Page 39 of The Lost Zone (Dark Water #3)

Chapter Eleven

Josiah

Josiah threw himself onto the bed fully dressed, and Alex lay down beside him and rested his head on his chest. He placed his hand on Alex’s back and stroked gently. They lay like that for a long time, saying nothing. There was nothing to say. The events of the past few hours had overtaken them.

Josiah thought through his options. There was every likelihood that Tyler was telling the truth about Alex’s contract still belonging to him. As soon as he’d found out about Solange, Josiah had thought it unlikely that Tyler would allow Alex to escape his grasp, even seven years down the line.

Yet, why go through the charade of pretending to sell him to Dacre in the first place?

Was that somehow connected with Dacre’s murder?

It was now clear why Dacre had turned down those speculative purchasers who’d made offers for Alex; despite being strapped for cash, Dacre had been in no position to accept, as he didn’t own Alex’s contract.

A thought occurred to him, and he squeezed Alex gently.

“When I first arrested you, you looked surprised when I said there was no Tracker Plus on you. Why?”

Alex sat up. “Because I was so closely monitored. Elliot gave me very little freedom. I had a holopad, but it was locked to only allow me to take and make calls to and from him. I had no access to the internet, and no access to Elliot’s holopad – he was very careful about that.

He never left me alone with the housekeeper, or anyone who came to the house.

I went nearly everywhere with him. The only place he let me go by myself was the gym, and D’Angelo was with me the entire time I was training.

Elliot did allow me to drive around afterwards for a couple of hours – that was my only freedom.

But I was followed everywhere by black SUAVs that I knew to be Tyler’s.

I assumed Elliot and Tyler had some kind of arrangement in terms of security, but it was also possible that Tyler just wanted to keep intimidating me, the way he did Mick.

I did look for a way to contact you. Once, I tried to drive to Ghost Eye City to see if I could reach you.

I don’t know what I was expecting to do when I got there.

I suppose I had some fantasy that I’d walk in and ask for you, and you’d recognise me as Ben and listen to everything I said.

” Alex gave a self-deprecating smile at his own naivety.

“So, what happened? I never saw you.”

“I didn’t get that far. Elliot called me and ordered me home, and when I didn’t listen, one of Tyler’s SUAVs nearly knocked me out of the water. When I returned home, Elliot was so angry he withdrew all my privileges for months. So, I assumed he had Tracker Plus on me.”

“He didn’t – but supposing Tyler did?”

“It would make sense.”

“We can argue with Tyler’s lawyers all we like, but I’m sure he wasn’t bluffing. Tyler does still own your contract, or at least he has good legal claim to it.”

Alex sighed and rested his head back on his chest. “It makes sense. Knowing what I know, he could never risk Elliot or anyone else setting me free after my prison sentence was up.”

“But why pretend to sell you at all? Why not just keep you?” Josiah mused.

Alex was silent for a long time. Josiah squeezed him.

“Alex, what aren’t you telling me?”

Alex sighed. “Look, I can’t pretend to entirely understand the workings of Tyler’s brain, but things between us became pretty messed up. I mean, worse and more bizarre than everything I’ve told you to date. I think he was afraid of keeping me anywhere he had easy access to me.”

Josiah frowned and sat up, gently dislodging him.

“Why? Did he think he might kill you?” Alex didn’t reply.

Josiah slid off the bed wearily. There was something dark here that Alex didn’t want to talk about, and he knew there was no point in pressing the issue.

“Try and get some sleep,” he said, dropping a kiss on Alex’s head.

“What are you going to do?”

Josiah smiled. “What I do best. Come out fighting.”

He jogged down the stairs. Sure, he’d had no sleep, had been in a fight, tried to flee the country, and had helped in a major medical emergency all in the past few hours, but so what? He was always at his best when backed into a corner. The adrenaline was already pumping.

He read through the legal document Tyler’s solicitor had sent.

Tyler had placed two important clauses in it: one, that Elliot wasn’t allowed to sell Alex’s contract.

He had to return Alex to Tyler if he no longer wanted him.

Two, in the event of Elliot’s death, Alex was to be returned to Tyler immediately.

Josiah was sure both clauses were watertight, but even Tyler couldn’t have envisaged the nature of Elliot’s death, and the legal issues arising from it.

That would definitely give the Inquisitus lawyers some wiggle room.

The document was deliberately opaque in other areas, though, and there was no mention of why Tyler thought he still owned Alex’s contract.

