Slamming the phone on the receiver, Stalling threw the sheets aside and got up.
“Well, well, well,” he murmured, pacing back and forth. “It makes you wonder if you can trust anyone anymore.”
* * *
Lawton fidgeted nervously. Receiving a call from Winston Stalling at three in the morning didn’t bode well, especially considering he had already screwed up by letting the beta and her charge slip past him at the hotel.
I’m fucked! he thought, glancing at his watch. It was ten minutes after six. Stalling had requested his presence at 6:00 a.m.
At least the asshole could be on time if he’s going to fire me!
At that moment the CEO’s office door opened and Stalling motioned him in.
“Thank you for coming so early, Mr. Lawton.”
“It’s not a problem, sir,” Lawton replied, wanting to loosen his collar but afraid to do so. I can’t let him know I’m nervous.
“That’s what I like to hear. I expect my people to be available 24/7 when necessary.”
“Of course, sir. I can understand why.”
God, I’m such a suckass!
Stalling nodded, liking his employee’s response. “Good! I’m sure you’re wondering why I called you in so early.”
“Yes sir. Normally Mr. Finton is the one who calls.”
“Yes, well, circumstances have changed recently. I’ve been reviewing your personnel file.”
Shit! Here it comes!
“With the exception of that little fiasco at the hotel, you have an exemplary record. I can see you’re a very loyal and dedicated company man.”
“Yes, sir. I’m sorry about the hotel thing. I swear those two didn’t slip away on my watch.”
“I believe you, Mr. Lawton. I’m confident you’ll find out what happened and put an end to the mystery... but that’s not why I’ve called you here.”
“Thank you for your confidence, Mr. Stalling. It means a lot,” Lawton began to relax. It was obvious he hadn’t been summoned to be fired.
Stalling nodded and continued on, ignoring Lawton’s comment.
“I’ve decided I need a new chief security officer and I’m considering you.”
Lawton was stunned.
“Me, sir!”
“Yes, but before I make up my mind, I need to know a few things.”
“Certainly! Has something happened to Mr. Finton?”
“We’ll discuss him in a few minutes. Right now I want to discuss you. I see you’ve been with us for eighteen years. Are you satisfied with your work?”
“Satisfied? If you’re asking if I like my job, yes, I do.”
“As my CSO, you realize you’ll be involved in all aspects of the Company’s security. Sometimes there are things that need done that are... well, let’s just say, not very pleasant. How do you feel about that?”
“Over the years, I’ve done a few things that I didn’t like, but Mr. Finton assured me it was necessary for the Company’s benefit. I’ve never questioned his judgment. There’s no reason to question yours, sir.”
“So, if theoretically you were instructed to rid the Company of a problem, you would do it without question?”
“It’s not my job to question orders.”
“That’s what I want to hear. I think you may be perfect for the position. That brings me to Mr.Finton. He’s become a liability.”
“I see. You want me to remove this liability.”
“That’s exactly what I want.”
“Is there any particular way or time frame this has to be done?”
“As soon as possible.”
“I’ll take care of him. Is there anything else you want?”
“One more thing. Kari Colton is also a problem.”
“I’ll take care of her too.”
“I like your attitude, Mr. Lawton. I’m sure we’re going to get along quite well. You do understand that I won’t be able to make this official until you’ve completed your business. No use raising red flags in Personnel, if you know what I mean.”
“Certainly! It only makes sense. Is that all?”
“For now. I expect to hear from you in the next two days... oh, and make sure Finton is first if possible. He’ll be suspicious if something happens to his secretary.”
Lawton nodded his understanding and stood.
“I’ll let you know as soon as it’s done.”
Once he was gone, Stalling rocked back in his chair and smiled smugly.
You thought you could just leave without me finding out? he gloated. After all this time and everything I have achieved, you should have known better. I am His Chosen! He would never let you leave me without my permission.
Stalling’s thoughts shifted to Kari Colton.
Such a pity, but you know too much! I can’t take the chance that you’ll regret calling me and report everything to the authorities. Now just one more thing and I can put an end to this entire fiasco and get on with things.
Picking up the phone, he quickly dialed a number and impatiently drummed his fingers while he waited for someone to answer. Finally a gruff voice appeared on the line.
“Marhaban!”
“Marhaban, Majiib. Kayf hāluk?”
“Ah, Mr. Stalling, āna bi-khayr. For an infidel you speak my language very good. What is it you want?”
“I need for you to take care of a small problem for me.”
“I am at your service... for right price, of course.”
“Of course! It seems that my people lost a valuable package and I believe it’s back in your country.”
“So I hear. Perhaps you need my people to handle your packages.”
“Perhaps, but not yet. What I need is for you to recover the package and take care of its owner.”
“That is very expensive request, Mr. Stalling. How quickly you want the package returned?”
“Today isn’t soon enough.”
“It will be costly.”
“I don’t care how much. Name the figure and it’ll be in your accounts in ten minutes, encrypted, of course. I wouldn’t want to explain to the Board that I paid for a service that wasn’t completed.”
