockaway!” exclaimed Rachel, Addie’s younger sister, who sat in the back seat of the open convertible. Rachel seemed disappointed when Erick and Jack slid into the front seats, and Addie joined her in the back, but it didn’t last long when Erick put in a CD of the Ramones singing “Rockaway Beach.”
Erick drove along the parkway as Jack laughingly sang along with Addie and Rachel, “Rock, Rock, Rock, Rockaway Beach!” They drove slowly along the shore and breathed in the fresh salt air. Erick smiled as he caught Addie in the rearview mirror perched on the edge of her seat, with her sunglasses on, a smile on her face tilted to catch the sun, and the breeze playing with her long hair. He was smitten, as was Jack.
They stopped at The Clam Bar and then walked along the boardwalk, eating their clam rolls, drinking shakes, and reminiscing about the fun they had in high school and how much they were looking forward to summer. Addie stopped in front of a new apartment building. “Remember when the old Playland was here? I miss it.”
Jack jumped behind Addie and pulled her headband over her sunglasses. “I remember you with your hands over your eyes when you got to the top of that old wooden rollercoaster for the first and last time!”
Not to be left out, Rachel grabbed Jack’s arm. “What was that thing called?”
Erick smiled as his eyes widened. “The Atom Smasher! I can’t believe that rickety thing stayed up. What were we that last time we rode it—twelve?”
Rachel pouted a bit when Addie said, “Yeah, but Rach was only ten.”
The next afternoon, Erick and Jack were dressed and ready for the State Championship game at the Glen Falls Civic Center. The arena and crowd were bigger than anything they had experienced in all their years of playing basketball together.
“I’m feeling some butterflies today,” Erick whispered to Jack.
Jack rubbed Erick’s hair. “You always say that and then go out and play better than anyone else. Maybe that’s because you are better than anyone else?”
Erick glanced up at Jack, taken back by how easily his identical twin seemed to be okay with that reality and how much Jack admired him. He loved his brother. He loved spending time with him, whether they were playing ball, working hard on their grandfather’s farm, or just hanging out. As he glanced over to see Addie leading a cheer and Rachel screaming from the stands, he smiled at how much fun they always had together and how much he didn’t want this ride to end. The only thing that could make his high school senior year better would be to win this State Championship, and he was more determined than anyone to make that happen.
Maybe then, Coach will think I’m good enough?
Chapter 2
South End, Boston, 2006
Father Tom Fitzpatrick stood at the sacristy doorway inside of St. Francis Church. He never tired of gazing up at the beauty of the high arched ceilings and the light streaming through the rose window over the front entrance at the back of the church. He smiled as he noticed his parishioner and friend, a new dad, standing by the baptismal font, playfully holding his baby girl.
Tom approached him. “Erick, you’re early. I like your enthusiasm, but I like hers even better,” he said as he gently placed his hand on the side of the baby’s head, gazed into her eyes, and was rewarded with Elizabeth’s return smile. “She is such a beautiful baby. It’s the luck of the Irish that she’s got her mother’s looks.”
Reaching out his free hand, he said, “You must be Father Tom. I’m actually Erick’s brother, Jack, and the proud godfather. It’s good to meet you.”
Tom stared at him more closely, wide-eyed with surprise. “Oh—Jack. I’m so sorry. It’s good to meet you, too. I can’t believe it. I’ve known Erick for five or six years now and never knew he had a brother, never mind a twin.
You look so alike—you’re not possibly pulling my leg, are you?”
Jack shook his head and laughed as he held Elizabeth closely. “I’m not completely surprised he hasn’t mentioned having a brother. I was living in Britain for six years and moved back to Connecticut about a year ago.” The thirty-one-year-old Jack Comghan stood slightly taller than Tom’s six-footone frame. Like his twin brother, Jack was handsome, with an athletic build, auburn-colored hair, and an infectious smile. His smile broadened as Elizabeth’s mother, Addie, appeared at the entrance door and returned the obvious fondness.
Tom approached her. “Addie—or are you her identical twin?”
Addie smirked. “No, no. Luckily there’s only one of me. Uhm, Erick is running a quick errand, and he should be here shortly.”
