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<title>Chapter 30</title>
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<h2>30</h2>
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<p><em>Mutilated bodies of five children have been found by
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detectives leading the biggest ever murder inquiry in Levenford's
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history,</em> the story blared from the front page of the
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Gazette.</p>
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<p><em>The gruesome find was made by steeplejacks working on a
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disused venting chimney at Thomson's Forge.</em></p>
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<p><em>And the discovery follows the macabre abduction of two
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teenagers and the brutal slaying of another in a car-part store in
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the early hours of Thursday morning.</em></p>
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<p><em>The latest violent death was discovered yesterday when staff
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at Rolling Stock in the commercial centre just off Strathleven
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Street opened for business. The horrified shop assistants
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discovered part of the body of a young man, and evidence of a
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violent struggle in which, it is suspected, two other teenage boys
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have been injured or killed.</em></p>
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<p><em>The dead boy has been identified as Votek Visotsky, whose
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father Karl is the well known manager of Kirkland Automobiles and
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secretary of the Round Table. The shocked parents were too
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distressed last night to speak of the tragedy.</em></p>
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<p><em>The missing boys are Edward Redford and Charles Black, both
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of East Mains, who have been missing since Wednesday night. A
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blood-soaked piece of clothing, bearing a wallet identified as
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belonging to Edward Redford, leads police to suspect he was
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involved in the incident. His whereabouts are subject to a massive
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police search of the area around the Rough Drain on the east side
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of the Burgh.</em></p>
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<p><em>Police are also investigating an incident involving a fourth
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youth, known to be a friend of the other three, who was found badly
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injured on Castlebank Street in the early hours of the morning by
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local bowling club secretary and newsagent Walter Dickson. Mr
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Dickson took the boy, believed to have been burned, to Lochend
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Hospital from where he was rushed to Keltybank Hospital, the
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world-renowned plastic surgery unit, where he is still undergoing
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emergency treatment.</em></p>
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<p><em>The bodies in the Thomson Forge Chimney, one of the town's
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major landmarks, were discovered by Fergus Milby and his assistant
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Daniel Cullen moments after they scaled the 200-foot tower in a
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routine maintenance operation.</em></p>
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<p><em>They told the Gazette that the dead children had been
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impaled on the spikes of lightning conductors and were hanging
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inside the chimney. Mr Milby described the scene as being "like a
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butcher's shop".</em></p>
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<p><em>Police are working on the theory that the dead children
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include the bodies of babies Timothy Doyle and Kelly Campbell, both
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of whom were abducted two weeks ago. Mrs Shona Campbell was killed
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in the barbaric attack. Two of the others are believed to be those
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of Neil Kennedy, 8, who went missing from near his home in Miller
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Road on Monday night, and Carol Howard, 16, who disappeared from an
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elevator in Castlebank Distillery on Tuesday. The identity of the
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fifth child is unknown at the moment, raising yet another riddle in
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this series of tragedies. Police have confirmed that they have had
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no further reports of missing children so far.</em></p>
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<p><em>The horrific slayings, which began with the murder of
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elderly Marta Herkik in her home in Cairn House on River Street,
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now thought to have been the beginning of the series of deaths and
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abductions, have been parallelled by a bizarre succession of
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suicides.</em></p>
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<p>Blair listed them at length.</p>
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<p><em>The man heading the murder and abduction inquiry, Detective
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Chief Inspector Jack Fallon, has appealed for any information
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concerning the deaths.</em></p>
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<p><em>Mr Fallon and scene of crimes officer Inspector Ralph Slater
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were first on the scene at Thomson Forge where the bodies were
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found, and again affirmed the warnings to all parents. Because of
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the public outcry over the series of horrific killings, Regional
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Headquarters have confirmed the temporary transfer of a significant
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number of officers to help in the inquiry.</em></p>
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<p><em>Mr Fallon said he had to weigh the balance between causing a
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public panic and ensuring public protection.</em></p>
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<p><em>"I have to say protection comes first," he told the Gazette:
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"Every parent should by now be aware of the danger to children.
