A Deadly Influence (Abby Mullen Thrillers, #1)

by Mike Omer

Once she got them talking, her main role was to keep them talking, and to listen. Good negotiators didn’t talk much at all. They mainly listened, prodding their subject to keep on going. Buying time. Gathering information. Looking for the things that would help influence the subject. “The way you wanted?” she repeated his words. It was the number one tool in any negotiator’s arsenal—mirroring. Repeat the subject’s words, demonstrate that you were listening, and make them elaborate more.

All a cult needed was a very devout following centered on one thing. Sometimes it was a religious belief. Sometimes it was a person. And yes, sometimes it could even be a diet.

When convincing anyone to change their point of view, silence was the most important tool. It gave them time to think about what was said, about the implications, hopes, and fears.

For as long as she remembered, birthdays had been a time for disappointments. Reality never matched her expectations.

Cult members were incredible liars because they believed everything they said. Even when they knew they were lying, they were certain they were doing it for a greater good, so the lie, in a way, became the truth.

Cults could recruit anyone. Rich, poor, educated, ignorant, religious, atheist, it didn’t matter. Coming from a loving, caring family didn’t protect you. Being skeptical didn’t protect you. Having firm beliefs didn’t protect you. The misconception that people held, that “it would never happen to me,” was the cults’ best asset. Because there was only one vaccination against cult recruitment—being on guard. And if you assumed you were already immune, if you underestimated cults, then you were at risk.

No matter how much regret you poured into a single moment, it never changed its outcome. Time moved only in one direction.

“My little sister was a biter. Now she’s a lawyer.” “Do you think it’s related?”