The Freak - S01 E25

Story 2 months ago

The Freak - S01 E25

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 25

"May see it?" pulled a yellow form from my pocket and passed it over the counter.

She laughed as she tore it into tiny pieces then dropped them into my hand. "You're not as smart as you think, Mr. French. Where's your proof now?"

I carefully placed the tiny pieces into an envelope, sealing it with saliva from my tongue. "Apparently, I'm not quite as stupid as you think. That was a receipt for a tire I bought for my Jeep. Besides.... how would you know it wasn't gold if Sister Mary Patrick didn't take it? While I'm on the subject of Sister Mary Patrick I'd like you to take a look at these photos that were taken at the Cross County ER Monday afternoon. How do you justify beating a student like this? I attend a public school. They don't get to select their students the way you do, but nobody has ever been struck by a teacher let alone whipped the way Barbara was."

"You think you're so smart, don't you? You know nothing about running a school. We have more than four hundred students here. Parents send their daughters here because they want them to have discipline in their lives. So what if five or six giris take a beating every year? Fear of that keeps the others in line."

"You must be kidding. You're telling me that this is a long-standing practice...something you've condoned for years?"

"Not condoned, Mr. French-I don't condone whipping the students. I encourage it. I did the whipping before Sister Mary Patrick began teaching here. Now I'm principal and she does it. And she does a very good job of it, too."

I shook my head in disbelief, but wondered if could get just a bit more information from this blabbing bitch. "I'm going to complain to the Archdiocese. I'll find out who's in charge. You can count on that and I'll file a formal complaint."

"Let me save you the trouble. The priest in charge is Monsignor Edwin Moran, but he already knows and gives the practice his blessing. If you complain too strenuously you'll run the risk of excommunication. Then you'll burn in hell for eternity." I almost laughed. I would have but for fear that really might burn in hell for eternity.

"Just give me Barbara's records and let me get out of here before I

throw up. You have no business running a school and less being a

servant of Christ."

"Virginia, get the papers then show Mr. French to the door. Lock it once he's gone." Sister Mary Theresa turned then and walked back Into her office, slamming the door as she did. Mrs. Gregory had already retrieved the file and handed it to me as she walked around the counter. Once out in the hallway she looked around then placed a small piece of note paper in my hand. She opened the door and closed it without uttering a sound.

Only when I was away from the building did unfold the paper and read it-"I have info. Call tonight." It was followed by her phone number. Five minutes later I rejoined Barbara and Lt. Flanagan.

"Damn, Jack you sure you're not an undercover officer? I couldn't have done better myself. Getting a subject angry is an old police trick. It is absolutely amazing what people will say when they're pissed off."

"Let's hope that luck holds when I meet with the honorable monsignor." Barbara joined me in the Olds as we drove to Dunwoodie where Monsignor Moran maintained his office.

Lt. Flanagan stopped us a few blocks away to tell us that a lengthy phone call had been placed from the school to the Archdiocese headquarters. "I think you'd find the conversation particularly revealing. They discussed the entire conspiracy and we were right. They've been beating at least six girls a year for more than twenty years. In fact the practice dates back to the first year the school opened."

Moran was forewarned, but I was forearmed. I told his secretary- a priest-that wanted to discuss my pledge and was shown immediately into the big man's office, even though he was only five feet five inches tall. I had thought last year that it was awfully ostentatious for someone who had supposedly taken a vow of poverty-his words, not mine. He stood to greet me and got right to the point. "I understand that you think you have a grievance against St. Claudia's School."

You might say that. I was brought up to think that stealing was a sin. Isn't taking something that doesn't belong to you stealing?"

"You're an Intelligent young man, French, but you're inexperienced in the way of the world. Teachers in all schools-even yours- sometimes confiscate iterns that are disruptive and interfere with the educational process."