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This person, or persons, has so far taken babies, a boy, and a
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teenage girl, and possibly three youths. All of the incidents have
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happened at night, but this pattern may change. We cannot
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say.</em></p>
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<p><em>"Every parent should be made aware of the dangers. Children
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must be watched at all times, and they should under no
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circumstances be out after dark. Any woman, young or old, should
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avoid dark or isolated places where there are no people. At night,
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all windows and doors should be locked. Deserted areas must be
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avoided."</em></p>
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<p><em>Provost Stanley Moor, leader of the Labour administration on
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the District Council however, last night hit out at the lack of
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police success.</em></p>
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<p><em>"What are we paying them money for?" he asked."They've got
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people out stopping drivers with broken tail lights and giving out
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parking tickets, while there's some maniac running around our
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streets and killing our children. This town is under siege, and I
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wasn't voted in here to sit back and take it. I will be speaking to
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the Chief Constable first thing in the morning to demand immediate
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action."</em></p>
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<p><em>Provost Moor declined to offer any advice to the murder
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squad detectives, or to suggest what action they should
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take.</em></p>
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<p>The story continued on pages two and three and the centre
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spread. Blair Bryden had again burned the midnight oil and he'd
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gone knocking on the doors. There were interviews with relatives
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and friends, pictures of white-faced shop assistants at Rolling
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Stock who were far from shy about describing in detail what they
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had found in the early hours of a cold and frosty morning. Blair
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had been circumspect about his own descriptions. An old aerial shot
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of the town had been hauled out of the files and spread across the
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centre pages, with every location outlined with a black circle. It
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looked as if Levenford had been used as a target by a giant
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hoopla-player. They crowded on the page like a scattering of
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malignant haloes. On the wing column of the spread, there was
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another article.</p>
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<p><em>OCCULT DETECTIVES?</em></p>
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<p>It read.</p>
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<p><em>Chief Superintendent Jack Fallon is remaining tight lipped
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about the involvement of two alleged psychic experts who have both
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been interviewed at Levenford Police station and are believed to be
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helping with inquiries.</em></p>
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<p><em>The experts are Andrew Toye, professor of paranormal studies
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at the City university, and librarian Lorna Breck, who recently
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featured in these pages after a tragic fire on Murroch Road which
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claimed the lives of four people.</em></p>
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<p><em>Professor Toye is a well known authority on the occult and a
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veteran psychic investigator. Last year he was involved in the
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Blackhale mystery where a young girl was thought to have been the
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focus of a poltergeist-style haunting. Professor Toye is also
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respected for his expertise in Celtic Studies.</em></p>
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<p><em>Lorna Breck, of Clydeshore Avenue, who recently came to
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Levenford to work in Strathleven Library, is reputed to have
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foreseen the disastrous fire which claimed the life of Patrick
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McCann and his three small children, James, Brendan and
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Kerry.</em></p>
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<p><em>Though Miss Breck makes no claims for any psychic
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capability, Mrs Moira McCluskie a friend, who was present during
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the 'episode' told the Gazette: "It was amazing. I've never seen
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anything like it in my life. Lorna was reading the tea-leaves, and
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we were ll having a bit of fun. Nobody took it seriously, at least
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I didn't.</em></p>
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<p><em>"But then she went all funny and started telling Agnes to go
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home. That was the mother, poor woman. She said she had to go home
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because her house was on fire, and it was true. When we went
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downstairs, we could hear the fire engines in the distance and by
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the time we got along to Murroch Road, there was nothing left of
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the house."</em></p>
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<p><em>Both professor Toye and Lorna Breck have refused to comment
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on their involvement.</em></p>
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<p><em>However, it is known, or suspected, that the first in this
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terrifying spate of murders happened during a seance in Cairn
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House, the tragic history of which has been revealed in previous
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issues of the Gazette.</em></p>
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<p><em>Mrs Herkik, a Hungarian refugee, was a well known psychic or
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speywife who held regular seances in her fourth-floor rooms. Police
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are working on the theory that she may have actually been killed
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during the progress of such a sitting.</em></p>
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<p><em>A further, and more disturbing theory is that she may have
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been at the centre of a cult of devil-worshippers or
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occultists.</em></p>
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<p><em>At St Rowan's Church, Father Liam Boyle said: "This kind of
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blasphemy is dangerous and a sin against the Holy Ghost and the
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first of the commandments. People who are involved in these
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practices are in danger of losing their immortal souls."</em></p>
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<p><em>Chief Inspector Fallon, has so far refused to confirm the
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involvement of either Miss Breck or Professor Toye, but other
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forces on England have, on numerous occasions, sought the help of
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so-called psychics in the search for missing persons. But the fact
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that a paranormal expert and an alleged fortune-teller have been
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discussing the issue with the murder squad detectives suggests that
