She slowed, scared to ask. “Your worst nightmare, what did you tell Edgar that would be?”
He paused, his face dropping. “Going back to jail.”
Lylith stammered. “Yeah, but photographs, that proves nothing does is?”
“No, it doesn't, not on its own. But with everything else...”
“What else?”
Hartt sighed. “The dynamite. They made me help take it out of the hideout, with that man called George. They ensured he was wearing gloves, but me - my prints are all over the bomb that will be used to blow up that girl.” He groaned in realization. “And then he told me to spit, that it was a tradition: I never saw him do it, but he made damn sure I did. My DNA is smeared across every inch of that pile. And then there's the group. The very first thing they did once Edgar had spoken to me was burn into me the same tattoo they wear on their necks, their emblem; their membership card.” He groaned. “I save the day, but that means the explosives don’t detonate; so when the Detectors arrive it looks as though I planted them there, and then when they fish out Edgar and George and Elisa, I look like I’m just part of the gang. If they're going down then I go with them. Like I said, back in prison, the worst days of my life. And Edgar knew it from the start. If I stop this from happening I have to go through all that again.”
Lylith White stuttered - every word had made sense and she could see how it would seem to anyone who hadn’t lived the whole thing by Josiah’s side, but she was determined to deny it to the last.
“Marcus!” She exclaimed. “He saw your every move, he saw you helping the Detectors, working to find the killers...”
Josiah sighed. “And every time I solved something else I made him look more and more incompetent. The best thing that could happen for Chief Detector Fraun is to have a bunch of murderers brought to justice and then have the man who did the job for him brushed away with them.”
“Then Rosin...?”
“Deposed, a disgraced officer - like anyone will believe him. And as for Cedric; this is a dream come true. If it turns out the man who revealed his secret tonight was infact a murderer, everything I said will seem like lies - chances are it will work in his favour. He gets the votes and stays in power with his daughter safe and sound.”
Lylith struggled to find another answer. “They’ll be another way we can prove your innocence...”
Josiah Hartt shook his head. “All the evidence there will be - it's watertight, it's proof. But you don't see it yet do you? Oh what a trap they’ve laid”. He stopped. “Letting the girl in there die tonight is the only way out. The evidence is all on that dynamite; if it goes kaboom then so does the 'proof' I was ever involved. Cedric would be too distraught to testify, Marcus Fraun will have failed, he would be deposed and I walk free.” He bowed his head, as if ashamed.
“But they can't do this!” Lylith pleaded. “You're innocent.”
“This time.” Josiah replied. “Like Edgar said, maybe it’s nature. Even if you can escape things in your past you would rather forget, they’ll find a way, somehow, of twisting around and biting you back.”
She reached out and took his hand, her voice with a note of desperation. “You don't have to do this.”
“You know that I do. Maybe right now every inch of my being is telling me to walk away from that door, but there is an innocent child in there who got caught up in this for no reason but hate, and revenge. For here, I have to put aside those emotions. Like you've told me oh so many times - I'm really rather good at that.”
Lylith let go of him, a tear rolled down her cheek. The salty water stung the tip of her tongue as it seeped over her lips. “You did care though didn’t you? In the end...” She sniffed. “I don't want you to go...”
“Three.” The walkie crackled, Jessica's voice filled with despair.
“Lylith White, crying over me eh?” Hartt smiled, running a thumb over her cheek and wiping away the tear, just as his own surfaced. “Come on now, it was only five days.”
She sniffed, offering the best smile she could muster. “But they were some of my best...”
Josiah nodded. “And mine,” He fought for a grin. “And I'm older so I win.”
Lylith snorted with laughter, running her hand over his arm as she tried to compose herself. She stroked a thumb over his cheek, wiping away a tear. “Can you disable it?”
Josiah nodded. “They won't be expecting me to go in there; what with leaving her to die being my get out clause. They won’t have prepared anything too secure.”
She straightened her jumper. “So you're going to let this happen?”
“I don't have a choice. Just think of that, me coming out of there with her in my arms - we win Lylith. We win.” He smiled. “Besides, the stretch won't be too bad: five years at least but only ten at a push. I can survive that...”
“I don't know if I can.” Lylith could feel her tears again. “That's too long...”
“Oh it's only a decade.” He smiled. “I'll save a fortune on electricity.”
Lylith shook her head. “But it's not fair!”
“No, it's not.” He nodded, standing clumsily and helping her up. She staggered away, tears streaming down her cheeks, a hand over her shaking lips. “Come on now Lylith, this isn't like you.” Josiah said. “I’ve watched you and all your life you’ve been strong and you’ve been brilliant, no matter what - you don't need me. Besides: I'll be fine.” He sniffed, pointing a shaking finger. “And you... Be happy, live well. Move on.”
She wiped her face, watching as he turned. “What if I don't want to?”
He smiled. “You don't have a choice.” He wiped his cheeks on his sleeve and turned to the door, placing a hand on the oak.
“Two.”
Josiah turned quickly, as if nothing had happened, wide eyed and beaming. “You never got me a Christmas present!” He exclaimed.
Lylith stammered, before she retorted in mock offence; “Neither did you!”
“Didn't I?” He pondered. “Oh well, you had a lot on. Tell you what; I'll give you an extension. Shall we say… about a decade? Yeah, that should be enough. You can owe me.” He raised a hand and smiled to say goodbye, turning to the door and pushing it open. “See ya around Miss White.” Then he took the wood in his palm, swung himself inside and pulled it shut.
Lylith could hear a distant rattling inside the building, but it grew fainter as she walked away. Behind her back there was cheering, and crying, yet all that soon faded into the sound of the breeze. There was the galloping hooves of a dozen horses, far across the grassy plains. The last thing Lylith heard was the creaking of a door as she disappeared into the forest.
To Be Continued.
Blood & Baltazar Page 30
