FRANKS, Bill

by JESUIT

  In the same cupboard, Clive spotted an unusual container, around six inches in height with a widening body to approximately twelve or fourteen inches circumference at the base. It resembled a bag of some kind and appeared to be made from leather or something like that. The smell of the container was of burnt timber. He removed the stopper, his hands protected by fine latex gloves, and sniffed. A bitter and unpleasant aroma invaded his nostrils causing him to recoil momentarily.

  “What do you make of this, Graham?” he asked. Moving to his colleague’s side, the Inspector sniffed at the bag, his mind trying to locate the scent from deep into his subconscious. It was like nothing he had previously encountered. He thoughtfully replaced the stopper and told the forensic boys to mark this one as urgent and to have it analysed as quickly as possible. “I strongly suspect that it’s another one of the Jesuit’s poisons,” he remarked to Clive.

  In a drawer, one of the forensic team found a batch of unusual implements, decided to be hypodermic syringes, beautifully fashioned, with dozens of carefully packed, small reed-like slivers next to them. They were carefully labelled and bagged along with all the other samples. The bed coverings were also removed and placed into larger plastic bags and, again, labelled.

  Having seen nothing to otherwise link the Jesuit with the victims, the detectives left. They decided to have a quick lunch in the canteen and then interview the prisoner. Ignatious had already said that he did not have a solicitor but accepted the services of a local one, suggested by Graham, although he did not really care if he was represented or not.

  By the time Graham had arrived at the interview room, fitted with all the necessary recording equipment, Ignatious’s solicitor, a Mr. Dennis McArdle, had arrived at the cells and taken brief notes from his client.

  Joined by Clive, Graham rang through for the prisoner to be brought up.

  Several minutes later, Ignatious was ushered in, flanked by two police officers and accompanied by his brief. Once everyone was seated, one of the officers left while the other remained close to the door, stood at ease, hands clasped behind his back.

  McArdle lit up a cigar, without first seeking permission, as Graham explained to Ignatious what they were about to do. The interview was to be conducted on a question and answer basis, recorded, and Ignatious was free to explain his actions in fuller detail if he desired.

  The recording equipment was switched on using two tapes, one for back up, and Graham began by stating the date and time and then detailing the names and ranks of those present.

  He then moved to the questioning.

  “Are you Brother Ignatious Saviour?” He looked into the Jesuit’s eyes and immediately regretted it. His head began to swim and he had a feeling of panic. Gathering himself together with some effort, he realised that, with this suspect, it would be better not to follow the normal pattern of studying the face for clues of lies and evasion, so he decided to direct his concentration more on the man’s chin. That way he would seem to be looking directly at the man and still able to glean something from the body language.

  “That is the name my Holy Order has bestowed upon me,” answered Ignatious. “And the one which will remain to the end of my earthly days. However, my first given Christian name was Gawain Hadleigh.” His attitude was calm and controlled.

  The questions went on to establish the Brother’s credentials; if he was, indeed, a true Jesuit priest and the dates of his entrance into priesthood and the brotherhood. The date of entry into Britain was elicited and the towns and villages visited, with dates and times given for each journey.

  Ignatious described his given mission with enthusiasm, adding comment that he intended to continue with it into the future. Graham thought wryly how much of a future that would turn out to be. He fully expected a life term to be handed down by the courts.

  “Can you say,” continued Graham, “that part of your mission is to end lives?”

  “My concern, Inspector, is to save souls rather than lives. Lives are merely a preparation for the hereafter and to judge the goodness or otherwise of the feeble person. Feeble, that is, as compared to the awesome might of the Lord.”

  Still directing his gaze to the Jesuit’s chin, Graham asked: “Do you believe, then, that those who do wrong go to a place called Hell in the next life?”

  Ignatious remained calm, conversationalist. “I believe, Inspector, that the souls of the good will enjoy everlasting contentment at the next stage. Enjoyment and contentment will not be as we on earth understand it, as we will not possess bodies and nervous systems. We will be entities with a greater power of the earthly brain. You see, Inspector, the brain is our entity in our human form and it controls everything. It is not fully understood, as it was in the times of ancient Egypt, Greece and China.”

  It seemed like a sermon, yet Graham was prepared to listen for as long as the Jesuit wished to speak. Such was the aura of the man. It may also elicit some hitherto missed clue. “And those who are considered to be bad?”

  “Nothing. Nothing at all. They die and their souls die with them. They have nothing.”

  “Will you be nothing, Brother? Killing is wrong; it is bad.”

  At that point, McArdle came to life. “Excuse me, Inspector. My client has not admitted any killings. Please withdraw the question and keep to what is proved or admitted.”

  Ignatious smiled and patted his solicitor’s arm. “Do not worry, Mr. McArdle. I freely admit to ‘killings’ as you put it; I send people to my Master. He craves the company of the good and the sorry and I merely send them to him. It is part of my mission. When I am instructed to comfort and to console, I see that as taking the physical form of comfort and also the spiritual. Spirits released are happy spirits.” He turned back to his inquisitors.

  The detectives exchanged quick glances. The Jesuit had clearly admitted killings and it had been recorded on tape! It was time to get to the hub of the matter.