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they had been called in for advice on both the mysterious and
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brutal killing of Marta Herkik and the whereabouts of the missing
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children.</em></p>
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<p><em>Mr Fallon would only confirm that none of them are suspected
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of any involvement in the horrendous crimes which have terrified
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the people of Levenford.</em></p>
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<p><em>The discovery of the five dead children in the chimney of
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Thomson's Forge may indicate that their involvement has been
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helpful.</em></p>
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<p><em>It is not understood how, or why, the children were taken to
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such an inaccessible place and hung on the spikes. The awful find,
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reminiscent of the cache of the</em> Shrike<em>, or butcher-bird
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which impales its prey, has sent shock-waves of fear and anxiety
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throughout the community. On Friday, Fr Boyle is to hold a special
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service of prayer for the victims and for an end to the spate of
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killings.</em></p>
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<p>"What the hell is this?" Cowie said, throwing the newspaper down
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onto his desk. It landed with a loud slap.</p>
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<p>"It's a newspaper," Jack said, blandly. "Is this what you called
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me in for?"</p>
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<p>Jack had managed to get up to Julia's house where she cooked him
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the first real dinner he could remember in recent weeks.</p>
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<p>As he wolfed a steak pie, Davy sat beside him while Julia eyed
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him askance.</p>
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<p>"So he's not happy?" she asked.</p>
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<p>"He'll never be happy. Dad told me about folk like Cowie,
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promoted above their station. The handshake still counts for too
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much, even these days."</p>
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<p>"Dad would have killed you if you'd joined them."</p>
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<p>"I would have killed myself," Jack said through a mouthful of
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pastry. "There's too many damned secrets without having a society
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to start new ones."</p>
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<p>"Uncle Jack said a bad word," Davy piped up gleefully, nudging
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Jack just under the ribs. "Just like he said when he fell in the
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water."</p>
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<p>"Now Davy," Julia told him, though she was looking at Jack with
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her eyebrows raised. "Don't tell tales."</p>
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<p>"Explosive expletive," Jack said, trying to keep his face
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straight. "I didn't think he heard."</p>
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<p>"Are you going to catch the bad men?" The boy asked, eyes wide
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and serious.</p>
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<p>"Bad men?" For a moment Jack was nonplussed, then the coin
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dropped. "Oh yes. I'm going to catch them."</p>
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<p>"We had a policeman round today again. We can't even get out in
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the playground any more. We all have to stay in."</p>
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<p>"That's the best thing. When I catch the bad men, you can all
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get out to play again."</p>
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<p>"Good," Davy said brightly. "I told my pals you would get them.
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They all said it was a monster that caught people and ate them.
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Some of the girls were crying, but I wasn't. I told them you'd
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catch them and punch them on the nose."</p>
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<p>"That I will," Jack said. In himself, he was wondering how he
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was going to catch whatever he was hunting. Somehow he thought a
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punch on the nose would not be standard operating procedure.</p>
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<p>He'd toyed with the idea of going back up to Lorna Breck's
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house, again, but after his run-in with Ronald Cowie, he'd decided
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against it, because he was still tense with anger. A sister was
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different, especially one like Julia who'd already been through the
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wars of a divorce. She knew how to handle him. Her house just round
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the corner from Cargill Farm Cottage, was the one place he could
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sit and let the tension ease out. There was another reason, one
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that he'd just begun to realise when he'd thought about making
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another trip across to Clydeshore Avenue.</p>
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<p>She was a strange girl, Lorna Breck. The first time he'd met
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her, she'd been in a state of hysterical collapse. The second,
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she'd looked not much better. But since then, since he'd got to
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know her a little better, and once he'd made the enormous mental
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leap of actually believing what she said, he'd seen her in a
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different light. He'd thought of her short chestnut-shiny hair and
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her wide, innocent grey eyes as they fixed upon him and he had felt
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the stirring of something he hadn't felt for so long he thought
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he'd forgotten how to feel it. Sometime in the past couple of days,
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without even consciously thinking it, he'd noticed what a stunner
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Lorna Breck was. Maybe he'd bodyswerved the notion, shrugged it off
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as soon as it started in his head, but when he considered his
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reasons for going back up to her house in the early evening, he
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couldn't really think of one, except that he wanted to.</p>
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<p>So he came to Julia's house instead and had dinner with his
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sister and his nephew and tried not to think about Lorna Breck at
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all.</p>
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<p>That's where Ronald Cowie's assistant found him after
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telephoning several numbers.</p>
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<p>"The boss wants you in here pronto," the voice said.</p>
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<p>"Why, what's happened," Jack asked. Davy was over at the table
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by the window doing a jigsaw puzzle he'd asked his uncle to help
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him with. Julia was on the armchair, legs curled up underneath her,
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looking across at her brother with muted concern.</p>
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<p>"I don't know. I haven't heard anything. He just wants you to
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report to his office immediately"</p>
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<p>It was pitch black when Jack got into his car. Davy waved from
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the window as he pulled away and went back down to the station.