He sent a copy of the document to Esther, with a note attached. Get the lawyers onto this ASAP. We must contest.

He made himself a cup of tea, more to keep himself awake than because he wanted it.

Almost tripping over their abandoned rucksacks in the hallway, he paused.

Had he really intended to leave his entire life behind for the sake of a man he’d known for barely a week?

Yet, he’d have followed Peter to the ends of the earth within five minutes of him shoving Hattie into his arms. In matters of the heart, he was nothing if not consistent.

Hattie… Josiah headed back to the living room.

Hattie’s bed was still there, beside the fire.

Like Peter’s clothes in the upstairs bedroom, he couldn’t bear to throw it out.

Opposite, on the bookshelf, was a statue in the shape of a dog with big brown eyes – far too kitsch for his tastes, but then it hadn’t been about how it looked.

He picked it up and examined it. It was a long shot, but…

he sent a terse message to Reed, who’d no doubt be delighted to be woken at 5a.m. with a new errand to run.

His holopad beeped – Esther. “You’re sending me things that make me nervous,” she told him, without any preamble. “Christ, what happened to your head?” She squinted at him.

“We have a fight on our hands.” He filled her in on what had happened with Tyler.

“I knew this would escalate fast,” she snapped. “Make sure you’re in my office before Tyler gets here – and Joe, I’m beyond pissed off with you right now.”

“Understood.”

He ran back up the stairs to the bedroom. Alex was out cold, spreadeagled on the bed. Josiah set his alarm to allow him an hour’s sleep then crawled in beside him and wrapped his arms around him. A nap would have to suffice.

It felt as if he’d barely closed his eyes when the alarm sounded.

He kissed a groaning Alex awake, took a shower, and then gave his usual consideration to choosing his outfit.

Today of all days, he needed to be fully armoured up, looking his sharpest. True, he had a dressing on his forehead, but he looked surprisingly fresh considering.

He chose a burgundy suit, navy-blue shirt, and a matching burgundy tie with the silver cufflinks Peter had given him for his thirtieth birthday.

He looked serious and impressive – exactly the look he was going for.

He paused only to kiss a wet Alex, who’d just emerged from the shower, then he hurried along to the spare room, knocked softly, and stuck his head around the door. Sofie, lying on the air mattress on the floor, looked up, her hair dishevelled.

“How’s Sem?” Josiah jerked his head at the bed.

“He’s hanging on in there. I thought I’d call in sick, so I can stay with him today. He needs round-the-clock care.”

“No, you won’t.” Josiah shook his head firmly. “You’re the first person Sem’s houder will want to talk to about his escape. He might insist on checking your flat to make sure Sem isn’t hiding there.”

“I can’t leave him here alone,” she protested.

“Of course not. I’ll tell Esther I’ve sent you on a task and you won’t be back until late. Given that we’ve been so publicly antagonistic towards each other, nobody will suspect I’m covering for you.”

“What task?” She frowned.

“I’ll say I’ve sent you back to Dacre’s house to check some detail there.

It’s still a crime scene, so Esther won’t let Sem’s houder near it.

He might want to go to your flat to make sure Sem’s not hiding there, but that’s fine – in fact, it’s what we want to happen.

Then, hopefully, you’ll be ruled out of having any part in his escape. ”

“You’re good at this,” she said admiringly.

“I’ve had a lot of practice.” He gave a tight grin.

“I don’t like lying to Esther, but if she knows, she’ll become complicit.

If she calls you, act normally; tell her that you’re looking into something for me and can’t return anytime soon.

Call me if that happens. We’ll work something out from there.

We’re leaving now, Sofie. Help yourself to food and don’t open the door to anyone.

I’ll double-lock it and give you the keypad code in case you need to leave in an emergency. ”

“Thank you. And Josiah? Good luck today.”

“Thanks.” He shot her another tight smile. “We’re going to need it.”

Alex was waiting for him downstairs. Like Josiah, he’d chosen a serious dark suit and tie ensemble. They both looked like they meant business.

“Ready to walk into the lion’s den?” Josiah asked.

Alex nodded. “Ready.”

“I just want to do this – in case it’s the last time I can.” Josiah pulled him in close and kissed him deeply. Alex leaned in and returned the kiss eagerly. Then, regretfully, Josiah drew away. “Let’s go.”

Their first stop when they arrived at Inquisitus was the SID.

“Got anything for me?” Josiah asked, stopping by Reed’s desk.