The Controller

by Matt Brolly

  Rose’s demeanor didn’t change in reaction to what was effectively an accusation. ‘As I said, we had no way to know if the family were alive or not. At the time it was the only logical negotiation technique.’

  ‘You’ve interrogated him?’ asked Lynch.

  Balfour pinched his nose, frowning. ‘We’ve begun the process. He claims his name is Gregor Razinski and he is a member of this so-called organization.’

  ‘The Railroad,’ said Lynch, goading Balfour.

  ‘Yes. He’s refused to elaborate much further either about his involvement with the group, or about the group itself.’ Balfour hesitated. ‘Listen, Lynch, I understand your past involvement with this organization and I know what Razinski is promising you, but as far as the FBI are concerned the Railroad do not exist.’

  ‘I got that message a long time ago, Balfour.’

  Balfour didn’t respond.

  The appearance of Razinski and his tattoos were far from proof of the Railroad’s existence, but what would they need for the group to be recognized? ‘What’s your take, Rose?’

  ‘I don’t know enough about the Railroad to offer an opinion at the moment. All I know is that Razinski slaughtered that family without remorse. He is highly intelligent and manipulative. He obviously didn’t expect to be caught and it’s possible he’d created this scenario of you and the Railroad as a backup, should he ever get into such a situation. That said, we’ve taken a closer look at the Railroad tattoos on his back and, as far as we can ascertain, the tracks go back over a number of years. There is significant scar tissue on his back. Our best guess is that the last three tracks were carved onto his body less than a year ago. The first track as long as ten to fifteen years.’

  Lynch thought about the word carved. His research suggested that only a fellow Railroad member could carve a track onto a body. The process involved the use of a machete. It was crude and dangerous. ‘It’s one hell of a backup plan.’

  ‘There is possibly a simpler explanation,’ said Balfour.

  Lynch studied Balfour, his coiffured hair and lightly tanned face, the whiteness of his teeth and false smile, and wondered how much action the man had ever seen. ‘Let me guess, you think that Razinski is the Railroad?’

  ‘It would make more sense,’ said Balfour, smile still intact.

  ‘Than what?’

  ‘Than some rogue organization which abducts people on or near train tracks never to be seen again.’ Balfour paused and Lynch noticed a hint of steel in his eyes. ‘We have to consider that Razinski has created this myth of the Railroad over the years, and that…’

  ‘And that he knows about my son because he is the one who took him?’

  For the first time since meeting him, Balfour looked uneasy. ‘It has to be considered,’ he said.

  They walked towards the glass dome where Razinski was being held. The glass was one way and Razinski couldn’t see them. He sat with perfect stillness, staring into space. ‘What do we know about the Gunn family?’ asked Lynch, peering through the glass into the domed prison.

  ‘We’re yet to uncover a link between the Gunn family and Razinski. Edward Gunn was an architect, high-level stuff. Eleanor Gunn a housewife,’ said Rose, moving next to him. ‘That said, we’ve been unable to trace Razinski on any system. He had no identification on him and doesn’t appear on any of our databases. It’s highly probable he’s using an alias.’

  Lynch continued studying the man in the prison. Razinski’s calmness was serene, trance-like. He would know he was under surveillance and yet sat if he was alone in his room, lost in thought. Lynch understood what was likely to happen next and it filled him with dread. He thought about Daniel. His last known whereabouts was at a public pathway next to a mainline train track. Lynch could picture the area in perfect clarity as if he’d just left the place. The tinged brown of the playing fields, the rusted metal on the swings, and the rip in the corrugated iron of the perimeter fence separating the Railroad track from the playing area. Since Daniel’s disappearance, two other children had gone missing in a three-mile radius of the spot. Prior to his disappearance, seventeen children had gone missing in a five-mile radius of the spot, each disappearance less than a mile from a sightline of a railroad track. Balfour and Rose would want to discuss Daniel’s disappearance, and Lynch wasn’t sure he had the energy to go through with it. Only the sight of Razinski, and the possibility he knew about Daniel’s fate kept him in place.

