Page 43 of The Lost Zone (Dark Water #3)

“It’s what we do here. If a houder has the money, we provide the service.

To be honest, most of what we do is what you saw.

We teach indies various useful skills. Most houders require highly trained household servants, so that makes up the majority of what we teach.

However, I saw a gap in the market for a more bespoke service some years ago, so we became experts in tailoring a course specifically for one indie. ”

“Tyler talked of breaking me. I thought Belvedere was going to be a torture chamber.”

Gideon gave a little laugh. “Not at all. It’s true that some servants do come here with an elevated sense of themselves and require a certain element of re-education, but that’s never achieved by physical violence.” He pursed his lips. “I find that quite distasteful.”

“Yet there was an element of physical threat in your treatment of me,” Alex accused. “At one point, anyway.”

“Yes, that’s true.” Gideon nodded. “We required an antagonist to see how you would react, but I was very clear about how far he could go. You’ll note that you were never actually beaten at any point.

In fact, I rather think I suffered more than you.

” Gideon laughed. “Dear F. He can be terribly gung-ho about his role.”

“I suppose you’ll tell me next that he was just play-acting, and in real life he’s a sweetheart?” Alex raised a disbelieving eyebrow.

“Not at all. In his real life, he’s a complete bully.

That’s why I hired him.” Gideon took a sip of his tea and glanced at Alex over the rim of the cup.

“He enjoyed the part where he got to beat me because I’m his boss and he’s the sort of man who enjoys that kind of power reversal.

However, when you arrived, you were in such bad shape that I gave orders you were not to be physically assaulted.

If physical punishment worked, then Mr Tyler wouldn’t have needed to send you here.

I did, however, want to see how you reacted when others were abused, and I wouldn’t ask any of my staff to endure that, so it had to be me.

If you recall, neither Three, Four, or Five was ever physically hurt, either. ”

“I didn’t notice that.” Alex frowned. “Are you saying they aren’t part of your team?”

“No, they were genuine indentured servants, here for instruction. I have, in the past, used my team, but I found it became rather rigid. When we include genuine indies, it introduces a welcome element of surprise, and personally, I find them more believable. It’s a risk because I can control it less, but events are well monitored, and I trust C implicitly.

He runs a very tight ship when I’m working on the other side of the mirrors. ”

“So, Three, Four, and Five are just regular indies?” Alex felt a wave of relief about that. He couldn’t bear to think of being deceived by all the people he’d come to care about.

“Yes, but very carefully selected ones,” Gideon said.

“I chose ones I thought would be easy to manage and complement the group well. I spent a long time on the selection process, and their houders were given a discounted price to take into account the rather unusual nature of their experience compared to that of indies attending our regular course.”

“And what about D?”

“She’s on my team. I wanted someone you’d bond with, or feel sympathetic towards, so I instructed her to give you little gifts, to foster a sense of being complicit in some mild resistance against the regime.”

“I suppose she’s completely different in real life?”

“Not really.” Gideon shrugged. “None of us are. It’s much harder to maintain a role that’s very unlike your true personality for any length of time, so I tend to choose people who already have the personalities I require.

D is a shy mouse of a woman. She doesn’t really understand much of what we’re doing here. She does as she’s told.”

“That makes it worse. F terrorised her!

“Oh, he shouted at her a little, but she was well taken care of behind the scenes,” Gideon said firmly.

“I wanted to see how you reacted to your friends being harmed. You came to her defence – and mine – very readily, which was indicative of your fundamentally decent nature. I really did come to like and admire you very much, Alex. You made a few thoughtless mistakes, such as asking D to look for your photos, but you were genuinely contrite about that. On that subject…” He handed a folder to Alex.

“These are the originals. I would never have allowed F to tear up the real thing. I provided him with some very realistic copies.”

Alex opened the folder and found all his pictures there in pristine condition.

“I have more copies,” Gideon said. “But you won’t have to use those glued-together versions anymore. I must say, that was a very surprising aspect to your stay with us. I had no idea these photos would mean so much to you.”

“You ordered them to be removed to see my reaction,” Alex said slowly.

