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“I don’t know – maybe I was just ready. It’s been a long time.” Josiah sighed. “Look, Esther, I’ve worked my arse off for Inquisitus for the past ten years. I worked day and night on all the cases you threw my way and helped you turn this Agency into the most famous in the country.”

“I’m not saying you’re not good at your job. I’m questioning your judgement in this particular instance.”

“Well, don’t. I’ve more than earned your trust over the years, surely?”

She studied him for a long moment, her shrewd brown eyes boring into him. Finally, she sighed. “I’d like to trust you, Joe, but I’m not sure where you’re going with this. What was yesterday’s excursion to see George Tyler about, for example?”

“Just following one of my hunches, the way I used to. I’m sure Alex is integral to solving Dacre’s murder; I wanted to make sure that Tyler, as his former houder, wasn’t interested in getting him back.”

“By killing Dacre?” She raised a disbelieving eyebrow.

“We know Dacre had two offers for Alex, both of which he turned down. It’s not such a stretch to think that one of them might have come from Tyler.”

“That’s why you went to see Tyler?”

“Yes.”

“And?”

Josiah sighed. “He probably wasn’t involved in Dacre’s murder, but he’s guilty of something. Alex has given me some information about how Tyler operates that makes me think we should investigate him.”

“You want to go after one of the most powerful men in the country on the word of an IS – and one with an appalling reputation?” She pursed her lips. “And for what? What’s Tyler guilty of, exactly? ”

“Prostitution of his servants and blackmail of his business associates for starters, but I’m sure there’s more. Much more.”

“Do you have any evidence?” she demanded.

“No.”

“Then absolutely not.”

“I’ve met the guy – he’s a bastard.”

“Maybe, but that’s not illegal,” she shot back.

He rocked back on his heels, and out of the corner of his eye he saw Alex watching him curiously.

“Look, Joe, if you go after Tyler, you’d better have more on him than the accusations of one untrustworthy IS, or it’ll end badly for you – Tyler will see to that. And…” Esther hesitated, glancing at Alex again. “We all have things to hide. Things we’d prefer not to get out.”

“You think Tyler could blackmail me, too?” he responded incredulously.

“I’m saying… think about it,” she said softly. “The entire country already suspects you killed Lars Driessen – it wouldn’t take much to convince a jury that you did, and that I covered it up for you during the official investigation.”

“That isn’t what happened.”

“I know – I’m just saying it could be painted that way.

There were other anomalies I didn’t look into too deeply, but a less sympathetic investigator might if the case were reopened.

” Her eyes went back to Alex, clearly worried about whether they should be having such a frank conversation in front of him.

“Such as?” Josiah asked icily, daring her into it.

“Such as the fact you bought five cups of tea that night, although you said that only you and Peter were in the car.”

“We were taking them to a friend.”

“Who lived a thirty-minute drive away. I’m sure she was looking forward to several cups of lukewarm tea,” Esther said drily. “And why she couldn’t make her own is beyond me. Then there was the untraceable nanopad. We never found out who called for the ambulance that night.”

“I told you, it was just some kid passing by. ”

“Who just happened to have a burner nanopad, a nym that couldn’t be traced, and then conveniently disappeared?”

“I don’t know who he was,” Josiah said quietly. “Maybe he didn’t want to be involved any further.”

“Maybe.” She shrugged. “I didn’t ask too many questions because we had our killer beyond any reasonable doubt, and you were so devastated by Peter’s death.

I thought it was an invasion of your privacy, and I didn’t like to dwell too much on what you and Peter liked to get up to in your private lives.

If you wanted to meet up with other men, for example… ”

“Is that what you think?” Josiah stared at her. “That we were arranging to hold an orgy with three other guys that night? Christ, Esther, that’s insane. Peter and I didn’t have that kind of marriage. Apart from anything else, I’m not the sharing kind.”

“Okay, but the questions remain, and it wouldn’t take a man like George Tyler long to identify that moment in your life as a potential area of weakness.”

He was silent, his chest heaving as he took in what she was saying.

“Find Elliot Dacre’s killer and let’s see where we go from there,” she told him, in a gentler tone.

“Then, if you can bring me more on George Tyler – something meaty enough to warrant opening that particular can of worms – I’ll see what I can do.

Just be careful, because if we get this wrong, it could bring Inquisitus down. ”

“Okay.” He nodded. “Fine. Let’s do that.” Turning, he strode towards the door.

“Joe.” She called him back. “This old Josiah Raine I’m getting back – is he going to be as good as the one I’ve been working with for the past few years?”

