Focus on the Family's Radio Theatre

Host (Male): Last time on Focus on the Family Radio Theatre's presentation of Father Gilbert: Dead Air.

Father Gilbert: According to the coroner, she committed suicide shortly after we found her.

Henry Ross: You're not going to tell me that you believe in the devil?

Father Gilbert: I believe in a personal supernatural force.

Legion: You know nothing about evil, Father Gilbert. You're an amateur.

Henry Ross: Who is this?

Legion: You may call me Legion.

Dave Arnold: Because of mature themes and situations, we don't recommend this program for children under the age of 15.

Dave Arnold: Is he a priest or is he a detective? Father Gilbert used to be a detective inspector, Scotland Yard. Focus on the Family Radio Theatre presents the Father Gilbert Mysteries. These stories about detective-turned-Anglican priest Lewis Gilbert blend suspense-filled action and soul-searching drama, plus the spectacular effects and sound quality you've come to expect from Radio Theatre. To get your copy, log on to our website at radiotheatre.org. That's radiotheatre.org.

Guest (Male): ChatGPT and AI can offer you ideas and attempt to give you answers, but it can't listen with compassion, pray with you, or guide you with wisdom shaped by faith. When life feels overwhelming, real human connection matters. At Focus on the Family, we believe in the power of professional help and biblical wisdom. That's why we offer a free confidential consultation with a caring Christian counselor to walk with you through life's struggles.

Whether you're navigating challenges in marriage, parenting, anxiety, grief, or something else, our counselors are here to help. If you're hurting, don't wait. Hope is real, and healing begins with a conversation. Request your free confidential consultation today. Call 1-800-A-FAMILY. That's 1-800-232-6459. Or visit focusonthefamily.com/get-help. That's focusonthefamily.com/get-help.

Henry Ross: Soho hasn't changed much, has it, Lewis?

Father Gilbert: Well, a few more trendy cafes, I suppose, but it's the same old decadence. It makes me grieve, Henry. What a terrible emptiness.

Henry Ross: Now look who it is. Is that Michael Hoskins? Still around? Hey, Michael!

Michael Hoskins: What? Ah, what now, DI Ross? I haven't done anything wrong.

Henry Ross: Yeah? Well, that would still be true if I had a look in your little shop? What kind of illegal publications would we find this time?

Michael Hoskins: Oh, give me a break, will you? And what's with the priest, hey? Doing tours now, are you? No. No, he's not. It is DI Gilbert.

Father Gilbert: Hello, Michael. I'm sorry to see you haven't changed much.

Michael Hoskins: This is too much. I heard you'd gone off the deep end, but didn't expect this. So what they do? Bring you back to search for that missing girl?

Father Gilbert: What girl?

Michael Hoskins: How am I supposed to know? All I've heard is that there's been a lot of coppers around looking for a young girl who ran away from home.

Henry Ross: I'll have to check with the office. Excuse me, if you please. Hello?

Legion: Give him the phone.

Michael Hoskins: What?

Legion: Give him the phone.

Michael Hoskins: Give who the phone? Who is this?

Legion: Father Gilbert.

Michael Hoskins: Father who? Oh, you want Father Gilbert. Me? Yes, for you, though I'd like to know how you got my private number.

Father Gilbert: I don't have your number. Hello, this is Father Gilbert.

Legion: You're a genuine disappointment, aren't you?

Father Gilbert: Ah, it's you. Who is it? It's our mystery man. Hoskins, get me to another phone. Look, are you following me, Mr... what did you say your name was?

Legion: I told you before, you may call me Legion.

Father Gilbert: Yes, so you said.

Legion: You were never a particularly good detective, but being a priest has made you even worse.

Father Gilbert: Look, what do you want?

Legion: There's another runaway girl out there, Father Gilbert, just like before. Do you want to find her?

Father Gilbert: What do you know about it?

Legion: We know a lot about a lot of things. It's deja vu all over again, Father.

Father Gilbert: Now listen to me!

