Meanwhile, Fly sat at our computer and checked our accounts. The General sat with him, watching the screen anxiously and listening to the checkpoint procedures. At last Fly cried out in triumph. ‘Yes!’ he shouted.
The General remained cool. ‘How much?’ he asked.
Fly turned to him, grinning. ‘How many safe houses do you want?’ he asked.
‘How much?’ I said.
‘How does three million sound?’
‘Ridiculous.’
‘Get used to it.’
‘Fly,’ I said. ‘You’re a genius.’
Fly looked serious for a moment. ‘No, Matrix, I’m not, so don’t ask me to hack into any Corporates.’ He actually sounded scared. He turned back to our computer. ‘Oh shit!’ he said.
‘What is it?’ asked Euan moving in closer.
‘We have a Century.’
‘What’s a century besides being a very long time?’
Fly had gone pale and was moving his scanner anxiously up and down. ‘Not that sort of Century, the type that contains Centurions – you know, old Roman stuff.’
‘What does it mean?’ asked the General. Stewart had wandered in now and was standing watching.
Fly was frantically moving the scanner across the screen and feeding in numbers. Our computer was making some alarming noises – piercing, buzzing and irritating clicks followed by noisy, distorted music; then a strident voice began to shout doggerel and obscenities.
‘Shut that thing down!’ shouted Andrew, who had also wandered in. ‘You’ll wake the children!’
‘I can’t!’ yelled Fly back. ‘If I close it down, we lose everything!’
‘It seems to me you’ve lost everything already!’ shouted the General. The computer screen appeared to be melting in front of our eyes as distorted images of Roman soldiers tramping across fields began to dissolve. Euan turned to me. I nodded briefly. He reached over and switched off the computer.
Silence.
Fly stared at the computer. ‘Oh fuck!’ he said.
***********************
Galmpton Court
More than anything, Fox hoped that they would not notice the wet patch easing down his leg. He had to control his fear. He had to make them believe in him. If he didn’t, he was not just dead – they would take him to hell first and leave him there.
He looked Harrison in the face. ‘If you want me to work in my professional capacity, I’m happy to do so, but first you must all submit to some questioning. What the hell is going on? Why do we have a dead man here? What has been taken? Have we searched the grounds? What have we done to find the culprits? What have you done to check the safety of your other guests? Lots of questions, Mr Harrison – perhaps if I could have some answers I may be of some assistance.’ He was blustering – he knew it – and he had no idea whether his bluster would work.
Harrison was watching him through narrowed eyes; everyone in the room waited to see what his reaction would be. ‘Do what you need to do,’ he said unexpectedly, and he turned away.
Fox released the air from his lungs slowly. ‘A brief summary of what you know would be a start. I’d also like to search the premises inside and out and interrogate your staff – and that’s just the start.’ He paused and added, seemingly as an afterthought, ‘and, at some point, I think we should check your freelancers – make sure no one broke into the study.’
Fuller snorted. ‘No one got that far!’
Fox smiled. ‘Not a priority then – but one worth checking at some point. Gentlemen, shall we make a start?’ He was in control again.
***********************
‘So what was that all about?’ asked Andrew into the silence.
‘Scrambled eggs,’ said Fly.
‘What?’
‘That’s what it was – scrambled eggs. When I took the data off their freelancers, it released a contamination. It’s called a Century of Soldiers and, once triggered, it’s almost impossible to stop. I put in all the usual precautions and looked for the standard security cover, but I didn’t see this one. I’ve never seen anything like it; it was like something the army might use.’
‘Or police,’ said Stewart. He turned to me. ‘Do we know who was at the dinner tonight?’
‘I’m sure Alban will put in a report,’ I said.
Fly was still staring at the computer in disbelief. ‘Yes, that must be it. They’ve loaded an illegal copy of the Police Soldiers onto their freelancers.’ He looked at me. ‘This isn’t just about money,’ he said, ‘they’ve gone to a lot of trouble to protect the information on these machines. Whatever was on it was serious stuff!’
