To divert her mind she thought about Nikoli. Had Devan Oster sent someone to silence Nikoli and his wife? It seemed ridiculous but only a few weeks ago, she'd have thought it ridiculous that any of this mess would have happened at all. She needed leads and so far, zilch. The arts centre evidence had been deleted, so she had no proof that there’d been any animosity between the two men. The guests at the event would remember Nikoli causing a scene, but they'd not been privy to the argument behind closed doors. It all felt so… hopeless.
And with that thought, her attention came back to the moment and her dad. He’d been diagnosed with Alzheimer's in his late forties. Mum had cared for him when she was alive, but since her death, that duty had fallen to Ruby and she wasn't ready for it. Dad was declining rapidly. What might he be like in a few more years?
“Ms Parry.” A man emerged from a side office and called into the waiting room. She didn't recognise the doctor from her previous appointments but followed him into his office where the smell of antiseptic seemed stronger than out in the waiting room.
“How are you?” he asked.
“I've had better weeks.”
He smiled and glanced down at his notes, flicking quickly through the pages and charts on his access point, getting a picture of the man he was about to talk about.
“I’m Dr Pemberton,” he said, putting the access point down on the desk. “I’ve been reviewing your father’s case.”
“Yes, but I don’t understand why you needed to see me today. Why do you want to keep him in tonight?”
He glanced at the notes again. He coughed then put his hands on the table in front of him like he was preparing to pray. “There’s no easy way to say this, Ms Parry, but your father doesn’t have Alzheimer’s.”
Her stomach lifted at the news. Not Alzheimer's. This was terrific, this was— “Impossible. He’s had the tests. He’s got Alzheimer's. Dr Shields confirmed it on his first admission.”
“That may be, and I can’t comment on what Dr Shields thought. Only, your father’s been visiting us for the last twelve months now, and I’ve just reviewed his latest set of results. Whatever we may have thought was happening to your father, we need to re-evaluate.”
“But, I don’t understand. You’ve run tests. His symptoms. He’s not well.”
“That much is obvious. He has a serious problem.”
Ruby wanted to grab the man by the collar and shout at him to give her a concrete answer. It was costing her every spare penny she had to have him seen to by these experts.
“You’re looking into it. What the—” She stopped herself in mid-sentence, mindful of her increasing frustration. “What do your tests show?”
“His memory loss is not due to the natural deterioration of his synapses. We’re detecting no abnormality in his zinc levels. There are certain chemical tags in his DNA that we’d expect to see and we can’t. And the blood flows throughout the brain are consistent with a man in his early fifties.”
“But, he can’t remember me. When I come to see him, I have to explain who I am. He’s up and wandering his flat in the middle of the night. I’ve had to pick him up from the supermarket at three in the morning when he decided to do his shopping in his underwear. Even his speech—he often can’t find the right words to communicate properly with me. I’ve done my research. This is Alzheimer's.”
Dr Pemberton shook his head. “No. It’s not.”
“Then what is it?”
“Can you think of anyone that might have wanted to cause harm to your father?”
It was like being kicked in the stomach. Her breath left her, and she found it difficult to pull in the next. She blinked and colours flashed under her eyelids.
“Cause harm to him?” she repeated.
He held her gaze, unflinching. “Yes.”
“You’re saying that someone has done this to him?”
“It looks like that is an option.”
“But... I don’t understand.”
“It’s taken us a while to cross-reference your father’s case with everything in the system. Tell me, you work for the Department for the Regulation of Telepaths don’t you?”
“Yes, what does that have to do with anything?”
“Does your father ever come into contact with telepaths?”
“I don’t know. It’s unlikely. He used to be a policeman. I guess he’d have come into some contact. Why do you think a telepath has anything to do with this?”
“I’ve come from a neurology department in District 27. Do you remember Hayleigh Redfern?”
“Of course. Fourteen with mental health issues. Forced diminishment.” It had started out as a small protest outside the district’s testing department. The girl’s family arguing against the court’s ruling that Hayleigh would go through the diminishment process against her will on the grounds that she wasn’t capable of following the telepath code. Hayleigh had telepath supporters. People standing against the court’s decision and OsMiTech’s instruction to support a fourteen-year-old girl.
But, something had gone wrong. The Anti-telepath League had shown up to counter the support that Hayleigh was receiving, and amongst that group of protesters, the government had secreted a number of their own telepath agents. When Hayleigh’s supporters detected them, fights broke out. Punches were thrown but the teeps were doing something worse than strike out physically.
Later, those who survived the police round-up claimed that the teeps had been using aggressive telepathic scans to disable protesters. And this was from teeps on both sides, government and Hayleigh’s supporters.
“Nine people were killed,” Ruby said.
“And only three with bullets. Six as a result of the teeps’ actions.”
“I don’t understand what this has to do with my dad. He wasn’t in District 27. He never has been.”