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Cowie looked up at him when he came into the Superintendent's
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office and threw the paper down with an angry slashing motion.</p>
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<p>Jack picked it up and read Blair Bryden's front page piece.</p>
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<p>"Seems about right," he said.</p>
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<p>"Oh no, it's not alright," Cowie snorted, "Are you responsible
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for that information?"</p>
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<p>"Some of it, not all. He's a digger. Knows his area."</p>
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<p>"And what about the rubbish on the centre pages?"</p>
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<p>Jack flipped through and held the wings of the paper up in front
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of him. He gave the aerial shot a cursory glance. He'd his own
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picture from the air, and huge grid-maps besides. He already knew
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where everything had happened. He scanned the quotes from Doreen
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Sweeney in Rolling Stock, flicked over the tremulous statements
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gleaned from Sandra Mitchell who had watched the crazed Derek
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Elliot ground to a pulp under the train, and skimmed over the
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colourful description of the find in the chimney as told by Danny
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Cullen.</p>
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<p>Then the headline on the other side of the page caught his eye
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and he felt himself sag.</p>
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<p>"Witchcraft?" Cowie barked. "Is that what we're down to? I
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thought it was bad enough with that Irishman, but this really takes
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the biscuit."</p>
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<p>"Sorry," Jack said as levelly as he could. "I'm not with
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you."</p>
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<p>"You had better believe that," Cowie said, his voice rising in
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indignation. "I want to know what you're playing at. I was told
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nothing about these charlatans. What the hell are they doing on a
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murder case?"</p>
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<p>"They're helping with inquiries."</p>
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<p>"You'd better explain that," Cowie grated.</p>
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<p>"Certainly. Professor Toye is an old acquaintance of mine from
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university. I brought him in for an expert opinion on the Cairn
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House murder. He's an expert of parapsychology and the occult.
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Assuming that Marta Herkik was involved in some sort of seance at
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or around the time she died, I thought his advice might be
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helpful."</p>
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<p>"And this Breck girl?"</p>
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<p>"That's a different kettle of fish," Jack said, extemporising.
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He was loath to tell Ronald Cowie exactly why he'd been dealing
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with Lorna Breck. Certainly Blair Bryden had worked something out
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for himself, and Jack could not blame him for running the piece in
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the Gazette, no matter how unhelpful it was to him. He'd promised
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to keep it out until Friday's edition. Jack had forgotten that the
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bi-weekly paper was printed on a Thursday night. Cowie had got an
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early copy.</p>
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<p>"She's reputed to have some sort of extra sensory perception.
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Professor Toye believes she'd be helpful."</p>
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<p>"And that's why you have made this whole station a laughing
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stock?"</p>
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<p>"I don't quite see it like that. Lorna Breck was able to give us
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a specific pointer to the warehouse where the Kennedy boy was
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snatched. Based on that, I feel that she might be crucial to this
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operation."</p>
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<p>"Mister Fallon," Cowie hissed through clenched teeth. "Must I
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remind you that this is a murder inquiry? The fact that you have
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brought in so called psychics and fortune tellers makes you, and
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every man in this station look like a fool, and I'm not going to
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have that. The people out there," he said with a sweeping gesture,
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"expect solid investigation, and that's what they are going to get.
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They do not expect you to consult the stars, or witches or whatever
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you care to call them. They want this thing stopped, and if you
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think stargazing is going to do it, you're very much mistaken."</p>
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<p>"I brought them in for sound reasons. They are also in addition
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to the investigation. I've had people out all over town every
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minute of the day since this started."</p>
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<p>"And come up with nothing, as I predicted. Now it's your day of
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reckoning. The reputation of this force and the safety of the
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people of this burgh is much too important. As you told me earlier,
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you believe this man O'Day was at the sitting which ended in the
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death of Marta Herkik?"</p>
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<p>Jack saw what was coming, but he could not tell a lie on
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this.</p>
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<p>"Yes. I believe he was."</p>
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<p>"He admitted this to you?"</p>
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<p>Jack nodded.</p>
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<p>"And you left him up in the bell tower, despite your knowledge
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that he had broken into the church and stolen valuable religious
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objects." Cowie snorted with derisory laughter.</p>
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<p>"So, you have a witness to a murder. All the others believed to
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have been present are dead, and you let this man stay free? Didn't
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you stop to think that this man is not only a witness but a prime
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suspect?"</p>
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<p>"I don't think so," Jack said. "In fact I know he is not a
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suspect. He couldn't have carried out the killings."</p>
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<p>"I take it you got that from the stars, eh?"</p>
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<p>Jack said nothing, and Cowie blustered on triumphantly.</p>
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<p>"Gross dereliction of duty. Criminal dereliction as far as I'm
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concerned, and I suspect a few others will see it my way. I am now
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formally taking over this case, which, if you had done your job
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properly, you would realise is pretty much cut and dried. I have
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instructed Inspector Slater to formally arrest Michael O'Day for
|
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the murders of Marta Herkik and complicity in the killings of
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Doyle, Campbell, Kennedy, and Howard with others unknown. I believe
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his already admitted links with the suicides will reveal more than
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you have so far found."</p>
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<p>Cowie leaned forward and put his hands on his spotless desk. The
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buttons on his shoulder gleamed in the overhead light.</p>
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<p>"Have you anything to say?" he asked, with what could only be
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|
described as a sneer.</p>
|
|
<p>"I think you're making a huge mistake. O'Day did not kill any of
|
|
those people. Look at the state of him man. He can hardly stand up.