“Yes. You were quite frantic. I knew then that the people in the photos were the key to your entire psyche, but I had no idea how it would all unravel. The story about handsome Joe losing his husband… that was so unexpected. I read up about him after you told me – such a sad story – and so strange that you should have been there that night.”

“Yes,” Alex muttered, relieved beyond belief now that he hadn’t told Gideon the full story.

“And your family, of course, and poor, dear Solange… so many interesting events and secrets. It was a real insight into who you are and why, and immeasurably helpful to me.”

“So, you ordered F to tear them up?” Alex asked slowly.

“Yes. I wanted to see how you’d react to the loss. It also gave us a nice opportunity to bond with you by glueing them back together. I loved the way the others joined in. That’s why it’s so useful to use regular indies in a scenario. They provide a welcome element of surprise.”

Gideon selected a scone, halved it, and spread cream and jam on it. “I do love afternoon tea, an appreciation I acquired when I worked in the hotels of New London in my youth. Oh yes.” He saw Alex’s look of surprise. “That was all true.”

“You were an indentured servant?” Alex asked incredulously.

“Were? Still am, my dear boy. Still am!” Gideon flicked his cravat aside to show the elegant gold pin attached to his shirt, complete with ID tag.

“Most of what I told you was true. What I neglected to mention is that my houder was so impressed with me after I’d worked in her household for a couple of years that she asked me to help her to set up a training academy for indentured servants.

I was better at it than she ever envisaged and turned Belvedere into the premier academy for indies.

Servants who’ve successfully completed our training usually double the value of their contracts.

Over the years, I expanded the academy, and we acquired this place.

My houder doesn’t interfere – she’s a busy woman with many different business interests.

She trusts me to take care of matters here. ”

“What about the others? C, B… are they indies, too?” Alex asked.

“No,” Gideon said firmly. “I refuse to employ indentured servants. I’m the only IS working here.”

Alex gazed at Gideon, trying to understand him. “Why? Do you hate indies?”

“Not at all. I like them very much.”

“But you disapprove of the system?”

“I really have no views on the system. I’m not remotely interested in politics.

I am interested in making a substantial profit for my houder.

I’m responsible for the health and well-being of every indentured servant we train.

I don’t want the responsibility of having indies on my staff, too.

I want my staff to be here because this is a job that interests them and they are good at it, not because my houder has bought their contract. ”

“You’ll forgive me for finding that a somewhat contradictory position, given your status,” Alex muttered.

“I wouldn’t ask anything of my team that I’m not willing to do myself,” Gideon said sharply. “An indie might feel they didn’t have the freedom to refuse.”

“I see. So, this houder of yours…”

“Is exactly as I represented her to you. As I said, most of what I told you was the truth. I adore Miss Madeleine. Everything I do is for her. Belvedere is my gift to her – the shining jewel in her business empire.” His eyes glowed as he spoke.

Gideon was clearly every bit as enchanted with his houder as Two had been.

“Why doesn’t she set you free and pay you a decent salary, then?” Alex asked in a deliberately crass tone.

Gideon’s expression darkened. “I would make no such demand on her. I’ve told her that my dearest wish is for her to own my contract until my dying day.”

Alex gave a low, facetious whistle. “She really is a good businesswoman. She’s probably made back whatever she paid for your contract and some, and she gets your labour for life.

She never has to pay you a salary or fork out a lump sum at the end of your indenture.

Are you sure you’re her indie and not her slave? ” he asked viciously.

Gideon sat back with a wry smile. “C and I have discussed your tendency to revert to sarcasm and bad manners when you’re upset. I understand why you’re upset now, but I do hope we can continue to work on this failing of yours.”

“Why on earth should I co-operate with you on anything?” Alex raised an incredulous eyebrow.

“Why not?” Gideon shrugged. “What other options do you have?”

Alex had no answer to that. He took a bite of the sandwich and found it delicious.

“They’re good, aren’t they?” Gideon smiled. “Now, we’ve talked enough about me. You must have more pressing questions that relate to your own situation. Please, fire away. I’ll answer them all, as honestly as possible. You have my word.”

“Oh, I really don’t think your word is worth anything,” Alex said sullenly.