‘Yes, Fly,’ I said, ‘it was serious stuff.’
Fly narrowed his eyes. ‘You know?’
I sighed. ‘The freelancers contained lists – lists of NF members across the different sectors at all levels.’
‘Shit!’
‘We need that information, it’s important. We need to know who the enemy is.’
Fly nodded his head. ‘I understand,’ he whispered. ‘I’m sorry, I failed; I told you I was no genius.’
‘You didn’t fail, Fly; go and visit those four children and tell them you failed.’
‘Small stuff,’ he cried. ‘I thought I’d made a difference tonight!’
I felt very sorry for him, but I said nothing.
Chapter 60
Alban took a long time to wake up and, when he did, it was to find himself being questioned by Fox. Alban was apologetic. ‘I’m so sorry; I didn’t hear a thing. I always take a sleeping draught nowadays – especially after a night of excitement.’ He paused, seemingly embarrassed.
Harrison and Fuller sat in the room as Fox questioned Alban. ‘What was the last thing you did?’ asked Fox bluntly, secretly curious as to how the old man would deal with the question.
‘Well, really!’
‘I’m sorry, sir, but I’m sure someone in your profession can understand the importance of asking the right questions.’
Alban frowned, clearly uncomfortable. He looked tired. He was probably in his late seventies and yet still retained the imprint of what once must have been a handsome face – a blonde Celtic face that must have charmed women in its time. In fact, Fox had done his homework. He knew this man and his reputation with women; his professional career had been scattered with scandal and tales of adultery. He had a number of failed marriages to his credit.
‘I took the discards to my room ...’ began Alban.
‘To your room?’ interrupted Harrison.
‘I’m a man of habit,’ said Alban dismissively.
‘What happened to the discards?’ asked Fox.
‘You want to know what I did with them?’ asked Alban incredulously.
‘Only if it’s relevant.’
Alban straightened his back in an attempt to give himself a more dignified air. ‘I wasn’t interested in the males,’ he said. ‘I just wanted them there to watch. I like to be watched. I took the girls, obviously.’ He shrugged his shoulders. ‘Such fragile things you know. Neil was very kind, very helpful. He cleared up the mess afterwards.’
‘The females were dead but not the males, is that what you’re saying?’
Alban nodded. ‘Neil said it didn’t make any difference. He said he would put them in the same place. He seemed to have it all sorted. He put them in body bags and left with them; as I said, he was very helpful. I can’t believe he’s dead, such a loss, a good man for the cause.’
Harrison stood up. ‘He was just a security guard, not important,’ he said.
Alban stood up as well. ‘Yes, of course.’
Fox, Harrison and Fuller left the apologetic Alban. They talked as they walked back down the corridor.
‘Well, does that sound right?’ asked Fox.
‘We have an incinerator,’ said Fuller. Neil would’ve taken the discards down there after the old man had finished with them.’
‘Would he have killed the males first?’
Fuller looked at
him coldly. ‘Is that important?’
Fox suppressed a shudder. ‘I suppose not,’ he muttered.
They were back in the entertainment room. ‘Do you have a theory?’ asked Harrison.
‘Probably the same as yours: someone broke in, reason unknown. He was discovered by Neil, he strangled him, panicked and left by the entertainment window setting off the alarms.’ Harrison nodded thoughtfully. ‘I still think we should check the freelancers,’ said Fox.
Harrison smiled. ‘We’ve already done that. They’re fine; they’ve not been tampered with and nothing’s been taken.’
Fox knew that Harrison was reluctant to let him near the freelancers. He felt on safe ground. ‘I think you should let me check them – only I’d be in a position to know whether the Century’s been activated.’
‘Not necessary,’ said Harrison. ‘But thank you for your concern.’ He turned to Fuller. ‘Wouldn’t you agree, Henry?’
Fuller looked secretive.
‘So, why were they here?’ asked Fox. ‘Who were they? What did they want?’ He glanced at both men. ‘There are still a lot of unanswered questions.’
