Confession at Maddleskirk Abbey Read Free Page A

Father Will. ‘Nothingmuch to report so far today and it’s been very quiet overnight.’
    ‘Is anything happening on the site that we should know about?’
    ‘I have to say that our systems are functioning well and the important thing is that the staff and visitors know that we’re here if we’re needed. Outside, there is the monthly corps exercise and parade by the college students but they look after themselves. Our patrols will pay visits from time to time, just to show a presence!’
    ‘That’s how it should be. So is the cop shop keeping busy?’
    ‘Surprisingly so. We’re obviously fulfilling a need. People – visitors and staff – come regularly for all sorts of reasons which is most gratifying. Now, Nick, whilst we are alone, I have something to tell you …’
    Father Will wanted to discuss Father John’s visit to hospital because he had not yet returned, but at that moment the door opened and in strode Barnaby Crabstaff accompanied by a whiff of heavy sweat and other indefinable but not very pleasant odours.
    ‘Ah, Constable Rhea,’ he panted. ‘I saw you heading this way as I was coming here so because I wanted a chat to tell you something important I came right here right away right now so as to catch you before you left and here you are …’
    ‘So I am, Barnaby. Is there something you want?’
    ‘I was coming to the cop shop to report this but when I saw you I thought you might know what to do and if you’d not been here then I would have spoken to this officer standing here but because you are here, I may as well mention it to you. Or to both of you.’
    ‘I think I know what you mean,’ Nick responded after deciphering Barnaby’s speech. ‘How can we help?’
    ‘I think there’s a body up there in Ashwell Priory woods…’ He lapsed into a whisper as he pointed vaguely to somewhere outside. ‘Or he could be just asleep.’
    ‘A body?’ asked Father Will with a clear look of horror on hisface. Nick did not miss his expression – it reminded him of a child’s guilt when a personal secret has been discovered. Did Father Will know something about this? Had it already been reported?
    ‘It’s a man and he’s not moving. He’s cold and stiff but if he’s been sleeping outside on a chilly night like last night then he would be cold so perhaps he’s not very dead …’
    ‘Who is it, Barnaby? Any idea?’
    ‘Sorry, no, Mr Rhea, not a clue. Never seen him before.’
    ‘Does anyone else know about this?’
    ‘I think not, Mr Rhea, they’d never go walking where he is lying, it’s off the footpath and deep among the rocks and trees, so it is, off the beaten track as they say but I go there quite a lot, looking for rare birds which is why I was there and why I found him, if you understand. I was not poaching, Mr Rhea, or anything like that …’
    ‘All right, Barnaby, you’d better show us,’ suggested Nick. ‘Do you want to come with me, Father Will? As a monkstable of this abbey this might be our responsibility even if he’s not on abbey land, or shall I find someone else?’
    ‘Can you find someone else?’ His voice quivered slightly. ‘I’ll stay and look after the office. I might be needed here. Monkstable Dale is patrolling somewhere around the abbey, probably looking in on the corps parades, so I’ll call him on his mobile. He should go with you.’
    ‘You’re right, he should.’
    They waited as Father Will phoned Monkstable Dale. Nick attempted to coax more of the story from Barnaby whilst doing his best not to suggest in any way that he was responsible.
    Nick was well acquainted with Barnaby and knew that the poor fellow had an enormous guilt complex. However, from what he said, it seemed he’d been bird watching in Ashwell Priory woods earlier that morning when he’d stumbled across the man lying on the ground. He was among trees some distance from the footpath in an isolated location. That little-usedpath twisted up the hillside before arriving at St