J9

J9

"The court finds probable cause to believe a felony offense, to wit,  the  unlawful  killing  of  Kimberly  Zinter  with  malice aforethought, has been committed. The  arrest of Mr. Paul Bergin at any hour of day or night is so ordered."

Karl Porter's law clerk began typing it up.

"Special Agent Felt,  will  it be  sufficient  to confine  your search  for more  evidence  of the  crime to  the  home of  Paul Bergin?"

Felt replied, 'No, Your Honor. If Mr. Bergin was a  layman his house would have been  enough. But as a  member of  the Church leadership he has physical access to the whole Temple.'

"Very well, these are the rules of the People  for your search: Let's assume Bergin  is hiding evidence in the  Temple. When you make  the arrest  you will  obtain his  keys. Any  door that  is locked, but his keys can open, you may enter and search."

"Thank you, Your Honor,"  said Felt. "The Bureau accepts this limitation on the search."

"Proceed with caution,  Agent  Felt," Judge  Porter said. "The Church of Green Dome is the very lifeblood of Headwater, and the Church was already going through its most  difficult passage in nearly eighty years before this happened."

"The words  of  Dr.  Wahkan and  Sheriff  Walker  have  already sensitized me  to the  plight of the  Church, Your  Honor," said Felt, "and  I  will  indeed  take  great  care.  But  if  those troubles somehow led to the  killing of Kimberly Zinter, and the perpetrator turns  out to  be a  member of  the local  clergy, I don't know how even more trauma can be avoided."

Special Agent  in  Charge  Clyde  Tolson  was  waiting  in  the second-floor courtroom with  Special  Agent  Sullivan when  the sheriff and Felt emerged from  the judge's chambers. "It's not carte blanche," said Felt when he handed  Tolson the documents, "but it's the best we could do."

When Tolson finished reading he didn't seem to be  too upset by the limitations  imposed by Judge  Porter. He said, "Edgar knew what he was doing when he put you on the case. For six months we couldn't get one foot in the Temple door."

Mark Felt hoped he only heard that wrong. It sounded like Tolson didn't give two floating turds for the dead girl.