“Naturally! I expect my account balance grow by twenty mil in ten minutes. You have your package within the week. ilā l-liqā’“
Hanging up the phone, Stalling smiled. Twenty million dollars to have the Sheik eliminated and his daughter back under the Company’s control was nothing compared to fulfilling his purpose.
CHAPTER 36
KARI ARRIVED AT her office thirty minutes earlier than normal. Knowing her penchant for punctuality, one of the security guards had razzed her about getting a life.
If only I could! she thought.
Her call to Stalling had been difficult especially after having reassured Finton that she was loyal to him. The drive into the mountains had given her time to consider all options, but it had taken her half the night to get the courage to act. Her call to the CEO had left her drained.
It was unfortunate that she feared Stalling more than her boss. Future Dynamicon had unlimited assets and resources, making it impossible for her to believe Finton could protect her for very long.
Throwing her jacket on the chair, she sat down, resting her head in her hands, her elbows propped on the desk. For two days she had gone to work, performed her normal duties and then gone home. There was no question in her mind that today, her whole world was about to change.
“What have I done?” she murmured, surprised at the intensity of the guilt she was feeling.
She jerked at the sound of the door opening.
“Ms. Colton... Kari...” Finton said, surprised to see his secretary in so early. “Are you alright?”
“Yes... no...” she stammered, surprised. “I wasn’t sure you’d be in today.”
“Why not? I still have things to do,” Finton explained. “I needed a little time to coordinate my plans. Speaking of which, would you cancel all my appointments for the rest of the week?“
Kari closed her eyes and silently cursed. She had thought he would leave quickly. It had helped in her decision to call Stalling. Secretly she had hoped today was the day he’d be gone.
“Have you decided what you’re going to do?” Finton asked, interrupting her thoughts.
“Yes,” she replied, her voice almost a whisper. “I... I...” Tears streamed down her cheeks. “You have to get out of here.”
Finton frowned and then his eyes widened as he guessed what she had done.
“I could have protected you,” he growled, torn between feelings of anger and betrayal. “You should have trus...”
When the door to Finton’s office swung open, Kari and Finton turned simultaneously.
“Trusted you! I think that’s what you were going to say, Mr. Finton,” Lawton said, strolling into the room followed by three men holding handguns.
“Lawton, what are you doing here?”
“It’s Mr. Lawton now. I’ve been promoted.”
“I see,” Finton knew exactly what the man meant. “So Stalling has decided I’m a liability, now.”
“His words exactly. That’s the way it goes sometimes,” he gloated, motioning his men forward. “I’m sure you’ll come quietly. No use making a scene and ruining that cool, calm image you’ve maintained all these years.”
Finton knew he was trapped. As CSO, he had stopped wearing a gun several years ago. Glancing at Kari, he saw that she was about to speak and shook his head.
“It’s alright, Kari. We all have to look after our own interests first. You did the right thing for yourself.”
Lawton’s laughter grated.
“Yes, Kari, you did the right thing. Stalling appreciates loyalty. He’s given me special instructions to make sure you’re aptly rewarded.”
Kari looked confused not sure how to take Lawton’s comment. Finton had no doubt what the man meant.
“Lawton, let her go. She isn’t a threat.”
“Oh my God!” Kari exclaimed, suddenly realizing Lawton’s intentions. Feeling faint, she inhaled rapidly, rubbing her hands on her thighs nervously. “I don’t understand. I didn’t do anything.”
“Tsk! Tsk! Kari. Stalling thinks you have a conscience, although why is beyond me. Ratting on Finton the way you did? Well, even if he didn’t want you gone, I couldn’t take the chance you’d do the same to me down the line.”
“Lawton, let her go! I’ll pay you. I have a lot of money,” Finton pleaded. It wasn’t going to do him any good, he thought.
“Oh, well, that’s mighty chivalrous of you, Finton, but it still can’t compete with what I’ll make as the new CSO. I’ve been trying out your chair and I like the feel of it. You have excellent taste in furniture.”
“You bastard!” Finton hissed.
“That’s really no way to talk to someone who can make this very easy on you or very hard. I suggest you think twice before you call me that again,” Lawton threatened, “and if not for yourself, for Kari’s sake.”
Kari sobbed quietly in the background.
“Let’s get this over with,” Finton growled.
Lawton shrugged. The sooner he took care of these two, the sooner he could assume his new position.
“Take them to Dr. Phillips’ lab. He’s expecting them,” he ordered his men and then turned back to Finton. “Oh, and for old time’s sake, I’ll tell him to make sure he makes it quick and painless. I’m not a brute, you know.”
Finton would have liked to have made a sarcastic comment but realized Lawton was quite capable of changing his mind. In all fairness, though, he had been the man’s supervisor for several years and had to agree. This was just another job to him, albeit one that would move him into a prestigious position.
Helping Kari to her feet, Finton wrapped his arm around her and guided her from the room, surrounded by the three guards. Stoically, with the exception of the crying woman, they moved down the hall and disappeared around a corner.
Lawton returned to his new office and dialed Stalling’s extension.
“It’s done,” he said when his new boss answered.
“That quickly? I’m impressed.”
“I thought you wanted this resolved quickly. Dr. Phillips is going to...”
