This the 53rd Novella in the detective stories series detailing the life and times of Detective Joseph Lind and his partner, Detective Shelley Anne Shield.
The pair were selected to mentor the young Probationary Detective Frederica Stonefield. She was clutched from the large number of Probationary Constables at the Goulburn Academy because of her many excellent traits. Many thinking she would make an excellent Murder Dee. She did not disappoint but found herself on the wrong side of Detective Lind because of her inexcusable behaviour at a Youth Suicide death scene.
The Findings of the Royal Commission into the Institutionalised Abuse on Children within Australia shocked and astounded all caring members of Society. Right around the World, investigations into the sordid secrets of the Roman Catholic Church saw huge numbers of Parishioners turn their back on the Church they had loved, trusted and cherished at one stage.
Here in Australia, the wretched behaviour of Church Elders was astounding.
Approximately 61% were members of the Catholic Faith; 17% the Anglican Church and the remaining 22% were other Denominations and State and Federal Children “Homes”.
Over 3000 effected children were involved. A staggering amount who have never gotten over their grisly experience at the hands of trusted members of the Church.
The Royal Commission, while brave to point the finger squarely at the Catholic Church for such horrendous acts by their Clerics and Teaching Brothers, could not assess the suicide rate of these child victims except to state it was above the National average.
While most Denominations attempt to cleanse themselves of further perverted actions, there are still Denominations who operate in an air of secrecy, even though this was one point the Royal Commission stated must change.
Several Denominations still carry out what could be termed as “Wellness or Worthiness” Interviews. These dialogues are conducted on 11 and 12-year old youths and can continue in certain cases up until the child is in his early 20’s. The basis of these discussions is to cleanse the child of evil, unworthy and ‘wayward’ thoughts so they maybe accepted into the Church of Their Lord.
Some suggest it is ‘Gay Conversion Therapy’ given another name.
As all Religions cannot accept m*********** or h************ within their Beliefs, saying that those thoughts and other not as radical urges were choices that the individual permitted the Devil to insert. With prayer and meditation, these thoughts and urges can be reversed and expunged.
Most young teenagers are confused and vulnerable, now seeing that Society accepts the LGBTI community while the Church shuns them and continually applies pressure for the youths of those Churches to abide by the Teachings of Our Lord which excludes the Homosexual fraternity.
No-one is certain on the suicide rate of this portion of Society, and it matters little as the Church Members cannot be brought to justice in causing these suicide deaths … and the cones of silence continue in all Religions.
Excerpt:
“Sorry guys, I have a live one for the three of you. A teenage suicide apparently. We have been going easy on you, mate since you came out of Hospital…but that is now over. No more Mister Nice Guy for you.” This said with a smile on his face to soften the stir.
“Bloody Hell!” I retorted angrily. The show of animosity a stage-play to give our illustrious Head Clerk a back stab! “What with the bungled Sydney Jihadist Attacks, the ‘Bodies in the Bath’ Case, the Pommy Backpacker Murders and my personal investigations into the death of my AFP mate Knackers, I do not feel as though I was having a bloody holiday since I came back to work…fuck off, Hendo! Give that case to some-one else, will you?”
I knew in my heart that this hollow display of opposition and anger was not going to get me anywhere. Hendo had decided and there was no getting around the man. Not even a decent bottle of Red at Christmas time.
As Murder Dees, we are expected to attend all sudden and unexplained deaths to write up a Report to hand to the Coroner. This also includes Suicides, a situation neither Shelley or I enjoyed as usually there was no end play. More often than not we are left to scratch our heads, unsure as to the reason for a person taking their life. It is only a small proportion who leave a note to explain their decision to take the last step…the far greater majority we cannot ascertain why that last step was necessary, even when all family and friends are questioned. There is little satisfaction or closure for us…youth suicides are the worse. A young life shut done, often for no discernible reason.
That leaves us cold!
Hendo plopped the Murder Book and details on my desk as Shelley and Frederica stood to walk up to investigate what we had hooked. The man was always on the wrong side of insults and disparaging remarks whenever he felt the need to dump a new Case onto any one of the Murder Dees’ desks. It was incredible that he was still here after all that…over thirty years in the one job getting nothing but insults, so it seemed!
To his credit, he and Clive Butler, our Boss, never loaded one team more than another. Trying their best to even out the load. This at times was somewhat difficult as your time in DPP meetings after a Case has been solved, Bail Hearings, Preliminary Trial Hearings to gauge whether the Case can go to Court, Trial Court time and the myriad facts and follow-ups that are required on any one Case can mean that you have on-going work stretching for several years. These things are not taken into consideration when a new Case is being handed out. The criteria are based on the number of ‘working’ Cases one has where the alleged Perp has yet to be charged with a crime.
