Divide and Rule

by Solomon Carter

  Twenty

  Outside Jerry Burton’s hospital room Eva sat with Jess. The door was open. Eva could see Peter Serge and Will Burton sitting at Jerry’s bedside, beneath the array of flickering monitors. There were fewer monitors today. Eva had also heard the boy’s health was stabilising, and he would soon be able to come off his sedatives. The truth would be out when Jerry woke up, and there was nothing anyone could do about it. Eva wished Jerry would wake right now, but a selfish part of her wanted to crack the case before Jerry Burton woke up and closed it for good. As the hours passed, solving the case seemed less and less likely. She watched Peter Serge grasp the boy’s limp hand, showing care and emotion and crocodile tears. The men spoke of Jerry’s recovery more than once, but from their stilted conversation it was evident Serge and Burton had other things on their minds. The hospital noise and nurse’s conversations made eavesdropping almost impossible, but Eva heard the words election, votes and campaign repeated more than any other. She thought about Dan, but said nothing of it to Jess. What was the point? Jess didn’t share Eva’s affection for him, and a part of her wondered if Jess cared for his safety at all. Serge glanced out towards them. She felt the burn of his gaze each time, and returned it as best she could. His eyes were full of contempt and mockery. It took almost two hours for Eva to get the opportunity she’d been waiting for. Serge rose from his chair sweeping his Hitler hair back away from his forehead. “I’ll get you a coffee Will, then we’ll hit the road, eh? We need to get on campaigning again soon. The opposition is out in force today.”

  Burton mumbled a reply as Serge marched out of Jerry Burton’s door, his shiny leather shoes clacking on the tiled floor. The man came to a stop in front of Eva and Jess, and his solid dark eyes moved left and right as he took them in. Then he shook his head. “You’re not very good at being a detective are you, Miss Roberts?? And you won’t receive a fee, let me assure you.”

  “We know what you are, Serge.”

  “And I know what you are…” he whispered. “Scared.”

  The man grinned, bearing his twisted pristine teeth, then he turned abruptly and walked away.

  “He would look so right in a Nazi uniform,” said Jess.

  “I think that’s his wet dream. Stay here Jess, I need to speak with Will Burton. If the pocket Nazi or the security come back, let me know before they see me.”

  “Obviously.”

  Attitude. Eva was going to talk to Jess about her attitude one day very soon.

  “Hello there, Will.”

  “Hello, Miss Roberts. It looks like you’ve given up the case.”

  Burton looked up at her. His eyes were full of emotion, his brow looked deeply creased with stress and tiredness. Will Burton was on the edge. Was it the election pressure? Or maybe Serge had been saying a lot more than Eva had tuned in on.

  “I’ve not given up. I’m just working a new angle.”

  “Really? That’s not how it looks to me. You’re at Basecamp sitting around twiddling your thumbs. I’ve seen you out there. You look anxious. That’s a good gauge of giving up if ever I saw one.”

  “Funny, Mr Burton. You just described pretty much how you look to me.”

  “I’m anxious for my son, and nothing else. You know the polls. We’ve got this election won in our sleep.”

  “You don’t manage arrogance too well. Peter Serge does it so much better, don’t you think?”

  “What do you want? Get to the point. I’m not paying you for sarcasm and bitchy comments.”

  “Serge says you aren’t paying me at all.”

  “That’s Peter. He likes stirring the pot.”

  “Why does he like stirring, Will? You look pretty well stirred up right now, if you don’t mind me saying. What did Peter say to agitate you?”

  “You want to know?”

  “I’m asking. We need to know everything if you want us to be of help to you.”

  “He thinks you are double agents. He told me he thinks you’re working for someone else, maybe even the security services. He says you’ve been trying to smear us as being Neo-Nazis, and that you may be about to plant a story in the press about our training commune at Cordy Farm.”

  “Commune? It’s not a peace camp you’ve got there, Will! Wake up and be honest with yourself for once. Either you are an idiot, or you’ve been lying to yourself for far too long.”

