Page 30 of The Mercy Chair

Something bad.

‘Ah,’ Poe said.

Chapter 25

‘What was on the second sheet, Washington?’ Doctor Lang asked.

‘The Children of Job’srealagenda,’ Poe replied.

‘Which was?’

‘Opposition to same-sex marriage and infidelity. Reclaiming the traditional male role as head of the household. The teaching of Creationism in schools. The passive dependency of women. The Christian right claim their loss of dominance in UK culture is due to a sustained attack on their faith. They take extreme measures to cling on to their relevance, and groups like the Children of Job do that by vigorously fighting for these outdated issues. Issues that exclude almost everyone in the country.’

‘Is that even legal?’

‘They had professional help in drawing up their itinerary,’ Poe said. ‘There was nothing that would have put them at risk of being classified as a hate group.’

‘What about the courses?’

‘More of the same. Extreme religious instruction with the sole purpose of correcting undesirable character traits. Nothing that would have drawn the attention of children’s services.’

‘I see,’ Doctor Lang said. ‘It was like a Chinese re-education camp then?’

‘That’s a fair analogy.’

‘And who decided what was an undesirable character trait?’

‘The Children of Job did. The parents did. The kidsthemselvesdid. The annual curriculum was essentially a programme of religious brainwashing. Have a daughter who’s flirting with boys or wearing red lipstick? If she’s at risk of becoming what they call a “licked lollipop” her parents might put her on the Children of Job’s “Christian Role Model” course. A Children of Job ex-nurse will do a virginity test, then she’ll go through two weeks of indoctrination on why a chaste life is therightlife. Give her a purity ring at the end so she’s got something to show for it. Have a son who believes dinosaurs lived millions of years ago? “An Introduction to the Old Testament” will sort out that nonsense.’

‘What’s next? Having ginger hair? Being left-handed? Listening to rock music?’ Doctor Lang shook her head in frustration. ‘Half of what I do is unpicking childhood trauma and most of that goes back to overzealous parenting. Anything else?’

‘Yes,’ Poe said grimly. ‘A course they ran intermittently. They called it “Restored Faith”.’

‘Oh, I don’t like the sound of that at all,’ Doctor Lang said. ‘Is it what I think it is?’

‘It is. They dressed it up with therapeutic language to give themselves legal cover, but to all intents and purposes, “Restored Faith” was conversion therapy. They were trying to pray away the gay.’

Chapter 26

‘This is barbaric,’ Poe said to Oldwater. ‘You can’t forcibly change someone’s sexuality. All you end up with is a gay person with psychological scars.’

‘You understand why they can never become a charity?’ Oldwater said. ‘You’ve heard of that infamous Baptist Church?’

‘Those dickheads who picket soldiers’ funerals in the States? They were banned from entering the UK a few years back for inciting hatred. Shame really; I’d have enjoyed watching what would happen if they tried that shit at a British squaddie’s funeral.’

Oldwater nodded. ‘That’s them. Well, in my opinion, the Children of Job are the UK’s equivalent. They aren’t so overt, which is why they aren’t on anyone’s radar, but by whatever definition you care to use, they are a virulently anti-LGBTQIA+ organisation.’

‘You seem remarkably well informed, Nicholas,’ Poe said. ‘Might this explain your reticence in showing me your file? I don’t imagine you found all this out by reading the parish newsletter.’

‘I have a discretionary fund and a congregation with anolla podridaof skills, experiences and contacts.’

‘Olla podridais a Spanish stew, Poe,’ Bradshaw said without looking up from her scanning. ‘The phrase has been appropriated to mean . . . I guess hodgepodge would be the closest English definition.’

‘You have a bunch of ex-spies and ex-cops to call on?’ Poe said.

‘And business leaders and politicians and diplomats, Washington. The Church is a . . . well, broad church.’ Oldwater reached into his pocket and pulled out a business card. He passed it to Poe. ‘Speaking of which. This is my private number; I can be contacted on it at all times. If you run into difficulties with some of my more mulish members, please do not hesitate to call. Maybe I can open doors that might otherwise remain closed to you.’

Poe tucked it into his wallet. He tapped the top sheet in his hand. ‘And what about this guy?’

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