Tom greeted all the family and friends as they entered the church and left them to socialize until Erick finally arrived, shaking hands and apologizing for keeping everyone waiting. Tom stood to one side and studied Erick and his twin side by side, noticing a few slight differences. Erick seemed a bit stronger physically and in personality than Jack. He’d done well financially with a chain of specialty grocery stores in New England, which were focused on quality and locally sourced produce. He and Addie moved to Boston six years ago when they began attending St. Francis.
Erick excused himself and walked over to his brother, Jack, and gave him an unusually formal handshake as he reached to take baby Elizabeth from him for the baptismal service.
Tom was ready to begin the service. He smiled as he waved everyone around the baptismal font. “Feel free to come closer. This is a very special day for Elizabeth, and for her mother, Addie, her father, Erick, and godparents, Jack and Rachel, and for everyone that will be a part of her life as she joins this believing community. We’re all human and share a weakness for sin, but through the strength of God’s grace, we are transformed in the living waters of baptism as adopted sons and daughters of God and with it the inheritance of eternal life with Him. With His love and grace, she won’t need to look to others, to things, or to accomplishments for acceptance or her self-worth and identity, but to the only place it exists, which is in God Himself. So, baptism is a great gift of grace for Elizabeth and each of us.”
After Tom asked Erick and Addie and then Jack and Rachel if they accepted the responsibility to teach her the faith Christ brought for us and if they would do everything in their power to help get her to heaven, he anointed the baby with the oil, to which she made a loud cooing sound, and everyone laughed. Tom
explained the meaning behind the sacrament and smiled as Elizabeth made a face when he poured the water over her forehead. “Elizabeth,” he said, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
Tom wasn’t normally one to be distracted during a service, but some things seemed curiously odd. He knew Erick and Addie fairly well and enjoyed them as a couple. They seemed happy together and were generous with their time and resources to the parish. Tom often played basketball with Erick, and the only marital frustration Erick had ever expressed was the inability to conceive a child and start the family of which he had always dreamed, but then they were blessed with Elizabeth. Anticipating Elizabeth’s birth often brought spontaneous smiles to Erick’s face, but something seemed different today. Erick was tense and distant as he held onto his daughter for the entire ceremony. As a couple, they weren’t showing their normal level of affection for each other, and Erick seemed almost cold to his twin brother, someone he’d never even mentioned in all the time Tom had known him.
Addie was still holding the baptismal candle as Tom smiled at her.
“Congratulations, Addie. That’s a beautiful and precious girl you have.”
Addie sighed, “I know. She is at that.”
“Is everything okay?”
Addie nodded slightly as she pulled herself out of some deep thought and glanced up at him with a weak smile. “Sorry. Yes. Everything’s fine, really. I was just thinking about everything being ready at the house for the party.nAre you sure you can’t drop by at all?”
“Addie, you know I love you guys and wouldn’t miss a free meal for anything, but I have a wedding this afternoon and then Mass. I feel bad about the conflict. It’s a blessing and a hazard of the job.”
“I understand, but we’ll have you over sometime soon,” replied Addie as she turned and then placed her free hand on Tom’s shoulder. “Can you excuse me for a second?”
“No problem,” replied Tom as he took a few steps towards Erick. “Erick. Big day for the Comghan family! Congratulations.”
Erick gave half a smile. “Couldn’t do it without you.”
“Hey, I told Addie that I couldn’t make it to the house. I’m sorry, but Saturday weddings are ramping up this time of year.”
“I’ll save you a piece of cake,” said Erick as his attention drifted towards the back corner of the church where Addie was conversing with his brother.
It seemed to consume Erick for the moment.
“I’ll be looking forward to it,” responded Tom as he grinned at Elizabeth kicking her legs back and forth, then stared more closely at her skin. “Is Elizabeth okay?”
“What? Oh, sure, she’s fine. Why do you ask?”
“She seems very happy, but I just noticed several red dots on her heel and leg.”
Erick followed his gaze and looked at Elizabeth’s feet. She had kicked off one of her pink booties. Tom reached down to retrieve it for Erick, who covered her foot again. “Yeah, she’s good. I had the doctor check those, and it looks like bug bites. I need to get the screens in her window. Hey, since you can’t come over today, would you have any time tomorrow? I wanted to talk to you about something. Would three-o’clock work?”
Tom shook Erick’s hand and smiled. “Sure, that works fine. See the three of you for my cake then.”
“Addie has a business trip, so it will just be me and Liz.”
