The Nameless Dead by Paul Johnston Read Free Book Online

involved in activities that could be construed as anti-Nazi, and all three were killed in ways that relate to the rituals of the Antichurch.’
    Arthur Bimsdale looked unconvinced. ‘Yes, sir, I’ve looked at the archive material, such as it is. I have to say, I don’t find it hugely convincing.’ His manner was that of a nitpicking student in a philosophy seminar.
    ‘Oh, really?’ Sebastian said, giving him an icy look. ‘One of the core rites of the Antichurch of Lucifer Triumphant was human sacrifice. The chosen ones were suspended from an inverted cross before their throats were cut. Then their eyes were put out. Does that sound at all familiar?’
    Bimsdale was unaffected by his boss’s sarcasm. ‘First of all, the Antichurch only operated in the state of Maine—none of these killings took place there. The records also show it was eradicated in the 1850s. I don’t understand why an obscure and highly localized cult should be relevant, especially considering that there was no direct reference to it at the scenes.’
    Peter Sebastian turned away and looked at the lights in the center of the capital. In a few minutes he would be in the executive elevator that led to the Director’s office. He didn’t need a debate about the killings right now. Then again, honing his case on a callow subordinate might be beneficial.
    ‘As I’ve told you more than once, Arthur, ’ he said, using the young agent’s first name to induce a bogus sense of camaraderie, ‘the Antichurch of Lucifer Triumphant was recently revived by Heinz Rothmann and his sister to give their Nazi movement a religious component. They calculated, quite correctly in my view, that Americans had to be engaged on the spiritual dimension before they would accept a political agenda.’
    ‘But human sacrifice?’ Bimsdale was unable to conceal his horror.
    ‘Is that so strange? Millions of our fellow citizens believe that Armageddon is almost upon us, you know, the battle in which scores of people are going to die horribly.’
    ‘Really, sir, that’s nothing more than a myth,’ the young agent said dismissively.
    ‘Is that right?’ Peter Sebastian caught his assistant’s eye. ‘Tell me, Arthur, what’s your faith?’
    ‘I’m an Episcopalian.’
    ‘From Philadelphia, as I remember. And you studied sociology and criminology at Yale?’
    ‘Among other subjects, yes.’
    ‘Have you spent much time in the Bible Belt? Or the deep South?’
    The young man shook his head. ‘My family has a holiday place in Vermont.’
    ‘But you came across fundamentalist Christians in Montana, I’m guessing. Fundamentalist Christians with some worrying political beliefs.’
    Bimsdale nodded, looking uncomfortable.
    ‘That’s what I mean. There are enough frighteningpeople with beliefs related to human sacrifice even before you go anywhere near cults like the Antichurch, never mind Nazis.’
    ‘All right, sir, I can accept that. But what about the differences in the M.O.s? Victim one was decapitated and disemboweled. Victim two was hung upside down—but then his eyes were removed, unlike the previous victim’s. And number three was stabbed before being hung from a window.’
    Sebastian had turned away, his eyes fixed on the Washington Monument. ‘You’re forgetting several significant points.’
    ‘With respect, sir, I’m not. Nazi slogans and/or insignia were found at every scene, and all the victims were engaged in activities that could be construed as anti-Nazi—or at least pro-minorities and liberal. But there’s been no specific reference to these Rothmann people, nor to the Antichurch. It’s all very circumstantial.’
    Sebastian looked round. ‘What, your detective skills require that Rothmann leaves his fingerprints at every scene?’
    ‘No, sir,’ Bimsdale said, less deferentially. ‘In any case, the lack of trace evidence suggests that an experienced professional carried out the murders.’
    ‘An experienced professional hired by