FRANKS, Bill

by JESUIT

  “No. While you have been chasing me, I have relieved another soul.” He sat back in the wooden chair, perfectly at ease, as he had been throughout.

  “Go on,” said Graham almost in a whisper.

  The priest smiled benignly. “My work is never at an end,” he said. “Another poor soul who came across my path needed my guidance.”

  “Can you name this person?”

  “Yes. He told me he was Andrew Clements, a drifter who hailed from the Midlands, down here seeking work. His marriage had broken up some months ago and his wife had left the area with his two young children, whom he adored. He confessed to having been forced to thieve at times in order to live but he regarded himself to generally be a good person.”

  What age would he be?”

  “Said he was thirty-six.”

  Graham sighed. “Okay, Brother, tell me what you can.”

  The usual story unfolded; a lost soul, unhappy, desperate for solace and overcome by the Jesuit in whom he was willing to confide his innermost secrets. It was suggested that they meet again early the following morning and go to a spot close to nature. Clements had suggested Woburn Safari Park, a place he had planned anyway to visit while in this district, reasoning that you couldn’t get much closer to nature than with the wild beasts. Ignatious had thought the selection perfect and readily agreed.

  It transpired that the couple had found a spot next to the fencing surrounding the park, out of sight of the main tourists, hidden by thick bushes, where Ignatious had listened, counselled and finally sent the man to Heaven, using the special poison discovered in the Amazon.

  At the end, Graham asked: “Is that everything, now, Brother?”

  “Yes. I have no more to say. You may now return me to my cell.”

  The audacity of the man was amazing. It was as though he was speaking to servants.

  Before leaving, Ignatious unnecessarily thanked his solicitor, as he had been no more than a spectator, but the thanks were sincere none-the-less. Two police officers escorted him, in handcuffs, back to the cells below.

  With the tapes now switched off, the conversation was about the cool unruffled attitude of the accused priest and the wicked murders he had perpetrated. Even McArdle joined in, confessing that he had never represented, if that could be the right description, anyone so willing to admit to the crimes and be so unconcerned about them.

  Later in the day, Graham and Clive returned to New Scotland Yard and began the task of collating all the evidence and putting it in order. This included transcripts of the recent interview. Besides the confession, solid evidence was now in hand and it was just a matter of how soon the case could be put to the Prosecutor and the CPS – The Crown Prosecution Service – for it all to be heard in court. The lab reports and the DNA evidence were expected within the next few days and then the emotionally taxing case could be brought to a conclusion.

  In the meantime, a call had been put to the management at Woburn Safari Park informing them of the possibility of a body being near to the perimeter and warning them that a team of police and forensic officers were on their way to the park as they spoke. It was late afternoon when the report came back that, despite an extensive search, a body had not been found, nor any clues that anything untoward had taken place.

  Clive arranged to meet Ignatious in his cell and hurried off to question him further. The Jesuit’s explanation that he had hidden the body just inside the fencing, where some of the animals roamed, irked Clive as it was given in a manner of mock surprise at having forgotten to mention the fact. He asked the priest if he would be able to remember the spot if taken to the park.

  “Oh, yes, Sergeant,” he replied. “I don’t forget things like that. I’m sorry if I have caused you any inconvenience, it just slipped my mind.”

  Clive did not accept the apology as genuine; he knew the priest was playing games with them. “We’ll arrange to take you there first

  thing in the morning,” he said, “and you’ll be handcuffed and under heavy guard,” he added.

  Getting back to Graham’s office, the pair discussed the new situation and calculated if there would be any possible chance of escape. They decided that, if the prisoner was ‘cuffed and properly guarded, it would be safe. It was considered that the animals could well find a dead body by its smell but, if that were the case, then an inspection tomorrow would be soon enough as the beasts would be caged at that time. Even if eaten, the likelihood would be that clothes and personal possession would remain – and the ever-present hummingbird feathers.

  They decided to call it a day and to get an early night for the excitement of the following morning. Just how exciting that would be, could never have been imagined. Graham went straight home to Bethany that evening.

  CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

  For the Sun to shine in Britain for five weeks in succession, coupled with temperatures up in the 70’s and 80’s, was tantamount to tropical climates. Already the tabloids were awash with such ‘expert’ forecasts as the country turning into a dust-bowl, with water becoming scarce and disease and pestilence ravaging the population. Palm trees sprouting up all over with exotic plants springing forth were also envisaged. Such was the novelty of weather that may seem normal in many other countries.

  The saving of water had been encouraged since the third week and now hosepipe and garden sprinkler bans were in force throughout the land. The populace was advised to bathe in no more than six inches of water and married couples and partners were urged to take a bath together, ignoring the possible risk of a population explosion!

  At six o’clock on this particular Tuesday morning, it was muggy, the air not having been able to cool from the intensity of the preceding weeks.

  Getting up early offered no problem for Ignatious, nor did the sultry weather. His time in the Amazons had conditioned him well. He walked elegantly between two police officers, shackled to the one on his left by handcuffs. The one to his right was walking so close as to have his left arm snug into the back of Ignatious’s right arm.

  As they walked into the yard from the cells, the low Sun bathed the priest’s face in a red glow, reflecting golden from his burnished skin. He raised his face to the life-giving planet and breathed in as though absorbing the rays into his lungs. The doors at the back of the van that awaited the party in the rear courtyard were wide open, revealing a posse of four prison officers, dressed in black, heavy looking trousers, black socks and highly polished boots, each sporting a bullet – proof vest. The only concession to the climate was that each sported a spotlessly clean, white shirt with short sleeves. However, a black tie was knotted in place, causing the wearer to experience a slight sensation of strangulation and ensuring fingers to be frequently digging into the collar to allow circulation of whatever air there was. To add to the officer’s discomfort, each was obliged to wear a protective helmet.

  With military precision, the prisoner was handed over to the officers in the van and the doors closed with an unnecessarily loud bang, followed by a couple of smacks against the doors to signal to the driver that the prisoner was aboard. Ignatious was just able to catch sight of Sampler and his assistant, Miller, in a car with its engine running, waiting to lead them to Woburn Safari Park, before the doors shut. He also took note that the woman, Dunning was with them.

  The windows of the van were darkened so that no one could see into it but they allowed perfect vision looking out. Ignatious was now handcuffed by his right hand to a steel rail running along the interior and he was placed between two officers once more. Looking through the rear windows, he noticed another van but was unable to identify it. In fact, it contained six forensic officers, ready to do a detailed search of the area where the body was to be found. Behind that vehicle, there came a police car, which served as an escort.

  The convoy began the journey, feeling confident that the roads would be relatively empty at that early hour and that was the reason for planning it. Even the very well used motorways that led to and from the Capita
l would make for easy travelling. And so it proved; they arrived at the Park within the hour, occupants of the M1 consisting mainly of heavy, slow-moving trucks that were passed with ease.

  Driving through the ready-opened gates, the party came to a halt and Graham got out. The gates were then re-closed. The Park would not be opened to visitors until the police crews had left.

  He was met by the park manager, a tall, slimly built man in his early fifties, a Mr. William Shankley-More. Streaks of silver-grey protruded from the otherwise impressively black hair and the brown, intelligent eyes oozed confidence. His handshake was dry and firm as he took Graham’s offered hand.

  “Good morning, Detective Inspector,” he opened. “Sorry that you have to visit us on such a distasteful mission. Most people come here for pleasure.” He smiled warmly.

  Graham took to Shankley-More immediately. “Yes. I’m sorry too. However, we hope to get this thing sorted very quickly. Our prisoner is an intelligent man who is not likely to waste our time.” He then asked: “Is it likely that a body could have been hidden inside there,” he pointed to the enclosure, “without the animals getting scent and going for it?”

  “Generally, I would say no. I would expect any animal to pick up the scent of a human, especially a dead one. However,” Shankley-More stroked his chin, “it is also likely that our Rangers would have spotted the extra activity that would certainly have taken place. Predators, you know. Of course, we keep the animals within their cages or compounds from late evening until morning.”

