Page 4 of The Quarterlands (Dark Water #4)

Josiah had to concede that Alex seemed equally devoted to his brother. Whatever rifts had taken place in their family, these two had never wavered in their love for each other.

He opened the living room door to see Alex and his father sitting on the sofa, talking quietly, their hands clasped.

“Hey… just checking in. Also… there’s someone else who wants to see you,” he said, standing aside so that Charles could shuffle in.

“Charles!” Alex got to his feet and stumbled across the room to envelop his brother in an almighty bear hug. It was the most animated Josiah had seen him in weeks. They hugged for a long time, until finally, Alex released him and they returned to the sofa together.

“Oh, before I forget.” Charles reached into his pocket.

“I brought you this.” He pulled out a green chiffon scarf and handed it to Alex, who buried his face in it immediately and inhaled.

When he looked up, his eyes were glowing.

“It still smells of her. After all this time! Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. When Mr Raine visited this morning, he asked me to find it and bring it.” Charles beamed.

“I’ll go and make some more tea, so you can reconnect as a family,” Josiah said, leaving swiftly.

They stayed for several hours. Josiah had no doubt that there were some difficult conversations still to be had, but for now, they just seemed delighted to be with each other again. Laughing, they chatted only about happy memories, with Isobel never far from their reminiscences.

Eventually, it grew late, and Noah was visibly tired. “Come again, whenever you want,” Josiah said, escorting them to the door. “When Alex is better, he can visit you, too.” He held out his hand, but Noah brushed it aside, drawing him into an awkward hug.

“You’re a good man, Mr Raine,” he murmured into Josiah’s ear. “And our family owes you a huge debt. I’m sorry for what I said when I first met you. I only saw the famous indiehunter , and I assumed I knew you based on that.”

When they’d gone, Josiah returned to the living room to find Alex lying in his usual spot but looking completely different. He was clearly tired, but his face was relaxed and had lost that pinched expression.

“Hey, are you okay?” Josiah plonked himself down beside him.

“Yes. Thanks to you.” Alex pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek. “I never thought I’d see them again. Certainly not Dad, given his health and the fact he disowned me. I have no idea how you persuaded him to visit, but it means the world to me.”

“I knew it would.” Josiah smiled affectionately.

Alex wrapped his arms around him and leaned in, his lips tantalisingly close. “I mean it.”

Josiah pushed him away gently.

“I know you’re grateful, but it came with no expectations or obligations.

I care about you, Alex. Just because we’ve agreed to step back a bit doesn’t change that.

What also hasn’t changed is that you need the time and space to adjust to all that’s happened and find out who you are and what you want. ”

Alex sighed and drew back. “You’re right, of course.” He gave a wan smile.

“Good. Then get some rest. You look done in.” Josiah deposited a firm kiss on Alex’s head. Then, leaving him on the sofa, he returned to the kitchen to speak in private to Esther.

“Oh, you’re talking to me again now, are you?” she asked pointedly.

“Sorry I turned off my nym. I just knew you’d ask me questions that I didn’t know the answers to, and I needed time to think. ”

“And now?”

“Now I’m back on track. Listen, Esther, I’m going to return to the office soon, so I’ll need meetings with the lawyers.

We have to paint a picture to the jury of Tyler’s hatred of Alex, so they understand why the events of that night unfolded the way they did, leading directly to Solange’s death.

We need evidence and witnesses for that, which I’m still working on. ”

“I’m glad to hear you’re back in the ring,” she said. “Not that I had any doubt you’d climb back in when you were ready. Now, what about Dacre? Are you still convinced that Grant didn’t kill him?”

“Yes.”

“May I ask why?”

He sighed. “I’m not sure, but I went to see Charles and Noah Lytton this morning.”

“Oh?” She grimaced. “Please tell me you aren’t thinking of arresting Charles Lytton too. He’s a national hero.”

“Don’t worry, I don’t think he killed Dacre, but seeing the Lyttons made me understand why I can’t close the case yet.

There’s something I’m not seeing, Esther, about both the Lyttons and Dacre.

There’s a piece of the jigsaw missing in both cases.

I don’t think they’re connected, but they’re both unsolved – for now. ”

“Well, if anyone can find those missing pieces, it’s you.” She smiled. “It’s good to have you back, Joe. I’ll wait to hear from you .”

He returned to the living room to find Alex fast asleep with his mother’s scarf clutched between his fingers. Josiah reached for the blanket on the back of the sofa and gently laid it over him, heaving a sigh of relief.

He didn’t kid himself that it would be this easy, or that one visit would turn Alex around and bring him out of his depression, but it was a start.