  Will Burton’s eyes flashed large and bright with anger. They settled down within a second, and then Eva saw a shine of tears holding tight to his eyes. Burton looked away.

  “I don’t need this crap right now. We’ve got twenty four hours to the best day in this party’s history – the best day of our lives. I won’t have you ruin it with your attempts to confuse and deceive.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “He’s right, isn’t he? You’re working for me and working against me at the same time. Peter is intelligent. You said I was like Tony Blair, well let me tell you, he’s my Peter Mandelson. He sees everything and he is one step ahead of you, Miss Roberts. Don’t be tempted to try and hurt us. Because it will definitely blow up in your face. You’ve got twenty four hours to finish this job in my son’s favour. If anything untoward happens, any press statements, or interviews which attempt to smear me or my party – then you will set off a chain of events I won’t be responsible for.”

  “Oh, but you will, Mr Burton. Like it or not, you’re responsible for too much already.”

  There was a curious look in his eyes, then Burton turned away and looked at his son. Burton excluded her with his body language. But he turned around again as the corridor filled with the noise of running feet. Eva looked at Jess. Jess had a clear view. Jess stood up. “It’s Serge. He’s coming in a real hurry.”

  Burton heard Jess too and stood. He looked at Eva and shook his head accusingly. Peter Serge filled the doorway before Jess could beat him to it. Behind Serge one of the burly security men appeared, his face utterly blank.

  “There’s been another incident at Cordy Farm,” said Serge, spittle filling the air. His face shook with anger. “That’s five young men hurt now. Five apprentices!”

  “When?” said Burton. He glanced at Eva and back to Serge.

  “Last night, and then this morning, Early.”

  “Then it can’t be this one, can it? She was here as early as I was.”

  “Will – it wasn’t her. It was her partner. He has some kind of particular dislike of us. One of those lefty anarchists, I think.”

  “Dan knows what you really are, Mr Serge. He’s no anarchist. Dan can’t stomach what you stand for. Neither what you say you stand for nor what you really stand for. And to be honest, neither can I”

  “There you are, Will. You heard it from her own mouth. They’re against us, and they’ve attacked our training centre. What more evidence do you need to call these people off before they do any more damage?”

  “As far as I see, we’re getting closer to the truth all the time, Mr Serge. When your version of the truth was the only one available, you were very happy to hire us, as I recall. Now we’re getting closer, you’re suddenly against us. Now why is that?”

  “I’ve been against you from the start, Miss Roberts. And now I’m more against you than ever. What happened at Cordy Farm will not go unanswered.”

  “Another threat. Mr Burton, did you hear that?”

  Serge looked at Burton. The room grew quiet. Will Burton turned to look at his son. His face was hidden. “I didn’t hear any threats, Miss Roberts.” He looked back at her, weary, tired and beaten. This bloody situation is almost over, and you haven’t helped me one bit. That’s it. I’m terminating our arrangement. I don’t want to see you anywhere near me or my son ever again. Do I make myself clear?”

  “Crystal, Mr Burton. But in firing me you’re taking a massive risk. I think you have no idea what’s going on at Cordy Farm. Or what might have happened all in your name, Will. Now I think you might care about that, even if you care about nothing else. Your name,
your career.”

  His eyes lingered on her. Eva felt something had registered in him. She’d hit home. But then he looked at Peter Serge and walked past Eva to the doorway. “Make sure she can’t get access any more, please, Jeff.” The big man with the blank face nodded. Peter Serge‘s face was a mixture of vitriol and victory.

  “I’ll be seeing you, Miss Roberts.”

  “Not if I see you first, Mr Serge.”

  “I doubt you ever will,” said Serge, the half-threat hanging in the air.

  As Peter Serge and Will Burton walked out into the bright artificial light of the hospital corridor, Eva was left looking up at the blank face of the security guard. His eyes were like glass, unemotional and unrelenting.

