The Game Changer

by Louise Phillips

  Adam

  ADAM LISTENED AS FISHER RECITED THE information Malcolm Madden had given him. None of it was good news, and Valentine Pearson’s role was far murkier than Kate would be able to cope with right now. According to Malcolm, as far as Kate’s abduction was concerned, it was a classic case of mistaken identity, exactly as Kate had suspected. Her disappearance had caused the cracks to appear, and Valentine had finally got wise to what had been going on, shutting down the grouping. He wasn’t responsible per se, but he was certainly guilty of not notifying the authorities. Neither had he dug any deeper at the time to find out the identity of the victims. In Malcolm Madden’s opinion, somehow or other, a number of years later Valentine had found out the truth, and although he couldn’t be completely sure, Malcolm suspected that he had discovered something else, perhaps a more serious wrongdoing, worse possibly than even the abuse. From then on, Valentine had been a broken man. His arrogance, his angry outbursts, the infidelity had all stopped.

  Adam remembered what Kate had told him about the night her father had taken her aside and apologised to her. Maybe he had just found out. By then Jessica would have been a grown woman. Not that it excused anything, but it explained why he had changed so dramatically.

  ‘Is Malcolm still at Harcourt Street?’ Adam asked.

  ‘For now, although the only thing we can get him on is obstructing justice by holding back information.’

  ‘Keep squeezing him. Someone has to do time for what happened back then, and right now, he’s our only live candidate.’

  ‘I’ve checked the airlines. We’ve found a match for Jessica Fraser on a flight to New York, two days before Tom Mason’s killing. She was alone.’

  ‘Lee, did Malcolm say how much Jessica knew about what went down?’

  ‘She knew a lot, and my guess is that Malcolm did his fair share of filling in the blanks. He saw her as the victim in all this, and he was her knight in shining armour.’

  ‘Hardly shining?’

  ‘I suppose that’s subjective. From what I can tell, he still thinks he’s one of the good guys. Adam, what are you thinking?’

  ‘That after Mason and O’Neill were killed, depending on what she discovered from Malcolm, there could have been a shift of emphasis.’

  Adam looked at Kate. She was still asleep, but he took the rest of the call outside.

  ‘Lee, are you still there?’

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘It makes sense that as soon as she found out Valentine Pearson could be her father she turned her attention to Kate. She may have been watching her for years, because of Valentine’s connection with the group, or maybe somehow she found out that Kate had been luckier than her and got away. But a number of things are slotting into place.’

  ‘I don’t think Malcolm Madden realised he was putting Kate in danger. Jessica had him wrapped around her little finger.’

  ‘Is Fitzsimons there?’

  ‘He’s beside me.’

  ‘Ask him to get on to that script specialist. I’m pretty sure the sender of the notes to Kate is Jessica Baxter, but we need him to look at Amanda Doyle’s letter again. That, potentially, is a bomb waiting to go off. For all we know, that other guy, Clarence Webb, could be the Saka character.’

  ‘Like a front man, a fall-guy for Jessica?’

  ‘Yeah. What did Malcolm say when you asked him about cults? Did he think Jessica was capable of it?’

  ‘He said no, but he was blind-sided, Adam, only he doesn’t want to admit it yet.’

  ‘It all feels too crazy.’

  ‘I’ve known prisoners to be murdered because they snore in their sleep. Nothing surprises me any more.’

  ‘We’ll need a photo of Jessica Baxter.’

  ‘Fitzsimons is organising that now, and I’ll keep the pressure on Malcolm Madden.’

  ‘Okay.’

  ‘Are you going to tell Kate any of this?’

  ‘She has enough worrying her without me adding more to the list. Look, Lee, I have to go. The chief super is phoning me.’

  It was only as he hung up that he noticed the missed calls from Addy and an unknown number. They must have come through when he’d had his phone on silent.