Harrison narrowed his eyes. ‘They took nothing,’ he said. ‘That’s all that matters.’
Fox knew when he was being fobbed off. It happened all the time to police officers and he thought he could guess why. There was just one reason: Harrison and Fuller thought they knew the answers already. ‘Do you need me?’
‘We’re most grateful for everything you’ve done.’
‘And Neil ...?’
‘We’ve seen to that – nothing left to worry about.’
Neil was in the incinerator. It seemed the right place for him.
***********************
The following day at the safe house, people went about their normal business and left me alone to my thoughts. The house closed down early at the end of the day; everyone was tired after the previous night’s activities, and still I sat and stared out of the window, waiting.
It was coming up to the early hours of the morning. I was the only one not in bed. I sat and still I waited. I sat in silence, watching the clock, holding my breath and hoping I hadn’t got it wrong. I heard a noise behind me. I turned my head hopefully. It was Fly. He sat down beside me. ‘Couldn’t you sleep either, sir?’ he asked.
I passed him my hip flask. He took it from me and opened the top. He put it in his mouth, threw back his head, took a mouthful and gasped. ‘Wow!’
‘Special cocktail,’ I said.
‘Powerful stuff!’ he said appreciatively, looking at the flask.
‘It keeps the pain away,’ I admitted.
He passed it back.
‘When all this is over,’ I confided, ‘I’m going to get my leg fixed, marry a beautiful woman and give up the booze.’
‘Sounds good,’ he said, assuming a wise expression. ‘Except that last one – keep up the drinking, sir, it gives you a whole new perspective on life and teetotallers are, without exception, very dull people.’
‘Dull sounds wonderful to me.’
‘Oh no, I don’t think so.’ He smiled sadly, and I knew he was thinking about the lost money and the lost information.
‘So, Fly,’ I asked. ‘What did you think of Alban?’
‘Not bad for a Madison.’
I smiled.
‘Said some interesting things about you, sir,’ he added slyly.
‘Oh yes.’
‘Came up with all sorts of interesting and frankly embarrassing stories of the sort of things you used to get up to as a child.’
‘Did he now?’
‘To be honest with you, sir, I was quite shocked.’
‘Fly?’
‘Yes, sir?’
‘I am so glad you’ve decided to go straight because you make a bloody awful liar.’
‘Yes, sir; thank you, sir.’ He shook his head. ‘Would you rather I go away?’ he asked.
I looked at him thoughtfully. ‘Maybe it’s time I taught you a lesson,’ I said.
He looked puzzled.
‘Never underestimate the police,’ I said.
‘Sorry, sir?’
I looked pointedly over his left shoulder. He turned and immediately leapt to his feet in alarm as a shadow behind him resolved into a man. He recognised Fox straight away. The man he and Alban had met in the corridors of Galmpton Court. He placed his hand over his heart. ‘Oh shit!’ he said.
‘Time’s running out, Fox,’ I said urgently.
Fox sat down at our computer. ‘Had some soothing to do back at Galmpton Court.’
Fly watched him nervously. ‘What’s happening?’ he asked.
‘We’re about to prove to you that last night wasn’t a failure,’ I said.
Fox set to work immediately. He placed an eye scanner on and alerted the computer. It gave one brief cry of protest, recognised the eye locator and instantly became quiet again. Fox moved his scanner across the screen in an easy motion. Fascinated, we watched him and, as we watched, we felt a growing sense of excitement.
It took two hours.
We never moved in that time.
At last, Fox finished. He took off his eye scanner and turned to me. ‘All done,' he said.
Thank you, Fox,’ I said quietly. I held out my hand. I wanted to thank him; instead, he took my hand and gave me the Matrix Salute. ‘I have to go back,’ he said.
‘Is it safe?’ I asked.
‘Oh, yes, no problem, but my guess is,’ he glanced at our computer, ‘they’ll want me back now. Stay safe, Matrix.’ And he was gone.
***********************
Fox was right. They did call him back and they were in a state of panic.
Fox was in the ideal position for taking the moral high ground. ‘May I remind you, sir, that I did suggest ...?’