  Dan saw the lift was coming down from the third floor, the ward where Jerry Burton was kept under sedation. He wanted to make sure he met Eva, and to share his news with Will Burton most of all. Instead of making his way up the stairwell, Dan decided to wait. When the lift still had two floors yet to fall, Dan recognised the awful nasal tone of one voice, and the more regal tones of Will Burton. He’d hit the jackpot, but he didn’t want it so early. Dan’s chest tightened. His heart beat thudding faster and faster. He clenched and unclenched his hands to release the surging tension but it didn’t help at all. So far his whole mind was a complete blank space. Just don’t freeze again, he told himself. Don’t be weak, ever again.

  He stood to the side as the lift doors opened. A tall elderly guy walked out slowly, holding up the others. Peter Serge got free and walked out towards the double doors toward the main lobby and the coffee shop of the waiting area. Dan took advantage of the old man’s slow walk, and cut behind him before Burton could make another move. Peter Serge turned back to face the lifts, and the smile on his face disappeared. Dan looked at him and nodded as he shoved Burton back as the doors finally shut.

  “This is assault. What the hell are you doing?”

  “No. This is assault.” Dan pointed a finger at his own black eyes, hit the button for the third floor and they began to move. “Your scumbags did this and a whole lot more. If I hadn’t intervened at Cordy Farm your people were going to try and rape my partner and her assistant.”

  “Bullshit!”

  “Do I look like I’m making this up, dickhead?”

  Will Burton looked at him, evaluating. His mouth faltered for something to say. Instead of talking Burton licked his dry lips as the door opened on floor three.

  “Quick. And before you use any of your politician lying bullshit on me, Burton, think again. This is way beyond any sound bites you can come up with.”

  Dan took the man’s wrist and dragged him into the corridor towards the door of his son’s ward.

  “They tell me you’ve destroyed Cordy Farm. You attacked our young men.”

  “Did you hear me, Burton? Do you even know what happens on Cordy Farm? You say UKFirst is a mainstream party. There’s nothing mainstream about training skinhead youths how to kill, wouldn’t you say?”

  Burton dragged his arm free as they reached the door to the ward. “You’re not going to hurt my son?”

  “Wake up, man. It’s not me you should be afraid of, is it? Do you still not believe me, or are you just trying to bluff me, Will? You’re such a good politician it’s hard to tell where reality starts and bullshit ends. Move, before we get company.”

  Will Burton shook his head but moved ahead into the ward. Burton’s voice was low now, careful of medical staff, the nurses and the patients.

  “Why should I believe you? I know Peter and Joe. They’re my main partners. You’re a renegade, no more than a cheap mercenary.”

  “Why thanks, Will. And the way I see it, so are you. What colour is your politics really? Red? Blue? Green, maybe? But instead of the truth you sold to out these monsters for a cheap ride to Westminster. You’re the mercenary, Will. Just get me past your goons, and I’ll show you some evidence.”

  Burton looked unsure. Dan’s eyes were intense. Burton nodded once as he gave way. “Come on. Peter will be back any moment. Let’s hurry.”

  “Everything all right, Will?” said the big dome headed skin who was assigned to guard Jerry Burton’s door. Eva and Jess were still in the room, peering at Dan as he appeared in view.

  “Dan!” said Eva, her face softening, her eyes lightening. Jess’s face showed nothing but shock.

  “I’m back. Will wants a chat with all of us before he goes.”

  “That’s right. Jeff, can I have a moment alone with the private detectives?”

  The big man’s blank face became clouded with confusion. He walked slowly down the corridor.

  “Be quick. If you have anything at all, be bloody quick about it.”

  “Don’t be too quick, Dan. UKFirst are welching on us. The job has been cancelled.”

  “Really? Scum just got scummier.”

  Dan closed the door.

  “Look at this.” He opened his smartphone screen straight onto photographs. “You know him?”

  Burton squinted at the screen and shook his head. “Maybe. I don’t know.”

  “His name is Coulson. He works at your son’s gym. He denied seeing your son at the gym on the day of your attack, but he was lying. We know your son was there.”

