Elsie was staring at him in disbelief. “I never thought I’d hear you say that. It’s been your life’s work. Since Peter died, you’ve been tireless—” She broke off, looking completely blindsided. “You’re shutting it down… all of it?”
“Yes.”
She leaned forward in her chair. “Joe, what’s really going on? Have you heard something? Are the authorities on to us?”
“No, it’s not that. Look, Elsie, I’m about to do something that will put me in the firing line – and if I go down, they’ll come for you next.”
She put her hand on his arm. “Joe, you’re scaring me, and I don’t scare easily. What is it you’re about to do?”
“My job,” Josiah said grimly.
“You’ve always done that. What’s different aboutthisjob? Is this about him?” She waved her hand at Alex. “Has he turned your head so much that you’d give up everything you and Peter built together?”
Josiah saw the flash of misery in Alex’s eyes and decided to change tack. “There’s another reason why I’m here today, and why I brought Alex. Elsie, do you remember all those times we wondered what happened to Ben, that kid who was with me in the car on the night Peter died?”
Alex looked up anxiously, and Josiah reassured him with a smile.
“Yes, that poor boy has haunted me ever since,” Elsie replied, frowning. “Why? What has this to do with Alex, or your decision to shut down the Line?”
“It’s all the same thing. You see, I know what happened to Ben, Elsie. I found out last night.”
“Did he make it to safety? Did he get out of the country?” she asked eagerly.
“No.” Josiah leaned forward and took her hands in his. “He was caught and sent back to a very bad situation. He’s suffereda great deal since that night, and now I have the chance to do something to help him. I have to take that chance. I owe him that.”
“How do you know all this about Ben?” she demanded. “Did he escape again? Does he need us to get him out? If so, why are you shutting us down right when he needs us most? Where is he, Joe?”
“He’s right here, Elsie,” Josiah told her gently. She looked bewildered. Josiah stood up and put his hand on Alex’s shoulder. “You asked if he’s good enough for me. Well, it was Alex who was in the car with me the night Peter died; it was Alex who helped me fight off Lars Driessen; and it was Alex who called the ambulance. It was his chance to escape, and he lost it. Forget what the papers say – they don’t know who he really is. Alexander Lytton gave up everything to help Peter. He could have run away the minute Driessen took out his knife, but he didn’t. He stayed to help and risked his life in the process. Elsie,Alexis Ben. Does that make him good enough for me?”
Elsie’s hand went to her mouth in shock, and Alex had to rescue the cup of tea from her lap before it fell.
“You’re Ben?” she whispered.
“Yes,” he said gently, putting her cup and saucer on the table and kneeling in front of her. “I was for that week, anyway. When I first called you, I was hiding under a picnic table in a park café. I lied about my name. I’m sorry about that, Elsie. You were a lifeline to me that night, and the memory of your friendly voice kept me going for the whole week.”
“Ben.” She took hold of his face and gazed into his eyes. “You’re sure?” she asked Josiah.
“I’m sure. He knew the song that was playing in the car that night. No other living person knows that except me; I’ve never told anyone.”
Elsie sat there, still holding Alex’s face in her hands, looking dazed. “I’m glad you’re safe, Ben… Alex. We talked about you many times, hoping you’d got out. I’m sad that you didn’t, love. I’m so sorry that you were sent back to face your houder. I’m sure that was bad for you, my dear.” She smoothed Alex’s hair gently away from his face and then leaned forward and kissed his forehead. Alex gave a little sigh and wrapped his arms around her. She encased him in one of her warm hugs, holding him tight and rocking him. He rested his head on her shoulder, his eyes closed, as he hugged her.
Josiah smiled. Sometimes, it was so easy to see the boy who’d lost his mother. Finally, Elsie released him, and Alex sat back, his eyes glowing.
“So, that’s why you’re closing the Kathleen Line.” Elsie glanced at Josiah. “You have a new cause now.”
“Oh, I think it’s the same cause, really,” Josiah told her wryly. “I’m still taking on the IS system, Elsie, just in a different way. I’m going after someone at the top of the establishment, and he won’t go down without a fight.”
“You’re going to make yourself a target,” Elsie guessed. “I knew you’d do something like this, one day. Working in secret was never your style. Peter loved it, but you never did. So, who is this person you’re going after?”
Josiah hesitated.
Elsie raised an eyebrow. “No secrets, Joe, not even to protect me. I want to know.”
Josiah sighed. “It’s George Tyler.”
Elsie let out a low whistle. “Well, you aim high, I’ll say that. Tyler’s rich and powerful – you’re right that he won’t go down without a fight.”
“He was Alex’s houder for several years. He’s the one Alex tried to escape from that night. Tyler got him back, beat himhalf to death, and killed the woman who helped him escape. Alex wants justice for her.”
