Murder in the Parish

by C T Mitchell

  “Maybe Ashley didn’t want us, or anyone else, to know where she lived. They were obviously wrapped up in something dangerous, so meeting at an arbitrary place would actually be a good idea. If I put myself in her shoes, I would probably have done the same thing.” Samuel was trying to help but felt utterly useless in offering new information. “Wait, out of all this, we have forgotten one thing.”

  “What’s that?” Father asked.

  “Who wants you back in Byron Bay?” The question hit Father Douglas like a slap in the face.

  This time it was Father Douglas’s eyes that grew wide, and his faced morphed into a smile.

  “Well done, boy! Yes, who indeed! That is new information.”

  CHAPTER 4

  Detective Inspector Jackson was not a man to sit on his laurels. He was quick to discover that Elizabeth Albert was Ashley Stanley’s niece, and told the two priests as much the next day on the phone. Elizabeth Albert was, in fact, the owner of the house they were when Ashley passed away, so they were correct about that much. Both women, according to the local forensic scientist, Dr. Jane Russell, died of curare poisoning. The minute darts that the forensic scientist recovered from the women’s necks contained enough of the poison to kill several adults.

  “Those things are probably sold on the internet,” Samuel told Father Douglas when he was off the phone with Detective Jackson. “I’m sure anyone can get them, and the internet makes it easy for people to order things without being traced, unfortunately.”

  Father Douglas’s phone chimed just as he was setting it down. It was Detective Jackson.

  I don’t like this, Father. What if the killer is now after you or Pere Samuel for no other reason than the fact that you were both at Ashley’s house when she was killed?

  Father Douglas texted him back that everything was fine, and everything happened according to God’s will, but Jackson wasn’t having it. Moments later, a phone call from Tom Sullivan came through the line.

  “Detective! How are you?” Father Douglas answered.

  “I just got off the phone with Jackson, and we both agree that you might be in a bit of danger, and before you tell me it’s all Providence, hear me out. We need you to go back to the parish and wait it out, we’ll provide some officers for protection until we figure this thing out. That person that killed both these women might just have some free time on his hands to tie up loose ends, if you know what I mean. And we can’t have that.”

  As soon as Father Douglas and Pere Samuel got into the Alvis that morning, the former took a second glance in the rear view mirror. “Curious.”

  Moments later, his suspicions were confirmed when the car followed them everywhere they went, keeping the same distance at all times. No one does that…and for the first time since the case began, Father Douglas felt uneasy. “Well, change in plans, son.”

  “Where to, now, sir? If I may ask?”

  “My cousin has a home near one of the exit ramps. Luckily for us, it’s Saturday and he’s always home on Saturdays.” The father smiled.

  Once Father Douglas explained what was happening to his cousin, he phoned the bishop and asked to meet up later. On the phone, the bishop advised the priests to stay away from their usual haunts, on orders from the two detectives.

  “And I wouldn’t be surprised if they had an unmarked car following you for protection, Father,” the bishop warned.

  “Ahhhhh…..that would make more sense. I wondered why they never got out of the car. Well, thank you bishop, as always, it has been a pleasure and we shall speak soon.”

  Neither of the priests had ever been followed or chased by criminals before, and while neither one of them liked it, it certainly put a pep in their step that wasn’t usually there. Father Douglas’s cousin lent the men some regular clothes, and advised them to change into street clothes so they weren’t as visible. Fifteen short minutes later, both priests came out of the house dressed in casual attire. They each donned a t-shirt, jeans, and a light jacket. Their habit and cassock were tucked into a shoulder bag that they also borrowed, and both men walked out the front door with their heads down, trying to pretend as though they were just having a conversation.

  “I sure don’t want to use my cousin’s car for these few days,” Father Douglas said as he walked past his Alvis and toward the plain, silver sedan they’d be borrowing.

  “Well it’s no ’67 Alvis, that’s for sure,” Samuel added.