Legion: No, I want you to listen to me. I'm giving you a second chance. Isn't that what your faith is all about, second chances?

Father Gilbert: What do you want me to do?

Legion: Try to find the girl, of course. Can you do it before it's too late? Time is moving on.

Father Gilbert: What do you mean?

Legion: Oh, don't be coy, Father. Time marches on, as they say. Can you find the girl before she dies?

Dave Arnold: The seasons of your life are always moving forward: singleness, marriage, parenting, aging well. And through it all, Focus on the Family is alongside you with encouragement from a biblical perspective. And now, we have a tool that gathers our trusted guidance and support together in one place: the enhanced Focus on the Family app. With it, you can listen to the Focus on the Family broadcast, engage our social media, find a counselor, or make a donation, all on the Focus on the Family app. Download it today from the App Store or Google Play.

Find exclusive faith-building Christian resources at the Focus on the Family store. We're 100 percent invested in family ministry, and so is your online purchase. You can learn more at focusonthefamily.com/store. Focus on the Family Radio Theatre is made possible through the generous donations of listeners like you. For more information, visit radiotheatre.org or contact Focus on the Family at 1-800-A-FAMILY.

Henry Ross: Lewis, there you are.

Father Gilbert: Oh, good morning, Henry. Did you sleep well?

Henry Ross: No, not really. I rarely do at hotels.

Father Gilbert: You should have come back to the house with me. Elaine and the kids were really sorry not to see you.

Henry Ross: I do appreciate that, but I needed to be alone. I wanted to think through everything that's happened.

Father Gilbert: Well, it's bizarre, all right. Since we didn't get the trace on our mystery caller, I'm having a couple of my detectives check into any connection between Michael Hoskins and Higgins. We're also getting a list of all the phone calls both Higgins and Hoskins made or received over the past few days.

Henry Ross: DI Blayne has proof that Higgins was being bribed by Soho merchants. Hoskins may have been one of them. I think I want you to stick by me in this investigation. Everything this character says and does is centered around you and that case from heaven knows how long ago. Even the runaway girl is now uncannily similar.

Father Gilbert: Do you have any more information about her?

Henry Ross: Yes, and you'll be interested to know—

Brian Murphy: Good morning, Ross. Oh, you must be Father Gilbert. I'm Brian Murphy, one of the techno whizzes down at the lab.

Father Gilbert: It's nice to meet you.

Brian Murphy: I'm not interrupting, am I?

Henry Ross: Yes.

Brian Murphy: Good, because I've been doing some analysis on those tapes you gave me. The broadcast from yesterday and the cassette you found under the victim's pillow. There are a few things I think you should hear.

Father Gilbert: Like what?

Brian Murphy: Well, I was using a digital filter to play around with the sound on the tape from the broadcast and I found one very weird but interesting thing. In the background, behind our man talking, well, let me play it for you.

Legion (Tape): Had he left her alone, she might have lived. She might not have committed such a desperate act. Had he stayed away from Soho, had he given some thought to the clues, things might have been different. He knows it. Oh, poor Patricia. Poor, poor Patricia.

Brian Murphy: That's what you heard yesterday, right?

Father Gilbert: Yes, but what's all the noise in the background? I don't remember that.

Brian Murphy: I was wondering the same thing. So I used the digital filter to hear it more clearly. This is what I found.

Legion (Tape): Poor, poor Patricia. Poor, poor girl. Let me in. What she deserves. Four on Frith. Poor, poor Patricia. Poor, poor girl. Let me in. What she deserves. Four on Frith.

Henry Ross: That's creepy. Is it some sort of bleed-through on the tape, or maybe the radio or television was on in Higgins' apartment?

Brian Murphy: Well, maybe, but it doesn't really sound like the radio or TV, does it? Or they sound like him, doing different voices all at the same time.

Father Gilbert: It could be a soundtrack. He recorded himself over and over and then played it in the background when he talked to us.

Brian Murphy: Well, that's possible too.

Henry Ross: But why?

Father Gilbert: To impress us. He said his name was Legion, a group of demons. He came up with some sound effects to push the point.