Tom continued to be taken with Elizabeth’s playfulness and glanced up at Erick. “The way you hold her—I can see why Addie trusts you to take good care of her. I’ll drop by at three.”
Chapter 3
Tom stood in the garden helping Angelo, the church custodian and his close friend, fix one of the rose trellises in the garden. “I don’t know what we’d ever do without you, Angelo, but you should take it easy sometimes. Sunday is a day of rest, you know.”
Angelo was Italian, short in stature, with coarse hands and years of character that showed in his face. He was also strong and very energetic for someone well into his seventies and who had spent thirty years in prison. “I love to work and look who’s talking. You had a baptism, wedding, and four Masses to say this weekend, and here you are working in the garden with me on a Sunday afternoon.”
Tom quickly glanced down at his watch and saw that it was already two-thirty. “Sorry to leave you hanging here, but I promised to be somewhere at three.”
Angelo smirked. “Day of rest, huh?”
Tom patted Angelo on the back, went inside and washed up, then headed over to Erick’s apartment on Commonwealth Avenue in the Back Bay. The light May breeze played with the pink and white flowering dogwoods and budding maples as he strolled down the sidewalk, admiring the old revival architecture of the brownstone buildings with the impressive marble front steps and doorways. Erick and Addie Comghan’s spacious first-floor apartment also had a small backyard entrance and private parking area. As Tom approached the front door, he noticed it was standing slightly ajar. He assumed Erick had left it open on purpose since he knew that Tom, who had been to their home many times, was on his way over.
Tom pushed open the door and shouted, “You know, Erick, any old priest could wander in when you leave the door open like that.”
No one replied.
He guessed that Erick might be putting Elizabeth down for a nap, so he stepped slowly down the hallway. He glanced at his watch—3:05. Erick had said 3:00. Surely, he was home and expecting him.
The stark silence in the apartment felt unsettling.
Tom continued down the hallway past the living room, calling in a hushed tone, “Erick?” No response and not a sound.
The door to the study was open. Tom peered in, and his heart jumped, pounding against his chest. Next to the desk, Erick’s body lay face down on the carpet. Tom dashed to him and placed his hand on Erick’s back. He was still breathing! But there was blood on the back of Erick’s skull.
Adrenaline raced through Tom’s body as he quickly got to his feet and scanned the room. There was no sign of Elizabeth in the bassinet behind the desk or anywhere in the room. He ran down the hall, darting from room to room to see if she was there, but each room was empty and undisturbed. Frantically, he tried to remember their conversation after the baptism: “So, it will just be me and Liz.” He was sure Erick said that Elizabeth would be with him while Addie was away.
Quickly, Tom made his way back to the study and back onto his knees next to Erick’s still body. He was breathing but unconscious. He got to his feet and took out his handkerchief to pick up the receiver of the phone on the desk and dialed the police.
“9-1-1, where is your emergency?”
“Um. I’m at Erick Comghan’s apartment on Comm Ave.,” Tom replied, feeling panicked.
“Who am I talking with today?”
“I’m Father Tom Fitzpatrick.”
“Okay, Father. Can you tell me what the address and emergency is?”
“Yes. I’m at 165 Commonwealth Avenue, Erick Comghan’s apartment. He is unconscious and bleeding!”
“We will have an ambulance dispatched immediately,” replied the dispatcher in a reassuring voice.
Tom could hear the call to the dispatcher while he held the line. “Thank you. I was expecting Erick’s baby daughter, Elizabeth, to be here as well.”
“Can you look for the baby?”
Frantically, Tom replied, “I’ve searched in each room, and she’s not here! There’s no sign of her in the apartment.”
“Okay, Father Fitzpatrick. The ambulance and officers should be there momentarily.”
Just as she finished, Tom could hear the sirens outside the apartment. He dropped the phone and approached the door, opening it with his handkerchief-covered hand, noticing bloodstains on the inside of the door stile. Two uniformed officers stood on the top stoop. “Thank you for coming so quickly. There’s a wounded man, Erick Comghan, on the floor, and I think he needs some immediate attention.”
“I’m Officer Jackson. Where’s the victim?”
Tom waved them to the study, and the other officer dropped to the floor to check on Erick. Tom felt dazed as he stared down at Erick’s motionless body with a head wound that didn’t appear to be from a fall. Officer Johnson was talking, but Tom was blanking out, peering around the study to see all the things he hadn’t noticed minutes earlier. On the desk was an opened package sitting on top of a receipt, but he couldn’t make out what it might have contained. There were small remnants of gravel, mostly gray and some red, on the rug near Erick’s feet, but his soles were flat and clean.
