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‘My apologies. This is our other child, Jessica.’

‘Who got introduced after the accounts,’ Jessica said, raising an eyebrow.

‘Firstborn are soooo sensitive,’ Celia said, sending a humorous nod to her daughter, who chuckled.

Eric gathered up the papers. ‘I’ll carry on with the action points.’

‘Good lad,’ Victor offered, slapping him on the shoulder.

‘Yeah, come on, good lad,’ Jessica said good-naturedly, holding open the door for her brother.

Celia shook her head as she moved to an easy seating area against the far wall.

‘I swear they couldn’t be more different,’ Victor said, taking a seat beside his wife. ‘One’s all for people and the other is all for numbers.’

‘And they both work here full-time?’ Kim asked.

‘For now,’ Celia answered. ‘Jess has just finished her degree in hospitality, and Eric is nearing the end of his business studies degree. They’re both cutting their teeth here, but I’m sure they’ll want to go and do their own thing at some stage, which is only natural.’

For a moment Kim wondered if they’d come to the right place. Surely these respectable, reasonable people with grown-up intelligent children weren’t really trying to change people’s sexuality.

‘You don’t think they’ll stay in the family business?’ Bryant asked.

‘I think not,’ Celia said pleasantly.

‘And what is the family business exactly?’ Kim asked.

Celia gave her a half-smile. ‘I think you already know that, officer.’

‘Humour me. Spell it out.’

‘We assist people who want to make changes to their sexuality.’

‘You think that’s possible?’ Kim asked, unable to believe she was sitting here having a rational conversation about something she viewed as fundamentally wrong; but these people appeared perfectly normal and reasonable.

‘I wholeheartedly believe it, Inspector. This facility has been operating for almost forty years and our results speak for themselves, as does our waiting list.’

These words were not offered defensively, more with a hint of weariness at having to explain herself.

‘So how do you do it?’ Kim asked simply.

‘Our methods depend on the person. An individual is assessed before any treatment, and a full treatment plan is formulated between the patient and us.’

‘You use the word patient as though they’re suffering from some kind of disease,’ Kim stated.

‘In our mind they are,’ Celia said easily. ‘And in their own mind, they are too. Whatever your judgement of the service we offer, please remember that all our patients are here voluntarily. They want to change; they welcome the opportunity to be cured.’

‘Cured?’ Kim asked.

‘Absolutely. It is a disease in the eyes of the person who no longer wants it. We help extract it.’ Celia paused. ‘I can tell by your micro expressions that you’re horrified by what we do and you’re looking for some sign of evil here. It doesn’t exist. We don’t torture animals and drink their blood. We don’t sacrifice babies at any altar. We help people to change something about themselves they don’t like. How is that any different to cosmetic surgery, Botox or assertiveness training?’

‘Because it’s inherent. It’s a part of who they are.’

‘When they were born?’ Celia asked.

‘I suppose so,’ Kim said.

Victor crossed one leg over the other and looked on with amusement as though he enjoyed the passion with which his wife debated the subject.


Tags: Angela Marsons Suspense