Webster City

by Peter Menadue

CHAPTER TWELVE

  Prentice and Davidson strolled across Pasteur Plaza towards the Internal Security Bureau Headquarters. The sky was gray. A cutting wind ruffled the feathers of pigeons waiting for crumbs and whispered that winter was coming. It even made the medal on Davidson's chest dance about. He wanted to drop it in a bin, but resisted the urge.

  Prentice said: "What was Delray doing when you found him?"

  "Chatting to Edward Mellon."

  Eyebrow lift. "What about?"

  "I didn't hear. Afterward, he said he was networking."

  "Really? I thought he worked for me. Maybe I should send him out into the Badlands. There is a vacancy on the Alpha Team. I might assign him to that." The Alpha Team was an elite squad that roamed the Badlands trying to assassinate Freedom Alliance leaders. It was an attractive assignment for a sociopath with suicidal ideations.

  "I understand he likes camping out."

  A deep laugh. "Good." They strolled past a newspaper kiosk. "I should thank you again for stopping the FA attack. You saved my bacon - at least for now. If the attack had succeeded, I'd already be out the door."

  "The Chancellor would have sacked you?"

  "Of course. He might still give me the boot."

  "Why?"

  "You heard him: for failing to warn about the attack."

  "He can't expect miracles."

  "Yes he can."

  "You're his brother-in-law - you play golf with him."

  "So what? He's a smart and ruthless bastard, and the Freedom Alliance is winning. He doesn't want to be the last Chancellor of Webster City and the first to die with his boots on."

  OK. What do you want me to do now?"

  "What the Chancellor wants: find the traitor who provided the fake IDs and the swipe card to the FA fighters. I want to give him someone's head on a platter before he asks for mine."

  Davidson already knew the traitor was Helen Watkins. But it was too late to tell the Colonel that, even if he wanted to, because his delay would look suspicious. "I will. And what about Robert Meredith's death? The Chancellor doesn't seem keen on us investigating that."

  "I think you're right."

  "Do you know why?"

  "Of course not."

  Davidson sensed his boss was lying. "So what should I do about Meredith?"

  "Investigate his death when you get a chance, but keep quiet about it. Don't let the Chancellor find out what you're doing."

  "I understand. Can I ask you something?"

  "What?"

  Davidson felt obliged to ask his next question, even though he didn't expect an honest answer. "Why are you so interested in Meredith's death? Do you know something I don't?"

  A blank look. "Of course not. I just want to make sure there's no threat to the CDC."

  Davidson didn't believe a word of that. "You know, I feel like I'm exploring a cave and you've got the flashlight."

  A throttled laugh. "Then you're mistaken."

  They flashed their ID cards at the guards outside the ISB Headquarters and strolled into the marble lobby. While they waited for an elevator, Prentice looked pensive and shook his head. "How are we supposed to beat the Freedom Alliance?"

  "What do you mean?"

  "The team that went into the CDC this morning was on a suicide mission. They knew they weren't coming out alive, but went in anyway. I wish I had officers like them, I really do. But I don't."

  Davidson wondered if he would go on a suicide mission for the City, and decided he wouldn't. The elevator arrived and they rode up to the fifth floor in silence.