Gilda's Church

**Gilda's church** is one of the locations you can investigate during the Angel of Death story. One of the suspects, Gilda Berger, is a member of their small community. You can gain access by reading the Killer Case file given to you by Busset. (It may have been in *Police Report, Victim 1* - unconfirmed)

It appears to be located on the middle of the map. \*Unconfirmed if this is random or not\*

## Transcript

You’ve been studying the outside of the church for a few minutes now. It’s fairly recent, square with sharp edges… grey and ugly. This is where the congregation of one of your subjects, Gilda Berger, gathered… You get out of your taxi and climb the few steps to the front door. Despite how late it is, it’s slightly ajar. You go inside. The nave stretches out before you. There are a few people sitting in the pews… lots of women by themselves. By the look of their clothes and their ages, you’re pretty certain they’re cleaning women. In just a few minutes, they’ll leave to take the bus or metro to clean offices all over Paris. Your eyes is drawn to a very primitive and colourful wall-painting on your left. In front of you stands the altar and behind it, a man who appears to be the priest.

(Walk towards the altar.)

(Walk along the wall to your left.)\*\*

You walk across a row of pews. As you get closer, you quickly notice a symbol painted above the people in the painting. A stylised fish. Just like the one you saw in the photo of the first crime scene. [CLUE]

PÈRE: May I help you?

You turn around. The priest is right in front of you. He must be about forty. Lean and athletic. A slightly deviant expression of his face.

HOUSSINE: Hello…

PÈRE: Yes… Are you looking for something?

« What is this symbol? » \*\*\*

« I have a few questions for you. »

« I’m just looking around… »

He cocks his head to the side.

PÈRE: The fish? It’s an ictus. One of the earliest Christian symbols. It was a discreet way of recognising one another. [CLUE]

HOUSSINE: What’s the link between a fish and…?

He cuts you off briskly.

PÈRE: It’s an acrostic…

He lets a little time go by, just to make sure you know you have no chance of knowing what it is.

PÈRE: A sort of acronym, if you will, like WWF or USA.

More silence, even more condescending than before.

PÈRE: In Greek… ancient Greek, it means… Jesus Christ, so of God, Saviour. It’s a secret code.

He takes a step back.

PÈRE: But I doubt you came her to learn about Christian history. What are you really here for?

« Am I not allowed to be here? » \*\*\*

« I have a few questions for you. »

« I’m just looking around… »

PÈRE: Our doors are always open to BELIEVERS… I simply ask that you not disturb the peacefulness of daybreak.

You resist the temptation to punch his brains out.

PÈRE: We have a very tight knit community and our bonds are very strong…

He holds one hand out to indicate the exit. Like the drop of an axe, he says…

PÈRE: I wouldn’t want to keep you.

Don’t make a scene. Don’t draw any attention to yourself. You make a U-turn and walk towards the exit. On your right, the wall-painting depicts a crowd of believers looking at various scenes. It reminds you of the movies. The drawing style is simple and almost childlike. The colours are gaudy. Like it was pained by a nine year-old. You look down. As you leave the church, so you don’t lose your temper, you concentrate on the floor tiles. They’re chequered. Black and white. You slam the door shut behind you. … Back in your cab. Back to breathing normally. You smile as you think about something your boss said… “This taxi is your fish bowl.” He’s right about that. Key in the ignition. Motor running. Heat on. Radio on. You drive far away from the church.