Page 45 of The Lost Zone (Dark Water #3)
Gideon smiled and poured himself a fresh cup of tea. “Yes, there is,” he said gently. “It’s okay. I understand. We all have parts of ourselves we’d prefer not to share. Yet very few of us would die to protect them. You would. You’re a type-three – of course you would.”
Alex fell silent again. This was not a conversation he felt confident having. Gideon, it seemed, really was a master of his art, dark though that art was.
“Now, perhaps, you will ask the question you most want answered,” Gideon said, gazing at him keenly.
“Fine.” Alex was relieved to change the subject. “Where do we go from here? You know about Solange – you know what Tyler did to her. What will you do with that knowledge?”
“Do? I will do nothing.” Gideon shrugged. “Like I said, everything that happens here stays here. If you’re expecting me to call the police, or an investigation agency, or even get in touch with the lovely Josiah Raine, then I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed.”
“She was murdered,” Alex said helplessly.
“I believe you, but I have no evidence, and I have no doubt that Mr Tyler would throw some very expensive lawyers on the case and ruin me and Belvedere in the process. I’d never do that to Miss Madeleine.”
“So, what, then? You know I’ll never give up on seeking justice for Solange. That makes me dangerous to Tyler. I suppose you’ll tell him that, and he’ll stage an accident and have me killed, because I’m too much of a threat to him otherwise.”
“I have no intention of telling Mr Tyler any such thing,” Gideon said sharply. “I’ve been very moved by your devotion to poor Solange.” Of course he had. It mirrored his own feelings towards Miss Madeleine; Gideon understood a certain kind of devotion.
“So, if you’re not going to report him to the authorities, and you’re not going to report me to him, what are you going to do?” Alex asked, puzzled.
“What I’ve been paid to do,” Gideon replied. “Mr Tyler asked me to turn you into the perfect indentured servant. I’ve come some way to achieving that goal. There is still more work to be done, more rough edges to be polished, for sure, but I’m confident that it can be accomplished.”
Alex stared at him incredulously. “You’re going to send me back there in the full knowledge that I’m going to deceive him with the aim of one day bringing him down?”
“Why not?” Gideon shrugged. “I’ll give him what he paid for, and I’ll give you, my dear boy, the tools you need to succeed in your mission.”
“If I’m successful, then one day he’ll know this was all a lie.” Alex waved his arm around the room, with its gently flickering screens.
“If you’re successful, he’ll be behind bars and in no position to do anything about it.” Gideon smiled. “If you’re not – well, he’ll hardly be able to complain to me about it without giving away his part in Solange’s death, will he?”
Alex gave a little whistle. “You really are quite ruthless in your own way.”
“I don’t like men like Tyler,” Gideon said firmly.
“When houders send me their difficult indies, what are they really expecting me to do? You can’t break people into being what you want, and nor would I want to.
It’s nonsense. Remove the pressure and their natural selves will reassert.
All you can do is help them find a way to adapt, a way to at least appear to be a changed indie when they return.
In order to do that, they have to want to.
I hope I’ve shown you how you can adapt, difficult though your case is.
I don’t think anything has changed, Alex.
You still have no options other than suicide, and I think we’ve established that isn’t something you’re seriously considering.
” He waved his hand at the screen showing Solange’s spot on the clifftop.
“On that subject, C was always nervous when you sat there, and even more nervous when I gave you that ultimatum, but I felt it was necessary. However, he insisted we always had someone nearby in case you decided to jump. We were never seriously going to let that happen to an indie worth a hundred and sixty million pounds.”
“And the open gates?”
“Well, we wanted to see how eager you were to escape.” Gideon smiled.
“We were intrigued when you turned back. Needless to say, escape was never a serious possibility. The unmanned gatehouse isn’t the real entrance.
That’s situated somewhat further along the road and is fully secure.
There was never a chance you’d have been allowed to abscond, but it was good to know that wasn’t your intent, either. ”
Alex sat back in his chair. “So, what does the immediate future look like? You didn’t send me back with the other indies, so I presume you have some plan for me. What is it?”
“That’s entirely up to you.” Gideon shrugged.
“You’re the one who knows Tyler and what he wants.
I’ll help you in any way I can. You’ll have your own room; no more sharing a dorm.
You and I will meet daily to work on strategy.
I’ll be led by you and will offer advice, support, and tuition.
You’ll need to take more classes with B.
You’ve worked very hard, but there’s still much room for improvement there.
You can have one-to-one sessions with C, too – you’ll find him very helpful.
On that subject, C knows about the nature of Solange’s death, but nobody else does.
Please don’t share that with anyone. C is the soul of discretion.
He won’t talk about what he knows, and I certainly won’t. ”
“Protecting Belvedere to the end.”
“Absolutely.” Gideon cast him a sharp glance. “Don’t test me on this, Alex. I will throw you to the wolves every time. We’re not friends, you and I, and never will be, but we can be a good team.”
“At least I know where I stand.” Alex decided to eat one of the scones and found it every bit as delicious as Gideon had promised.
“We’ll have a new intake of students very soon,” Gideon continued. “I suggest you use them to help you practise your mask and how not to get involved – or make friends,” he added warningly.
“How long do I have?” Alex asked. “How long before Tyler wants me back?”
“He hasn’t specified a time. I told him it’s not an exact science and will take as long as it takes. I’ll strive to hold on to you for as long as I can, but at some point, he’ll want you back. We’ll just have to do our best to make you as ready as possible for when that time comes.”
Alex finished the scone and stared into his tea moodily. “I don’t want to go back to him.”
“I know, but I can’t change that.” Gideon sighed. “I feel for you, Alex, but all I can offer you is what I’ve offered you from the start – new skills, a different perspective on your situation, a plan for getting by, and ways of staying sane. So, what do you say? Will you work with me?”
Alex drank his tea down in one gulp. “ Plus ca change ,” he muttered as he put the cup down. “I mean, nothing’s changed, really, has it?”
“Not really. It never could.” Gideon’s smile was sympathetic but steely. He was who he was. He placed Belvedere and his beloved houder above everything else. “I don’t believe that what I’m offering is negligible, my dear boy. You will have respite, and a place to learn, and think, and plan.”
“And if I refuse?”
“I can and will return you to Mr Tyler, with the caveat that we were only partially successful. He’ll find you can make him a decent breakfast now, and that you know how to pack his suitcase for foreign travel and iron his shirts, but whether you’ll do any of those things for him cheerfully, as a good servant should, is anyone’s guess. ”
“Your reputation would take a bit of a dent.” Alex grunted.
“Maybe.” Gideon shrugged. “But he’s unlikely to publicise my failure,” he added shrewdly.
“So, we’re back to the clifftop, and whether I do as you suggest or jump,” Alex said bitterly.
“Not really. You don’t have a choice to jump. You never really did, to be honest. Your choice is whether to stay here and learn more or go back tomorrow.”
As charismatic and charming as Gideon undeniably was, he was also ruthless to the core, and his own interests came first.
Alex sighed. “ Namaste ,” he said at last, pressing his hands to his forehead and bowing to the master, knowing he had no other options left.
Gideon returned the bow with an indulgent smile. “ Namaste ,” he said softly.