Sidney Chambers and The Dangers of Temptation by James Runcie Page B

Wilkinson’s protestations, Danny had been all too aware of her infidelity.
    ‘Did you tell him?’ Sidney asked.
    ‘I didn’t need to. He witnessed how his mother behaved.’
    ‘Children often find their parents embarrassing.’
    Mike Wilkinson gave Sidney a weary look, as if he was too tired to spell the whole thing out. ‘It wasn’t just that.’
    ‘What was it then?’
    ‘He walked in on Babs and Pascoe. Came home early from school. Wasn’t feeling well. They were
in flagrante
; too busy to notice him. He ran away and came straight to me. I already knew what Barbara was up to and tried to calm Danny down,but it wasn’t much use. He said he was never going home again, which was complicated, as he was supposed to be at school and we had hopes that he was clever enough to go up to Oxford. That’s all gone now.’
    ‘So he stayed with you?’
    ‘Not for long. He was sixteen and his friend Tom had already left to make money in London. I confronted Barbara, told her that Danny wasn’t coming back and that everyone knew about her carrying on. I didn’t say that Danny had walked in on them because I didn’t want her making everything worse with a scene. I didn’t tell her where he was, either. She went mad and denied it all but I think that’s when she ended the relationship. I heard that Pascoe went to India and we all thought that was that, but then he returned and set up his cult.’
    ‘Which Danny eventually joined . . .’
    ‘It was either Tom Raven’s idea or his father’s. He probably offered a cut of the money. I think both boys knew the whole thing was a scam.’
    ‘But it involved living with his mother’s former lover.’
    ‘That was also his way of getting back at her.’
    ‘I think there may have been more to it than that,’ said Sidney.
    ‘I’m not sure if I understand the psychology of it all or even if I want to,’ the dentist replied.
    ‘Is there anything more?’
    ‘I don’t think so. There comes a time when you just have to let your boy find his way in life. He turned away from us both, his mum and me, just as we had rejected each other. Barbara was impossible to live with, as I am sure you can imagine.Then she got it into her head that I was having an affair with my assistant – something that was plainly untrue – and I just couldn’t stand it any more. I let her believe it and I left them both. Selfish, I know. But you don’t want to hear about all this. I should get on. Don’t leave it so long next time. There’s enough pain in the world without your teeth adding to the sum of human misery.’
    ‘I’m sorry to have asked so many questions, Mr Wilkinson. Actually I can feel the sedative wearing off. Do you keep a supply of it at home?’
    ‘Yes, but it’s strictly controlled, as I am sure you know.’
    ‘And none of it has gone missing recently?’
    ‘Not as far as I am aware. If you are suggesting that I’ve either given some to my son or he has stolen from me then you are mistaken. It’s more likely to be his mother’s sleeping tablets.’
    ‘That would involve going back home and getting them.’
    ‘It wouldn’t be hard to do that without her noticing.’
    ‘And if any had disappeared then your wife should have told us.’
    ‘She may have decided that you didn’t need to know. Babs likes her little games. She can be quite cunning. I think that’s where Danny gets it from.’
    ‘You mean that both mother and son are capable of deception?’
    ‘I don’t know, Mr Archdeacon. There are times when I don’t know who anyone is any more. So many people spend their lives trying to become someone they were never intended to be. I try to concentrate on my job and earning enough money for a roof over my head, a car that works anda decent holiday twice a year. It’s simpler that way and it leads to less trouble.’
    ‘Have you seen your son in hospital?’
    ‘Of course. I do care about him. It’s been a difficult time.’
    ‘It has. I’m sorry.’
    The