Page 94 of Crocodile Tears

He tried to stride away but only managed a few paces because his legs were shaking. Leaning forward, he put his hands on his knees, breathing deeply.

He heard a noise behind him, and then a warm, strong hand landed gently on his shoulder and squeezed.

“Thank you, Joe,” Hunt said quietly.

He shook his hand away and rounded on him. “You’re such a shit. All that stuff about puppies, and chocolate, and the way you were so bloody nice to me. Christ! Nobody like you ever sat down and talked to me that way before, like we were equals, like I meant something. But it was all about keeping me onside in case I ever found out, wasn’t it?”

“No. God, no.”

“You’re a thief. People paid good money to buy those IS contracts – they made a deal. It’s stealing.”

“I don’t think of it that way. These are people in need of help, and I’m helping them.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake. ‘I’m Peter Hunt. I rescue waifs and strays,’” Josiah mocked. “You can’t resist, can you? Hattie, Liz, all those people you took to LKG… me…”

“You?” Hunt raised an eyebrow.

“You knew about Rosengarten right from the beginning, didn’t you? You pretended you hadn’t paid attention to what was in my file, but you had.”

Hunt sighed. “Yes, I knew, Joe. I knew before you even set foot in my tent. I must admit I was intrigued to meet this one-man killing machine, but you weren’t at all what I was expecting. I actually found you… will you hit me if I say sweet?”

“I might.” Josiah glared at him.

“Then I won’t.” Hunt grinned. “But you’re right – I do like waifs and strays, and you have a certain kind of lost look that I can’t resist. I tried to earn your trust. I wanted you to talk to me about Rosengarten one day, Joe. I thought it might help.”

“Fuck you – and stop bloody well calling me Joe.” The mention of Rosengarten made Josiah furious. He shoved Hunt angrily against the side of the AV and held him there, his fist raised.

The captain gazed at him steadily. “Do it,” he said. “Whatever you want to do – do it. I’m sure I deserve it.”

Josiah had no idea why he did what he did next; he was acting on pure instinct. Dropping his fist, he grabbed Hunt’s face between his hands, pulled him towards him, and kissed him, hard. Pushing his body hungrily against him, he held Hunt there, devouring him like a starving man.

Slowly, the fog cleared, and he realised that Hunt was returning the kiss, tempering Josiah’s desperate energy with his own, gentler, passion. Hunt’s hands were resting firmly on his hips, and his tongue was sweet and confident in his mouth.

Josiah faltered. He drew back to find Hunt smiling at him.

“Don’t look so shocked. There’s a reason I told you to go to the blue barge and not the red one.”

“But me… you and me…?” Josiah felt like a baby bird, opening and closing his mouth pathetically, still in shock.

“Why not? I happen to like you very much.” Hunt caressed the side of his face tenderly.

“But you’re my commanding officer…”

“I know, but as you’ve seen, the rules don’t mean a great deal to me.” Hunt grinned.

“Well, they bloody well mean something to me,” Josiah said, stepping back stiffly.

“As you wish,” Hunt said wistfully. “Thank you again, Joe – for everything.” He pressed a gentle kiss to Josiah’s cheek and then turned and walked away.

Josiah opened his eyes and looked out over the dull grey waters of the lost zone.What would Peter do? Unfortunately, he knew the answer to that all too well. If there was an IS to protect, then Peter would offer protection, and if there was a benefit of the doubt to be given, then Peter would give it. He’d always been on the side of the underdog.

“Damn you, Peter,” he said.

He climbed back into his duck, slamming the door shut violently behind him, and put in a call to Esther.

“Get the paperwork ready,” he snapped. “I’m taking the damn IS.”

Chapter Sixteen

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