  “Brother Saviour. You have just admitted to killings – in the plural. I would like, therefore, to ask you to be more specific.” The tapes whirred silently on.

  “Yes, Inspector. As you wish.”

  “Early in July of this year, the body of Kylie Johnson was found in a field in the district of Watford. She was ten years of age. Did you kill her?” Graham’s emotions were well under control. No matter the subject or the horror of it, this was professional police work and emotions needed to be held in check.

  There was neither sorrow nor delight in the Jesuit’s bland reply: “Yes. I did.”

  “Why?”

  “I happened to see her sat in the field picking daises and making chains with them. The day was so beautiful, the field colourful with flowers and the child, sitting, humming to herself, a wonderful example of beauty and innocence. The Lord wanted her.” Ignatious smiled at the pleasant memory. “I went to her and chatted awhile. She impressed me as a bright and considerate child. She spoke of her parents, grandparents, friends and neighbours and it was clear that she had a desire to help and please everyone.”

  “She did not attract you sexually?”

  For the first time, the Jesuit’s countenance showed some irritation. “Certainly not! I do not condone sex with children, even when it is part of a culture.”

  “Go on,” urged Graham.

  “I searched her arms for signs of immunisation and found a fairly recent scar on her upper left arm. I had with me a hypodermic syringe, filled with poison – Opium in liquid form – and I inserted it into the existing scar. The ‘needle’ I use is made from reeds as found in the Amazon. They are extremely fine and hollow down the centre. They cause no pain when being inserted. I injected into her and watched her soul slip from the human form and speed to the God Almighty.”

  The expression of ‘fond memory’ on the Jesuit’s face momentarily angered Graham but he quickly curtailed the feeling. “Did you have no conscience about taking the life of such a young, defenceless girl?”

  The Brother looked surprised. “Why, no. I have
just explained about human life, haven’t I?” He continued: “I replaced her clothing so that she would be discovered in a decent condition and I said powerful prayers over her. I also placed the feathers of the hummingbird next to her and this would speed her to her Heavenly destination. She is happy and contented. More happiness than you or I will ever know in this world.”

  The admission was good. It gave motive, however flawed that may be, method and description. It placed him there at the relevant time.

  “So, you admit the unlawful killing of Kylie Johnson?”

  “Well, unlawful by the dictates of the West. Yes, I admit it.”

  Mr. McArdle sat, spellbound, the presence of the priest having its usual effect and with the unabashed admittance of the crime baffling him. He was more accustomed to his charges lying, squirming and becoming violent.

  “Now, Brother,” started Graham, “We are investigating a number of murders in the general area and you are our prime suspect in all of them.”

  “Would you like me to explain the killings in the order that I did them, Inspector?” came the surprising comment.

  This man really was something new! Not only was he prepared to admit the crimes but also willing to help the interview along by openly volunteering the chronology of them.

  “I do a lot of good, you know,” said Ignatious, feeling that he was being viewed as some kind of monster. “The people I have met and comforted are decidedly happier after my visit. You will have found that out, won’t you?”

  Graham was becoming resigned to surprises being thrown at him by the remarkable Jesuit. Aside from the disturbing effect he had on everyone, he took his activities to be no less than normal and everyday. “Yes. I have been told of the benefits you have bestowed upon sufferers and I am fully aware of the effect you have on people. However, in my view, and in the view of any sane person, your wrongdoings far outweigh the good.”

  “Are you saying I am mad, Inspector?”

  Graham paused before answering. “No, Brother Saviour. I do not regard you as insane. I think you have been fully aware of your actions and fully in control of yourself when carrying out the deeds.” That was particularly for the tapes. There could be no plea for “balance of the mind being disturbed” or anything of that nature at a later date.

  Immediately returning to the subject, Ignatious began again to talk about the murders. “I relieved the poor girl from her suffering. The girl, Debbie, in the lovely Penn. She was grossly unhappy until she met me. I put her mind at rest, gave her confidence and then allowed her the greatest experience of all; I sent her to her Maker.”

  Ignatious went on to describe the meeting with Debbie, the words he had spoken to her and how he had carried out the killing. Admitting to having performed sex with the girl, he said that she needed the act in order to restore her self-esteem and to feel truly fulfilled. At the time she was ‘dispatched,’ as Ignatious put it, she was at the very height of contentment and perfect for the Lord. In reply to the next, obvious question, he had replied: “No, Detective Inspector, it was not from any sexual urge on my part. I merely granted her desires and carried out my duties to the Creator.”

  Without prompting, the Jesuit then moved on to his next victim, the unfortunate teacher, Lawrence Maddigan. By chance, he had overheard a group of schoolboys, lounging outside the school premises, chatting and giggling. The object of their attention had been Maddigan. One of the group had openly admitted having performed sex acts on him in return for a five, or ten-pound note, dependent on the act performed. Although Maddigan had tried to persuade him with the promise of more money, he had refused to ‘go all the way.’ The boys broke up on seeing the teacher coming from the school building.

