“He’s my responsibility. It’s not right that he should be in the custody of an investigation agency when he has a houder. When I first heard of Dacre’s shocking murder, I didn’t want to interfere with the investigation, because obviously it’s important that his killer is caught. However, after speaking to my lawyers, we feel Alex should be returned to my custody if he’s not a suspect, which I gather he isn’t?”
Esther glanced at Josiah, who shook his head.
“Isn’t it true that you only assigned him to Raine’s temporary custody because you believed he was without a houder?” Tyler didn’t even acknowledge Josiah’s presence and spoke only to Esther. “That’s clearly not the case.”
“Lytton is a potential witness, and we have concerns about his safety until Dacre’s killer is caught,” Esther said.
“He will be quite safe with me.” Tyler smiled. “I looked after him perfectly well for several years. He came to no harm.”
Josiah snorted. “He still has the scars on his back from a beating you gave him that almost killed him.”
“I believe he was in a serious duck accident when he was seventeen? I think you’ll find that’s when he came by those scars.” Tyler seemed to have an answer for everything. “Look, I’m a businessman, Director Lomax – let me offer you a deal. You return Alex to me, where he belongs, and I won’t press charges over the fact that your senior investigator has opened an unauthorised investigation into me and is behaving in a way bordering on harassment.”
“Harassment?” Esther raised an eyebrow. “How so?”
“Look at the cut on his head.” Tyler gestured. “Did he tell you how he came by it?”
“He said you broke into his house last night and tried to take Lytton by force,” Esther replied. “He could just as well press charges against you.”
“I did no such thing. I did go to his house to present him with the paperwork showing Alex’s contract still belonged to me, but I did not break in, and he started the altercation. He has an anger problem, which I’m sure you know.” Tyler shot Josiah a vicious smile. “In fact, I suspect you’ve covered for him for a very long time. Did you know he was an illegal prize fighter before he left the Quarterlands? And that his distinguished military record was nothing more than state-sanctioned thuggery? He’s addicted to fighting and spends his nights in a squalid boxinggym where he’ll take on all-comers to get his fix. You must have noticed all the unexplained bruising. Your best investigator might have left the Quarterlands behind, but I fear he still lives by its rules.”
Josiah rocked back on his heels, surprised not because Tyler had done his homework but by the speed of it. He was now very relieved that he’d shut down the Kathleen Line yesterday.
Esther glanced at him, looking mildly amused. “A boxing gym?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.
“I’m an investigator. It’s a dangerous job.” Josiah shrugged. “I’m not getting any younger – I have to stay in shape to fight the bad guys you pay me to track down. I did once fight for money, though – he’s right about that.”
“You didn’t put that on your CV.”
“I was fifteen. My dad had just died. I had to find a way to eat.”
Tyler looked annoyed. He had just trumped his ace. It was hard to blame a bereaved teenager for finding a way to survive in the dog-eat-dog world of the Quarterlands. “I didn’t do it for long – my best friend died in the ring, and I knew I’d go the same way if I kept at it.”
“All of this is beside the point,” Tyler interjected. “Raine has a history of violent behaviour, and last night, he was the aggressor in an altercation with my security team. They’ve all signed witness statements to that effect.”
One of the lawyers clicked on his holopad and several documents hovered in the air over Esther’s desk.
“One of them is in hospital with a broken wrist and concussion,” Tyler continued. “I could sue you for the cost of his treatment. This harassment of me and my staff has to stop, Director Lomax. Call your rogue investigator to heel, or I’ll report you to the Home Secretary – we play golf regularly, andI’m sure he’ll take a dim view of this when Inquisitus’s homicide contract comes up for renewal.”
Esther flicked through the documents, saying nothing.
“I’m taking out an injunction, preventing Raine from coming near me, or my staff, or any of my properties or businesses.”
The lawyer clicked on his holopad again, and yet more documents appeared in the air above her desk.
“My investigators must be allowed to follow any line of enquiry necessary in the course of their work,” Esther said without much conviction. Josiah could feel Tyler’s leash tightening around his neck; he was most definitely being brought to heel.
“In the course of their work, yes, but Raine’s harassment of me has not been in the course of an official investigation, has it?” Tyler accused.
Esther was silent as she perused the documents.
“Well? Have you authorised an investigation into me, Director Lomax?”
“No,” Esther said quietly.
“No.” Tyler glared at her. “Call him off, Director Lomax, or this won’t end well.”
Esther nodded. “I can understand your frustration, Mr Tyler. Josiah was acting outside his remit yesterday. He will be disciplined.”