He grinned at her. “Better. Much better, because now I’m working at full strength, so you get an investigator with an eye for detail who has a feeling for a case, too.

I’ll bring you Elliot Dacre’s killer, Esther, and I’ll land you a big fish as well, if you let me.

Trust me. I’ve never let you down yet, have I? ”

“No,” she admitted quietly. “Okay, Joe – I’ll trust you.”

“Good.” He jerked his head at Alex. “Then let’s get to work.”

Alex fell into step beside him with a shit-eating grin on his face .

“What?” Josiah demanded as they strode into the lift.

“Just you. Being all… you. I love it.” Alex laughed.

Josiah felt a wave of exhilarating energy sweep through him. “Me too,” he exclaimed.

He strode into the SID with Alex at his heels, feeling as if he could conquer the world. He threw himself down in his chair, whistling loudly, and put his feet up on the desk.

Reed stared at him. “Who are you, and what did you do with my boss?”

“I’m still here, just mixing things up a little.” He stretched his arms over his head and glanced around. “Alex – pull up a chair and sit there,” he suggested, pointing to the far end of his desk. “Reed – did you look into any correspondence Dacre had on who wanted to buy Alex?”

He noticed Alex pause momentarily as he reached for the chair, and then collect himself and continue as if nothing had happened. He was sure Alex knew the identity of at least one of the people who’d wanted to buy his contract. Why keep it a secret? Who was he protecting – and why?

“I’ve been trawling through all the data for the past two days, but nothing so far,” Reed replied.

“Okay – keep looking,” Josiah instructed. “Have you found any info on the tracking chip from the envelope containing the gun?”

“Yeah, but the sender gave a fake address, which isn’t exactly a surprise.” Reed shrugged.

“Where was it posted?”

“A drone station in East New London. I’m checking their CCTV coverage right now.”

“What about prints? Did we get any off the envelope?”

“Nope.” Reed shook his head. “It’s clean – just like everything else. No prints on anything.”

“What about the door-to-doors? Anything?”

“Not so far, but it’s taking time to gather all the footage from people’s smart systems.”

At that moment a member of security arrived, accompanied by a man in his fifties wearing a rumpled grey suit. He had a comb-over, a droopy grey moustache, and a paunch – and he was bristling with outrage.

“I’m here to see Investigator Raine,” he said loudly. “I called Director Lomax, and she said to come into the office and make my complaint directly to you, as you’re leading the investigation.”

“Really – and you are?” Josiah asked.

“Jeffrey Mead. I was a good friend of Elliot’s, and I’m the executor of his will.

I saw you on the news this morning, and I don’t take kindly to you appropriating my dear friend’s indentured servant for yourself in this high-handed fashion.

I’m here to demand that you hand Chris over to me, so I can organise the reading of Elliot’s will and the proper handling and disposal of his estate. ”

“Yeah, that’s not going to happen,” Josiah said, standing up. He saw Alex looking warily at Mead and was instantly certain they knew each other. “ Alex is staying with me until we catch whoever killed Dacre.”

“You have no right?—”

“I’m leading a murder investigation; I have every right, Mr Mead.”

“Don’t try and pull rank with me. I know precisely what the rules and regulations are in cases like this – I happen to be an investigator myself.”

“Is that so? What agency do you work for?” Josiah asked coolly.

“Results Incorporated,” Mead replied, puffing himself up importantly.

It was all Josiah could do not to laugh in the man’s face. Results Inc was a small-time agency dealing with minor drug crimes, petty theft, and fraud. It also had a sideline in tracking down escaped indies, which was enough to make him dislike Jeffrey Mead by itself.

“Just because some investigators enjoy a certain celebrity status, doesn’t mean they can use said status to bend the rules,” Mead said primly.

Josiah gave a dangerous smile. He was relishing the chance to do battle with this idiot, but he saw a troubled look pass across Alex’s face. “This is clearly a serious complaint,” he said silkily to Mead. “Shall we take this conversation to one of our interview suites?”

“I think we should,” Mead retorted. “I would like Director Lomax to hear what I have to say as well. ”

“Fine. Reed – buzz her,” Josiah ordered. “And keep looking at that CCTV footage while I’m gone.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And keep an eye on Alex. You know, in case he tries to abscond.” He shot Alex a teasing smile.

Reed gave him a sour look and a grunt by way of reply.

Josiah led the way to the interview suite. Esther arrived a few seconds later. They both sat facing Mead at the interview table.