xx. Signs and Wonders - Detective Novels

Detective:

1850, short for detective police, from detective (adj.)

Private Eye

Half a bottle of soft straw single malt I had for Christmas.

Half a packet of unfiltered Camels. Night would claim the

rest: or morning. She'd been dead six hours when the

boyfriend called. Police had charged him. Told me he

didn't do it: couldn't afford a lawyer. Sure they'd argued,

but twenty six stab wounds; he'd knocked her about a

couple of times, but not this. Besides he said he loved her.

Two clues: first a lock of her hair, freshly cut, the boy

friend found, before the police; second, the scissors still

embedded in her back. Rain splayed on the glass, broke up

and crawled away like tiny cells dividing. I took another

shot of scotch and lit a fresh cigarette from the last. Police

were going through her address book. Routine. I took the

short walk back to her flat. Plain-clothes let me in. It

didn't take long. I found the card stuck with a magnet to

the kitchen fridge. TOM & JERRY'S JOINT. I felt the hair

in my collar and thought it was time to get a trim and see if

one of these two might oblige. One way or the other

we'd have more than football or the rain to talk about.

Jeff Guess

Reflection:

The Ten Top Mysteries of the Bible

10

Holy Grail: Where is the Holy Grail?

According to Christian mythology, the Holy Grail was the dish, plate, or cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper, said to possess miraculous powers.

9

Ark of the Covenant: Where is the Ark of the Covenant?

The Ark of the Covenant is a container described in the Bible as containing the tablets of stone on which were inscribed the Ten Commandments as well as Aaron’s rod and manna.

8

Sodom and Gomorrah: Were they real cities and if so where are they?

For the sins of their inhabitants Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim were destroyed by “brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven” (Genesis 19:24-25).

7

Garden of Eden: Where is the Garden of Eden?

While the majority of Biblical scholars and theologians consider that the story of the Garden of Eden is most likely not literal, some people do believe that the place existed in reality.

6

Bible Codes: The Bible appears to contain coded messages; is this a coincidence?

The Bible code, also known as the Torah code, is a series of messages alleged to exist within the Bible text, that when decoded form words and phrases supposedly demonstrating foreknowledge and prophecy.

5

The Lost Tribes: What happened to the lost tribes?

The phrase Ten Lost Tribes of Israel refers to the ancient Tribes of Israel that disappeared from the Biblical account after the Kingdom of Israel was destroyed, enslaved and exiled by ancient Assyria.

4

The Pharaoh of Exodus: Who was the pharaoh of the Exodus?

The Pharaoh of the Exodus is the pharaoh (king) who ruled over ancient Egypt at the time of the Exodus. More precisely, it is the question of who this pharaoh might have been.

3

Noah’s Ark: Where is Noah’s Ark?

From at least the time of Eusebius (c. 275 – 339 AD) to the present day, the search for the physical remains of Noah’s Ark has held a fascination for Christians, Jews and Muslims. Despite many rumours, claims of sightings and expeditions no scientific evidence of the ark has ever been found.

2

The Beloved Disciple: Who was the Beloved Disciple?

One of the biggest mysteries in biblical scholarship concerns the identity of “the disciple whom Jesus loved.”

1

Authorship of the Gospels: Who wrote the Gospels?

As modern biblical scholars investigated the history of the four books, they began to question the fact that they were written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:51

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, KJV

Prayer:

Search me, O God, And know my heart today; Try me, O Savior, Know my thoughts, I pray. See if there be Some wicked way in me; Cleanse me from every sin And set me free.