Play@YSDC

Posted: **Sun May 08, 2022 6:15 pm**

Sunday evening, 14th March 2010, High Wycombe Police Station

One day since Regina Balfour was rescued.

Back at the station Kris runs James Williams's prints. He has an interesting history, the fingerprints are recorded on the PNC as belomnging to one Philip Dagenham, with a string of convictions dating back to his childhood in London, mostly drug possession, some dealing, and a few street robberies, but nothing for the last five years or more. It seems that Phil has managed to forge a new identity for himself in High Wycombe.

Hauling Johnny straight into the interview room he just answers 'No comment' to everything he's asked. Figuring it is worth putting pressure on James Williams, or Phil Dagenham, or whatever he is called, Kris has him interviewed in parallel, 'accidentally' letting Johnny catch sight of him as he is led out of the cells. James is a lot more cooperative than Johnny. He denies knowing anything about any weapons and looks shaken at the suggestion he might be involved. He says he’s kept in touch with Johnny over the years but they’ve not been close. When Johnny contacted him recently he agreed for him to come and stay with him for a few days. He admits to dealing cannabis but says that the pills are for his own consumption. He also tests positive for cannabis, as does Johnny.

Posted: **Sun May 08, 2022 8:16 pm**

Simon gets Kris and Jocelyn alone and shared with them his thoughts. Which quickly turn into a lecture.

"In my broad understanding of the criminal mind it seems rather clear that Mr. Zero will give us little. Jail does not scare him; he is a seasoned perpetrator. More importantly, he is a zealot. Keep in mind he very certainly believes that Reverend Balfour is in touch with God and doing the Lord's work. Nothing we threaten him with is likely to shake this conviction. How then can we expect to get answers from him?" He looks towards the others, awaiting an answer as though he's back in the classroom. After a dramatically appropriate moment, he raises a finger and smiles.

"It must be understood that almost all people have pressure points that when properly exploited compel them to cooperate. Mr. Zero is no exception. And I believe I know precisely what may get him to talk. His mother. Simply put, we imply we're investigating her for a part in all this sordid affair. Imply that she knew where he was or might have been a part of Balfour's scheme and that we're opening an investigation into her. Perhaps imply a leak to the press and that she will soon be harassed by reporters at her door, all asking her about her connection to her criminal son. It has been said that even bad men love their mums, and I believe Mr. Zero to be no exception. I believe he will offer up something to save her from the trouble, and a deal should be able to be arranged."

Posted: **Sun May 08, 2022 10:31 pm**

”He’s been unwilling to talk so far, so if you think that will work, Simon, then I’m willing to give that a try,” Kris replied. “As for Mr Dagenham, he seems fairly co-operative but we could always let on that Zero was involved in Balfour’s terrorist plot and, in turn, that makes him a suspect too. He’d find it a lot harder to start again with MI5 constantly on his tail.”

Posted: **Mon May 09, 2022 2:39 am**

"Sounds like a plan," says Jocelyn. "We could also try to trick Dagenham into thinking that Johnny started cooperating and has betrayed him, in order to get him to betray Johnny. Then we can use whatever he tells us as leverage when we question Johnny."

Posted: **Mon May 09, 2022 4:59 am**

"My initial impression is that Mr. Dagenham knows very little about whatever Mr. Zero was planning. I suspect he was just helping out an old mate. That said it shouldn't prove too difficult to get him to tell us whatever Johnny told him when he came seeking shelter. Especially when we indicate how much trouble Johnny is in. Impress upon him this is a terrorist case and that in exchange for his cooperation the police can overlook his part in this and let him get back to his life, and I suspect he'll sing like a canary. Tweet tweet." Simon smiles, amused at his bon mot.

Posted: **Mon May 09, 2022 6:55 am**

”Let’s hope you’re right, Simon. I think we’re going to need all the leverage we can get with Johnny Zero,” said Kris “Ok, so we have a plan. Let’s go and ask Mr Dagenham some more questions.”

Posted: **Sun May 22, 2022 5:21 pm**

As the seriousness of the case against Johnny becomes more apparent, Philip Dagenham first admits he 'might' have been dealing the pills as well then begins to clam up as he realises he's implicated in the kidnapping of Regina Balfour. He looks anxious and twitchy. 'I'm not saying anything else until you get me a brief. This is too much for me!'

Posted: **Sun May 22, 2022 7:25 pm**

”You realise how much trouble you’re in?” said Kris. It was a rhetorical question - the look Dagenham’s face made that clear. “But you help us and I’ll put in a good word with the prosecution team. Otherwise… …” he shrugged.

Posted: **Sun May 22, 2022 7:55 pm**

'Waddaya want, waddaya want?' stammers Dagenham. 'I don't know nuffink. Whaddaya want?'

Posted: **Sun May 22, 2022 8:53 pm**

”Let’s start with everything you know about ‘Johnny Zero’, shall we?” said Kris, leaning forward to study Dadenham intently.

Posted: **Mon May 23, 2022 2:22 am**

"You're going to have to come up with something," says Jocelyn, "in order to convince the Crown Prosecution Service."

Posted: **Mon May 23, 2022 5:42 am**

Simon crosses his hands in front of him and leans in, giving a soft smile. "Mr. Dagenham, you strike me as a fellow who has learned from his past troubles and really has made an effort to turn over a new leaf. None of us are interested in destroying the new life you've built for yourself. But I'm afraid Johnny's in a tremendous amount of trouble. You may have been aiding an old friend, but we have reason to believe he's involved with things that have national security implications. If the worst happens and those he is affiliated with carry out such a plot, everyone who aided Mr. Zero and his friends is going to be looked at very harshly. But I firmly believe you can help us stop anything serious from happening, and demonstrate your own willingness to assist us.

"As for what we need, my associate has the right of it. Why don't you start by telling us how Johnny reached out to you to begin with, and anything he may have told you about why he needed your assistance. Especially anything involving his faith or the church he's now in. Anything about his mood in the days you harbored him... did he seem stressed or troubled?"

Posted: **Tue May 24, 2022 11:24 pm**

Dagenham starts blabbering, almost uncontrollably he describes his acquaintance with Johnny from growing up in London and the gang culture there. He says they were never close, Johnny was involved in much more serious stuff than him, drug distribution, enforcement, maybe even taking out some rivals. 'Everyone was afraid of him man. He was the real deal, hard fucker alright.' Dagenham says he just fell in with the wrong crowd, did a bit of street level drug dealing himself, 'Moved a bit of blow,' but managed to get out of the capital and settle down in High Wycombe with an uncle. He changed his name and went straight, well, mostly straight. He admits to selling cannabis 'And a few pills. But I don't know nuffink about any little girls, you gotta believe me. I ain't into none of that stuff.'

He says that he didn't have anything to do with Johnny again until the last few years when Johnny turned up in Wycombe. He recognised him in the street and they got to chatting. Johnny seemed very taken with his new church and the pastor there, Revd Balfour, and even tried to get him to come along. 'I ain't got no time for the church you know? Not my cuppa tea.' Johnny told him that he'd gone straight and put his previous life behind him and Dagenham didn't see any reason to disbelieve him. They only met occasionally around Wycombe and as far as he could see Johnny was being up front with him, doing youth work with the church, 'Living straight-edge man, didn't even smoke the bud anymore,' nothing suspect. That is until a few days ago when Johnny called him up and said he needed his help. 'Said someone from the old days was after him, needed somewhere to lay low for a coupla days. I didn't see no harm. Johnny deserved the break. Well, that's how I saw it. He seemed on edge, but that wasn't surprising. Those boys back in the big smoke, they're not to be fucked with, you get me?'

Posted: **Wed May 25, 2022 3:23 am**

"Who in particular from the old days do you know of who might be after Johnny, and why?" asks Jocelyn.

Posted: **Wed May 25, 2022 4:38 am**

Simon doubts that line of inquiry will get them anything, and was likely just fed to Dagenham to keep him from asking too many questions. But he listens carefully just in case.

Posted: **Fri May 27, 2022 11:22 pm**

Dagenham shrugs desperately. 'He didn't say who was after him. But there were plenty of them from back in the day. Bastards. Anton, Waggers, they scared me, scared me more than Johnny.'

Posted: **Sat May 28, 2022 12:24 am**

”Anton? Waggers? Who are they?” asked Kris, as he made notes. ”We need full names, contact details. How do they know Johnny and did he say why whoever it was was after him?”

Posted: **Sat May 28, 2022 4:47 am**

"Did Johnny tell you anything about his plans?" asks Jocelyn.

Posted: **Sat May 28, 2022 9:11 pm**

Johnny didn't tell me anything about his plans. You gotta believe me, if he'd said anything about a kid I woulda kicked him out...or, um, and told someone.' He raises his hands in the air, 'Din't say who was after 'im either. Just kinda hinted at it. I didn't want to know to be honest.' His eyes dart from side to side. 'Anton was one of the 318 Crew, real gangster type, crazy fucker. I think his full name was Anton Hayman, I don't know any address of nuffink. Waggers was the leader of the Ghetto Boys. Real name's Stephen but I don't know his surname. Couldn't tell you where any of 'em live. Honestly, I haven't been involved in any of that shit for years. I don't keep up on the gang stuff. It's not my scene anymore. Too much violence. I don't know anything else.'

Posted: **Sat May 28, 2022 10:16 pm**

Jocelyn isn't sure whether she does believe him, but she has no further questions.

Posted: **Sun May 29, 2022 3:41 am**

Simon is quite convinced none of this matters, and is ready to interview Zero.