“I’m not suggesting he was. But, we’re still learning from the research conducted on those who survived those telepathic attacks. The attackers had forced their way into the brain’s memory centres. Cutting away at their personalities.” He paused and looked across at Ruby.
“You’ve found something similar in my dad.”
“Yes,” he said, nodding. "That kind of prolonged attack by telepaths leaves its mark. Key chemical chains were found in the brain stems of the survivors at that stand-off. We’ve found those present in your father.”
Ruby rubbed her bottom lip with the tip of her finger. Her brain was racing. Her dad wasn’t there at district 27. She’d seen the footage plenty of times, so what else did it mean?
“Could the tests be wrong?”
“Possibly. It’s not like we search for these things routinely. And it’s only because I had reason to be involved with the District 27 case and your father’s that we’ve found any connection at all.”
“And if these chemical chains are present, what’s the chance of them being produced by something other than telepathic activity?”
Dr Pemberton shrugged. “It’s something we need to explore more.”
Ruby wanted to get out of there and find her dad. “What’s next?”
“We need to keep running tests. If you’re happy for us to proceed, I’d like to keep him in tonight so we can monitor him whilst he’s asleep. Then depending on how that goes, I might like to arrange some follow ups. We need to focus on what could cause the chemical chain in the brain stem and then look to what we might be able to do to reduce its impact.”
“You think you can reverse whatever happened to him?”
“He’s already suffered significant neurological degeneration. There’s a small chance we might restore some of those areas, or help him adapt to use more of the brain centres that are undamaged.” The doctor rose and wandered over to the window. “There’s one more thing I’d like to discuss with you. I’d like your authorisation to use medical telepaths to start therapy with him.”
“But, if this condition is caused by telepaths, how does using more telepaths make it any better?”
Ruby bit the inside of her lip. At times like this, she hated being an only child. To have someone to share these decisions with would have taken the burden from her. “I don’t know,” she replied, desperately wanting the doctor to just demand the treatment take place and to hell with her views. It would have made things easier and easier was better.
“Can I ask why you’re hesitating? I’m offering hope. It’s a chance for your father.” The doctor scratched at the side of his face, lines appearing around his eyes as he frowned. Ruby wasn’t sure how she’d been so quickly cast as the bad person but she didn’t like it.
“Do it,” she whispered. “Just do it.”
10:37 AM
He was sat in a chair when she opened the door and entered the room. After her conversation with Dr Pemberton, she’d changed her mental image of her dad into a victim, incapable of looking after himself, so seeing him reading a book shocked her for a moment—flipped her mental image back to the man she’d loved for so long.
“How’s things, Angel?” he said, putting the tablet aside and looking up at his daughter. Those sad brown eyes of his struck her with their innocence.
Immediately, she ran across the room and bent to embrace her dad, revelling in this moment of lucidity.
“I’m fine, Dad,” she said eventually, not pulling away for fear of him seeing the tears welling. “You’re looking great.”
“I would be even better if they’d just let me go home. What time are we going?”
“Soon.”
After too short a time, she withdrew from the hug and sat on the bed. She sniffed and grabbed a tissue from the bedside table, blowing into it and then stuffing the tissue into her jeans pocket.
“I’ve been speaking to a new doctor today,” she said. “Dr Pemberton.”
“Yes, I thought he was new. But, you know how I can be. Wasn’t sure.”
She nodded. “Definitely new. Been transferred from D27. You ever been there?” she asked casually.
He shrugged. “Possibly. Yorkshire? I never will get used to these stupid names. Why’d they ever change them I can’t bloody fathom. Why’d do you want to know?”
“He’s got a theory as to what could be causing your—”
“My what?”
Ruby closed her eyes. “Your moments.” She opened her eyes and looked at her dad, biting her lip.
“Not this again,” he replied, raising his voice. “It’s just getting old. That’s all that is. Why won’t you ever listen?”
“Dad, you’re not old.”
“Why did I let you talk me into coming here?”
“You’re forgetful sometimes. I want to help you remember.”
“There’s nothing wrong with my memory. I’ve got perfect recall. Ask your mother.”
She felt like the ground was melting underfoot, sucking all the hope that she’d just had, down into the dark places again. “Dad, Mum’s dead.”
He stared at her. The stranger was back. “Don’t be ridiculous,” he said. His knuckles were turning white with the force of his grip on the arms of his chair.
“Dad, please, calm down, it’s OK.”
“OK? How can it be OK? I’m not sick. You keep telling me I am, but I’m not. It’s you that’s sick. Coming out with such rubbish. Your mother’s so upset with you. I’m scared for you. I don’t understand what happened to my little girl.” He reached forward and put his hand on her knee. “Ruby, you’re not going to help anyone until you recognise that you need to sort yourself out.”
“OK. I’ll do that. I will, Dad, I promise.” She smiled and patted the back of his hand, wanting more than anything to leave the room and go and get Fin and get trashed in some bar.
