The Guardians of Truth: A Jake Scott Mystery (Jake Scott Mystery Series Book 2) Read online

  ACCLAIM FOR AWARD WINNING AUTHOR

  BARRY FINLAY

  THE GUARDIANS OF TRUTH

  A JAKE SCOTT MYSTERY

  “Perfectly executed, well written, thoroughly and utterly enjoyable; I really do hope Jake doesn’t stop scratching that journalistic itch, because I’d love to spend another few hundred pages in his company.” – Cath ‘N’ Kindle Book Reviews

  SEARCHING FOR TRUTH

  A JAKE SCOTT MYSTERY

  “Searching For Truth is an intriguing whodunit that embraces much more psychological depth than most mysteries and will have readers both guessing and involved to the end.” – D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

  THE BURDEN OF DARKNESS

  A MARCIE KANE AND NATHAN HARRIS THRILLER

  “Thoroughly captivating, ingenious, and full of heart-pounding suspense, this is an action thriller done right…” – The Prairies Book Review

  NEVER SO ALONE

  A NATHAN HARRIS THRILLER NOVELLA

  “Brilliant. Would be an amazing film!” – Goodreads reader

  REMOTE ACCESS

  AN INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL THRILLER

  “While grounded in reality, Remote Access is a must-read with a singular sense of escapism rare in a political thriller.” – BestThrillers.com

  A PERILOUS QUESTION

  AN INTERNATIONAL THRILLER AND CRIME NOVEL

  “Written with a compassionate, knowledgeable voice, the book is an excellent story of mystery and intrigue.” – RECOMMENDED by the US Review of Books

  THE VANISHING WIFE

  AN ACTION-PACKED CRIME THRILLER

  “The pace grabs hold. Whether the mild-mannered accountant Mason Seaforth could actually pull off what’s at stake depends on the colour, the energy and dialogue of the story telling. The Vanishing Wife is convincing.” – Donald Graves, Canadian Crime Reviews

  KILIMANJARO AND BEYOND

  A LIFE-CHANGING JOURNEY

  “The book reads like a journal and the writing is warm, familiar and humorous. ‘Kilimanjaro and Beyond, A Life-Changing Journey,’ will challenge all who read it to consider how they too can make a difference, not only for others, but for themselves as well.” – Reader Views

  I GUESS WE MISSED THE BOAT

  A TRAVEL MEMOIR

  “This is an exhilarating read.” -– Grady Harp, Amazon Hall of Fame reviewer

  Published by Keep On Climbing Publishing

  Copyright ©Barry Finlay 2022

  (613) 240-6953

  [email protected]

  www.barry-finlay.com

  No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher or, in case of photocopying or other reprographic copying, a license from Access Copyright (The Canadian Licensing Agency) 320-56 Wellesley Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2S3

  Cataloguing data available at Library and Archives Canada.

  ISBN: 978-1-7771395-4-4 Paperback

  ISBN: 978-1-7771395-5-1 eBook

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  CONTENTS

  Acknowledgements

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-One

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Chapter Forty-Five

  Chapter Forty-Six

  Chapter Forty-Seven

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  Chapter Fifty

  Chapter Fifty-One

  Chapter Fifty-Two

  Chapter Fifty-Three

  Chapter Fifty-Four

  Chapter Fifty-Five

  Chapter Fifty-Six

  Chapter Fifty-Seven

  Chapter Fifty-Eight

  Chapter Fifty-Nine

  Chapter Sixty

  Epilogue

  Questions to Start your Book Club Discussion

  About the Author

  Books by Barry Finlay

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  It has been eleven years since my first book was published, and I have come to realize that one of the most enjoyable aspects of writing for me is the research required before actually sitting down to create the story. It involves internet searches and speaking with subject matter experts. Each book has allowed me to broaden my knowledge about subjects I previously knew little or nothing about, thanks to the people who have helped me. In-depth research was required once again as The Guardians of Truth follows retired reporter Jake Scott on the trail of various clues to find a missing friend.

  The research for this book delved into the subject of cults. It is estimated that hundreds of thousands join a cult each year. According to Psychology Today, “No one joins a cult; they are recruited by systematic social influence processes.” It’s a fascinating, yet terrifying, subject.

  As part of my research, there are various experts I lean on for advice. I’m fortunate to have a paramedic in the family that I can go to for guidance. Thank you once again to Doug Finlay for answering my questions about first responders. Various members of Ottawa Police Service and the Ontario Provincial Police generously gave me their time, but I especially want to thank Staff Sergeant Cory Robertson who educated me about hostage negotiation. Of course, any errors or embellishments in paramedic practices or police procedure are mine.

  Once the research is done and the writing starts, it takes many people to bring a book to fruition and I owe a big thank you to each of those involved in the process.

