Page 85 of The Quarterlands (Dark Water #4)

“It’s not working out too badly, Dad,” he said. “I’m one of the lucky ones, of course, but it’s not as bad as you thought it would be. I’m doing okay.”

The next day he received a call, completely out of the blue, that was a blast from the past. A couple of days later, he drove out to Coldharbour Prison, which was situated on a floating city.

Like most prefab floating cities, it was squat and ugly, but Josiah didn’t have much sympathy for the inhabitants.

Only violent offenders lived here – killers, rapists, thugs, and the like.

The prison took up the entire city, so nobody else had to live with them.

He was taken through various gates, each one clanging shut behind him, and finally ended up in a metal box of a room. There, sitting behind a table, wearing a prison-issue grey uniform, was his old nemesis.

“Hello, George,” he said, taking a seat.

Tyler looked leaner than ever, without a scrap of spare flesh on his bones, but he still had that same sense of energy and drive, despite his confinement .

“Josiah… seeing as we’re now clearly on first-name terms.” Tyler inclined his head.

“I bet you never thought you’d end up living in one of these ugly metal cities you created,” Josiah said, taking a seat opposite him. “I was surprised to receive the call from your lawyers. It’s been a while. Why now?”

“I spent some time exploring my options. I wanted to be certain that an appeal would fail.”

“It would. Anyone could tell you that.”

“I’m not a man who gives up easily.”

“Oh, I know that.” Josiah chuckled.

There was silence for a moment, then Tyler sighed. “How is he?” he asked.

“He’s doing well, George. Making something of his life, despite everything you did to him.”

Tyler nodded, his eyes veiled. “I did love him, you know. I’m sure you’ll find that hard to believe, but I did. I didn’t want to.” His hands clenched into fists. “I wanted to hate him, and I hated that I wanted him.”

“It was fucked up, George,” Josiah told him firmly.

“Yes, but it was real.” Tyler ran a hand over his bald head. It was still tanned, even despite his time in prison. “He had feelings for me, too. I know he did.”

“He was your prisoner, and you abused him. He was trying to stay alive.”

“No. You weren’t there.” Tyler shook his head. “We got each other, Josiah. In some ways we’re alike, he and I. Both single-minded, both strong and smart.”

“Yet in other ways quite different,” Josiah said curtly. “He’s loyal and loving, often thoughtful and kind.”

“Well, I’m glad he’s doing okay.” Tyler shrugged. “Did you bring what I asked for?”

“I did.” Josiah took a folder out of his bag and slid it across the table. Tyler wasn’t allowed electronics in jail, so he’d brought a printed copy.

Tyler opened the folder and read slowly and intently for a long time. Finally, he looked up. “Are you sure?” he asked. “Are you absolutely sure?”

“Absolutely. One hundred per cent,” Josiah said firmly. “Having read the documents, can there really be any doubt?”

“No.” Tyler breathed the word as if it was his last. “No. I see that now. I was in denial for a long time because I didn’t want to believe it, but now I do. Alex wasn’t driving the duck at the time of the accident. Charles was.”

“There’s no way that either of the people in the front of that duck climbed out of it with only a few cuts, which is all Alex sustained. It’s not possible. Charles admits he asked Alex to lie for him, and he’s been honest about why.”

“Has he been punished for it?”

“Don’t turn your wrath on Charles,” Josiah snapped. “Both he and Isobel were equally complicit in what happened, so she’s as much to blame as he is. Besides, they both paid a high price for their deceit. It’s just a shame they dragged Alex into it.”

“Were there repercussions for Alex because he lied?”

“No. Charles received a suspended sentence, but they decided not to take any action against Alex. Wisely, I think, given the public mood around the trial and his subsequent book. Talking of which.” Josiah reached into his bag again.

“I wasn’t sure if you’d read it, so here.

I should warn you, you don’t come out of it very well – and that’s an understatement. ”

He took out the copy he’d brought with him. The front cover showed a picture of Alex as a seventeen-year-old boy, looking impossibly young and innocent. The title Disgrace was printed at the top.

The double meaning of the title hit home. Alex might have experienced a fall from grace, but the system that brutalised him wasn’t fit for purpose, either.

The book had been scrupulously fair, but it hadn’t shied away from making the point that an entire country had enjoyed hating on him, as if he wasn’t a real person but the scapegoat upon whom they needed to visit years of anger, fear, and resentment.

His family’s wealth and privilege as well as his own perceived sense of entitlement, awkward personality, and good looks had all combined to make him an easy target.

