In this chapter, we learn that Thomas has been found covered in blood at the scene of the murder, and that he is carrying the ancient weapon known as the witchblade, which was once used to kill a priest. Thomas realizes that he must be the murderer, but he does not deny that he was found at the murder scene covered in the priest's blood. He is sorry for being a "screw-up" detective, and he promises to "handle cruella" in the courtroom in a manner that will "fix everything" . Thomas is glad to see that the "witchblade" is still in use, because the priest was supposed to find a "rapture" and "hope to the hopeless" , but the priest has stopped writing, and Thomas is in "considerable pain" at the thought that he will not be able to see the rapture. He tells Thomas that the only reason he still has it is because there is "worse to come," and he asks Thomas if he was the one who wrote the symbols on Judge's wall in his own blood. Thomas replies that he did not understand the details of the case, but when the police arrived and pointed guns at him, he was able to glean the identity of the next intended victim.