Chapter 5
Maria Chapman moved along the aisles of chairs in the busy windowless community hall and took her place alongside the other people who had come to hear John Rhodes speak. At the front, there was a raised platform that acted as a stage with a long table set back near the back wall. The audience included a wide span of ages, races, and gender, a typical selection of a London community.
An Afro-Caribbean man and a woman went and sat down at the table, as a white-headed figure adjusted a microphone.
The murmur of conversation in the hall hushed.
“Good evening, gentlemen and ladies,” he said and gave the audience a warm smile and applause rose through the small hall.
He held his hand up. “Thank you for coming, everyone. Today’s meeting is a forum, not just for me but everyone her
