“But not for Sem,” Josiah pointed out.
“No – nor for Alex,” she agreed.
“Or Solange,” Alex said quietly.
“Alex – I promise I will do everything in my power to help bring Tyler to justice,” she told him firmly. “If you can find Solange’s body, Joe, then I’ll do my absolute best to uncover whatever evidence might still be on it that will help us to convict him.”
“I know that – and thank you.” Josiah nodded at her. “Now, I have to face the music in only a few hours, and I’d like to snatch at least some sleep before then, so I suggest we turn in. Sofie, is the sofa okay for you?”
“I’ll sleep on the floor in Sem’s room,” she said. “I want to be near him to check on him.”
“Fair enough. I have an air mattress you can sleep on.”
They trooped wearily into the hallway, and it was only then that Sofie saw their abandoned rucksacks on the floor.
“Were you going somewhere?” she asked.
“Yes.” Josiah sighed. “We were. Then Elsie called, and we knew we couldn’t.”
She put her hand over her mouth in shock. “You were going to get Alex out, weren’t you? And now it’s too late. Oh God. Alex, I’m so sorry.” She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tight.
“It doesn’t matter,” Alex mumbled into her neck. “I’m glad I’ve done something good for a change. Something I can be proud of.”
“Where will Alex sleep if we’re in his room?” she asked as they walked up the stairs. “Do you have another bedroom?”
“No.” Josiah shot her a strained smile.
“Oh.” Realisation flashed through her eyes, and she blushed.
“I wouldn’t… I mean, I haven’t…” Josiah stumbled over the words. It was late and he was too tired to be having this conversation.
“He didn’t coerce me,” Alex said. “If anything, it was the other way around. I know it doesn’t look good, but he’d never do that to an indie.”
“No, of course not.” She smiled at him. “I absolutely understand that now. He’s a good man.” Standing on tiptoe, she pressed a kiss to Josiah’s cheek. “A very good man.”
Chapter Ten
JANUARY 2089
Alex
Alex thought about Two’s words, but he couldn’t bring himself to agree with his friend’s view of his situation. Learning how to be the perfect servant might have worked for Two, but Alex had a mission to accomplish, and he didn’t see how embracing his servitude could possibly help with that.
There was some good news the following day when F walked into the dorm and, with a scowl on his face that defied them to question him, packed up the white crate and removed it from the room.
“Oh, thank God,” Five exclaimed. “No more nights in that thing.”
“I hope this doesn’t mean he has something worse in mind,” Four murmured anxiously.
“I don’t think so,” Two responded. “I rather suspect that F’s reign of terror might be over.”
Alex glanced at him curiously. “What makes you say that?”
“He didn’t have his stick in his belt,” Two said. “Didn’t you notice?”
Alex hadn’t, but it was welcome news. “Maybe A has returned,” he suggested. “Maybe C told him what’s been going on in his absence, and he brought F to heel.”
“Ah – you think this is your doing. You think your ceaseless badgering of the good doctor has finally paid off.” Two grinned at him.
