Confession at Maddleskirk Abbey Read online

  ‘If that happened, what would be Goddard’s reaction? Any ideas?’

  ‘Shock at first, then disbelief at seeing John free from prison, especially if he had framed him. Goddard would want to make sure his own future wasn’t at risk. If he saw John out of prison and moving around the countryside quite freely, Goddard would do his utmost to eliminate him to safeguard himself. He would take whatever action necessary to stop him – such as death or framing him for another murder?’

  ‘That’s how I read the situation, Brian, but I can assure you that John is safe for the time being. I’ll explain eventually. Now we must concentrate on Goddard, who is a dangerous and slippery customer. We must persuade him to come into the open – where we shall be waiting. The only way to nail him is to trap him, Brian.’

  ‘He’ll smell a rat, surely? Whatever tactics we use.’

  ‘Not if we’re cunning! There are matters you don’t know yet but Father John is the bait. He has something that will be bothering Goddard. Father John has a file stored in a secret place – it contains evidence that could convict Goddard. We’ve made sure he knows about it and he intends to destroy it. Even if he kills John, he can never be safe with that file lying around. And there’s another thing, Brian. The dead man in the wood, the undercover police officer, was watching Father John, not trying to catch him committing a breach of his licence, but protecting him. And see what happened to him!’

  ‘Goddard got rid of him?’

  ‘Who else? Who else would have a motive? Goddard is quite capable of killing an undercover agent to protect his own back.’

  ‘That woman we’re trying to identify? The one in the confessional? Could she be Goddard’s wife, mother of the dead girls? Conspiring with him to eliminate Father John?’

  ‘Mrs Goddard is involved with all his projects, legal or not. She might even be the brains behind some of her husband’s endeavours. We can’t ignore her, Brian.’

  ‘I find it difficult to understand why she doesn’t suspect that her husband killed her girls?’

  ‘That’s Goddard for you. It shows something of his treachery and cunning. I’m sure she has no idea.’

  ‘So will she be with Goddard now, somewhere on our patch?’

  ‘Almost certainly. In fact, Nick Rhea discovered a witness who saw a woman with Radcliffe near St Valentine’s Well. I showed the witness – Claude Jeremiah Greengrass – a still from the CCTV coverage of the south transept but he couldn’t be sure it was the same woman. All he said was that it might be her, not that it was. That’s not good enough for us, Brian, we need to be sure – but in spite of that, it’s a lead. So how much detail of the Jacobson murders is available to us?’

  ‘I’ve got the entire file on disc including photos and Detective Chief Inspector Hammond has promised all the assistance she can give.’

  ‘We need our best officers to concentrate on finding Goddard without approaching him or alerting him. We must establish where he is and what he’s up to.’

  ‘Do we need to consider his wife’s sister?’ asked Brian.

  ‘Do you think she’s involved?’

  ‘It’s possible. On the night of the murders Geraldine Goddard was having a night out with her sister, celebrating their birthdays. In the plural. Twins in fact. She could know more than anyone has realized. That woman that Greengrass noticed talking to the murdered detective could have been her.’

  ‘Are you saying the sister is working against the Goddards? That’s dangerous but not impossible. Certainly the woman who met Father John outside Scarborough Beach Hospital looked very similar to the one who used the confessional. Maybe the sister is working for the security service, Brian? Something undercover. Police even!’

  ‘We have no information about the sister except her first name is Jenny.’

  ‘There are a lot of tangled strands to unravel, Brian. You’re the man to sort it all out so I’ll release you from supervising the murder room – DS Salkeld can continue. It’s good experience for her. So there we are, your job is to catch Goddard.’

  ‘I’ll be pleased to tackle it.’

  ‘Good. Select two good detectives from those working here. They’ll be your specialist team. Spread the news among the criminal underworld that you’re trying to trace the Goddards under whatever name they’re operating. Get the local small-time criminals stirred up while you’re at it. Get them worried … they’ll soon filter information down to your team just to get you off their backs. Leave Father John to us.’

  ‘Right, boss.’

  ‘Now let’s go. I’m going to brief the teams.’

  Quite deliberately, Napier had withheld some information from DI Lindsey and he had also decided not yet to release the true identity of the murder victim to his other officers. But he would tell them about Father John Attwood. He believed his criminal record would encourage the teams to respond with more enthusiasm if they believed they were hunting a convicted child killer.

  Napier therefore instructed his team leaders to inform their detectives that finding Father Attwood dead or alive must be given the highest priority. He stressed the monk was in possession of information that was important to the current investigation. ‘You must find him; we need to hear his full story.’

  Napier followed with a brief account of Attwood/Jacobson’s conviction for two child murders whilst reinforcing earlier orders that this information was not for public consumption and, at this stage, definitely not for the media. He explained that DI Lindsey and his team were concentrating on a branch of the investigation in the York area, but told them that the information about the monk’s former life was known only to the people in the murder room – and that included the shocked monkstables.

