Free The Cloned Identity by David Hughes

tea.
    â€œWell, Joe, what do you think?”
    â€œI don’t know, boss. I mean, we have got nothing – nothing that will stand up in court.”
    â€œI know, Joe, but he’s the one, Joe. I can smell it. Take off the collar and he’s just an ordinary man like you and me. He’s got feelings, urges, and in his job he is surrounded by all these adoring women, like groupies round a pop star – temptation, Joe. And we know from Adwell that he can be tempted.”
    â€œYou know, boss, I’ve never thought of the WI as being a load of groupies.”
    I laughed at the look on Joe’s face as he spoke.
    The PC came back with the teas and we returned to the room. The vicar’s face was expressionless as I placed a cup in front of him. I think I detected a murmur of thanks. All seated again, we sipped at our drinks.
    Then I asked, “Can you tell us why you left your former parish at Adwell?”
    That shook him. He looked at me, then at Joe, then back at the table.
    â€œThat was years ago.”
    â€œBut why did you leave?” I asked again, persistently.
    â€œMy bishop thought a move would be good for me.”
    â€œSo it wasn’t anything to do with one of the ladies – a spinster like Miss Wood – making accusations against you?”
    â€œLook,” he said sternly, “I was not forced to leave. It is quite normal for the Church to move vicars around. I was asked to come here to regenerate the parish.”
    â€œAre you saying that our records are wrong and that no complaints were made against you?” I asked, trying to make what I had said sound totally unbelievable.
    He looked hard at me. “Inspector, I have just explained the reason for my move. I admit there was a rumour circulating that I had been paying too much attention to one of the ladies, but that was idle gossip, born out of jealousy – part of the hazard of being a vicar. I can assure you it is quite commonplace among the clergy.”
    â€œSo you are saying there is no truth in the rumour, and the lady in question made it all up to discredit you.”
    â€œNo, Inspector, I am not saying Miss Cook was lying – just that she misunderstood the reason why I helped her. Good grief, man! I’ve helped hundreds of people – it’s part of my job. Look – I’ve had enough of this. I am a very busy man, so can you please arrange for me to be taken home?”
    He started to get up, so we followed suit. I stood directly in front of him.
    â€œIn that case, Reverend Thomas Wright, I am arresting you for the assault and rape of Miss Susan Wood.”
    The vicar turned ten shades of white and sat down again, looking totally petrified. I carried on telling him his rights, but I don’t think he heard a word. I turned to Joe and asked him to take the vicar through to the custody area. Joe moved round to the vicar’s side and took hold of his arm. The vicar stood up in a total daze and Joe took him out of the room.
    When Joe entered the custody area with the vicar, Sergeant Bert Sole was pinning a notice up. He turned and saw the vicar first, then looked at Joe.
    â€œWhat have you got here, Joe,” he asked, looking bemusedly at the vicar.
    Joe explained the charge and he filled in the forms. He had to ask the vicar several times to confirm his name and to empty his pockets. The vicar was still in a daze. I don’t believe he understood what was happening to him. Mind you, he woke up quickly enough when Bert asked him for the chain and cross round his neck. Bert solved the problem by lending the vicar a Bible in its place. Joe watched as he was led to the cells. He couldn’t help feeling a bit sorry for him. Joe wasn’t totally convinced that he was guilty, and he suspected that we wouldn’t be able to hold him for long. Joe was glad I was in charge. There were some advantages in being just a sergeant at times like this. He made his way up to my