Jimmy Coates

by Joe Craig

  Another plane ripped through the clouds overhead and Georgie couldn’t help following it with her binoculars.

  “This one’s going to Spain,” she muttered, not expecting her mother to hear. Georgie’s binoculars were pressed up against the window, which she could feel vibrating with the drone of the plane even though it was the thickest pane of glass she’d ever seen. Helen Coates was sitting on the bed behind her, checking her phone.

  “Keep your eyes on the limos,” she said firmly.

  They were on the fifth floor of the hotel opposite the Langley Georgian, in the cheapest room available that overlooked the Langley’s forecourt. Georgie swivelled the binoculars back to where they were meant to be aimed.

  “They’re on their way,” Helen announced, a slight tremor in her voice.

  “Did they get it?” Georgie asked.

  Helen took a deep breath. “Jimmy said they did,” she sighed, not at all convinced.

  “That’s great!” Georgie turned from the window and was surprised by the serious expression on her mum’s face. “Isn’t it?”

  “We’ll see,” said Helen calmly. “It’s only half the job, isn’t it? It’s going to take them a while to get here. An hour or two at least. According to Eva, Dr Longville’s meant to leave on a plane in forty minutes.” She let the numbers hang in the air for a moment, then nodded towards the window. “Keep watching the drivers. They’ll tell us when our target’s on his way down.”

  Georgie didn’t need to keep watching much longer.

  “I think it’s happening,” she said less than a minute later. “They both just got a phone call within a few seconds of each other.”

  “Now what are they doing?” Helen jumped up and joined her daughter at the window.

  “The one that’s been asleep for ages is putting his tie back on. The other one’s checking himself in the rear-view mirror.”

  “Signal Felix,” Helen ordered. “Time to move.”

  Felix wandered through the corridors of the Langley Georgian Hotel, which stretched out for what seemed like miles. He had never seen a hotel so big, nor one with a fountain and a grand piano in the lobby. But now he felt like the carpeted quiet was closing in around him, stifling his breathing. He knew that at every step he was being tracked by cameras. How much longer did he have to pretend to be making his way to his parents’ room? If any hotel staff happened to notice him on surveillance, his casual air wouldn’t help him. He’d be challenged. Politely at first, but then he’d quickly be in trouble.

  He could feel the sweat crawling down his neck. From somewhere the drone of a Hoover started up. Felix had already passed two cleaners, one of whom had eyed him suspiciously. He hoped his smile had been enough to stop her enquiring about him. Now that noise drilled into his head. How does Jimmy live like this all the time? he asked himself. Suddenly he jumped and let out a silent gasp. It was a moment before he realised that what had shocked him was the vibration of his mobile phone in his pocket.

  It buzzed once, then stopped. That was the only signal he needed. It was time to move. He picked up his pace and strode towards the lobby. He got there just in time to see Dr Newton Longville, Chief UN Inspector, exiting the lifts with an entourage of three other men. Security, Felix realised with a jolt of panic. But he couldn’t change his plan now. Dr Longville was already marching past the fountain towards the door. In another second he’d be gone, and any chance of exposing the corruption of the election would go with him.

  “Dr Longville,” Felix panted, scampering after him. Two of the security agents swivelled to face him. Longville just glanced over his shoulder, while the third security guard stood in the doorway. All around them hotel staff looked on. The receptionists obviously weren’t sure whether to intervene. If anybody else had tried to intercept such an important American guest, the security guards and the hotel staff would instantly have swooped into action to put a stop to it. But this was a child. And that had made them hesitate. That’s why Helen had sent Felix to do the job. He could still hear her instructions in his mind: you have to delay him. Do whatever you can to keep him at the hotel. It had sounded to simple, but now Felix could feel everybody’s eyes on him. Time for a show, he thought.

