“It’s a matter of degrees again, Detective. No, those people you see out in the audience chanting and waving their arms aren’t glassy-eyed. They’re not in the cult, well, not formally in the cult. They’re not supposed to be. They’re the fodder to feed the cult. They’re the last thing the cult wants in the cult. If you’re in the cult, the cult has to support you, and that means feed you. You are an asset, but you’re also a liability. Those people in the audience, are there for one purpose, to fleece. Problem is, the cult has to keep finding new followers. Even the stupidest followers figure out sooner or later that they’re being used. I promise you, if your friend was just a follower you would be okay. Before long he would figure out what was going on and abandon the whole thing. But, from what you’ve told me, they want him in the inner circle. Few in the inner circle ever figure it out, not on their own.”
“If I can arrange to see him, will you come with me?”
“I would be delighted to go with you, but one problem. You said ‘arrange’. Depending on how deep in the group he is, you don’t ‘arrange’ anything.”
“I don’t understand.”
“The group, the cult, won’t let you.”
“I still—”
“Control, they control everything, including who he can see and when. You find him and we barge in unannounced. No warning, no advance notice.”
“Okay,” sighed Frank reluctantly. “I really didn’t think—”
“No, and I didn’t think my son was, or ever would be, in as deep as he evidently got. Let’s look at it this way. If we barge in and screw up this crowd’s plans, you win. If we don’t, you lose. If you screw up their plans and he’s the friend you say he is, he’ll forgive you. If you don’t, he’ll never know. I can promise you, they’ll never tell him.”
“Normally, he’s at home at night. You want to go tonight?”
“Sounds good to me, it’s still early and that’ll give me a chance to make a few phone calls. Let’s plan on tonight.”
“Thank you, but in all honesty, do you think we can do anything?”
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