“It'll be up to the courts, of course,” Andy replied, “but I can see David Willis going away for a very long time. I was surprised how cold and dispassionate he was about the whole affair when we interviewed him this afternoon. He displayed no emotion at all. I think any emotions he did possess probably died when Brenda, his fiancée was left a physical and mental cripple for the rest of her life. His own life, his hopes and dreams for their future together all died at the same time. I very much doubt whether, if she were able, Brenda Gillespie would recognise the David Willis of today. He's certainly not the man she fell in love, of that, I'm sure.”
“And what about her, the woman?”
Andy Ross lay quietly thinking for a few seconds before replying.
“I'm not sure about her, Maria. She's something of an enigma, even now. She was prepared to sleep with any man she met if she felt it was necessary in the scheme of her plans to eliminate the four men. She could change her appearance like a bloody chameleon. Charles Hopkirk at Speke Hill slept with her as Poppy, but then never suspected Vera was the same woman. That was one of the most effective deceptions I've ever come across. There's a certain something, call it a madness of sorts about that woman. I don't think she'll be seeing the light of day for a long time either, but whether she'll end up in prison or a secure psychiatric unit, I just don't know.”
“Well, you've done your part, darling. Come on, put the light out and let's get some sleep. You need it, and that's the doctor's orders,” she said, reaching over to kiss him softly on the lips.
Just as he put the light out, Andy Ross stroked his wife's warm, bare thigh, and said, very quietly, “Oh, I forgot to tell you, I hugged a profiler today, my darling.”
“Mmm, that was nice for you. Now go to sleep Andy, it's late.”
* * *
Around the time Andy and Maria Ross fell asleep, wrapped in each others arms, Izzie Drake lay in the arms of her fiancé, Peter Foster.
“Wow,” she gasped. “I thought I'd be too tired for that, tonight.”
“So did I to be honest,” Peter smiled languidly at her. “Must have been the wine and Indian takeaway that did it,” he joked.
“Whatever it was, I'm glad about it. You make me feel so good, Peter.”
He reached across, turned her face towards him and kissed her passionately.
“Are you glad that case is over?” he asked.
“You bet I am,” Izzie replied. “So much blood and two real
whackos at the end of it. A good result”
“Yes, but you know, a lot of people might say they did the world a favour, Izzie.”
“Peter, we can never condone vigilante justice, no matter what the circumstances.”
“Oh, come on, Izzie, they've rid the world of three scumbags, from what you've told me. Even if they'd been caught and jailed they'd probably have been released to do it again in a few years.”
“I know, Peter, and a lot of people would agree with you, but my job is to uphold the law, and that's what I do every day, to the best of my ability and the same goes for all the team. I daresay a few of them have had similar thoughts during this case, but, like I said, we have a job to do and we just get on with it.”
“I know, and I'm proud of you, really. I just wonder sometimes…”
“Yeah, we all do, Peter. Now, come and give me a kiss and then, I need some sleep.”
Peter Foster grinned a devilish grin.
“Sleep? Really?”
“Really.”
Epilogue
The first of the graveyard killers to come to trial, some six months later, was David Willis. Stripped of the priesthood by the Vatican, he was described by the judge as, “One of the coldest, most calculating killers ever to stand before me. You planned these murders with malice aforethought and executed your victims in the most callous, painful and brutal manner imaginable. You have since shown no remorse for your crimes and it is the duty of this court to sentence you to life imprisonment, with a recommendation that you serve a minimum of twenty years.”
Due to the fact that he'd been responsible for 'disposing' of three sex offenders, always hated by other inmates, the 'graveyard killer' became something of a celebrity among his fellow inmates. Though no longer an ordained priest, David Willis found himself in demand by many inmates who had 'found' religion whilst under lock and key, and soon made himself useful to the prison authorities by organising Bible classes for those who showed interest. Prison, it seemed, had given Willis a new lease on life.
Two months later, Vera Manvers stood trial, but escaped prison when she was found incapable of pleading, her mental health having deteriorated during her time on remand. She was now a shadow of the woman who had cold-heartedly joined in the torture and executions of their victims and her eyes displayed a haunted, other-worldly look. She was sentenced to be detained 'at her Majesty's pleasure' in a secure psychiatric hospital, and the likelihood is that she will never be released.
John Selden, having confessed to over twenty counts of rape, received a twenty year prison sentence, but, only six months into his sentence, despite being held on the isolation wing of the prison for his own protection, he was attacked and knifed to death in the showers. The 'four apostles' had all met their deaths through violence, as Willis and Manvers originally intended.
Much to everyone's surprise a relationship grew between Melanie Proctor and Charles Hopkirk, and rumour has it that wedding bells are in the air.
Brenda Gillespie, oblivious to the fate, or existence of her sister or former fiancé, continues to live her life in peace and quiet at Helmdale Lodge, where she is visited weekly by Father Gerald Byrne, who took it upon himself to take over the pastoral care of the innocent victim whose brutalisation had started the whole train of events that led to so much violence and death. Father Byrne no longer has nightmares.
About the Author
Brian L Porter is an award-winning author, whose books have also regularly topped the Amazon Best Selling charts. Writing as Brian, he has won a Best Author Award, and his thrillers have picked up Best Thriller and Best Mystery Awards.
Writing as Harry Porter his children's books have achieved three bestselling rankings on Amazon in the USA and UK.
In addition, his third incarnation as romantic poet Juan Pablo Jalisco has brought international recognition with his collected works, Of Aztecs and Conquistadors topping the bestselling charts in the USA, UK and Canada.
Brian lives with his wife, children and a wonderful pack of ten rescued dogs.
He is also the in-house screenwriter for ThunderBall Films, (L.A.), for whom he is also a co-producer on a number of their current movie projects.
A Mersey Killing, the first of the Mersey Mystery series has already been optioned for movie adaptation, in addition to his other novels, all of which have been signed by ThunderBall Films in a movie franchise deal.
Look out the next three books in the Mersey Mysteries series. A Mersey Maiden, A Mersey Mariner and A Mersey Ferry Tale will be coming soon.
Books by the Author
Dog Rescue
Sasha – A Very Special Dog Tale of a Very Special Epi-Dog
Sheba: From Hell to Happiness
Cassie's Tale
Thrillers by Brian L Porter
Mersey Murder Mysteries A Mersey Killing
All Saints, Murder on the Mersey
A Mersey Maiden
A Mersey Mariner
A Very Mersey Murder
Last Train to Lime Street
A Mersey Ferry Tale (Coming soon)
A Study in Red - The Secret Journal of Jack the Ripper
Legacy of the Ripper
Requiem for the Ripper
Pestilence
Purple Death
Behind Closed Doors
Avenue of the Dead
The Nemesis Cell
Kiss of Life
Short Story Collection
After Armageddon
Remembrance Poetry
Lest We Forget
Children's books as Harry Porter
Wolf
Alistair the Alligator, (Illustrated by Sharon Lewis) (Amazon bestseller)
Charlie the Caterpillar (Illustrated by Bonnie Pelton) (Amazon bestseller)
With Diana Rubino
Sharing Hamilton
Coming soon
Tilly's Tale
Dylan's Tale
Hazel the Honeybee, Saving the World, (Illustrated by Bonnie Pelton)
Percy the Pigeon, (Illustrated by Sharon Lewis)
As Juan Pablo Jalisco
Of Aztecs and Conquistadors (Amazon bestseller)
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