The Believers Page #3

to his own religious preference.

If he performs a human sacrifice,

I'd say he forfeits that right.

A psycho kills a kid,

he makes it look like a religious ritual.

That kid was cut up with the precision

of a surgeon, not a psychopath.

What are you afraid of,

that Lopez is a suspect?

That it's one of your own?

It's not this religion?

I don't call cutting up chickens a religion!

If you knew the barrio the way I do,

you wouldn't ask such dumb questions.

That's bullshit.

Just one last question.

Is this all the assistance I'll get

trying to help that officer?

Think about it.

Thanks for the coffee.

Oh, no! My clothes!

"Santera is 1,000 years older

than Christianity...

"...brought by slaves to the Caribbean.

"Their African gods are hidden in

Catholic saints.

"Chango.

"Santa Barbara.

"Elegua is Saint Anthony."

Come on, get this cleaned up.

God.

Hi.

Hi.

You forgot your watch.

Did I?

You must have left it

when you were painting.

You forgot these, too.

They're a little soggy.

Thanks.

Still can't find the earring.

Want to come in?

Thank you.

I have no idea what I would I have done

without the watch.

You suppose my leaving it

was some hidden expression of desire?

I don't know that,

but my returning it certainly was.

How long has it been?

About nine months.

Would she approve?

I approve.

I went a whole year after my divorce.

When was that?

About a year ago.

But who's counting?

Didn't you used to live in New York?

Back when I was young and foolish.

What does that make you now?

I should probably get back.

Hurry up or we'll miss the show!

There's time for at least

another half a glass.

As you wish, madam.

And you, madam.

How about you, Carmen?

No, gracias.

Come on, you're no stranger to the grape.

Sounds like fun. I haven't been

to the Planetarium since I was a girl.

Why don't you join us?

As we begin our journey...

...to the beginning of time...

What are you looking for?

- Where's my shell?

- I don't know.

Where is it? Did she take it?

Just a minute, young man!

Come back here!

What are you doing?

- It was an accident!

- It was not!

It was!

- I'll go.

- Don't worry about it.

- It's no big deal.

- He's tired.

- I'll get it, Carmen.

- It's no problem.

Just a minute, what is that?

That's one of my hankies. May I?

- What did she say?

- She said that she did it. It's not bad.

She says she's a kind of matchmaker.

A yenta. Do you know what that is?

What's that got to do with this?

That's my earring.

She said she cast a love spell on us.

- That's ridiculous.

- I'm sorry you feel that way.

This is nothing bad.

You're such a nice couple.

Don't look at me.

I like a guy, maybe I'll change my perfume,

but I've got my pride.

This is Lt. Mc Taggert.

What can I do for you?

- Has Tom Lopez called you?

- No, why?

He took a hike from Bellevue last night.

You better get over here.

What is it?

We got another kid like the one

from the movie house.

Pier 11.

Look over there. What is that?

Lieutenant.

The body is down here.

Worse than the one before.

How old is he?

8. 10. No I.D. He's a black kid.

Watch your step. It's a tough climb.

They didn't tell me this was part of the job.

They don't tell you a lot of things.

It's just like the kid in the theatre.

He's been here a couple of days.

You got the red and black candles,

and the circle of ashes.

And a bottle of gasoline.

- Look at the way he's cut up.

- So much blood.

Jesus Christ!

How do you ever get used to it?

You don't.

Now maybe you know why

a lot of cops hit the bottle.

Listen, Doc.

Newspapers find out some psycho cop

is doing this, my job gets shittier than it is.

Do me a favor.

No details to anybody, huh?

Psycho cop?

Do you think a few hours on the couch

and Lopez will get himself together?

You don't know that he did it.

I don't know that he didn't.

Lopez hasn't called you, has he?

No.

Weird f***ing city you moved into, Doc.

Lopez.

Excuse me.

Could I talk to you for a second, please?

What do you want?

I'm looking for the man that wrote this.

Oscar Sezine. Is he here?

We're closed.

I just need a minute of his time.

Believe me, it's very important.

- There is no one here.

- Wait a second.

Sir!

I'm with Psych Services...

...NYPD!

Thanks a lot!

Carmen.

What is all this stuff?

What are these things?

You put them in Chris's room, didn't you?

- Si.

- I want to know why.

To bless him. I'm trying to help him.

I'm trying to help him, too.

Sometimes these are used in rituals,

aren't they?

Si.

Sometimes those rituals

involve animal sacrifice, don't they?

Sometimes.

What is the circle of ashes for?

Circle of ashes?

I don't know nothing about that.

- That's not a part of Santera?

- No.

If I find this kind of stuff around here again,

I'll have to let you go, is that clear?

This is for proteccin.

I don't care what it's for.

It's a lot of superstitious nonsense.

And I don't want

any more of it in the house.

Do you want any of these,

'cause I'm going to throw them away.

Which one of these guys do you want?

How about that guy? He looks pretty neat.

It's your birthday,

you can have any one you want.

Come on, Bean,

you've gotta make up your mind.

- I'll take that.

- This one?

Happy birthday, sir.

What do you say to Jessica?

Thanks.

Why are you so sad today?

Three ices, please. Hurry up, you guys.

Lemon.

- What flavor do you want?

- I don't want any.

Come on, sure you do.

No, I don't!

I'm sorry.

- This is really...

- No!

- Goddamn it!

- No!

- Don't you ever...

- I don't want toys or anything from her!

She's not my mom! I want my mom!

Shut up and listen!

Do you know you almost killed yourself!

I want my mom!

Come back here!

Happy birthday, Chris!

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry if I hurt you.

Listen to me.

You know I loved your mother very much,

and I'll always love her.

But she's gone now.

- You don't care that she went away!

- That's not true.

You wouldn't care if I went away!

- You know that's not true.

- You hit me!

I'm sorry I hit you.

I promise I'll never hit you again.

I'll never do anything to hurt you.

You mean more to me

than anyone else in the world.

Don't you know that?

I love you so much.

Please forgive me.

I just wanted him

to have a really nice birthday.

- He still can.

- It's not over yet.

- I didn't mean any harm.

- Of course you didn't.

You know how children are

with new people.

Dr. Jamison.

I'll take it up here!

Hello.

- It's Lopez.

- Where are you?

There's a diner on 126th and Lexington.

Come alone, okay? Just you.

What do you mean?

You're in danger.

You and your son. Hurry.

Are you okay?

Si.

Agua, por favor. Caliente.

Qu pasa?

It's all right. Let him through.

- What are you doing here?

- Lopez called me and told me to come.

Why didn't you call me?

We're supposed to work together.

Please, ma'am, stand back.

- Did you know him?

- No. I don't.

- He was never here before?

- I've never seen him.

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