Page 101 of Crocodile Tears

“Not really. It’s not the first time I’ve been transferred into someone else’s household,” Alexander said, sounding indifferent. “And I doubt it’ll be the last.” He gave his old tag to Esther and then waited, expectantly, for Josiah to place the fresh tag on him.

Josiah paused, fighting down his disgust, then brusquely pinned the tag on him. When he’d finished, he found that Alexander’s face was utterly blank; the mask had descended again.

Reed accompanied them outside, to where their ducks were parked.

“Give my regards to Sarah,” Josiah said, noticing that Alexander was walking a respectful one step behind.

“You should come over for dinner sometime; she’d love to meet you.”

“That would be nice.” He nodded politely.

“But you won’t,” Reed sighed. “What is it with you and letting people get close, sir?”

“We’re colleagues.”

“And that means we can’t be friends?”

“It means we have a job to do.”

“Fine, but if your new IS kills you in your sleep, don’t come running to me for sympathy.”

“You can always say ‘I told you so’ to my corpse if it makes you feel better,” Josiah teased as they reached their respective ducks.

“Seriously – he’s dangerous. One way or another.”

Josiah patted his arm. “I’ll be fine. If Alexander Lytton is playing me, he’s picked the wrong opponent.”

Alexander didn’t say a word on the drive home. Every now and then, Josiah shot him a glance out of the corner of his eye to find him staring blankly out of the window. It made for an awkward journey, and he wondered what the hell he was going to do with his unwanted houseguest.

It was early evening when they reached his house. Josiah parked on the driveway rather than in the garage, so he could show his new IS the keypad code to the front door.

Alexander followed him into the house and stood in the hallway,gazing blankly ahead, seemingly without an ounce of curiosity about his new home.

“Just remember…” Josiah hung his coat up neatly on the rack in the hallway. “Director Lomax has activated Tracker Plus on your microchip, so we’ll know where you are at all times.”

“I won’t try to escape, sir,” Alexander said, lowering his eyes.

He wasn’t the challenging man who’d verbally sparred with him in the interview suite now. His whole demeanour had changed, and he was every inch the obedient servant. Josiah suddenly longed for the other Alexander to return.

“Good. Follow me. This is the kitchen, this is the dining room, that’s the downstairs toilet, and this is the living room,” he instructed, waving his hand as they passed each room.

They climbed the stairs, and he gestured briskly again as they reached the landing. “Bedroom, bathroom, box room. This is where you’ll sleep.”

He opened the door to the spare room. It was freezing inside, so he turned on the heating, which had been off for years – no point heating a room that was never used.

“There’s an en-suite shower and toilet. Sheets and towels and stuff are in the dresser.”

“If you don’t mind, I would like to take a shower now, sir,” Alexander requested. He sniffed at his armpits. “I don’t smell very nice.”

“Go ahead. I’ll be downstairs. Come down when you’re done. You hungry?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Okay, I’ll cook something, then.”

“I could do it, sir. It’s on my list of skills.”

Josiah didn’t like the idea of this stranger cooking for him in his own home, so he shook his head. “Come downstairs when you’re ready. I’ll be in the kitchen,” he said curtly.

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