  Katie Baker did an amazing job of editing, and it is a better book as a result. Mirna Gilman at Books Go Social designed the cover, which I think nicely reflects the feel of the book. Chrissy Hobbs at Indie Publishing Group performed her magic with formatting. I am grateful to all of you.

  I deeply appreciate my readers who keep me writing. The reviews and feedback provided are always appreciated. Before the book is ever published, the members of my Advanced Reader Copy team provide valuable feedback. For that I am grateful.

  For those who help by telling your friends and family abou
t my books, thank you very much. Making people aware of a book among the millions available is always a challenge and I appreciate everyone who helps.

  Finally, a special thank you to my wife Evelyn, who always reads the earliest versions of the manuscript, and provides the invaluable comments, encouragement, and inspiration to keep me going.

  CHAPTER ONE

  SHE PLANNED TO expose him for the fraud he was. Nothing about him was real.

  It couldn’t be.

  She had witnessed Julian’s diatribes for weeks now. At first, he had her convinced. His sincerity. The conviction with which he spoke. The vivid neon-like blue eyes and the charismatic voice. All very compelling. But now she was positive of the identity and motivations of the man who held over 100 followers in the palm of his hand. He was the worst kind of fraud.

  Cassandra Wright, or Cassie, as her friends called her, peered at her companion who drove the car. He stared straight ahead; his countenance was as inscrutable as a Buddha’s. She studied the chiseled features of Robert Weatherby’s handsome face and recalled how they had met a few weeks ago, and what had led them here.

  Cassie first became aware of Robert while idly skimming profiles on a dating site. She was attracted to his photo, but she also learned that he practiced psychology. She contacted him and they dated a few times. She eventually sought his professional help to stave off feelings of depression. The sessions started with Cassie detailing her anxiety and sleepless nights. Over time, he seemed to help her, and her attraction to him deepened. Cassie thought Weatherby sensed the connection, too, so she wanted to take things to the next level.

  She wore her prettiest dress, emphasizing her shapely figure, for a dinner date. They ordered exquisite steaks with lobster at a high-end restaurant and, halfway through, Weatherby leaned in and asked about her religious beliefs. She informed him she would describe herself as “uncertain.” Since she enjoyed being with him and didn’t want to risk offending on the topic, especially that night when she had other plans, she let him lead the conversation.

  He continued by describing an organization with a charismatic leader that met every Monday night, or more frequently if deemed necessary, on a farm west of the city. He called the organization the Guardians of Truth. The attendees thought organized religion had let them down and that their freedoms were under assault from repeated intrusions by the government. Simply put, they had become disenchanted with the institutions and people they had trusted. To Cassie, they sounded like a dissatisfied group of people looking for something better, which she had to admit defined her. Left to raise a teenage daughter on her own, life had been a struggle lately. She worked in a dead-end government job. Recently, despondency had settled over her, so this might be what she needed.

  She laughingly suggested the organization sounded like a cult, which produced a frown and an immediate defensive denial from her companion. The night she had planned fizzled out, as Robert became more and more insistent that she should attend a Guardians of Truth meeting. The kindness and gentleness he had displayed seemed to develop into an obsession to convince Cassie to attend a session. He assured her it would be the answer to everything she needed.

  He described the group’s arduous admittance process. Only certain people and true believers were allowed to join. Cassie’s curiosity rose. What did they truly believe in? And why were they so secretive? Robert had told her how they vetted everyone through a questionnaire, and that she would have to sign a non-disclosure agreement, or NDA. She ignored the red flags and agreed to go through the process to please him.

  Eventually, she passed the screening and Robert delightedly invited her to an assembly, as Julian referred to them. Any hint of a romantic connection with Robert evaporated like moisture on a hot sidewalk, as he insisted Cassie’s treatment must remain professional.

  They had traveled in silence as they left the suburbs of Ottawa, Canada’s capital, and headed west. As they drove, the wipers fought to clear the windshield from a torrential downpour that had occurred sporadically throughout the day.

  The weight of the silence in the car wore Cassie down.

  “Aren’t you going to say anything?” she asked.

  Even in the vehicle’s gloom, a crimson tide washed over Robert’s face from the neck up. He grew angry when Cassie had warned him as they left Ottawa that she intended to speak with Julian. She had considered it for weeks but wanted to be sure. Tonight was the night, but had she miscalculated by revealing her suspicions about the man to Robert? She told him she planned to expose Julian as a fraud and demanded a face-to-face meeting with him. Robert wouldn’t have any of it. His eyes narrowed, and his voice sounded flat and threatening.

  “You’re making a big mistake. Why can’t you let it go? Julian has given so many people hope and will ultimately save them from what’s coming. You can be one of the saved ones. I’m begging you not to do this.”