|
|
If you speak to Dr Cattanach, he'll tell you. The marks on those
|
|
bodies were not made by anything he's ever seen.</p>
|
|
<p>"Oh, you haven't considered the possibility of ritual torture
|
|
and mutilation?"</p>
|
|
<p>"You think he climbed that chimney and put the bodies
|
|
there?"</p>
|
|
<p>Cowie faltered a little, but then came back strongly.</p>
|
|
<p>"That's neither here nor there. You have a man who admitted he
|
|
was there when the Herkik woman was killed and who has admitted his
|
|
association with all of the others suspected of involvement. I
|
|
think that wraps the case up nicely. Now, if you'll excuse me, I
|
|
have some serious police work to do. And you, my university
|
|
educated friend, will be the subject of a report to headquarters.
|
|
As far as you are concerned, I think you can count your days on
|
|
this force as numbered."</p>
|
|
<p>Jack stood there, towering over his superior, almost unable to
|
|
breathe because of the tight anger building up inside him. It took
|
|
a great effort of will to force the words out of his mouth without
|
|
shouting.</p>
|
|
<p>"Listen to me you crazy shit. If you think this is over, you've
|
|
got another think coming. And if you stop this investigation now,
|
|
then you'll be responsible for what happens next. This is
|
|
<em>not</em> finished yet. If somebody else dies, then you'll have
|
|
blood on your hands."</p>
|
|
<p>Cowie smiled brightly. "Oh, I don't really think so. And by the
|
|
way, I'll be adding this conversation to my report."</p>
|
|
<p>He flicked a hand towards the door. "That will be all. I believe
|
|
you are off duty now. I understand you have several days owing, so
|
|
as of tonight, I must insist you take them. You look a little over
|
|
tired."</p>
|
|
<p>Jack found the door handle and it took another major effort not
|
|
to wrench the door from his hinges.</p>
|
|
<p>He found Ralph Slater and John McColl in the operations room.
|
|
They looked up as he came in and he could see their discomfiture as
|
|
soon as he opened the door.</p>
|
|
<p>"Sorry, Chief," Ralph started. "There was nothing we could do.
|
|
He came down and insisted I make up an arrest sheet on O'Day. The
|
|
poor bastard didn't understand a word when I read him his rights.
|
|
He's down there going mental. Gibbering like an idiot."</p>
|
|
<p>"Do you think O'Day did any of this?"</p>
|
|
<p>"Oh, I think he's crazy enough at the moment, but he's scared
|
|
out of his mind, and it's not us he's frightened of. Says
|
|
something's coming for him. I reckon you've got a better idea of
|
|
what he's talking about than we have, but no, I don't believe it.
