Esther stared at him. “Damn it, Joe – you’d better be bloody sure of your facts before you go throwing allegations of murder at one of the most powerful men in the country.”
“I have two witnesses prepared to testify.”
“Oh, you mean that man stinking of drink in the interview room, and Alexander Lytton, the country’s most notorious indie? Good luck making your case in court with those two witnesses against Tyler and all his fancy lawyers.”
Josiah gave a wan smile. “It’s a start.”
“No, it’s not,” she said fiercely. “It’s a stop. You’re going to stop. Right here, right now. I haven’t given you permission to investigate this, and I’m angry as hell that you didn’t ask me first. Reed’s told me all about Mick Reynolds – he’s a well-known croc dealer, petty criminal, and alcoholic. Just how hard do you think it’d be to discredit his testimony?”
She stopped with a sigh, before visibly calming down and steering a little closer. “I don’t have a mandate to investigateevery case that comes my way, Joe. We might have the Home Office’s homicide contract right now, but that can and will change if we screw up. Inquisitus is my life’s work, and I will protect it, even if that means ditching you. Understood?”
Josiah gave a stiff nod. “Understood.”
“Good. Then get back to work – and bring me Dacre’s killer.” She turned her chair and began to motor away.
“I know you, Esther,” Josiah called after her. “There’s a bullet still in your spine because you wouldn’t – couldn’t – let a killer get away. It’s not in your DNA to let a murderer go free if it’s in your power to bring them to justice. Don’t tell me you can drive yourself away from this, because I don’t believe you.”
Esther stopped her wheelchair and sat there, stiffly. She stayed that way for a long time, her back to him, her head bowed, and then, finally, she turned to face him again.
“It’s late, and we’re both upset,” she said softly. “I’ll see you in my office tomorrow morning at nine a.m., and I promise I’ll look at whatever you’ve got on this. But I’m warning you – it’d better be good.”
She left the interview suite, and Alex stepped out of the viewing room, looking pale and shocked, having clearly overheard everything. “You could lose your job,” he said shakily. “I had no idea.”
“And Ted could lose his home, and Mick could lose his life,” Josiah said wearily. “You knew there would be consequences when you started this, Alex.”
“Not like this. I thought if there was a price to be paid, I’d be the only one paying it.”
“Then I’ll ask you again, one last time – do you want me to stop?” Josiah demanded. “Decide, Alex, because I won’t ask you again. We’re at the point of no return.”
Alex gazed at him for a long time, and then his expression slowly hardened. “No, I don’t want you to stop,” he said firmly.
“Good,” Josiah snapped. “Because I’m an investigator, and this is what I do. Right, I’ve finished interviewing Mick. I’ll get an agent to sit with him while I make arrangements for what to do with him. It’s your turn to be interviewed next, but first, I need a cup of tea and…” He reached into his pocket for his little silver box and was delighted to find it heavy, with two dark chocolates nestled inside. “When did you even find the time to do this?” he demanded, grinning at Alex as they walked down to the SID rec room to make some tea.
“I can’t tell you that – it’d ruin the surprise when you find it filled up.” Alex grinned back at him.
Josiah wished he could take him in his arms and give him a big, chocolatey kiss, but he had to make do with a wink instead. He threw himself down on one of the easy chairs in the rec room and took a moment to savour the exquisite delight of a passion fruit cream, while Alex brewed the tea.
It was nearly 8p.m. and most Inquisitus staff had gone home, leaving the rec room empty. Josiah saw a familiar face hurrying past the open door and called out.
“Dr Baumann!”
Sofie Baumann whirled around, looking surprised. “Investigator Raine,” she said stiffly, coming into the room. “I thought everyone had gone home.”
“They have. You’re working late.”
“I left an hour ago. I just remembered something I wanted to fetch from my office,” she said, hoisting her work bag over her shoulder and then turning to go.
“While you’re here – I have a question for you,” Josiah said. She paused in the doorway, her back stiff with irritation. Then she turned, her face flushed and annoyed.
“Can’t it wait until tomorrow? It’s late, and I’m in a hurry.”
Josiah saw Alex make a face behind Baumann’s back. Even Alex, who hadn’t known him that long, knew it wasn’t a good idea to mess with Josiah when he was working a case.
“No, it can’t,” Josiah said curtly. It could, but her attitude infuriated him. “I’ve been working non-stop all day and will likely be here for a few more hours yet. You’re new here, so maybe you don’t understand, but I expect the same devotion from my staff.”
“I’m notyourstaff,” Baumann snapped. “I answer to Director Lomax.”
“Who assigned you to my team for the duration of this case,” Josiah snapped back.
