This had to be the worst day off David had ever experienced.

Even when he got home, Lauren still wouldn't talk to him. In fact, she barely looked at him, avoiding him at any possible opportunity. But when she did, her eyes showed him how much she was hurt by this. It also told him that it would be better to leave her alone for now. And possibly sleep on the sofa tonight.

At least Angela was the same as always. To find some bright light on this gloomy day, David spent the afternoon with her, playing her favourite game: a football match between the "Fluffly Friends" and the "Cuddly Companions". Snuggles was of course the star quarterback of the companions. It was a tight match, and Angela had learned so much about tactics and football that David didn't even have to let her win. It just felt good to hear her laughter and cheers. 

They were so into their game that David didn't even notice Lauren standing in the door to Angela's room, watching silently. It wasn't until Angela cried out in joy: "Mum! I'm winning!" When David turned around to look at his wife, she avoided his glance. A faint smile was all she showed on her lips. But right after David had been made aware of her presence, that smile vanished. She turned around and walked away without uttering one single word.

"Daddy?" Angela suddenly asked. "Why is Mummy mad at you?"

He flinched. Throughout all this he had hoped that she wouldn't notice what was going on between her parents. But he should have known better than to underestimate Angela. She looked at him with big, curious eyes, waiting for an answer. He sighed. "I've done something bad, sweety," he explained to her. "Something really bad."

"She looks like you ate all her candy," Angela stated her observation in her innocent eight-year-old mind.

David shook his head and snorted. As things could ever be that easy... "No, much worse. And she is totally right for being mad at me. I deserve that."

For a while Angela said nothing, just taking in what she had just heard. But then, all of a sudden, David felt a soft warm touch on his arm. The touch of a warm, soft, fluffy paw. Angela was putting her favourite teddy Snuggles carefully into his arms. "So that he can cheer you up," she explained.

That simple, but heartfelt gesture made David smile again. "I love you, pumpkin."

"I love you too, daddy," Angela responded without hesitation.

Sunday came. Lauren hadn't said anything that David had set up his camp on the family sofa in the living room, but he felt that it was better for the both of them. She would need the time and the space to calm down and think things through, and he would be using this time to reflect on the error of his way.

Not that it was the primary thing on his mind. He worried. About the case, about the killer being still out there. About Wilks who hadn't sent any life sign. About the possibility that he could be victim number four. And about the fact that David was way in over his head. If anyone else died from this point on, then it was just because he wasn't a good enough cop to protect them.

That and his feelings of guilt kept him up half the night, until he finally fell into a short-timed slumber. Just deep enough to be awakened by Angela rampaging down the stairs on her way to the breakfast table. When she discovered her father lying on the sofa, the blanket pulled up almost to his nose, she stopped for a moment, a worried look on her young face. It didn't last long. Her hunger apparently got the better of her, and she stormed on into the kitchen.

After a very awkward breakfast, David decided to do something he hadn't done in a while: He went to St. Michael's Church.

Until two years ago the entire family used to go to the Sunday service, until Lauren decided that it wasn't worth her time. Angela agreed with her on that; every time she had gone, she couldn't wait until it was finally over and she got to go home again. When both of them wouldn't come along anymore, David also lost interest in attending regularly. So this habit had died down.

But given the circumstances right now, he felt that it might be a good idea.

The church was full of people. Father Bennett, the local priest, drew quite the crowd on his services, and for good reason. He had always managed to put a somewhat modern spin onto his sermons, and he saw himself mainly as a counselor to the people in his community. With modern society departing more and more from those religious ideas, he felt that a lot of people still needed some sort of spiritual guidance that didn't come in a form of psychologists and medication, but in a more neighborly approach. Also he still greeted everybody personally at least once, despite so many people coming. He was in touch with his crowd, and for that, his crowd loved him.

David was glad that the priest found time after the service to have a little talk. And Father Bennett was more than happy to do so. "So, how's your family then? I haven't seen Lauren and Angela in ages now. Why didn't you bring them?"

David gave it an apologetic shrug. "Lauren has her hands full with her work, and Angela... well, to be honest, she thinks this is really boring."

"Boring?" Father Bennett laughed. "You should tell her who gave this church its name then. The archangel Michael, fighting the devil and beating him and his followers down to Earth. That would make him the very first real superhero ever recorded. If that doesn't impress little Angela, then I don't know what will." He sighed. "But I don't blame her. I guess I wasn't that different when I was her age. Spending hours listening to old fossils talk nonsense..."

