Chapter Two

The following morning felt weird. Nick was the first to emerge this time as he walked into the living room. Les on the couch with his eyes fixated on the front door as if he was expecting somebody to barge through it. Nick just shook his head as he thought how he was the only sane adult in the house. Les Battersby is not the type of man you really can confide in.

"Look, Les. You're probably worn out and confused...Believe it when I say I am as well. And I saw this thing progress from the ground up. Last night was just a taste of what I've been putting up with for months. Leanne's not herself" Nick attempted to explain as he sat on the chair opposite the couch.

"I don't understand why the girls have fallen out" Les admitted as he looked at him for answers.

"It's over Rowan. He's a con artist and Leanne is the only person who can't see it. You remember Zoe?"

"Zoe?"

"Yeah. The girl who lost the baby and went away with that group? It's like it's happening again. I never thought it would happen to me and to Leanne...Rowan is like some sort of cult leader"

"Why haven't you battered him yet then?"

"Because I don't wanna go to prison for that scumbag. Not when I have a son still in school, Les. And battering him will only push Leanne further into his grasp. Do you understand?"

"No I don't. Cult leader? What is he doing that makes you say that?"

"He's doing lots of things. He's making her isolated from everybody, including Toyah and I. Even Simon left because she wasn't here. She's paying stupid amounts of money for worthless things, things like vitamins and online courses about reality coding. He's making her tell him things she wouldn't even tell me or Toyah"

"I'll talk to her"

"You can try"

Nick expected a response but Les just got up and went towards Leanne's bedroom. He gave a loud knock and warned her that he was coming in. He slammed open the door and switched on the light. Leanne suddenly getting up from her bed like she was a child, he use to do this when she in trouble as a child. Just barge in and demand they talk about the problem so they can resolve it. He sat on the bed and sat there musing for a few moments. Leanne got on her dressing gown and slippers, still half-asleep.

"Go on then. What did Nick tell ya?" Leanne asked as she crossed her arms.

"He told me that you have been giving Rowan lots of money"

"No. I've been giving 'The Institute' some money for their services. It's no different than counselling. He and Toyah have just been making a mountain out of a molehill"

"Alright. If it's so above board. Show me the leaflets and the rates...Show me everything they have given you"

"Well I can't show you everything. Most of it's online but I can show you the leaftlets" Leanne paused as she opened the drawer and passed Les over the introduction leaftlets that she's been giving out lately..."It's all on there" Leanne added.

She watched as Les began to skim through it. It was all about 'The Institute' which included bits about reality coding, releasing negative energy and letting go of things from the past. The truth was that the leaftlet didn't really go into much detail and it made it sound twee.

"This sounds like some new-aged hippy dribble. Why are you paying for this? We would have laughed about this once" Les spoke up with his usual lack of tact.

"It's not dribble. It really works...That's how I found you again. Don't you see? We planned to be on that street that day and I found you because of that. Finding my dad after all these years. That's just part of me sending out positive signals to the world and it delivered"

"That was a coincidence"

"A happy coincidence that came from me being positive"

"How much are you spending on this, Leanne?"

"Depends. There's different levels...I'm only a beginner. Anyway, money is only an object. We never had much growing up and we were still happy. And I don't mind having less again to be happy"

"Are you happy?"

"Well I will be by the end of this when I'm at the top. I'm only just starting like I said, it's only been a few months. Things are already starting to look up for me...Please don't be like them, dad. You weren't there when I lost Oliver, you don't know what I went through" Leanne paused as he voice broke on the last sentences, tears came down her cheeks..."I just want to feel close to Oliver again"

Les put his arm out and she went for it as she sat besides him. He gave her a tight hug and she cried. Holding in his anger for his clearly heartbroken daughter's sake, he understood exactly what was going on now. This cult and Rown was taking advantage of his daughter when she was weak and vulnerable. He was angry at them but he wasn't going to let Leanne see it when she was in the lion's den still so to speak.

...

"Just let her do the leaftlets for now, Nick. Alright? Don't push it otherwise she will go. I'm going to look in on Chesney. Just let Leanne hand out her leaftlets for today" Les suggested as the two men left the flat together.

"Fine. Believe me, Les. I don't want a row with her"

Les just nodded as he went the opposite way. Wearing a pair of Nick's jeans and jumper as he had to borrow more clothes again. Les wandered through the street he once called home and paused as he stood across from his old house. He expected Chesney's rejection, anger and resentment. He didn't know what he could say to him but he really did think Cilla would have been there for him. He should have known better and he knows that as well. He braced himself as he walked across the cobbles and knocked on the Winter-Brown household. He heard shouting as the people inside argued who was getting the door and who ordered what parcel this time. The person to finally answer the door was Gemma.

"Yeah?" Gemma asked as she stood there looking at him.

"Is Chesney in?"

"Yeah" Gemma paused as she stepped away from the door and told Chesney..."Somebody wants you. No idea who it is though"

Les heard him mutter something back before walking towards the door. Chesney almost looked spooked as he looked at 'Uncle Les' (as he use to call him). Now much older and greyer.

"Sorry, I don't talk to losers anymore" Chesney uttered before slamming the door in his face.

Which made him step back. He could hear Chesney on the other side still and another more talking as Chesney told Gemma it was nobody. Nobody. Les was expecting a stronger word than 'loser' so he supposed that was better than expected. He went back across the road and kept looking back as if he expected him to open up again. He's come back to a mess. He wandered for a few minutes around the familiar street. Somebody finally did greet him.

"Les! No way...How are you doing?" Kirk asked with a big goofy smile. He hasn't changed at all.

"Oh God. Not you" Les replied in jest as he greeted his old friend back.

"What's wrong with me? Anyway, you're looking alright still. What are you back for?"

"Visiting. Well trying to...Chesney just called me a loser. And Toyah's gone to her mum's so can't say I'm feeling the love. Leanne meanwhile thinks I'm some sort of positive energy"

"Chesney was really upset when you left, mate"

"Well I wasn't exactly doing cartwheels about it. Cilla told me he hated me and didn't want to see me again. I lost my job as a roadie and I was lost...I've been on the streets to tell you the truth but don't go spreading that around"

"Well no. So didn't Chesney let you explain?"

"No. He just slammed the door in my face...And to be honest, I don't think the truth will help. Nobody likes it when people slag off their mum. Not even if it's Cilla. She wanted to divorce me and cut me out. Not the other way round...How was I suppose to know she left him for good?

"I told you she left-"

"Not forever though! Look, Kirk. I've been in a lot of bother on those streets and was put into prison a few times. I didn't want to drag Chesney down with me"

"I'll try and talk to him. He still listens to me. At least you still got Leanne...She thinks you're positive energy"

"More fool her. And don't go spreading that around neither"

...

Though the drama wasn't over yet. There was still one more secret to come out and just as Toyah was settled in her mother's flat. She got a knock on the door as the police were left an anonymous tip-off. Janice was left standing there confused as she had to buzz in the police. They have been told exactly where Toyah is and only one person has that information. Leanne. They arrested her on suspicion of murder. Her world had crumbled as she had to face her mother's confused expression.

"It's not how it sounds" Toyah managed to say to her mother before being taken downstairs to be taken to the nearest police station.

...

TBC