Henry Ross: He did a good job as far as I'm concerned. My skin crawled when I first heard it.

Brian Murphy: Gave me the chills, too.

Father Gilbert: But what was that phrase in there?

Brian Murphy: Which one? Poor, poor Patricia?

Father Gilbert: No, no, he said something else. Just play it again.

Legion (Tape): Poor, poor Patricia. Poor, poor girl. Let me in. What she deserves. Four on Frith.

Father Gilbert: That one. Four on Frith.

Henry Ross: An address?

Father Gilbert: Don't know.

Henry Ross: I suppose there must be a number four on Frith Street.

Father Gilbert: We'd better check it out.

Henry Ross: Good work, Murphy. I don't care what the other detectives say about you. I think you're all right.

Brian Murphy: Thanks.

Henry Ross: I'd like copies of the tapes, please.

Brian Murphy: I'll keep these, but I've got the originals at the lab.

Henry Ross: Now you started to tell me about this runaway girl.

Father Gilbert: Oh, yes. Her name is Sandra Magnuson.

Henry Ross: Magnuson? Don't tell me she's related—

Father Gilbert: She's the youngest daughter of the Right Honorable Richard Magnuson, Member of Parliament. There's nothing coincidental about this. Magnuson was the one who put us onto Patricia Atkins' disappearance. I think we should have a chat with him.

Henry Ross: Yes, but I'd like to talk to Patricia Atkins' parents first. I feel as if I owe them an explanation. I'd hate to think they heard the broadcast yesterday and their daughter's name mentioned. And they may be able to give us a little background about Magnuson. They're old friends, aren't they?

Susan Atkins: He was not a friend of ours. At the very best, he was a neighbor to us, and not even a very good one.

Simon Atkins: Oh, now Susan, be charitable.

Susan Atkins: I am being charitable, Simon. I don't like Mr. Magnuson, nor have I ever trusted him.

Father Gilbert: Why not?

Susan Atkins: Well, for one thing, he's a dirty old man.

Simon Atkins: I don't remember you saying anything about that when we were investigating Patricia's case.

Susan Atkins: Well, how could I? When Patricia ran off, Mr. Magnuson was suddenly a saint to us. He was so concerned and said he'd do all he could to find her. He certainly had contacts we didn't have.

Simon Atkins: It all happened so fast, you remember. We were stunned.

Susan Atkins: But after she died, I began thinking of little things, things I didn't dare mention later.

Father Gilbert: Like what, Mrs. Atkins?

Susan Atkins: Well, he teased her. I mean, Mr. Magnuson teased Patricia, called her Miss Goody Two-Shoes and what a straight Christian she was. It was as if our churchgoing was a joke to him, as if he didn't believe that people could live that kind of life and mean it. Oh, and then I thought—

Father Gilbert: What, Susan?

Susan Atkins: Well, Patricia once hinted that Mr. Magnuson had made advances to her, if you know what I mean. You remember, Simon.

Simon Atkins: Indeed I do. I was all set to go over and clobber him in all Christian love, of course, but you stopped me.

Susan Atkins: I thought it must have been some sort of misunderstanding, that Patricia had misunderstood what he meant or what he'd said, that's all. But now I'm—

Father Gilbert: Now?

Susan Atkins: I've wondered about it.

Simon Atkins: It was as if there were two sides to the man. On one hand, we didn't trust him, and yet he did things for us, for Patricia, that seemed like godsends.

Father Gilbert: What do you mean?

Simon Atkins: Well, Mr. Magnuson was able to get Patricia an internship with Parliament.

Susan Atkins: An internship? Oh, you know, school-based work experience where students get a firsthand look at how government works. Patricia was very interested in politics. But that's when she began to change. She became very difficult then. It seemed as though we had rows over the tiniest of things.

Father Gilbert: For example?

Susan Atkins: Well, we'd ask her questions about how her day went or how she spent her time in London, and she'd nearly snap our heads off.

