Page 5

By the time Jack returned from school, he was no wiser about the reason for attending.

Thomas was waiting for him in the kitchen, a slight smile on his face. “Well?”

“They’re…” Jack almost said idiots and changed his mind. That word would irritate Thomas, and they weren’t all idiots. Jack settled on, “Different.”

Thomas’s mouth twitched as if he could guess what Jack had been going to say. “This is the first time you’ve been with so many young men and women of your own age—and younger. There is no one there like you.”

Is that the lesson Thomas wanted him to learn? That he was the one who was different? Jack already knew that.

“Hungry?” Thomas asked.

“Yes.”

“Go and get changed and we can talk about your day while we eat.”

Jack did as he was told. He hung up his school clothes, put his shirt in the laundry basket and pulled on jeans and a grey T-shirt. He came back down to the kitchen and watched Thomas as he worked.

They usually shared meal prep but Thomas enjoyed cooking, so Jack was happy to let him do it.

He wasn’t sure how old Thomas was. It said something slightly different on all of his passports.

Early to mid-forties. His hair was always neatly cut, more grey than dark brown now, unless there was a need to dye it.

Jack was the same height. Six one. Thomas had once said to him he hoped Jack didn’t grow to be too tall.

Being ordinary was important. Not standing out was essential.

Thomas had bright blue eyes but wore lenses to change the colour when necessary.

Jack’s eyes were a nondescript grey. A darker grey than the boy who’d been on the verge of tears in the classroom.

Zeph. A name that stood out too. Jack hadn’t forgotten his birth name but it was never used.

Thomas had told him to forget it along with the first six years of his life, but Jack wanted to remember who he once was, what he’d escaped.

Jack and Thomas were listed in the most popular names for babies in the UK.

Thomas wasn’t Thomas’s real name though Jack had no idea what it was, nor whether he was British or not.

His guess was British because that was where they’d ended up after they left Russia.

A flight from Belarus to Poland, then onto London.

But Thomas had never confirmed his nationality.

Jack had met several of Thomas’s contacts over the last few years. Men and women who could supply whatever was needed. Papers, weapons, information. Jack thought if Thomas trusted them, he could too, but Thomas continually warned him no one could be trusted.

Thomas had sharp, angular cheek bones and thin lips.

He was wiry, strong and fit. Still stronger than Jack, though that would change.

Possibly in a shorter period of time than Thomas might think.

He was cleverer than Jack. That probably wouldn’t change.

They both spoke with the same neutral accent. Jack had worked hard on that.

“So…” Thomas asked. “Your day?”

Jack told him everything. By the time he’d done, salmon and salad were on the table.

“What have you learnt?”

Jack opened his mouth to say nothing more than I already knew apart from a bit of maths and physics, then pressed his lips together.

“Have you understood why I insisted on school?”

“Meeting and interacting with ordinary people.” That had to be the answer.

“I kept you out of school for too long. Selfishness that I excused as part caution and part pleasure. You’ve always been eager for knowledge and I enjoy teaching you.

To do the work you’re training to do, you have to understand people.

You need to predict the way they’ll react, yet not rely on that prediction. ”

“Studying psychology is no substitute for personal observation.”

“Exactly.”

He’d fed back to Thomas the exact words he’d used when they’d begun to discuss psychology.

“Where better to start than among those of your age, who are also learning more than academic subjects. How to be friends. When to show compassion or empathy, whether you feel it or not. Genuine sympathy is good, but not empathy. Empathy is unwise because caring too much is dangerous.”

Jack nodded.

“How to be kind. When to offer forgiveness. You already understand the need to stay calm and focused in difficult situations. Not everything is a matter of life or death. This is a chance to learn how to earn and show respect among your peers. And yes, I know you think you already know all this.”

“I’m not rolling my eyes.”

“You might as well be. You do know much of what I want you to see, but this is an opportunity to widen your horizons, expand your knowledge at a different level, one that you can only access at your age from your peers.”

“I get it.” He did.

“What did you think about Portia? She was the one who asked you to sit at her table at lunch?”

“Very beautiful. Envied by most of the girls. Lusted after by many of the boys. She was trying too hard to make an impression on me. Pushing her hair behind her ear was a tell. She has minions. Girls she can impress and control.”

