Who's who in this installment

DON JASON, 45

Joined Scientology: 1984

Left Sea Org: 1996

Career highlights: Chief officer of the Flag Service Organization, the church's primary entity in Clearwater.

Now: Lives and works in Chicago. A single dad, works as an operations manager for a company that sells roofing products and heating and air conditioning materials.

On how he tried to account for all variables to maximize his chance of escaping. "I had to think it all through. Like once I get to the dock, what's going to happen? They're going to come down the gangway. I know they will."

MAT PESCH, 52

Joined Scientology: 1977

Left Sea Org: 2005

Career highlights: Security director at the church base in California in the early 1980s; spent most of career in Clearwater, including a stint as captain of the Sea Org crew there.

Now: Married, lives in Clearwater. Sells used furniture.

"Somebody like Don Jason, when he takes off, you got probably 20 immediate staff members and the top of security pulled into it. . . . It's massive."