  ‘Let’s get a drink,’ said Rose, as if reading his thoughts.

  She led him through to a makeshift canteen, where drinks and food were spread out buffet-style on a long table. Lynch poured himself a cup of oily coffee and piled his plate high with thick-cut sandwiches, his appetite returning after his long journey.

  The three of them sat, Razinski still visible through a glass partition. Lynch was aware of the sound of his eating in the stillness of the room. Balfour and Rose sipped at their drinks, waiting.

  ‘What do you want to know?’ said Lynch, gulping his coffee.

  ‘You understand our position,’ said Rose, delaying.

  Lynch held his hand up, his palm facing the woman. ‘You don’t need to treat me with kid gloves. I understand the drill, and your suspicions. Just get on with it.’

  ‘Have you ever met the man through there, the man we know as Razinski?’

  Lynch understood they had to ask the questions, had to repeat themselves, and was happy to answer. ‘I’ve never met him, never came across him in my research.’

  Rose glanced at Balfour. ‘Your research, what can you tell us about that?’

  Lynch smiled. Balfour knew of his research, would have examined what files he hadn’t managed to smuggle out of his headquarters at the time. ‘No one cared about my research before,’ he said, staring at Balfour. Now was not the time for pettiness but he wanted to make his point.

  ‘Wouldn’t now be a perfect opportunity to put that record straight?’ said Rose, interjecting as if sensing the tension between the two men.

  Lynch took himself back to that time six years ago and the rudimentary connections he’d made, and how those connections had grown over the years. In retrospect, he understood he’d become too close to the case and that he should have taken more time off work following Daniel’s disappearance. He finished his coffee, and leant back in his chair.

  With the sight of Razinski in his periphery vision, he looked at Balfour and Rose. He was in no mood to speak. ‘I uncovered patterns, at first state level, then nationwide. The stats are there for everyone to see. I’m sure you’ve read my reports. A significant amount of children, and adults, had gone missing near railroad tracks nationwide. A big enough discrepancy to suggest we take notice.’ He sounded defensive, petty even, but the lack of support he’d received from the Bureau still nagged at him.

  ‘You were given time to work on this,’ said Balfour, more statement than question.

  ‘To begin with,’ said Lynch, unable to hide the sneer on his face. ‘It became apparent the project was too big for one small team.’

  ‘They took you off it?’ asked Rose, a hint of softness in her eyes.

  ‘I was told to put it on the back burner.’

  ‘But you didn’t,’ said Balfour.

  ‘I’m not here to argue. How could I? Those families wanted answers. Can you comprehend what that’s like? The loss of a child is horrendous but the not knowing, the thoughts that come with that lack of clarity, you can only imagine. I wasn’t about to let those people down.’

  Balfour and Rose didn’t reply for a time, appreciating Lynch was speaking from personal experience. It was Balfour who broke the silence first. ‘You were close to an arrest when you were…’

  ‘Fired?’ said Lynch, not hiding his sneer.

  ‘You weren’t fired. You left after I arrived.’

  ‘Oh yes, I forgot. I had uncovered a possible location for a man known as the Controller, the head of the Railroad. I went to meet my informant, only to find that he’d been execu
ted.’

  ‘Manner?’ said Rose.

  ‘Professional. Gunshot to the chest, double tap to the forehead. When my superiors found out I was still working on the case they put me on leave, wanted me to get over the disappearance of my son. Get over it,’ he repeated, his scorn centered on Balfour. ‘Six months later I was out. And Mr Balfour here was in.’

  Special Agent Rose brushed her hand across her nose as she studied him, ignoring his dig at Balfour. ‘The agents who picked you up at your house found some maps,’ she said.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘You’ve continued your work?’

  ‘I think that’s a poorly kept secret.’

  ‘And how’s that panned out for you, Mr Lynch?’ said Balfour.

  Lynch pursed his lips together and expelled air. He’d made his mind up years ago about Balfour and the verdict was not positive. ‘I know people are still going missing. I’ve reported as such - as you well know.’

