Page 49 of Savage Justice

“They want my life story.”

“No, they don’t. They just want a few lines to explain why you’d make a great student.”

His face falls.

“So, let’s make some notes.” I dig my ever-present notebook from my bag. “What is it you like the most about computers?”

It’s slow going at first, until he warms to the theme. I tease out of him his enthusiasm for the order and predictability of IT, the endless applications, the infinite potential. His desire to create, to push back boundaries, to actually make the world a better place. Frankie’s underlying loneliness and despair are there, too, but the natural optimism of youth is unmistakeable.

Ethan Savage is a canny operator, I decide. I can see the self-interest at work. Training this young man up will be good for business, but there’s more to it than that. Frankie’s had little in the way of chances so far, and Ethan seems intent on getting him to dream bigger, further than the end of his own nose.

The least I can do is help.

“There you are.” I shove the notebook across the table at him. “Your personal statement. You just need to copy that into the space on the form and fill in the rest of the details. You’ll need to apply for a student loan, too.”

He shakes his head. “I don’t need any money.”

“You will. Even if you live here, you’ll need to buy books and suchlike. And there’s the fees. Nine thousand pounds a year for three years.”

“I have plenty,” he insists. “In my bank account.”

I’m not sure he understands the costs involved. “Ethan’s keen for you to do this, and he’ll probably help out, but—”

“Will this cover it, do you think?” He shoves his smartphone under my nose.

I blink and peer at the small screen. “Who…? I mean, how did you…? Is this yours?”

He nods. “I did a few jobs, before I came here. I’ve been saving up.”

“There’s saving up and there’s… this.” If the numbers on the screen are to be believed, the boy is sitting on over nineteen million dollars squirrelled away in a Swiss bank account. “What sort of jobs did you do?” My voice is trembling.

“This and that. People pay well if it’s important to them. And I am the best.”

I give my head a little shake to clear it.

“So, you think I’ll have enough?” he presses me.

“Oh, yes.” I rally. “And it’ll be a good investment. Skip over the part about student loans, then.”

Frankie applies himself to copying his statement into the online form on his phone and completing the personal details. He pauses when he gets to the part seeking information about his academic career to date.

“I didn’t get no GCSEs,” he says. “And you have to be over twenty-five to be a mature student.”

“You’ll have to lie about your age or lie about your qualifications,” I reply.

He never turns a hair, just goes back to the bit where he gave his date of birth and alters it. “I suppose I could grow a beard.”

I think that’s probably a long shot, but I’m confident Ethan will smooth out any administrative issues should they arise.

“Does that look okay?” He hands me his phone for me to scroll through what he’s written

I scan through it. “I think so. You’ll need two references. Do you want me to be one of them?”

“Yes, please. Who else can I ask?”

“Let’s go see who’s about?”

We happen across Megan Alexander, the Savage empire’s doctor. She agrees to be named on his form and wishes Frankie luck.

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