Damn. This was a mess. She knew this would never be a piece of cake, but she thought she’d crossed the main hurdle in getting inside OsMiTech in the first place.
And after her chat with Devan, she felt like the rug had been pulled from under her.
After packing her files into her bag, she grabbed her coat and headed out of the office.
A note had been folded under the windscreen wiper of her car.
Ruby’s heart skipped a beat as she slipped it from under the wiper blade and saw it was from Candice.
Eyes everywhere. The snoops are out.
She slipped it into her pocket and got in the car. Her presence had made things worse. Coming here had been a mistake. She’d accomplished nothing other than to draw attention to her allies and increase the scrutiny she was already under.
The guards on the gate to the complex stopped her vehicle and made her wait whilst they checked her ID and the car registration. The stocky man with the ill-fitting uniform didn’t smile, his face set in a permanent scowl. A woman in the booth was looking straight at her and whilst the guard made a pretence of checking her credentials, the woman stared at her with a scary intensity; her face taut with concentration.
Ruby blocked. She focused on the pattern she’d bought from Aura. Casting doubts aside and really believing it.
“Is there a problem?” she asked of the guard looking through a list of names on his data tab.
“Just increased security. Won’t take much longer.” He didn’t look at her as he spoke.
“It’s just I need to get back to the DRT office to speak to my boss. You know how it is; never upset the boss.”
“One minute,” he replied officiously, holding a finger up to silence her.
“I really do need to go.”
When he looked back at her, he smiled but the glint in his eyes made her want to slink back in her seat. Eventually, after another minute, he looked to the woman in the booth and she nodded back to him.
“Sorry to keep you,” he said and pressed a button to open the main gates.
Ruby resisted the urge to speed away. Her hands were trembling on the steering wheel and once on the main road, she passed control to the car’s AI.
“Take me home, Artie.”
Ruby tried not to look in the rear-view mirror at the OsMiTech building as the car headed out of the compound, but she found the sight irresistible.
*
She let the car drive and looked at Candice’s note again. Candice must be in more trouble than she’d appreciated. Leaving a note under the window wiper would have been a big risk for her if she was being monitored, but perhaps it felt safer than contacting her over the network. The snoop at the gate made her uncomfortable, though. She hadn’t expected this. If her blocking patterns had held she’d be OK, otherwise what might they have picked up? Only concern for Candice and that in itself wasn’t going to get her into trouble.
Fin called. At first, she resisted answering, unsure whether she wanted to speak to him. Not sure what he might want to say. Not sure what she might want to say back.
She picked up.
“Hey, how’s it going?” He sounded drunk. This would make it easier.
“Good, all good.”
“Excellent.” There were the sounds of music in the background. “Where you at?”
“Just left OsMiTech. On my way home.”
“Cool,” he replied and Ruby wondered whether he was listening to her. “I’m out with Seb.”
His right-hand man. His best guy. His shoulder to cry on and get drunk with. The git with the wandering hands. She resisted the urge to shiver. “OK. Where are you?”
“In Liverpool centre,” he shouted as the background noise suddenly got a lot louder with chatter and music. “We thought we’d get something to eat. Didn’t think you’d mind.”
She closed her eyes and set her head back on the seat head rest. This wasn’t what she needed right now, a reminder of how things were. “That’s fine, have a great time. I’m ready for an early night, anyway.”
“You could always come for a drink later.”
But she knew that wasn’t going to be part of his plan.
“No, that’s OK. Fin, I’ve got to be up early. Why don’t you stay at Seb’s tonight? Make the most of it.”
For a moment, she thought he’d maybe hung up on her, but then she heard him shouting to someone else in the bar. “Sorry, just saw Simon. What did you say?”
She repeated herself and thought he sounded a tiny bit put out when he replied. “Yeah, OK. That’s probably for the best isn’t it?”
“Call me tomorrow when you’re up.”
“Love yer.”
She ended the call and felt cold. At some point, she would not be able to put off her relationship issues with Fin. Is that what this was, an issue? The break was never meant to be permanent, but she’d honestly never meant for him to be back in her bed so soon. Telling herself that it was only to comfort her after the stress of the last few weeks since Nikoli’s death would only pass muster for so long. She couldn’t avoid the situation for much longer. What a mess.
7:11 PM
The car stopped outside her home and parked up by the kerb. Ruby looked up at the black windows of her flat and wished that she hadn’t told Fin to go out and have fun. She grabbed her bag and left the car, enjoying the cool breeze blowing down the street.
Biggs was waiting for her outside her house.
“Evening,” Biggs called as if addressing an old friend. “How was your day?”
Ruby hesitated. Not relishing engaging with this man who’d turn up unannounced like this. “Challenging,” she replied evenly.
He nodded as if he understood everything.
“I suppose you want to come in.”
He waited patiently in the lounge whilst she made them both a cup of tea, not waiting to see if he drunk tea, but not caring either. Fin had left the dishes in the sink and the flat was looking more like its old self, now that he’d stopped trying so hard.
She came back into the lounge to see Biggs looking over the photos she kept on the shelf.
“Your dad?” He was holding one of the silver-framed photos, looking at the image with interest.