|
|
There's not a pick on the man. He looks as if he hasn't eaten for a
|
|
fortnight, and he's scared witless."</p>
|
|
<p>"Is that fool Cowie closing the case?" John asked.</p>
|
|
<p>"I'm afraid he is. I'm off it, in case you didn't hear the
|
|
jungle drums. That only means he'll make an announcement tomorrow,
|
|
get a bloody great pat on the back, and then all the kids will come
|
|
out to play again. Then another youngster will get killed. I told
|
|
him it's not over yet, but he wouldn't listen."</p>
|
|
<p>"Man's a buffoon," John said. "Batteries not included. So what
|
|
do we do now?"</p>
|
|
<p>"I've got a problem. I've been told to take time owing. I can't
|
|
refuse it. But I would appreciate if you kept me in touch"</p>
|
|
<p>He scribbled three numbers down on a sheet of paper and handed
|
|
it to Ralph.</p>
|
|
<p>"I'll be at one of these if you have to get a hold of me. Stay
|
|
close to Robbie Cattanach and get his post mortem results as
|
|
quickly as possible. And Ralph, if you can get a rush on those
|
|
blood samples from Rolling Stock, they'll tell us who was who. The
|
|
search for those lads will need top priority, but for God's sake,
|
|
have a word with the Community Involvement boys. No matter what
|
|
Cowie says tomorrow, and he'll probably sent a fax up to HQ
|
|
tonight, I want them all round the schools in the afternoon. We
|
|
can't afford a stand down on that, or we'll lose more
|
|
children."</p>
|
|
<p>He stood, hunched over with his hands in his pockets, the
|
|
familiar slick of straight black hair hanging down over his
|
|
eye.</p>
|
|
<p>"We're going to lose more anyway." he said with utter
|
|
conviction. He opened his drawer and took out a flat folder which
|
|
he stuffed inside his bag, then left without a word.</p>
|
|
<p>This time he did go to Lorna Breck's house. Again she called out
|
|
from behind the door, but when she heard his voice she opened it
|
|
quickly and gave him a wide smile. Jack's heart did a strange
|
|
little flip and he mentally berated himself for a fool. Lorna
|
|
reached out and took his hand, pulling him over the threshold. He
|
|
dropped his bag in the hallway.</p>
|
|
<p>"I was hoping you would come back," she said.</p>
|
|
<p>"Why's that?"</p>
|
|
<p>The girl shrugged. She was wearing a pair of light jeans and a
|
|
baggy pullover that made her look even younger than before.</p>
|
|
<p>"Oh, I don't know. I've been thinking, maybe we can work
|
|
together on this. I feel safe when you're with me."</p>
|
|
<p>Jack's heart did its little thump again. He wasn't sure he liked
|
|
this.</p>
|
|
<p>She led him through to the kitchen still holding his hand. "I've
|
|
got some wine in the fridge. Want some?"</p>
|
|
<p>Jack hadn't had wine in as many weeks as he'd missed hot
|
|
dinners. He decided he'd really like a glass or two, or ten. She
|
|
handed him the bottle from the fridge. It was red, but he didn't
|
|
care. It would taste just as good cold. He pulled the cork while
|
|
she got the glasses and poured two manly amounts. She told him to
|
|
sling his coat and jacket over a chair and they both sat down
|
|
opposite each other.</p>
|
|
<p>"Something's wrong," she said.</p>
|
|
<p>"You got that from holding my hand?"</p>
|
|
<p>"No, silly," she said and then she laughed for the first time in
|
|
Jack's recollection. It was surprisingly throaty and very feminine
|
|
and Jack took a drink from his glass so he wouldn't notice if his
|
|
heart did it again. "I can see it on your face. You look as if you
|
|
want to do somebody an injury."</p>
|
|
<p>"Oh I do. I've just been pulled off the case by a pompous,
|
|
ignorant, incompetent fool of a man."</p>
|
|
<p>"Why?"</p>
|
|
<p>"Because he read the Gazette today. They've speculated about you
|
|
and Professor Toye."</p>
|
|
<p>Lorna coloured. "But I didn't say anything to them. Mr Bryden
|
|
phoned me and I told him I didn't want to comment."</p>
|
|
<p>"So did Andrew Toye. It doesn't matter. That's not the real
|
|
reason. My Superintendent thinks he can get a feather in his cap by
|
|
telling the world he's arrested the killer. He's hauled Michael
|
|
O'Day down to the station. He's been up in St Rowan's belltower for
|
|
the best part of a week. All he's eaten and drunk are holy wafers
|
|
and holy water. He could't put a hole in a wet tissue."</p>
|
|
<p>Lorna looked at him intently. "That means he'll stop the hunt,
|
|
doesn't it?"</p>
|
|
<p>Jack affirmed that with a look.</p>
|
|
<p>"So it will keep on going. It will kill other people."</p>
|
|
<p>"That's what I told him, but he's hungry for the fame and the
|
|
kudos. And by the way, he called you a charlatan."</p>
|
|
<p>Lorna's eyes widened instantly and it was Jack's turn to
|
|
laugh.</p>
|
|
<p>"Oh, what the hell," he said. "Let's have a drink, then a think.
|
|
I've got one or two friends who have promised to help me."</p>
|
|
<p>"And another one," Lorna said. Jack looked across at her and she
|
|
smiled again, her eyes crinkling. "You've got me."</p>
|
|
<p>Jack took another gulp of his wine. He sat in uncomfortable
|
|
silence for a few moments until Lorna spoke again. "I do want to
|
|
help, but I'm scared."</p>
|
|
<p>He reached across the table and engulfed her small hand in his.