Speaking of nonsense, David thought, remembering his reason for coming here. "Father... I must ask you something that might seem a little... odd. It has to do with my work."

Father Bennett prompted him to continue, and David did so, treading very carefully with every word. He told him about this idea that someone believing in the existence of demons and their effect on human people might drive him to kill several people in a violent and horrific way. "What would be your take on demons, if you have one?"

"Demons..." Father Bennett thought intensely about this. "You know, before what some of us call the 'age of reason', lots of people believed that all the bad things happening and all the poor choices made were the result of demons. Like all bad things people craved for, for example. The demon of drug abuse, the demon of corporeal lust... some people even claimed that sugar was a work of the devil. I guess it is one of many good ways to deal with everyday temptation, being aware of the evil that they might bring." He touched his forehead as if he was suffering from a migraine. "But this... this is taking it to an extreme I can't really believe. What poor deranged soul is capable of doing something like this?"

"That's what I want to find out," David explained. "I need to find out. People's lives are at stake as long as this killer is out there. Makes one wonder how God could ever allow something like this to happen."

Father Bennett gave him a reprimanding glance. "David, you should know that there are three things the Lord never, under any circumstances, would do: Play with dice, let you win the lottery even if you ask Him to. And interfere with human choices and decisions." He shook his head in silent resignation. "Times have changed too much. People used to listen to us once. Their belief in a higher power gave them comfort and purpose. Nowadays the modern age has made them believe in nothing but themselves, that they have to face every challenge on this earth alone. It might be a good empowering thought as well, but the truth is that not all people have the strength to actually do so."

"So they just give in to temptations and... what then? Just turn evil?" David asked.

"You could say that," Father Bennett replied. "From a certain point of view they might be regarded as evil. Although that is grossly simplifying it, if you ask me. People who completely give in to their temptation, who don't care for anything or anyone in the world except for satisfying their own lust... even if the price is hurting others. But since you ask me, this is not what I would consider truly evil. Because... after all, it is still an urge that drives them to gain something, even if that is short-lived and ill-advised."

"What else is there then?" David inquired curiously.

The priest was eager to answer. "Simple: When there is absolutely nothing to gain. When one causes pain and suffering for no reason, none whatsoever. Not because that person sees the necessity, not because of greed or envy or anger. Not because they are driven by the lust for making other people suffer. No, just because of this tiny little voice in the back of our heads whispering to us, urging us to do it... and us not being strong enough to resist."

A tiny voice in the back of our heads... David frowned. "A demon then?"

"If you want to put it in such a simple way," Father Bennett admitted. "What I'd call it would be a maliscious entity with a hate for the human mind, trying to cause as much havoc as it possibly can. Come to think of it, 'demon' is a simple, but very accurate term for it." He suddenly stopped, brushing his beardless chin as he thought of something. "Actually, there is something that might interest you..."

He walked over to his desk in the study room where he and David had retreated to, opened a drawer and pulled out a thick, old-looking book bound in leather, with gold letters on its back. A very carefully bound book, as David noticed. When Father Bennett opened it up, a faint cloud of dust emerged from it. "The bishop asked me to dispose of this work, since he thinks it contains blasphemous passages and goes against the sacred rules of the church. I haven't looked into this any further yet, but I'm always appalled of the idea of destroying a work of writing if it's not absolutely necessary. Too much knowledge could be lost from it." He closed the book again and handed it over to David. "From the few parts that I have read, this might tell you something that you could use in your investigation."

From a quick glance on the cover, a few golden letters stanced into the leather, David could make out the title: "Humans and devilish influences - Notes from past knowledge". It sounded ominous, mysterious. Books like that would play good parts in any horror movie. "Well... thanks! I just hope I can live up to everyone's expectations."

Father Bennett sat down on his office chair, a very modern piece of furniture in comparison to this more antique style of furniture in the study. He leaned back and smiled. "I am convinced that you will, David. After all, the name you carry is also well-known within the biblical context."

Of course it was... "You mean David and Goliath," David deduced, not very impressed. Father Bennett nodded.

"It is the purest of stories about one man going up against seemingly unbeatable odds. Especially since it wasn't strength that brought the final decision, but courage and wits. I know you to be a brave man, David, and you do have a sharp mind. Lose neither, and you will succeed. I am sure of that."

Those words actually managed to make David feel better. He took the old book under his arm and shook the priest's hand. "Thank you, Father. I'll do my best to come here more often again."

"I sure hope so." With those words he brought David to the front door of the enourmous church and sent him on his way.