  The three of them sat for a time in silence. Lynch understood he was being assessed. They were deciding if he was in the right mind to interview Razinski. That was why he’d kept as calm as he was able during the discussion, had contained his emotions when he wanted to lash out.

  Rose had yet to question him about the actual day when he’d been instructed to take extended leave from the organization. The accusations he’d made about a cover up within the department, accusations leveled in part at the man next to him. It was this that effectively forced him to leave. He’d seen it in the eyes of his colleagues, the mixture of pity and disgust that he’d lost it. That the disappearance of his son had pushed away at his sanity until he’d finally snapped.

  Tired of the silence, Lynch spoke. ‘You got me all the way here,’ he said. ‘You may as well let me speak to Razinski.’

  Balfour stared at him. Lynch matched the assessing glare and saw a weakness within Balfour. ‘Okay, Lynch,’ said Balfour. ‘You’ll go in there with Special Agent Rose. The first sign of anything untoward and you’ll be straight back out. Understood?’

  Lynch glanced at Rose who maintained her neutrality. ‘Crystal,’ he said.

  5

  They were about to depart the seating area and head for the dome when an operative interrupted them. ‘Sir, may I have a word,’ said the suited man to Balfour.

  ‘Wait there,’ said Balfour, getting to his feet and walking the operative to the other side of the room.

  ‘How long have you known Balfour?’ asked Lynch, once he was out of earshot.

  Rose didn’t immediately answer. She held his gaze, and once more Lynch felt he was being analyzed. He put himself in her position. For all she knew, he was a crazy who’d lost it following his son’s disappearance. But however unlikely she might consider Lynch’s theories, she wouldn’t be able to argue with the fact that Razinski had requested to speak to him. ‘Never met him until today,’ said Rose. ‘Seems nice,’ she added, with a hint of a smile.

  ‘Were you aware of any of this beforehand?’

  ‘What, the Railroad? I’ve heard of the legend, that’s why I recognized the tattoo on Razinski’s back.’ Rose shifted in her seat, and glanced over at Balfour who was deep in conversation with the operative. ‘If you don’t mind me asking, how has your research been going for the last six years?’

  It was an innocent enough question, and she’d asked it without any judgment so Lynch answered. ‘The short answer is nowhere,’ he said with a small laugh.

  ‘The long answer?’

  ‘No time for that. Let’s just say that every time I get close to a breakthrough something happens.’

  ‘Such as?’

  ‘People generally go missing,’ said Lynch.

  Rose nodded. He couldn’t tell if she was humoring him. More likely, she was using their friendly chat as a mode of interrogation. ‘Did your investigations have anything to do with the Gunn family?’

  Lynch noticed a narrowing of her eyes as she spoke the surname of the butchered family and wondered how horrific the crime scene had been. ‘You’re heading down the wrong road, Special Agent Rose, if you think I have anything to do with whatever happened to that family.’

  ‘I wasn’t suggesting that.’

  Lynch paused, composed himself. ‘Not directly, no. I would be interested in reading their files. From what I’ve been told, it sounds like an opportunistic home invasion gone wrong. It doesn’t sound as if Razinski had any particular motive for targeting the family.’

  Rose went to speak only to stop as Balfour returned. The ASAC was flustered. He pulled at the lapels of his jacket, shifting from foot to foot. ‘Okay you two, let’s get this thing up and running,’ he said, not offering an explanation. ‘I’ll be watching on the screens.’

  Lynch followed Rose to the glass prison where a desk and two chairs had been laid out. Armed guards surrounded the entrance to the dome, and one of the gigantic men followed them into the glass area as if the prisoner had some Houdini-like escape ability.

  Gregor Razinski didn’t respond as the side door of the glass dome opened. Rose pressed a button on a side panel, and the chair holding the captive in place made a slow turn so that Razinski faced them. Razinski was firmly secured. His hands and legs were locked into the metallic contraption, and a steel band curled around his neck making it difficult for him to move his head. The chair stopped moving so that Razinski sat facing them. Razinski blinked before making eye contact with them in turn before finally settling on Lynch.

