by De Freitas
“I am told you are looking for me,” said the old woman.
“Are you Mrs Paulina Balik?”
The old woman nodded, more with her eyes, than with her head.
“My name is Sheriff Amos. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions, Ma’am?”
“We keep ourselves to ourselves, Sheriff. We don’t like strangers coming around here asking questions.”
“I understand that, Ma’am, I am quite a private person myself. However, if you can assist me, I’ll be on my way. I wanted to ask you about Annamae Jackson. I believe she was a friend of yours?”
The old woman said nothing and just shook her head.
“Annamae Jackson, Ma’am… you are Simon Holman’s Godmother, aren’t you?”
Again there was little response. Sheriff Amos could feel his heart rate increasing. “Do you mind if I look around, Ma’am? Is that your car in that shed over there?”
“I think you should leave now, Mr Sheriff. You are not welcome around here.”
The old lady looked behind his shoulder.
Sheriff Amos turned around and squinted his eyes from the glare of his patrol car headlights. He could make out the dark silhouettes of a number of people who were standing near his car. Some were clearly holding shotguns.
“You do not have much time. Leave now and don’t ever come back.”
“Whose car is that under the shed, Mrs Balik?” he snapped back. “Is that the car you collected Annamae in? Tell me, how did you know she needed help that day? Tell me, how did you know?”
Sheriff Amos took a step back and looked up. Going into the side of the house, he could see a telephone line coming from a pole in the field.
“She must have called you! Idiot, what was I thinking? She did call you, but not from her house. She called you from Martha’s house, that is how she contacted you.”
The old lady reached out and grabbed the sheriff’s forearm. He felt an icy chill run through his body. She took a step towards him and tiptoed. She whispered into his ear, “You will not make it home tonight.”
Sheriff Amos pulled his forearm away, at the same time undoing the clip on his holster. He turned and walked towards his patrol car. He knew he was at an enormous disadvantage. The car’s headlights had him illuminated, he could see at least six figures standing around his car but they remained motionless. He approached the car with confidence, showing no hint of fear. Every sense in his body was tuned to his surroundings. There was a young man about twelve feet from the back of his car, holding a shotgun across his chest. The sheriff, head unbowed, stared at him. He turned and looked at the others, then got into his patrol car and drove off.
Visibility was terrible, the fog was dense in patches and it had started to rain. He could see only a few feet in front of his car. High beam made it worse and, as much as he wanted to get off the country road and unto the tarmac, he was forced to drive slowly through the fields. Visibility improved somewhat and he could see the junction with the main road up ahead. He turned onto it and headed into town.
The rain grew heavier and he still had to navigate the occasional bank of fog. Suddenly, as he came around a corner, he saw a figure standing in the road directly in front of him. He knew he could not stop in time, he swerved and lost control of his vehicle. Skidding off the road, he hit a fence post, the back of his car spun around and the car careered down an embankment and into the lake.
CHAPTER 23
The accident investigation report stated that Sheriff Amos lost control of his vehicle, skidded sideways on the wet surface and hit a fence post. The side impact resulted in him hitting his head on the upright metal frame housing the car door window. He was likely unconscious when his patrol car entered the water. The coroner’s report attributed the cause of death to drowning. Water and plant life from the lake, were found in his lungs, as well as an injury to the left side of his head, consistent with the impact described in the accident investigation report.
Deputy Blaine determined that Sheriff Amos had definitely gotten home safely after work. He had changed his clothes, had something to eat, and left his home. It was clear from his living room table that he had spent many evenings going over Annamae’s phone records. However, Deputy Blaine could find nothing that would indicate where Sheriff Amos had visited. Back at the office there was no mention of it in his work diary and he was not responding to a call coming into the station. Whatever made him leave that night, it was on his own initiative.
Sheriff Amos was considered ‘on duty’ at the time of his death on 28th September 1990. He was buried with full honours. Police from departments, both within and outside the state, came to pay their respects. It was a demonstration of the brotherhood that unites the force. Deputy Blaine stood in until a new sheriff was elected.
Robert and Beth had not only lost a life-long friend but also the main driving force behind keeping the investigation into their daughter’s death open and active. The lab in California found the DNA sample of the hair taken from Julia’s hand, when compared to Simon Holman, returned a 99.83% match.
Following the death of Sheriff Amos, the police were unwilling to commit any more department resources into investigating Julia’s death, despite the DNA evidence. Robert and Beth’s requests were completely ignored. The police were convinced that Annamae Jackson not only killed Martha Holman, but also Julia Osbourne and Linda Bernstein. In December 1990, both investigations were officially closed. For Robert and Beth Osbourne, this marked the end of their personal quest for justice. Without the support of law enforcement, they could not move forward. They continued to believe that Simon Holman murdered their daughter.
