Page 78 of The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels
OM:Not a hair. Smooth, well spoken, he’s a good-looking man. Wearing a sweat top and jeans. He looks at me with these piercing eyes and smiles. [He sighs, you both pause for a moment. Clink of cutlery. EC] So I say … I say to him … [He keeps hesitating. EC]
AB:What’s wrong?
OM:Nothing. I say, ‘What were you thinking? Sacrificing a baby, it’s madness—’
AB:Ol, he’s inside for the murder of Harpinder Singh. The baby was rescued. It’s fine.
OM:I know, I know. But you didn’t see his eyes, Mand. Anyway, he told me I’m the focus of someone’s negative energy. There’s someone who wants me dead. And they’ll keep on until I am. Not violent, he said, but drip drip. Drip drip. Mand, I didn’t say a word about the mad squaddie. How could he possibly know about that?
AB:He’s a con man. A narcissistic psychopath. He convinced three men to kill an infant, and they almost did. When that failed, heconvinced them to kill themselves, then mutilated their bodies. He’s deranged, yet he’s spent his entire life fitting in with normal people. He knows how to behave and he knows what makes other people vulnerable. Notice he turned the conversation round toyouas soon as you asked about his crimes. Absolutely classic behaviour. If only I’d been there.
OM:Maybe, maybe, but it doesn’t explain how he knew.Youknow. I’ve been telling you for weeks. Thereissomeone targeting me with negative energy and believe me the mad squaddiewants me dead. Not just that. It’s word for word how he describes one of his torture techniques. I won’t … it includes dripping petrol into people’s eyes. [You go to speak, but he interrupts. EC] So I said, ‘Yeah, I know someone wants me dead. How can I stop them?’ He said, ‘You’re not responsible for them. They’re on a journey and events have to play out. Your journey collides with theirs. Like planets aligning in the sky for a short time, then they move away, each in their own predestined orbit. Nothing you candobut accept it.’
AB:It’s obvious what his game is. Using up your visit with verbal shit. What did he say about his conviction? Did he make an admission of guilt or mention new evidence?
OM:He said … something … he didn’t do it. Other stuff. Then he said nowhere is safe. Nowhere’s safe now. That’s exactly what Jonah said. How did he know that?
AB:We don’t know for sure Jonah doesn’t correspond with Gabriel. They could be fucking with you.
OM:With us.
AB:Look, our books will dredge up his crime and what hedoesn’tneed is anyone reminding the public how dangerous he is. Ol, you can see what he’s doing, right? I’m sorry I couldn’t get in with you because I’ve spoken to people like him before. It’s all about control.
OM:He has the face of an angel, Mand. I can say this to you, because you know me and that it’s an observation, no more. But some people have looks that are just … Elvis Presley: face of an angel. Jodie Comer. Michaela Coel. Some people just have it.
AB:They have symmetrical faces, clear skin and other things the western eye perceives as genetically attractive. Failing that, a good photographer and Photoshop. It doesn’t reflect anything inside. It certainly doesn’t mean he’s an angel. [I can’t believe you two are having this convo. EC]
OM:With him, it did. His demeanour matched his looks. As I sat there opposite him, I believed he was an archangel.
AB:He’s an arch manipulator. [There’s a pause while you both chew and clink your glasses. EC]
OM:Is that recording?
AB:Let’s see. [This is what you play back. So, there are two phones recording this convo. And you’re recording without him knowing … again. EC]
OM:You won’t believe what he’s capable of. The things he did in Iraq. To his fellow squaddies, this is. Long before he even got hold of an enemy soldier. Bullying doesn’t come close.
AB:He admitted to it?
OM:Off the record and only to me. I know why, now. If it gets out, he’ll know where it comes from. And I’ll be next.
AB:Yep, that’s fine. Why would it not work when you were with Gabriel? I have to go. Meeting someone tonight. Late tonight. On a path behind a pub. They say they can help find the baby.
OM:Great. Why so late?
AB:Whoever they are, they’re super-paranoid. It may be a great lead, it may be a dead end—
OM:Be careful, Mand.
AB:Like you fucking care, you bullshitter—
OM:I care—
AB:Yeah, about your book!
[Ends abruptly as you walk away. He did sound kind of concerned, Mand. EC]
Email exchange between Oliver Menzies and spiritual counsellor Paul Cole, 12 July 2021:
