by De Freitas
“Mom, you remember the day after Julia died? I went to her house after school and the sheriff had a medical examiner look at me. It was him that checked my head and hands for cuts. He argued with Sheriff Joe at the time and insisted that I could not have killed Julia. He defended me.”
“Are you sure it was him?”
“He is a demon. He is aware that I know he is a demon whilst others do not. I was so scared at the time. This is what gave me nightmares for so many months. However, at church I found books and learned about demons and possession.”
“What did you learn?”
“They are evil but powerless in the spirit world. They roam amongst us, desperate to find a body. They target the spiritually weak, the drug and alcohol addicted and the non-believers.
“When they find a body, they will try to take as much control of it as possible but the individual will resist and there will be an internal battle. The fight can go on for the entire life of the body. On most occasions, it sends the individual insane.”
“Is this what happened with the doctor?”
“I do not know what happened to him, but I know he has been driven out from that body and the demon has total control.”
“Do you know what the demon wants, Simon?”
“I don’t know his purpose, but it is not to harm me.”
Martha held Simon’s hand, she was frightened to ask. “That day after Julia’s death, was it the last time you saw him?”
“Yes. Mom, that was the last time, but I sense he is never far away. He has a definite purpose.”
“How can you be so matter of fact about this, Simon? I am scared just listening to what you are saying.”
“Mom, I have spent so much of my life being afraid. I have lived with a level of fear you would not understand. I decided a few years ago to try and conquer it. I have not succeeded completely, but I no longer live like I used to.”
“I love you so much, son. Now let’s say prayers, it’s late.”
Martha went to bed later that night and thought much about what Simon had said. She decided she could not put if off any longer and it was time to confront Annamae. After dropping Simon at the bus stop, she invited her over for a coffee the next morning.
*
“Hi, Annamae, I must ask you something. Sheriff Amos came here. He had a photo of Dr Brockman and he told me he showed it to you but you said you did not recognise him. Is that correct?”
“That is correct, and you should have told him the same thing.”
“Why do you say that?”
“He is nothing but trouble for us, Martha. He is just pretending to be looking into Brockman, but he is really looking into Julia’s death.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Oh, Martha, you are so naïve. Julia’s parents have been spending months trying to get Simon arrested. That sheriff is their good friend. He and Julia’s parents are going around asking a lot of questions. I take it he conveniently forgot to mention any of this and just focused on Brockman’s photo, right?”
“Who told you that, Annamae?”
“Martha, I go out a lot more than you do and I speak with people. All you do is attend church and go to the grocery store. I’ve seen him in town with Julia’s parents, they are always together. Be very careful what you say to him, he is trying to trap you. They have not given up on going after Simon.”
“He told me Dr Brockman’s real name is Brookman. That explains why I could never find him and in Dr Brookman’s journal he had your address. Why would he have your address Annamae?”
“Wow! You actually believe him, Martha?”
“Well, yes.”
“You really need to wise up. This sheriff has spent his life tricking innocent people and forcing confessions and he is good at it. Think about it; the sheriff before failed to get Simon arrested. This guy would look like a real star and he doesn’t care if Simon is innocent or not. What he wants, when he retires, is to run for governor. Solving Julia’s murder would give him lots of publicity.”
“Annamae, let’s forget everything about the sheriff. I know for a fact I saw Dr Brookman come out the door when we were in the hospital. You denied it then but I know what I saw.”
“I think you are really letting your mind run away with you. I don’t think it was him and you thought it was – big deal.”
“Tell me, how did Dr Brookman end up being there the night Simon was born?”
“You will remember there was just me and a few concerned neighbours from around the area in that room. None of us could have performed a home birth, so I called the hospital and explained your situation. They told me not to attempt to bring you in, they would send a doctor straight away and that was who they sent. Look, take my advice and stay far away from that sheriff, or you will end up regretting it.”
Annamae left shortly after and Martha sat at the breakfast table, thinking the conversation through. This was the first time in her life that she had trouble believing her sister. She decided to turn to the only person she knew she could trust, but first she needed to make a phone call.
“Good Morning! American Medical Association, how can I help...?”
“Hi, Father, it’s Martha.”
“Hello, Martha. How are you?”
“I’m fine, Father I just wanted to have a chat. Are you busy tomorrow, or can we meet for lunch?”
“Hang on, let me check my diary. I’m taking Mrs Johnson to the doctor but I only need to drop her off and her daughter will collect her, so I could meet you about 12:30pm.”
“That would be great, Father. Same café?”
“Yes, if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all, I’ll see you there tomorrow.”
*
“Hi, a table for one, Ma’am?”
“No, actually I am meeting someone here. Can I get that table over there in the corner, please?”
“Sure, would you like to order drinks to start with?”
“I’m not sure – perhaps. I’ll wait a few minutes. Actually, there he is just coming in the door. I’ll take a coffee please.”
“Hi, Father. The waitress is just taking a drinks order. What would you like?”
“I’ll have a glass of orange juice to start with please.”
“So, Martha, how have you been? And how is Simon getting on at university?”
“Oh, he’s doing great. Lots of assignments to complete and lots of study.”
“I’m happy to hear that. I met him in town the other day and he introduced me to Linda. She is quite an attractive girl.”
“Yes, he told me they were dating now. In fact, I met her for the first time recently when she came over and stayed for dinner. She made a good first impression, I liked her a lot.”
“That is great to hear, Martha. I’m so pleased for him.”
The waitress approached the table. “One cup of coffee and a glass of orange juice. Would you like to start with the soup?”
“Yes, that would be great. Thanks,” said Martha.
“Well, Martha, what’s on your mind?”
Martha shared with Fr. Mark everything she had been told by Sheriff Amos, as well as her conversations with Simon and Annamae.
“So, Fr. this is why I wanted to speak with you; you’re the only one I trust.”
“Thank you, Martha. So, let me get this straight: if the American Medical Association has confirmed everything Sheriff Amos is saying about Dr Brookman, why would Annamae try to convince you otherwise?”
“I don’t know, Father. There must be a connection between her and Dr Brookman, but I’ve no idea what it is.”
“Martha, are you planning to ask Sheriff Amos if he is actively looking into solving Julia’s murder?”
“Yes, I think so.”
“Simon is due to stop by the church this week to help me move some furniture. Do you mind if I discuss what you have told me with him?”
“Not at all, Father. I think he would like to speak to you about this. He is very matter of fact, as though he has some inner strength and is dealing with it better than I am.”
“Martha, you have had to raise Simon without your husband, as well as helping him overcome everything he has been through. You are coping remarkably well. Don’t think negatively and don’t put yourself down; have faith.”
“I try, Father. Believe me, I try.”
*
Robert and Beth sat in their living room and listened intently to everything Sheriff Amos said about his trip to Louisiana, what he found in Dr Brookman’s journal and his discussions with Annamae and Martha.
“This is a lot for us to take in,” said Beth. “It tells us much we did not know, but I’m not sure if it gives us any new leads that Robert and I can look into. If you can’t find Dr Brookman with the department’s resources, then we don’t have much chance.”
“I understand fully what you are saying, Beth. It’s just another instance of the recurring theme of this case: we look into something and end up with more questions than answers.”
“I agree with Beth,” said Robert. “As much as we appreciate the work you are putting into this, Amos, we are definitely running out of leads to follow up on.”
“I know, Robert. I feel the same way myself. The most promising lead, if you can call it that, is to establish why Annamae would deny knowing Dr Brookman. There must be a reason for that and why her exact address was in his journal.”
“What did you make of Martha?” asked Robert.
“I found her to be very welcoming, unguarded with her words and believable. She is basically the polar opposite of her sister, Annamae, who without question and for reasons unknown, was lying to me.”
Amos left, promising to look further into Annamae and Dr Brookman.
*
Fr. Mark and Simon sat in the church canteen resting and enjoying a drink. Fr. Mark was very troubled by what Martha had told him. He felt he had an obligation to inform the Bishop, especially of the fact that Dr Brockman’s real name was Dr Brookman. However, he wanted first to speak with Simon.
“Well, Simon, that was a great morning’s work, how is your hand?”
Simon raised the blood-stained tissue to inspect his knuckles.
“It’s just about stopped bleeding now. I knew I scraped them against the wall coming down the stairs with the bookcase, but I didn’t think much of it at the time.”
“It was a little bit my fault. Simon, you were walking backwards and I should have slowed down a little more.”
“Yes, Father. I noticed I was not only the one walking backwards most of the time. I usually ended up lifting the heavier side of each piece of furniture as well.”
“Tricks of the trade, Simon. It’s not the first time I’ve moved furniture, you know.”
Simon laughed out.
“On a more serious matter, Simon, I was speaking with your mother the other day and she told me about the conversation she had with you, about Dr Brookman. I found it very interesting. Why do you see him as a demon?”
“I don’t know, Father I just do. He is possessed. I can feel the presence of evil when he is around.”
“Do you have any idea what he wants, Simon?”
“As I told Mom, he argued with the sheriff and protected me. Why would he do that, Father?”
“Simon, I don’t know. You must tell me if you see him again. What level of control do you think he has over the doctor’s body?”
“It is absolute. The doctor has been completely cast out and he has completely taken over his body.”
CHAPTER 14
Over the next four years of university, Simon continued to experience life as any young man would. His relationship with Linda grew and the two were nearly inseparable. They both worked hard and dedicated themselves to university. This was not to say they never got into trouble.
During the summer break in 1987, following a late night party, Simon, Linda and a few friends went down to the lake to watch the sunrise. They sat on the jetty looking out across the water. There was a small rowboat alongside the jetty with a number of boats further out, tied to moorings.