I smiled. This fool was going to trap himself with only a minimum

of effort on my part. You and both know that there was no reason to take the ring. Why didn't the teacher simply tell her to put it away? In her pocket or purse the ring would have no longer been a distraction. And once the nun had it, why not return it when the student promised not to wear it again? Why was it necessary to whip her?"

"I'm sure that you understand the need to maintain discipline in schools. Sometimes it is necessary to make an example of a student. In my experience such a whipping leaves one uncomfortable for a few days, but leaves no permanent damage. It's really nothing more than a mild spanking."

I opened the envelope with the photos of Barbara's back. "You honestly think that this is a mild spanking? Either you're a liar or you're delusional. How would you like to be on the receiving end of this? I'm sure I could arrange it a special present just for you."

"You're treading on dangerous ground, Mr. French. People have been excommunicated for less."

I laughed. I actually laughed in his face. "I just knew that you'd threaten me sometime during this discussion, but it won't work. Those threats only work with someone who actually cares and I don't. Parents send their daughters to your schools and you beat them into submission because you don't really know anything about children or how to deal with them. This has been going on for ages even though the practice should have ended in the middle ages. That teacher is a criminal and the principal has done nothing and you've done nothing. That makes you criminals, too. The teacher is a horrible excuse for a human being, but the two of you are worse the most detestable examples of humanity I've ever seen. If anyone is going to burn in hell, it's you."

I wanted to get the monsignor angry and now he was furious. He swore at me and cursed me and made every justification imaginable for his actions and those of the teacher and principal, ending by threatening me again. "It won't work because we quit. We don't want any part of a religion that thinks it is acceptable to treat its believers in such a horrible inhuman manner. One other thing before I walk out the door-hell will freeze over before give you a stinking penny."

"You gave your word-your pledge."

"Yes, I did, but that was before I found out what kind of lying

manipulative and sadistic bastard you are. It's too bad, actually,

because I can use the tax deduction. But, maybe my next church

can use the money. Barbara and I spent part of Easter in a 1:26 p...

Lutheran church. We enjoyed the service and we were welcomed like we were family. Best of all, there's one just up the road from St. Catharine's. I imagine they could use two hundred thousand dollars."

"Your pledge was for one hundred thousand."

"Yes, it was, but that was then. I suddenly find that I'm in a really generous mood... Just not for you. I wish you luck, Monsignor, I think you're going to need it."

"What the hell does that mean?"

"You figure it out. You're the one with all the answers here." I collected the photos, turned and walked away laughing crazily as I strode through the door. The priest/secretary put a restraining hand on my arm, but a steely look on my face caused him to step back quickly. "Smart move, whispered just loud enough for him to hear. Had anyone read my eyes they would have seen someone willing to kill if necessary. Ten seconds later I was in the parking lot and a minute after that I was in the police van.

Lt. Flanagan spoke first. "Good job, Jack. He hung himself with his own words. No judge will ever accuse us of entrapment"

"I find that most arrogant people just can't help themselves. They insist on putting their feet in their mouths at every opportunity. Oh...I almost forgot. The secretary at St. Claudia's gave me this note when she escorted me from the building."

I pulled the sheet from my pocket and handed it to him. He perused it for a few seconds. "She probably gets off at four so if you can come to the station at five we'll be able to phone her. I'll have a warrant to record the call by then given what's happened this morning."

"I was hoping to drive to Massachusetts this afternoon, but I'm sure can change my appointment from tomorrow morning to afternoon." We talked for a few more minutes until Barbara and I drove away toward home.

Once there I phoned the admissions office at Harvard, asking to speak with Mrs. Atkins. She was on the line after the third ring and I explained that I was working on a case with the Yonkers Police and, of course, that led to a host of questions. I began by explaining that I had asked Barbara to marry me. "You'll meet her tomorrow and you'll see why we got married in a hurry. And, no, it's not the reason you think it is. She was the victim of a brutal attack and I'm helping the Yonkers police get evidence against those responsible. The crime is all the more reprehensible because school and church officials are involved, but I'll explain everything tomorrow afternoon. I hope to drive a few hours tonight after the police are finished with us and we'll get into Cambridge mid- morning. I'd like to meet with you after lunch if that's possible."