  “Well. Let’s get the thing done and dusted. How do you propose we go in, Mr. Shankley-More?”

  As he spoke, the manager signalled to his Rangers to come over with their vehicles. “As you can see, the Rangers travel in a canvas covered Jeep. There is also the Range Rover that you will observe, also canvas-covered at the rear and I suggest that you, the prisoner and up to six others follow in that.” He squinted his eyes as he looked at the other van and the police car. “Did you intend to have the occupants of the other van enter the enclosure?”

  “Yes.” Answered Graham, “They are the forensics team and they will want to sift the spot for clues.” That brought Graham to his main point of concern. “Will my team be safe, Mr. Shankley-More? I know you will have taken all precautions but, after all, these are wild animals.”

  “Oh, you have no need to worry on that score,” he said hurriedly, eager to assure. “The dangerous ones; the Lions and the Tigers will remain locked in until the search is completed. My Rangers will be carrying rifles with tranqilliser darts, anyway, and the animals have all been fed so they are more likely to be drowsy than anything else. The forensic people will be able to travel in their own van. Unfortunately, I have no other vehicles to spare as we have to keep two on stand-by in case of problems.”

  That being agreed, Ignatious was brought from the prison van and seated in the Range Rover, behind the front passenger seat, Graham next to him with Sallie and Clive immediately behind them. Two of the prison officers took up the two rear seats and the remaining officers made up the driver and mate.

  “Right, Brother Saviour,” said Graham, “How far in the enclosure is the body?”

  Ignatious was quite unruffled by the occasion. “About two miles, I would guess. I’ll be able to spot the particular bush under which I hid him; it’s quite distinctive. Just follow the Drive.”

  With that, the Rover trundled forward and into the enclosure, followed closely by the forensic van and escorted by the Jeep, which was driving on the short, grassy parkway alongside. The police car brought up the tail. Two Rangers closed and locked the gates as soon as the vehicles were clear and stood watching as they moved slowly along the route.

  There was a plentiful smattering of animals dotted about, mostly Gazelles of varying kinds grazing casually under the rays of the gradually warming Sun. Here and there could be seen a number of Giraffes, some Elephants, Zebras and a couple of Rhino’s. All went about their business in a quiet and unconcerned manner.

  The convoy had travelled only a hundred and fifty yards or so along the road, when they were halted by a group of docile-looking Antelopes that had wandered across the path. Instead of grazing, as they had been, all were looking towards the lead vehicle. The Rangers drove toward them, shouting as they went, with the intention of frightening the timid animals away. To their surprise, they remained where they were. Reacting to this, the Rangers inched the jeep forward until it was touching the nearest Antelope, nudging it gently out of the way. The convoy moved again, following the jeep and making a way through the assembled herd.

  In the distance could be heard the roar of the lions and tigers. To the experienced ears of the Park Rangers, the roars were more of a desperate kind; more disturbing. As they listened, still moving forward slowly due to the Antelopes re-grouping and persistently bunching in front of the vehicles, they noticed the Elephants and the Rhinos slowly ambling in their direction. It was something of a puzzle as the usual reason for moving towards visitors was in the hope of food and all had recently been fed. Sometimes, curiosity attracted the beasts to visitors but this movement seemed wrong somehow.

  Ignatious, from his position in the Range Rover, smiled; his mind was at work, disturbing the animals, encouraging them to a frenzy. Looking in the direction of the increasing sounds of the lions and tigers, he directed the two rhinos to the place. They trotted unhurriedly away from the convoy and in the direction of the big cats, watched idly by the Rangers as they became swallowed up in the mist that was rising.

  After making slow headway for about a mile, the vehicles came once again to a halt, this time due to a large Bull Elephant standing in the way, its little tail swishing and its trunk swinging left to right in an agitated manner. It began to stomp on one front leg then the other, trumpeting loudly as it did so, as if warning the crew not to go any further.

