began to swim and he had a feeling of panic. Gathering himself together with some effort, he realised that, with this suspect, it would be better not to follow the normal pattern of studying the face for clues of lies and evasion, so he decided to direct his concentration more on the man’s chin. That way he would seem to be looking directly at the man and still able to glean something from the body language.
“That is the name my Holy Order has bestowed upon me,” answered Ignatious. “And the one which will remain to the end of my earthly days. However, my first given Christian name was Gawain Hadleigh.” His attitude was calm and controlled.
The questions went on to establish the Brother’s credentials; if he was, indeed, a true Jesuit priest and the dates of his entrance into priesthood and the brotherhood. The date of entry into Britain was elicited and the towns and villages visited, with dates and times given for each journey.
Ignatious described his given mission with enthusiasm, adding comment that he intended to continue with it into the future. Graham thought wryly how much of a future that would turn out to be. He fully expected a life term to be handed down by the courts.
“Can you say,” continued Graham, “that part of your mission is to end lives?”
“My concern, Inspector, is to save souls rather than lives. Lives are merely a preparation for the hereafter and to judge the goodness or otherwise of the feeble person. Feeble, that is, as compared to the awesome might of the Lord.”
Still directing his gaze to the Jesuit’s chin, Graham asked: “Do you believe, then, that those who do wrong go to a place called Hell in the next life?”
Ignatious remained calm, conversationalist. “I believe, Inspector, that the souls of the good will enjoy everlasting contentment at the next stage. Enjoyment and contentment will not be as we on earth understand it, as we will not possess bodies and nervous systems. We will be entities with a greater power of the earthly brain. You see, Inspector, the brain is our entity in our human form and it controls everything. It is not fully understood, as it was in the times of ancient Egypt, Greece and China.”
It seemed like a sermon, yet Graham was prepared to listen for as long as the Jesuit wished to speak. Such was the aura of the man. It may also elicit some hitherto missed clue. “And those who are considered to be bad?”
“Nothing. Nothing at all. They die and their souls die with them. They have nothing.”
“Will you be nothing, Brother? Killing is wrong; it is bad.”
At that point, McArdle came to life. “Excuse me, Inspector. My client has not admitted any killings. Please withdraw the question and keep to what is proved or admitted.”
Ignatious smiled and patted his solicitor’s arm. “Do not worry, Mr. McArdle. I freely admit to ‘killings’ as you put it; I send people to my Master. He craves the company of the good and the sorry and I merely send them to him. It is part of my mission. When I am instructed to comfort and to console, I see that as taking the physical form of comfort and also the spiritual. Spirits released are happy spirits.” He turned back to his inquisitors.
The detectives exchanged quick glances. The Jesuit had clearly admitted killings and it had been recorded on tape! It was time to get to the hub of the matter.
“Brother Saviour. You have just admitted to killings — in the plural. I would like, therefore, to ask you to be more specific.” The tapes whirred silently on.
“Yes, Inspector. As you wish.”
“Early in July of this year, the body of Kylie Johnson was found in a field in the district of Watford. She was ten years of age. Did you kill her?” Graham’s emotions were well under control. No matter the subject or the horror of it, this was professional police work and emotions needed to be held in check.
There was neither sorrow nor delight in the Jesuit’s bland reply: “Yes. I did.”
“Why?”
“I happened to see her sat in the field picking daises and making chains with them. The day was so beautiful, the field colourful with flowers and the child, sitting, humming to herself, a wonderful example of beauty and innocence. The Lord wanted her.” Ignatious smiled at the pleasant memory. “I went to her and chatted awhile. She impressed me as a bright and considerate child. She spoke of her parents, grandparents, friends and neighbours and it was clear that she had a desire to help and please everyone.”
“She did not attract you sexually?”
For the first time, the Jesuit’s countenance showed some irritation. “Certainly not! I do not condone sex with children, even when it is part of a culture.”
“Go on,” urged Graham.
“I searched her arms for signs of immunisation and found a fairly recent scar on her upper left arm. I had with me a hypodermic syringe, filled with poison — Opium in liquid form — and I inserted it into the existing scar. The ‘needle’ I use is made from reeds as found in the Amazon. They are extremely fine and hollow down the centre. They cause no pain when being inserted. I injected into her and watched her soul slip from the human form and speed to the God Almighty.”
The expression of ‘fond memory’ on the Jesuit’s face momentarily angered Graham but he quickly curtailed the feeling. “Did you have no conscience about taking the life of such a young, defenceless girl?”
The Brother looked surprised. “Why, no. I have just explained about human life, haven’t I?” He continued: “I replaced her clothing so that she would be discovered in a decent condition and I said powerful prayers over her. I also placed the feathers of the hummingbird next to her and this would speed her to her Heavenly destination. She is happy and contented. More happiness than you or I will ever know in this world.”
The admission was good. It gave motive, however flawed that may be, method and description. It placed him there at the relevant time.
“So, you admit the unlawful killing of Kylie Johnson?”
“Well, unlawful by the dictates of the West. Yes, I admit it.”
Mr. McArdle sat, spellbound, the presence of the priest having its usual effect and with the unabashed admittance of the crime baffling him. He was more accustomed to his charges lying, squirming and becoming violent.
“Now, Brother,” started Graham, “We are investigating a number of murders in the general area and you are our prime suspect in all of them.”
“Would you like me to explain the killings in the order that I did them, Inspector?” came the surprising comment.
This man really was something new! Not only was he prepared to admit the crimes but also willing to help the interview along by openly volunteering the chronology of them.
“I do a lot of good, you know,” said Ignatious, feeling that he was being viewed as some kind of monster. “The people I have met and comforted are decidedly happier after my visit. You will have found that out, won’t you?”
Graham was becoming resigned to surprises being thrown at him by the remarkable Jesuit. Aside from the disturbing effect he had on everyone, he took his activities to be no less than normal and everyday. “Yes. I have been told of the benefits you have bestowed upon sufferers and I am fully aware of the effect you have on people. However, in my view, and in the view of any sane person, your wrongdoings far outweigh the good.”
“Are you saying I am mad, Inspector?”
Graham paused before answering. “No, Brother Saviour. I do not regard you as insane. I think you have been fully aware of your actions and fully in control of yourself when carrying out the deeds.” That was particularly for the tapes. There could be no plea for “balance of the mind being disturbed” or anything of that nature at a later date.
Immediately returning to the subject, Ignatious began again to talk about the murders. “I relieved the poor girl from her suffering. The girl, Debbie, in the lovely Penn. She was grossly unhappy until she met me. I put her mind at rest, gave her confidence and then allowed her the greatest experience of all; I sent her to her Maker.”
Ignatious went on to describe the meeting with Debbie, the words he had spoken to her and how he had carried out the killing. Admitting to having performed sex with the girl, he said that she needed the act in order to restore her self-esteem and to feel truly fulfilled. At the time she was ‘dispatched,’ as Ignatious put it, she was at the very height of contentment and perfect for the Lord. In reply to the next, obvious question, he had replied: “No, Detective Inspector, it was not from any sexual urge on my part. I merely granted her desires and carried out my