Her admission seemed to help Dad’s mood. He sat back in his chair and picked up the tablet he’d put to one side. “Tell me, what’s new?”
“New?”
“Yes, you never talk to me about what’s going on in your life anymore. You’ve become so secretive.”
“I don’t mean to be.”
“No, I know what it’s like. You’re so wrapped up in your school work that you forget I was in school once as well.”
Oh. We’re back there.
“It’s all good. Dad, I left school fifteen years ago. You remember that right? You came to the graduation.”
He mumbled something she couldn’t quite hear.
“Dad?”
He began to rock gently in his seat, tapping away at the tablet on his lap.
She stood up then, her dad not looking up and walked to the doorway. At the threshold, she turned and glanced back. “Love you,” she mumbled before leaving.
6:00 PM
It was always hard, seeing Dad. Being an only child didn’t help either. There was no one she could share this burden with, and she despised herself for ever letting Dad feel like a burden. He’d done all he could to raise and support her after Mum’s death, but there it was. Dad could no longer support her. He loved her—she knew that, and some days that was enough.
She considered heading into town, maybe surprising Fin for a drink. But, what she really needed was time alone to mull things through. It had been a good idea to take the day off and although she felt unfair on Glynn for dumping all the work on him, he still hadn’t given her his verdict on her apprehension of Scott Logan. Maybe a day away from him would be for the best. Another confrontation with him wouldn’t go well. Today her family came first.
And it tore her to shreds.
What kind of family did she have? No uncles or aunties. No siblings. Dad had become her dependent, so that left Fin. The man who’d proven himself to be utterly unreliable and untrustworthy. What did it say about her that despite this, she’d let him come back into her life? But she knew why. Without him, her life was cold.
Fin was at work and the flat was empty, apart from Buster who ambled up and greeted her with his tongue hanging out and his tail whipping excitedly. She let him jump into her arms before carrying him to the lounge where she dropped him on the sofa and sighed at the mess. The flat was just as untidy as it had been when she’d left. Fin fixed cars at the garage on North Road. He was good at it too, but he came home smelling of grease and that smell lingered.
Ruby picked up a couple of dirty cups and a plate of half-eaten toast then told herself that she would not turn into his cleaner. She dropped them into the kitchen sink.
District 27.
Dad had denied being there, and of course, he couldn’t have been. It was a specialist team working with that district’s DRT, his police unit hadn’t been assigned.
Ideas nagged, as she wandered to the bathroom to get the laundry basket. Fin had already left clothes at the top of the washing pile. He thought this temporary stay at the flat was a bit less temporary than she thought. Still, this showed he was trying not to be a jerk. After dragging the laundry basket into the kitchen, Ruby pushed it over and spilt the contents onto the kitchen floor.
Something caught her eye. She picked up the jacket she’d been wearing the night of the InfiniteYou launch; Fin must have shoved it in there in an effort to be helpful. She hadn’t seen the thing since that night, but it didn’t feel right in her hand. Something hard in one pocket.
It was the last thing she’d expected to find. From the pocket, she pulled out Nikoli’s diary.
No larger than her palm. A smooth black digital stone with a finger sized swirl almost dissecting the thing. What was this doing inside her jacket? Nikoli used his diary every day—it was his preferred means of capturing appointments and notes from meetings. Ruby ran her finger over the swirl but it wouldn’t open. Digital stones like this could be fitted with additional security. She examined it closely and saw a discrete letter ‘e’ had been embossed over the swirl. An echo lock. There was no chance of her getting this open. Only Nikoli’s bio-signature would unlock
it. That man certainly appreciated his privacy.
How could it have ended up in her jacket? That night had been intense, but she definitely hadn’t taken it from him. Then the memory of Nikoli embracing her in a hug came back to her. Something out of the ordinary. That was when he must have hidden it on her.
But why?
Another disturbing thought relegated the why question. If Nikoli had given it to her for safekeeping, then he mustn't have felt safe carrying it around. Did he know someone was out to get him? Did Nikoli know he was going to die?
7:14 PM
Ruby approached the habitat block with trepidation and a dreadful sinking feeling in her stomach that was usually saved for those moments when she checked her bank statements. She never thought Dad would wind up in one of these concrete monstrosities. When they were little, she’d looked at this big behemoth being constructed, commanding the Southport skyline as it did, and wondered what kind of people they put inside these things. The building was for the poor, run down, no-hopers in the town. The philosophy behind such constructions was to grab all the people that became a burden to society, the elderly, the out of work, the offenders, and shove them all together to see how long they could be put out of mind. What happened in reality was that these habitat communities learnt how to survive—they had no other choice. Bartering systems grew up, people understood they had to trust each other and distrust those on the outside, and crime was rampant—not necessarily crime within the habitat block, it was pretty poor form to take from those as equally unfortunate as yourself, but from the outside world, the middle classes—the useful people.
The Infinity Mainframe (Tombs Rising Book 3) Page 9