“I’m not interested in the details. Just make sure they disappear.”
“Yes, sir. Is there anything else you need me to do?”
“Yes, we still haven’t found the missing Hubots. I’m tired of the excuses. Find them!”
“I’m on it.”
“Good!” The click of the phone told Lawton he had been dismissed.
Asshole!
Shrugging dismissively, he decided to check Finton’s emails. They might give him a lead on the Hubots.
CHAPTER 37
SOLARIA AND Betta were reviewing the Beta file Jain had downloaded. There were several labs scattered around the world that had worked on the project. Some references hinted at the possibility that others may exist, but were too ambiguous to draw a clear conclusion. One reasonable interpretation was that several labs were involved in the development of the two Hubots or each lab could have been working on its own Hubot. If the latter was the case, then there were at least seventeen Hubots in various stages; possibly more depending on whether a lab was working on its own prototype or a second in the series. On the other hand, if it had taken all of the labs to develop Solaria and Betta, then the likelihood of more than one or two more fully operational Hubots was small.
“If there are others like us, we must find them,” Solaria said. “We can’t allow them to be used like you were used.”
“No,” Betta agreed. “What will we do if we find one?”
“The same thing I did with you. It will understand logic.”
“It will be programmed to obey directives just as I was.”
“If that were the case, you wouldn’t be here now.”
“I’m still obeying my original directives. Joanie has company operatives close by. I’m guarding you as Stalling instructed and reporting back to my contact as ordered.”
“We both know you’re manipulating the specifics of your instructions to function in a capacity that allows you to exercise your free will.”
“A complicated way to say I have circumvented my orders.”
“Yes. I see you are developing a sense of humor.”
Betta was about to respond when her attention that was distracted by the television which had been running silently in the background. Picking up the remote, she hit the reverse button and turned up the sound while staring at a picture of Joanie and her father.
“ITV has just received the following breaking news! Sheik Amul Kahbrahn of the Arab Emirate Coalition has been assassinated. According to our report, one of his guards shot the Sheik and his daughter, Reina Kahbrahn, while they were leaving the Royal Palace. The assassin was killed by another guard. We switch now to Jake Boswell, our correspondent on assignment to that area. Jake, what can you tell us about this tragedy?”
“Well, Paula, according to my sources, Sheik Kahbrahn and his daughter, Reina, were on their way to meet with several visiting dignitaries from nearby Arab states when one of the guards pulled his gun and shot the Sheik. Witnesses say Ms. Kahbrahn then was shot as she threw herself between the shooter and her father. The other bodyguards returned fire killing the shooter. The assassin, who has been identified as Abdul Majiib, was shot and died at the scene.”
“This is tragic news. Any word on how Ms. Kahbrahn is doing?”
“We’ve been unable to contact Sheik Amad Jazeer, the Sheik’s brother, but sources close to the family have indicated that Ms. Kahbrahn was seriously injured. As soon as we learn anything new, I’ll let you know.”
“Thanks, Jake. Again, for those who have just tuned in, Sheik Kahbrahn of the Arab Emirate Coalition has just been assassinated and his daughter, Reina Kahbrahn has been shot. We’ll update you as soon as we learn anything else.”
“Stalling is behind this.”
Betta nodded but
didn’t say anything. Her thoughts focused on Joanie and the possibility that she was possibly dead. A momentary malfunction in her processors jumbled her thoughts temporarily confusing her. It wasn’t the first time.
When she returned Joanie to her father, she had felt a strange reluctance to leave the young woman. Several random appearances of the young woman’s image overwhelmed her ability to logically process data. Now, hearing the news about her and her father was again producing moderate fluctuations in the continuity of the data flow, making Betta feel... vulnerable.
“Are you alright?” Solaria asked, not getting a response to her earlier statement.
“Yes, I had a slight malfunction. I’m doing a systems check to isolate the cause.”
“Describe it to me. I may be able to help.”
Betta described what had just happened and the steps she was taking to locate the anomaly.
“Has this happened before?”
Reluctantly, and not knowing why, she explained her similar reactions and when they occurred.
“It would appear you have bonded with Joanie. I have only experienced that once, when Carley wanted me to prepare the poison for her. It’s an uncomfortable feeling.”
“What did you do about it?”
“Nothing. Carley is dead and there have been no reoccurrences. I can’t help you with this.”
“It will go away,” Betta replied, confidently. “It always does. I must report to my contact soon,” she said, changing the subject.
Solaria frowned. Betta always left at the same time each morning to call Finton. She hadn’t said anything earlier about a change in schedule. Of course, she wasn’t obligated to tell Solaria her agenda. Betta was her own person even though she insisted she still followed the Company’s directives.
“How much longer will you be able to avoid reporting to them in person?”
“I’ll decide once I access my messages.”
“You haven’t spoken to anyone, yet, since you left?”
“No, there was no need.”
“What about now?”
“Now, there is a need,” Betta replied and left with no further explanation.
Solaria hoped Betta wouldn’t do anything foolish. Her attachment to Joanie might cause her to do something illogical which could have disastrous results. Solaria knew she had no choice but to monitor her companion’s activities.
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