Through a Glass Darkly

Extracts from the Diary of James Elliott

Friday 7^th January 2005 (late evening)

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At home, I phoned Mahmoud to bring him up-to-date and was told that under no circumstances should I return to Gallows Hill for my own safety. Nevertheless I decided to watch from a safe distance so I drove to suitable vantage point. I was not there long when I heard some gun fire. It wasn't shot-guns. It was automatic weapons. Initially short bursts, but there were also a few very long bursts. There was also an odd blue glow from the top of the hill, some sort of arc-light I would guess. Whatever was going on, it wasn't something I wanted to be messed up in. I don't think it lasted more than ten minutes. I was still watching and waiting when Walters turned up, wide-eyed and disturbed. At least this time there was some excuse; automatic weapons really are dangerous.

I drove him back to the pub. On the way, he was prattling about being kidnapped by soldiers and all manner of monsters appearing. I am still not sure whether he actually believes this codswallop, or whether it is an act to cover up that he has really been working for someone else. I told them that I was going to phone the police and he said that I shouldn't, it was too dangerous for the police.

I dropped him at the pub and phoned the police. I recommended that they give Walters a drugs test, as if he does believe what he says he is clearly hallucinating.

10 p.m.: Mum is, entirely reasonably, worried about Myra, so I have to go out and have a look for her. The police have closed the road. There are armed police and soldiers. They seem to be out in force. Leave it to the professionals.

Saturday 8th January 2005

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[Written up evening of 11th.]

Up early, drove to Darlington, returned the car and went to the police. I was sure the police would give Walters a lift, if they haven't already. At the station asked for Chief Inspector Moffat who is from Ravensworth; he is not actually a friend-of-the-family but at least an acquaintance. I spent most of the morning secreted in Moffat's office. The local force is being over run by Scotland Yard, Special Branch and various 'intelligence' agencies. I give Moffat and his CID the complete story. Meanwhile quite a lot of the busybodies from London are out scouring the countryside for me, which Moffat finds amusing and convenient.

Moffat gives me quite a lot of background, probably more than he should. There was a shoot out between the SAS and some terrorists on Gallows Hill. At least two different intelligence agencies are taking a major interest and they don't seem to be talking to each other. Moffat thinks we were probably working for one of these agencies. I suggested Walters was probably working for the other, which Moffat finds plausible. Dr. Jamieson was found with bloody torn clothing wondering dazed in Swaledale. She is lucky she didn't die of exposure. Mr. Connelly has disappeared. Moffat thinks Myra is dead, but he isn't being allowed any access to the body. They have also found a murdered woman, Karen Doherty, in a nearby cottage. However she has been dead since about Christmas and it looks like a sex attack, so probably unrelated.

In the afternoon, Special Branch was about to declare a national man-hunt for me, so Moffat had to admit where I was. I spent the afternoon being interviewed by four different agencies. They vary from the sensible detective from Scotland Yard to a nutter from some 'intelligence' agency who has clearly read way too much Lovecraft and failed to realise that it is fiction.

Sunday 9th January 2005

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Spent the night in Darlington Police station, in the morning driven to Belmarsh. I saw Adam Walters being put into a separate van for the trip.

Monday 10th January 2005

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Questioned all day in Belmarsh. Apparently murdered woman, Karen Doherty, was the one we saw at the auction. Some mix-up in the path. lab; must have been a pretty serious one as I don't think even I could mistake a day-old corpse for a two-week one.

Tuesday 11th January 2005

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Light at the end of the tunnel. Dr. Durham and I are interviewed together. They are talking about what we may not mention to anyone on pain of being banged up again. Primarily no mention of Mahmoud, as the subject of an ongoing inquiry. If asked, we should say that we cannot talk about that. If anyone presses us hard, we warn them, then report them to the police. The path. lab. mistake is also a no-no as officially embarrassing. It is also pointed that any reference to occult mumbo-jumbo is likely cause dozens more nutters to descend on Ravensworth. I take the point.

Finally in the evening, we were released and allowed to leave the prison with the warders going off shift. On getting home, I find the press are camped outside. Have to take the phone of the hook to get any sleep.

Wednesday 12th January 2005

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Phoned up a journalist friend for advice. On his advice and with his help, I negotiate an exclusive deal with the Observer. They will be doing an in-depth piece on Sunday. The story is worth quite a tidy sum and being contractually bound not to talk to them should help keep the rest at bay. Spend several hours going through the whole sorry affair. I have to be available to clarify any details for the rest of the week.

Phoned Myra's uncle to express condolences. Understandably he is pretty upset. They are not all happy about the handling of the body. It still hasn't been released yet and they have been told it will be in a sealed coffin. Islam requires ritual cleansing and wrapping of the body and the family doesn't believe the authorities are going to do this correctly before sealing the coffin. Also the newspaper reports are describing her as an 'Islamic terrorist suspect'. (I will do what I can to at least put the Observer right on that one.) The uncle makes it very clear that I will not be welcome at the funeral. Her brothers are very angry, may hold me responsible and could act rashly. I get the impression he is primarily concerned about keeping his nephews out of prison, and would otherwise approve of them duffing me up.

Moffat phones to say that Walters wasn't on drugs. Reading between the lines, Moffat has worked out who he was working for, but that is too sensitive to tell me.

Had time to think about last week's fiasco. Why did Mahmoud send a group of predominantly dysfunctional misfits instead of a private detective? The only explanation I can think of is that we were a decoy. The intention was that we would be spotted by someone else. I think that Bernard Connelly's exhibitionism was quite deliberate. He knew we were a decoy, made damn certain we were noticed and then bugged out just before all Hell broke loose. What was the real reason for his travelling separately? What was he up to on Gallows Hill and how did he really get that injury?

Adam Walters probably also knew a lot of what was going on, but was primarily working for someone else. I think Dr Belinda Durham, like myself, was on the level and sensible enough to stay out of trouble. Dr Elisa Jamieson and poor Myra Patel were just completely out of their depth. However going back over it, I really don't know what else I could have done about it.