Simon Atkins: She wasn't a wild girl, but well, I should have seen the signs. She was changing, and I should have been more diligent to know why. But it was so subtle. And then she was gone. And it was too late.

Susan Atkins: I've never said so, or at least not until recently, but I think Patricia was kidnapped.

Simon Atkins: Don't start, Susan.

Susan Atkins: I'm only saying what I think now. She was kidnapped, and it was made to look like she'd run away.

Father Gilbert: Look, I'm sorry to remind you, Susan, but I saw Patricia. I talked to her. She wasn't physically restrained by anyone.

Susan Atkins: Not physically, Father Gilbert. But you of all people should know that a person can be held hostage in many other ways.

Henry Ross: Mr. Magnuson, Detective Inspector Henry Ross and Father Lewis Gilbert to see you.

Richard Magnuson: Thank you, Margaret. Please, sit down, gentlemen. I've only a few moments, I'm afraid. Well, I'm not often visited by a detective and a priest. You look vaguely familiar to me. Why is that?

Father Gilbert: We met about 15 years ago when I was a detective. I worked on the case of Patricia Atkins.

Richard Magnuson: Oh, yes. And they brought you in for my daughter's case?

Father Gilbert: Well, no, not exactly, but we believe there are some parallels.

Richard Magnuson: What parallels?

Henry Ross: We were wondering if you could identify this voice.

Legion (Tape): Dear Father Gilbert, you must see now that the nature of evil is rarely dramatic, but slow and efficiently corrupting. Look at poor Higgins. It took him all these years to realize he was better off dead than alive. And even in his alcohol-saturated state, he was reluctant to embrace the inevitable, but he did. And now I leave him as a present for you.

Richard Magnuson: Good heavens. Do you recognize the voice? It sounds vaguely familiar. No, I could never identify it. What in the world is he talking about?

Henry Ross: He's referring to a former detective who appears to have committed suicide.

Richard Magnuson: What does this have to do with my daughter?

Henry Ross: Maybe nothing, but we're investigating several leads which brought us to you. Does the address or phrase "Four on Frith" mean anything to you?

Richard Magnuson: No. Why should it?

Father Gilbert: Oh, it's another lead, that's all.

Henry Ross: Mr. Magnuson, why do you think your daughter ran away to Soho?

Richard Magnuson: Soho? I don't think she ran away to Soho. She could be anywhere.

Henry Ross: That's interesting because Soho was swarming with police last night on your instructions.

Richard Magnuson: Well, someone got the wrong end of the stick there. I didn't direct the police to Soho. I wouldn't know where to direct them. My daughter had a big row with my wife and disappeared. We've looked everywhere we thought she'd be with no result, so I asked some friends at Scotland Yard for help. Gentlemen, you'll have to excuse me. I have an appointment at Number Ten.

Father Gilbert: Of course. Thank you. I do hope you find your daughter soon.

Richard Magnuson: Thank you. Margaret, close the door, please.

Henry Ross: He was lying to us, wasn't he?

Father Gilbert: Oh, definitely. But about which part? That's the question.

Henry Ross: I can tell you one thing he was lying about: sending officers to Soho to search for his daughter. No one got the wrong end of the stick. Magnuson was very specific about it. "Look for Sandra in Soho," he said.

Father Gilbert: Yeah, but why lie about something that's so easily checked?

Henry Ross: Because he's a politician? Ross. All right, we'll be right down. It's Murphy in the lab. He wants us to listen to something.

Brian Murphy: Brace yourselves.

Henry Ross: Why?

Brian Murphy: Well, I was analyzing the second tape, the one you found under the dead man's pillow, yeah? Here's how it sounded at first.

Legion (Tape): Dear Father Gilbert, you must see now that the nature of evil is rarely dramatic, but slow and efficiently corrupting. Look at poor Higgins. It took him all these years to realize he was better off dead than alive. And even in his alcohol-saturated state, he was reluctant to embrace the inevitable, but he did. And now I leave him as a present for you.

Brian Murphy: Then I thought I heard some bleed-through, almost like the broadcast tape. So I put it through the same filtering process. Here's what you're not hearing in the background.