  “Dr Longville,” he said again, “I’ve been waiting just to see you. I want to be a politician when I grow up.” Felix put on his goofiest grin, but the security guards didn’t relax a muscle. “What do you think I—” Suddenly he grasped his throat. A violent cough lurched out of his chest, jerking his whole body. He spun a half turn and collapsed on the floor, gasping for breath. “Help!” he wheezed between desperate heaves. He writhed on the floor, spluttering, “Help me, doctor!” and clawed at his own chest as if he was trying to massage his heart.

  “I’m not a medical doctor,” Longville explained calmly. “I have a PhD in Political Philosophy. I can’t help you.” He turned to reception. “Call an ambulance!”

  Felix stopped squirming. “Wait,” he gasped. “I think I’m OK.”

  “What a miracle,” said the American in a flat tone. “Thank you for the entertainment, but now I have to go. My plane is leaving.”

  Felix jumped to his feet and watched Dr Longville gliding through the hotel doors towards a waiting limousine. I’m so stupid! Felix screamed inside his head. Why didn’t I realise he wasn’t a real doctor!? He ran for the door and stepped outside just as Dr Longville was sliding himself into the back of the limo. Felix’s first instinct was to pull him back, but one of the security guards was holding the car door. At last, Felix blurted out,

  “The election was fixed!”

  The limo door slammed shut.

  “What’s happening?” Georgie asked, her face pressed up against the window. Helen had taken the binoculars so now the figures below were too small for her to work out what was going on. She could just make out Felix’s performance in the lobby of the Langley Georgian, but the reflection in the glass frontage of the hotel made everything unclear. Then she saw Dr Longville rushing outside with his security guards to get into the limo.

  “He didn’t do it,” Helen said, fear in her voice. “Felix didn’t stop him.”

  That’s when Felix burst into the street.

  “What’s he saying?” Georgie asked.

  “Wait – Longville’s getting out of the car.” Helen leaned forward in her excitement, knocking the binoculars against the window.

  “I can see that!” Georgie cried, exasperated. “Why? What are they saying?”

  *

  When the limo door opened again and Dr Longville stepped out, Felix had to catch his breath. The man brushed his security guard out of the way and stepped right up to Felix. Suddenly pretending to be suffering some kind of fatal attack seemed easy. This was the real performance, thought Felix.

  “It’s true,” he said quietly. “I can give you proof, but my friend has it. He’s on his way. He’ll be here any minute. You have to wait for him.” All his words tumbled over each other as Dr Longville’s huge grey eyes looked him up and down. “Seriously,” Felix continued, “he’ll be here. He’s bringing the evidence. The whole election. It was, like, rigged. What have you got to lose? Miss your flight. Get the next one. It’s all paid for by some government anyway, right?”

  Dr Longville drew himself up to his full height and raised his eyebrows. When he spoke it was slow and quiet.

  “Some government?” he repeated. “You mean the United Nations?”

  “Er, yeah. Same thing.”

  “Same thing?” Longville ran his hands over his head. “It is most definitely not the same thing. I thought you wanted to be a politician.”

  “I lied.”

  “Well that’s a good start.” A smile creased Longville’s already lined face.

  “But I’m not lying about this,” said Felix emphatically. “Even if I am, you’ll find out for sure in a few minutes, and what’s the worst that can happen? You’ll miss checking in for your flight. So what? And if I’m telling the truth, you’ll have evidence
that the whole election was fixed.”

  Longville looked all around him and seemed to give some sign to the security guards. Felix braced himself, flooded with the wish that he could find the powers inside him that Jimmy could call on. He closed his eyes and waited for the grip of the guards. After a few seconds he opened them again to see that two guards were unloading the back of the car and the third was inside talking to the receptionist. Dr Longville was still standing over him.

  “I don’t need to check in for my flight, young man,” said the Inspector with a slight smile. “My car takes me straight on to the runway and the plane waits.” He leaned down to come face to face with Felix. “So it can wait a little longer, can’t it?” Before he stood upright again he glanced round and dropped his voice to a whisper. “My assistant is clearing things with the hotel.” His words were almost lost in the wind, but there was a gleam of excitement in his eyes. “So we can find a place to talk.”

