“And you want justice for Alex,” she said quietly. Elsie was used to the many sad stories of the indies they rescued, but even so, there was a soul-weary look in her eyes.
“There isn’t much time,” Josiah said. “We must shut down the Kathleen Line and get all our people out. They can’t stay in the UK – if Tyler starts digging into my life, then he’ll find them. We planned for this, and now I need you to put that plan into action.”
“What about you?” she asked.
Josiah shrugged. “I don’t know what’s going to happen to me. You might see things about me on the news in the coming weeks – some of them might even be true. None of it changes anything. I’m still who I’ve always been. However bad it gets, please remember that.”
“Oh, Joe.” She touched his knee. “Sweetheart, I know who you are, and all the people you’ve saved over the years know who you are, too. There’s only a handful of indies in the UK pipeline right now, and we have the resources to get them all out today if we act fast. We can get all our volunteers to safety, as well – those who will agree to leave, anyway. Just give me the code word, and I’ll make it happen.” She drew herself up and gathered her shawl around her. Alex sat back and watched her, a look of admiration in his eyes. “Go on, Joe. Say the word and it’s done.”
It wasn’t too late. He could turn a blind eye to Solange’s murder. He could refuse to take on George Tyler, Martin Bagshaw, Jake Harper, and the entire corrupt establishment that supported the IS system. He could, but he knew he wouldn’t.
“Hattie,” he told Elsie. “Operation Hattie starts now. Get all our people out safely in the next twenty-four hours and shut down the Kathleen Line.”
She let out a sad sigh. “So, the time has come at last.”
He gently touched her silver hair. “It’s past time, I think. I should have let you rest a long time ago, Elsie.”
“Put me out to grass, you mean. Not bloody likely. Now, get out of here, both of you. Go on. Shoo!”
Josiah helped her to her feet, and she pulled him down and wrapped him in another big hug. “You’ll go to Liz’s house, like we agreed?” he asked into her shoulder.
“Yup. It’s been a couple of years since I last saw those kids. It’s time I went back for a visit.”
“It might never be safe to return,” he warned.
“Then I’ll stay with Liz. She says my cooking makes her fat, but I notice that doesn’t stop her stuffing her face all the same.”
“You should leave soon. I doubt it’ll be long before Tyler comes knocking on your door.”
“I’ll leave tomorrow. We’ve had this plan in place for years. I always have a bag packed, just like you. Now go. I have work to do.” She marched them to the door. “Take care of him for me,” she hissed fiercely to Alex as she shooed them out. “You brought him back to life, so he’s your responsibility now. Promise me.”
“I promise,” Alex replied in such a heartfelt tone that it took Josiah by surprise.
“I don’t know when I’ll see you again, Elsie,” he said softly, reaching down to put his arms around her one last time.
“You know where Liz’s place is. One day, when all this is over, if it’s safe, come visit. Those kids adore you. This is not goodbye forever, Josiah Raine. I won’t have that!”
“No, not forever.” He dropped a kiss on her hair, crossing his fingers behind her back.
He walked away from Elsie’s flat in a daze. He’d just ended years of dedication with two words and said goodbye to his closest friend. Then he felt Alex’s hand slip silently into his. It was against his cardinal rule about how Alex should behave inpublic, but he didn’t care. He held on tightly all the way back to the duck.
They were silent on the drive to Inquisitus, although Josiah was aware of Alex glancing at him anxiously every few minutes.
“You know… one thing’s been bothering me,” Josiah said finally as they approached the huge Old London lost zone just outside Streatham. “Why did Tyler risk selling you to Dacre, knowing what you know?”
“It’s a good question.” Alex chewed on his bottom lip.
“Even if he bought your act that you were a reformed character when you came back from Belvedere, it’s still one hell of a risk.”
“I agree. Although he held on to me for three years after Belvedere, so it wasn’t a decision he made quickly, or, I would presume, lightly. Perhaps, after all that time, he didn’t think I was a danger to him anymore.”
“Maybe.”
“Solange wasn’t important to him. He probably seriously doubted anyone would care to look into her disappearance on the word of an IS like me. Just look at all the trouble you’ve had convincing Esther and Reed that I’m worth listening to.”
“Good point.” Josiah grunted. “Still… I wonder what the motivation was for selling you. Did he need the money? That might be an explanation.”
“I don’t know.” Alex gazed out of the window, and Josiah knew he’d get nothing more from him. He wasn’t sure he believed Alex, but what more could he possibly be hiding? It was puzzling, but surely Tyler was too wily an operator to risk letting Alex out of his clutches with all he knew? Something else was at play here, he just wasn’t sure what. Or why Alex was so reluctant to talk about it.
