by Robert Innes
Callum rolled his eyes. “Yes, I’m coming. I’ve just chosen to spend a few minutes with my new boyfriend, if that’s alright with you?”
“How touching,” Jennifer said briskly. “I hate to break up this romantic moment, but Father Croydon wants to know where you are, so if you would? The bishop is here and we need to be ready!”
Without waiting for a reply, she turned on her heels and disappeared through the old wooden door leading out to the church tower.
Harrison shivered. The wind was starting to blow, and in the few moments that he hadn’t been looking out over the horizon, the skyline had turned even more tumultuous, with dark menacing clouds really starting to gather.
“I didn’t feel the cold till she came out,” he said lightly.
“She’s in a foul mood. Mind you, I think I would be if I was being accused of murder, wouldn’t you? Did you see the paper?” Callum asked, lowering his voice.
“Yeah. Do you really think she did it?”
“She’s the only one with an axe to grind over anybody. And frankly, she’s that much of a miserable cow I wouldn’t put anything past her. God knows how she did it though, or what Daryl did to deserve it. I’m surprised she’s showing her face in public at all. I wouldn’t be.” He pulled Harrison in for another brief kiss. “I’ve got to go. Are you staying around? It’s not a long service, I promise. We can maybe go back to yours afterwards?” He raised one eyebrow, a mischievous glint in his eye.
Harrison grinned again. “How can you stand there under God’s watchful eye with such sinful thoughts in your head?”
“It’s a gift.” Callum shrugged. “You staying?”
“Yeah. So long as I won’t distract you too much?”
“You can distract me all you like,” Callum said, giving Harrison that addictive smile.
Twenty minutes later, Harrison was sat at the back of the church. He had never been a religious person, so listening to the, what he considered to be, dreary organ music, and watching all the pomp and ceremony of the confirmation service, it wasn’t very hard to work out why.
As the organ came to a musical crescendo, a procession began to proceed down the aisle, with Callum leading the way, holding a tall golden crucifix. As he passed Harrison, he winked, then turned his head back forward. Behind him was Timothy Croydon, looking resplendent in a long flowing cassock that looked much younger than the man wearing it. Beside him was a younger looking man, who, judging by the red and gold mitre on his head was the bishop who Jennifer had been so keen to impress. Jennifer herself was walking slowly behind the bishop, but her head was bowed. She looked incredibly uncomfortable, and as she made her way with the procession down the aisle, Harrison could see why.
The congregation was full to bursting with people. Harrison had assumed that this was the norm for an apparently special service, but as he looked closer at the crowd in front of him, he realised that they were all whispering at one another, and throwing Jennifer outraged and furious accusing looks.
An elderly couple just in front of Harrison leant towards each other as the formation passed them. “Don’t know how she’s got the nerve to show her face in public.”
Her husband nodded in agreement. “I didn’t think she’d actually show up!”
From this, Harrison came to the conclusion that the huge audience for the service was simply to gossip and gawp. When Daniel had died, Harrison had found himself as suspect to his murder, so despite Jennifer’s cold persona, he felt a huge pang of sympathy for her – he had been on the receiving end of some of the looks she was getting, and it wasn’t a nice feeling. However, after everything Callum had told him about the deaths in the church, and the bad feelings between Jennifer and the two ladies that had died, Harrison was struggling to see how the murderer could be anybody else.
The organ music came to a finish and the service began. Harrison watched as Callum bowed his head nonchalantly at the bishop, and moved to the side of the altar to his seat, placing the crucifix in a holder as he did so.
The bishop stood up and in a low, drawling voice welcomed everybody to the service, commenting on how nice it was to see such a packed congregation. Harrison doubted he had any clue as to the real reason why there were so many people there.
The service continued, but throughout all the young congregates stepping up for their confirmation, the low rumble of voices amongst the congregation never faulted. As time went on, Jennifer Greene never looked up unless she was required within the service.