‘Yes! Yes!’ said Fuller, pacing up and down.
Harrison stood silent and angry. His whole body was a study in contained fury.
Fox sat at the freelancers and scanned them. ‘It’s too late,’ he muttered. ‘If you had only ...’ He turned around to face Harrison. ‘Time you came clean with me, sir. I think you know what this is all about.’
Harrison hesitated. ‘The Brotherhood,’ he said simply.
‘Impossible!’ said Fox. ‘They’re just a bunch of substrata misfits led by a blind cripple.’ He pointed at the freelancers. ‘They’re not capable of ...’
‘You’d be surprised what they are capable of – and besides, we happen to know that they have some police officers on side.’
‘Not possible!’
‘We have people inside the Brotherhood; we’re not guessing, we know.’
Fox felt his world collapse inside him. ‘You’ve infiltrated the Brotherhood!’
‘Oh, yes! It wasn’t hard. We have many people inside, and they’re working at all levels.’
Fox forced a smile. ‘Well, I’m very happy to hear that, sir.’
‘I don’t see why?’ interrupted Fuller. ‘The bastards know who they are now!’
Fox looked confused.
‘They’ve stolen our information from the freelancers. We’ve been compromised!’
‘Thank you for your honesty, sir,’ said Fox, looking Fuller in the face. He noticed with secret amusement that neither man had mentioned the stolen money.
Chapter 61
August 2039
Two weeks later at a meeting of the Blood Brothers
The Blood Brothers were meeting – not all of them. In fact, I cannot think of a single occasion when all the Blood Brothers sat together in one room; there was always someone missing. Tonight was no exception. I sat with Angus, Stewart, Euan, Andrew, Gill and Caliph. Fly had been invited as well; it seemed only right since he had been so instrumental in bringing the money and information to the Brotherhood. Alban and Fox deserved to be there, but I still guarded their identities jealously; out of all those people in that room, Fly was the only person, except me, who would recognise them.
As eve
ryone was settling down, Andrew was sitting with a glass of beer, scanning the computer. He began chuckling softly. ‘Listen to this,’ he said.
‘News has come in from an undisclosed source that Mr Martin Harrison and Mr Henry Fuller have fallen victim to an ingenious and heinous act of fraud. The amount of money stolen from both gentlemen is, as yet, undisclosed, but we can confidently assume it to be in the millions. How this has been achieved is unclear. Sources close to both concerns are claiming huge losses, so far we’ve been unable to verify the accuracy of these reports, neither have we been able to gauge reaction from either gentlemen since they are currently unavailable for comment.’
Andrew beamed then looked at Fly. ‘So, remind me, just how much did we sting them for?’ he asked.
‘Three million,’ said Fly with a huge grin.
I said nothing; I had too many thoughts moving in my head.
Everyone settled down. ‘Fly,’ I said. ‘How do you feel about taking on freelancers en mass?’
He shook his head. ‘I wish you could’ve met my friend Paul, sir, the one in the nick. I can’t do it, not like that. You need someone who knows what he’s doing.’
‘Sorry, but is this the man who’s just netted us a few million?’ said Caliph laughing.
‘No, this is the man who released a Century onto your computer,’ sighed Fly, ‘and I’ll never forget those bastards marching in front of me!’
‘Well, Fly,’ I said. ‘I’m just happy that I’ve met you. What you did that night will save the lives of many. Thank you, I’m very grateful.’
He turned an interesting shade of pink. ‘That’s a good colour!’ laughed Angus, holding up his hands. Fly turned a deeper shade of pink.
I decided to help him out. ‘Fly, we need weapons; do you have any ideas?’
‘Ah, yes,’ he said quickly. ‘I have some contacts, but you won’t like them, they’re NF people. The trouble is, they have the best deals.’
‘Are you suggesting that we give Fabian back some of the money we’ve stolen from them in exchange for weapons?’ I asked sternly.
‘Yes, sir, I was,’ stammered Fly.
The Dream Catcher Diaries Page 39