Posted: **Sun May 29, 2022 9:19 am**

Kris studied Dagenham for a long moment, then sat back in the chair. ”For your sake, I hope you’re telling the truth. If I find out you’ve held anything back, then it will go badly for you,” he said. He glanced at Simon and Jocelyn, noting that they were finished with their questions and, for the benefit of the tape, he said, ”Interview suspended. Don’t go anywhere, Phil. We’re going to have a chat with Johnny and then we might have some further questions.”

He stood and held the door open for the others to leave the room. Asking one of the custody team to get Dagenham a drink, he lead the way to his office. ”I think we need to just check who Anton and Waggers are before we talk to Johnny again. Not that we know if they’re the ones who he was hiding from.”

He sat at his desk and logged into the PNC, inputting the names they had been given and searching for any matches.

Posted: **Mon May 30, 2022 5:10 am**

"I strongly suspect this is a misdirection Johnny offered. He's working for Balfour and no doubt was plotting something for him, so the best outcome would still be to convince him to tell us what he knows. But if you wish to look into his old acquaintances be my guest. Worse comes to worse, we can use it for leverage against him." Simon shrugs, apparently unbothered by that. The psychologist had grown obsessed with breaking this case open and figuring out how Balfour had created all his smoke and mirrors, and he was willing to break a few eggs if needed to come to that realization.

Posted: **Mon May 30, 2022 7:58 pm**

"I think so too," says Jocelyn. "We do have him dead to rights on the gun we found in the church, which we've tied directly to him. We've got the mobile phone as well, which was in a similar hiding spot. We should ask him about the people whose numbers are on it."

Posted: **Thu Jun 02, 2022 10:50 pm**

Kris searches the PNC for Anton and Waggers. Anton Hayman is easy enough to find, rap sheet as long as your arm, drug dealing, robbery, firearms offences, interpersonal violence, gang activity, he's a promising lead alright. Or at least he would be if he hadn't been shot dead in a gang-related feud back in 2002.

Waggers is another matter. There's no mention of 'Waggers' in any files he can find. There's a few people with 'Wager' and 'Wagger' as surnames but no one with any criminal record or even around Lewisham which is where the Ghetto Boys gang seem to have operated. He can't even find many recent mentions of the gang and the entries there are suggest it is splintering due to infighting and the conviction of several leaders.

Posted: **Fri Jun 03, 2022 6:33 am**

Kris relayed the information he had found, that Anton was dead and there was no trace of ‘Waggers’, whoever he was.

”That doesn’t take us much further forward, does it?” he sighed, tapping his fingers on the desk in frustration. “So what now? Interview Zero and see if he coughs up anything about who he was hiding from?”

Posted: **Sat Jun 04, 2022 4:08 am**

"I have an idea," says Jocelyn. "You're going to like this one, Simon. You should talk to him first, by yourself, while Kris and I observe unseen. We'll be ready to intervene if he tries anything. You can pretend to be a true believer in Balfour and the Passover Angel and try to get him to open up to you. If it doesn't work, we can fall back on a regular interview."

Posted: **Sat Jun 04, 2022 5:34 am**

Simon considers.

"It may work, though it's difficult to say. We did stop him after all, and I did taunt him a bit. There may be no real risk to attempting it, but I have my doubts if it will get us anything. Zero's familiar with the police and your bag of tricks, as it were. I doubt he'd let anything slip when he likely knows very well everything he's saying is being recorded.

"Personally I favour a more direct and aggressive approach, but if you think it's worth trying to gain his confidence first I suppose I can give it a go." He looks towards Kris to hear his input.

Posted: **Sun Jun 05, 2022 9:31 pm**

”You may taunt him a second time,” replied Kris, with a deadpan look on his face.

Posted: **Mon Jun 06, 2022 5:31 am**

"I wouldn't be so crash as to taunt him," Simon straightens up. "More exploit his vulnerabilities. His mother still loves him and I'm willing to bet beneath the tough exterior there's a little boy that hates disappointing mummy. We press into that and we may get something from him. The downside of course is that I have no plan B, so if he really is enough of a zealot to be unconcerned about his own mother we may hit a deadend. But I am generally rather adapt at understanding what makes the human mind tick, as I believe you both understand by now."

Posted: **Mon Jun 06, 2022 10:45 pm**

Kris arranges for Johnny Zero to be taken to an interview room. He leaves him there by himself for a few minutes and then leads Simon in and exits the room. Simon is sitting face to face with Johnny. He looks relaxed, he's smiling broadly, and lounging in his chair. He's a short man, broad and muscled. Tattoos down his arms and up his neck. There's a glint in his eye, a manic edge to him, one Simon associates with madness.

Posted: **Tue Jun 07, 2022 5:11 am**

Posted: **Tue Jun 07, 2022 5:25 am**

Simon walks in the room, all smiles.

"Good day Mr. Zero. Not been a good day for you, has it?" He takes a seat across from him. "But you seem in good spirits. I suppose that makes sense, you believe the end of days to be at hand. I suppose you think you'll be saved, or some such. It's a logical view I suppose, at least in keeping with your belief system. Reverend Balfour entrusted you with some sort of special mission after all, didn't he? So you must be fairly high up in his trusted inner circle. And though he has publicly disavowed your actions, I believe we both know that's a cover for something.

"Now I am not an expert on your faith, but it does seem to be all rather Old Testament to me. Fire and brimstone, that sort of unpleasantness. A God who is quite to anger, even when His faithful fail to act in accordance with His will." He gestures around them. "Speaking plainly, you've failed Johnny. Balfour may be able to forgive you, he seems like a good bloke, but I'd be more concerned about the fate of your immortal soul." Having offered his opening, he examines the man to see if he's seeded any doubt or worry in him by using his own faith against him.

Posted: **Fri Jun 10, 2022 10:25 pm**

Initially, Johnny Zero simply replies 'No comment' to Simon's opening gambit. Then when Simon talks about a special mission he leans forward to say something, but simply adds, 'I ain't saying nuthing without my brief.' He sits back again smiling, Simon can see he isn't particularly intimidated or concerned by the demonstration that he knows something about Johnny's involvement with the church.

However, when Simon starts talking about him having failed the church, and God, Johnny's face darkens. 'Something better is coming. A new world. God's world. And you will be judged...' he sweeps his arm across the room, gesturing at the one-way mirror where Kris and Jocelyn stand watching, 'All of you.' It is obvious to Simon that Johnny doesn't like this line of argument, that it unsettles him somehow. Maybe he has some doubts about his mission or his faith.

Posted: **Sat Jun 11, 2022 5:25 am**

Unfortunately, the police had no earpieces available, so Jocelyn just observes silently.

Posted: **Sat Jun 11, 2022 6:00 am**

Well, that was a surprise, but maybe it should not have been. Even Balfour seemed conflicted, if that dream Simon had had was any indication. Though dreams were of course largely nonsense, Simon assumed it was some sort of subconscious tell. Personally he pegged the reverend as a true believer, zealous but genuinely believing the massive toll whatever attack he was planning was a necessary evil to bring about a better world. The most dangerous sort of zealot, in his estimation. Evidently Johnny shared some doubt of his own-- he could work with that.

"All of us? Fine for men like Anton and Waggers I suppose, though from what we've been able to determine Anton is dead and 'Waggers' may well have joined him. And I certainly don't think myself or the officers are high in your esteem. But what about your mate Dagenham? He did not strike me as a believer, but he's claiming he helped you out because of your old ties. Personally I believe him. It does seem a bit ruthless to leave him to be judged without offering him a chance at salvation, especially after he helped you hide out. Tell me, is he a first born, Johnny?"

He leans forward once again, face curious. "Or for that matter, what about your mother? From what the others told me she's a lovely woman, one who obviously still loves you. Believes their is good in you. Is she one of the ones who will have to die for this new world of yours to come to fruition? I'm sure Reverend Balfour has preached that God will bring about paradise. I would ask yourself what kind of paradise requires so many to die, starting with a little girl? But you already have wondered that, haven't you?"

Posted: **Sat Jun 11, 2022 6:30 am**

Posted: **Sun Jun 19, 2022 5:39 pm**

Johnny just shrugs at the mention of Anton and Waggers, they clearly aren't names that get a reaction out of him and he leans back in his chair. When Simon talks about Dagenham, Johnny raises an eyebrow and looks more comfortable again, amused even. 'I don't give a shit about Phil' he laughs.

Then Simon starts talking about Johnny's mother. It is clear from the moment the words come out of his mouth that Johnny does not want to hear it, he flinches and stands up, leaning on the table between him and Simon, placing his considerable weight onto his bulging sinewy, forearms. 'You shut yur fucking mouth. You talk about my mum one more time an...'

Posted: **Sun Jun 19, 2022 7:34 pm**

A mama's boy. Of course, how predictable.

Simon was many things, a coward often among them, but there were times he was capable of something approaching bravery. Achieving a breakthrough in his interrogation was one of the things he was willing to be brave for, so as he did with Balfour, he pushes forward, damn the consequences.

"You know what's going to happen to the nonbelievers, Johnny. Your god is vengeful; it doesn't matter how good or evil a person is, they're all going to be punished for their lack of faith, in eternal agony and torment. Hurting me won't change that fact, and you know it. Are you still so eager to bring about this paradise?"

