Chapter 69

69

Anthony

Anthony was unsure of why he had been summoned to the Young Citizen Camp project meeting in London. Much of what was being discussed in another disused building he had been driven to had little, if anything, to do with his work. He could only conclude his presence was Hyde’s way of reminding him who was in charge.

There had been no direct communication between employer and employee in the fortnight since his return to work. Access to Anthony’s computer had returned but he liaised only with the anonymous members of his team. Today was the first time since Anthony’s aborted resignation that he and Hyde had shared the same space.

‘We have already begun drip-feeding into the public’s consciousness that an overhaul to the education system is coming,’ one of the faces around the table began. ‘The media is reporting on how there has been an upsurge in interest in boarding schools since we announced we are looking at making them accessible to not only the privileged. And we’ll follow that up with a study about underperforming students experiencing significant improvements when separated from high-achievers.’

‘When do you envisage the latter appearing?’ asked Hyde.

‘As soon as the press releases are approved. That’s when I believe Maddy and her team become involved.’

MP Maddy Cordell, Minister of State and whose remit included the prison service, nodded earnestly. ‘We’ll begin placing stories about the rising numbers of young offenders who are forced into mainstream prisons due to a lack of space,’ she began. Cordell appeared much more enthusiastic at this meeting that Anthony remembered her at their last. ‘To emphasise our point, we’ll utilize the names of innocent members of the public who’ve been killed by youngsters released from adult prisons. Then we’ll wheel out our experts to warn how our prisons are at bursting point and toss in a few stats about how most convicts will return to crime once released. The lack of investment angle is going to make us look bad for a couple of news cycles. This is when we’ll tell everyone we understand their concerns and are discussing massive reforms, which will begin at school level.’

‘And Anthony,’ said Hyde, finally, ‘perhaps you might update us on your department’s work?’

Anthony curled his toes. ‘We are on target,’ he said curtly.

‘Excellent. You’re certainly earning your seat at the table.’ Anthony struggled to interpret the look Hyde was giving him. Then he recalled he had heard that exact same phrase from Jada’s mouth very recently. A coincidental turn of phrase? Perhaps, but unlikely. There were no coincidences where Hyde was concerned. It meant his conversations at home were being monitored, this time to keep Anthony in check and not his marriage.

With the meeting at an end, Anthony was the first to exit the building and was approached by the security operative who had driven him to this East London meeting place. She opened the door to an awaiting vehicle with blacked out windows. Anthony shook his head. ‘I’ll walk.’

‘To Euston?’ she asked. ‘That’s at least five miles.’

‘I need the exercise.’

He began by making his way along Bow Road before switching off his phone and removing the battery. Then, as he approached Mile End, he weaved his way across roads and into side streets until he was sure he wasn’t being followed. It didn’t mean he wasn’t being tracked by CCTV though. Anthony didn’t know where he was going until he spotted people entering and leaving an off-white, rectangular church with a towering steeple. He hurried up the cobbled path until he reached a door and pushed it open. Noise came from an adjoining room and, as he entered, he scanned the crowd queuing at a food bank. He singled out an elderly man to approach.

‘I’m really sorry to bother you,’ he asked, ‘but my mobile won’t charge and I really need to make a call to check on my mum. She’s not been well. Do you have a phone I could borrow? I can pay for my call?’

The man looked Anthony up and down and deciding he was legitimate, removed his phone from his pocket. ‘Be quick,’ he urged.

Then he removed a scrap of paper he had been carrying around with him since the woman he had met at the Freedom for All meeting had pressed it into his palm and dialled the number written on it.