The Marriage Act(70)

‘But you’re letting Artificial Intelligence pick and choose.’

‘AI is helping us reap the rewards of a new industrial revolution.’

‘Not all revolutions benefit us.’

Hyde shook his head. ‘Another of your alternative facts. AI will identify potential candidates. Before parents are approached, tutors and counsellors will also play their part in deciding if a camp is beneficial for a subject.’

‘You mean a child,’ said Anthony. ‘You called them subjects. They’re children.’

‘Let’s not get bogged down by semantics.’

There was an edge to his tone. Anthony suspected his employer was masking his irritation.

‘How often will they be allowed to go home to visit their families?’

‘Their relatives will be encouraged to make appointments to see them at allocated times. But allowing subj . . . children . . . to return home regularly is counterproductive. They need to learn that good behaviour and obedience will earn them rewards.’

‘Obedience? You’re not training animals.’

‘You are increasingly sounding like a member of Freedom for All,’ Hyde replied. ‘I do hope they didn’t radicalize you during your recent attendance at one of their branch meetings?’

Anthony realized he must be under surveillance. He willed himself not to appear rattled. ‘Freedom for All is hardly Al-Qaeda, and I’m too old to be brainwashed. At least by the FFA,’ he added pointedly.

Hyde rose to his feet and positioned himself in front of Anthony, his hands planted squarely on his hips.

‘Where’s all this really coming from, Anthony? I don’t recall you wrestling with your conscience when it came to using Jem Jones to promote our agenda or questioning my request to silence her.’

Anthony bristled at hearing him use her name.

‘In fact,’ continued Hyde, ‘I believe you still have the weapon you used to shoot her locked away in your desk drawer, rather like a serial killer who keeps a souvenir of their victims.’

Now anger tugged at Anthony. Hyde could only be in possession of this information if his house had been searched or he had access to the cameras Anthony had himself installed. But he wasn’t going to be intimidated.

‘Do you know what the Nazis did with schoolchildren before and during the Second World War?’ Anthony asked.

Hyde shrugged, a little too flippantly to convince Anthony he was ignorant of the answer.

‘In the late 1930s, they founded the first Adolf Hitler Schools – twelve elite boarding schools scattered around the country and run by the Secret Service. The plan was to indoctrinate students into Nazi ideologies. They released propaganda films to make the schools appear to be the best things in the world and that anyone not invited was missing out.’

‘Well, let me stop you there,’ Hyde laughed. ‘If you’re about to make some ridiculous comparison, the purpose of our camps is to educate, not indoctrinate.’

‘It was the job of the teachers to ensure their students were loyal to Hitler so the curriculum reflected Nazi philosophies. Academic subjects like maths and English were replaced by fitness and team sports. Parental influence was minimal. Once enrolled, there was no leaving. And as far as I can see, the only difference between what the Nazis were doing more than a hundred years ago and what you expect me to sell to the public is that they chose the best students and you’re choosing the most vulnerable. Please jump in and correct me if I’m wrong.’

‘Of course you’re wrong,’ Hyde snapped.

‘I had ADHD as a kid and I was disruptive in class because I struggled to focus. If I were of school age now, you’d make sure my aspirations were no higher than car-washer.’

‘This is really about your son, isn’t it, Anthony? You don’t care about the greater good, you just want to ensure that you and yours are taken care of. Well, I can assure you that while you remain on the correct side, you have nothing to fear. In the same way you upgraded your marriage but we will never record your conversations with your wife, Matthew will remain exempt from our camps.’

‘And if I don’t stay on your side?’

Hyde softened his tone. ‘This project will go ahead whether you are involved or not because no one is irreplaceable. But I would suggest that it’s in your best interests to get on board. If not for yourself, then for Matthew.’

Anthony’s fingers balled, fist-like. He held back from striking Hyde.

‘I’m done,’ he said.

‘This is not a good decision, Anthony. I have high hopes for you, I always have had. Don’t let me down.’

‘I can’t do it.’

‘Take some time to mull over the ramifications. How it will affect your family. Especially your lad.’

Anthony’s skin prickled, but he would not back down. ‘Thank you for the opportunities Henry, but goodbye.’

And, with that, Anthony turned his back on Hyde and made his way out of the park.





52


Jeffrey




It wasn’t how Jeffrey had intended to spend his evening, scurrying in and out of shop doorways and hiding behind bus shelters and digital billboards.

But curiosity had got the better of him after accessing Noah’s hospital diary. Noah had told Luca that he was covering another junior doctor’s shift that night. His calendar said no such thing. He was lying and Jeffrey wanted to know why. Jeffrey had been in two minds about leaving Luca alone in the house and wasting one-to-one time without Noah’s interruptions. But the lure of uncovering deceit was too hard to resist.