She blushed slightly then and said, half mockingly, ‘Oh, this old rag. It’s one of Adelaide’s cast offs. She only wears her things once then tosses them to me or Lucy.’
For once she was wearing a dress, a beautifully bias-cut body-skimming one in a hot pink, with the low-cut top making the most of her figure, its curves usually hidden beneath loose shirts and jeans. The flippy skirt just touched her knees and her long legs ended in pink sandals.
‘Stop looking at me like that, you’re making me uncomfortable.’
Nicholas took her hand and said firmly, ‘Verity, don’t be embarrassed by your looks. You are a beautiful woman and I’m simply admiring you.’
A little flustered she said, ‘Come into the study. Marcus will be ringing soon and I want to check the security links. Someone’s been trying to hack into our private line.’
‘The one from Marcus’ satellite?’
She seated herself at the space-age console and started pressing buttons and peering at the strange squiggles on one of the screens before answering. ‘Yes. It’s heavily shielded and the attacks are just bouncing off so far. Grab a chair and sit down next to me. I can’t stand hovering.’
Nick slid a chair from the side of the room and sat next to Verity, trying to gain a glimmer of understanding. ‘What are you doing now?’
‘How to explain ... well, each time the intruder hits this link he gains a little more knowledge. What I’m doing is setting up a false path for him to hit.’
‘Ah, a red herring.’
‘Close enough. A bit more, actually, a trap, too. The best part is I think I can trace the signal back if he takes the bait.’
Nicholas looked at this clever woman, the woman he knew he wanted to spend his life with. ‘That’s great. Do you think he will fall for it? It could be a woman, of course.’
‘No, it’s a man and I know who it is. There’s only one person it can be; I just have to prove it.’
Before Nick could respond the call from Marcus came through. Verity had diverted it to one of the wall screens so an almost life-size Marcus was smiling at them.
Verity blew a kiss when Marcus said, ‘My dear, you look absolutely stunning. Hello, Nicholas. Good to see you both. I’m in the New York office but I should be back tomorrow or the next day.’
After the greeting and some general chat, Nick said, ‘Marcus, when we told you about Solomon Levinsky you seemed about to say something, then asked us to be here for a call.’
‘A few weeks ago I got home in time to catch RAZZ! the night Levinsky was on with his superb art book. Anyway, I noticed there was something about him that struck me as false; he kept trying to avoid looking directly at the cameras. I also had a strange feeling that I’d met him before … one of those annoyingly elusive memories.’
‘What about the house lease … could you have met him then? It was a bit unusual as he wanted to make some extensive alterations and additional security for his private art gallery.’
‘No, there was some correspondence with the Orcus people about that, but he submitted plans and specs and since there were no load bearing walls involved we couldn’t see the harm. Mrs Tennant handled it mostly.’
He took in the pair sitting close together and asked, ‘You two spending a bit of time together lately?’
They looked at each other then back at Marcus. Verity thought for a second then said carefully, ‘I’ve been able to help Nicholas a bit with this investigation and the department has hired me officially as a consultant.’
Marcus said, ‘I’m surprised they can afford you.’
She laughed then said, ‘The standard fee was offered, but I’m not charging them, Marcus. Thanks to Professor Morgenstein and Nick’s team Mr Levinsky’s death will be investigated properly. So yes, you can say we are spending time together now.’
Nicholas wasn’t having that. His reticence where Verity was concerned had vanished. He brought her fingers to his lips for a brief moment. He said firmly, ‘It’s thanks to Verity’s instincts really that the man’s death will be properly investigated. And I would say we are quite a bit more than friends.’
Verity looked at their clasped hands and coloured slightly. She looked up to see her uncle beaming fondly at them. ‘Good, good,’ he said.
Nick asked, ‘Is there more to tell us, Marcus, something else about Levinsky?’
‘Last night when I was watching the news, they were showing the item about how the police had discovered that the accidental death of Solomon Levinsky, an eminent art historian, was now the subject of a murder enquiry following information received. The item was short on details but they padded it out with footage from his appearance on RAZZ! and some shots of his book.