  He exhorted them to continue their search for witnesses, particularly the woman who had been seen by Claude Jeremiah Greengrass, and he stressed they should not abandon efforts to trace people who had attended confession on Saturday. It was vital they traced the woman with the umbrella whose grainy photograph was now posted on a board in the murder room. Napier reminded them that much of the interviewing and searching would be repetitive or even boring, but added, ‘The answer is out there somewhere and it’s our job to find it. Now, Nick Rhea, can you hang on a moment, I’d like a word?’

  ‘Sure.’

  As everyone set about their actions and updated their own personal files, Napier signalled to Nick. ‘My office, Nick. Now.’

  When they were settled in the cramped accommodation, Napier said, ‘I have an unpleasant job to do, Nick, and I’d appreciate your presence whilst I’m doing it.’

  ‘Why me?’

  ‘Because you have one foot in our police camp and another one in this abbey and its complement of monks. I just need you to be present, to make sure I don’t do something that’s markedly off limits.’

  ‘What on earth are we going to do?’

  ‘Search Father John’s room.’

  ‘That is not a very pleasant thing to do, is it?’ Nick expressed his own views. ‘It’s an invasion of a monk’s privacy.’

  ‘That’s why I want you with me. You know about these things, the niceties in such cases.’

  ‘I wouldn’t bank on that, Mr Napier, but of course I’ll help. Wouldn’t the prior be a better companion?’

  ‘I thought about him but he’s too close to the men under his wing. You’re independent. I know it’s not a pleasant job but for the progress of this investigation, it must be done. I’ve got the abbot’s reluctant approval.’

  ‘What will you be looking for?’

  ‘I’ve no idea until I find it. Hopefully, it will be something that guides us to John’s present whereabouts; a diary entry perhaps, a letter. But I suspect he has something else that’s very valuable, and not merely to us. As this man spent a long time in prison and several years on release wanting to prove his innocence, he must have gathered information that he could present to the police or to an appeal court. Even to the press. We need to find whatever he’s collected and examine it �
�� and safeguard it from Goddard. Where do I get his key?’

  ‘The prior will have a spare. I expect Father John will have his own with him.’

  ‘If he’s being held against his will, his key might have been found and the villains might come looking for that file, to destroy it. Can anyone gain entry to his room? How secure is the monastic area of the abbey?’

  Nick explained about the coded entry door, telling Napier there were no names on any of the monks’ rooms whilst security devices were in place to protect the private areas used only by monks, such as their library and lounge.

  ‘And,’ said Nick, smiling, ‘there’s a large notice saying “No Admittance to Women”.’

  ‘That won’t stop a determined wrong-doer, or a determined woman!’

  ‘From my previous experience, I believe each monk is responsible for the security of his own cell. All doors are self-locking and the windows overlook the cloister and courtyard, both of which are secure.’

  ‘Fair enough. Let’s get the key. If the abbey authorities try to prevent me, I shall obtain a search warrant on the grounds we’re looking for evidence of murder. And that means we could smash the door down.’

  ‘That would make us popular!’

  ‘Tough. But I don’t want to do that unless there’s no alternative. Come along, lead me to Friar Tuck.’

  Napier explained his requirements when they found the prior in the Postgate Room but despite the abbot’s consent, the prior shrank from the idea of anyone searching a brother monk’s private quarters. Napier, however, was not going to be diverted. After he had explained and then expounded his actions if he was refused access, Father Prior capitulated.

  ‘I’ll get a key. Meet me at the entrance to the monastery.’

  Nick led the way through the network of corridors until they arrived at the entrance to a long wide corridor with a succession of identical doors along its route. There were also staircases leading to two higher floors. Here they halted to wait.

  ‘I always thought the term monastery means the entire place,’ admitted Napier. ‘Now I realize it’s only that part where the monks live and sleep, have their own rooms, library, refectory, library and lounge.’

  ‘Right.’ Nick nodded. ‘The abbey is the all-embracing name for the entire complex. The abbey church is self-explanatory. There are other places such as the theatre, sports complex, infirmary, reception, visitor centre, transport department, estate manager, farm and so forth – all making up one huge establishment called an abbey. It’s more than just a ruined church! In this particular case, there are additional buildings. I mean, the college with all its classrooms, lecture theatres, accommodation blocks, sports areas and so on – but all part of this abbey.’

  ‘In this job you learn something new every day. Ah, here comes our man with the key. You’d better come with us, Friar Tuck.’

  The accommodation was made up of a single bedroom with en suite bathroom, a lounge and a study. It was meticulously tidy but somewhat sparsely furnished, the walls being covered in emulsion in a neutral shade. There were no ornaments or wall pictures, except for those associated with religion. There was a small desk supporting a computer and printer. Around the room were a bookcase, a wardrobe and a chest of drawers that also served as a dressing table with a small rug under its chair. A small wooden crucifix stood on the dressing table.

  ‘This won’t take us long,’ muttered Napier and for a few minutes he stood in the centre of the room and gazed around, absorbing all the detail. ‘Here, we’d better wear these,’ and like a magician he produced from his pocket some pairs of Latex gloves used by SOCO for such searches. Then he addressed Nick.