As the officer exclaimed, “He’s still breathing!” Tom noticed some blood on Erick’s right arm above the elbow.
Finally, Tom could hear Johnson. “Can you tell me your name and what happened?”
“I don’t know. Is there an ambulance coming?”
“It’s on its way. Can you tell me what you do know? What’s your name?”
“Father Thomas Fitzpatrick—”
The officer glanced up and tipped the brim of his hat up with his pen. “From St. Francis?”
“Yes. I had an appointment with Erick—”
“You said Comghan, right?”
“Yes, with an ‘h’ after the ‘g.’ I had an appointment at three-o’clock, and ahh—I came in and found Erick unconscious in the study.”
“How did you get into the apartment?”
“Oh, the door—” Pointing, he said, “This door was open, so when I didn’t get an answer, I stepped in and called out, but got no response.”
The ambulance sirens got louder as it made its way down the street until the flashing lights were in front of the Comghans’ front door. Before EMTs were out of their vehicle, Tom noticed two other people on the stoop examining the front entrance door.
The man in the well-worn jacket and tie nodded. “Jackson.”
“Detective Brooks,” replied the officer.
“Who is this?”
“This is Father Fitzpatrick. He found the body and made the call.”
The detective eyed Tom up and down, while Tom did the same to him. Brooks was in his late thirties, with olive-colored skin, dark brown hair, and stood about five-foot-ten. He reached into his jacket for a pen and notepad. “Father Fitz, huh. My name is Detective Tony Brooks, and this is my partner, Detective Jan Mullen. What are we looking at?”
Officer Jackson pointed to the second door on the left side of the hallway. “An unconscious man is bleeding from a blow to the back of his head. We don’t know anything else at this point.”
Detective Jan Mullen, an attractive woman in her early thirties, her blond hair pulled back in a ponytail, appeared as if she had plenty of Boston street smarts. She pointed to the blood marks on the door.
After taking in their surroundings, the two detectives proceeded to the study where Officer Towns was attending to Erick. Towns stood up. “He’s out cold but still breathing. Looks like two blows with some blunt instrument, maybe a bat.”
“Thanks, Towns. Get the EMTs in here,” commanded Brooks, raising his open-palmed hand toward the front door as he looked around the study.
“Father, what do you like to be called?”
“Tom is fine.”
“I’ll go with Father Tom. Tell me exactly what you did when you came into this room.”
As Tom talked, Brooks squatted down to study Erick’s wounds and the position of his body. Detective Mullen took samples of the blood from the back of Erick’s skull, his arm, and the rug. She also pushed some of the gravel on the rug into other plastic bags. Finally, Detective Brooks waved the EMTs in, and with their shoes wrapped with sanitary hospital foot covers, they gently lifted Erick’s body onto a stretcher and off to one of the many local hospitals.
“So who is Erick Comghan to you?” inquired Brooks.
“He’s a parishioner of mine, and he asked me to come over. What I’m worried about is the baby.”
Jan Mullen immediately lifted her head and stared at Tom. “What baby?”
Tom replied, “I told the dispatcher. The Comghans had a baby girl a month ago. Elizabeth. She was baptized yesterday at St. Francis, and Erick asked me to stop by this afternoon to talk about something. He said his wife, Addie, would be out of town on a business trip, but I’m fairly sure I remember him saying Elizabeth would be here with him.”
Brooks barked at the officers, “Check every room!” then turned back to Tom. “Where did you say the mother was?”
“I don’t know. I think a lot of her business is in New York. Erick’s brother and Addie’s sister were here for the baptism service along with other family and friends, and then they were having a party here at the house. I’m just hoping Elizabeth is with one of them.”
Brooks and Mullen exchanged concerned glances as they inspected the blood on the front door before closing it and stepping under the yellow police tape that had been wrapped around the scene. “Father Tom, thanks for your help. What I don’t know is what this case is yet. A robbery? A kidnapping? An attempted murder? I’m sure we’ll need to ask you more questions, so I’d appreciate your being available when we do.”
“I will, and, in the meantime, I’ll be praying.”
Brooks glanced up at the blue sky. “Sure. I just hope it’s all a miscommunication, and we don’t need them.”