“She has the two important requirements to be in charge of teenage girls.”

“Her looks and awareness of the power that being beautiful gives her.”

“Yes. You already know you’re attractive to the opposite sex.” Thomas shot him a glance. “Same sex too, probably. You’re good-looking. Too good-looking.”

“My only fault?” Jack raised his eyebrows. “Ah no, that would be lack of modesty.”

Thomas chuckled. “You’re too fond of peanut butter. I had to buy more today.”

“Sorry.”

“Eating it by the spoonful is a bad habit.”

“I could have worse.”

“I know.”

“Did you consider doing something about my appearance?” Jack was curious. Thomas had taken advantage of plastic surgery to change the contours of his face in an attempt to fool facial recognition software.

“No. You know how to disguise yourself when you need to. Hopefully, your height will stay the same, though you have time to grow another inch or so. If you need to, you’re able to alter your hair, the way you walk and speak… Even I didn’t spot you that afternoon in Paris.”

The first time Jack had successfully evaded him on one of their exercises.

Jack had taken some persuading to believe he’d actually managed it.

He’d thought Thomas was lying to make him feel good.

He should have known better. Thomas hadn’t even let him win games as a child.

Jack wasn’t sure he agreed with that strategy.

He’d struggled with the disappointment of always losing.

“What about the boy with the strange name? Zeph? You told him he should have shoved the boy back. What made you say anything?”

“It irritated me that he let the bully get away with it.”

“Because you’d have shoved back?”

“I’d have made it clear I wouldn’t be pushed around.”

“What did Zeph’s response tell you?”

“That he was used to it. He thinks he’s a victim and acts like it. He’s asking to be bullied.”

“Hmm.”

“Well, he was!”

“Did you react appropriately?”

Jack hesitated. “I sort of laughed.”

“And?”

“Pissed him off.”

“Or hurt him?”

“Both. Maybe.”

“Was that kind, to laugh?”

“He’s weak.”

“Then… Was. That. Kind?” Thomas repeated.

“No.” Jack wasn’t going to tell Thomas how conflicted he’d felt when he’d seen Zeph shoved aside, that something inside him had wanted to confront the abusers and protect him.

That wasn’t a feeling he knew how to deal with.

It had been easier to brush him and the incident aside.

Though he hadn’t, had he? It was still playing on his mind.

“Think about it,” Thomas said. “There’s a time and place for compassion. Maybe that wasn’t the time and place. Boys will be boys, as girls will be girls, but laughing was the wrong response. You don’t even know this boy.”

Not yet.

“I’ve brought you up to be kind to those who need kindness. To protect those who need protection.”

“He’s clever,” Jack blurted. “He got a hundred percent in three of his GCSEs. He had to go on stage and shake the headmaster’s hand. He looked as though he’d rather have petted a snake.”

“Do I need to take you back to the dealer?”

“I’m fine with snakes.” Jack cursed himself for that analogy.

“I’ll make the appointment.”

Shit. His shrug wouldn’t fool Thomas.

“How many of your classes is he in?”

“All of them. Do you want me to be his friend?”

“That’s up to you. Maybe you’d rather pet a snake.”

“That place is full of snakes.” It was real ones he had a problem with.

The next day, Jack did what he was good at—watched, listened and evaluated.

He tried to stay in the shadows but that was difficult in a school environment, especially when he was one of only a few new faces.

But he said as little as possible, avoided getting drawn into conversations and kept his mouth shut in lessons unless he was addressed by the teacher.

The one person he wanted to speak to—Zeph—seemed to be deliberately avoiding him, rushing out of the classroom at the end of the lesson, not appearing for the next until the last possible minute.

Skinny with thick framed glasses and messy dark hair, he was all arms and legs, full of nervous energy.

And nowhere to be seen at lunchtime. Jack was torn between amusement and irritation.

But then he was assuming he was the one Zeph was trying to avoid.

Jack knew better than to assume anything.

Thomas would be on his back about that. Maybe Zeph was avoiding Rufus and Scott who were dicks, not just to Zeph but to everyone. Though more with Zeph than anyone else.

