Authors: Lee Shepherd
‘Almost?’ Taylor asked.
‘Proof-texting, Detective. It is the habit of taking verses out of the Bible, out of context, and forcing your ideas onto the text. For example, you could say that the Bible says that “
there is no god”
, because it does say that, but only if you take that phrase out of context of the verse in the book of Psalms. Psalms 10:4 to be exact. In it, it says
“In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, there is no god”.’
Minister Davies looked at the detective and could see that he wasn’t quite grasping what he was telling him, and went on. ‘Let me tell you about a humorous proof-texting experience that apparently happened when a man was desperate for God to speak to him over a situation he found himself in. The man opened the Bible at a random place and read Mathew 27:5 which talked about Judas, who betrayed Jesus and then went and hanged himself. The man thought that this was a bit odd, but went again and randomly opened it at Luke 10:37, and Jesus said to him,
“You go and do likewise”
.
‘You see, Detective, the point I am trying to make is that two different people can look at and read the very same material, yet have two totally different opinions of the meaning of what they have read. And by taking it out of context, they can make it fit to whatever situation they find themselves in. With that in mind, it would probably be beneficial for you to explain to me your reason for being here, so that I may be able to help you.’
Taylor, by this point, was in total agreement and decided to entrust the minister with the information and circumstances surrounding Mr Beattie’s murder. He told the clergyman the events at length.
‘Given the details of what you have just told me, Detective, and the way in which Mr Beattie was killed, and the fact that the Levictus quote was found beside the body, suggests that this was the act of a man. Obvious, I know, but what do we know of Mr Beattie? Was he a homosexual man?’
Georgie once again rolled her eyes as Taylor flashed
her a smug smile, as he had been totally shot down by her the previous night when he dared to question the sexuality of Mr Beattie.
‘He was a married man for many years and a well-respected member of the local community by all accounts,’ Georgie explained respectfully.
Minister Davies seemed somewhat puzzled and further probed, ‘Are you one hundred per cent sure of this? As this statement would clearly suggest otherwise! What else can you tell me of the man?’
‘Well, according to research conducted since yesterday, it would appear that he and his wife were practising Christians and regularly attended church, and they were also very much involved in charity work in the community. They didn’t have any children of their own, but apparently they were long-term foster parents for children throughout Cumbria for a period of about twenty-five years.’
‘Interesting…’
‘What do you mean?’ Taylor asked, intrigued.
‘Does Mr Beattie have any kind of criminal record on file?’ the minister probed.
‘There was an arrest and caution for a domestic disturbance in the early 80s, and also again a couple of years later for another drunken disturbance in the home, but no charges were ever brought against him as his wife would never give evidence against her husband according to our archives.’
Davies thought for a second before asking one last question. ‘And what about any sexual offences detective?’
‘Absolutely nothing, like I said, the man was practically faultless in the eyes of the law.’
‘I suggest you dig a little deeper, Detective, because I believe that whoever did this — and like I say, the verse suggests it was the actions of a man — inflicted this torture and death on Mr Beattie in a revenge attack. His actions were either that of a spurned lover or perhaps the actions of someone who was the victim of abuse at Mr Beattie’s hands.
‘I would suggest you start by going over the records of all the young people he and his wife fostered and see if you can find any evidence to back up this suggestion, and maybe try and locate the people you find on that list. As I believe that somewhere in this you will find your answers’. Taylor and Georgie then thanked the minister for his time before leaving the Cathedral and making their way back towards the car. Davies followed them to the door before adding one last comment. ‘Find the victims Detective, and I guarantee you will find the killer!’
Back at the car, Taylor turned to Georgie.
‘What did you make of all that?’
‘It makes perfect sense in my eyes’ she reluctantly replied, as she realised she had totally overlooked this angle of enquiries.
***
Back at the station, Taylor left it to Georgie to relay this information to the team and to try and get a list of all the children that were looked after by the Beatties in all their years as foster carers. In the meantime, he went to see his senior, Chief Inspector Ian Messenger. As Taylor relayed all the new theories to the Chief Inspector, he could clearly see that his senior was becoming more uncomfortable with what he was hearing.
‘Everything okay, sir?’
‘No, no, everything is not okay, Detective Taylor! I’ve got the case of the three girls casting a shadow over this station, with people wanting answers. Now there’s been another murder in the shape of James Beattie. You are suggesting that this is possibly some sort of revenge attack for some kind of abuse that happened years ago. You’re telling me that these cases are related and there is potentially a serial killer at large in our community. That’s not to mention the media circus that swarms outside the station every day, so you can pretty much rest assured that everything is not o-fucking-kay!
‘I want some fucking answers, and I want them fast,
as I now have to go and give another statement to the press and inform them about the death of Mr fucking Beattie, and once again I do not have anything concrete to give them. And another thing, Taylor…’
‘Yes, sir?’
‘I want kept up to date on any further developments in both cases as soon as anything — and I mean
anything
— arises, you hear me?’
‘Yes, sir.’
Taylor left from Chief Inspector Messenger’s office and back towards his team and Georgie.
‘Right guys, shit just got serious. I gather Miss Riley here has informed you all of the new information regarding the death of James Beattie? I want a list of all the kids that the Beatties have ever fostered over the years, and I want them yesterday. Now everybody get back to work and find me something I can use!’
With that, everyone went back to their desks to try to gather information for their boss. Detective Taylor headed to his office, slamming the door behind him as he entered, his pride dented after the berating he had just received from Messenger.
Family life seemed back to normal in the Lee household; Rebecca and the children were enjoying having Charles around more over the last few days and the family was really starting to reconnect — so much so that Charles hadn’t even bothered to follow the recent news as he had done before. Instead he chose to concentrate on odd jobs around the home he had put off as of late, therefore trying not to give thought to what he had done over the past few months. He thought he was starting to turn over a new leaf and put it all behind him, totally resisting his narcissistic urge to play with and torment the police and their enquiries.