  ‘Can you search the wardrobe, open any suitcases and check the pockets of every garment in there. If you ask what you’ll be looking for, I have no idea – you’ll know if you come across something that might be relevant. I’ll have a look around his desk, checking any files or papers, and I’ll go through that chest of drawers. We might also have to dig into the stuff stored in his computer but that means taking it away.’

  ‘We’ve the skills to do that,’ Prior Tuck reminded him.

  Their searches were brief simply because they produced nothing of interest. They replaced everything as they had found it in the knowledge that Father John, when he returned, would never know his room had been searched.

  He had very few personal possessions whilst the bathroom contained his toothbrush, razor and washing materials.

  ‘He didn’t expect to be away for long – he didn’t take his overnight stuff,’ commented Napier, acting as if he was not aware of the background to these actions. ‘This hasn’t produced anything of interest and there’s no loft entrance here.’

  ‘How about under the bed?’ suggested Nick, noticing the covers reached almost to the floor. He bent down, lifted up one side of the cover and found a large cardboard storage box of the kind used to store dead-section files. He gave it a push and it slid easily on the polished floor, emerging at the far side of the bed.

  ‘This could be interesting,’ breathed Napier. ‘Thanks, Nick. For a moment I’d forgotten my elementary tuition in searching. Always look under the bed! So what have we here?’

  The top was not sealed so it was easy to open it and see neatly stored files. Napier eased one out; it held dated newspaper cuttings of the Jacobson trial. Others contained more cuttings, each file representing a day at the trial, with evidence in detail. And there were print-outs from his computer with several hand-written notes.

  One said, ‘It was raining whilst Michael was at the off licence but he wasn’t wet when he returned. …’ There was no explanation for that comment. Another said, ‘I remember being in the Goddards’ house and hearing the ground floor toilet being flushed. … I thought I was alone but realized I wasn’t. And I heard the loft floor creaking above, as if someone was up there. …’

  ‘This could be very important.’ Napier’s faced showed a glow of pleasure. ‘He’s gone through the newspaper reports and picked holes in the evidence that was presented in court, then added his own observations. Friar Tuck, we’re seizing this box of papers as evidence.’

  ‘I understand,’ said the prior softly.

  Napier continued, ‘I’ll need someone to take this computer to the murder room. We can carry this box of papers between us. I think Detective Inspector Lindsey will have to make time to go through this lot in detail. …’

  They left with the box and locked the door, Napier taking the key.

  Chapter 13

  DETECTIVE CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT Napier managed to make space on a shelf in his cramped office and they pushed the large box of papers into it.

  ‘I’ll get Brian to go through this – it needs to be done very soon.’

  ‘Maybe I could help?’ offered Nick.

  ‘That might be a good idea; you’re familiar with the case. What are you doing next?’

  ‘I’ve no commitments other than dealing with the inputs that arrive in the Postgate Room. The monkstables are very active with local enquiries, they seem to relish interviewing people and taking statements.’

  There was a knock on Napier’s partially open door and Detective Sergeant Salkeld appeared.

  ‘Yes, Sarge, what can I do for you?’ Napier asked.

  ‘Father John’s computer has been delivered. Our boffins will get busy on it straightaway but we’ve had a breakthrough of sorts, Mr Napier. I thought you should know.’

  ‘Too right I should know! What’s happened?’

  ‘The woman who met Father Attwood outside Scarborough’s Beach Hospital. We’ve got her car reg. She’d parked outside the hospital grounds in the shadows of a row of trees. The parking area belongs to the hospital and they’ve a CCTV camera there. It shows her and Father John getting into the car and moving off towards the town. She was driving. There was no one else in the car. We’ve checked the registration number – it’s a hire car.’

  ‘That means we can trace her through the hire company.’


  ‘We’re on to that right now. It’s a local firm with an office in Scarborough.’

  ‘Good, let me know the result the minute it’s available. And another thing, circulate that car reg all around Scarborough and district, let every copper on duty know about it. We need sightings, details of occupants, direction of travel, fuel being bought, stopping places with times being noted. Anything and everything. Check local traffic control cameras too, sometimes they can produce results. Somebody must have seen that car.’

  ‘I’ll make sure the town patrols get busy!’

  As Detective Sergeant Salkeld returned to her duty of managing the murder room, Napier felt proud of his continuing deception as he summoned a detective constable and said, ‘DC Simpson, you’re a strong young man, give Mr Rhea a hand with that box, can you? It’s heading for the Postgate Room.’

  ‘Sir.’ And the deed was done.

  The Postgate Room was almost deserted when Nick arrived, save for Father Will, who was checking some papers he’d not read due to his duties in the cop shop. As the monkstables had gone off to fulfil their allocated tasks, he’d taken this opportunity to update himself. He looked up and smiled as Nick and the detective bore the heavy box into the room and placed it on the central table. The detective departed with Nick’s thanks as Father Will said, ‘That’s Father John’s box of papers, isn’t it?’

  ‘You recognize it?’

  ‘Yes, I do. I often helped him with his filing. That box contains files from his murder trial. It’s a very comprehensive account of the whole sorry affair with his own observations.’