Beowulf stepped into the confessional room and closed the door.  Kneeling down, he patiently waited and focused on keeping his breath calm, even while his pulse raced.  He knew he would feel better once the weight was lifted.  After several minutes, he could hear movement in the adjacent room to his and then a door slid open.

Beowulf crossed himself and looked up to see the silhouette of the priest sitting opposite him.

"Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.  It has been two years since my last confession, and I accuse myself of the following sins”

“I killed two men at the direction of the family.  I’m currently blackmailing the mayor with photo’s of him and his mistress.  And I robbed the bank on the corner of Scott Street and Main.”

The priest remained silent for several long seconds before he cleared his throat and said “Son, you can not hope that God will simply ignore such evil deeds simply by confessing them to me.  Why did you take the lives of two men?”

“Father, Vicky, asked me too and I always do what she asks.  She is the best.  But I didn’t kill them together.  They were killed at two separate times”

With a level of anxiety in his voice, the priest replied “Son, do you not understand that taking a life goes directly against the wishes of God?  What could they have possibly done to make you think that your act was justified?”

“Well, the first spilled a drink on the Vicky.  And the second was caught watching her and Sophia dance and she thought he was creepy”

The priest responded in a gasp “Son, you took the lives of two men for virtually no reason.  You will stand in front of god and answer him directly for these sins.  God help you son!”

“But father, do you want to discuss the situation with the mayor or the bank robbery?”

Silence filled the air and Beowulf glanced at his watch.  He only needed to stall for another 30 seconds.

The priest, with a shaking voice, said “Son, I’m really feeling ill right now and will need to end this confession.  What you have told me is quite troubling and I need to seek the guidance of the holy spirit in this matter.”

Beowulf responded “Father, maybe we should discuss your sins?”

With a firm voice, a response came “Son, I’m not here to give you my confession.  I’m going to go now and I believe you should consider finding a new place of worship”

As a grin crossed Beowulf face, he said “But Father, you have sinned.  Not paying off your gambling debt is a sin that Vicky takes very personally.  And I have been sent to take your confession so that she feels better”

And as the last words are spoken, the air is filled with the familiar sound of the hammer being locked back on his revolver that had silently been removed form his shoulder holster.

At hearing the noise, the priest reprimanded “How dare you commit blasphemy in the house of God!  You really think someone won’t hear your gun fire?  Are you really that stupid?”

Jovial, Beowulf responded as he saw the last seconds disappear to the appointed time “Father, you really should have paid back Vicky.  She really did enjoy your sermons.”  And then Beowulf saw light fill the room from a door being opened where the priest sat followed by a shadow filling the doorway.

The priest started to protest, before a garrote was wrapped around his neck and large, strong hands pulled it tightly.  The priest attempted to struggle, but due to his age and being severely outsized, was no match for the assailant.  Other than a few kicks to the door as the priest was drug from the adjacent room, the assassination went off quietly.

Two minutes later, the shadow once again filled the doorway and a deep voice said “It’s done boss” before the sliding door between rooms was quietly closed.  Beowulf stood from his kneeling position and returned the gun to his holster.  Straightening his suit and taking a deep breath, he stepped from the confessional.  Outside stood two other family members that had cleared out the church area to make sure no witnesses were around.

Beowulf said “Ok boys, let’s get out of here.  Man, I always feel better after a trip to the confessional.  You guys should try it some time.  Just not here.  This place is out of business for now.”