  He answered the chief super, listening as he told him about John Sinclair’s phone call. A series of miniature explosions went off in his head. It hadn’t crossed his mind that Addy could be connected to any of this, but he’d soon joined the pieces together, and when he had, he knew he must move fast. That phone call had also put Aoife’s meeting with Kate in a different light. It could be part of all this. Ethel O’Neill had been killed by a hit-and-run, which meant what had happened to Kate might not have been an accident. He had no time to waste on the script analysis. His gut told him Kate had been right all along, which meant that a great many other things were wrong. The chief super had made contact with the police commissioner: a full marine and air operation was already in place. He didn’t want to leave Kate, but there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it.

  ‘What’s wrong?’ Kate asked, when he came back into the room.

  ‘Kate, I have to go, but I don’t want you to worry. I’ve had a chat with Matthews outside, and I’ll be back as soon as I can.’

  ‘But—’

  ‘Rest now. I’ll phone you later. I’ve told Matthews not to let anyone in other than hospital staff, Declan or Charlie. They should be here in the next few minutes.’

  ∞

  On his way to pick up John Sinclair, Adam dealt with one call after another. It was a risk having Sinclair involved, but the chief super was right: he might be able to ID Saka. He rang Fitzsimons too. ‘Is there any word on that image of Jessica Baxter?’

  ‘We should have it from Justice in the next half an hour.’

  ‘When it comes in, get a copy over to Matthews, and keep working with Fisher.’

  The last call he made was to Declan, telling him how Kate was doing. In less than an hour, the air and sea response units would be in place, and after that, who knew when he would get back?

  Addy

  STEPHEN HELD THE KNIFE AT HIS SIDE ON THE WAY back to the commune buildings, constantly turning it in his hand. Addy didn’t take his eyes off him for a second. He could tell that Stephen was on some kind of high, and even though few words were spoken, the bits of conversation Addy heard told him they were excited about something, and Stephen was going to be an important part of it.

  When he finally pushed him into the room below ground, two things came into his mind at once. First, Donal: he hoped they hadn’t found him; and, second, that somehow he would be able to get Addy out of there.

  The look on Stephen’s face as he pulled the door closed, locking it behind him, told Addy he would be back. He was a psycho, nothing surer. At some point, the bastard intended using that knife on him. He wouldn’t forget about Addy. It was only a question of time.

  ∞

  For what seemed an eternity, he listened for any sound other than the pipes gurgling in their chambers. If Donal had managed it before, he should be able to manage it again.

  When he heard movement outside the door, at first he thought Stephen had come back, but then he heard Donal’s voice. ‘Addy?’

  ‘Donal, get me out of here.’

  He heard the key turn in the lock, and when Donal opened the door, he could have hugged the boy.

  ‘Addy, something terrible is about to happen.’

  ‘It’s okay, Donal. Calm down. I got a message through to Sarah’s husband, but I can’t be sure he’ll send help.’

  ‘Addy, I did what you told me. I got back in the shaft. There was another big meeting. I heard some of the speech. Stephen gave it. It didn’t sound good.’

  ‘Donal, think carefully. Tell me what you heard.’

  ‘It was about how they were going to find truth and enlightenment and all that other stuff, but this time it was different.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Stephen said their time had come.’

  ‘What did
he mean?’

  ‘I don’t know, but Saka’s dead.’

  ‘He can’t be!’

  ‘He is, and Stephen says they need to follow him. I heard Stephen talk to some of the seniors too.’

  ‘And?’

  ‘They’re all going to see Saka, and then they’re going to do it.’

  ‘Donal, slow down. Tell me word for word.’

  ‘They’re going to divide the members into groups. Then everyone who wants to follow Saka will go to the other side. That’s what he said, and the journey will be painless.’

  ‘Shit.’

  ‘That’s not all, Addy. He said that if you don’t want to follow Saka, there will be a gathering in the main hall this evening.’