Simon continued to contemplate what he wanted from life. He enjoyed getting out of the house and made it a priority, every day, to wake at dawn and go walking through the fields at sunrise. There was something magical about this time. Something he could not explain about the inspiration he gained from being outdoors and witnessing the creation of another day. These slow walks inspired a new way of thinking. He was alone outside but without the feeling of loneliness. His thoughts became more positive and these walks to nowhere soon became planned routes with goals and times. Before long, he bought a pair of trainers and started jogging.
He decided, if he could not help himself, he would help others. He started visiting the elderly in the community and running errands. He made a ‘visit schedule’ and built a profile of each of them. For the elderly, after years of neglect, suddenly their birthdays had meaning again and holidays were celebrated. Simon introduced many of them to each other. They exchanged telephone numbers and met for lunch in town once a week at a local café. The original table booking was for just two people but, after a few months, the table ended up being reserved for over fifteen and Simon negotiated a senior’s discount for them.
One day, Simon met Mr Bernstein and when he heard what Simon was doing, he asked if his elderly mother could join them. Within weeks, Mr Bernstein had hired a mini-van to collect them every Thursday from their homes in the country and bring them all into town. It was the highlight of their week.
Often when he visited, instead of just sitting and having a coffee, he would encourage them to go for a short walk outside with him. Some adopted or bought a pet for companionship, their lives had purpose again and, for Simon, the positive change in their lives somehow transferred to his.
To this point, Simon had lived his life convinced he was the master of his destiny. With God’s help and hard work, he could achieve anything and take his life in whatever direction he willed. Slowly, he began to let go of this philosophy and the realisation set in that destiny was a more powerful force. Instead of thinking what he would do with his life, he developed an unshakable belief that things would turn out for the best and it was no longer about what he wanted.
Simon noticed this change that came over him and analysed why it was happening. Mar
tha had always told him about a universal law that was as certain as the law of gravity. She said, “What you put out in life will come back to you, good or bad.” Simon looked at the change he had brought to the lives of the elderly and became convinced that it was an example of what Martha spoke of.
Eleven months after the death of his mother, Simon decided to go to Sunday Mass. He arrived early, there were just a few other people, either sitting quietly with their eyes closed or reading. As the Mass progressed, Simon started looking around the church and, like visiting the elderly, he had a feeling that at this exact moment in his life, this was precisely where he was meant to be. The time came to go up and receive the bread and wine. As he walked up the aisle towards the Altar, a feeling of peace came over him and Fr. Mark held up the bread.
“This is the body of Christ.”
Simon looked up and suddenly he had a vision, he had swapped places with Fr. Mark. He was the one holding up the bread. This was the dream he had when he was asleep for sixteen hours… he was a priest.
Simon left the church and drove home with this vision of himself, it was never a career path he had considered but the image was clear and he could not get it out of his head. For the rest of the day, he could think of nothing else and he got little sleep that night. The following morning he called Fr. Mark and was told to come in and they could have a chat in his office.
“Very interesting, Simon. You sound certain.”
“I am, Father. I want to attend a Seminary.”
“I have little doubt you would be accepted into the Seminary from an academic point of view. However, to study for a degree in Master of Divinity is a minimum four year course, so you must be totally committed.”
“What Seminary would you recommend, Father?”
“There is one in St Louis called Kenrick-Glennon. It is highly thought of, with an outstanding history dating back to 1818. The course is expensive and you would need to pay for board as well.”
“As you know, Father Mom left me the house and Annamae also left me her home, I can start by selling Annamae’s property.”
“Simon, you are nearly twenty-four. Now, if you do this degree and find out later it is not something you want, you will be leaving at twenty-eight perhaps thirty years of age depending on your progress and it will be difficult then to start a new career. Are you absolutely certain this is what you want to do?”
“I am, Father.”
“Let me make some enquiries for you as to when the next course starts and the cost. I’ll get some literature posted to you, so you can see what life is like at a Seminary. When you have read up on that and done your own research, we will discuss it further. In the meantime, I want you to pray for guidance. This is a huge decision you are about to make.”
Fr. Mark knew the background checks done by the Seminary would reveal the police investigations into Simon. He immediately contacted the police and was told officially that all three investigations were now closed. The police considered that Annamae Jackson was responsible for the murders of Martha, Linda and Julia.
In February 1991, Fr. Mark accepted the position and became Bishop of St Louis. To the disappointment of many, he left the small church in Sidon, where he served for so many years. Two months later, in April 1991, Simon Holman’s application for a Master of Divinity course was accepted by Kenrick-Glennon Seminary. His first semester started on 15th August 1991.
Simon Holman was ordained a Catholic priest on 3rd May 1996. He was twenty eight years of age and was sent to Assumption Church on the outskirts of Dublin, Ireland. It was a small parish, where Fr. Michael Aaron, the current priest, was being reassigned. There was to be a six-week handover period, until Fr. Simon was fully comfortable with all aspects of running the parish.
Fr. Michael was a large man, horribly overweight, with multiple chins. He was only sixty-one years of age but he looked terrible. Fr. Simon wanted to make a good impression and tried his best to learn as quickly as possible from Fr. Michael. The church itself was in a state of disrepair. Many things had been neglected, the register showed a steady decline in attendances and there were no plans to sort out any of the outstanding issues.
