Sam Mullins

Molly Mountford was a well-traveled and discerning woman who belonged to the church. She remembers David Davis not only showing up, but showing up in a big way.

He'd show up at all the extracurricular church meetings and gatherings and seemed to be interested in becoming a leader in the community. And one day, this community took a big blow. One of the biggest employers in town was a huge chemical company. And around this time, they closed their plant in Harrogate. So suddenly, several of the congregants found themselves out of work.

He'd show up at all the extracurricular church meetings and gatherings and seemed to be interested in becoming a leader in the community. And one day, this community took a big blow. One of the biggest employers in town was a huge chemical company. And around this time, they closed their plant in Harrogate. So suddenly, several of the congregants found themselves out of work.

Then please do. Among the depressed figures gathered around the reverend's dining room table that night was Molly, whose husband's job was in jeopardy with the big layoff.

Then please do. Among the depressed figures gathered around the reverend's dining room table that night was Molly, whose husband's job was in jeopardy with the big layoff.

But as Molly watched Davis that night, essentially taking over the meeting, she saw clearly a quality in him that she'd been wary of from the time she set eyes on him.

But as Molly watched Davis that night, essentially taking over the meeting, she saw clearly a quality in him that she'd been wary of from the time she set eyes on him.

Molly Mountford, a real one.

Molly Mountford, a real one.

As Davis was giving a spiel that felt like he'd given many times before to this room of vulnerable people, Molly couldn't bite her tongue anymore.

As Davis was giving a spiel that felt like he'd given many times before to this room of vulnerable people, Molly couldn't bite her tongue anymore.

Davis's whole demeanor changed, and he glared at her.

Davis's whole demeanor changed, and he glared at her.

Molly left the others with a warning.

Molly left the others with a warning.

And she left. No one took Davis up on his offer that night. Apart from the one woman at church giving Albert side-eye, generally speaking, everything was going swimmingly for Albert Walker in Harrogate. Elaine and Ron were wrapped around his finger and had helped him turn his millions in Swiss banks into physical assets in the name of his corporation.

And she left. No one took Davis up on his offer that night. Apart from the one woman at church giving Albert side-eye, generally speaking, everything was going swimmingly for Albert Walker in Harrogate. Elaine and Ron were wrapped around his finger and had helped him turn his millions in Swiss banks into physical assets in the name of his corporation.

They were saving up money for their move to Canada, and he had seen not a single flag to indicate that the authorities had the faintest idea where he and Sheena were. He was like a hero from one of his thriller novels that he so loved reading. He had outsmarted everyone. But then, just before Christmas 1992, something happened that would change everything. Sheena got pregnant.

They were saving up money for their move to Canada, and he had seen not a single flag to indicate that the authorities had the faintest idea where he and Sheena were. He was like a hero from one of his thriller novels that he so loved reading. He had outsmarted everyone. But then, just before Christmas 1992, something happened that would change everything. Sheena got pregnant.

Suddenly, everything was in fast forward. He bought Elaine and Ron the tickets to Canada and all but shoved them out the door before she started to show. Merry Christmas. Goodbye. No time to sell your flat. No time to sell your business. I'll do it. You just need to leave right now. He needed to sell everything as fast as he could.