‘Did you read everything you could about conversion therapy?’
‘Oh yeah. I researched it fully. I knew about the doubts as to its effectiveness, but I was gonna be the exception. I was going to do everything I was told, and I would be successful because I wanted it more than the people who had failed.’
‘Did you understand the methods they might use?’ Kim asked.
‘Yep, I read about all the medical attempts, including hysterectomy, ovariectomy, clitoridectomy. For the boys castration, vasectomy, and one size fits all with the pubic nerve surgery and a lobotomy. I gotta be honest and say I didn’t much fancy the clitorectomy. Didn’t want no surgeon taking that away, but I was open for pretty much everything else.’
‘Did you stay for the whole—’
‘I’m sorry but that’s all I can tell you.’
‘Stephanie, we need more. People are dying.’
‘And for that I am truly sorry, but I can’t tell you any more.’
‘Says who?’
‘Says the non-disclosure agreement that I, other patients and every staff member signs before they’re allowed past the reception desk.’
‘You’re forbidden legally to talk about the time you spent there?’ Bryant asked.
Stephanie nodded. ‘Not a thing.’
‘You think they’d sue?’ Kim asked.
‘They have done.’
‘Talk to us anyway,’ Kim urged.
‘They have good lawyers.’
‘Ours are better.’
Stephanie appeared to consider her words.
Kim capitalised on the hesitation. ‘We’re not going to hang you out to dry. We’ll do everything we can to protect you, but we have two victims that spent time there, and we really need to know what goes on inside.’
Stephanie stood and Kim was convinced she was going to ask them to leave.
‘Okay, but if you’re gonna be here that long, I suppose I’d better find some manners and make you both a drink.’
FORTY-EIGHT
Stacey took a few deep breaths as she walked towards the home of Bethany and Gabriel Denton. There was no part of what she was going to say to Beth that was going to offer her comfort.
The woman must have seen her coming down the path as the door was opened before she had a chance to knock.
‘Have you found him?’ she asked, clasping her hands together.
Stacey shook her head as she stepped into Beth’s home.
Beth pointed towards the lounge, and Stacey followed her instruction. The sound of a radio station came from the kitchen where Beth had obviously been keeping herself busy.
‘Please sit,’ Beth instructed.
‘Thank you. We’ve had a couple of developments. None of which bring us any closer to finding Gabriel, but we have located his car.’
Beth sat forward as though this news was going to lead to something revelatory even though Stacey had tried to manage expectations before speaking.