Everyone had a bit too much to drink and a few of their friends were smoking weed. Suddenly, someone started singing, “Roll… roll… roll the joint, pass it down the line, take a toke and hold the smoke and blow your fucking mind.”
Everyone was laughing so much, no one noticed the two policemen on the shore. They were all rounded up, taken down to the station and released later that day with a severe warning.
For the most part, these four years for Simon consisted of study, spending time with Linda, summer jobs and continuing to help Fr. Mark; it was the happiest time of his life. Martha taught him to drive and he passed his test on the first attempt. Suddenly, the car he had spent his life criticising was worth its weight in gold. He even started cleaning it.
Simon felt he had found a balance between all the competing aspects of his life. He continued to study religion and pray, and his relationship with God became stronger. As he matured, he started to see Martha differently. He began to realise how much she had sacrificed for him and how difficult it must have been for her, raising him on her own.
In the past, he would go with Fr. Mark to help some of the elderly and now he found himself driving them to the doctor. He would pick up groceries for them and run errands; this was what he thought life was about.
Martha’s trips to the library paid off. Her typing skills came back within a few weeks and, after six months of computer classes, she plucked up the courage to apply for a secretarial position. She was offered a part time job at an accountancy firm working three days per week. It did not pay much, but she could not have been happier. She enjoyed the responsibility, and getting out of the house did her a world of good.
Annamae continued to visit with Martha but things were different. Since the conversation about Dr Brookman, she viewed Annamae with some suspicion. She was convinced she was hiding something. Though she tried not to let it show, she felt Annamae could sense things were not quite right between them. Despite the issue with Annamae, these four years were the happiest time of Martha’s life. Just seeing Simon growing into a man with values and character was worth more than anything else in the world to her; not to mention the fact that she really liked Linda a lot.
*
Robert, Beth and Sheriff Amos continued to look into Julia’s murder but it was increasingly frustrating. None of the evidence ever led to anything, and the only two outstanding lines of enquiry that remained unresolved were that the knife used in the murder could not be traced, nor could the elusive Dr Brookman.
Fr. Mark often thought about Simon. He went over and over the conversations he had with the Bishop, Martha and Simon. Too much had happened for him to dismiss it as bad luck or coincidence. Simon had to be central to everything. The words “I have chosen you” on the cloth and the Bible, were given to Martha as a gift from a doctor possessed by a demon. Initially, when Martha first showed him the cloth, he had for the most part dismissed it but, as the years passed, he became certain that there was a definite message in it that he just could not interpret. This same doctor was at Simon’s birth and was protective of him, yet Simon and Martha were, without question, very spiritual individuals; nothing seemed to make any sense.
Fr. Mark became increasingly convinced that the visions he had all those years ago, which called him to the priesthood, were in some way connected to Simon. There was an inevitability that they had a shared destiny. He wanted to discuss the Bible and especially the words on the cloth with Simon, but he knew Martha had never told Simon about this and he could not betray her trust. Perhaps M
artha was correct in not telling him, no one would want to be told they were chosen.
Bishop Connor always presented a problem to Fr. Mark. Every few months he had to meet him, and the message on the cloth and Simon often came up. Fr. Mark had made the decision not to tell the Bishop what Dr Brockman’s real name was, nor did he reveal to him the fact that Simon saw him as possessed. He knew, if he did, it would bring a lot of unnecessary difficulties for both Simon and Martha, as Bishop Connor would be sure to question them.
During one of their meetings, Bishop Connor told Fr. Mark that the cloth had been examined fully and the message was determined to be meaningless. He returned the cloth to Fr. Mark, who passed it onto Martha. The Athame had also been examined. However, a definite determination could not be made as to its authenticity. It was quietly returned into police evidence. Bishop Connor told Fr. Mark that he would like to meet with Simon. However, he did not want it to be formal, more of a chance meeting.
Fr. Mark arranged for Simon to be helping him one day at the church and the Bishop just ‘happened’ to be in the area and stopped by. Fr. Mark introduced Simon to Bishop Connor and they decided to have pizza delivered.
Over lunch, the conversation was light-hearted. The Bishop asked Simon if he was enjoying university and asked about the subjects he was studying. Gradually, he turned the conversation to more spiritual matters. They discussed life, religion and the interpretation of verses in the Bible.
The Bishop was stunned at Simon’s knowledge. He could not believe someone so young could have this level of understanding; Simon’s beliefs were certainly rooted in traditional Catholic doctrine. However, he had a way of encompassing the beliefs of the church with the beliefs of many other faiths and could draw parallels between them and, all the while, he spoke with such authority on difficult matters. The day after Bishop Connor met Simon, he was on the phone to Fr. Mark expressing how impressed he was with Simon.
“That is certainly a young man we need to watch closely; there is something very special about him.”