‘Again I thought … I had met him before. It was over ten years ago in London, but he looked rather different then, even allowing for age. The shape of his head maybe? It was to do with an investment so I asked Orlando to dig out my work diaries for that period to refresh my memory.’
Verity said, very casually, ‘So Orlando was with you. What a shame he’s gone on holidays for a couple of weeks.’
Nicholas had gone on alert. Verity’s hand had tightened involuntarily in his for a second before releasing it. He knew she couldn’t abide Gray but was that all? Surely not.
Marcus laughed at that. ‘Orlando thinks I’m a computer illiterate … in fact I’ve always let him think that. It’s good to have some secrets from the staff. In the five years he’s been with me, I’ve kept my skills—and yours—under the radar and done my own little bits of research using … my other computer when I’ve felt the need for extra secrecy. I don’t mind telling you both that I also have my offices swept every morning and night.’
Nicholas said, ‘That’s pretty extreme, isn’t it? Who do you suspect might be monitoring you? Government or private? Business rivals?’
‘I don’t know yet but the sweeps have picked up three or four listening devices in the past few months, no vision, just sound. I now have a very clever jammer, thanks to Verity, which blocks the signals, and as well, it plays music and bits of innocuous conversation. Verity, is Nick up to speed?’
‘Not entirely. He’s cleared for downstairs … he slept here last night.’
‘I think we can … just a minute.’ He pressed a button on a small panel built into his desk. Music filled the room and a swirling hologram, a pattern of amorphous shapes and dreamy colours appeared behind him. ‘Just in case. Tell him, Verity. We can trust him.’
She looked at him then at Nicholas, nodded to her uncle, took a breath and said, ‘There is a part of my house which is completely shielded, where I have access to all the things I shouldn’t. The guts of my AI computer is physically located in Marcus’s satellite. Traffic is highly compressed and encrypted, of course. Needless to say, BigSys is by-passed. Marcus and I are the only ones who use it. He has every reason to visit me so he’s well covered.’
Nicholas frowned then looked thoughtful. ‘You realise I have to arrest you both now.’ He laughed at their shocked faces. ‘Sorry, I couldn’t resist that. I suspected as much, so what you are about to tell me will be no surprise … you accessed those archives yourself, didn’t want to wait for Gray to return.’
‘If he ever does,’ murmured Verity, but the other two seemed not to hear.
‘Of course,’ said Marcus. ‘And I had to go back about ten years before I found the reference, a meeting with the board of a company called InterPharm. Wanted me to invest, offered me a seat on the board. They had a big laboratory in Spain, R&D, they claimed, chemical plants and factories in various low-rent countries, and several registered charities, PharMed Africa, PharMed Asia, etcetera, that they claimed were established to distribute free drugs to hospitals and clinics in that benighted continent. I won’t go into the details which were elaborate and so hedged about with conditions and escape clauses I had my legal team poring over them for days. Fortunately, as it happened, I opted out, much to their annoyance, I might add. Something about it seem
ed fishy.
‘I dealt mainly with the CEO, a chap called Werner Steiner. German name, but British accent, very forceful personality. The other board members obviously went along with whatever he said. As it happened I made the right decision as it went belly up about six months later. Turned out to be a massive fraud, set up by Steiner and a couple of the others. Of the twelve, eight were arrested but only three went to prison; the rest fled the country. I have an idea that one of them died in custody shortly after sentencing. Thousands of investors had been duped and over ninety billion dollars went into smoke.’
‘Sorry to burst your bubble, Marcus, but we’ve just found out all of this today. Levinsky, as Steiner, recorded all the board meetings. We have an almost complete record of InterPharm’s activities.’
‘What? Why didn’t you tell me?’
Verity said calmly, ‘We are telling you now. We, the police, I mean, Nick’s people, have Steiner’s computer records, everything to do with InterPharm and the twelve members of that board. And vids of most of the meetings including the final one when they were arrested. All except the four who had already absconded, of course.’
Marcus was speechless.
Nicholas said, ‘Strangely, Steiner was present at that final meeting, hence the recording, and allowed himself to be arrested. Obviously he got away before the trial. It would be a help if you can see who else you recognise.’
