Page 19 of The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels
AB:Triple murder?
EBH:What almost happened to the baby. We blamed ourselves. [He sounds gutted. EC] But how were we to know?
AB:How does it feel now, to think people who warped Christian doctrine to the extent they almost committed a human sacrifice attended this church,yourchurch?
EBH:Christianity is meant to be inspiring. It’s inevitable that sooner or later it will inspire bad people. Or good people but in the wrong way. Personally, now, I think the religious elements were given rather too much prominence in what was essentially a small, isolated cult of vulnerable individuals.
AB:Was that it? Did they all believe they were heavenly beings? When you spoke to Gabriel, was he …
EBH:I think … this is going to sound …
AB:Go on. In your opinion did Gabriel believe he was an angel?
EBH:I don’t … I don’t know. But in those moments I spoke to him …Ibelieved he was. That’s the frightening thing. [I cut out your goodbyes. He sounds sad. EC]
WhatsApp messages between Oliver Menzies and me, 19 June 2021:
Oliver Menzies
Met Don yesterday. You had lunch with him Thursday.
Oliver Menzies
Did you get that?
Amanda Bailey
I got the message. It was a statement of fact that didn’t beg an answer.
Oliver Menzies
Whatever. What did you talk about?
Amanda Bailey
This and that. Me and Don go back a long way.
Oliver Menzies
FFS it’s ‘Don and I’. Back to The Informer days, right? Same. He knows Frank the friendly bobby.
Amanda Bailey
Don knows everyone.
Oliver Menzies
That’s the old school tie, the regimental blood-bond, special forces brotherhood and a career oiling his way round the Met.
Amanda Bailey
Didn’t realise he was ex special forces.
Oliver Menzies
Get some Scotch in him and he’ll hint at being the Ant Middleton of his day. Won’t talk about any operations, though. So either he’s got PTSD or he did FA. But he recommended me for the mad squaddie job, so he’s still got connections.
Amanda Bailey
