Rentboy

as though he had forgotten the assault. “Yes, he was rather unreasonable.
    He despises homosexuality, but indiscriminate killing is well within the scope of his moral compass.”
    “That’s my dad,” Fox said. “I’m sorry about all the lies. I wish you’d believe me.”
    “Spare me more of them,” Eddie said. “You stole my computer on purpose. If this is a genuine
    threat, then you’re in on the whole thing. You’re part of all this. You live off the earnings of a
    mercenary soldier.”
    “No, it wasn’t like that!” Fox burst out.
    “I don’t believe any of this. It’s outrageous. Howard was furious when I told him my laptop was
    stolen with all the data.”
    “He was pretending. Did you suggest calling the police?” Fox asked.
    “Yes,” Eddie said. “I’d like to call them now and turn you in. Let them sort fact from fiction.”
    “And what did he say, Howard? Go ahead and call them?”
    Quietly Eddie replied, “No. He told me not to.” A play of thoughts scurried across Eddie’s face,
    first confusion, then a glimmer of comprehension and hopefully realization.
    “Eddie, I…” Footsteps in the corridor outside sent Fox scurrying behind a workbench just as the
    laboratory door opened. Sitting behind the door, Eddie nearly got slammed into the wall. With his
    forefinger to his lips, Fox mouthed, I’m not here.
    Shit! It was Howard.
    Dr. Howard muttered about lights being left on and the door left unlocked as he made his way
    across the lab to a small safe tucked under a workbench. With difficulty the man got down on his
    knees and tried to drag the safe out from under the bench. When he realized he could not budge it, he
    ducked his head under the bench and began to try various combinations, cursing at each failure.
    Squinting his confusion, Eddie looked at Fox, then back at Howard. “What are you doing, Dr.
    Howard?”
    Taken by surprise, the doctor looked up so abruptly that he slammed his head into the bench
    above. “Fuck!” he screamed and crawled backward to get out. With both hands on his head he threw
    a look of rage at Eddie. “Atherton, why are you sitting on the floor? Why are you still here?”
    “I’m tired. Just thought I’d have a rest before going home.”
    Christ, Eddie, try to sound more convincing and less idiotic. Around the corner of the bench
    Fox could see Eddie still seated on the floor and Dr. Howard’s legs.
    “On the floor? You’re a very strange man, Dr. Atherton.”
    “So I’m told,” Eddie said. “What are you doing with my safe?”
    Howard’s tone was scathing when he said, “It’s a miracle you ever got through Oxford.”
    “I got through Oxford because I’m brilliant.
    Yes! You tell him, Eddie.
    “I need all your data on the Lintrane.”
    Eddie stood up until all Fox could see was two sets of legs, one stout and one skinny. “You have
    it. I sent you the report in an encrypted file a couple of days ago. You have the password.”
    “You changed the compound without my permission. I told you not to change it until I gave you
    the go-ahead.”
    Please, Eddie, think about what I’ve said.
    “It had to be changed. The original compound did not stand up to the large animal tests. It killed
    them. I told you that. We cannot risk it near people.”
    “Yes, excellent. But I need every stage of the experiment to show to Comtrex in order to justify
    the grant they gave us.”
    “I don’t see why. Give them the final version. I have everything ready to submit to them. They
    can bring it to market quite quickly. It will be a great asset in Uganda. I feel very strongly about
    helping people.”
    “Yes! So do I!”
    Would Eddie pick up on Dr. Howard’s impatience or not read it at all?
    “I destroyed the data on the lethal version,” Eddie said. He sounded very calm, like his ordinary
    haven’t-got-a-clue self.
    Was he faking it? Fox wasn’t sure Eddie was capable of any kind of duplicity.
    “I didn’t want any mistakes made about which compound would go to market.”
    Howard’s legs walked closer to Eddie’s. “I said I need all the data, Dr. Atherton.”
    Watch out, mate. He knows karate.
    “I no longer have it, Dr. Howard. I destroyed it. Is that what you were doing just now, trying to
    get the memory sticks from my safe?”
    “Yes, if you must know!” Howard sounded on the verge of hysteria. “Are you telling me you
    cannot reproduce it? Because I believe you can. I employed you when you were still at Oxford
    because of