Voices (Tape): What should we do with the girl? We can do whatever we want. She's ours. She's ours, but her time is running out. Do you understand, Father?

Henry Ross: Terrific.

Father Gilbert: Wait a minute. I listened to that tape over and over again. I didn't hear anything like that.

Brian Murphy: Well, this is the thing that's bothering me. I didn't hear it at first either. But then the more I listened, the more I could hear those voices in the background. It was as if they were getting louder each time I played the tape.

Father Gilbert: Is that possible?

Brian Murphy: Well, if we were dealing with some of the new interactive technologies, I'd say yes, but an average consumer cassette like this one, it's not likely.

Henry Ross: What girl do you think he's talking about? Patricia Atkins or Sandra Magnuson?

Father Gilbert: Oh, it must be Sandra.

Henry Ross: Yeah, but there are no clues.

Father Gilbert: Well, we still have one we haven't checked. Four on Frith.

Henry Ross: I've already had one of my men round there. Number four on Frith Street is part of a building that was gutted a couple of years ago and is now a doctor's office.

Father Gilbert: I'd like to go there anyway.

Henry Ross: If you insist. Yeah, you see, it's nothing but an office.

Father Gilbert: And what was it before?

Henry Ross: I don't know, but I can think of one person who would.

Father Gilbert: Who?

Michael Hoskins: Oh, come on, leave me alone, will you? It was bad enough you spooked me last night.

Henry Ross: It's a simple question, Michael. What was in number four before it became a doctor's office?

Michael Hoskins: I think it's always been some kind of office building. A music publisher or something like that. I really didn't pay attention. Why? What's the big mystery?

Henry Ross: It's a lead we're following, something someone said about "Four on Frith."

Michael Hoskins: What?

Father Gilbert: Why the surprise?

Michael Hoskins: Well, I just haven't heard that phrase in a long time.

Father Gilbert: What phrase?

Michael Hoskins: Four on Frith.

Henry Ross: Well, what does it mean?

Michael Hoskins: That was an old password.

Father Gilbert: Password? To what?

Michael Hoskins: Well, it was a gentleman's club over near Whitehall. Posh, you know? All the bigwigs went. It was called The Legion.

Henry Ross: Where was it exactly?

Michael Hoskins: Now you don't really expect me to know that, do you?

Henry Ross: I expect you to find out right now.

Guest (Male): I heard about The Legion, but it closed down before I became the manager here. It was housed in several apartments on the east side of the building. I heard it rumored that they might be turned into flats. Oh, there you go.

Henry Ross: Thank you.

Guest (Male): You want me to show you around?

Henry Ross: No. Thanks.

Guest (Male): Right. Well, let me know if you need anything.

Henry Ross: Thanks. Phew. Look at that wallpaper and that woodwork. You can almost get a sense of its former glory.

Father Gilbert: If glory is the right word for it, considering what must have gone on here. Imagine having the nerve to call it a gentleman's club. What's that through there? Oh, so the place isn't empty after all. It's an old mattress, sleeping bag.

Henry Ross: Somebody's living rough. I suppose this is better than sleeping in a doorway somewhere. Though, I wouldn't have thought masking tape was standard equipment for a homeless person.

Father Gilbert: Or cords of rope. What do you think? A home for a hostage? Don't touch anything. Quiet, Henry. There's someone there. The building manager?

Henry Ross: Police! Stay where you are! Oh, it's you.

DI Blayne: DI Blayne, how nice to see you again. Back to headquarters, both of you. We need to have a little chat.

Henry Ross: What about this mess?

DI Blayne: My team will take care of it.

Henry Ross: How kind.

Father Gilbert: Wait a minute, wait a minute. Hand me your pen, will you, Henry?

Henry Ross: Why?

Father Gilbert: I want to move this pillow. Look, do you see? There's something under it. It's an envelope.

DI Blayne: Don't touch it!

Father Gilbert: But it's addressed to me.

