The Coroner’s Court descended into chaos in less than a second.
In the public gallery, chairs were scraped back as people stood up. The reporters were shouting, ‘What did she say?’ Mrs Challinor was banging her gavel and demanding silence. Jenny Oldfield was waving her arms in the air. The witnesses were asking each other what had happened. Even Mr Ryder had turned around, staring hard at the person who claimed to be his daughter.
The only person who stood still, quiet and self-possessed, was Jane Ryder, a slight smile perched on her lips.
Ridpath moved forward quickly. The woman’s hair was a different colour and she was much older, but perhaps there was the same smile he had seen in the photo of Jane Ryder, the same mischievous glint in the eyes.
Gradually, Mrs Challinor regained control of her court. ‘Jenny, can you please swear this woman in as a witness.’
‘Now, Coroner?’
‘Immediately, Jenny. Ridpath, please escort the witness.’
Ridpath gestured for the woman to step forward and take a seat in the witness box. She walked with her head held high, striding elegantly to the chair with her back straight. He stood next to her as Jenny came with the oath cards and a Bible.
Without any hesitation, the woman laid her hand on the Bible and said, ‘I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. As God is my witness.’
Mrs Challinor waited for the buzz around the court to subside again before asking, ‘Could you tell the court your name?’
The answer when it came was clear and confident. ‘My name is Jane Ryder, but for over eleven years, since 2009, I have been living under the assumed name of Barbara Abbott.’
Ridpath remembered this was the name Adam Jones had given him. Had the man been telling the truth the whole time?
‘You are Jane Ryder?’ Mrs Challinor asked, a note of doubt in her voice.
‘Correct. The surname was given to me by my adopted parents, James and Maureen Ryder. I believe my birth name was Bennett, but I’m not certain.’
James Ryder stared at the woman in the dock, his mouth open slightly.
‘Why should we believe you are Jane Ryder? Nothing has been heard from her since she disappeared in 2009.’
‘What can I tell you to make you believe me? I went to the Mad Ferret Festival and decided on that day, June 12, I was never going back home.’
‘Why?’
‘I met somebody I loved and who loved me. I met my God.’ A slight pause, and a glance up to the ceiling before she continued. ‘I’d been unhappy for a long time. Meeting him was the turning point in my life. For the first time, I understood what I needed to do to serve God.’
‘I’m sorry, could you explain?’
‘I met Him. Adam explained to me that to truly serve God we had to throw off the shackles of the past in whatever way we could. We had to become his handmaidens, serving only Him and His wishes, not bound by earthly attachments to parents, friends, money or possessions.’
‘Adam?’
‘The leader of our group. Our guardian, our guide.’
‘Adam Jones?’ asked Ridpath.
The woman nodded. ‘Through Adam we could see God, be part of His creation. Follow His path, obey his laws and His commands.’
‘You know this man, Ridpath?’
‘I do, Coroner. He’s currently serving ten years in Strangeways for the abduction of a young girl.’
‘She broke our law, she broke God’s law.’
‘Jane?’
James Ryder’s voice was weak and uncertain.
For the first time, the woman turned to her adoptive father. ‘I’m truly sorry for not contacting you, James, for not letting you know what I was doing or why I was doing it. But I had to cut off all my contacts, it was the only way I could be free to serve Him.’
The old man stood up slowly and staggered towards the witness box with his arms held out. ‘Jane,’ he whispered.