  ‘Do you know why?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Donal, if Saka is dead, why isn’t Jessica in charge? She’s the next in line, isn’t she?’

  ‘I don’t know. I didn’t see her. What do you think we should do?’

  ‘Give me a second.’

  ‘The boat has gone. It left ages ago.’

  ‘Listen, Donal, we need to go back to the old church. Sarah’s phone’s still there. We have to try again.’

  Kate

  WITH ADAM GONE, KATE COULDN’T SETTLE. HER chest felt tight, and even though she knew the baby was still hanging on in there, she had to ask herself how any of this could be a good start in life.

  Despite the soreness of her ribcage, the one thing, other than the baby, she remained focused on was Charlie. When he and Declan arrived, she thought her heart would burst. She couldn’t hold back tears of happiness.

  ‘Don’t cry, Mum.’

  ‘Oh, Charlie, I’ve missed you so much.’

  ‘Dad said you were knocked down by a car.’

  ‘Don’t worry about that. I’m fine. A few days in hospital and I’ll be as right as rain.’

  Declan bent to kiss her forehead. ‘I see you have your own special company sitting outside the door.’

  ‘It’s just a precaution. Adam insisted.’

  ‘He’s probably right.’

  ‘Mum, are you sure you’re okay?’ Charlie asked, sitting on the armchair that Adam had not long since vacated.

  ‘There’s nothing to worry about.’

  ‘Where’s Adam now?’ Declan asked.

  ‘I think he had to go back to Harcourt Street. Something’s happening with the investigation.’

  ‘You two are well matched.’

  ‘Maybe we are,’ Kate replied, but the last thing she needed was friction with Declan. ‘Have you two had any breakfast?’

  ‘We got something on the plane.’

  ‘That’s good.’

  ‘According to the nurse, we can stay for fifteen minutes at a time and then we have to let you rest.’

  ‘Can we not stay, Dad?’

  ‘Don’t worry, Charlie,’ Declan replied, ‘we’ll be in and out seeing Mum all day long.’

  John

  JOHN WATCHED THE SEAGULLS SWIRL OVERHEAD, sounding as if they were in mock celebration, as if they already sensed things that no one on the police marine boat could possibly know. Desperation can leave a person without hope, he thought, and a belief that nothing you can do will change anything. That was how he’d felt when Sarah left.

  He listened to the loud hum of the engine as the boat cut through the water, amid furious high winds. The sounds harnessed his anger – a warped, twisted knot of rage that things could come to this.

  He tried to ignore the others moving about on the craft, shouting across at one another against the savage wind. None of them understood what he felt or the hate he had for the madness that had taken his wife away. He could still see her as she had been on that last day: the day he had turned his back on her, and she had slipped away.

  He remembered how she wore her hair, wild and loose. Over the previous months it had grown to waist-length, as it had been when she was a young girl. He’d always liked it long.

  He wondered for the umpteenth time how slim the chance was that she was okay, and how long it would take her to become his Sarah again.

  The detective, DI O’Connor, called his name, then raised both hands in the air, his fingers wide apart, telling John that in ten minutes they would be there. He clenched his fists. There were tears in his eyes. A hand rested on his shoulder, and when he turned, it was O’Connor.

  ‘Are you okay?’ he asked, standing close enough to stop John jumping overboard.

  ‘I’m fine.’ His words had been quick and false.

  He looked to the island and the unknown. The boy had said people had died in a fire, that Sarah and others were in danger. With his feet stuck to the deck, he kept staring at the water. The waves were creating changing sheets of white foam. What if he hadn’t been so angry? What if he hadn’t given up? What if he hadn’t let her go or had somehow made it possible for her to come home?

  Adam

  HE HAD SENT JUST ONE HELICOPTER TO FLY overland, not wanting to raise suspicion. The report back was that everything looked quiet on the island. From the air, it all seemed normal, and Adam hoped that was exactly how he would find it when they got ashore. He knew, from the overhead report, the location of the commune buildings, which he assumed would be where most of the people on the island would be found.

  When the boat pulled in, he despatched four different crews to approach the buildings by foot from the north, south, east and west, all with dogs. He told John Sinclair to remain on the boat until he knew what was going on. If he needed more backup, there were officers on standby on the nearest main island, Valentia. They could be there within minutes by helicopter.

  With the buildings in sight, he told his own crew to stay back, as they watched the four police groupings come within metres of the target area. So far, they seemed to have got there unnoticed, but it was all too peaceful. Something wasn’t right.

  He signalled his crew to move forward again, and when they reached higher ground, he could see the old church to the left of the commune building.

  ‘We’ll need to check that,’ he said, as if thinking out loud.

  ‘Sir?’

  ‘What is it, McGarry?’ Adam turned to face one of the female officers.

  ‘I think I saw something.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘I don’t know, but it looks like someone’s in there. I saw something move past the front door.’

  Switching on his walkie-talkie, he made contact with each of the four lead officers of the crews up ahead, telling them not to move in until they had checked the church.

  ∞

  ‘Did you hear something?’ Addy asked Donal, as they scurried to hide behind the granite boulder in front of the altar.

  ‘No.’

  ‘Maybe help is here already.’

  ‘Addy, do you think so?’

  ‘I don’t know, but let’s get that phone either way.’ He hoped it was still there. He reached in, felt it under his fingertips, and heaved a huge sigh of relief.

  They jumped when the door swung open, and a female voice shouted, ‘Police! If anyone is here, show yourselves.’

  Addy dragged Donal up to stand beside him, putting his arms up in the air as he had seen done on television, and Donal copied him. When Addy saw Adam’s face, he couldn’t believe it.

  ‘Shit! Addy, is that you?’

  Adam ran over, signalling to his crew to check the rest of the place. He reached out and grabbed Addy, hugging him tight. Then he stepped back and asked, ‘What’s going down?’

  ‘There’s some kind of mass suicide planned,’ Addy told him, breathless. ‘Donal overheard some of the members talking.’

  ‘The members?’

  ‘The cult followers.’

  ‘What about this Saka guy?’

  ‘He’s dead. He wants the others to follow him.’

  ‘Jesus.’

  ‘Dad, what do you think?’

  Even in the mayhem, Addy realised it was the first time he had referred to Adam that way. The look i
n his father’s eyes told him he had registered it too. Adam didn’t reply for a couple of seconds, but then said, ‘I don’t know, son, but I don’t like how quiet everything is. How long have you two been in here?’

  ‘Only a few minutes,’ Addy replied, ‘but it took us a couple of hours to get out of the commune buildings through the water-pipe chambers.’

  ‘How many are inside?’

  ‘I’m not sure.’

  ‘Who’s in charge?’

  ‘The leaders, like Stephen. They’re up to no good. We haven’t seen Jessica, but she’s the next in line from Saka.’

  ‘Jessica?’

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘Shit.’

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘Don’t worry, I’ll explain later. What about that woman Sarah? You said her life was in danger. Where is she?’

  ‘She’s with Chloë, Donal’s friend. They’re in the infirmary.’

  The Game Changer

  CENTRE OF LIGHTNESS

  20 Steps to Self-enlightenment Programme

  Kate will suffer. She will know fear, taste it.

  It wasn’t simply because she was the one who got away, or that Valentine, the Game Changer of my life, protected her instead of me. If it was only that, I could have walked away.

  Knowing I was of his flesh and blood was the final outrage. No amount of money would let me turn away from that.

  The Game Changer has carried hate before, waiting for the right time, ensuring all the components were in place, where revenge could be aligned with ultimate power, but now Kate has proved to be the final atonement for our father’s sins.

  Valentine made a choice. He saved Kate. He turned his back on me, his other daughter. I have no doubt that, in his eyes, I wasn’t deserving of his love. Instead I received his disdain.