Page 39 of The Mercy Chair

‘Am I right in thinking that the Children of Job still has aspirations of getting charitable status, Joshua? In fact, don’t you have another application pending right now?’

Joshua’s eyes narrowed. ‘How could you possibly know that?’

‘I think you’d be surprised at what I know,’ Poe said. ‘And I imagine a positive word from the Church would go some way to help you achieve that goal?’

‘That goes without saying, Sergeant Poe. However, many of us feel that the modern church is now too liberal for our organisation, and I’m sure they feel the Children of Job is too conservative for theirs. I fear a positive reference might be too much to ask.’

Poe found the most recently entered number on his phone. He pressed call and when it was answered he spoke quietly. He then passed his phone to Joshua. ‘The Bishop of Carlisle would like to speak to you, Joshua.’

‘Excuse me?’

‘He said the Bishop of Carlisle would like to speak to you, Joshua,’ Bradshaw chipped in. ‘He’s called Nicholas Oldwater and he’s our friend, isn’t he, Poe?’

‘He certainly is, Tilly.’

Joshua took Poe’s phone. ‘Hello?’ he said uncertainly. It was clear he thought he was being pranked.

‘Oh, and don’t forget to tell the bishop how the Children of Job is spreading the word in Keswick,’ Poe said. ‘I think he’ll find that particularly funny.’

Joshua scowled and stepped away to take the call. He returned two minutes later. ‘Very well,’ he said. ‘Let’s get this over with.’

‘Splendid,’ Poe said.

Chapter 37

‘We aren’t completely self-sustained yet,’ Joshua explained, ‘but we’re not far off.’

He had started their tour of the Children of Job by taking them around the working farm. They grew crops and raised livestock, most of which Poe had already seen. At the back of the main building was a walled kitchen garden, lush and bountiful underneath the warm summer sun. It looked like Mr McGregor’s garden, the one Peter Rabbit raided for lettuce, French beans and radishes. There were raised beds packed full of vegetables, fruit and herbs. Rhubarb forcers lined the north-facing wall and fruit trees were trained against the south-facing one. Half-a-dozen men and women tended the crops. Some had trowels, others held watering cans. All of them worked in silence.

‘I thought you said all your staff were in Keswick,’ Poe said.

‘No, I said around half of them were,’ Joshua said. ‘The rest are teaching or helping set up the graduation ceremony.’

Poe gestured to the people tending the walled garden. ‘So who are they?’

‘Volunteers.’

‘Singing for their supper?’

‘We do farm therapy here, Sergeant Poe. Some of our members struggle in the outside world. They can’t understand why politicians mock their faith and why atheism is at an all-time high.’

‘I didn’t realise politiciansdidmock their faith.’

‘Really?’ Joshua said. He seemed genuinely surprised. ‘You don’t think same-sex marriage laws mock our faith? You don’t think teaching our children about evolution mocks our faith? You think undermining the fundamental right to life isn’t mocking our faith?’

‘No, no and I don’t know what that last one is,’ Poe said.

‘He means abortion,’ Linus said.

‘Ah. Then that’s another no from me, I’m afraid.’

‘Are you married, Sergeant Poe?’ Joshua asked.

‘I’m not.’

‘And why is that?’

‘Guess I haven’t found the right man yet.’

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