Page 23 of The Lost Zone


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“I’m fine, Mick.” Alex pulled over a chair and sat down beside Josiah.

“Been a long time. Thought about you sometimes,” Mick muttered. “Nothin’ soft. Just wondered how you was doing.”

“I’m okay. I’ve had a nice houder since Tyler sold me. He was good to me. Well…” Alex gave a wry smile. “He was better than Tyler, anyway.”

“That’s not saying much. Is it this bloke here?” Mick nodded at Josiah.

“No. Someone else. This is my current temporary houder. He’s an investigator.”

“And you told him, didn’t ya?” Mick looked at Alex beseechingly. “Please say you didn’t fucking tell him, Alex.”

Alex’s face became cold and implacable, his jaw set in a determined line. “Yes, I told him, Mick. I told him about Solange, and everything that happened that night.”

“You bloody nutter! Tyler will see us all go to hell for this.”

“Solange has been lying in the water for nearly seven years,” Alex retorted. “We can’t let Tyler get away with it.”

“You should’a left it alone. You can’t poke a hornet’s nest and not get stung,” Mick hissed.

“We need you to come into Inquisitus and testify about what happened that night, Mick,” Josiah interjected.

Mick glanced at him derisively. “You think it’ll be that easy? I testify, and Tyler rolls over and dies? Fuck off.” He tried to get to his feet, but Josiah shoved him back down again.

“Alex told me you helped to dispose of her body. That makes you an accessory to her murder.”

“You’ve got nothin’ on me – and nothin’ on Tyler without me.”

“Is that so?” Josiah raised an eyebrow. “Do you remember Ted Burgis?”

Mick went very still. “What about him?”

“We paid him a visit earlier.”

“And he agreed to testify against Tyler? I don’t believe you.”

“Why not?” Josiah leaned forward. “He loved Solange, and he hates Tyler. Why wouldn’t he agree to testify?”

“Because Tyler beat the spirit out of us all years ago, that’s why – him included.” Mick pointed at Alex. “I saw it happen. I was fucking well there.”

“And yet here he is, wanting justice for Solange. If Alex is prepared to testify, what makes you think Ted isn’t, too?”

Mick looked at Alex, and Alex looked back, still implacable.

A confused expression creased Mick’s brow. “I thought he broke you into a million tiny pieces,” he said.

Alex shrugged. “That’s what I wanted him to think.”

Mick stared at him, and then his face broke into a grudging grin. “You always was a sly bastard.”

“I’m going after Tyler and I’m going to win,” Josiah rapped out. “If you don’t help me, then I’ll make damn sure you go down with him.”

“Who is this nutter, Alex?” Mick asked plaintively.

“He’s the indiehunter – you’ve probably seen him on the screen.”

“How do you feel about being someone’s IS again, Mick?” Josiah asked “Because that’s what’ll happen if you don’t help us.”

“The indiehunter?” Mick looked at him with a new respect. Despite his hatred of the soubriquet, Josiah had to admit it could be useful at times.