  When the two clergymen pulled out of cousin James’s driveway, even the police officers in the unmarked car, a couple of blocks down, almost let them go past. They were so convincing they almost made it away without being recognized. Meanwhile, Detectives Jackson and Sullivan were hard at work trying to find a motive for the murders of the two women. Without any obvious reason for the killings, the detectives ran a background check on both ladies. It turned out that Ashley was once married to an antique dealer who dabbled in the purchasing and reselling of precious stones, Brazilian emeralds being his favorites. Tom Sullivan would take breaks throughout the morning to text bits of information to Father Douglas, wanting to keep his friend in the loop without giving away too much of the classified parts. After all, the father wouldn’t know what to do with actual names and phone numbers, and other arbitrary details. But he always had a knack for looking at the bigger picture of cases like this, and seeing how all the details fit in with the nuances of human nature. Tom loved the fresh take on the cases that Father Douglas always provided. It was too bad he was wrapped up in it this time, because he would love to work side by side with his friend on this one.

  “At the last report from the customs and excise office,” Father Douglas told Samuel in the car at a rest stop. “Ashley was suspected to be holding a cache of emeralds, and they think the jewels are hidden somewhere in Elizabeth’s house. That house is a heritage home, so you know what that means.”

  “It could be anywhere,” Samuel concluded. “There must be hundreds of little nooks and crannies to hide things in there. No wonder they didn’t have any pictures, all the stuff that was important to them was tucked away out of sight.”

  “The two detectives are sending their men over right now to go through the house, inch by inch. They’ll find those jewels, even if it takes them all night.” Father Douglas leaned back in the driver’s seat, but Samuel turned to face the window and began wringing his palms together nervously.

  CHAPTER 5

  “What I don’t understand,” Detective Jackson said in the group call between himself, Detective Inspector Sullivan, and the father. “…is why anyone would kill Ashley right before she had a chance to retrieve the emeralds from their hiding place.”

  “Thoughts, Father?” It was Detective Sullivan, who trusted his friend’s keen perspective.

  Father Douglas thought for a moment, not one to be rushed when asked for his opinion on something. “Have we checked to see if the number that was on the paper has any other significance? Maybe there’s a code hidden in it or something?”

  “It was just a phone number, Father. Nothing else.” Tom wanted to play along and see where his friend was going with the idea, but how could a phone number also be another number? Anyone who used a phone number for a code would be the stupidest criminal in the world. “That would be like using your birthday for a code,” he added.

  “What if the code is ON the phone somewhere,” Samuel asked. Father Douglas turned to look at him.

  “Look at you! You may be able to add accidental detective to your resume pretty soon, well done! Did you get that, Tom?”

  “I did, yes. Thank you, Pere Samuel, really well done.”

  Detective Jackson chimed in. “I’ll get my men over right away to grab it from evidence. I’ll contact you shortly.” Jackson’s end of the line went dead.

  “I’ve gotta say, even though he’s not my favorite, he really is all work and no play. The man gets right to work.” Detective Sullivan boasted. “He’s a good man, albeit a little intense sometimes.”

&nbs
p; A short while later, the mobile phone was retrieved and the messages between Ashley and Elizabeth were gone through carefully. The two detectives met at the house, the last crime scene, and Tom Sullivan left his phone so Father Douglas could have quick updates.

  “Jackson’s IT girl, Grace, went through their texts and the women kept referring to the fireplace, so the boys are going through every inch of the fireplace now,” he said into the phone during a lull in activity. “You should see them, Father. There’s like four of them all huddled around this old fireplace and they look like they’re on a childhood scavenger hunt.” He chuckled. “Like the first one to find it will get a prize.”

  “Do they know what they’re looking for, Tom? For a canister, a box, anything that could contain a jewel satchel. Oh, I wish I could see them work, this is all getting so exciting!” Father Douglas exclaimed.

  “Heyyyyy! We’ve got something! Father, did you hear it?”

