Rentboy

you get them to kill my dad?”
    After a pause, Mr. Conran said, “We don’t do that sort of thing, Fox. We don’t kill people on
    request. It is unfortunate those men had to die, but it was the only way to get you and Dr. Atherton
    safely out of there.”
    “I’m glad they’re dead. They were evil. Was it you the vicar spoke to?”
    “Yes, we had a long chat. He’s a good man. You were right to confide in him.”
    “So you’re MI6.”
    Without acknowledging the question, Mr. Conran continued, “He told me your father, Captain
    Baillie, ordered you to steal Dr. Atherton’s computer. Do you feel well enough to tell me about it
    yourself?”
    “All right.” From the first order to lure Eddie, he told Mr. Conran everything. Several times he
    had to pause while the man held a glass of water for him, allowing him to sip from a straw. “My
    throat feels raw.” He left out the part about the sex, but he made certain to say, “I knew I loved him,
    almost from that first day. He’s totally weird, he never gets jokes or anything, and he eats Pot
    Noodles, but he’s great. He’s really great.”
    With a gentle smile, Mr. Conran patted his shoulder. “That’s lovely. Can you continue?”
    The last thing Fox wanted to talk about was what happened in Eddie’s house, but he did his best.
    “My dad was on Skype.”
    “Captain William Baillie? He works as a mercenary soldier now he’s retired. Is that right?”
    “Yeah, but I only just found that out. He told Maputwa to torture me to make Eddie talk. Then he
    told him how to do it and when to stop before I died.” The fear of the moment flooded back. Fox
    gasped, gulping in air as the memory grabbed him again. “I couldn’t breathe without inhaling water. I
    was drowning sitting up. My dad told that drug-crazed psycho how to torture me.”
    Mr. Conran took Fox’s hand. “It’s much worse when you are betrayed by someone you love.”
    “I don’t love him. I hate him. I want him dead, but I always wanted him to love me.” Tears ran
    down his cheeks. “Every time I think about that towel and that bin bag, I can’t breathe again.”
    With his other hand Mr. Conran patted Fox’s chest. “What they did to you was a form of
    waterboarding. You can actually drown from it. You inhaled a good deal of water. The doctor tells
    me that you also inhaled some vomit into your lungs. You could easily have died or suffered brain
    damage.”
    “I hate my fucking father. I hate him.” Mucus filled his throat and nose. “I’ve got to sit up. I can’t
    breathe.”
    Mr. Conran released Fox’s hand and pressed a button on the head of the bed. “Wait a minute. I’ll
    adjust the bed so it will elevate your shoulders.”
    With relief Fox sat partially upright, grabbing at the handful of paper tissues Mr. Conran handed
    him. He blew his nose hard. “Thanks.”
    “You’ve got post-traumatic stress disorder, Fox. I’ll get you someone to help you with that after
    you leave here. It will lessen with time. But listen to me very carefully now. Are you paying
    attention?”
    He looked into the man’s gentle face. “Yeah.”
    “You must tell no one what happened.” He looked directly into Fox’s eyes. “None of it, not the
    pesticide, Mr. Maputwa, nothing. You will most certainly not talk about the men who rescued you.
    They risked their lives for you. I will be having this conversation with Dr. Atherton when he is
    conscious. If you talk about this to anyone, you will be in very grave trouble. Do you understand? You
    could be prosecuted by the government.” His face was very serious. “You must forget it ever
    happened. You are no longer in danger.”
    “Yeah, but how do I explain the state I’m in?”
    “You’ve been in a car accident with your friend Dr. Atherton. He was driving. There was a
    storm. There were a number of accidents last night. You remember nothing because you have lost
    your memory of the event.”
    “So it was last night, then?” Fox asked.
    “Yes. All evidence of the activities at the Atherton farmhouse has been removed. They will
    never know what went on in their absence. Your mother and Dr. Atherton’s parents have been
    informed of the accident.” From his briefcase he pulled a folded copy of The Times . A small article
    on page two mentioned several car accidents due to the storm. Afton Baillie and Dr. Edward Atherton
    were mentioned by name. Conran held the newspaper for him, pointing at the story.
    Fox read the article,