Adrian Magson - No Help For The Dying

‘What happened?’

‘Some of the advice given was flawed. Deeply so. The clients went ahead with an investment scheme on the basis of what we’d told them, and lost everything. Unfortunately, they hadn’t told us everything, and ended up dragging a lot of other people down with them.’ He stared down into his glass. ‘We hadn’t done our homework properly. It was awful.’

‘But you had professional indemnity, surely?’

‘Yes. But when your other clients suddenly lose confidence and melt away, and the banks get nervous, professional indemnity isn’t much good.’ The creases in his face deepened with bitterness. ‘The whole fabric collapsed around us. It was staggering. We paid off a lot of the debts but it wasn’t enough. I was suspended from my job at the MOD.’

‘And Deane found out?’

He nodded. ‘That’s when I discovered what he was really like… when he realised I had nothing to give. He began making vague comments about how the news of our son being gay might become public knowledge. I thought it was my imagination: they were a charity and a church, surely they couldn’t be making threats like that? He began ignoring my calls, so I went to see him. Deane has two men working with him who do all the legwork. They also operate the soup vans, although that’s just a cover for finding these kids, of course. They wouldn’t let me in. Not long afterwards they delivered a message.’

‘What sort of message?’

‘The same as the one they just sent you. They destroyed my home.’

‘Is one of these men called Quine?’

‘Yes. The other is Meaker — an American. He and Quine are like twins, although I think it’s a look they cultivated to intimidate people. The three of them are the Church of Flowing Light. They are all very dangerous; you shouldn’t underestimate them.’

‘I don’t. Did you report them?’

‘More than once. The last time was after they visited my house. I went to the police but they couldn’t find any evidence it was them. They said it looked more like kids trying to score money for drugs, and it got out of hand.’ He shook his head. ‘By then things between my wife and I were at rock bottom. The distress had got to both of us, but I suppose I’d ignored her. It proved the last straw and she left. Not that I blame her. Then my financial problems became public knowledge, and there were rumours about an insurance scam. I kept a low profile after that, although I’m pretty sure Quine and Meaker would like to meet me in a dark alley somewhere.’ He gave her a grim look. ‘Pastor de Haan is not a man who forgets those who cross him.’

‘I’ll keep that in mind.’

‘Not long afterwards I met a couple who’d been cut off by Deane in the same way. Oh, he was very careful in the way he did it. But the method was the same: no money meant no help. And if pressure didn’t — or couldn’t — work, then all contact ceased.’

‘What about Nicholas?’

‘I heard from him once afterwards. He’d left the Church and was trying to get work. I think he was ashamed of what he’d done… of the pain he’d caused. I tried to talk him round, but it was like talking with a stranger. I thought brainwashing at first. Then I realised the Church had done the worst thing possible… they’d convinced him that I’d refused to have him back. They hadn’t mentioned the financial problems or the lengths I’d gone to find him. He was devastated.’ He stared into the distance. ‘I begged him to come back… tried to convince him he’d been used. The last thing he said to me was that he could never trust me again.’ His eyes swivelled round to Riley and his voice broke. ‘He was a confused and unhappy boy, Miss Gavin. He didn’t deserve that.’

‘What happened?’

‘They found him in the river two days later. By Putney Bridge.’

Riley held her breath, fearful that breaking the silence would stop his train of thought.

Friedman seemed frozen for a moment, before continuing doggedly. ‘The police said he might have fallen in while under the influence. He’d been drinking, they said. There was also some… damage to the body. They thought a boat or something.’

‘But you think he was murdered.’

‘Yes. I think they panicked. The same way they’ve done with others. They let things get out of control and finally there’s only one solution. Mostly, I think it’s Quine’s doing. He’s the coldest human being I’ve ever met.’

‘What about Katie?’ Riley’s throat was dry and her voice came out sounding like somebody else.

‘She was the one they used to draw Nicholas in. His Siren.’

‘I figured.’

‘I looked into her family background. It wasn’t difficult. Her father couldn’t have been de Haan’s target — he didn’t have the position or money. In any case, John Pyle was too devout; he would never have fallen for de Haan’s brand of doctrine. That meant they were after me… and whatever I could be milked for. The fact is I believe they had somehow stumbled on Nicholas — maybe through another boy — found out about my job and looked at his background to see how it could be handled. In doing that they chanced upon Katie. She was his only friend: the ideal Siren. They drew her in first and used her to attract him — most likely with promises to help with the pregnancy.’ He paused, then continued: ‘They work on people very skilfully. They don’t fill their heads with mantras or psycho-babble about good works and religion; in fact they concentrate on what they call de-cluttering — clearing their minds of anything to do with the past. Some call it dissociation. It’s during this process that they look for weaknesses or family secrets and exploit them in any way they can. Lies, distortion, suggestion — anything. Remember, these are troubled kids we’re talking about. For the most part they’re going through some kind of trauma in their lives.’

‘Like an unexpected pregnancy,’ said Riley, ‘and an unforgiving father.’

‘Exactly. They’re desperate enough to believe anything. And if someone sympathetic comes along and supplies a good enough reason for leaving home… well, why not?’

‘But what if they decide to go back? Isn’t there a risk they will talk and reveal everything?’

‘Reveal what? That the Church took them in and gave them support? Fed them, clothed them… gave them a friend when they needed one? Deane is very careful; he doesn’t tell the kids anything they don’t need to know. Who would believe otherwise? The parents are usually so relieved to have them back, they’ll sweep the whole episode under the carpet. Same with the kids, especially after what they’ve been through. And all courtesy of the Church of Flowing Light.’

‘But if the Church discovers a juicy secret along the way, they profit from that, too.’

Friedman nodded.

‘How did you meet Henry Pearcy?’

‘The first time was about eight years ago. I’d gone to speak to Deane directly. I’d had no luck by phone so I decided to try a personal approach. There was nobody in. As I was walking across the car park, Henry arrived and asked if he could help. I don’t think he knew about me or… Nicholas… he was simply being kind.’

‘Did he say what he was doing there?’

‘Helping out. I got the impression he was a casual volunteer. He seemed a gentle soul, but he couldn’t help, so I left.’

‘When did you see him again?’

‘He rang me out of the blue about two weeks ago. He said he’d kept track of me but hadn’t told anyone. He said he was still part of the Church but… he had things to tell me. He sounded upset. I didn’t trust him at first — I’d had one or two close brushes over the years with Quine and Meaker — but we arranged to meet one day in a pub not far from here. He insisted we sit in a corner, near a fire exit. He told me that as well as being a volunteer for the Church, he’d been asked to run their database.’