to hold it all together. For Ruth. By focusing on trying to find her, I could just about keep my mind off what had happened. What I’d done.
Last night, I had watched Wanda’s YouTube channel, checking out around a dozen of her videos. In the clips, she wore the kind of mask one might wear to a masquerade, a creepy-looking black-and-silver affair that covered everything except her mouth and chin. She talked about conspiracy theories and how to recognise if someone you knew was on the verge of joining a cult. She detailed a recent epic investigation that had led to the conviction of the leader of a so-called multi-level marketing company, for false imprisonment and fraud. I was astounded by the number of views and comments she got. Her followers loved her. There was an irony to it that didn’t need pointing out.
‘Where’s Callum now?’ Wanda asked, beckoning over the waitress.
‘He’s in the lobby of the Palace Hotel, waiting for Mona to appear so he can follow her. She’s never met him or seen him, and he assures me he’s good at tailing people. He followed Eden all over New York without her noticing, so . . .’
‘He’s very determined,’ said Wanda.
‘He’s desperate,’ I said, echoing what Callum had told Krugman.
Wanda nodded. ‘I’ve met a lot of men like him. A lot of men who can’t quite believe that the little girl who used to call them Daddy and wanted to be around them all the time could allow herself to be taken away. To be brainwashed. It’s a hard thing for a parent to deal with.’
The waitress appeared and took our orders. I wasn’t particularly hungry so just ordered coffee and toast.
‘Do you think all cults are inherently bad?’ I asked when we were alone again. ‘I mean, we all hear about the ones who brainwash their followers and take their money and exploit them. The ones who convince their members to kill themselves or murder people. But do you think there are any that actually do good?’
The question sounded odd even to me, but Wanda took it in her stride.
‘It’s an interesting question. There are certain groups that are often described as cults, but they call themselves new religious movements. NRMs. Like the Brahma Kumaris and Sahaja Yoga. And people who join them describe themselves as “active seekers”. I’ve read articles that talk about how these groups can be empowering, especially for women. Certainly compared to the cults most people hear about, anyway.’
After the waitress had brought our coffees over, Wanda went on. ‘The problem with all of them, including the better ones, is the way the guru, or leader, controls everything. A lot of these people see themselves as godlike. You have to be pretty damn egotistical to set up a religious movement – and then they go crazy on the power. I’ve seen it again and again. They all say, or pretend, they’re trying to help other people. But nearly always, they just want to help themselves. And you know what most of these cult leaders want to help themselves to, apart from the contents of the bank accounts of their followers?’
I had a pretty good idea, but simply said, ‘What?’
‘Their followers’ bodies. Or should I say, their female followers’ bodies. It’s amazing how many cult leaders decree that they need multiple wives. That it’s a great honour to sleep with the leader. Look at David Koresh and all the babies he fathered. All the underage girls he raped.’
I put down the coffee cup that was halfway to my lips. My hand was shaking and I suddenly felt too nauseous to drink.
‘And what about Gabriel? Do you think he’s like that?’
‘Do I?’ She produced a small notepad from her pocket. ‘I’ll tell you this: David Koresh and all those cult leaders who create or take command of a group so they can get laid, they’re not the exception. They’re the rule.’
‘And have you got anything that might help us figure out who he is?’
‘Maybe. We know the identities of three members of the cult. Mona Cunningham, still alive. Detective Dennis Krugman, deceased. Eden, alive as far as we know, surname unknown. Then there’s the mysterious Gabriel.’ She opened the notepad and consulted something she’d written. ‘We’re discounting Jack, right? We don’t think he was one of them?’
‘I don’t know. He’s been with Mona since they were at college. I don’t know if she could have been a member of a cult without him knowing about