Once all the confirmations had been completed, a group of them gathered at the altar and kneeled to be given communion. Harrison was just watching Callum go round with the wafers and wine when the doors to the church creaked open. Harrison glanced at the door and was surprised to see Blake stroll in, followed by Gardiner. The low rumblings of whispers amongst the congregation grew louder as people in the church realised the police arrived. Harrison, along with the majority of the congregation turned to see Jennifer’s response. She looked up and her face of malcontent at Blake’s entrance apparently told the congregation all it needed to know.
“Look at her!” said the woman in front of Harrison, not even bothering to keep her voice down now. “If that isn’t the face of a guilty woman, I don’t know what is!”
Harrison leaned forwards. “You know, it is innocent until proven guilty.”
The old couple turned back to Harrison, disgruntled and surprised. “Oh, she’s a murderer! Look at her – and why else would the police be here? You mark my words.”
Blake stopped at the back of the church behind Harrison and watched as the communion continued. Jennifer apparently couldn’t take any more hassle from the congregation, who now were talking loudly amongst themselves, and the odd jeer had even started to ring out over the buzzing noise amongst them. She stood up, bowed briefly at the bishop, and started making her way towards the back of the church, almost knocking Callum, who was in the middle of tipping the wine goblet towards someone’s mouth, forwards over the altar.
The noise from the congregation became more discernible.
“She’s making a run for it!”
“She knows she’s been caught!”
“I hope the papers tell us how she did it.”
“Why would you run if you weren’t guilty?”
Jennifer stopped as Blake, watching her carefully, began to walk down the aisle with Gardiner, looking as stern as Harrison remembered him, following closely behind. With the noise in the church now at deafening levels, Harrison glanced at Callum who looked at him with his eyebrows raised.
“Excuse me! Can we have a bit of calm please?” shouted Timothy over the noise, and looking extremely upset, glancing at the bishop who looked outraged. “Please! Ladies and gentlemen, a bit of decorum!”
Jennifer made her way round to the front of the altar and looked out at the congregation, with a pleading look in her eyes. “Please!” she cried. “It wasn’t me! I didn’t do anything to those people!”
“Even the papers know it was you!”
“That poor family who’s lost their son!”
“You’re evil!”
“What are you waiting for?” somebody shouted at Blake. “Arrest her!”
The bishop stood up furiously and muttered something into Timothy’s ear. Timothy looked absolutely pale and looked like he had started to sweat. “Ladies and gentlemen!” he shouted. “Please! Control yourselves! Leave her alone!”
Blake stepped forwards and held out a hand towards Jennifer. “Jennifer, I’d like to speak to you. Would you come with me please?”
A nasty jeering cheer rumbled round the church.
“No, please! Detective Harte!” Timothy exclaimed. “I’m sure you don’t –Jennifer hasn’t-”
But then he stopped speaking mid-sentence. As suddenly as the noise amongst the congregation had risen, it was silenced. Harrison stood up, craning his neck with a frown to see what was happening.
“Father?” Jennifer said, turning towards him. Bu
t it didn’t seem like Timothy could hear him. Suddenly, he spluttered, clutching his chest, and keeled over, landing hard on the cold marble floor beneath him. A huge collective gasp reverberated around the church.
“Granddad!” Callum yelled, dropping the silver goblet with a clatter and rushing to him.
Blake ran forwards. “Out of the way!” he shouted. He knelt by Timothy and pulled his radio up to his lips. “Ambulance required at St. Abra’s church, immediately. Suspected heart attack, repeat, urgent medical assistance required at St Abra’s church, over.”
The radio crackled in response, but over the noise of the congregation, it was impossible to hear.
“Did you hear that?” the old woman in front of Harrison said to her husband. “Heart attack! She’s done it to the vicar now!”
Harrison had had enough of the events being commentated by the gossiping old couple so he stood up to see what was happening for himself.
Blake was now kneeled by Timothy, while Callum stood over him, looking horrified and shaking. Harrison rushed over to him and gripped him tightly.
“Harrison- I can’t lose him, what’s happening to him?”