On the plus side, Alice, one of Portia’s acolytes, who sat next to Jack in computer science, had come over at lunch, and invited him to a birthday party a week on Saturday.

His inclination had been to say no, but he thought Thomas would be pleased if he accepted, so said yes.

Jack’s only experience of parties was what he’d seen on the TV.

Well, it would be interesting. He knew better than to take drugs.

Thomas had let him drink beer and wine in moderation.

Sex…well, that hadn’t been on his radar.

His lack of interest hadn’t bothered him.

He was fine dealing with things himself.

But maybe this was another lesson Thomas wanted him to learn.

Though not with Alice. She definitely wasn’t his type.

At the end of the day, Jack saw Rufus and Scott with Zeph about fifty yards down the road from the school gates. They had him backed up against railings. Jack headed towards them, hoping he could right the wrong of yesterday.

As he drew closer, he heard Rufus hiss, “Bring the money tomorrow, princess.”

“No,” Zeph said.

“You don’t say no to us.” Scott grasped Zeph’s shoulder and thumped him hard in the stomach. Zeph let out a gasp and Scott hit him again. Jack was now close enough to intervene and yanked Scott round by the arm. The round-faced boy glared at him.

“Enough,” Jack said.

“Fuck off,” Rufus snapped. “It has nothing to do with you. He sponsored us and hasn’t paid up.”

“You’re lying,” Zeph said.

Jack let go of Scott’s arm, interested to see what he’d do. The boy stepped away. So he had some sense.

Rufus slung his arm over Jack’s shoulder and pulled him close. “Fucking walk away, dickhead.”

“You think you have the advantage but you don’t,” Jack said quietly. “You think I’m making a mistake. I’m not.”

“There’s two of us,” Scott said with a nervous laugh.

“Do I look as if that bothers me?” Jack asked.

They both stared at him. Zeph could have run but he stood watching, eyes wide, fists clenched at his sides.

“Well, do I?” Jack asked.

He could feel Scott working up the courage to hit him.

Jack took hold of Rufus’s hand where it hung over his shoulder, gripped it hard and ducked under to slip free.

Still holding onto his wrist, he stepped away so that Rufus’s arm was stretched out, then kicked at his knee.

Not as hard as he could have done, but Rufus immediately collapsed with a yelp.

“You shouldn’t have done that,” Scott snarled, but didn’t move.

Jack said nothing.

After glaring at him and Zeph, the pair moved towards the approaching bus. Rufus was limping. They shoved their way into the queue, ignoring the protests of those in line. Jack maintained eye contact with them until the bus pulled away, then turned to find Zeph was twenty metres down the road.

Zeph glanced across when Jack reached his side.

“You okay?” Jack asked.

“I’m not going to cry, if that’s what you’re wondering.” Zeph walked faster. “They got you to react, so now you’re a target too. Congratulations. Welcome to the club no one wants to be in.”

“I can handle them.”

“Lucky you.”

Jack stopped walking. “I thought you could use a friend.”

Zeph faltered slightly, but carried on down the road.

Jack stayed back. He thought he’d done the right thing in stepping in, but had he?

Bullies were always after a reaction, though Jack hadn’t given them the one they’d wanted.

He wasn’t scared or upset. He’d hurt Rufus as a warning.

But Zeph was right. He’d made himself a target.

Bring it on. Jack didn’t have to break bones to make someone hurt.

“That’s not staying under the radar,” Thomas pointed out when Jack replayed his day.

“It was the right thing to do.”

“Was it?”

Jack bit the inside of his cheeks. Thomas’s question didn’t mean he disagreed with what he’d done, just that he wanted Jack to understand his actions and defend them.

“What was I supposed to do? Walk past? Go into school and tell a teacher? It would have been over by the time anyone came out and I have the feeling Zeph would have denied it.”

“You probably didn’t need to go straight to DEFCON 1.”

Jack glowered. “I didn’t. They both walked away. No real damage. Well, one of them limped. I could have broken his leg if I’d wanted to.”

“I know. Watch yourself. Don’t give away how capable you are.”

That depended on whether they continued their bullying ways. Especially if they picked on Zeph. Jack wasn’t going to sit back and watch that happen.