Henry Ross: Hold it by the edges. Use the tips of your fingers.

Father Gilbert: Yeah, I know, I know. I haven't completely forgotten. Well, it's photographs.

Henry Ross: Photographs of what?

Father Gilbert: Oh, it's Richard Magnuson. Ah, so he was a member of The Legion, gentlemen's club. I'll assume that isn't his wife, nor that one, or that one. Oh, there's a... there's another cassette tape, too.

Henry Ross: From our friend?

Father Gilbert: I'm afraid it probably is.

Legion (Tape): Evil corrupts, and then it consumes what it corrupts. Its appetite is enormous. We want not only bodies and minds. Those things are easy. We want more. Ask yourself why, Father Gilbert. Why is this happening now? But you better hurry to find the answer. Time is running out.

Henry Ross: All right, Mr. Magnuson, shall we try again? Do you know that voice?

Richard Magnuson: Yes, I think so.

Henry Ross: Who is it?

Richard Magnuson: It sounds like Dr. Frank Plucier, but I wouldn't swear to it.

Henry Ross: Tell us about Dr. Plucier.

Richard Magnuson: Well, he was a doctor, of course. But he gave up his practice to become the proprietor of The Legion gentlemen's club.

Henry Ross: Of which you were a member? You have the photos. You know I was. But that was years ago. You saw for yourself, the club no longer exists.

Father Gilbert: And what happened to it?

Richard Magnuson: It fell out of favor.

Henry Ross: Out of favor with whom?

Richard Magnuson: The members.

Henry Ross: Who were the members?

Richard Magnuson: You name it. If they had the money, they eventually joined.

Father Gilbert: Why did the club fall out of favor, Mr. Magnuson?

Richard Magnuson: Because of your case, Mr. Gilbert. Patricia Atkins. Her death shook everyone. Most of us thought it better not to go anymore.

Father Gilbert: Why was Patricia Atkins' death so important to everyone?

Richard Magnuson: Because she worked at the club.

Henry Ross: What do you mean she worked there?

Richard Magnuson: Oh, she started off as a waitress, but eventually, well, yes, girls like her were all part of the attraction.

Father Gilbert: You introduced her to the club as part of that parliamentary student program.

Richard Magnuson: Yes, she was dazzled by the powerful men, the celebrities, the wealthy.

Father Gilbert: And you took advantage of that.

Richard Magnuson: Ha! She was no saint.

Father Gilbert: She might have been if you hadn't corrupted her.

Richard Magnuson: Oh, don't be so naive, Father. The girl knew what she was doing.

Father Gilbert: Did she? Can a girl of 16 really know what she's doing in a world like that?

Richard Magnuson: It's not for me to say.

Father Gilbert: Isn't it? Then who is to say? What happened, Magnuson? How did she go from the club to a sleazy strip joint in Soho?

Richard Magnuson: How am I supposed to know? She made her own choices.

Henry Ross: Just as your daughter is making her choices. Maybe she met someone just like you, huh?

Richard Magnuson: Sandra isn't like that.

Father Gilbert: Simon and Susan Atkins thought the same about Patricia. Is that why you didn't admit to recognizing Dr. Plucier's voice? Do you think he has something to do with your daughter's disappearance?

Richard Magnuson: No, it's impossible.

Henry Ross: Why? Why are you protecting him?

Richard Magnuson: I'm not protecting him, you idiot. Plucier can't be involved in any of this.

Henry Ross: Why not?

Richard Magnuson: Because he's dead!

Host (Male): Next time on Focus on the Family Radio Theatre's presentation of Father Gilbert: Dead Air.

Father Gilbert: Look, if you have the girl, let her go. She has nothing to do with us.

Legion: Us, Father Gilbert? Are we an item now? You could be merciful if you wanted to be. Mercy is not consistent with our nature of evil. You have two messages. Hello, Father Gilbert.

Dave Arnold: Father Gilbert: Dead Air was a presentation of Focus on the Family. For Focus on the Family Radio Theatre, I'm your host, Dave Arnold. Thanks for listening.