“It’s going to be okay,” Harrison said sharply, though looking at the old vicar, he wasn’t quite sure he believed what he was saying.
“Father…” Jennifer knelt down besides Blake and gripped Timothy’s hand.
“Jennifer, stand back,” Blake said firmly.
But as Blake went to move Jennifer away, Timothy grabbed her hand and pulled her forwards, convulsing in pain. “Jennifer – argh! - Jennifer…”
The whole church went silent as Timothy pulled Jennifer closer, only able to manage a whisper.
“Jennifer -tell him-confess!”
He cried out in pain again, his eyes glazing over, before his head fell backwards into Jennifer’s arms. Another huge gasp echoed round the church from the horrified gathering crowd as Timothy Croydon closed his eyes.
Blake’s mind whirred as he and Gardiner shepherded the crowd from the church outside, and out of the way of the paramedics. As they rushed inside the church, Blake watched Harrison holding tightly onto Callum, who seemed incapable of speech, and had his head nestled into Harrison’s shoulder. Maybe Timothy had been right, Blake thought glumly, when he had said that the two of them had so much in common. Harrison knew what it was like to lose people close to him and there was nobody better to deal with Callum’s grief if Timothy didn’t make it.
The question of whether Timothy’s heart attack was deliberate or just from natural causes was the only thing on the crowd’s lips. They were all ignoring Gardiner telling them all to keep right away from the church entrance, and gossiping amongst themselves. Blake could hardly blame them as this was the very thought that was going through his own mind. They had all seen him clutching his chest and keel over. He had also clearly been feeling pains in his arm, which would suggest to all intents and purposes that it had just been a tragic heart attack, but at this point in such a bizarre investigation, Blake wasn’t sure what to believe.
Jennifer was sat on her own, away from the rest of the crowd, on one of the stone steps staring out into space.
“Oh, I hope he’s alright.”
Blake turned behind him to see who had spoken to him. Jacqueline was stood there, wearing a pink chiffon dress that didn’t go with her dark crimson hair.
“He’s in safe hands,” Blake said, trying to usher her towards the rest of the crowd.
“That man knows my deepest and darkest secrets,” Jacqueline said thoughtfully. “And he’s a lovely man. I’ve told him about some of my little – well – let’s call them liaisons with the odd gentleman, and he’s never had a cross word to say.”
“He’s hardly going to judge about a few one night stands is he?” Blake said as he moved Jacqueline away from the door. “Two single people can do what they like can’t they?”
Jacqueline went slightly red. “Well, not all of them have been single,” she said quietly. “But I can’t help it if someone’s marriage isn’t working. I don’t have anything to be ashamed about, do I?”
Blake rolled his eyes as he led Jacqueline to the crowd.
“Hello, Michael,” Jacqueline said, smiling flirtatiously at Gardiner. “I had a lovely time last night, we must do it again.”
Gardiner cleared his throat awkwardly and continued pacing around the crowd.
Blake stared, stunned at the pair of them, and then at Gardiner’s neck. But before he could consider the possibility that Jacqueline was the reason for his love bite, the church doors were flung open, and the next moment the paramedics were rushing Timothy’s lifeless body out of the church and towards the ambulance. Blake looked up at Callum expecting him to rush towards the ambulance and demand to go with them. Instead, he just closed his eyes, moved away from Harrison, and walked back into the church.
“Callum?” Harrison called, but by that point the doors to the ambulance had already been slammed shut, and it quickly sped away with its sirens blaring.
Blake made his way towards Jennifer, who glanced up at him, looking dazed. “Shall we go Jennifer?”
“I-I need to see if Father Croydon is alright,” she mumbled, appearing disorientated.
“He’s on his way to the hospital and they’ll do the best they can for him,” Blake said, not unkindly. “But me and you really need to talk, don’t you think? And I’m sure you’d like to get away from all of this lot.”
He nodded his head towards the crowd, which now the dramatic events were coming to an end had begun to disperse, but accusing looks and comments were still be thrown at Jennifer as they left.