Posted: **Sun Jun 19, 2022 10:43 pm**

Posted: **Mon Jun 20, 2022 1:28 am**

Posted: **Mon Jun 20, 2022 7:12 pm**

Johnny is starting to turn an unpleasant shade of crimson, the corner of his mouth twitches and the blood vessels in his arms seem to pulsate. He points a finger right in front of Simon's nose. 'You think you're so fucking clever. But you're not. You're going to find just out how stupid you are on Tuesday when you and the unbelievers burn. You'll burn, all of you will burn when the Passover Angel comes. And there's nothing you can do to stop it. You helped bring it on, you saved the girl.'

He laughs manically. 'You did this. You did it. And now you'll pay for laughing at us. Thinkin' you' better than everyone else.'

He grabs Simon's shirt and pulls him towards him. 'Tell me mister, are you the first born? Because I am. And I'll go to God with my eyes open. The Passover Angel in my heart. What's gonna protect you from the flames? Nothing! That's if you and the other pigs even last long enuff to see it.'

Letting Simon go he collapses back into his chair. Breathing heavily through flared nostrils. Arms crossed over his chest.

Posted: **Mon Jun 20, 2022 8:15 pm**

Simon smirks, knowing weakness when he sees it. Being grabbed by Johnny causes the smile to dim, but only temporarily. For some reason, the psychologist feels an almost maniacal desire to expose this cult and bring them down.

"Regina is safe, Johnny. She's in the custody of the social services, who will of course conduct a full investigation before they return her to her family. That is likely to take past Tuesday, I'm afraid, but in matters such as this upmost caution must be practiced. Perhaps the apocalypse will have to be delayed, and you'll have let your god down again. That's twice now, I believe?."

He says nothing to the rest of the man's ravings-- rather difficult for him-- but continues to stare there with that patronizing smile on his face embodying every stereotype he's sure Johnny has of him. He looks at Johnny like he is nothing more than durst on his shoes. His goal of course is to antagonize the man and to trigger him into saying something implying the church or anyone affiliated with it is going to try and kidnap Reginia in time for the ritual.

Posted: **Tue Jun 21, 2022 11:30 pm**

Kris looked on warily, wondering if Simon was going to push Zero to far. When he’d grabbed the psychologist’s shirt, Kris’d made for the door but stopped again as Zero had let go.

”I hope Simon knows what he’s doing!” muttered Kris, who didn’t want to have to explain to his superiors why a criminal had been allowed to rough up a civilian dealing with case.

Posted: **Wed Jun 22, 2022 3:50 am**

"He does," whispers Jocelyn, though she too is ready to intervene if Johnny turns violent. She still has that pepper spray.

Posted: **Mon Jun 27, 2022 10:23 pm**

Johnny's still breathing heavily but he smiles at Simon's words, relaxing slightly, as if he knows something important that Simon doesn't. 'Reverend Balfour'll get Regina back, don't you worry. He's an important man. Got friends in high places.' He unfolds his arms again and places his palms on the table, leaning forward and looking Simon long and hard in the eye. 'An' if he don't get her back by Tuesday then I'm sure he can make other plans. Like you says, this ain't the first time they took the girl off him. You'd think he might 'av thought of that.'

Posted: **Tue Jun 28, 2022 2:14 am**

"Yes," Simon grins wider. "I had suspected but thank you for confirming that. ." Truthfully it's not the exact confession he wants, but better to make Johnny think he had just inadvertently given them something crucial.

He gets to his feet. "I believe that will be all, Johnny. Thank you for your assistance. Reverend Balfour will be delighted to know you still hold him in such esteem despite his mistaken beliefs you had a falling out. As will law enforcement. And I'll be sure to say hi to Jocye for you. I imagine she'll have her hands full with press inquiries and the investigation into what she knew of your whereabouts for the next little while, so she won't have time to visit. " He smiles. "Do take care of yourself!"

He marches out to meet with the others, who he assumed had heard every word. "Sounds as though the good reverend has a plan B. And perhaps a C." He frowns. "It may not be enough to keep Regina from him."

Posted: **Tue Jun 28, 2022 3:35 am**

"We need to break out the corkboard, pushpins, and string," says Jocelyn. "We have to determine who Balfour's 'friends in high places' are who might be in a position to get Regina released to him so we can remove them from the decision-making process. And you're right, that won't be enough. We need to protect Regina round the clock, because Balfour will try to take her via extralegal means once the legal means are blocked. And if that doesn't work, he'll try to find a substitute to sacrifice. We need to get Balfour locked up in order to keep him on ice until at least Wednesday, which means we'll have to make sure he's denied bail."

Posted: **Tue Jun 28, 2022 9:48 am**

”I’ll talk to the boss,” said Kris. ”I’ll make it clear that we need to keep Balfour under lock and key as long as possible.”

Posted: **Tue Jun 28, 2022 7:58 pm**

"I hope they'll listen." says Simon. "We can point out that Johnny still is working for Balfour and seems convinced he'll get Regina back. Even if not, he apparently has other plans." He bites his lip. "But honestly I'm not sure that will be enough.

"I had thought keeping her away from him would be enough, but if Balfour just intends to use another child it will be near impossible to stop him.Especially if one of his followers offers their own up to him; they're likely to see it as a high honour." He thinks for a moment, running his hand through his dark blonde hair. "Kris did overhear a conversation from Mrs. Balfour suggesting he was considering other plans. Damn it, I should have known..." He takes a deep breath.

"Alright, let's consider our options. Joceyln, perhaps you could pay the Balfours a visit and inform them Johnny's been apprehended. You can be sympathetic and promise to help them reunite with their daughter; you're the only one of us they may actually believe wants that. Perhaps you can ingratiate yourself with them and get an idea of what he's planning." He looks around, and lowers his voice. "Maybe excuse yourself to the bathroom and plant a weapon or some illicit good in the house. Then get an anonymous call and have the police raid the place, hopefully keeping Balfour in jail until after Tuesday.

"There's also Lucy Bates. Her mental state may be questionable at the moment, given she thinks she saw something 'otherwordly," He mentally scoffs. His memories of the motel room were fragmented but he was convinced it had been some sort of hallucination, "But I think she does recognize the Balfours are a threat. Perhaps she can assist us in some way."

Posted: **Wed Jun 29, 2022 2:52 am**

"Those are good ideas," says Jocelyn. "I don't agree with planting evidence, but we don't need to. We've got enough genuine evidence to buy a few days, I think. But maybe I can get the Balfours to confide in me who their friends in high places are who can get Regina released by acting like I want to help them - unless they see through me. We also have to beware of Sarah Balfour. We have nothing to implicate her, and if she tries to get Regina released into her custody, I don't see how we could stop her. She may even be able to carry out the sacrifice in her husband's absence. Before we take those steps, though, we can still conduct a regular interview with Johnny, and then we can talk to Balfour. If I participate in that, I can be 'good cop' and plant the seed that I'm open to helping him."

Posted: **Wed Jun 29, 2022 3:54 pm**

”So what’s the plan? We go back in and I act as the bad cop and you give him a shoulder to cry on?” asked Kris. ”Perhaps we should threaten to lean on his mum. He seems very fond of her.”

Posted: **Thu Jun 30, 2022 3:56 am**

"That can work," says Jocelyn. "He's already implicated the Reverend, and I can offer him a way out if he continues to cooperate. Let's see if we can get him to implicate Sarah as well."

Posted: **Thu Jun 30, 2022 8:48 am**

"Nigh impossible that he flips on either of them; he's a true believer. But I'll let you both make an attempt. I doubt he'd want to see me again. His two vulnerabilities are his mother and ironically, his faith. I sensed some misgivings about going forward with this path; maybe he fears failing the Passover Angel, or merely fears the Passover Angel. He covers it well however, and I'm not sure anything you say or threaten him with can get him to turn against Balfour. But if you're going to attempt to get something from him, those are likely to be your only options. In my assessment, anyway."

"That said, he's somewhat easy to manipulate, and perhaps you'll anger him enough he'll inadvertently implicate Balfour,or you can imply his words already have. Best of luck.". He's a bit disappointed he could not join in, but he knows he's burnt his bridges with Zero and it would only complicate things.

Posted: **Thu Jun 30, 2022 8:57 pm**

”OK, let’s go,” said Kris, leading Jocelyn back to the interview room. Sitting down, he started the tape recorder. ”For the benefit of the tape, Detective Constable Sapru and Jocelyn Leigh have entered the room. We’ve got some more questions, so let’s get started. First of all, what do you think your mum thinks about your arrest, Johnny?”

Posted: **Sat Jul 02, 2022 6:19 pm**

Johnny is sitting with his arms crossed, scowling. At the mention of his mother Johnny glares at Kris but doesn't say anything. His eye dart between Kris and Jocelyn. He's less confident and brash than when Simon started with him, he seems more wary, like he's let something slip he didn't intend.

Posted: **Sat Jul 02, 2022 7:08 pm**

Jocelyn says nothing yet. She studies Johnny carefully while she awaits his response.

Posted: **Sat Jul 02, 2022 11:20 pm**

Johnny is twitchy, unsettled. Jocelyn thinks that either something he's let slip or something Simon or Kris has said has rattled him. Since he was already looking on edge when they entered the room she thinks it happened during the interview with Simon. Eventually he says, 'You ain't getting anything more out of me 'till my brief gets here.' He pulls his arms tighter around his chest and sits back, a resolute look in his eyes. Jocelyn suspects she's unlikely to get any more out of him, at least until his solicitor arrives.

Posted: **Sun Jul 03, 2022 12:11 am**

"It is of course your right to wait for your brief," says Jocelyn. "However, that is not the wisest course of action. Considering what we've found and what you've already admitted, we have you dead to rights. The only chance you have is if you cooperate with us."

