Kim ended the call as Bryant switched off the engine.
‘Guv, how come we don’t know about this place? I mean, why does no one know about this place?’
She shrugged as she got out the car. ‘I have no idea, but I’m hoping this particular lady can help us out a bit.’
‘But aren’t they on totally opposing sides?’ he asked.
‘Of the same industry,’ Kim said. ‘I’m willing to bet your house that she knows more about Celia Gardner than she’s letting on.’
She pressed the buzzer, and Megan answered immediately.
‘DI Stone and DS Bryant. Do you have a moment?’ Kim asked.
‘What if I had a client, Inspector?’
‘Do you?’
‘No.’
‘Then, may we—’ She stopped speaking as the door clicked open.
As she ascended the stairs, Kim was met with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastry.
Megan was carrying a mug and plate to the room at the back.
‘Please excuse me. Most days I can’t face food first thing and take a mid-morning snack instead.’ She disappeared and then her head came back into view. ‘Can I get you a coffee while I’m in here?’
‘No thanks,’ said Bryant.
‘Yes please,’ said Kim. ‘Unless you have an appointment,’ she added.
‘I’m fine until twelve, Inspector, so if you’re not done by then, you can take your coffee with you and I won’t even charge you for the mug.’
Kim took a seat on the fabric sofa. Not too soft and not too hard; just comfortable. Bryant sat in the single chair and threw her an accusatory glance. He always expected her to refuse refreshments, and she normally did, but it smelled like damn good coffee.
‘Milk or sugar?’ Megan shouted.
‘Neither,’ Kim called back.
Megan appeared with a single mug and placed it before her.
‘So, how can I help?’
‘Why not just send us to Change in the first place?’ Kim asked. ‘You knew that was where Jamie had been treated after you refused to carry out his parents’ wishes. You’re treating another of their ex-patients named Stephanie Lakehurst. Why did you not just direct us to the clinic in the first place?’
‘Two reasons,’ Megan said, making no attempt to hide her subterfuge. ‘The first is that you probably wouldn’t have believed me if I’d told you the truth right off the bat. Whatever you now know is because of your own investigation and not because someone told you. Second is that you needed the education.’
‘You sent me to school?’ Kim asked incredulously.
Megan nodded. ‘You knew absolutely nothing about conversion therapy or the reasons behind someone making the choice to try it. Now you understand why that awful place exists at all.’
Kim had to concede both points. She probably wouldn’t have believed or understood had she not spoken to Cliff and then visited Exodus. And she certainly knew more now than she had the last time they’d spoken. She still didn’t appreciate being given the runaround, but she knew why the woman had sent her on the journey.
‘Now I’m suitably educated, what do you know about Celia Gardner?’ Kim asked.
‘More than I’d like to. Why do you ask?’
‘There are a lot of accusations being made against the clinic she owns. Not least from Stephanie Lakehurst.’