|
|
The skin was warm and soft. "Me too, and working blind. I want to
|
|
try something, see if I can use you as my eyes, but first I'll tell
|
|
you what O'Day told me, and what Andrew Toye thinks."</p>
|
|
<p>He explained about Michael O'Day's appeal for sanctuary.</p>
|
|
<p>"He says it can't get him as long as he'd on hallowed ground and
|
|
has the sacraments to protect him. So far, as far as I can see,
|
|
he's been right."</p>
|
|
<p>Jack reached for his coat and fumbled in the pocket. He drew out
|
|
the cross which O'Day had handed to him up in the tower. he'd
|
|
forgotten about it until that moment.</p>
|
|
<p>"He said I should keep a hold of that. Thinks it can protect me.
|
|
I suppose I should give it back to the church."</p>
|
|
<p>Lorna reached across and took the crucific in her hand, hefting
|
|
it.</p>
|
|
<p>"No. I think you should keep it until this is over."</p>
|
|
<p>He shook his head. "Maybe O'Day believes, but not me."</p>
|
|
<p>She held on to the golden cross, rubbing the surface with her
|
|
thumb. "Now that he's out, what will happen?"</p>
|
|
<p>"I don't know. My folk have promised to keep a special watch on
|
|
him. I think he'll be safe enough where he is. Nobody can get in
|
|
and he can't get out. The man's hardly got the strength to walk. He
|
|
told me about the seance in Cairn House, and I believe him. The
|
|
rest of them didn't turn on Marta Herkik. They were involved in
|
|
some kind of ritual and he says something came into the room. Like
|
|
a scene from Poltergeist."</p>
|
|
<p>Lorna raised her eyebrows, asking a silent question.</p>
|
|
<p>"It was a film. Great special effects. O'Day says this was no
|
|
trick. Andrew Toye goes along with it. It's hard to take it all in,
|
|
but I'm prepared to go along too. O'Day says whatever it is, it's
|
|
been using the people who were at Cairn House. I don't know why and
|
|
I don't know how, but he seems to think it needs them for energy or
|
|
food or something."</p>
|
|
<p>"Where does it come from?"</p>
|
|
<p>"God alone knows. Andrew has some old books which tell how to
|
|
raise demons. Call it hell or the underworld or another dimension,
|
|
it doesn't matter. I've got to find it and I have to stop it,
|
|
though I don't have the faintest idea how to do either. That's why
|
|
I've come to you for help. I want you to try to see it for me."</p>
|
|
<p>Lorna's face paled. "I thought you might suggest something like
|
|
that. I don't know if I can."</p>
|
|
<p>"You don't want to?"</p>
|
|
<p>"No, I don't, but I will try," she said in a small, resigned
|
|
voice. " But I don't know if I <em>can</em> do it. This isn't a
|
|
voluntary thing, you know. I've been trying <em>not</em> to see it
|
|
for weeks, and I've failed miserably."</p>
|
|
<p>Jack poured another glass of wine for both of them. Already he
|
|
could feel it heat him up inside. He changed the subject and for
|
|
the next hour or so they pretended to forget about why he'd come.
|
|
Lorna told him about her childhood on a farm up on the north west
|
|
coast. He told her about his own, in Levenford, running wild up in
|
|
the Langmuir Crags, catching newts in the bomb-craters which had
|
|
been left since the war, guddling trout in the streams which ran
|
|
down off the hills. She made some cheese and toast and they had
|
|
another glass, almost finishing the bottle, and then they both went
|
|
through to her small cluttered living room and sat side-by side on
|
|
the sofa. Jack fetched his bag, drew out the folder and produced a
|
|
sheaf of photographs.</p>
|
|
<p>"These might help," he said. "I know the town, but you might
|
|
recognise something in these." He laid them down on the floor,
|
|
overlapping the prints until eventually he had a jig-saw picture of
|
|
the town spread on the carpet.</p>
|
|
<p>Lorna turned the lights down and sat, staring at the pictures
|
|
which were barely illuminated. Jack sat in silence, hoping she
|
|
might spot a landmark, seen from above, that she would recognise.