Posted: **Sun Jul 03, 2022 3:49 pm**

'Or what?' he says. 'Nah, I'm waiting for my brief, that's all I got to say.'

Posted: **Sun Jul 03, 2022 11:21 pm**

"I suppose that since you believe the world will end in a couple of days," says Jocelyn, "you're not concerned what the legal system can do to you in that time. And perhaps you're right. Perhaps the world will end. But where does that leave you? You failed your God. What do you think He will do to you, when He comes? Do you have any brothers or sisters, Johnny? Or are you your mother's only - and therefore first - child? And what about your mother? Is she the first child of your grandparents? I know you love her, and she loves you. You and she have only one chance. The only way you can escape what is to come is if the world does not end in the next couple of days. Maybe we can stop that from happening, or at least delay it. But we need your help."

Posted: **Sun Jul 03, 2022 11:49 pm**

”Why did you turn over Zac Newman’s house, Johnny? What were you hoping to find?” asked Kris, wanting to get him talking again.

Posted: **Thu Jul 14, 2022 11:29 pm**

He shakes his head again. 'Nah, nuffin' more outta me.' Whatever Kris or Jocelyn say he just shakes his head again. After about twenty minutes there's a knock on the interview room door. DI Malone pokes his head in. 'Mr Allen's solicitor is here. Apparently the duty solicitor wasn't good enough for him and we have someone from Carter-Ruck here.'

You all know that Carter-Ruck are a London City law firm specialising in reputation management and libel actions rather than criminal defence.

His solicitor, Ms Surya Acharya, is a a thin-faced south Asian woman who does not look impressed at being in the station at this time in the evening on a weekend. You get a strong sense that she feels this is beneath her. After ten minutes with her, Johnny returns to the interview room. Once the questioning by Kris and Jocelyn resumes he looks to Ms Acharya who nods, and he simply answers 'No comment.'

Posted: **Fri Jul 15, 2022 2:21 am**

"Who's paying your fee?" Jocelyn asks the solicitor, knowing that it isn't Johnny.

Posted: **Sat Jul 16, 2022 9:40 pm**

The woman gives Jocelyn a weak smile. 'My client has made himself quite clear, he does not want to answer your questions, as is his right.' Johnny grins at this. 'Now, if you have any evidence he has committed a crime, you should charge him,' Johnny gives her a confused look and she doesn't even glance at him but places a restraining hand on his arm. 'Otherwise, you must let him go.'

Posted: **Sat Jul 16, 2022 10:46 pm**

"It's just that your client needs to understand that you're not looking out for his best interests," says Jocelyn, "but the best interests of whoever's paying you. The police have plenty of evidence against your client, and I'm sure they will charge him shortly if he continues to refuse to cooperate. But first they want to give him one last chance before they throw the book at him, which they undoubtedly will unless he changes his mind very soon. All he has to do to avoid all that is to cooperate. But you're advising him not to do that, no doubt because that's what the individual paying you instructed you to do. After all, if he cooperates, he may incriminate that individual, which would help your client tremendously, but it may be disastrous for the one paying your fee. That strikes me as a conflict of interest. Do you really want what's best for your client?"

Posted: **Sat Jul 16, 2022 11:22 pm**

Johnny's eyes get a little wider at Jocelyn's words and he looks questioningly at Ms Acharya. She touches Johnny's arm again but doesn't break rather intense eye contact with Jocelyn. 'As always, I advise my clients in their best interests, and represent their wishes. To do otherwise would be ethically and professionally remiss. Unless you wish to make a complaint directly to the Solicitors Regulation Authority may I suggest you stop bluffing and either charge my client or let him go because you are not going to get anything more out of him and you are not going to get a rise out of me, Miss Leigh was it?' The corners of her mouth curl into a rather unpleasant looking smile.

Posted: **Sun Jul 17, 2022 12:27 am**

”Presumably Balfour wants you free, Johnny. Why do you think that is?” asked Kris. “You’d like to think that as a friend or even as a religious man that he’s got your best interests at heart but we both know that’s not true, don’t we?”

Kris sat back in his chair and smiled. “What do you think it is, Johnny? Kidnapping his daughter? Or will it be some other kid you’re planning to use instead? He just wants you to do the donkey work and once that’s done, you’ll be surplus to requirements. He’d sacrifice you in a heartbeat. I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re dead within 48 hours, once Balfour gets ahold of you!”

Posted: **Sun Jul 17, 2022 1:20 am**

"I never told you my name," says Jocelyn to the solicitor. "I presume the individual who paid you must have done so. In any case, your client is intelligent enough to act in his own best interests, even if it means ignoring your advice, which he is under no obligation to accept."

Posted: **Sun Jul 17, 2022 12:43 pm**

At Kris's words, Johnny laughs and leans forward, shaking off the hand of Ms Acharya, 'It won't be me who's dead in forty-eight hours!' he shouts into Kris's face. 'It won't be me, but you lot...' he points at Kris, 'Heathens...' then gestures at Jocelyn, 'Faithless...' and finally turns to stare right into the mirror, Simon can feel his eyes burning into him, 'Unbelievers!' He stands up, continuing to stare into the one-way mirror, 'Don't worry about me, the Reverend Balfour's got me right, I'm good with the Passover Angel. You watch yourself. We'll see who's still 'ere come next week.'

When Johnny has finished Ms Acharya stands up, turns to Johnny and fixes him with a withering look. She then says 'I think you've heard enough. My client has nothing more to say, isn't that right Mr Allen?' He nods weakly, it seems he's more cowed by his solicitor than any of his interrogators.

Posted: **Sun Jul 17, 2022 10:07 pm**

"Fine," says Jocelyn, turning to Kris. "You can go ahead an charge him."

Posted: **Thu Jul 21, 2022 11:44 pm**

Posted: **Fri Jul 22, 2022 2:57 am**

Posted: **Fri Jul 22, 2022 4:40 am**

Posted: **Sun Jul 24, 2022 1:12 pm**

Posted: **Sun Jul 24, 2022 4:21 pm**

Posted: **Sun Jul 24, 2022 8:54 pm**

Posted: **Mon Jul 25, 2022 5:26 am**

Posted: **Tue Jul 26, 2022 9:39 pm**

Posted: **Wed Jul 27, 2022 2:03 am**

Posted: **Wed Jul 27, 2022 6:22 am**

Posted: **Wed Jul 27, 2022 10:46 pm**

Having taken a break to regroup and discuss the plan for a few minutes, Kris, Jocelyn, and Simon return to the interview room together. Ms Acharya looks even more sour faced than earlier. 'I really don't think this is necessary. Mr Allen has told you everything he intends to. Now charge him or let him go, although I don't think you have very much in the way of evidence.' Johnny gives a broad smile at this. He seems to like a bit of fighting talk. The three interviewers notice that Johnny is looking at Simon unusually, staring at him even.

Posted: **Thu Jul 28, 2022 12:10 am**

”That’s a strange assessment given the evidence we have,” replied Kris with a clever smile. ”Leaving aside the conspiracy to commit terrorist acts with the Reverend Balfour, we also have you bang to rights for the burglary at the Newman house, not to mention possession of a firearm, to whit, the automatic pistol hidden in the bathroom at church. Your prints were all over that one so you can hardly deny it.” He smiled again, somewhat mockingly.

”I think there’s enough there so you won’t see the light of day again until your trial. I’ll be stressing to the judge how ‘helpful’ you’ve been so I’m sure he’ll agree that you’ll be better off locked up, so you can’t get involved in any more mischief.”

”It’ll be a shame for you to miss out on all Balfour’s got planned but that the way life goes, isn’t it?”

Posted: **Thu Jul 28, 2022 3:19 am**

"Toilet tanks are not as clever a hiding place as you might think," adds Jocelyn. "We know all the tricks. And because you so helpfully sealed up your pistol, we were able to find your fingerprints on it. We also found the mobile phone in the toilet tank in your home, which was interesting as well. That's not even to mention the pending assault charges when we came to serve our warrant and arrest you. You knocked me down during the pursuit, and then you broke into a home and did the same to an elderly woman. You hurt her pretty badly. Now, you may believe the world will end in a couple of days, but what if you're wrong? Do you really want the maximum sentence? And then you'll have to answer to God. I don't think He'll be too pleased with your long list of crimes and failures. And what will your mother think?"

Posted: **Thu Jul 28, 2022 4:17 am**

Simon carefully tries and studies the look Johnny's giving him. Is it hostile, fearful, cautious? He tries to get a better read on the man.

"Actually, your client's been of more assistance than he realized," Simon tells Acharya, giving her a satisfied smile. "Though, speaking frankly, I doubt you will care given you were hired to defend him by a third party. We all know who said third party is, but any defense she offers to you Johnny is designed to minimize any risk of blowback affecting the people who are really paying her. You can, and will be, sold down the river.

"But you can tell your client that Mr. Zero here confirmed that the Reverend is in the process of making other plans. And that Johnny's still so willing to defend Balfour even after the good reverend downplayed their relationship is of great interest. My associates are very intrigued as to why the gun was found in Balfour's church and who precisely authorized the break in at Mr. Lewiston's home."

Posted: **Fri Jul 29, 2022 9:18 am**

Johnny shifts uncomfortably in his seat, but Ms Acharya seems unimpressed. She looks at Johnny, 'No comment,' he says. 'As you can see, my client has nothing further to say. If you have so much evidence then I can only suggest that you charge him and we will take our chances with the magistrate.'

It strikes Simon that Johnny is a little worried but resolute in following his solicitor's advice, Ms Acharya seems pretty calm and collected, unruffled, if anything she seems more annoyed at being here than intimidated by their line of questioning. It is noticeable that she doesn't make any reference to Balfour.