***
The media didn’t go public with the news of Mr Beattie’s murder until a few days after Chief Inspector Ian Messenger’s meeting with the press, as he had asked them for a couple of days grace whilst his detectives determined whether or not the cases were related before they released the details of the old man’s death. He knew that when the news went public, and if the horrific details in which he was murdered were to emerge, the media circus would just increase tenfold, and the added pressure could hinder his officers in their investigations.
He soon received the post mortem verdict on Jim Beattie, accompanied by the forensic report. The report stated that the cable ties used were the exact same type and batch as those used on Amber Thompson — plus the fact that they were tied in the exact same way — thus confirming his suspicions that the cases were connected. Chief Inspector Messenger, after much pressure from his superiors and the victim’s families, reluctantly contacted the media yet again to confirm the findings.
***
Charles and Rebecca had not long sat down on the sofa after cleaning up following their evening meal when all of a sudden the programme they were watching was interrupted. In its place was an incoming news bulletin, headed by Chief Inspector Ian Messenger.
‘It is with great sadness that I can now confirm that there is a direct link between the murders of Mr James Beattie and Amber Thompson. At this point we also strongly believe that the person responsible for these two crimes is responsible for the disappearances of the two missing schoolgirls, Lucy Mitchell and Sarah Davidson. This is now a direct plea to the person responsible to come forward and give themselves up and put an end to this matter. If you come forward and cooperate now, it will be a better outcome for all involved.’
Messenger ended his address by finally reassuring the public that his dedicated team was following several leads, determined to bring the investigations to a swift end.
Charles felt sick to the pit of his stomach at what he had just seen. Not because the police had actually connected the dots and knew they were looking for the same person in connection to the cases; not even due to the fact that the news made him think about the girls he had abused and murdered, and the promise he had made to never hurt another. No, what made him feel sick this time in was that he actually believed he recognised the man on his TV screen.
No, it can’t be.
The last time he had seen the man he was then just a junior police officer in his twenties back in the 80s. Charles searched deep into his memory to try and recollect the faces of all his abusers at that time — memories he had tried desperately to forget. But there was no denying it; Chief Inspector Ian Messenger was definitely one of the men that had not only visited Jim around that time, but he was also one of the men that frequented the terrified young boy’s bedroom. This absolutely enraged Charles,
who, sensing Rebecca was beginning to tell something wasn’t right, decided he was going to take Tess for a walk to clear his head, as he needed some fresh air.
***
Charles followed any further developments with real intent over the following days and, after scanning through the many articles in the local and national papers, he finally came across the details he was looking for, confirming the time and date of the funeral of Mr James Beattie. In that moment he decided that he would go along, in an effort to see if not only Ian Messenger would attend, but to see if he recognised any of the other guests.
Charles sat and watched over the funeral proceedings through binoculars from his parked car, a fair distance from where the coffin was being hoisted down into the freshly dug grave. And just as he expected, he immediately spotted the Chief Inspector. He also recognised another face, one he hadn’t given thought to for a very long time. It was that of his old Social worker, Brian. Although Brian had never actually physically abused him, he knew that the ex-Social worker knew all about Jim’s ways and habits, and the atrocities that were committed at the farm, yet chose to do nothing to prevent it from happening, which in Charles’ eyes made him just as guilty as Jim.
After the funeral proceedings had finished, Charles decided to follow the man and see where he would go to next. He followed him in his car all the way from Wigton to somewhere he had not been for a very long time — Whitehaven, the place in which he spent his earliest years, the place that held so many mixed emotions and memories for him. Charles barely recognised the place as he drove through it and onto the outskirts of town. He pulled up by the side of the road and sat and watched as a now portly old Brian pulled into his driveway and entered his house.
Got you, you bastard.
Charles smirked and pulled away, heading towards home.
Back at police headquarters, Detective Taylor and his team, including Georgie, were working tirelessly, trying to contact the extensive list of names they had received from Social Services regarding the children that came and went from the Beattie household over the years.
As they tracked down one victim after another and questioned them over their stay with the Beattie’s, a pattern started to emerge. Nearly every one of them explained how beatings and sexual abuse were the norm in the household at that time and that, although she wasn’t a part of it, Edna knew it happened and chose to do nothing about it out of fear of her husband.
Apparently it wasn’t just Mr Beattie who was part of the systematic abuse; many of the victims informed him and Georgie how they were often given alcohol and sometimes drugged before being passed around to many visiting men at that time. Taylor was shocked to hear how some of them mentioned that the police were involved also, and stopped many of them coming forward with their allegations. The one common denominator in the majority of the children being placed into the care of the Beattie’s throughout that period seemed to be that most of them were referred there by one Social worker in particular, Mr Brian Jenkins. Detective Taylor decided that now would be a very good time to locate and speak with Mr Jenkins to find out exactly what he knew, and investigate his direct involvement with James Beattie at the time that this horrendous abuse was taking place.
***
Taylor turned and spoke to Georgie as they headed out of the station the following morning and made their way towards Whitehaven to speak with the ex-Social worker Brian Jenkins. ‘I think the minister might be onto something.’
Georgie looked at him and nodded her head. ‘It would appear so.’
She desperately hoped they may get some answers from Mr Jenkins as to why this abuse was allowed to happen, and also to see if he could point them in the right direction of who may be responsible for Jim’s death. By this point, Taylor and Georgie had managed to forget about the night they spent together at the hotel, and were now concentrating solely on having a professional working relationship until this whole case had been resolved.