“Yeah, he used to love travelling. That was the last time he got to Spain before they closed the borders.”
“He looks a lot like you. How is he?”
Guilt snatched at her insides. She hadn’t had the chance to call him today yet. He’d be worried about her. “No better,” she replied.
Biggs shook his head. “I’m sorry,” he said, moving onto a photo of her mother. “Pretty lady.”
Ruby took the photo from Biggs and looked at her mum. It had been a while since she’d looked at these pictures. Normally, just having them on the shelf was good enough, a presence of them close by. But right now, she missed them both terribly. Carefully, she put the photo of her mum back on the shelf, a signal to her guest that it was no longer acceptable to root through her private possessions.
Biggs sat on the armchair and took a sip from his tea. “Nice.”
“Sugar in the kitchen if you want some.”
“Fine without. What happened today?”
“What a question. Where to start?” Ruby sat on the chair opposite Biggs, keeping some distance between them. “I got to meet Devan again. He certainly wasn’t the same man from the drinks reception. Colder. Less polite. He warned me off speaking to people at OsMiTech. It seems my presence irritates him.”
“He’s just exerting his authority.”
“And they’ve increased security. They had a snoop on the gate scanning as I left. She wasn’t there on my way inside this morning.”
“Any idea what they were looking for?”
Ruby shook her head.
“Were they doing it just for you?”
“No. I don’t think so.”
Biggs stroked his chin. His eyes narrowed, and he sat like that for a moment, not moving.
“Nik
oli had a diary,” Biggs said simply. “I trust by now you’ve found it.”
Ruby hesitated. Is this what all of this was about? Did Biggs know Ruby had the diary in her possession? She tried to put its location out of her mind in case Biggs happened upon it.
“You have it don’t you?”
“No. I never knew he had one.”
Biggs laughed. “Of course you did. He carried it with him everywhere.” Biggs’s face had an unnatural pallor to it. He looked unlike the jovial man who’d confided in her a few short days ago. Suddenly, Ruby felt vulnerable. She eyed the door to her flat warily.
“What did you find out at OsMiTech? Did Nikoli’s woman talk?”
“Not about whatever Nikoli was working on.”
“You asked?”
“Of course. She’s still upset.”
He shifted in his chair.
“Ruby.” When he said her name, a shiver zipped up her back. She glanced at her HALO. He leant forwards. “Ruby, I’ve asked you to do a simple thing. It’s challenging, yes. I get that, but I thought you wanted to find out what Nikoli was investigating. That was how we would get to his killer. That’s what you wanted right? So, why aren’t you doing more?”
“Jesus, Biggs. I’m there at OsMiTech. Sticking my nose into areas that will most likely get me kicked out if not arrested. And what are you doing?”
He didn’t like that. It was a nudge too far.
“If it wasn’t for me, you’d still be scrambling in the dark. I don’t like the disrespect, Ruby. I don’t think I deserve it.”
Ruby glanced at the door again.
“Nobody’s coming.”
“Biggs, I’m tired and need sleep.”
“Not until you tell me what you found.”
“I didn’t find anything. I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Ruby stood up. “Biggs, I’m sorry but I’m not the person you thought I was. I’m not going to be able to help. I’m not going back to OsMiTech. I’ve had enough of all this. In fact, I’m going to the police. Tell them what I know. Let them sort it out.”
Biggs stood. He put his cup down on the side table and snorted. “You can’t do that. They can’t know about me.”
Ruby cocked her head. What was it with Biggs? Why was his secrecy so important to him? “I don’t have to tell them about you.”
“But you will. I can see it in your eyes. You’re scared of me.”
“It’s been a long day.”
“But that’s not it. You don’t trust me.” Quickly, taking Ruby by surprise, he stood and closed the door leading out to the front door, then leant back on it, blocking the way.
She scratched idly at her arm. “What are you doing?”
He shook his head, biting his bottom lip as if working through a tough decision.
“Biggs, you’re scaring me.”
“Where’s the diary?” He took a step closer, and Ruby hurried to her feet and backed off.
“Get out, Biggs. I will not be intimidated in my own home.” She glanced at the cupboard to her right. She kept her bag of tricks in there in case she ever had to go after a rogue. But she doubted she could even get to it in time, let alone find a suitable weapon.
Biggs continued to ignore her demands, edging around the sofa instead. She moved the other way, refusing to look away from him although her head was screaming at her to make a dash for the cupboard.
Then Biggs halted. A grin appeared. “Oh no, that’s not how this will play out.” He grabbed the arm of the chair he’d been sitting on and toppled it in front of the door, blocking it as an easy exit. The extra seconds it would take to move that, and he’d be upon her.
Instead, she ran for the kitchen, slamming the door shut behind her knowing that there was no lock and no way of blocking it. She’d been stupid. There was no way out. In the sink, the chopping knife she’d used last night. Six inches of sharpened steel and she grabbed it swinging it towards the opening door as Biggs shoved it. His face thunderous.
Ruby howled in surprise as he came running for her. She turned and struck out with the knife, the end catching Biggs’s cheek. He winced but instantly retreated.