|
|
It took a minute or so before he realised that she'd closed her
|
|
eyes. Her breathing deepened, the only sound in the quiet room.</p>
|
|
<p>He was about to speak when she shivered violently and she gasped
|
|
sharply.</p>
|
|
<p>"Oh," she moaned. "It's dark. Cold." Her shoulders drew upwards
|
|
and her hands crossed themselves to rub her own forearms before she
|
|
twisted and drew herself into a tight hug.</p>
|
|
<p>"Cold," she said again. "I can <em>feel</em> it." The words were
|
|
slow and drawn out, like the speech of a dreamer, Jack felt a
|
|
crawling sensation trickle under the skin at the back of his
|
|
neck.</p>
|
|
<p>"I see stone. A wall. It's dark in here and cold. The wind is
|
|
blowing through. The smell. I can smell birds. Dead. Dead birds, No
|
|
noise."</p>
|
|
<p>She stiffened. "It's <em>there</em>. I can feel it. Oh, it's
|
|
there in the dark. He hurt it. Oh, the pain," she wailed, slapping
|
|
a hand to her eye, "and anger."</p>
|
|
<p>He started to say something, but she held up her free hand to
|
|
forestall him, even though one eye was covered and another closed
|
|
tight.</p>
|
|
<p>"Wooden beams again. Old boxes. I see an elephant. A round hole
|
|
with chicken wire to stop the birds, but it's torn. There's a smell
|
|
of paper, and something else."</p>
|
|
<p>Lorna shivered again. "It's blood. It's all around."</p>
|
|
<p>She dropped her hand, eyes now wide, but somehow unfocussed, as
|
|
if she was searching in the dark. She turned slightly, head
|
|
swivelling.</p>
|
|
<p>"I see them. Oh my. They're hanging there." Her voice shuddered
|
|
in horror. "Dead. All of them. Hanging on the pipes. It can see in
|
|
the dark. It is moving out from the corner where the roof goes down
|
|
to the beams. Like a shadow. I can hear it breathing, like an
|
|
animal. It is hungry, and it has pain. It's going up to the pipes
|
|
and it's...."</p>
|
|
<p>Lorna let loud cry. Her body arched back as it uncoiled
|
|
violently and she fell against the back of the couch. She lay
|
|
there, head lolling, gasping for breath. Jack moved across to her
|
|
and put his arm around her shoulder, drawing her up to a sitting
|
|
position. She fell against him and he held her tightly, trying to
|
|
deaden the tremors with his own body.</p>
|
|
<p>"Come on," he said softly. "You're safe." He smoothed her hair
|
|
with his other hand, holding her head in at his neck, almost under
|
|
his chin. She smelled warm and clean. It took a few minutes for the
|
|
trembling to die away and he still held her tight. Finally, she
|
|
began to raise her head and he shifted position. She looked up at
|
|
him and her eyes looked huge in the gloom, dark puddles against her
|
|
pale skin.</p>
|
|
<p>"I saw it," she said faltering, trying to keep from sobbing. "It
|
|
was <em>feeding</em>. There was a foot hanging down. I could see
|
|
the shoe, like a trainer. It came out of the dark and it reached
|
|
up. They were hanging down from the pipes. Three of them. The feet
|
|
almost touched the floor." She stopped, drew in her breath in a
|
|
quick hiccup. "No. It was <em>one foot</em>. There wasn't another
|
|
one."</p>
|
|
<p>"Do you remember where it was?"</p>
|
|
<p>She shook her head. "I don't know. It was in a roof. I could see
|
|
the beams sloping down to the floor. Dead birds. I could smell
|
|
them. And boxes of paper. All stacked high. It was behind them, in
|
|
the corner where it's dark. It doesn't like the light. And there
|
|
was an elephant on the boxes. A funny kind of elephant."</p>
|
|
<p>A memory tried to form itself in Jack's mind, but it was too
|
|
vague. It was an odd thing to say, an elephant, but there was
|
|
significance to it. He concentrated hard, and it came to him.</p>
|
|
<p>The elephant with the castle on its back. It was the main motif
|
|
on the old burgh's coat of arms. It appeared on every signpost on
|
|
the edges of the town. It was the stylised image of the great
|
|
double humped rock of the castle beneath which Annie Eastwood's
|
|
body had been found. Jack closed his eyes and tried to visualise
|
|
the old house inside the castle ramparts where Ian Ramage, the
|
|
keeper lived. He'd been down there half a dozen times with Davy on
|
|
weekends in the summer. It had a pitched roof, as Lorna had
|
|
described, but he could not remember a circular hole where birds,
|
|
or anything else could get in or out.</p>
|
|
<p>"Could you see anything else?"</p>
|
|
<p>She shook her head. "It was <em>feeding.</em> It turned and
|
|
looked at me. It's eye opened. The other one's been hurt, but it
|
|
looked at me and then it <em>smiled.</em> At least I think it did.
|
|
It's too black to see. But it was looking at me and it
|
|
<em>knows</em> I was watching it."</p>
|
|
<p>Her whole body shuddered powerfully.</p>
|
|
<p>"It knows about me," she whimpered.</p>
|
|
</div>
|
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