Marcus visibly pulled himself together. ‘Yes, of course I can do that. So is someone systematically killing them all off? There were thousands of investors … you’ll be flat out trying to single a suspect out of that lot.’
‘I’ve got a suspect,’ said Verity flatly. ‘Nick doesn’t believe me and neither would you.’
There was one crucial question she needed to ask Marcus, just to confirm her conviction but she was trying to decide whether to ask it outright or try to come at it from a different angle. No, she thought, I have to be straightforward, he’s too smart to be fooled, and so is Nicholas. She’d decided. ‘Marcus, when you saw Levinsky on RAZZ! and then that news item about Levinsky being murdered, were Orlando Gray and Lara Nash with you?’
He looked at her quizzically. ‘Now come on, Verity. Orlando? You can’t be suspecting him of the Levinsky murder, surely. That was a woman.’
Nicholas too looked sceptical. ‘I know you don’t like Lara Nash, but surely you don’t think she is involved. What possible connection could she have?’
She threw up her hands. ‘Men! Lara Nash would do whatever Gray told her to. And you didn’t answer my question, Marcus.’
‘Yes, they were both with me. Lara is my bodyguard, you know.’
‘And when you said about recognising Levinsky?’
‘What is this? An interrogation?’
‘Fine, okay. Forget it. Nick, don’t you have any questions?’
Nicholas Adams was biting his lip. He didn’t want to push it but he had to admit he’d like to know the answer. He said as soothingly as he could, ‘Maybe, Marcus, if you tell her this, she’ll settle down.’
‘I am here, you know,’ she said bitingly.
Marcus thought, then said, ‘I can’t remember about RAZZ! but last night, yes, I said something along the lines of meeting this fellow years ago and how much he’d changed. I didn’t give it another thought really.’
Nicholas said, ‘And it was the next morning, this morning, that Gray and Nash took off on holidays together. Any idea where they were going?’ he asked casually.
‘He took the big ATV, with my permission, and said they were going to head for the old goldfields around Bathurst, said he’d always wanted to do some fossicking. I remember he downloaded maps for the Great Western Highway, checking for accommodation and scenic spots. He’s a bit annoying at times, bloody pompous. But the best security and systems man I’ve ever had, even better than his mother.’
Verity decided to drop the subject of the suspicious pair so merely made a non-committal noise. Marcus and Adams got into cricket chat, still amazed that the USA team, the Golden Eagles, had won the last World Trophy.
‘It doesn’t seem right, they’ve only been playing at this level for twenty years,’ said Marcus indignantly. ‘Now that India and Pakistan are out of it, we should have been a shoo-in.’
Verity wasn’t sure which “we” he meant … were his loyalties with Australia or the England team? She glanced at her watch and was surprised to find it was nearly eight. She stood up to stretch and walked to the other end of the study where a photo of her beloved Aunt Elizabeth sat on the desk. She had been like a mother to her since her own had died when she was twelve.
She sighed. ‘Oh, Marcus, Elizabeth was so wonderful. I miss her dreadfully. You know, she was the only person I could really talk to when … .’ She broke off, overwhelmed by feelings.
Marcus smiled gently, ‘There, there, my dear. We all miss her. She was the most delightful person. The only other woman I’ve known who came close was your mother, Eleanor,’ he said, turning to Nicholas.
‘Yes, she was a wonderful woman,’ Nicholas said. Thanks for your help with this, Marcus. I’ll get you to have a look at the recordings tomorrow. Now, it’s about time we had dinner.’
‘Oh, God, Marcus. I just remembered. Levinsky has left his money to the children’s wing of the hospital, your hospital,’ exclaimed Verity.
Marcus said, ‘I’m beyond any more surprises tonight. Send all that stuff to me, Nicholas.’ It was a statement, not a question.
‘It’s been delightful.’ He twinkled at them, no other word for it. ‘I’m so pleased you are such good friends.’ His image winked out.
Chapter 33
They had finished dinner before Nicholas broached the subject again as they carried the plates into the kitchen.