  The occupants of the Rover began to get nervous; this magnificent beast was, close-up, bigger than any of them had ever imagined. He was awesome! Just then, uncharacteristically, a Gemsbok Antelope leapt onto the bonnet of the Jeep, its hooves clattering against the warm metal. It stared into the cab for several seconds before leaping off again and bounding away.

  One of the Rangers fired a dart close by the Elephant’s head, knowing that, big as they were, Elephants were upset by noise. It had the desired effect and the beast lumbered slowly out of the way, snorting as it went, with its companion striding slowly behind.

  The noise of the Elephant and the increasing moaning and twittering of the Antelopes, drowned out more serious sounds coming from the direction of the Lion House and the Tiger House, out of sight of the convoy. Incredibly, the rhinos were putting their efforts into battering into the breeze block walls containing the cats, sensibly ignoring the steel of the doors. In no time, the bricks began to crumble and crack. Once the breach had been effected, the rhinos began to charge ever more frantically until, amidst dust and grit, a lion bounded forward, followed by another and another and yet two others, both female. Next appeared two beautiful, graceful tigers, roaring their pleasure at being freed.

  As if not quite sure as to what they were doing, the animals dashed back and forward with no particular direction in mind, running between the cumbersome rhinos. Then, as by a signal, they all paused in their activities, sniffing the air, contemplating the mixture of smells reaching them across the expanse of the Park. Then, purposefully, the dominant lion, with his impressive mane, trotted toward the convoy, as yet out of sight, followed by the remaining lions and tigers. The rhinos, also, began to lumber forward, taking a route a few feet to the side of the majestic beasts but still in the direction of the convoy.

  By this time, all the humans were in a state of nervousness at the unusual antics of the animals, a sense of danger in the air. The vehicles moved slowly on, Ignatious pointing to a spot a few hundred yards ahead where lay a cluster of thick bushes, indicating that that was where the body had been hidden.

  While the attention of the
crew of the Range Rover was focused on the bushes, they failed to notice the movement to their right as the big cats emerged through the now dissipating mist, with the rhinos trotting at an angle to them heading for the forensic van at the rear.

  By the time anyone realised, the rhinos had moved surprisingly fast and charged into the side of the van, sending it slithering off the road and into the perimeter fence. It struck with a loud screeching sound as it scraped along the chain links, temporarily out of control. The rhinos split, with one continuing to push the van while the other took a short run and barged again into the dented side of the vehicle, shattering the windows in a loud explosion.

  Inside, the frightened members of the forensic team were thrown together in a heap, those propelled from the point of attack groaning with their injuries. The two female members were screaming loudly, their panic getting the better of their attempted restraint. Men were screaming, also, in shock at the unexpected attack and out of sheer terror.

  Suddenly the rhinos ended their attack and charged at the police car, which was turning to speed back to the entrance gates. Both hit the car in unison with tremendous force, causing it to bounce into the air before landing on its side with wheels spinning and the engine roaring harshly as the drivers foot became jammed by the damaged door onto the accelerator pedal. The car slithered along the grass before turning on its head only to be battered again and rolling like a falling boulder to come to rest once more on its head, the wrecked doors flying open. The policemen, trapped in their seats, were knocked unconscious.

  Back at the damaged forensics van, one of the lionesses had trotted over, attracted by the sounds of pain and the smell of humans. Leaping onto the side of the vehicle, it looked through the broken windows to see a gang of writhing people, each trying to back through the steel wall away from the impending danger. A large paw reached in and slashed across the nearest victim, spilling his innards in a delayed gush of blood. The attempted scream never materialised as the lioness dug her head in and pulled the man from the van. In a frenzy, it tore and bit at him until he was shredded over the van and the surrounding grass. Immediately, the 400-pound animal squirmed its upper body into the opening of the broken windows and began to slash with its claws and bite wherever it could. It then slithered back from the van and onto the ground, a no longer struggling woman in its mighty jaws. For several minutes the magnificent lioness chewed at the flesh and bones of the two forensic officers, before rising, sniffing the air and then trundling off to meet the pride. It had left two alive, though seriously injured.