Posted: **Fri Jul 29, 2022 5:53 pm**

”John Allen, also known as Johnny Zero, you are charged with offences against the Firearms Act 1992, the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008, the Police Act of 1996 and The Theft Act 1968. You will be detained until the morning when you will appear before a magistrate. We will recommend that bail is denied.” said Kris formally. ” Do you have anything to say before the Custody Sergeant locks you up?”

Posted: **Sat Jul 30, 2022 4:30 am**

"Do you, as your client does, believe the world will end within a couple of days, Ms. Acharya?" asks Jocelyn. "Because if you don't, you're really doing your client a disservice with your advice. He's going to get the maximum penalty if he listens to you, because we have him dead to rights. His only chance is to disregard your advice and cooperate with our investigation."

Posted: **Sat Jul 30, 2022 7:50 am**

"An excellent point," Simon nods. "The apocalypse has already been rescheduled once, Johnny. Can you really be sure it won't be delayed again?"

When this is all over he's wondering what he should title his memoir on the case. Taking down this cult was going to make him famous, especially given what they were planning. He needed something catchy. An Angel to Guide Them: One man's fight to save London from zealous terrorists . Oh, that's good.

Posted: **Sat Jul 30, 2022 9:58 pm**

'As I said,' says Ms Acharya, 'My client...'

The lights blink out. The interview room is left in complete darkness except for the flashing red light of the recording device.

Johnny starts laughing, loud and long.

Posted: **Sat Jul 30, 2022 10:09 pm**

Jocelyn takes out her mobile phone and turns on its light. "Is this supposed to be the plague of darkness?" she asks Johnny. "That's the ninth one. The next one is the last one, right? The slaying of the firstborn."

Posted: **Sat Jul 30, 2022 11:34 pm**

Kris pulled out his phone and after a moment, got the torch working. He got up and crossed the room, opening the door and looking up and down the corridor outside. ”Custody Sergeant,” he called. ”What the hell happened to the lights?”

Posted: **Sun Jul 31, 2022 2:40 am**

Simon's thought are pulled away from his upcoming bestseller. Actually, he feels a strange uneasiness. Something to do with the hotel room they found Regina in, which had also been plunged into darkness.

"Be wary," he informs the others. "They could be trying to douse us with hallucinogenics again." He forces himself to remain calm. He just needed to remain rational and in control. They were in a secure environment, after all.

Posted: **Sun Jul 31, 2022 4:20 pm**

In phone light, Ms Acharya looks confused and a little frightened, 'What is going on?' she asks, her voice a little higher and less assured.

Johnny keeps laughing for an uncomfortable minute. Finally responding to Jocelyn. 'Not all the firstborn. Only the unworthy.' And he fixes her with a momentary stare before returning to his contemplation of Simon. Johnny seems neither disturbed by the sudden darkness, nor surprised. It isn't clear what he finds so fascinating about Simon, but there must be something.

Outside the interview room is controlled chaos. Officers are hurrying back and forth, guided by mobile phone light. The custody sergeant is looking harried. He briefly answers Kris before moving off into the darkness to deal with someone else. 'Power cut. Backup supply isn't coming online yet. Can't phone anyone because all the lines are down and the mobile network is out. I need as many officers as I can get to watch the cells, all the cameras are out. It's a fucking shit show!'

Posted: **Sun Jul 31, 2022 8:13 pm**

"What makes someone worthy?" Jocelyn asks Johnny.

Posted: **Sun Jul 31, 2022 10:57 pm**

"You're getting a good idea of the plans of the people you are representing," Simon responds to the solicitor.

He pays attention to Johnny's fascination with him, but does his best not to show his emotions. "Are you expecting something, Johnny?" He inquires, as calmly as he can. "Perhaps me too admit this is all real and beg for mercy. The Passover Angel himself to appear and smite me as an unbeliever?" He crosses his hands on the table. "Though as I've said, I'd be more worried for you. You failed in whatever task Balfour laid out. Failed your god. You may no longer be considered worthy by him."

Posted: **Mon Aug 01, 2022 11:47 pm**

Kris quickly stepped over to his desk and grabbed his tactical belt. He’d taken it off for the interview but though the Asp and pepper spray might come in handy, so he quickly fastened it around his waist, smoothed down his jacket to try to hide it and returned to the interview room.

”It’s a power cut. They’re working on the back-up. Lights should be on again shortly,” he said.

Posted: **Fri Aug 05, 2022 6:28 pm**

Johnny smiles at Jocelyn's question. 'All of you are unworthy.' Sitting in the odd overlapping patterns of brightness and shadows cast by the harsh mobile phone lights he gestures to the dark ceiling lights. 'I have not failed God. You have failed. All of you.' He does not take his eyes off Simon.

Outside the interview room a few officers have made their way down the stairs from outside the station. One of them says to Kris before he re-enters, 'Looks like the whole town has gone dark. Massive power outage. Dunno how long it's gonna last.'

Ms Acharya looks more uncomfortable, whether it is sitting in the darkness with a religious extremist or the possibility of him incriminating himself further. Once Kris returns, she stands and says, 'You cannot conduct an interview in these circumstances, please take Mr Allen back to his cell until the lights are working again.'

Posted: **Fri Aug 05, 2022 7:24 pm**

Kris shrugged.”I’m sure Mr Allen’s god will sort it out shortly. If he’s all powerful, I’m sure he can rustle up an electrician from somewhere,” he said.

Posted: **Fri Aug 05, 2022 7:48 pm**

"Keep telling yourself that. We actually were able to find Regina, so we've already done more than you.

"And you did give us plenty of information about Balfour and his connection to all this, as I've said, so yes, you've been a big help. I'm sure your god is aware of this. My, what a sin. I'm not fully well read on the Bible but I'm sure the old testament type you fellows worship doesn't much care why you sinned. You'll be punished either way." Simon looks pleased. "Something to consider while you're alone in your cell hoping for judgement day."

He's trying to throw Johnny off, given his intense stare. It's somewhat disturbing, more because he can't figure out why he's doing it.

Hearing that power was out all over did not aid his mood. Balfour's doing, no doubt. Likely one of his people had taken down the grid; they'd have to cross reference and see if any of the members of his little cult worked for the electric company. Truly an ingenious trick on the good reverend's part. Proclaim the world would fall into darkness then assign one of his little cultists to cause an outage, only increasing the zealotry of his followers.

Posted: **Sat Aug 06, 2022 3:11 am**

"Is there a satellite phone anywhere in the station?" asks Jocelyn. "That should still be working even with the mobile network down. I wonder just how widespread this power outage is."

Posted: **Mon Aug 08, 2022 10:06 pm**

Kris's taunt seems to irritate Ms Acharya who snaps, 'Your attempts to belittle Mr Allen's religious faith are quite transparent Constable Sapru.' When Simon wades in she frowns further, 'And you, Dr Eagleton is it? What exactly is your connection to this investigation? It is all highly irregular and something I intend to bring up in front of the court at the first opportunity.'

As far as Kris and the others are aware, there is no satellite phone in the police station. Usually external fixed lines would continue to operate as they carry their own current but the entire police station phone system is looped through the servers and requires power.

After several more minutes of darkness there's a knock on the interview room door and someone enters. In the mobile phone light they can see DI Malone, looking a lot less dapper than usual, his blonde quiff hanging flatly across his forehead. 'Put Mr Allen on ice and come to the incident room for a debrief' he barks, brusquely.

Posted: **Tue Aug 09, 2022 12:15 am**

Kris called for the custody sergeant and had Johnny taken back to his cell, despite the squawks of protest from his Lawyer.

”What’s up, Chief?” he asked, as he entered the incident room.

Posted: **Tue Aug 09, 2022 3:25 am**

Jocelyn follows Kris to the incident room.

Posted: **Tue Aug 09, 2022 4:53 am**

"Simon Eagleton, correct. You may recognize my name from my assistance with the police on the Thorndike case last year. The book of which will be coming out shortly, I highly suggest reading it for an intimate detailing of the particulars of that case." Says Simon, never missing an opportunity for self promotion. "I was called in to help rescue the daughter of reverend Balfour and have been assisting the police since. I'm quite certain you'll hear nothing but glowing accolades about my performance."

When DI Malone requests their presence he follows the man, looking back at Johnny one final time. Something was off, but he still was not certain as to what. And that grated on him.

Posted: **Tue Aug 09, 2022 1:20 pm**

The incident room is deserted apart from DI Malone. He looks lined and worn in the harsh flourescent strip lighting.

'All the power's gone throughout Wycombe and the surrounding area. The backup supply is offline. If it doesn't come back on soon we're going to have to start moving prisoners to the cells in Abingdon and Banbury. It's a massive pain in the arse.'

He lets out a long sigh. 'And then we've got the Balfour case. I've got lawyers and senior officers coming at me from every direction about it. Little Regina's still with Social Services but her family are clamouring to have her back and pulling every string at their disposal. We've got this Johnny Allen in custody but he seems to have some powerful friends looking out for him. And the Church of the Passover Angel is now all over the news, there are already people queuing up outside the church to experience the end of the world on Tuesday. Frankly this is a shit storm and I hold you at least partly responsible DC Sapru.'

He raises his hands in exasperation. 'So tell me where we're at. What do I need to know?'

Posted: **Tue Aug 09, 2022 7:19 pm**

”Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Kris said dryly. ”Well, whatever you do, make sure the Balfour’s get their daughter back. If they do, she’s dead. Then that’ll be on you, Chief.”

