“Well, that’s where there’s even better news. I was on my way home to tell you when Neil sidetracked us both for a few days.” He sat down in the armchair beside the bed and reached for Alex’s hand. “Ted came in to the SID and agreed to testify. Even more importantly, he had a lock of Solange’s hair in a locket. Mel ran the DNA, and it was a perfect match with the skull.”
“What?” Alex croaked. “How?”
“Tyler clearly had Bagshaw alter the DNA on the IS database, but proving that won’t be easy. However, it was enough for us to bring charges. We now have three witnesses who were there that night, all saying the same thing, and we have a good DNA match. All the same, I have no doubt Tyler is one step ahead of us and we should expect some dirty tricks.”
Alex looked at him blankly for a long time, as if struggling to take all this in.
“It’s good news, Alex. We stand a chance now.” He squeezed his hand.
“Very good news,” Alex repeated, but his tone was still dull. They were silent for a moment, as Josiah gave him a moment to process everything. “And the bad news?” Alex asked at last.
“Tyler is insisting we stick another chip in you.” No point sugar-coating it. “He wants you back on Tracker Plus, so he can keep an eye on you.”
Alex closed his eyes and rested his head back on the pillow. “Of course he does.”
“Apparently, I’m doing a terrible job of taking care of you, and he’s worried his property will be irretrievably damaged. I can’t refuse.” Josiah squeezed Alex’s hand again. “He’ll only get a court order compelling us to comply if I do. It’s not a battle worth fighting – we won’t win.”
“It’s fine. I’ve lived with it for years.” Alex didn’t even bother opening his eyes again. “When?” he asked wearily.
“Now’s as good a time as any, I suppose.”
Josiah called the nurse in, and it was the work of seconds to implant another chip and register Alex, once again, on the IS tracker database. He sent the details through to Reed, instructing him to relay them to Tyler’s lawyers.
The little red dot winked, once more, under the pale skin of Alex’s forearm. He hadn’t opened his eyes for any of it and appeared not to care, but Josiah could only imagine the psychological impact.
“Alex – I’m worried about you,” he said at last.
Alex didn’t reply and his eyelids stayed shut.
“Not your physical injuries. They’ll heal in time with care, which I’ll make sure you get. It’s your mental health. Neil abducting you was a massive setback on top of so much else. You were already struggling before that, so I’m not surprised you’re feeling so low now.”
“I’m fine.”
Josiah reached out and gently touched his face, and Alex opened his eyes wearily.
“No, you’re not, and you don’t have to be. That’s what I’m saying. You don’t have to pretend. You can talk about how shitty and frankly intolerable this whole situation is, and has been for years. It’s okay.”
“What’s the point?” Alex gazed at him blankly. “Joe, I kept going for Solange. I don’t need to anymore.”
“So, what? You’re giving up?”
“What is there to keep going for? I have no future, Joe, whatever happens with Tyler. There’s nothing for me. I’ll be an IS for the rest of my life, either his or someone else’s. I’ve never been important in all this. I’ve done my bit for Solange, and I’ll keep doing it until the court case is over, but I’ve got nothing else in me. I’m done.”
“No,” Josiah said firmly. “You’re at a low ebb, but you’re not out for the count just yet.”
“A boxing term. Apt.” Alex gave a twisted little smile. “You love it, don’t you? I saw you that night, pumped up on that weird adrenaline rush you get whenever you scent a good fight. I found that whole situation with Neil terrifying, but you – you were buzzing, on top of your game.”
Josiah sat back. He understood. Alex was lashing out at the one person hecouldlash out at right now, but that didn’t make it easy to bear. Not that he could deny there was a certain amount of truth to Alex’s accusation.
“You’re right. I’m an old soldier and I’ve always loved a fight. You’re not – you’re an artist, and a much gentler soul than me, Alex.”
“No, I’m a shitty person. A coward. Christ, I couldn’t even fight off Neil when he came for me. Neil, for fuck’s sake.”
“He had a gun. What were you supposed to do?”
Alex looked down. “I’m just tired of always losing.” It was almost a whisper.
“You didn’t. You’re still here, he’s not,” Josiah reminded him. “And we charged Tyler with Solange’s murder. It’s all still to play for, Alex.”
