book title

While the CPS prepared the case for trial, Mary Delaware’s application for bail was denied on the grounds she posed a danger to the public, and she was remanded in custody. At her pre-trial hearing at Stoke Crown Court, she entered a formal plea of not guilty. Her trial date was set for February 2019.

With no reported sightings of Father Andrew Doyle in Northern Ireland, Jess was determined to find out more about victims Gary Turner and Dani Harper, in the hope they could identify a motive for their brutal deaths to strengthen their case. Their names weren’t mentioned in any of the ledgers or in Father O’Malley’s diary, and local social care records dating from the mid-seventies up to eighty-five provided no clues.

Sitting at her desk, Jess couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that the victims were somehow connected to the kid’s home, given social care records were only digitised in 2001, there was a distinct possibility the fire at the home destroyed their identities, she thought.

Jess’s phone rang.

‘I’ve got a Mrs Ruby Wilson here, she says you’re looking into her partner, Fiona Mitchell’s Misper case,’ the desk sergeant said.

‘Thanks, I’ll come down to her now.’

Ruby Wilson reported her civil partner, Fiona Mitchell, who had connections to Leek, missing a week ago. Ruby said Fiona went for a drive in the Moorlands on Saturday and she hadn’t seen her since. They had put out immediate press and social media appeals, but worryingly, no one had seen her or her car since. She had allocated Jack to this, but after doing all the routine Misper checks, and had a helicopter fly over of the Moorlands, they’d drawn a blank and limited resources meant all they could do was keep a watching brief.

Jess ushered Ruby up the stairs to her office. ‘How are you? Any news on Fiona?’

The woman shook her head solemnly. ‘Not good,’ she said fighting back tears as she tucked a strand of her red, pixie cut fringe behind her heavily pierced ear.

‘I’m so sorry, as you know we’ve asked Fiona’s mobile phone provider to monitor its location status, but it’s turned off. All agencies have been alerted and our patrol vehicles are on the lookout for Fiona’s blue Fiat 500, so if her registration pings on any ANPR camera, we’ll get onto it straight away. Take a seat, would like tea or coffee?’

‘No thanks, I found this hidden in box in our spare room about an hour ago,’ she said nervously fishing a crumpled sheet of A4 from her coat pocket. She handed it to Jess.

Jess straightened it out. Her heart quickened as she read the ominous note the words bore the weight of revelation, sending a chill through her.

Someone knows what we did. I’ve discovered old church records that reveal the identity of THE SHEPHERD, and now it’s time for him to face Judgement, we need to talk.

The urgency of the message hung in the air, as Jess's mind raced to interpret its implications. The mention of "THE SHEPHERD" stirred up the dark secrets hidden within the walls of the old children's home. This highly suggestive note hinted the truth was clawing its way to the surface, was ‘M’ Mary Delaware; given the evidence they had got on her so far, it seemed likely, she thought.

Sensing Jess’s shock, Ruby said, ‘I have no idea who the ‘M’ is. Do you… think they are connected to Fiona’s disappearance?’

Jess glanced at Ruby, a mixture of concern and determination etched on her face. Offering a sympathetic nod, she said, ‘I know... it's a lot to take in. But we need to figure out why Fiona received this. This sounds like a silly question; but how much do you know about her past?’

‘Everything, I think.’

‘I know it seems like a betrayal sharing a loved one’s painful secrets, but given this development and the mention of Our Lady and St Patrick's, it will help?’

Ruby took a deep breath, attempting to steady her nerves. ‘When she was twelve, Fiona spent three very distressing years in that vile place after her mum died. We’d been together almost four years when Fi became mentally ill. Eventually, she told me about the abuse after having a nervous breakdown; the guilt, self-loathing, despair, and shame she’d tried to bury was too much of a burden to hide anymore.’

Jess’s eyes widened. ‘I’m sorry to hear that, sounds like she’s had a tough life.’

Ruby nodded. ‘She was doing so well up until that point, but we worked through it together, now this,’ she sighed.

‘Hate to ask, but did she mention any of her abusers’ names?’

Ruby grimaced. ‘There’s one name that haunted her dreams; Father O’Malley, the sick fucking Priest who ran the place. Fi told me she tried to expose him to the authorities before we met, but because it was her word against his: the Church and Social Care hushed it up. You know what happened at the kids homes in Rochdale: this kind of abuse was systemic back then.’

Jess felt for the woman, but given that they hadn't yet charged Mary Delaware, she held back.

‘I understand, sadly hindsight is no comfort to the victims. But we are currently investigating a murder case with connections to Our Lady and St Patrick’s so we need to act straight away.’

A look of horror appeared on Ruby Wilsons face. ‘Murder, no, please no.’

‘I’m sorry I can’t say more than that at present. But I promise you immediate action on this sinister note. My team and I will be heading over to the abandoned Our Lady and St Patrick’s ASAP.’ Jess said, the gravity of the situation settling over her as she realized Fiona Mitchell’s life may hang in the balance.