After just three weeks, Fr. Simon soon began to wonder why he had been given this daunting assignment. He had visited Fr. Michael and could not help but notice the contrast between the condition of the church and the luxury that Fr. Michael had created for himself. On a number of occasions that he visited, the elder priest had appeared intoxicated.
Fr. Simon soon got to know a few of the young acolytes that assisted Fr. Michael during the Mass and he began to suspect that things were not as they should be. After four weeks, Fr. Michael moved to a nearby hotel in Dublin and Fr. Simon moved into the priest’s house. He came across many disturbing items, including discarded bottles of alcohol and pornography.
One of the acolytes related a truly horrifying story to Fr. Simon. It included not just graphic details of abuse but also the type of alcohol he was forced to drink and the pornography he saw. The amount of detail in the acolyte’s account meant his story could not be fictitious. This young boy had suffered terrible abuse at the hands of Fr. Michael.
Fr. Mark went to the hotel that Fr. Michael had booked himself into. It was one of the most luxurious in Dublin. Reception gave him Fr. Michael’s room number and he made his way up using the lift. Upon entering, he confronted the elder priest with the allegations. Fr. Michael laughed and had little remorse for what he had done. Fr. Simon looked at this unclean, grotesque man before him and imagined what the young boy must have been subjected to. Fr. Simon lost his composure when Fr. Michel advanced towards him and struck out hitting the elder priest with a punch directly to the eye. The older priest fell backwards and Fr. Simon, with the red mist truly descended on him, repeatedly struck the older priest on the ground until he was unconscious.
Fr. Simon stood up, he was shaking. He had never experienced this level of rage before. In fact, he had never even struck anyone before. His knuckles had blood on them. The elder priest lay on the floor, motionless.
Fr. Simon left the hotel and returned to the church. However, within a few hours, the police were at the church door and he was taken down to the station, where he spent the night.
The following day, the newspaper and TV were saturated with coverage of the incident and they quickly named him ‘the punching preacher’. The hotel lobby tape had been leaked, showing him leaving with blood on his clothes. There were pictures of Fr. Michael being taken out of the hotel by paramedics. The orbital bone around his eye was fractured and his face was a bloodied mess.
The public was very familiar with the allegations of sexual abuse by priests and many speculated correctly that Fr. Simon had taken matters into his own hands. For an institution that was obsessed with secrecy, this was impossible to cover up. By the evening of the next day, the story had worldwide attention. At the Vatican, an emergency meeting was held to discuss how the matter could be handled but there were no good answers.
Within the walls of the Vatican, little attention was paid to Fr. Michael’s conduct. Instead, the official view was that Fr. Simon had brought shame upon the church. The consensus of opinions was that he must be defrocked immediately and thrown out of the clergy. Yet they knew that this would make a bad situation worse. The public viewed Fr. Simon as a hero. Finally, someone had done something to these priests who, for too long, seemed untouchable by criminal or Canon Law. The Vatican was in full crisis management but their media arm did not know how to respond. All they could agree upon was that the young priest must be controlled and the best way to control him was to get him within the walls of the Vatican. With pressure from the Vatican, Fr. Simon was released by the Irish police and ordered not to comment when questioned by reporters. He was escorted to the church to collect a few belongings and taken to the airport where he was put on the first available flight to Rome.
To his superiors, Fr. Simon expressed his regret at the incident and stated he would like the opportunity to continue his vocation. The Vatican was well aware that Bishops and other members of the clergy, throughout the world, had received letters of support from their parishioners for the young priest. Being seen to take too hard a disciplinary line could well back-fire and the situation had to be managed carefully. Fr. Simon was given counselling and had to attend anger management courses. After six months he flew out of Rome.
On his arrival at Dublin airport, Fr. Simon was met by a few local journalists. However, he made it clear that the matter was now behind him and he had no comment. From the airport, he was taken straight to see his superior, the Archbishop of Dublin. Archbishop Donahue was a small, soft-spoken man. He had spent years trying to get Fr. Michael Aaron removed from Assumption Church. There had been numerous allegations against him and Archbishop Donahue felt terrible that he had not taken stronger action. However, Fr. Michael was well protected and knew many people in the hierarchy of the church. As soon as Archbishop Donahue heard what happened at the hotel, he knew exactly why Fr. Simon did what he did.
Archbishop Donahue did his homework on the young priest. He contacted Bishop Mark in Sidon who gave Fr. Simon a glowing recommendation. Archbishop Donahue had been initially due to meet with Fr. Simon months ago, when he first arrived in Dublin. However, due to illness he was unable to do so. After everything that had taken place, he insisted that the young priest come to see him immediately on his arrival. The meeting lasted for over an hour and Archbishop Donahue made it clear that another indiscretion, or misjudgement, would mean immediate removal from the parish and a return to Rome. Archbishop Donahue tried his best to come across as strict as possible but everything he had heard from Bishop Mark, he could see in the young priest.
