The Revelation Room (The Ben Whittle Investigation Series Book 1) by Mark Tilbury Page A

hands gripping the
levers.
    ‘You climbed that mountain, son. You stood on the summit and
you planted your flag right in God’s face.’
    Ben didn’t think he’d reached a summit. He worked in an
office at home and made Airfix models in his spare time. His social life
consisted solely of youth club. Two stars for being a good boy, a big fat zero
for enterprise.
    ‘You deserve a medal for what you’ve achieved.’
    ‘I bet you say that to all the kids,’ Ben said, in his best
Old Joe voice.
    Pastor Tom’s eyes sparkled deep blue beneath the shadow of
his trilby. ‘I know you’re sweet on Madeline, son. That’s why I know you’ll do
your best to look out for her.’
    A blush crept up Ben’s neck. ‘Maddie’s a good friend.’
    Tom smiled. ‘When I was in Rwanda, I met the most wonderful
people you could ever wish to meet. They had nothing. They were decimated by
war, poverty and disease. But do you know the one thing they all had in
abundance?’
    ‘Each other?’
    ‘Apart from that?’
    Ben shook his head.
    ‘They had hope, son. And hope is the rope that will get you up the mountain.’
    ‘Do you reckon they ever got up the mountain?’
    Tom took a deep breath. ‘I hope so, son. I hope so with all
my heart.’
    Maddie returned with two glasses of lemonade and handed one
to each man. ‘We’ve made real headway today.’
    Tom drained half his drink in one draught. ‘And now you need
to stand back and take stock. It’s one thing agreeing to join a cult, quite
another getting mixed up in one. They’re dangerous.’
    Maddie put her hands on her hips. ‘We won’t get very far without getting mixed up with them.’
    Pastor Tom removed his hat. ‘This isn’t a game, Madeline.’
    ‘Neither was Rwanda. But it didn’t stop you and Mum staying
out there, did it?’
    ‘That’s differ—’
    ‘What was it you always told me? Face evil. Confront it.
Never turn a blind eye. Wasn’t that what you said?’
    Tom squinted at his daughter. ‘Yes, but—’
    ‘Who was it told me it’s wrong to turn a blind eye and just
walk away?’ Maddie persisted.
    Tom put his glass down on a chair. His lips flat lined. The
warmth vanished from his eyes. ‘I said those things, Madeline, because they’re
true.’
    ‘So what’s the problem with me wanting to help Ben, then?’
    ‘Nothing. Nothing at all. I just don’t want you rushing
headlong into something you can’t control. You need to have a proper plan of
action.’
    ‘I know that. I’m not stupid.’
    ‘You’re not immune to getting hurt.’
    ‘I survived the attack on the village in Rwanda.’
    ‘God can’t always be there to look out for you, Madeline.’
    Maddie looked at Ben. ‘You’ll look after me, won’t you?’
    Ben held up a hand. ‘Please don’t fight.’
    Maddie’s eyes flashed in the sunlight. ‘We’re not fighting.
We’re discussing.’
    ‘I don’t want you to come,’ Ben lied.
    Maddie looked at him as if he’d just suggested she jump off
a cliff. ‘Tough. I’m coming with you whether you like it or not.’
    ‘Then I won’t go.’
    Maddie gawked at him. ‘So you’re going to give up just like
that? Just because—’
    Ben stamped his foot and then felt instantly childish. ‘I
don’t want to cause trouble. I’ve had enough trouble with my own family. This
isn’t your problem. It’s mine.’
    Pastor Tom turned to Ben. ‘It’s all right, son. If Madeline
wants to go, then she goes with my blessing. I’ve told you that. All I ask is
that we sit down together and work out a proper plan.’
    Maddie nodded. ‘Okay, that sounds good.’
    Ben wasn’t so sure. How did you plan for the unknown? They
didn’t have the first idea about the cult. Were they armed? Were they
brainwashed? ‘And what if it all goes wrong?’
    Maddie grinned. ‘I’ve got a black belt in Taekwondo.’
    ‘That won’t be much use against a gun.’
    ‘Then we’ll just have to outsmart them. I could twist Marcus
around my little finger if I