Bobby DeMont stepped up to his side and clapped a powerful arm around his narrow shoulders. 'Thank you so much for that, Freddy. You see, folks? God does not judge you on your past sins. Some of the greatest Christians of them all have been evil men, persecutors, slave traders, even murderers. That is the miracle of grace, my friends. When you ask to be born again Jesus lifts that sin from you in the twinkling of an eye.'
'How many of you out there haven't been born again?' Lennox chimed in. He scanned the hands going up in the audience. 'OK. Well, if you people want to change your lives for ever, all you have to do is join me in this prayer.' He pointed a finger to the big screens above the stage. 'Say after me: Dear Lord, I recognize that I am a sinner, and I truly repent. .
Jenny turned to see Ed Prince approaching. He stopped alongside her, following her gaze to the screen. The camera picked out individual young men and women earnestly mouthing their prayers of commitment: 'I believe that He is risen from the dead, and I accept Him as my personal Lord and Saviour . . .'
'Are you a believer, Mrs Cooper?' Prince said.
'After a fashion.'
'See all those young black kids, boys who'd have been out with knives, girls who'd have been pregnant? Lennox Strong has led them here like Moses through the wilderness. And the white kids looked up to Eva.'
'I've no intention of harming your good work.'
Focusing his deep-set eyes on her, Prince said, 'Do you know who our greatest enemies are? People who call themselves Christians but don't believe it should be happening like this. You know who I mean?'
Jenny shook her head.
'Oh, I think you do, Mrs Cooper. I think you know perfectly well.' He glanced briefly at the screen - born-again faces overcome with emotion - and headed for the exit.
'Ha-le-lujah!' Bobby DeMont's cry blasted out through the auditorium doors and into the lobby. Freddy Reardon and two young women were convulsing on the floor of the stage.
Chapter 10
Creeping through stop-start traffic Jenny checked her answerphone. Alison had called to say she'd spoken to both Patrick Derwent and Deborah Bishop and that Father Starr had been phoning the office badgering for Jenny to get in touch. The only other caller was Steve, saying that he'd found some information about her cousin that she might find interesting. His message sent a shot of panic through her. She dialled his number with clumsy fingers.
'Steve, it's Jenny.'
'Hi,' he said, sounding perfectly relaxed.
'What is it?'
'I dropped into the library at lunchtime and looked up the local newspapers from those dates we turned up.'
'And?' She struggled to control the steering wheel, her palms slippery with sweat.
'You sound like you're driving. Why don't I come round this evening?'
'Where are you now?'
'Just leaving the office.'
'Then meet me in town. Do you know Rico's?'
'Around the corner from your office.'
'I'll be there in ten minutes.' She rang off before he could make any excuse and dialled Alison's number, her heart pressing hard against her ribs.
Alison answered from what sounded like a busy wine bar.
'Hello, Mrs Cooper,' she said agitatedly.
'How did you get on with Derwent?'
'He's adamant Jacobs was trying to convert his daughter, but he hasn't got a lot of evidence. He found the text of a prayer in her belongings that he's convinced Jacobs gave her, and the rest is just suspicion. He says that in the three days she was off the drugs she was experiencing some sort of religious euphoria. He claims he didn't put all the pieces together until he read about Jacobs's death.'
'What sort of prayer was it?'
'One for healing.'
'Catholic?'
'I wouldn't know, but there's no mention of Our Lady.'
'What did Bishop say?'
'No change from her evidence at the inquest. There was no official complaint, and as far as she knew Jacobs never pressed religion on any of his patients. She admitted some pamphlets from the Mission Church of God were found in the reading room, but she didn't think there was a problem. As long as it's not pornographic or racist, the kids are free to read what they like.'
'Do you think she's telling the truth?'
'I couldn't say. To be honest, I don't think she's got much of a clue about what goes on on the shop floor. Her office isn't even in the unit, it's over the other side of the road.'