Posted: **Tue Aug 09, 2022 7:49 pm**

"Based on everything we've learned, the Balfours view Regina as being critical to starting the end of the world. Some sort of 'Binding of Issac' type of ritual, where sacrificing the child allows them to prove their worth to God or some such. It's exactly this scenario I believe her kidnappers were trying to prevent, albeit it in their own insane way. Unfortunately, Balfour is a clever bugger, and knows better than to come out and incriminate himself.

"Based on speaking with Johnny, the church seems desperate.They already were prevented from enacting this ritual once when Regina was removed from protective services the first time. He strongly implied if they don't have access to her this time Balfour will just 'make other plans' which I believe means he will sacrifice another child, likely one of his faithful's in the congregation.

"I'm aware of the position of the police, however. We don't sadly have much in the way of hard evidence and the Balfour's are extremely well funded, which is in it of itself suspicious." He's quiet for a moment as he bites his lip, for once out of ideas. Ones he would share with Malone, anyway.

Posted: **Wed Aug 10, 2022 4:23 am**

"We not only have Regina's own statement about what her father has planned," says Jocelyn, "but we also have Johnny's statements, which have been recorded. He implicated Balfour, thanks to Simon getting inside his head. That should be enough to at least drag it out a couple more days. I wouldn't rule out them trying to snatch her if they can't pull enough strings to get her out in time for their ritual, but they could always use another child. We'll have to keep the Balfours under surveillance for the next couple of days."

Posted: **Wed Aug 10, 2022 9:40 pm**

Malone scowls at Kris, 'I don't need your sarcasm Sapru. Your actions have got you suspended from this case once and completely alienated the Balfours. If you hadn't found the girl...' He trails off.

'I think we've got enough to keep Johnny in custody, oppose his bail as a flight risk, however good this Ms Acharya might think she is. But is there anything substantive on Reverend Balfour or his wife? Any actual criminality? We don't control the strings over Regina Balfour, all we can do is make representations to Social Services, what hard evidence do we have they're going to hurt her? Not theories,' he looks hard at Simon, 'But genuine, actionable intelligence.'

Posted: **Thu Aug 11, 2022 2:15 am**

Posted: **Thu Aug 11, 2022 7:45 pm**

Simon mulls things over in his head.

"I firmly believe Balfour and his church are planning to kill a child on Tuesday, quite possibly as the precursor to a more massive terrorist attack. I'm also certain that Balfour is a man possessed; his attempt to bring about what he sees as the end of the world failed last time due to Lindsay Peale's intervention. He's not going to allow it to happen again. I think he sent Johnny out to perhaps break Regina out. We stopped that, but I suspect they'll just use another child, which means bare minimum we'll have another dead child on our hands after Tuesday.

"You've mentioned people are beginning to gather outside the church-- is there anyway we can get the event shut down as unsafe due to the amount of people? It won't solve our problem but it might throw a wrench in Balfour's plans, especially if we do it an hour or two before he believes the world is set to end, which is likely the time he plans to act.

"My only other recommendation is that some of us try to ingratiate ourselves with Balfour. We saved his daughter. Maybe some of us can go and interview him. Pretend to be impressed or anew convert and let him know we're doing everything we can to get his child back to him. I don't really want to hand Regina over to him but if it earns us his favour-- and thus gives us a deeper understanding of his plans and how to stop them-- it may be worth it."

Posted: **Thu Aug 11, 2022 11:23 pm**

Kris shook his head. ”And if Balfour disappears with her and she winds up dead? That would be the end of all our careers! Too much of a risk, Simon!”

Posted: **Fri Aug 12, 2022 3:16 am**

"Balfour is already on to us," says Jocelyn. "I'm quite sure he's the one who hired that solicitor, and she's bound to report to him on the interrogation. It's highly unlikely that an attempt at infiltration would succeed."

Posted: **Fri Aug 12, 2022 4:13 am**

Simon looks annoyed at the pushback and sulks. This all could have been avoided had we shot Regina in the leg like I first suggested. He thinks.

Posted: **Fri Aug 12, 2022 8:01 am**

Kris addressed D.I.Malone. ”Sir, this is one of those occasions where things will come out in the wash but if we don’t act to stop it now, then we’ll all answer for the consequences. Balfour’s planning some big, end of the world, apocalyptic event and if we don’t stop it, I’d hate to think what the consequences are. As a minimum, we need to be trying to control the crowds around the church and be ready to try and stop Balfour, and that includes not giving him Regina back.”

“Screw allegations of harassment, I think we need a team keeping an eye on Balfour at all times, at least until Tuesday is out of the way.”

Posted: **Tue Aug 16, 2022 11:50 pm**

Malone scowls even further and turns to the laptop nearest to him, presumably running on battery power. He logs into the investigation records and brings up the transcript of Regina's interview. He skims it for a minute or so before turning and sighing deeply, he looks disappointed. 'The Binding of Isaac is a well known Bible story, it teaches obedience to God.' He points to the section where Regina talks of hiding in the shelter. 'This isn't going to be enough to convince anyone Balfour intends to sacrifice her. You're all beginning to sound like Lucy, and you don't want to be in her position.'

He gestures to Simon, 'I'm not saying you're wrong. I'm just saying we can't prove it. Maybe Balfour intends to harm his daughter, or another child, we just don't have enough actionable intelligence. I know he went for you but he'd get off with a slapped wrist given what he's been through.' He goes quiet and seems to be thinking, 'I can justify a police presence on Tuesday, with the crowds and the threats, but nothing more. As for surveilling Balfour, I can't get approval for that from the Chief Inspector, what you decide to do in your own time,' he shrugs.

'Well, if there's not anything else...'

Edited to reflect there's no power!

Posted: **Wed Aug 17, 2022 4:13 am**

Posted: **Wed Aug 17, 2022 5:31 am**

"And I can understand your position," Simon tells Malone. "I'm not law enforcement and I know you've already been hit with a heavily coordinated set of attacks criticizing you for keeping Regina from him. Balfour's a clever fellow and has the resources and story to really put pressure on the department.

"That aside, I do firmly believe him to be a threat. I go back to my point that when it comes to Balfour there have been a string of individuals with otherwise exemplary records who have grown convinced he and his church are dangerous. George Lewiston, Lindsay Peale, Officer Bates. Even Ms. Goldfarb admitted to me she had some concerns. That's a pattern, and I think in both our professions we've learned to give such things some weight.

"As for what actions we can take, I'd suggest anything feasible that gets more police in a position to intervene if Balfour tries anything, and it should be easier to justify given his high profile and controversial nature-- we're helping to keep the peace. Shutting down the church service and forcing Balfour to move to a location we can more easily control would be a big help, though I am aware that's a bigger ask. I'd suggest offering him some police 'protection' during the service, but I fully expect him to decline the offer."

Posted: **Wed Aug 17, 2022 10:19 am**

Posted: **Wed Aug 17, 2022 7:21 pm**

Posted: **Thu Aug 18, 2022 3:28 am**

"I think we should conduct formal surveillance to Balfour," says Jocelyn. "His ties to Red Trumpet alone should justify that, and we also have Johnny's statements about him. It's only for a couple of days, and it's better to be safe than sorry. We went to a lot of trouble to rescue Regina - I took a shotgun blast - and I'm not about to let anything bad happen to her. We may not have enough evidence against him yet, but surveillance is how we can get that evidence."

Posted: **Sat Aug 20, 2022 12:09 am**

”Sir, we know that Balfour intends to use his daughter for a sacrifice. If we let her go back to him, we may as well just kill her ourselves,” implored Kris. ”She’s a key part of his plans and this is our chance to disrupt them. We need to keep Regina out of his clutches or we’ll all pay the price for it.”

Posted: **Mon Aug 22, 2022 8:37 pm**

Posted: **Mon Aug 22, 2022 9:18 pm**

Malone listens impassively to the arguments. He turns back to the laptop and brings up their statements about the DVDs they watched in the hotel room. He bites his lip as he scrolls through. 'Okay, okay. Fine Sapru. If you really think Regina is in that much danger I'll talk to social services myself. No promises. None at all. But if Miss Goldfarb has her own concerns, maybe...'

Then he looks Jocelyn up and down. 'There's no way we've got the authority to shut down that service. You can't even begin to understand the sensitivities of this. I've got the Faith Leaders Forum, the Right Honourable Paul Goodman and all the main candidates for the next MP, the Chief Constable, the Deputy Chief Constable, and my fucking wife calling me about it. I can deploy some officers, armed even, but that service will go ahead.' He grimaces, like what he's saying pains him. 'But you're our Intelligence Service liaison Officer Leigh. I'll take what you say seriously. If Balfour has terrorist connections and there's a risk of some kind of incident I suppose I can take it to the Chief Inspector...Leave it with me.'

Posted: **Mon Aug 22, 2022 11:06 pm**

Posted: **Mon Aug 22, 2022 11:29 pm**

Posted: **Tue Aug 23, 2022 3:24 am**

"Thank you, Detective Inspector Malone," says Jocelyn. "We'll be on hand as well. I know there's no satellite phone, I've already asked, but do you have a shortwave radio? It would be good to know just how far the power outage has spread. Or failing that, are we able to reach anyone in nearby towns on standard police radios? I can't rule out that this power cut could be a terrorist act."

Posted: **Fri Aug 26, 2022 3:28 am**

Simon is largely satisfied with Malone's response. It appeared the man was finally taking the matter seriously.

