THE CRIMSON RIVERS
FURTA SACRA
Hey, what are you playing at?
What the hell happened this time?
I have nothing to say. -Why were you at the Grigny riots?
You think the cops need more trouble? -I have nothing to say!
Why the hell did you punch the anti-crime squad guy?
Camille!
Hey, what are you doing to my car?
While you're pissing people off, some of us are working!
Woah, woah, woah! It's OK!
That's enough. -Calm down. I'm one of you.
Jesus Christ! Can you all back off? -OK.
Chill out, Niemans. -Chill out?
After bailing you out for assaulting a cop?
Are you kidding me?
Get in.
Damn.
Come on, move! -Two minutes.
Here. We're heading north. What the hell is he doing?
Would you hurry up back there? For God's sake!
Damn.
I'LL DISMISS THE TICKET, BUT THIS IS THE LAST TIME.
I'm glad you're here. This is really something...
Any witnesses, prints? -No witnesses.
As for the rest, we've sent everything to Charleville.
The cross, the nails... The whole thing.
We're waiting to hear from the lab.
OK. And the body?
The body's at the morgue there. Fifty miles away.
I think they're waiting for a medical examiner.
OK. Well, shall we take a look?
Oh, it's not that one.
It's the chapel on the edge of the village.
Let's go.
Any suspects?
We've questioned half the village. Nothing.
Everyone's terrified. Some even want to leave.
Any issues with Satanists in the area?
Satanists?
We already struggle to fill the front rows here...
Right, how about we grab a coffee?
You can tell us more.
Where's your team?
You know I'm not leading the investigation, right?
It's Colonel Marty in Charleville.
He sent me here to tell you that you're in charge now.
And the vicar that discovered the body?
Hospitalized from the shock.
And the parish priest?
The priest?
Well... He was the one on the cross.
In the file, it says Father Spaggio officiated at Sauxet-les-Bains.
Yes, Sauxet, Vernay, Valdrôme and Les Orres.
We're in a bit of a crisis, so the parish priest rotates.
Yesterday, Sunday, Spaggio was supposed to officiate here.
How about a Bistoule?
A what? -A little digestif for your coffee.
Sure, why not.
Here you go. -That'll warm me up.
Thanks. -Tell me what you think.
Do you have rooms here? -We have beds.
Whether they class as rooms... -We'll settle for beds, right?
You got it.
Damn!
We do have something...
It seems that, at Sunday school, Spaggio behaved...
... oddly. -"Oddly" how?
Just... oddly.
With the children.
Are you saying he molested them?
You know, around here, the non-believers...
... don't believe at all. And the believers...
... believe too much.
They'd never accuse a priest. Even a dead one.
That isn't in the file either. -It's just a rumor.
Come on, I'll walk you to your car.
Good news, Courroyer.
You're going back to Charleville.
And the bad news? -What bad news?
Well, often good news goes together with...
Bad news? -Yes.
The bad news is you're interviewing all the parents
whose kids attended Spaggio's Sunday school.
In all the parishes he's officiated, OK?
You make people talk, get as many testimonies as you can.
Think you can you do that?
Yes, yes.
It's cold out. -Yes.
I've been thinking. Even if the priest is indeed a kiddy-fiddler,
it doesn't mean this was a parent. -No.
That sort of thing would be settled with a rifle round here.
What are you thinking? -A satanic act.
The upside-down cross and all... But why was Spaggio chosen?
Look into his past, where he's from, etc. OK?
Good.
That's gross!
What do you mean? They're just fries.
And what'll you do?
I'll happily dig around in the Devil's underwear.
NATIONAL POLICE PERSON DATABASE SEARCH
Hi, it's me.
Is Grigny sorted?
POLICE RECORDS
And the anti-crime squad guys didn't go to the judge?
AUTOPSY REPORT
I'm not asking for your opinion.
Check and call me back.
CROSS OF SAINT PETER
SATANIC THEORIES
Yes? -Officer Niemans?
I've got the initial autopsy results.
OK. We're on our way.
Camille.
Camille, wake up.
They autopsy's finished, we're going to Charleville.
Hurry up.
Come on!
Put this on. I don't know whose it is, but it looks warm.
Did you know the inverted cross was the symbol of Saint Peter?
He refused to be crucified like Christ, and asked them to invert it.
You know what?
You're on your way to becoming a real theology expert.
Something for retirement.
I'd be more than happy surrounded by a bunch of nuns.
Ready? Let's go.
Your killer's got some serious strength.
Because of the cross? -The cross and the victim's weight.
He killed him first, then nailed him to the cross and raised him on it.
How did he die? -I need the toxicology report.
But, at first glance, I'd say his heart was injected with potassium.
It's all necrotic tissue.
And the eyes?
They were gouged out post-mortem. No blood.
It must have been symbolic.
Symbolic of what? -Hopefully you can find out.
You think it's the work of a pro? -A pro what? Butcher?
Medic?
He could also just be a skilled amateur.
Well, that narrows it down. Thanks, doctor.
I'll await your report. -I should have it ready tomorrow.
Come on. You can smoke another night. -What's this?
What?