  Razinski smirked and Lynch saw the look of a man perfectly at ease with himself. His eyes were devoid of humanity and Lynch understood at that moment there would be no great revelation from him. Razinski was beyond empathy. He would have no regrets about what he’d done to the Gunn family, and would offer no assistance unless it benefited him.

  ‘Special Agent Lynch,’ said Razinski. His voice was coarse, guttural, as if his throat was bone dry. ‘Or should I say Mr Lynch?’

  ‘You have me at a disadvantage,’ said Lynch.

  Razinski attempted to laugh, the sound emanating from his mouth more of a yelp. ‘But I know all about you, Lynch.’ He tilted his head, as far as able considering his restraints. ‘And your little boy. Though he’s not so little anymore.’

  The world in front of Lynch faded out of focus. White noise filled his ears at the mention of his son, and for one horrendous second he thought he would pass out. He blinked, mirroring Razinski’s earlier movement, and reality rushed back at him. He composed himself, hoping he hadn’t given away too much in his reaction. He sensed Rose in his peripheral vision willing him to continue. ‘Shall we stop playing games now, Mr Razinski. You obviously know I’m no longer with the FBI. Why did you request my presence here?’

  Razinski narrowed his eyes, feigning sympathy. ‘Poor Lynch. We’ve been watching you all this time you know. Your tedious attempts at tracking us down.’

  ‘So you admit you’re part of a wider organization,’ said Rose, interjecting as Lynch tensed up.

  Razinski didn’t look away from Lynch. ‘We could have snuffed you out at any moment,’ he said, widening his eyes. ‘But where would be the fun in that?’

  Lynch matched the man’s glare. He’d often wondered why he’d never been a target for the Railroad and maybe this was the answer. ‘Last chance, Razinski. They already think you’re wasting their time. Tell me what you want, tell me why you killed the Gunn family, or I’m out of here.’

  A coldness descended over the captive man. It spread outwards from his eyes. His facial muscles tensed, the tendons on his neck sticking out like wires. ‘The Gunn family,’ he said, taking a deep breath. ‘A regrettable folly. An opportunistic error on my part. I apologise for the crudeness but then I was forced into reacting.’ For the first time, Razinski raised his voice, turning his attention to Rose.

  ‘How long had you been planning your siege on the Gunn family?’ said Rose.

  ‘I’m not here to talk to you, Madam,’ said Razinski, breathing in again and turning his attention back to
Lynch. ‘Mr Lynch, it is under regrettable circumstances that we meet but possibly it is fortunate for you.’

  ‘Stop wasting time, Razinski.’

  ‘Okay, okay, you have me. I’m metaphorically holding my hands up. I have the information you need. I can give you the Railroad. The Controller. You have only a vague idea of what you’ve stumbled on. I can give you the world, Lynch. So many unsolved crimes, so many crimes you didn’t even know existed. And more than that, Mr Lynch, I can give you the one thing you really want. I can tell you where your son is.’

  Lynch controlled his breathing, refusing to give Razinski the satisfaction of seeing him flustered again. Despite which, he couldn’t help but think of his boy. He always pictured Daniel the same way, as he was the last day he saw him. The close cut crop of his hair, the green t-shirt with the legend 1967 stitched across the front, his wide eyes and wider smile as he threw the football around the back yard. The following day, Lynch had left to speak to an informant. By the time he’d returned on Monday afternoon, Daniel was gone.

  ‘Speak then,’ said Lynch.

  Razinski frowned as if Lynch was acting simple. ‘Oh come on, Lynch, what do you take me for. Give and take and all that.’

  ‘What do you want?’ said Lynch, losing patience with the man.

  ‘I want what is rightfully mine,’ said Razinski, a darkness to his voice.

  Lynch sighed.

  ‘Full immunity. Authorized and signed by the District Attorney, and verified by legal counsel of my choosing.’

  Heat spread across Lynch’s face. He’d feared such a ludicrous ultimatum but now he was here, with this man suggesting he had information on his son’s whereabouts, it was tough to handle.

  He turned to Rose who tapped her pen on the desk. ‘This is a non-starter,’ she said, not bothering to humor the man.