'While I'm not convinced these steps will fully stop whatever Balfour's planning, they're a good start.He's built up this whole mythology of Regina being his own little Issac; it's likely one of the reasons he hold such sway over his congregation. Like most cult leaders he's a profound narcissist who thinks himself special. There may be some hesitance to use another child with less significance to him. If we're truly fortunate he'll scrap whatever he's planning and push back the end of the world once again. But Mr. Zero made it seem as though he's unwilling to delay whatever he has planned once again, which may work for us if he has to scramble to come up with another plan.

"The surveillance will also help us be alerted to any unusual moves he makes."

Jocelyn asks a good question, and he's hopeful they'll understand the extent of the outage soon as well.

Posted: **Sun Sep 04, 2022 6:33 pm**

In response to Jocelyn's question Malone smiles weakly. 'The station radio needs mains power so it's down. Handheld units only go a few miles. But the car radios are still working. From that we've managed to figure out Aylesbury is unaffected and they've confirmed Oxford and all the other major stations elsewhere are fine. It's mostly just High Wycombe, reaches as far as Marlow and Beaconsfield but Slough is okay, well no worse than it ever was. Doesn't reach as far as Henley or Amersham. I calculate it's a circle with a radius of about 5 miles - centred on Wycombe. National Grid are aware and they've got technicians on their way out - they can't tell us what caused it but I'm conscious of the possibility of terrorism obviously.'

Posted: **Sun Sep 04, 2022 8:37 pm**

"That's good to hear that it's localised," says Jocelyn. "It also raises my suspicions further."

Posted: **Sun Sep 04, 2022 10:33 pm**

”Can’t they be more specific about the centre, Sir? Wycombe’s a big place,” asked Kris. Logically, he’d expect the outage to be centred around a sub-station or similar, but logic had been in short supply these last few days…

Posted: **Mon Sep 05, 2022 10:33 pm**

'I think that's a question for the National Grid, not me ,' huffs Malone. 'At the moment they can't even tell me what's wrong with the power, let alone where the malfunction is.' Raising his arms melodramatically he says, 'The radius is what I've got from the vehicle radios, this is not an exact science. My priority is getting the backup generator online, not plotting maps.'

Posted: **Mon Sep 05, 2022 10:38 pm**

Posted: **Mon Sep 05, 2022 11:01 pm**

'I've moved the control room into the back of a van in the car park. They're using the radio and old fashioned pen and paper to run the officers in the Wycombe area. Everyone else is being diverted to other ops rooms elsewhere.' Hands on hips he snaps, 'I've given you enough of my time, is that everything?'

Posted: **Mon Sep 05, 2022 11:11 pm**

Posted: **Mon Sep 05, 2022 11:15 pm**

"Yes, thank you. Perhaps we should stay somewhere outside the radius of the outage," says Jocelyn. "It's also important in case Balfour knows where we've been staying."

Posted: **Tue Sep 06, 2022 12:37 am**

Simon will let the professionals take the lead, ready to support if anyone asks for his assistance.

Posted: **Tue Sep 06, 2022 2:46 am**

Posted: **Tue Sep 06, 2022 5:44 am**

Posted: **Tue Sep 06, 2022 7:29 am**

Posted: **Tue Sep 06, 2022 11:03 am**

Posted: **Tue Sep 06, 2022 11:54 am**

Posted: **Tue Sep 06, 2022 12:51 pm**

Kris keyed a number into his mobile phone. When the call was answered he said, ”Hey, Prisha, it’s your favourite brother-in-law. Can I ask a favour? We’ve lost power over here and I need somewhere to go. No, no, Bina’s fine. She’s at work. It’s just me and perhaps a couple of colleagues. I’ll explain when I get there…”

Posted: **Wed Sep 07, 2022 2:56 am**

Jocelyn is glad to stay at Prisha's place.

Posted: **Thu Sep 08, 2022 7:06 pm**

Simon also does not mind, though he hopes she has a few spare bedrooms-- he'd rather not share one.

Posted: **Thu Sep 08, 2022 9:49 pm**

Jocelyn and Simon squeeze into the back of Kris's Astra and he drives out of the police station car cark looking for a phone signal. With the power down the nearest mobile phone masts aren't operating so he needs to get into range of a tower outside the blackout area. He drives down towards the M40 junction, the town looking eerie in the darkness, no street lights and only the occasional flash of candles or torches from the houses they pass, otherwise illuminated by a stark moonlight.

Kris pulls up in the Holiday Inn car park and gets a few bars of signal. He calls his sister-in-law Prisha and after a bit of back and forth, and background contributions from her arse of a husband Brian, he manages to blag them a place to stay for the night. Simon and Jocelyn listen in and stare idly out the window at the black monolith of the hotel, wondering if they'd even have been able to stay there without any power.

Satisfied with his call, Kris starts the Astra back up and begins to trundle out the car park towards the M40, planning to head down the motorway to Beaconsfield, check out whether the blackout ends there, and then take the A355 down to Slough where, according to Prisha, there's no problems with the power.

As they pull onto the entry ramp the motorway the sky is clear and a large moon sits low on the horizon, its dazzling brightness extinguishes the stars and an unbroken blanket of blackness arches above their heads. For a moment the bright illumination dims as if something has passed between them and the source of moonlight.

Posted: **Fri Sep 09, 2022 12:31 am**

Posted: **Fri Sep 09, 2022 5:13 am**

Simon doubted he would stay at a hotel regardless; the unfortunate events with Lindsay Peale are still with him, even if the exact details were lost to memory. But he does strongly suspect Balfour dozed them with some sort of hallucinogenic gas. And he's not about to offer them another opportunity to drug him, oh no!

[Spoiler-ButtonSpot Hidden 13]

1d100[/Spoiler-Button]

Posted: **Fri Sep 09, 2022 5:14 am**

Simon doubted he would stay at a hotel regardless; the unfortunate events with Lindsay Peale are still with him, even if the exact details were lost to memory. But he does strongly suspect Balfour dozed them with some sort of hallucinogenic gas. And he's not about to offer them another opportunity to drug him, oh no!

OOC: Not sure why my rolls disappeared, but they were 25 for luck and 2 for Spot Hidden. I'd have preferred the other way around!

Posted: **Fri Sep 09, 2022 5:46 am**

Jocelyn's night vision is well developed by now.

Posted: **Sat Sep 10, 2022 8:43 pm**

All three look up into the night sky to see why the light has dimmed. The moon is sitting heavy above the motorway. The shadowy contours of the mare against the lighter highlands lend the bright surface a patchwork appearance. It is easy to mistake the shadows for shapes. Cloudy black angel’s wings, a jagged skeletal face...

Posted: **Sat Sep 10, 2022 9:08 pm**

Jocelyn manages to keep her cool - mostly. "That's another holographic projection, right?" she says.

Posted: **Sat Sep 10, 2022 11:05 pm**

Kris felt a cold shivering run down his spine. ”No idea if it’s a hologram - I’m not hanging around to find out!” He pushed his foot to the floor and the car surged forward, as Kris looked around, desperately trying to recognise where they were so he could find somewhere to lose whatever that shadowy thing was!

Posted: **Sun Sep 11, 2022 4:25 am**

For once, Simon is at a loss for words.

Posted: **Sun Sep 11, 2022 10:07 pm**

Kris puts his foot to the floor and accelerates through the evening traffic, swerving in and out of cars on the motorway, a torrent of honks and flashing headlights left in his wake. But there's no where he can turn off the motorway and the vehicle just keeps driving towards that broad, bright moon, sitting low in the sky, the hazy shape of the Passover Angel across its surface.

Posted: **Mon Sep 12, 2022 3:46 am**

It's not real. Simon knows this. He pushes through the terror, but a moment later it's back. Because if Balfour has access to such advanced technology how can they hope to stop him?

His eyes dart across the road and widen as he sees Balfour. He's watching them yet again, and Simon's pretty sure he's smiling. He knows what he's doing, the bastard.

"There! That blue SUV!" He points out to the others. "Balfour's inside, he's watching us. He must be controlling the holographic machine from in there. Oh ho, very clever, showing off the Passover Angel in rush hour traffic; he's hoping to get more followers to believe his nonsense. We can stop him once and for all here! Run him off the road!" The professor's eyes shine with zealotry, as above all else he's grown to hate Balfour. The man is trying to drag the others into believing his superstitious nonsense, but he won't get Simon. He's going to disprove all of this and force everyone else to acknowledge it.

Posted: **Mon Sep 12, 2022 5:17 am**

"We need to gather evidence against him," says Jocelyn, looking around for the SUV, "or catch him in the act. Following him at this point wouldn't help. He must know we're here, or he wouldn't have done this. In fact, he's probably trying to follow us. We might want to lose him before we get where we're going."

Posted: **Mon Sep 12, 2022 8:15 am**

Posted: **Mon Sep 12, 2022 7:50 pm**

Posted: **Tue Sep 13, 2022 7:46 am**

”I’ll do my best!” said Kris, flashing his lights and using his horn to try to clear a way through the traffic.

Posted: **Sun Sep 18, 2022 5:32 pm**

There's a couple of cars that have pulled over to the hard shoulder, but no blue SUV that Kris or Jocelyn can see, nor ahead of them on the road. As it's a Sunday evening the traffic isn't too heavy and Kris is able to wind through the other vehicles without much difficulty and is soon at Beaconsfield M40 junction with the A355. The services and the town beyond are dark, just like Wycombe.

Turning off the motorway and down the A-road they're relieved to see the streetlights casting their orange sodium glow over the road's surface, the blackout obviously doesn't extend this far. Looking out the car window the moon's surface has returned to it's usual appearance and everyone feels a bit safer in an area with some power and lighting.

