Flawed (Flawed, #1)(86)

“Of course.”

“I bought a book of his once. I liked his philosophies. You know he said there are four principles to solving a problem. First, you have to understand the problem. After understanding it, you make a plan, then you carry out the plan, then you look back on your work. If this technique fails, which, of course, it often does, Pólya advised, if you can’t solve a problem, then there is an easier problem you can solve: Find it.”

I smile.

“Thought you’d like that one.”

“You’re a friend of Judge Crevan’s,” I say.

“I am?” he says, surprised. “Where did you hear that nasty rumor from?”

“The photographs.”

“Oh that.” He waves his hand dismissively. “I can safely say I see none of those people anymore. Apart from her, of course.” He looks at the photo of him and Alpha on the beach, both sun-kissed, him cleanly shaven, looking years younger. “And she probably wishes she was one of them. Does Judge Crevan even have friends, might I ask?”

I like him. “Did you work for the Guild?”

“The Guild? No.” He shakes his head. “The government? Yes. Which the Guild works for, too, I might add, though I think they both forget that fact.” He smiles at me. “She says you don’t ask enough questions. I see you’re getting over that part of it. But be careful, sometimes it’s best not to know, because even when you know, it doesn’t matter anyway. Ignorance is bliss. Knowledge is often a responsibility nobody wants.” He closes his eyes and lazily leans back in the chair, which tilts under his weight and looks like he’ll fall backward. “She and I don’t agree on that point, of course. Obviously. She always wants to be in the know. She’s got this crusade. I don’t know. Keeps her busy.”

“You don’t believe in her foundation?”

“Foundations are rather wobbly, wouldn’t you agree?” He opens one eye and raises an eyebrow. “If you and I are down here and the rest of them are scrambling around upstairs.” He buries his face in the tumbler again, and the caramel liquid disappears. I actually wish I could join him, from the look of serenity that washes over his face when he’s swallowed it all, but then I think of how Logan forced the beer down my throat and I’m quickly over it.

“He tried to take my house and fortune, you know,” he says. “Crevan. He’s trying to find a way to freeze the assets of the Flawed, take them to fund the Guild. Like they do with criminals. Only we’re not criminals, are we, Celestine?”

I shake my head.

“Good. You remember that. It’s easy to forget sometimes. Though criminals get better treatment than us. As soon as they serve their time, they’re out. We’re like this forever.” This he says without humor. “Did you know Crevan has been paid over one hundred million since the beginning of the Guild? Taxpayers’ money, too. If the public knew that, I think it would be Crevan they boo and hiss in the courtyard and not us. Now, that’s a crime.”

I shake my head, shocked at his earnings.

We leave a silence. I think of the holiday home I stayed in, the yacht we partied on, the elaborate parties, the endless food and drink. I feel sick that it was funded by his crusade to better his own life. Has it been for justice, as he says, or for money?

“So what is she having you do, then?”

I note that he never says Alpha’s name. “I don’t know. She wanted me to come here. She was about to make me speak, but then the Whistleblowers arrived. Thankfully. Didn’t think I’d ever hear myself say that.”

“Not a fan of speeches?”

“Not when I don’t know what I’m talking about.”

“They’re the very people who usually love them,” he says, and we laugh again. “Actions speak louder than words, remember that. Not everyone is made for podiums and microphones. I suggest you find a partner, a Flawed one, that’s best, easier, yes. You can live by the same rules, nice and balanced, two Flawed make perfect. Fall in love. Settle down. Make babies. Cherish them. Live your life.”

“I can’t have a family with a Flawed person.”

“Of course you can; they just say that you may not.”

“That doesn’t sound like an easy life. I thought you said not to cause trouble.”

“Did I say that?” He looks at me again.

I think about it, and then I shake my head.

“No. Indeed. I said actions speak louder than words. Don’t talk about it. Do it. All of them upstairs, her included, though I love her, all they do is talk. You do. That’s why they found you. Will cling to you. Will make you do for them. No. You do for you.” He stands up and comes around the desk to me. He takes my hand and bows theatrically. “Ms. North, a pleasure. You are even more beautiful in the flesh than they describe in the daily rags.”

I smile. “Take care of yourself,” I say gently. “They’ll test you tonight.”

“Indeed, they always do, but there are ways around them. You’ll find that out. Who’s your Whistleblower?”

“Mary May.”

“Oooh.” He winces. “Can’t say I envy you. No way around her. My life shuddered forward again the day she left here. Rattling along like a rusted ghost train, but at least it’s moving. Like I say, look to your strengths, look to your heroes for guidance. I’m a scientist. That helps me.” He salutes and makes his way back to the hidden door. “Don’t tell her that you saw me.”