Page 16

Josiah gazed at Tyler steadily as he spoke, taking in the man’s body language and the intent behind his words.

Tyler spoke fluently, and there was complete sincerity in his tone.

Josiah believed him when he said he’d had nothing to do with Dacre’s murder.

Of course, a man as wealthy and powerful as Tyler could pay someone to do his murdering for him, if he wanted, but Josiah didn’t sense any kind of defensive subterfuge on the matter.

Besides, it was all too messy for Tyler: the dead man being found by the cleaning lady; the antique murder weapon arriving for whatever reason soon after the event.

Josiah suspected that if someone as shrewd and wealthy as Tyler ever committed a murder, it would be perfectly covered up and no clues would be left behind to incriminate him.

The body and murder weapon would both disappear without a trace, and any witnesses would be paid off, threatened, or both.

No, George Tyler hadn’t killed Elliot Dacre – so why had Alexander brought him here?

What did he expect him to find? He’d given Josiah no clues, no indication as to what the hell this was about, and had agreed with every word Tyler had said .

Josiah looked at Alexander, who gazed back at him enigmatically.

Josiah had known from the outset that he’d been manipulated into coming here today, but he’d gone along with it willingly, thinking he’d learn something.

What use had it been in solving Elliot Dacre’s murder?

Did Alexander even care about that? He said he did, but Josiah was starting to feel as if he’d wasted the day when he could have been investigating a real lead.

With a surge of anger towards his IS, he sank his ball into the hole, then threw the putter back at him with enough force to indicate his displeasure. Alexander flinched.

“This way.” Tyler smiled at him brightly, and as they walked to the next tee, he regaled him with a dirty story that was undeniably funny. Josiah laughed at the punchline and saw Alexander’s shoulders slump.

Tyler spent the next hour wielding his charisma like a weapon.

He was sexy – Josiah couldn’t help but notice that – but it was subtler than that.

He had no idea whether Tyler was gay or straight; although the man didn’t openly flirt with him, Josiah felt himself being expertly seduced all the same.

Tyler was a man of the world, full of interesting, often slightly risqué stories and amusing anecdotes.

He seemed to know everyone and have been everywhere, but without ever making it seem like he was name-dropping or boasting.

He treated Josiah like an old friend, creating a cradle of intimacy that didn’t exist but seemed seductively within reach.

Josiah couldn’t help wondering why Tyler was making such a determined effort to charm him when he clearly wasn’t a serious suspect in Dacre’s murder. However, he allowed himself to be charmed anyway, taking pleasure in watching an expert giving such a virtuoso performance.

“How long have you worked as an investigator?” Tyler asked.

“Too long,” Josiah grunted, taking a shot.

“Must be interesting work.”

“It has its moments.”

“Not very well paid, I’d imagine.” Tyler laughed.

“I do okay.”

“I read somewhere that investigators work such long hours, and see such dark and troubling things, that it’s hard for them to keep a relationship going. ”

“I wouldn’t know,” Josiah said stiffly.

“I read about your husband’s murder,” Tyler murmured. He put a hand on Josiah’s arm, his brown eyes blazing with sincerity. “I’m sorry.”

“It was a long time ago,” Josiah replied, struck by how genuine Tyler’s condolences appeared to be. Tyler squeezed his arm sympathetically. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Alexander’s shoulders hunch even more.

“Between you and me…” Tyler wrapped an arm around his shoulders and led him away from their servants. “Do you think we’ll see more IS riots? I thought we’d calmed that situation down a few years ago, but now I’m not so sure.”

“I have no idea,” Josiah said, aware of the heat Tyler was generating, and the proximity of his lean, hard body.

“We’re seeing more of this type of thing – indies killing their houders. Obviously, it worries me. You know more about it than me – you see it up close. Do you think it’s an issue?” Tyler radiated concern, and Josiah felt almost flattered, being treated as an expert and confidant.

“My husband was killed by an IS on the run, so I might not be the right person to ask,” he replied, smoothly sidestepping the question.

“But you’ve caught a few indies who killed their houders – you’ve made quite a name for yourself doing that… indiehunter.” Tyler smiled meaningfully. “So, I wondered what your honest view of it is.”

“I do my job – I didn’t set out to catch indentured servants; they just happened to be involved in my investigations on a couple of high-profile occasions.”