Five or ten minutes down the A355 Kris has an unusual sensation, a prickling down the back of his neck, something at the periphery of his vision. In the back of the car it is more obvious, the streetlights behind the vehicle have gone dark. Then for a few hundred yards ahead they start to blink out, one by one. Darkness advancing ahead of them, one light at a time.

Kris feels the driving become jittery, like there's a strong wind buffeting the car. Simon and Jocelyn can feel it as well, subtle movement in the vehicle, a low whooshing sound. It's peculiar, almost rhythmic, repeated, regular gusts of wind. Like the downdraft from beating wings.

Posted: **Sun Sep 18, 2022 7:38 pm**

Simon continues to rant all the way, various halfsensical theories as to the power and reach of Balfour's cult.

As the movement begins to affect the vehicle, he grows more animated. "My God, he's planted something in our car, he's managed to find a way to hack into the interface and take control! Pull over Detective; we need to get out of here before he causes us to crash!"

Posted: **Mon Sep 19, 2022 3:34 am**

"It's following us," says Jocelyn, a bit nervously.

Posted: **Mon Sep 19, 2022 9:19 am**

”That’s enough, Simon!” Kris said firmly. “We’re not going to get out of this with you panicking like that.”

He looked around for somewhere to get off the street and undercover. Was there anywhere nearby?

Posted: **Mon Sep 19, 2022 6:43 pm**

"I'm not panicking!" Simon retorts. "I'm being perfect logically. Balfour's hacked our car. He may have put a bomb onboard! Pull over now!"

He begins to wonder if he should jump out of the moving vehicle. The others may be too stupid to realize the danger they're in, but he knew.

Posted: **Mon Sep 19, 2022 6:48 pm**

”When I find cover!” Kris snapped back. “I’m not getting out of this car with whatever is up there flying about!”

Posted: **Mon Sep 19, 2022 10:49 pm**

There are lights up ahead, maybe a mile or so down the road. On either side of the carriageway there is tree cover and to the right Kris can see an entranceway or drive that disappears into the trees.

Posted: **Mon Sep 19, 2022 11:18 pm**

”Hang on!” said Kris, hauling the steering wheel to the right. The car swerved and he knew straightaway that his manoeuvre wasn’t going to go to plan.

“Shi-it… … …”

Posted: **Tue Sep 20, 2022 5:09 am**

Jocelyn braces for the inevitable collision, thinking that, once again, she should have been driving.

Posted: **Tue Sep 20, 2022 10:05 am**

Posted: **Tue Sep 20, 2022 10:34 pm**

Spotting the opening on the right, Kris turns the steering wheel hard and the Astra careens across the oncoming lane then begins to skid as the wheels reach the gravel of the driveway. Despite Kris's best efforts to get the car under control, it slides across the entryway and into the trees lining the driveway. The car bumps and scrapes over rocks and bushes, a nasty grinding sound emanating from the undercarriage. Eventually it comes to a rest with the bonnet embedded in a metal post and the front wheels straddling a low wall.

Posted: **Tue Sep 20, 2022 11:05 pm**

”Damn it!” Kris swore and thumped the steering wheel. Leaning over, he would down the window to see if he could still see the shadow above them.

Posted: **Tue Sep 20, 2022 11:10 pm**

Slowly winding down the window, a sharp branch scratches against the glass makes a continuous high pitched screeching noise until the window is fully open, at which point it flicks in through the open gap and into Kris's face. It is next to impossible to see anything in the sky through the overhanging trees and foliage, only the tiniest shafts of moonlight penetrate through the leaves. There's no wind either, just the gentle hum of the occasional car passing by on the road behind.

Posted: **Tue Sep 20, 2022 11:26 pm**

Kris spluttered as the branch hit him in the face, swore again, then snapped it off and threw it out of the window irritably. Rubbing his face, he looked upwards again. ”I can see moonlight,” he said. “We may have lost it.”

Posted: **Wed Sep 21, 2022 3:57 am**

Simon immediately tries to get out of the vehicle. "He made us crash, don't you see? He was watching us from that SUV, probably controlling us remotely. Now that we're unable to escape he's going to activate the bomb. Get out, quickly!"

Posted: **Wed Sep 21, 2022 5:07 am**

"If he were going to blow us up," says Jocelyn, "wouldn't he have done it already? All things considered, this could have been a lot worse." She still gets out of the car, though, seeing as it isn't going anywhere. She takes out her mobile and tries to get a signal.

Posted: **Wed Sep 21, 2022 7:38 am**

Kris rolled his eyes at Simon’s outburst but nevertheless got out of the car to take a look underneath.

Posted: **Sun Sep 25, 2022 8:45 pm**

The three of them climb out of the beached Astra and scramble through the surrounding foliage. A few tears and scratches later they can survey the scene of the crash. The car has skidded off the driveway before reaching an open wooden gate, ploughing into the surrounding trees and crashing into what looks like an old stretch of abandoned wall, swallowed up by the undergrowth. Overhead, the limbs and foliage of the trees block out most of the night sky. After the noise of crashing through the bushes, the chill air is eerily still.

Jocelyn takes out her phone and wanders around looking for a mobile phone signal. Wherever she stands there are zero bars. Kris takes a peak under the car which is elevated off the ground by the brick wall stuck under the front wheels. He can't see a bomb or anything else that might have been attached to the vehicle...

Posted: **Sun Sep 25, 2022 9:08 pm**

Posted: **Sun Sep 25, 2022 9:10 pm**

"Step back!" Simon urges. "It could go off at any second!" He takes several long strides back from the vehicle. Hopefully Jocelyn gets a signal soon.

Posted: **Sun Sep 25, 2022 9:44 pm**

While Kris is no mechanic, he doesn't like the look of the underside of his car. That wall seems to have ground a furrow through the undercarriage and he suspects that some of those hoses and pipes aren't where they're supposed to be. Still, no bomb, that's something.

Posted: **Sun Sep 25, 2022 11:25 pm**

Kris sighed. ”It isn’t going to blow up - there’s no bomb, Simon!” he snapped impatiently. He stood up and brushed mud and leaves off his knees as best he could, then walked towards the road to see if there was any sign of the mysterious shadow.

Posted: **Mon Sep 26, 2022 3:58 am**

"That's good," says Jocelyn. "If there had been, it wouldn't be safe to use a mobile. Might set off a device. Of course, I can't get a signal out here anyhow. Let's get back to the road and see if we can get one there."

Posted: **Mon Sep 26, 2022 10:10 pm**

Back on the road there are no street lights visible in any direction but a few cars trundle each way, illuminating the road with their headlights. The moon is mostly behind a cloud and the sky is overcast. Jocelyn still can't get a mobile phone signal.

Posted: **Mon Sep 26, 2022 10:51 pm**

"Let's start walking in the direction we were driving," says Jocelyn. "Either we'll get a signal, or we'll eventually get where we're going."

Posted: **Mon Sep 26, 2022 11:12 pm**

Posted: **Mon Sep 26, 2022 11:47 pm**

Posted: **Tue Sep 27, 2022 10:34 pm**

Kris checks his watch, it's just after 8pm.

Posted: **Tue Sep 27, 2022 11:12 pm**

”Slough’s an hour’s walk,” said Kris. “We’d better get started. We might be able to thumb a lift on the way.”

Posted: **Wed Sep 28, 2022 3:31 am**

"I would recommend against that," Simon says, coming out to meet the others. "Balfour could send one of his zealots out here to pretend to assist us then ambush us when we get in the car. We should avoid any offers of assistance."

Posted: **Wed Sep 28, 2022 7:05 am**

Kris rolled his eyes and went hunting in the boot for his waterproof jacket and ‘Police Aware’ sticker. He tried to lock the car as best he could. He didn’t want his priceless George Michael CD collection going missing from his glove box… … …

Posted: **Thu Sep 29, 2022 4:09 am**

"The sooner we get started, the sooner we'll arrive," says Jocelyn.

Posted: **Fri Sep 30, 2022 8:02 pm**

The three of them start the long trek to Slough along the side of the A355. There's no pavement so they have to walk on the boggy grass verge, the way lit by Kris's torch, the light of their mobile phones, and the occasional passing headlights. The streetlamps are all dark, with heavy woods on either side of the road, and the sky still overcast, it is gloomy and foreboding. There's a chill in the air and the slight smell of dampness. After fifteen minutes or so of walking they have passed a few side-roads and there's the black shape of a pub or restaurant on the righthand side. There are no lights or signs that anyone's home.

Posted: **Fri Sep 30, 2022 8:12 pm**

Posted: **Fri Sep 30, 2022 8:34 pm**

Posted: **Fri Sep 30, 2022 8:55 pm**

Posted: **Fri Sep 30, 2022 10:10 pm**

Posted: **Sat Oct 01, 2022 3:38 am**

"Let's check the pub," says Jocelyn. "The lights could be out because of the power outage. There may still be someone there."

Posted: **Sun Oct 02, 2022 2:45 pm**

Although several cars pass them by, Kris doesn't think any will be suitable for the three of them. He doesn't fancy trying to squeeze into the back of an old Ford Fiesta with Simon still ranting and raving.

Jocelyn tramps through the wet grass to take a closer look at the dark building. The sign outside reads the Yew Tree. There's no lights visible from the outside and only a battered looking white panel van in the car park. Peering through the front windows and shining a light inside, it looks to Jocelyn like there are some renovations going on as she can see stepladders and tins of paint.

Play@YSDC

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