  “No, I can’t really tell what’s going on in the background. What did they find, where is it??” Father Douglas was so excited, he tapped Pere Samuel on the shoulder, thrilled to be so close to the end of the case! Pere Samuel, however, looked more worried now than ever. The boy was actually starting to sweat!

  “Yeah yeah, they found a little bag of stones behind one of the decorative bricks surrounding the hearth. Well done, boys, well done. Get that bagged up. I don’t know anything about stones, Father, but these suckers look like the real deal. They’re actually quite beautiful.”

  “I’ll bet they are, Detective. God has made some really beautiful things in His time. I firmly believe He gets much joy out of seeing people appreciate His talent with all things lovely. So are we in the clear yet?”

  “Not yet, I’m afraid. But not to worry, it’s mostly protocol. You know, certain boxes have to be checked off before you can totally be off the hook. It’s not personal.”

  “Oh I understand, Tom. I’ll let the boy know that his plans for Thailand may, indeed, have to be put on hold a little longer.” When Father Douglas hung up the phone and turned to Samuel, the boy looked like he may cry. “Son what is bothering you? Are you sure you’re not in shock from see two dead women this week? We should’ve gotten you a medic on that first day, I think we’ll head over to the hospital because you do not look well. I’m worried about you.”

  “I’m fine, Father. Really. What happens next??”

  “The detectives will want to find out the reason for the senseless killings, now that they have more pieces of the puzzle to work with.” Samuel swallowed hard as Father Douglas spoke. “No criminal in their right mind would kill their prey just before knowing the answer to their question.”

  “Now I’m even more confused, what do you mean?”

  “Well in this instance, it would be the location of the stones. The detectives, and me too, for that matter, don’t understand why someone would kill Ashley just before she would reveal the location of the stones within Elizabeth’s home. Whoever it was, we could safely assume was after the stones themselves. So we’re now wondering why the killer would shoot her with a dart that would prove instantly fatal, if she hadn’t said where they were hidden yet. It’s immeasurably curious, but I know if I take some time to quietly sit and think about it, God may reveal something to me that helps the police. I just have to be patient…unless you have an idea as to why?”

  Samuel shook his head and offered only one, weak sentence. “It doesn’t make sense.”

  Once the stones were locked in the evidence room, Detective Jackson called Father Douglas once more to ask him to come to Byron Bay Police Station. And make sure Samuel is with you, he’d said.

  “He didn’t say why he needed us there?” Samuel asked in the car.

  “No he sure did not. I tell you what, I cannot wait to have my car back.” Father Douglas fidgeted with the turn signal on his cousin’s car.

  When they arrived at the police station, Detective Tom Sullivan was waiting at the front desk for them both. “If you don’t mind, boys, I’m going to have Pere Samuel go over and chat with Detective Jackson, I think he has a few more lingering questions to work out. Don’t worry, though, nothing serious. Boring paperwork, mostly.”

  Samuel reluctantly went with Jackson and the two disappeared into an office down the hallway.

  “Forgive me, Father, but I have some things I needed to speak to you about personally. I know the boy is frightened; he’s looked like he’s seen a ghost for the past several days. And I always feel bad when I see that people look like that.” Father Douglas nodded in agreement. “Breaks my heart. Anyway, I’ll only be a minute.”

  “What’s this about, Tom? I’m at a loss.”

  “Well, as you know we’ve got the stones. They were kept in a small, lined container, but that container also held a note.” Tom produced a small slip of paper with a lengthy explanation written on it. Father Douglas read it to himself, then crossed himself and asked God to forgive the boy for his trespasses.

  “Though his trespasses ended terribly, they were well, meant, Sullivan. You must know that.”

  “Come with me,” Tom said.

  The two friends walked down the long hallway and into a door near where Pere Samuel and Detective Jackson had disappeared into. Detective Inspector Sullivan opened the door and held out his hand so that Father Douglas could enter first.