Where was that? -My pocket. It must have been planted.
When? -No idea.
I took my jacket off before I went to sleep.
How's that possible? -Our doors don't lock.
True.
"THE FIRST LETTER OF THE FATHER'S NAME IS DELIVERED"
What is this? Some sort of cloth?
I'll take a photo and send it to Courroyer.
He can give it to the central lab.
In the meantime, I'll have him run a handwriting analysis.
Shall we get some sleep?
What's wrong?
I'm not sleeping there alone.
I warn you now, I sleep naked.
I don't have pajamas either.
I've waited so long for this!
Morning. -Morning. Sleep well?
No.
You snore.
I snore?
No. Must have been the schnapps.
That Bistoule stuff.
Well, I've been researching Spaggio.
He was a former soldier and mercenary.
He got in trouble with the law for public violence. He's got a temper.
How did the cops miss that?
Don't look for what you don't want to find.
Detective Niemans? -Who's asking?
Michel Forget, lawyer.
Well, we have no need for a lawyer.
At least, not for now. -The Reims diocese sent me
to defend the interests of Eric Spaggio.
Spaggio's dead. -Precisely.
My diocese doesn't want his memory sullied.
I know about the pedophilia lead. It's absurd.
A priest touching kids? No kidding.
I want to prevent any other mistakes.
I'm paid to not make mistakes, sir.
I assume you're also going down the satanic route? Even more absurd.
Did you come here just to give us shit?
I'd like to show you something.
The inverted cross isn't an allusion to the devil.
To what, then? Saint Peter?
No. It's a reference to Saint Ignatius.
Who? -A well-known saint in the region.
A martyr from the third century AD.
He was crucified upside down,
and his eyes gouged out to stop his defiant stare.
Why is he known here? -His relics are in a nearby town.
Mos-l'Ancienne. That's where the killer's leading you.
Ah! The St Ignatius effect!
The bishop put me in touch with Father Benoît.
He's the one in charge of the sacred relics.
Ah, that's him.
Hello Father. I'm Detective Niemans. -Lieutenant Delaunay.
I have a picture to show you.
Does this mean anything to you?
No.
Is it related to Eric Spaggio's death? -Can we see the relics, please?
Now? -Yes.
They're in a safe above the sacristy.
And I assume you have the key?
Yes. Follow me.
The relics are only ever taken out for the ostensions.
The what? -When the saints' relics are displayed.
The room must stay below 12 degrees Celsius,
with 30 percent humidity.
These are the best conditions to preserve the relics.
Here we are.
The relics are in this safe.
I don't understand.
Camille,
make sure nothing is touched while I tell Courroyer.
Did anyone else know the combination?
No.
Even I struggle to remember it.
And you always have the key and the card?
Yes.
Could someone have stolen them?
Oh, I don't know...
Did you talk to the guys at the lab?
Yes, they're on their way. -Good.
Go home and tell your bishop that this is just the beginning.
Meaning?
This is "The first letter." There'll be more letters, more bodies.
Right.
I'll pass on the message to Bishop Erminia.
Thank you.
Father, what can you tell us about these relics?
Not much.
It's a piece of tunic, a medallion and a rosary.
Are they genuine?
The Holy See certified them on acquisition.
When was that? -I don't know...
In the '90s, perhaps. I wasn't here yet.
These objects, do they have healing powers?
Not really. But the pilgrims always have hope.
How many pilgrims pass through here a day?
A few dozen. -Can we get names?
Certainly not.
Our church is open to all.
What would you be looking for?
A guy who maybe visited more frequently than the others.
Someone a bit weird.
A bit worked up. Anything that stood out.
I'm counting on you. Thank you.
Courroyer, come with me.
Nobody touch anything up there, OK?
Detective!
Can I ask a favor? -Of course.
Can we try to be discreet about this disappearance?
The parish's reputation is at stake. -And your town's income?
Sorry? -Never mind.
Don't worry, Father.
We've no need to cause a scene.
But please do give the forensics team full access.
Everything will be fine. Thank you.
Oh Lord!
The moment of retribution has come.
And I gladly accept it.
But I beg you...
... spare the innocent your anger.
This place should do nicely. -It looks better, at least.
I hope they have locks on the doors!
We'll make sure.
Where are we with the pedophilia lead?
Nothing yet. -I knew it was a red herring.
Wait a moment. It's the lab.
Yes?
What? -You asked for a handwriting analysis?
Yes, and?
The expert thinks it was written by a child.
That fits with the pedophilia lead, no?
Go to Charleville and revisit the families.
How could a kid... -Could be the parents.
Call me.
Sorry I didn't wait. I was hungry.
So, what do we have so far?
One: a dead priest. Two...
a dead saint. Three: missing relics.
And this dumb word being spelled with bodies.
What's it all pointing to? -No idea.
I don't know what it points to.
But the priest, the kid and the relics must be linked.
And it's not spoiling your appetite.
Food fuels the mind.
What?
You've got to be kidding...
Camille!
Camille, do you have Wi-Fi?
Sir?
Sir!
Can you hear me, sir?
You OK?
What happened?
Can you help me up, please?
Gently, gently!
There you go.