‘Verity, do you seriously suspect Gray? What’s his motive?’
‘I’m still working on that but, Nick, but there’s something odd about him. I’ve thought so since the day I met him. And Madam Lash is gaga about him. You know, it was his mother, Cordelia Gray, who got Marcus to employ him. She was his systems and security head, same as Gray is now, for many years, then left when she was expecting Orlando, Mrs Tennant told me. It was assumed she was married but she never discussed it, she just resigned. Gray is highly qualified, brilliant in fact, and could have had his pick of a number of high-paying jobs in IT. I even considered offering him a job in my research facility at Parkes.’
She shivered. ‘I’m glad I didn’t now. He really gives me the creeps.’
‘Madam Lash! Ha ha. That’s a good one. She certainly looks capable of it. From what I’ve seen she’s completely under Gray’s spell. Where’s his mother?’ asked Nick.
‘She’s dead. She died a few months after he started working for Marcus, an accident I think. That’s really all I know; I’ve never bothered to look further, but maybe I should. Now, coffee?’
Verity pressed the buttons then perched on a stool beside him and kicked her shoes off with a groan of pleasure. Nicholas had a hard time keeping his eyes on her face; the dress revealed a lot of her, in fact there was a lot more of her than he had realised. Her usual loose clothing hid her charms a bit too well.
‘Nick, Nick, are you listening? I said, do you want coffee? Come back.’
He gave a start, ‘Sorry, just thinking about that pair, um … I mean, um, Gray and Nash, not … Yes, coffee, thanks.’
She laughed at his embarrassment. ‘I think I’ll stick to jeans and shirts in future. Better not make it too late tonight. A lot to do tomorrow. You know where everything is, so I’ll say goodnight.’ She slid off the stool and bent to pick up her shoes.
‘I can stay?’
She looked surprised. ‘Yes, of course. I just assumed you’d be staying.’
‘Verity,’ he said, taking a step to stop her leaving, ‘I don’t assume anything with you but now that we are such good friends, could we have a friendly goodnight kiss?’
She took a step towards him then and turned her face up to
him. ‘Goodnight, Nicholas,’ she breathed softly.
‘Goodnight, Verity,’ he said just before their lips met gently.
He headed to what he now thought of as his room then turned to look back. Verity was standing looking pensive, than gave a start as she realised he was watching her.
‘You look guilty, what are you up to? Bugger it, you aren’t going to bed, you’re going to that sealed room, aren’t you? Now I know about it I think I should see it,’ he said.
She sighed. ‘Yes, alright. Come on.’
She slid aside one of the wall panels in the hall revealing a hollow space, a tube just barely big enough for two. She pressed one of her hands to the wall and the panel closed. Seconds later it opened again and they stepped out to a narrow room lit only by faintly glowing translucent walls. As Verity placed her hand on the nearest wall it shimmered. To Nicholas’ astonishment it simply seemed to dissolve and Verity tugged him into a room, an astonishing room like something from the control panel of a spaceship, softly lit by a range of wall screens that showed views of the house interior and exterior as well as images that could only come from external cameras, city security cameras at that. There was even a grainy image that meant nothing to him at first.
‘The Moon, of course.’ He pointed. ‘That’s Kaguya moon base in Shackleton crater isn’t it?’
He didn’t wait for her answer—first things first. ‘How did you do that with the wall?’ he asked. ‘That wall just disappeared.’ He turned. ‘And now it’s back and there’s no door. How is that possible?’
‘Force field,’ she said shortly. ‘Too hard to explain. You’ve seen it before, Nicholas. The glass around my verandas, it’s not actually glass.’
The room stretched an impossible distance given the size of the house, but then he realised that this was the attic, an attic whose existence he hadn’t guessed at. ‘This must incorporate Adelaide’s attic too. Does she know?’
‘No, and she doesn’t even know she has an attic and neither do Amy and Lucy. And the lab is down there. Look, can we talk architecture later. I have stuff to do so … hang on, I’d better introduce you. Just put your hand on that black plate.
STRANGE BODIES (a gripping crime thriller) Page 23