"I'm free all day so come whenever you can. Okay?" agreed and Barbara and spent a few hours hanging out with my family- Barbara and Carole starting a huge War tournament-until it was time to pack a week's clothing and drive back to the Yonkers P.D. Of course, I had to listen to my mother remind me to drive carefully. I promised I would and we'd stop before dark.

I was on a phone that recorded the conversation by 5:00 when I dialed.

The phone was answered almost immediately by a young girl. "Hi. Is your mommy home?"

"May I ask who is calling?"

"Wow, you have excellent manners. Would you tell your mom that John French is calling?"

"MOMI It's that kid you told me about"

"Hello?"

"Mrs. Gregory, It's John French. We spoke briefly at St. Claudia's this morning. Please call me Jack. Your note said you have some information for me."

"I don't know if you can help, but I've just about had enough. The way they treat some of the girls is just barbaric."

"I agree, but how do you know about these beatings? And I assure you that can help you."

"I pray you're right. Every time Sister Mary Patrick beats a girl she files a written report with Sister Mary Theresa. They're in a special file in her office. How can you help me...and the girls?"

I looked at Lt. Flanagan and he nodded. "Mrs. Gregory, I'm working with the Yonkers Police. I was wearing a wire when I spoke to Sister this morning and I'm calling you now from their headquarters. If you'll hold on a second I'll let you speak with Lt Flanagan. He's running the investigation."

I passed the phone to him and he spoke to Mrs. Gregory for almost fifteen minutes. "Mostly," he told her, "just go about your business normally. It will take a few weeks for us to get everything together. For one thing both Jack and Barbara will have to testify before the grand jury. I think that will take place next week. Once the grand jury indicts we'll act quickly against Sisters Mary Theresa and Mary Patrick as well as Monsignor Moran and possibly others, as well. Do these reports have the names of the students who have been beaten?"

"Yes, sir. Will I have to testify, too?"

"Probably not, but we'll want to know where that file is. Do you know how far back it goes?"

"I've worked at the school for more than ten years and I know it was in existence then. Sister Mary Theresa told me and she showed me, too."

"I'm sure we'll have a search warrant for the main office and for the classroom where the beating occurred, but it will be a help if we know where to look ahead of time. Can you come to the station house tomorrow afternoon?"

"Yes, if I have to, but Sister always wants to know if any of the staff is contacted by the police. She says it reflects poorly on the school, but I think she's just being bossy and controlling."

"I have your address here. You'll be stopped on the way to work tomorrow morning and given a summons for a non-working taillight. It will be fake, of course, but it will give you a reason to come here. The officer will simply unplug the bulb from the socket and we'll plug it back in when you're here. I want to thank you for your help. I just had a thought. Do any of the other staff members know about this?"

"Almost all of them, unfortunately, Sister Mary Patrick likes to brag." The conversation ended a minute later and Barbara and I began to leave.

"We'll be in Massachusetts for most of the week, Lieutenant. We have to find a place to live while I'm in college and we have to find a college for Barbara, too."

Where are you going?"

"Where are you going?"

Barbara couldn't wait to brag about me. "Harvard, and Jack has a full academic scholarship, too."

"Wow! knew you were smart, but.... You'd better get going if you're driving tonight. Thanks for one of the most productive days I've seen in years." He shook our hands and showed us out to the parking lot, I drove us back on the Cross County Parkway to the Hutchinson River Parkway North. That changed to the Merritt Parkway and eventually to the Wilbur Cross once we were in Connecticut. We stopped at a motel on the Berlin Turnpike just outside Hartford for the night. I called Mom to let her know how things were going and after that I phoned Stanley Silverman. He was thrilled to learn there was a file with the names of everyone who had been beaten over the years. Oh boy! I could hear the cash register in his brain even from more than a hundred miles away.