The minor victory gave Ruby a rush of hope. “If you want to chance your luck with me and a knife, you’re more than welcome.”
He frowned, his hand to his cheek. It didn’t look too bad but he was scowling, the eyes dangerous and narrowed. He was trying to read her, get an idea for whether she was bluffing.
“You don’t know what you’ve got yourself. OsMiTech is more important than even you realise and it needs a strong man at the tiller. Devan’s dangerously unstable—always has been. I’ve an idea of what he’s capable of and it scares me. Terrifies me. And yet everyone loves him and that company. I’m trying to stop him, and if anyone gets in my way—”
“Biggs, I’m not in your way.”
“Then tell me where the diary is.”
“I don’t have it.”
He shook his head, the disappointment clear in those large blue eyes. “I’d hoped you’d see sense. I thought we had an agreement. The InfiniteYou network is dangerous. He can’t be allowed to launch it. Whatever Devan’s planning, it’s connected to that. There are too many signs to ignore. We need to move quickly.” His eyes were level with hers. Two blue discs of madness boring into her brain. She checked her patterns but—
“They’re failing.” He grinned.
“And I’m serious. Get the hell out of my house.” She springed forward and swiped the knife in front of her, relishing the swish it made as it sliced through the air in front of Biggs.
“We can help each other.”
“I don’t need your help. I want you gone.” Ruby triple tapped her HALO and asked for the police. “I’ve an intruder in my house. He’s trying to kill me.”
Biggs tilted his head to the side. A stony expression on his face. “This isn’t over,” he said softly, then turned and hurried out of the house.
Devan Oster
17 years ago
Devan flashed a half-hearted smile at the nurse on the front desk. Despite walking past her every day for the last three weeks, he’d be damned if he could remember her name. No matter, he paid her salary and that meant he could brush that particular speck of guilt aside for now.
In the last two months, OsMiTech had received over three hundred requests from hospitals around the country asking for permission to refer a patient to this top of the range clinic. It might have been a mistake to announce to the country that OsMiTech was behind yet another major leap forward in medical advances but when his PR team had put it to Devan, he had been drunk and thought it a marvellous idea. He never did like to go back on his word once he’d made a decision so that had been that.
The smell of the original public hospital that Milford had been treated in had never left him, so one of his many requirements was that this place smell like a wood after a rainstorm. He’d always liked it and so now, walking along the short corridor to Milford’s bedroom, he closed his eyes and imagined wandering around the woods close to home—his real home—and getting ever nearer to the Trees of the Dead plantation. For a moment every visit, he escaped the tedium before it began and it was always just enough to get him through the visit.
Dr Chang approached from his office opposite Milford’s room. Clean shaved, and bespectacled, he looked like he’d only just left medical school. But appearances were deceptive as Dr Chang had proved his acumen in so many ways since this place was devised. He’d developed a knack for saying what no one else was prepared to say; had developed balls enough to tell Devan when he was talking crap. It was the same attitude he’d missed so much from Milford.
Chang was smiling and Devan said nothing. He’d spent the night drinking vodka and coffee.
“He’s awake.”
That did make Devan stop in his tracks. “Awake. What kind of awake? You mean properly awake?”
The doctor’s smile made his reply unnecessary but Devan suspected he’d been waiting to tell him th
e news so let it go. “Properly awake.”
“Why didn’t you call?”
“You were already on your way here. It’s only been in the last twenty minutes. We were preoccupied with tests and—”
Devan didn’t wait for the rest and raced into Milford’s bedroom.
The sight made him stop in his tracks, his feet were suddenly walking on nothing. His stomach telling him that the fall to earth would be spectacular.
“You took your time.” Milford sitting up in bed, head rested on the pillows for support, his newly fitted prosthesis gleaming white and impossibly clean. And it suddenly unnerved Devan so much to see his partner upright and showing signs of life that Devan was afraid of what this would mean for the pair of them. The future had been rewritten more times than he cared to remember but now that Milford was conscious, the current future before them was a frayed strand of silk blowing in the wind ahead of them. What this might mean was anyone’s guess.
“I had something important to sort out.”
Milford attempted to smile, but he began to cry instead. Devan stepped around the bed and they embraced, somewhat clumsily as Devan tried to avoid any dangling cables. It had been months since they’d held each other like that and Devan realised that it wasn’t just the future that was uncertain. What of the now? What of the man he’d fallen in love with?
They detached and Devan perched on the bed and held his partner’s hand. “What do you remember?”
“Nothing. Haze. Screaming. Just—I don’t know. I was cold. I thought I was dead.”
“Yeah, a lot of people thought that.”
“But as I’m clearly not…”
“That was six months ago. You’ve been out of it for that long.”
“You still got a business?”
Devan sighed. “Yes. I’m still the richest man in the country.”
This time, Milford did smile. “Good. I’d sure as hell hate to be sleeping with the poorest. My head’s sore. That doctor wouldn’t tell me what they’ve done. But there’s something covering my eye and wrapped around my head.” He explored the top side of his head with the prosthesis and flinched whenever his fingertips brushed against something new. “It doesn’t feel like a dressing. What is it?”
The Infinity Mainframe (Tombs Rising Book 3) Page 17