  *

  Jimmy and Saffron were silent for a long time. Even the noise of the road rushing under them was muffled by the plush insulation of the Bentley. In the near silence, Jimmy couldn’t stop his mind circling through all his fears. He stared out of the window, letting the world fall into a blur. Everything he saw reminded him of the danger facing the entire country, but if he closed his eyes, the danger inside him was so much worse.

  “It was the right decision, you know,” Saffron said out of the blue. Jimmy was startled. She obviously thought he was still sulking about her leaving him behind to fight his way out of Chisley Hall alone.

  “Yeah, I know,” Jimmy said, sincerely.

  “And it’s exactly why I said your mum had to stay in London.” It sounded like Saffron was trying to justify things to herself, not to Jimmy. “She would have gone back for you. It would have put you both in more trouble and threatened the whole mission.”

  “Forget it,” Jimmy insisted. “I know.” He desperately tried to think of some way of changing the subject. “We did the best we could, right? Now we have to get Chris back.” Then he added, with a dry laugh, “Somehow.”

  “You’re right,” Saffron said quickly, even smiling a little.

  “And then make him Prime Minister.” Jimmy was surprised at his own words. He didn’t know what had made him say that. Perhaps the doubts at the back of his mind were stronger than he realised – was he testing Saffron? Immediately he saw those doubts flash across her face.

  “Jimmy…” she began, tentatively. “Do you think…” She trailed off with a sigh.

  “What?” Jimmy asked gently.

  “It’s nothing. It’s just that, you know, we’re doing all this for Chris, but lately he’s been a bit, well…”

  “I know.” Jimmy was relieved to hear that Saffron hadn’t been ignoring Viggo’s erratic behaviour. Jimmy suspected they were all doubting whether he was still the man to rescue Britain from Neo-democracy – the system that had abolished voting entirely until this election. Could they rely on Viggo to lead the nation? If he was like this when he was campaigning for the election, what would he be like in power?

  “But we still have to rescue him. Even if he can’t save the country…” Jimmy’s thoughts were hazy, as if he was trying to work out how he felt at the same time as the words were leaving his mouth. “…we still have to save him, right?”

  “Of course.” Saffron jerked round a sharp bend in the road. “But if he’s no good for the country, and if he and I don’t…” She turned away, pretending to check her mirror, but Jimmy had already seen the battle raging in her eyes.

  “It’s OK,” Jimmy whispered. “We’re going to save him.”

  Saffron’s reply came quickly in the strong voice that she usually saved for combat situations:

  “We’ll save him,” she confirmed. “But then what will we do with him?”

  The steam room in the hotel spa was the perfect place to talk. The air was so thick with steam that Felix could hardly see his own knees, let alone get caught on any cameras. He was sweating more than he had ever done in his life and every breath pulled the intense, damp heat into his lungs. He was starting to question his decision to keep his clothes on. Nonetheless, the important thing was that nobody could watch them or listen in on the conversation.

  “How long?” Dr Longville asked, panting. He wafted the steam away from his face. In the momentary clearing, Felix caught a glimpse of the man’s greying chest and the small pot belly that hung over the top of his towel, gleaming with sweat. The sight made Felix queasy and he wished he could un-see it.

  “I don’t know,” Felix admitted, “but he’s on his way.” He slipped his phone from his pocket to check for messages, hoping the steam would hide his anxiety. With frustration, he saw there was no phone reception. He’d sent a text to Helen Coates just before coming into the steam room to tell her what was going on. He had faith that she’d pass the message on to Jimmy and Saffron, but the wait for news was becoming agony.

  Two of the security guards were in the steam room with them, on either side of Dr Longville, while the third waited outside the door. Like Felix they were also fully dressed. Felix searched through the steam to try to get a look at one of their faces. At least their discomfort would distract from his own.

  Suddenly there was a loud clunk from outside. Through the frosted glass door, Felix saw the smudged shadow of the security guard keel to one side, then slump to the floor. The door burst open with a rush of cold air. Felix sucked in a deep breath, glad for the cool relief. As the steam twisted and danced, Felix’s face melted into a huge grin. In the doorway was the familiar silhouette of his best friend.