He’d acknowledged his many mistakes in typical Alex fashion, but he was just as frank in analysing the mistakes of the society that had vilified him.

“Fair enough.” Tyler glanced at the book, a resigned look on his face. “I hope he’s making some money out of it.”

“He is. Enough to keep him going for a bit, anyway, and to fund the degree he’s taking in art and design.”

“Good for him. He always was an excellent designer.” Tyler leaned back in his chair. “You bought him, didn’t you?” he asked suddenly. “You sold yourself to buy him.”

Josiah wondered how he’d guessed. It wasn’t common knowledge, and he was doing his best to hide his ID tag, even though he was supposed to keep it on display.

“Yes,” he admitted curtly.

“If you love someone, set them free?” Tyler raised an eyebrow.

“Something like that.” Josiah shrugged.

“I did something similar.”

“No, you didn’t. You gave him to Dacre and kept tabs on him. That wasn’t setting him free.”

“I couldn’t, not with what he knew, but I did the next-best thing.

I had to.” Tyler had a pained expression on his face.

“It almost destroyed me, but I had to give him away. I was terrified I’d end up killing him if I didn’t.

That’s what he wanted. He kept trying to goad me into it, and I was so afraid I’d do it.

It was bad enough having Solange on my conscience, but I couldn’t kill Alex. I loved him.”

“If you’d really loved him, you’d have freed him and taken the consequences.”

“Like you did? Not all of us are as noble as the great Josiah Raine. I hope it was worth it. You’re not with him, are you?” As usual, Tyler was able to home in on any perceived weaknesses with laser-sharp precision.

“No.”

“All that sacrifice, and for what? He ran out on you the minute he was freed, didn’t he?”

“No. I finished it with him, as a matter of fact, and long before he was freed, because I could see he was in no position to be in a relationship with anyone. Not me, or anyone else. He needed the time and space to heal and work out who he really is and what he wants. I didn’t tell him I’d sold myself to pay for his freedom. I didn’t want him to know.”

“But he figured it out, didn’t he? He’s too smart not to.”

“Yes, he figured it out. He’s his own man now, and he’s turned his life around. It’s not been easy for him, after what you did to him, but I’m proud of how far he’s come.”

Tyler nodded, his eyes dark with an emotion Josiah couldn’t read. Was he pleased, proud, even? He had no right to be.

“I have something for you, too.” Tyler had a folder of his own, which he pushed across the table.

“What’s this?” Josiah opened it, frowning.

“Quid pro quo. You brought me the file on the accident, so I thought you should have something in return. It’s the dossier I made on you.

I was going to reveal all at the trial, but events rather ran away with us back then, didn’t they?

I thought I’d hold on to it, in case I ever needed it, but…

” He shrugged. “There’s no point using it as blackmail, because you won’t be blackmailed, and I have no other use for it.

I could use it to destroy you anyway, but it seems you’ve done a good job of that yourself.

” He gestured at Josiah’s shirt, where his hated ID tag was barely visible beneath his collar.

“Seems a little ironic, doesn’t it – that the indiehunter loves indies so much that he kept rescuing them, then sold himself to save one.” Tyler snorted. “You can keep it. There are no copies. I ordered that all the digital material be destroyed.”

Josiah gave him a grudging nod of thanks and slipped the dossier into his bag.

“I didn’t know that Isobel was using the money to buy that drug for Charles,” Tyler said suddenly. “I just thought that Noah was keeping her short and she wanted it for herself. I didn’t mind. I liked spoiling her. I didn’t know she was using it that way.”

“I believe you,” Josiah said quietly.

“Don’t get me wrong.” Tyler gave him a laser-like stare. “I’m proud of her for hustling to get Charles to the top. That’s my Izzy.” He grinned .

“Well, lying and cheating to get what you want is your style,” Josiah grunted.

Tyler laughed. “You’re a Quarterlands boy, you should understand. The system is stacked against us. You don’t win by playing by their rules.” He looked contemptuous. “I’m not going to apologise for having drive and ambition.”

“No, that’s not what you should apologise for,” Josiah said pointedly.

“I’m not going to apologise for any of it.

” Tyler shrugged, obviously unrepentant.

“Sure, I made some mistakes along the way, but I’ve lived my life gloriously on my own terms. Not many people can say that.

” His mood changed and he looked suddenly downcast. “Sometimes…” He gazed up at the ceiling, his eyes glittering.

“I wonder if she ever really loved me, or was she just using me?”

“We’ll never know. For what it’s worth, I think she was far better suited to you than to Noah.”