  Cassie’s frustration mounted. She realized she didn’t know Robert as well as she had thought. “Save them from what? A comet that’s going to miss earth by millions of miles? All people have to do is follow the science to realize it’s all BS. How many people have died because he told them vaccines implanted microchips in their bloodstreams? How many more people will he kill because of his stupid ideas? Besides, I’m confident the name he uses is fake. I think I know who he is, and if I’m right, he’s nothing but a charlatan.”

  “You signed an NDA,” Robert growled.

  “So what? It’s worth nothing if Julian is doing something illegal. At the very least, he’s doing something unethical. The NDA means nothing.”

  The rest of the ride passed in stony silence until they arrived at their destination, where cars sat scattered like marbles in the farmyard and into the adjoining field. The recent heavy rain left the ground spongy, so stones picked up by the tires ticked against the undercarriage of the car as they skidded through the mud to a vacant spot. They entered a dilapidated barn, but the outside appearance foretold nothing about the interior. A red carpet on natural stone tiles ushered the attendees inside. Chandeliers hung on long wires from the roof. Spinning ceiling fans cooled the room, and rows of occupied oak benches faced the front, where a red velvet curtain separated a raised stage from the gathering waiting patiently for something to happen.

  Cassie and Robert asked a couple to squeeze together, so they could sit in the only space available. The couple nodded but stared straight ahead as they shoved over without a word. As usual, an unnerving silence hung in the room. At precisely seven o’clock, the lights dimmed, and the silence shattered like glass hit by a boulder, as raucous rock music blared from two enormous black meshed speakers on either side of a raised stage. The performance was about to begin. Theatrical fog streamed from machines under the stage, obscuring the front of the room. The bench vibrated under Cassie from the music’s thundering bass, and the crowd stirred. Cassie did an inward eye roll at the spectacle.

  The front of the raised platform remained dark, save for one strategically placed brilliant spotlight that created an eerie shimmering glow in the remaining dry ice cloud at the center of the stage. The music stopped, and the crowd quieted until the man of the hour magically appeared and started speaking. His sonorous voice soothed the masses. It surprised Cassie when Robert wandered away for a few minutes. Perhaps he went to the bathroom, Cassie thought.

  She examined the faces staring at the front of the room. They hung on every word, enraptured by the man speaking. But something about the man had always bothered her. She listened closely again, as she had done for a few weeks. The face didn’t match the familiar voice, yet she knew this man. She recalled her shock when she had recognized something at one assembly as his sleeve inadvertently rode up on his arm. It confirmed her suspicions.

  When Robert returned, Cassie stared at the man on stage, even though his gloomy dissertation barely registered. As he wound down, she glanced again at the attendees. Some closed their eyes, others wrung their hands, while still others raised thei
r arms to the ceiling, their lips silently acknowledging every wonderful word Julian spoke. While she didn’t consider herself an expert by any means, she understood people brought together by anxiety and lack of trust could be led to a common goal, almost like hypnosis. That’s what was happening here. Robert interrupted her reverie when he reached for her hand and squeezed it, until she pulled away from his painful grip.

  The room became stifling hot. Some attendees appeared to be on the verge of fainting. Young women passed through the crowd offering bottled water at seven dollars a pop. Then, Julian masterfully lowered his voice to a medium level, saving the best for last.

  “We can all be saved if you will continue to support building the underground bunker here on our farm. You will be the ones to carry forth a civilization that can start over and make things right. We need young people to ensure civilization continues. We need older people who lived their lives when things were good to teach the young people.” Then, with his voice barely above a whisper, he said, “You are the chosen few. Give everything you can. We don’t have a lot of time, folks. God has spoken to me directly and Doomsday is coming. We’ll have another meeting on Sunday to discuss it more. We can all be saved if you give generously. An underground bunker will keep us safe from the catastrophic event that will end the world as we know it.”

  The crowd murmured, and some shouts echoed through the enclosed space. The same young women who sold the extravagant bottled water passed through the audience again, and the sound of whirring credit and debit card machines filled the air as attendees poured their life savings into Julian’s words. When a pretty teenager of about seventeen arrived in front of Cassie and Robert, Cassie shook her head, which caused the teenager to frown.

  “Don’t you want to be saved?” she breathed.

  Cassie replied, “Save yourself by getting out of here.” The girl gasped and moved on.

  When the spectacle ended, and the crowd filed out of the building, Cassie turned to Robert and said, “I’ve had enough. I’m going backstage to confront this fraud.”

  Robert’s chest heaved with a heavy sigh. “Wait,” he intoned. He sat expressionless with his arms crossed as the last of the crowd made their way through the exit. Cassie glanced around, thinking that only the two of them remained. She didn’t see Robert motion to someone behind them. He said icily to Cassie, “I’ll tell him you want to meet with him. You wait here.”