Thank you.
Should I get you a doctor? -No. Just a painkiller.
I'm on it. -Thanks.
What have we got? -Nothing.
We've searched everywhere, questioned guests, staff...
You're the only one who saw him. -Felt him.
And it wasn't a kid. Where were you?
I had no Wi-Fi, so I came down here to work.
Did you lock your door? -Of course.
Well, I, for one, have some news.
The message material analysis. -What is it?
Well, it's not fabric.
Not even paper. It's unleavened bread.
What? -The bread used for communion wafers.
Only here, the texture's been treated to make it softer.
And the ink? -The ink is normal.
It's still being analyzed.
And the Saint-Renard kids? The relics?
Found anything yet? -Hang on...
You only briefed me a few hours ago... -OK, OK.
Did you check upstairs? -Yes.
I found this in my jacket pocket. Just like the first time.
"The second letter of the father's name is delivered." Right.
What does it mean? -There's a second body.
We've got to catch him. At this rate...
he'll keep slitting priests' throats, and we won't know why.
Father Benoît is here, waiting in the kitchen.
OK, thanks.
Do you never work?
You've made my job difficult.
My church is full of guys in blue
and surrounded by flashing lights. Very discreet!
We're doing our best.
There's a problem.
I asked my diocese about the relics.
I got no answer. They won't talk.
Oh, yeah? They won't talk, huh?
Rest assured that I can make them talk.
Calm down. You can't intimidate these people.
But I got some information about visitors to our church.
My vicar says there's this odd guy.
A mechanic. He has a garage on the road to Foulay,
a village some 50 kilometers from here.
What's odd about him? -First, he comes every day.
All that way. And he's very intense. -What do you mean "intense"?
His son, a kid of about 15, is dying of leukemia.
Simon Nicolaou, the dad, is hoping for a miraculous cure.
I checked.
He wrote to us often asking for an ostension of the relics.
Asking to see them up close.
My vicar believes he may well be capable of theft.
Do you have an address? -Yes.
He's in Foulay.
I don't know if it will be on your GPS.
Thank you.
Hello?
Wait a moment.
OK, I'm listening.
Yes, I heard.
No.
No, it's too risky.
We mustn't be seen together.
No! We should sit tight.
I...
Where are we with Spaggio?
Camille? -What?
Nowhere. We're waiting.
I haven't forgotten about Grigny, by the way.
I haven't heard anything.
You're lucky. The case lawyer is an old buddy of mine.
OK.
OK? Yeah, it's OK.
That's all you have to say? No "thank you"?
What the hell were you thinking? -Leave it.
I can't always clean up your mess. OK?
I didn't ask you to! -Sure.
And stop biting your... -Careful!
You OK? Camille!
Don't suppose you got the plate? -What?
The license plate. -Did you get the make?
No.
Just that it was a 4x4. -What was that, Niemans?
I have no idea.
It's a new car as well. Damn!
Do you think it still runs? -Yes, I think so.
That was for us, wasn't it? -No doubt.
And we can guess where from.
For God's sake!
I've got info.
On what? -Spaggio.
He did tours in Bosnia and Rwanda.
In '97, he was tried at the ICC.
I don't know the charge. -For being a nasty piece of work?
We'll have more in a few hours.
It must have been dismissed. A year later, he was a priest.
And Nicolaou crucified him because of an incident over there?
But the relics? I don't see a connection.
Maybe it was Nicolaou in the 4x4. -Well, let's go find out.
Anyone here?
This place is a dump. It's deserted.
Another nature lover. Look at this mess.
Who is this guy? -I don't know.
Is anyone here?
Niemans? -Yeah?
Come here.
Boss?
Yes.
What should we do with the tongue?
How should I know what to do with the tongue?
Go ask the Parisians! -Now?
Yes. Now. Go on!
No. Not now.
"The second letter of the father's name..." Maybe their initials?
Or those of the saint the killer's imitating.
I don't see how the pieces fit.
Here, the killer knew his victim.
He was looking for something.
It could have something to do with the sick kid?
No. You need to find a link between Nicolaou and Spaggio.
I asked our priest to come. Let's see what he says.
Officer, I have to tell you... -Later.
First, I need to show you something.
What happened?
Here.
Heavenly Father!
Heavenly Father...
Collect yourself, Father. I need your help.
Does this evoke another martyr?
Yes.
Saint Isidore.
Persecuted in the 3rd century under Valerian.
He wouldn't stop praying, so they cut out his tongue and beheaded him.
Legend has it he was buried
with his head in his hands, still praying.
Are there relics from this saint?
Yes, not far from here.
In Boissey church.
Good. Let’s get out of here.
Take it all to Charleville.
The coroner's expecting you. -OK.
Officer? -Yes.
I haven't told you the bad news. -There's more?
Michel Forget, the lawyer... -Yes?
He committed suicide today.
We found him hanging from a tree in his garden
on the outskirts of Charleville.
Shit. -And that's not all.
Who's this? -The diocesan lawyer, Michel Forget.
He was 63.
Do you realize what this means?
We've already met our killer. -Yep.
Meaning?
He assumed Forget's identity to throw us off course.