Jennifer stood up without another word and walked with Blake back to the police car.
“I hope they throw away the key!” snapped a voice from the crowd.
Gardiner stepped forwards. “Any more like that from you, and you’ll be the one in a cell!” he snarled.
The congregation sidled off, still mumbling to each other, but without any more barbed comments being heckled.
“Thank you, Michael,” Blake said quietly. “Don’t forget to keep your neck covered.”
Gardiner quickly pulled his collar up as they put Jennifer into the back of the car and closed the door. Blake exhaled as he watched the crowd walk away.
“I don’t even know what to think any more,” Blake said quietly to Gardiner.
Gardiner shook his head. “Neither do I. What did Croydon mean? What does he want her to confess to? His death?”
“I don’t know,” Blake said. “But whatever it is, she’s going to do it by the time we’re done interviewing her.” He paused, then said, “Strange how Croydon’s grandson didn’t want to go with him in the ambulance, don’t you think? He seemed upset enough when it was happening.”
Gardiner shrugged. “Maybe he couldn’t face it. Not like he could do a lot anyway, is it? Best to let the paramedics deal with it.”
“But his granddad had an angina attack not long ago.” Blake frowned. “Wouldn’t you be terrified that this could be something more serious?”
“I don’t know how these kids’ minds work these days,” Gardiner grumbled. “Maybe he wanted to pick something out of the church for his granddad. Shall we go?”
Blake conceded that was a possibility, but it still seemed strange to him.
As he opened his passenger side seat, he turned back to the church and watched as Harrison walked back inside after Callum. The way Harrison had been comforting him told him everything he needed to know about where their relationship was since yesterday. His last thought before climbing into the car was that he hoped that whatever happened between him and Callum, Harrison was treated better than he had been before.
Blake and Gardiner watched through the one way mirrored window as Jennifer sat in the interview room silently, her hands crossed and looking down with her eyes closed.
“What’s she doing?” Gardiner asked quietly.
“Praying, I assume,” Blake replied.
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“Would an innocent woman pray?” Gardiner pointed out.
Blake paused as a thought that had been bothering him since they had been at the church all of a sudden clicked into place in his head. “Possibly. Come on.”
They walked into the interview room. The sound of the door opening made Jennifer jump but she didn’t say anything as Blake and Gardiner sat down in front of her.
“Do you want your solicitor present before we begin?” Blake asked her.
“I have all the representation I need,” Jennifer said, glancing upwards.
“Okay,” Blake said. He leant across the desk and clicked the recorder on. “Interview commencing at 16:56. Present are myself, Detective Sergeant Blake Harte, Sergeant Michael Gardiner, and Jennifer Greene.”
He paused, then crossed his hands together, thinking about how to form his first question.
“Okay, Jennifer. You know why we’re here.”
“I told you everything I know when you interviewed me the other day,” Jennifer responded calmly. “I just want to see if Father Croydon is alright.”
“He’s being cared for in the hospital,” Blake said. “If anything changes, then we’ll talk about it then. But, as you brought up the Reverend Timothy Croydon, let’s talk about your relationship with him.”
Jennifer mouth thinned slightly, but she didn’t reply.
“How long have you known him?”
Jennifer hesitated. “A long time. I don’t know how long.”
“At a rough estimate?”
“I couldn’t tell you.”
“Try.”
Jennifer didn’t say anything. She just stared at Blake. It was all he needed to push forward with what he was thinking.
“You see, Jennifer, there’s something bugging me about your relationship with Timothy.”
“Such as?” she asked quietly.
“When we were in the church earlier, and Timothy had his heart attack, there were two people in the church, out of everybody there, who were more terrified and upset than anybody else. One of them was Callum, his grandson. Understandable, I think, don’t you? For Callum to be upset? I mean after all – we’re talking about his granddad. Somebody who’s raised him pretty much all of his life and been there as a constant parental figure in absence of everybody else. So I could understand why he’d be so scared and emotional about this, can’t you?”