  Burton shrugged. Dan flicked to the next photo. “When we tried to interview him we believed he’d been kidnapped, probably by your son’s attackers but that was what we were supposed to believe. If Coulson got kidnapped by the attackers and we lost that lead then the attackers would be permanently lost, meaning we’d never be able to track them down. Case closed. But then I find out Coulson is on Cordy Farm. Hey presto, I have my lead again, and it takes me straight to Peter Serge. Like it or not, Peter Serge is in charge of your local UKFirst outfit, whether you think you’re the man or not. They’re all loyal to him, especially the ones with any influence, like Joe Merton. But it got weirder. Coulson wasn’t kidnapped, he was there as a free man, on Cordy Farm by choice. Which meant he chose to be a part of the cover-up to hide the fact that Jerry was at the gym. Now, after a little conversation with Coulson, I got from him the names of young guys who used his gym and who were members of UKFirst. There were three of them.” Dan showed the photographs.

  “My bet is these guys are the ones who attacked your son, under orders from Serge, and covered up by Coulson. He wanted to get rid of any link between your son and his attackers. The gym was a link. Coulson was a link. That’s why when we got close, they attempted smoke and mirrors. But it didn’t work because too many of your skinhead boys are amateurs, old and young, they talk too much.”

  Will Burton looked at the photos and slapped a hand across his head. He looked at Eva and Dan.

  “Peter Serge is 100% behind me. I am this party. Without me this party is still in the wilderness. It’s all just fleece jackets, rhetoric and marches. Without me, UKFirst is unelectable.”

  “Yep. So maybe that’s why they’re keeping you around long enough to win,” said Eva. “When UKFirst have been elected once, what’s to say they’ll ever need you again?”

  “How much can you really trust Peter Serge?” said Dan. Their eyes locked.

  “No way.”

  “Yes way.”

  There was a moment which lasted too long. It was silence. The furrows on Burton’s brow seemed to deepen and he bit his lip so hard Eva thought he would draw blood. He didn’t. He took a deep breath and spoke.

  “Help me then. Now. Let me get my son away from them. Please.”

  Hurriedly, Will Burton moved to detach some of the cables and tubes from the machines arrayed around Jerry Burton’s bed.

  “Hang on, Mr Burton. That doesn’t look like a good idea,” said Jess.

  “I don’t care what you think. He’s only under sedation now. And I don’t want him at risk with these people. Not if what you say is true. I can’t take that risk. He’s my son.”

  “Are you sure he’s up to this, Mr Burton?” said Eva.

  “He’s the father, Eva,
” said Dan. He knows. Let’s help him now. Detach lines at the machines not at the cannulas,” said Dan.

  “You better be sure, Dan.”

  “But I’m never sure, Eva. But I’m usually right,” he replied.

  They got the cables away from Jerry Burton’s body. There was life in him. He was unconscious, but less so than before. He moved his head gently in his sleep as the men positioned him into the wheelchair that had been folded by the door. Dan threw a blanket over his legs.

  “Is there another exit from this ward?”

  Burton nodded. “The ward has a big U-shaped corridor. Most people usually comes in the first door near the lifts.”

  “Ok, then let’s go.”

  They opened the door and looked left towards the corridor with the main entrance at the end. The corridor was busy with staff and patients this time of day. Beyond them Dan could hear a loud conversation with peaks of emotions rising above the din of hospital noise. It had to be Serge. The big man was out of sight, probably briefing Serge into a very bad temper.

  “Go! Let’s all go.”

  They hustled past a frowning nurse. “Where are you going?” she said.

  “For a walk,” said Jess, with a treacle smile which fooled no one. They hurried on around the hospital staff and the patients, imagining Serge was on their tail. When they reached the exit, they had to pass the entrance door beside it to get to the lift. “You must not wait, Will.” The lift doors were in sight, just beyond the ward entrance. Peter Serge had to have made it to Jerry Burton’s empty room by now. Any second now, everything was going to hit the fan.