Dance, Kellogg and TJ were in her office, when Michael O’Neil stepped inside. He shook the FBI agent’s hand, and they introduced themselves.
“No more hits on the forensics from Moss Landing,” he said, “but we’re hopeful about the Pastures of Heaven and vineyards. We’ve got health department people sampling products too. In case he’s adulterated them with acid.” He explained to Kellogg about the trace found in the Thunderbird during Pell’s escape.
“Any reason why he’d do that?”
“Diversion. Or maybe he just wants to hurt people.”
“Physical evidence isn’t my expertise, but sounds like a good lead.” Dance noted that the FBI agent had been looking aside as O’Neil gave him the details, concentrating hard as he memorized them.
Then Kellogg said, “It might be helpful to give you some insights into the cult mentality. At MVCC
we’ve put together a general profile, and I’m sure some or all of it applies to Pell. I hope it’ll help you formulate a strategy.”
“Good,” O’Neil said. “I don’t think we’ve ever seen anybody quite like this guy.”
Dance’s initial skepticism about a cult expert’s usefulness had faded now that it was clear Pell had an agenda they couldn’t identify. She wasn’t sure that the killer was, in fact, like any other perp she’d come across.
Kellogg leaned against her desk. “First, like the name of my unit suggests, we consider the members of a cult victims, which they certainly are. But we have to remember that they can be just as dangerous as the leader. Charles Manson wasn’t even present at the Tate-La Bianca killings. It was the members who committed the murders.
“Now, in speaking of the leader, I’ll tend to say ‘he,’ but women can be just as effective and as ruthless as men. And often they’re more devious.
“So here’s the basic profile. A cult leader isn’t accountable to any authority except his own. He’s always in charge one hundred percent. He dictates how the subjects spend every minute of their time. He’ll assign work and keep them occupied, even if it’s just busywork. They should never have any free time to think independently.
“A cult leader creates his own morality—which is defined solely as what’s good for him and what will perpetuate the cult. External laws are irrelevant. He’ll make the subjects believe it’s morally right to do what he tells them—or what he suggests. Cult leaders are masters at getting their message across in very subtle ways, so that even if they’re caught on a wiretap their comments won’t incriminate them specifically. But the subjects understand the shorthand.
“He’ll polarize issues and create conflicts based on them versus us, black and white. The cult is right and anyone who’s not in the cult is wrong and wants to destroy them.
“He won’t allow any dissent. He’ll take extreme views, outrageous views, and wait for a subject to question him—to test loyalty. Subjects are expected to give everything to him—their time, their money.”
Dance recalled the prison conversation, the $9,200. She said, “Sounds like the woman is financing Pell’s whole escape.”
Kellogg nodded. “They’re also expected to make their bodies available. And hand over their children sometimes.
“He’ll exercise absolute control over the subjects. They have to give up their pasts. He’ll give them new names, something he chooses. He’ll tend to pick vulnerable people and play on their insecurities. He looks for loners and makes them abandon their friends and family. They come to see him as a source of support and nurture. He’ll threaten to withhold himself from them—and that’s his most powerful weapon.
“Okay, I could go on for hours but that gives you a rough idea of Daniel Pell’s thought processes.”
Kellogg lifted his hands. He seemed like a professor. “What does all this mean for us? For one thing, it says something about his vulnerabilities. It’s tiring to be a cult leader. You have to monitor your members constantly, look for dissension, eradicate it as soon as you find it. So when external influences exist—like out on the street—they’re particularly wary. In their own environments, though, they’re more relaxed.
And therefore more careless and vulnerable.
“Look at what happened at that restaurant. He was constantly monitoring, because he was in public. If he’d been in his own house, you probably would’ve gotten him.
“The other implication is this: The accomplice, that woman, will believe Pell is morally right and that he’s justified in killing. That means two things: We won’t get any help from her, and she’s as dangerous as he is. Yes, she’s a victim, but that doesn’t mean she won’t kill you if she has a chance…. Well, those are some general thoughts.”
Dance glanced at O’Neil. She knew he had the same reaction as hers: impressed with Kellogg’s knowledge of his specialty. Maybe, for once, Charles Overby had made a good decision, even if his motive was to cover his ass.
Still, though, thinking of what he’d told them about Pell, she was dismayed at what they were up against.
She had firsthand knowledge of the killer’s intelligence, but if Kellogg’s profile was even partially correct the man seemed a particularly dangerous threat.
Dance thanked Kellogg, and the meeting broke up—O’Neil headed for the hospital to check on Juan Millar, TJ to find a temporary office for the FBI agent.
Dance pulled out her mobile and found Linda Whitfield’s phone number in the recent-calls log. She hit redial.
“Oh, Agent Dance. Have you heard anything new?”
“No, I’m afraid not.”
“We’ve been listening to the radio…. I heard you almost caught him yesterday.”
“That’s right.”
More muttering. Prayer again, Dance assumed.
“Ms. Whitfield?”
“I’m here.”
“I’m going to ask you something and I’d like you to think about it before you answer.”
“Go on.”
“We’d like you to come here and help us.”
“What?”she whispered.