  “He wouldn’t let me in,” Jimmy announced, nodding to the unconscious mound of the guard at his feet. He stepped over it and let the door shut behind him.

  “He’s just cautious I guess,” Dr Longville replied, his American twang making it sound like the first line of a song.

  “Do you have it?” Felix panted, jumping towards Jimmy. He reached out for the black metal box under Jimmy’s arm. “Is this it?”

  Jimmy hesitated. Only Felix was close enough to see the uncertainty in his friend’s face.

  “Dr Longville,” Jimmy declared in a commanding voice, all the time exchanging doubtful glances with Felix. “I’ve brought something that you have to see.” He held out the metal box and pulled the kiosk hard drive from his pocket. “Do you have a laptop?”

  Within seconds they all reassembled in the men’s changing room.

  “Where’s Saffron?” Felix whispered.

  “The men’s and women’s saunas are separate,” Jimmy replied. “She couldn’t come in with me.”

  “We’ll be able to talk in here,” Longville cut in. “There are no surveillance cameras in a locker room.” He perched on the edge of a bench, still dressed only in his towel, and took the two hard drives from Jimmy, nodding to one of his security team at the same time. The guard knelt down and brought out a laptop case from one of the lockers. “Where did these hard drives come from?” Longville asked, examining it. “How did you get them, and what exactly do you claim is on them?”

  Jimmy took a deep breath. He wasn’t sure how much information to reveal.

  “They’re part of the Government’s voting system,” he explained at last.

  Longville’s face fell. He closed his eyes for a moment.

  “I really thought you were going to give me something,” he muttered. “Something that could bring down this…” His voice grew in anger, but he cut himself off before it could bubble over. “You’re wasting my time,” he announced softly, putting the computer equipment to one side and standing up to start putting his clothes back on. “I helped design that system. It’s securely and secretly housed…”

  “At Chisley Hall,” Jimmy cut in. “I know. That’s where I got these.”

  Longville’s cheeks, which had been flushed red from the sauna, drained to paper white. His lips twitched as if he wanted to say something but his brain wasn’t providing the words.


  “This is from one of the kiosks,” Jimmy went on, “and this is part of the main computer system.” He picked up the hard drives he’d carried from Milton Keynes and shoved them roughly back into Dr Longville’s hands. “Look at them.” The heat rose up in Jimmy’s veins, and it wasn’t from having been in the sauna. “The election was fixed!” He started pulling leads and wires from the laptop bag.

  “HERMES…” Longville muttered. He dropped his eyes to look at the computer boxes in his hands. “You…?” He slowly lowered himself back to the bench, suddenly looking a hundred years older. “HERMES is…”

  “HERMES is in need of a bit of repair, I’m afraid,” said Jimmy awkwardly. He glanced at Felix, who gave him a firm nod of solidarity.

  “I bet you blew it up,” Felix whispered, far too loud. “Did you? Did you blow it up?”

  Jimmy’s gave a sheepish smile and shrugged.

  “Yes!” Felix hissed, clenching a fist. “That’s so cool.”

  That moment, the door of the changing room creaked open and the bodyguard that Jimmy had knocked out staggered in. His appearance seemed to bring Dr Longville out of a trance.

  “Stay outside,” he ordered, full of excitement again. “Guard the door and do a better job this time.”

  The security man shrunk away again. Longville and Jimmy set about the leads. At first Jimmy was baffled by the different connections and exposed wires, especially on the hard drive from the voting kiosk. There was no obvious way of connecting it to the other machines. But his hands moved confidently, guided by the unseen technical knowledge locked in his brain.

  Dr Longville clearly knew what he was doing as well. “We’ll connect everything up,” he said, breathlessly. “If you took these by force then we don’t have much time. NJ7 will find out my flight hasn’t left the ground and if they’re good they’ll link it to what you’ve done.” He looked up for a moment, his eyes expanding to stare into Jimmy’s. “And they’re very, very good.”