“I understand.” Tyler released him with a conspiratorial wink, as if they’d shared a moment of connection.

At that moment, a helicopter flew in low overhead and landed on the helipad beside the house.

“That’ll be Owen – my protégé,” Tyler said, shading his eyes from the sun as he watched it land.

“He’s an IS I’m training up in the business.

He has a bright future ahead of him – when his contract runs out, I’ll consider employing him as an independent.

He needs to prove himself first, but I’m giving him every chance. ”

They finished playing the course, which Tyler predictably won – but not without making Josiah feel he’d been on the verge of beating him, which he hadn’t. He glanced at his indie – Alexander hadn’t said a word unless spoken to, and while his eyes were still vacant, his body language was dejected.

They returned to the house, and Tyler turned to the two caddies. “Take the bags back to the storeroom and then go to the kitchen for refreshments. You’ve both done an excellent job.” He beamed, then led Josiah to the living room.

“Look, you seem like a decent man, so I feel I should tell you something about Alexander,” Tyler said when they were alone.

“He’s a good-looking young man, as I’m sure you’ve noticed…

” He gave a wry smile. “But please be careful. It’s not just his looks that make him so bloody attractive – let’s face it, he’s sex on legs, and he knows it.

” He gave a raucous bark of laughter. “I’m fond of him, always have been, but Alexander uses sex to manipulate people.

I don’t think he knows he’s doing it half the time – it’s just who he is.

He tried it on me at first. I think that’s why he stole that money – because he thought he could manipulate me, and when that didn’t work, he ran out of options.

He’s a beautiful, charming, very sexy liar.

Don’t get sucked in by him – and don’t let him use you for his own ends. ”

Josiah considered that for a moment. “Thank you for the warning, but he’s not my type,” he said eventually.

Tyler nodded thoughtfully. “Good, good. I just thought you should know… I’d hate for him to lead you down a wrong path. I don’t know what he’s said about me, or his time with me, but he isn’t a reliable source of information.”

“He hasn’t said anything about you,” Josiah replied honestly. “He’s been quite scrupulous on that score; he refuses to say a word about his time as your IS.”

Tyler gave a satisfied smile and then glanced over Josiah’s shoulder. “Ah, Owen. Good to see you! Come and meet Investigator Raine.”

Josiah spun around – and came face to face with a tall, attractive man with a mop of dark hair, styled messily so that it fell endearingly over one eye.

He was wearing khaki combat trousers and a tight green tee-shirt that clung to his toned body…

He could have been a younger, fitter version of Peter.

At that moment Alexander returned to the room, and for a second his impassive mask slipped.

He looked at Owen, and then at Josiah, and deflated visibly.

He seemed bone-weary, as if he’d run a marathon only to be beaten at the finish line.

He moved silently to the fireplace and stood there, gazing at a spot on the floor.

“Investigator Raine – this is Owen,” Tyler said, drawing the young IS towards him. Josiah shook hands with him, taking in the firmness of the handshake and the sweetness of his smile. Owen didn’t have Alexander’s smouldering sensuality, but he was very attractive.

“Nice to meet you, Investigator Raine,” Owen greeted him, holding both Josiah’s hand and their eye contact a little too long.

“Mr Tyler informs me that you’re his protégé, and he’s training you up for an important place in his company,” Josiah said.

Owen gave an easy laugh that revealed a set of perfect white teeth. “Mr Tyler has been very kind to me; I just hope I don’t let him down.”

“You’d better not!” Tyler laughed. “And please, Investigator Raine – call me George.” He wrapped one arm around Josiah’s shoulders, the other around Owen’s, and enveloped them both in a hug.

“We’re all friends together here, aren’t we?

I was lucky enough to escape that tedious trend that went on for far too long after the Rising of giving children biblical names.

You weren’t so fortunate, Josiah.” He grinned.

“Were your parents Floodites, like old man Lytton?”

“Not at all. My father was vehemently against religion – and monarchy, which I suspect was the origin of your name. I believe my mother just liked the name,” Josiah said, with a smile.

Another IS entered the room bearing a tray of refreshments, which were set down on the bar. “Come on – sit down,” Tyler said, drawing them both over to the sofa. Have some tea and cake – which is chocolate, by the way.” He winked at Josiah.

As he sat down on the sofa, Owen sat next to him, so close that he could smell the sweet, fresh scent of his cologne.