  Ignatious approached Maddigan as he left the school gates and told him of the children’s conversation. Explaining his profession and the mission upon which he was engaged, Ignatious arranged to meet the teacher on the following day, to go for a stroll into the countryside where he would offer words of comfort and advice. He liked the man. He appeared as a genuine, warm-hearted person who had been saddled with an unnatural affliction and who was deeply troubled by it.

  On meeting as arranged, they had found a secluded spot where Ignatious poured out his wisdom, offering solace and encouragement, reassuring the man in his tortured mind. Finally, Ignatious had acceded to Maddigan’s request and secured him, naked, between two saplings. He had then fashioned a birch-type lash from the surrounding vegetation and proceeded to scourge the sinner until he was near to unconsciousness.

  The beating had been administered to the entire length of the body, front and back, including the genitals, causing deep lacerations and removal of some of the skin and flesh. As Maddigan slumped, groaning, Ignatious had decided that the teacher had been completely purged of his sins and so was ready and fit to meet the Lord. The body was so damaged that the insertion of the ‘needle’ into one of the lacerations, gave no sensation whatever. However, the poison, named by the Jesuit as Gelsemium, caused a short but spectacular reaction and Lawrence Maddigan hung dead in his bonds, at peace forever.

  “Was the attack brought about because the man was of a homosexual nature, rather than at his request?” asked Graham.

  Saviour looked surprised. “Why, no. A person’s sexual orientation means nothing to me.”

  “It didn’t bother you, then, that he abused little boys?” The hint of sarcasm could not be kept from Graham’s voice.

  “Yes. It did. However, it is not for me to judge and the man did seek advice. He was not happy with his urges. Same-sex activity is against the Lord’s wishes and intentions, of course. He created Man to procreate so that, with the numbers increasing throughout time, amazing developments could come about – as they indeed have – and an awareness of the Greater Being would become fully integrated into the soul.

  The nature of things is so designed that the female is attractive and acquiescent to the more dominant of the species – the male – and will bear him children. Males are designed by the Lord to impregnate as many females as is their wish, whilst females are designed to seek out as many males as they desire with the sole purpose of producing offspring. It is the development of various cultures and the unworthy dominance of many religions that have resulted in modern-day restrictions.

  The sexual act is engineered to be highly pleasurable and there is no wrong in using the act for that purpose, whether productive or not. Same-sex activity is brought about by flaws in the genetic make up, sometimes merely a psychological problem, and is therefore a mistake in nature and against what is normal. As such, it is, by definition, a perversion and an impurity, which the Lord cannot accept into His Kingdom.”

  “Do you believe, then, that genetically imperfect people cannot be received into Heaven?”

  “No. The good Lord will cure all, in the hereafter. That means, upon death, the soul of the afflicted is purified.”

  The interview was again slipping into a sermon and, interested though Graham was in the priest’s beliefs, he wanted to keep to the matter in hand. However, it gave an insight into the next murder, that of Mary Stewart.

  This time, the Jesuit related the events without slipping into any rhetoric. The woman was troubled, he’d calmed her, given her self-belief, then sent her to the Holy Virgin by injecting liquid Opium into her arm. He seemed to derive some pleasure from describing in detail the movements of the victim after the dose had been administered. On the question of the sexual activity, it had been as before; merely pandering to the sinners wishes, bringing to her “The Staff of God.”

  Thomas Singleton was, indeed, a sinner. A wretched man who had deserted his wife and daughter for another woman – his wife’s best friend! He had further sullied himself by indulging in sex in the marital bed. However, the death of his daughter had made him re-think his life and given him the notion that, had he stayed at home, she would now be alive. This was very hard for him to come to terms with and he suffered immensely from it. At the same time as bringing h
im contentment, Ignatious had decided that punishment was also due and so the poison given caused a more prolonged death, stage by stage.

  The silence of the other persons in the small room was total, all listening with fascination to the calm, controlled Jesuit as he described the murders. It was as though he was presenting a report to the Annual General Meeting of some multi-national company. Whenever Ignatious’s stare fell upon any of those present, whether the PC at the door, McArdle or Clive, they had the immediate urge to fall to their knees and beg forgiveness! Deliberately avoiding the Jesuit’s eyes, Graham managed to keep a clear head and was able to put the relevant questions at the proper stages.

  Finally, Ignatious reached the thirteen-year-old Emma Fairweather. Her mistake that day was to be a pleasant and pretty young girl. She qualified for God’s bosom on that alone. He had been so nice to her, so concerned and caring, and yet he had ended her life as easily as buttering bread. He’d even fixed her bike after she was dead! As with each victim, death had been administered by poison, but this time the substance was unknown, one that he had discovered when in the Amazon.

  Graham was glad to reach the end; the confession, excellent in content that it was, was disturbing. An intelligent and most unusual man who clearly did not see the wrong in what he had been doing.

  “Well, Brother Saviour,” he said, “if that is all, we’ll return you to your cell and arrange a hearing for you tomorrow morning.”

  As he went to switch off the tape, he was halted by the Jesuit’s next words: “But Detective Inspector, that is not all.”

  For a few seconds, Graham remained half out of his seat. Not all? The words slowly sank into his head. He sat and faced Ignatious, again carefully avoiding direct eye contact. All other eyes were on the Jesuit.