  “Thank you, you’re very kind. Where are –“ but Detective Sullivan put one finger up to his lips to signal that they should not speak. He then pointed his finger toward the window on the wall. It was a one way mirror, and behind it was a table in the next room, a table where Pere Samuel and Detective Jackson were sitting. Father Douglas prayed quickly for his young apprentice, and asked God to grant him peace and wisdom and to help him not be afraid.

  Pere Samuel knew what was coming, but didn’t want to speak.

  CHAPTER 6

  Father Douglas returned his car to his cousin and took his Alvis back, happy for the exchange. He also took the opportunity to don his cassock again, and wondered how uncomfortable Pere Samuel was at the police station. He had waited for an hour for the boy to speak, but not a word escaped his lips. Whatever the trouble was, he was quite afraid of the consequences. Father Douglas phoned Charity, his secretary, to let her know that he would not be home tonight.

  “I’ll stay in Byron Bay. Poor Samuel still isn’t talking, and I want to be there for him even if he can’t see me.”

  “Hopefully they’ll let you back there eventually,” Charity offered. “I mean, he can’t stay silent forever. Well, I guess he could!” she chuckled. “Who knows why that boy does what he does sometimes. He may just decide today to be a silent monk!”

  “That would certainly be interesting timing, now wouldn’t it, Charity…now if you’ll excuse me, I have to phone the bishop next and let him know that Pere Samuel will mostly likely be arrested tonight, on suspicion of having conspired to commit murder.”

  The bishop couldn’t believe what he was hearing when Father Douglas phoned him. “Samuel is a good man! Why on earth would he commit murder? I know the way he came to the faith was unconventional, but I assure you he takes it much too seriously to commit such an egregious act.”

  “Sir, I have no explanation for you at this time. I just wanted to let you know, and would you mind calling the mission’s abbot in Singapore to advise him that Pere Samuel will not be making the trip to Thailand this time. It looks as though his schedule is full for the next few days while we sort all this out.”

  “Of course, Father Douglas. I’ll keep you informed if there is any follow up to be done and I will keep the dear boy in my prayers, as well. Who knows why people do what they do. Goodness me, maybe he was even pressured into it, somehow.” The bishop worried for the young man that God had placed in their care.

  “Even if that is so, he is most protected while in police custody, so he can just sit in that police station for a while and be safe. We will trust God for the rest.”

  “Amen,” th
e bishop said.

  When Father Douglas returned to the police station, Pere Samuel had indeed been arrested. However, Detective Jackson was still puzzled.

  “Why were the murders committed before the stones were found?” he asked Father Douglas and Detective Sullivan.

  “Yeah, we were wondering that same thing, actually,” Father Douglas said.

  “It doesn’t make sense,” Jackson said.

  Tom Sullivan laughed. “Yes, that’s the consensus we’ve arrived at also. It just doesn’t make any sense. Obviously the killer didn’t know where the jewels were, or they would have taken them. Unless they’re cursed or something, don’t people believe in that sort of thing, do they?”

  “People believe in all sorts of things, Tom.” Father Douglas thought long and hard about what the oddly timed murders could mean. “Ah! Here comes Samuel now! Has he been released?”

  “Thank you, Jim.” Tom Sullivan nodded to the officer who brought Pere Samuel up to the front of the police station. “He finally talked while you were out, Father, and we wanted to wait until you got back to tell you what he said.”

  Samuel’s face had turned from fear to embarrassment, Father Douglas knew that look all too well, as he had seen it many times before in church. People were so easy to read sometimes, and yet their hearts were so complex. He waited patiently for the boy to speak, but he did not.

  “Go on, boy. Tell him what you told us. And Jim, get him out of these cuffs.” Sullivan motioned toward the officer to hurry up.

  “Well, sir. My uh….my mission in Thailand was running short of money. Quite short, actually, you recall me speaking about how expensive the vaccines are, right?” Father Douglas nodded patiently as he spoke. “I didn’t want to go to the country empty handed because, sir, those people will die without this medicine, and what is the point of going over there just to sit with them if what they need are vaccines and antibiotics??”