History: First printed in KNIGHTBEAT XIII, published
June 1999, by Fenris House, a
division of SPECIAL SERVICES, UNLIMITED.
Disclaimer:  The usual.
Archiving:  Permission granted by author.
 

              "What's this, Lapinsky?" asked Capt. Joe
Reese as he looked down at the envelope that was being
held out to him.

               "Ah sir, the Realtors said it was there
when the property was turned over to them. The idiots
didn't know what to do with it so they let it lay
around--for a few months--until someone thought it
might have something to do with the case.  Captain,
the postmark is almost two years old. It must've
arrived a month after they vanished.

               "I would've given it to Brown and
Wright, " continued Lapinsky as he gestured towards
the empty desk," but they've already signed out for
the night. I thought, sir, you might like to take a
look at it. You knew him better than any of us."

               "Thanks Lapinsky, I'll take care of
this."  Reese said as he took the envelope, turned and
walked into his office.

               Sitting back in his chair, Reese
studied the long, white envelope as it lay on the dark
green blotter on top of his desk. Lapinsky had been
right. It had been almost two years since Nick Knight
and Dr. Natalie Lambert disappeared leaving no sign or
word of where they had gone. It was as though they had
literally fallen off the face of the earth.

               To add to the on going mystery, a
letter from the other side of the world--just who
could Knight possibly have known in India?

              Using a sharp letter opener, Reese slit
the envelope and carefully removed the folded pages.
He observed that both the envelope and letter were of
inexpensive paper with no headings or water markings.
The handwriting was neat, legible and evenly
distributed across the paper.  He began to read.

               "My dear friend:

               "It was so good to hear from you again
after all these years. You have to forgive me for
taking so long in answering, I have been very ill of
late.  It always disturbs me that I can not do as much
as I used to. There is still so much work to be done.

               "It gladdens my heart you are doing so
well, Nicholas. What you have written about your life
now, there is indeed great improvement.  I am so proud
for you.

                "I can not help but rejoice that you
have found someone who knows and understands and can
help you in your quest. As we travel this long, hard
road of life, it is best to have friends to share the
journey with.  Even though we are in truth never
alone, it is still good to have companions. I know for
I am blessed and grateful for mine.

               "Nicholas, do you remember the long
talks we use to have? When I would speak to you about
redemption, you refused to believe that there was any
hope for one like you. So now you see what I mean. No
one is ever denied but is instead the one who does the
denying. If it had to take a near death experience for
you to learn this, then it was for the good.

               "I have always believed there is a
purpose for everything. And so it was the night we
met. I was trying to help a dear one who was lying in
the street, slowly dying. No one would stop and help
us, all just walked by. It was you, dressed in your
finer from the opera, who stopped and helped. You
carried that man, cradled in your arms, through the
streets until we came to the hospital. You even stayed
to help us make him comfortable until he passed out of
this life. Only then did you leave; just before the
morning's light.
 

                      "Nights later, when you came
back, my companions were surprised but I was not.
There was something in your eyes that told me you had
to be here.

               "For months you came, almost every
night, and helped us with the caring for those who
could no longer care for themselves. The patients grew
to love you and called you their Guardian Angel of the
Night.

               "When you came to me that night wanting
to speak to me privately, I though you were going to
ask me about joining the community and becoming a
lay-brother. Instead you told and then showed me what
you were.

               "I could tell you were
worried--frightened. Did you think I would reject you
after I had seen the goodness and the hunger for the
light in your heart? It only helped me to understand
the pain and sorrow I sometimes saw in your eyes.

               "The Dear Ones we cared for; the
lepers, the dying and the outcast, suffer only from
the impoverishment of the body. You my friend,
suffered from the impoverishment of the soul and that
carries the greatest pain of all. In a way I could
understand how great the temptation must have been for
you to turn so completely from the light.

               "I know you realize that the path of
atonement you have chosen is going to be a difficult
one for the burden you carry is heavy but with faith
and love, you will succeed. I have complete faith in
you.

               "I never gave up on you, Nicholas. Not
even when you told me, the last night I saw you, you
were giving up this mockery and finally surrendering
to your true nature.  You did not believe that anymore
then I did.

               "Always remember your trust and your
friendship I value most highly. Please continue to
write, I want to how you are progressing. Let me know
if I can help in anyway.

               "I have thought of you often and you
are always in my prayers. My great hope is to some day
be able to bless you in the name of Christ, hug you
and not have you flinch in pain.

                               Forever in His Love,"

              After reading the signature, Reese laid
the letter down on his desk and leaned back in his
chair.  "Well that certainly explains the Calcutta
postmark.  Damn it Nick," he continued," a lot of
people cared about you.  It could have been worked
out.  You didn't have to run.  Again."

              Picking up the letter again, he shook
his head. "I don't like mysteries. Not even Agatha
Christy could come up with this one.  What kind of
demon is driving you, son? What’s causing you to run
from those who want to help?"

             The sound of phones ringing and the busy
activities of the squad room drifted through the
partially opened door. Reese watched the distorted
movement of the other room though the crack in the
doorway as he sat, considering what to do next.

              "Nick forgive me," Joe spoke, his hand
touching the crisp, white surface of the paper. " I
know you want to be left alone but I can't, I won't
give up. I will find out what's this all about no
matter how long it takes. She didn't give up on you.
Why should I.”

              Balancing the phone's receiver on his
shoulder, Reese began punching in the numbers. " Sorry
your letter didn't come sooner, Sister. I watched your
funeral on TV yesterday. It was beautiful. I would've
loved to talk to you but since I can't there's got to
be someone around who remembers and I can question.

              "Thank you, Operator."  Responding to
the voice on the line, Reese added," I need an
overseas number. Calcutta, the Convent of the Sisters
of...”
 

          The End