Page 63 of The Lost Zone (Dark Water #3)

Josiah put his hands on Alex’s shoulders to get his full attention.

“Not necessarily. I wasn’t sure whether to mention this, because I don’t want to get your hopes up, but we know Tyler was blackmailing Martin Bagshaw.

Now, Bagshaw used to run a handful of high-profile accounts at the IS agency, Tyler’s among them, but as of a couple of years ago, he was promoted, and he’s now the director of the entire agency. ”

“So, he has access to all the files? Do you think he’s tampered with Solange’s DNA?” There was a gleam of hope in Alex’s eyes.

“It’s possible, but I have no way of proving it unless…”

“Unless you can prove Tyler was blackmailing Bagshaw, and for that you need the smartwall footage.” Alex sighed.

“We’ll find it,” Josiah insisted. “I won’t give up, Alex. I’ll keep looking until I find what I’m looking for.”

“I believe you.” Alex began pacing around the room, running his hands through his hair until it stuck up in clumps. Josiah watched him warily, wondering if another meltdown was imminent.

“I know it’s a lot to take in. This is quite the rollercoaster you’re on, and?—”

“ Stop it! Stop making excuses for me.” Alex turned suddenly, and Josiah took a step back, startled. “Sorry… I didn’t mean to sound so angry. I’m not. Sorry, sorry.” He looked as if he was about to burst into tears.

“Alex – what’s going on?” Josiah asked quietly. “Has something happened?”

“Yes – no – but yes, in a way. You’re being so diligent, so helpful, and I’m not reciprocating, am I? It’s been playing on my mind for ages.”

“You’re looking after Sem, which is a great help. What else can you do?”

“I still haven’t told you the information I have about Elliot’s murder,” Alex said unexpectedly.

“Oh.” He watched him continue to pace, clearly having an internal argument with himself.

“I’m ashamed of myself,” Alex said, finally coming to a halt in front of him.

“I’ve held on to this for far too long. I’m so used to having to hold my tongue that it’s become a compulsion.

I’ve been thinking about it all day, and God knows you’ve held up your side of the bargain, regardless of whether Tyler goes down or not.

So, I should reciprocate and tell you what I know.

I’m not sure it’s much use, because I honestly don’t know who killed Elliot, but it is a lead. A possible place to start looking.”

Josiah felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. The trail on Dacre’s murder had long since gone cold. If Alex knew something – anything – then he’d love to get stuck in again. “Are you sure?” he asked quietly. “I know that giving up this information will make you feel vulnerable.”

“Yes, I’m sure. You want Tyler behind bars as much as I do. Whether that happens or not, I do want you to find out who killed Elliot. He was a harmless old fool who didn’t deserve what happened to him. I want justice for him, too.”

“Very well.” He set his holopad to record Alex’s statement. “Fire away.”

Alex gave a determined nod. “Okay, well, like I said, I’m not sure how much use this will be, but I have two specific pieces of information - although they’re related to the same person.

As you know, two different people offered to buy my contract from Elliot, and he turned them both down.

We now know that he had to, because Tyler still legally owned me.

But the people bidding on me didn’t know that.

I assumed that one of them was Charles. I was stupid enough to think that he’d somehow save up enough money to at least put in an offer for me as soon as my legal sentence was up.

So, I have no idea who one of the bidders was, but I do know the identity of the other.

” He paused, then grimaced. “It gives me no pleasure to tell you this. I hope he didn’t kill Elliot, but who knows? ”

“Who is it?” Josiah asked, leaning forward eagerly.

“That’s where the second piece of information comes in. Remember when you first arrested me? I was covered in bites, scratches, and bruises from that show.”

“I remember. Are you saying that the man who inflicted those wounds on you is a possible suspect? Was he someone you knew?”

“Yes.” Alex gave a twisted smile. “Someone who was always obsessed with me, who’d gone to that show as a way of getting his hands on me again. Someone who felt he had unfinished business with me.”

“Neil Grant,” Josiah guessed. “It was him, wasn’t it?”

“Yes. My old nemesis, Neil. Still as ‘devoted’ to me as ever, if that’s the word.”

“And he’s one of the people who put in a bid for you? How do you know?”

“Elliot told me, and Neil confirmed it that night at the show. I don’t know where he got the money from, but he seemed confident about being able to afford me. When Elliot turned down his offer, he decided to buy me for the night at the show and use the opportunity to run off with me.”

“But you didn’t go with him?”

“Go with Neil?” Alex snorted. “As if. Besides, I knew I was being trailed by George’s men. Neil wouldn’t have got very far with me.”

“So, you turned him down, and he became violent?” He remembered how badly bruised Alex had been when he’d first arrived.

Alex grimaced. “Well… sort of. Poor Neil – he was so sure I’d leap at the chance to run off with him.

Of course, I’ve never been very good at meeting other people’s romantic expectations.

” He gave another of those weirdly twisted smiles.

“We argued, and he lost his temper. He demanded his night with me, saying I owed him that much. So, I gave him that. I had little choice, really.” Alex shrugged.

“It wasn’t gentle, but then our relationship was always volatile.

I gave him a few bruises, too, so it wasn’t all one-sided. ”

“Do you think that seeing you again, sleeping with you again, made Neil want you more? Then, frustrated by Elliot’s refusal to sell you, he went to his house a few days later and killed him?”

“I don’t know. I mean, is it possible he killed Elliot in the hope I’d go up for sale?” Alex mused. “I’d never have him pegged as a killer, but if that was the only way he could get his hands on me, then maybe?”

“Anyone can be a killer given the right circumstances. You haven’t seen Neil in years, right? Who knows what life’s done to him in the meantime.”

“No, I hadn’t seen him since Tyler flaunted him in front of me the day I became his IS. I’ve hardly thought about him in all that time, either. We had such a fucked-up relationship. I’m not proud of how I treated him, Joe.”

“Tell me about it – the full details. I want to understand.”

“Okay, but you won’t like me for it. I told you last night, I’m a shitty person. Always have been.” Alex closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again and began his story.

Josiah already knew most of it, but not this level of detail. As always, Alex spared himself nothing in the telling. When it was over, he stood up and placed a hand on Josiah’s shoulder.

“I just keep disappointing you, I know,” he muttered. “There’s only so much you can find out about me and still keep liking me.”

“I’ve not exactly been a saint myself.” Josiah gazed up at him.

“Alex – this is a long way in the past. You were very young, and your father sent someone to spy on you, someone who smothered you and blackmailed you into a relationship you didn’t want.

You have to cut yourself some slack. You’d just lost your mum in that terrible accident, and your relationship with your father was strained.

Your whole life had fallen apart, and Neil made everything so much worse. ”

“I was a shit.” Alex shrugged. “I probably still am given half the chance. Who knows?”

“You are what you are, but for what it’s worth, I don’t think you’re anywhere near as bad as you say.” He stood up and wrapped his arms around Alex, drawing him close. “Now, I’m wondering about that face I saw at the kitchen window. Is it possible that Neil has come looking for you?”

“Yes, it’s possible, or it’s someone else altogether.” Alex sighed and rested his chin on his shoulder.

“The mysterious missing bidder?”

“Who knows? As if my life wasn’t fucked up enough as it is, without dealing with this.”

“You’re not dealing with it, I am,” he said firmly. “It’s not for you to worry about. You’re in my custody. It’s my job to keep you safe.”

“I always feel safe with you,” Alex murmured, moving his head to catch Josiah’s lips with a kiss. He pulled him close and wrapped his arms around him. Whatever else happened, right here, right now, they had each other.