“No, that’s alright. I’ll leave you to manage things at this end. I think I can find my own way. No need for any special arrangements…”
Frank looked at me and grinned. Not a nice grin either, more the kind Dracula gives you just before sucking the blood from your neck.
*****
After that short and disconcerting introduction, Frank left Daryl and me to it. Daryl noticeably relaxed, letting out a deep breath and settling down heavily into his chair.
“Well, Dave,” he said. “You really have gotten us all waist deep in the shit now.”
To be honest, I was still having a hard time taking him seriously with that nose bandage thing.
“Frank there may have appeared friendly, but believe me, he is really, really pissed off,” he continued. “I can’t say I blame him. He is our main investor, he’s put his trust in us, and he’s just been forced to take a twenty-hour flight all the way from California just because you decided to play the wild man. What’s more, we’ve just sat together through a two-hour meeting with the London Metropolitan Police and MI5. That business with the spy has gotten them rattled. Can you imagine how my morning has been? And it’s all your fault, Dave. All of it. Have you got anything to say about it? To me?”
“What do you mean?”
“Typical.” He sighed. “I guess ‘sorry’ would be too big a word for you?”
“Sorry?”
“Yes! Where to start? How about the injury you caused me? To my nose? Was that kind of violence really justified, do you think?”
I knew he would try and twist things. Of course, I’d been no saint, but still there was no way I was apologising to the snarky git.
“You had that coming,” I said. “You crossed the line, you know—”
“Oh come on, Dave. Grow up. If you can’t take the heat, then stay out of the kitchen. You think I enjoyed learning about your schoolboyish lack of self-control?” he said, blinking very slowly. “It’s my job to know whatever there is to know about you. You should be aware of that and you should be wary of it. It’s all there, deep in the bowels of our computer—”
“Ha ha ha!”
On the spur of the moment I had decided laughter would be an ideal way to rattle him. Actually, he was worrying me with his implied threats, not to mention pissing me off by referring to that incident again.
“What’s so funny?” he said.
“Oh nothing,” I said, keeping on smiling. “Just the way you said bowels.”
“What?”
He looked completely confused.
“Bowels,” I repeated, like I was vomiting the word. “You know, the bowels of your computer.”
I laughed again.
“Dave, stop it.”
“Bowels, bowels, bowels…”
The joke came to a natural end, but I kept on smiling at him.
“All I am saying is we have detailed files on you,” he continued, trying to sound as menacing as he could. “And anyone who knows as much about a person as I do about you is worthy of some respect. Especially now. Especially after what has happened, what you did. I’m your only hope now.”
“How’s that?” I said, as if I couldn’t give a shit.
Just to explain, I was fairly certain things were going to take a downward turn for me, what with the police being there and everything that had happened. Underneath it all, I was shitting my pants at what might come next for me, but I didn’t want him to see that, did I?
“Well, Dave.” He smiled. “Why don’t you take a little break from thinking up crap jokes and stop to consider what you actually did the other night? Everything you did.”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t play dumb with me. A fire like that? Just a stone’s throw from our offices? I’ve only seen flames that colour once before, back when we first tested your urine. It was you, wasn’t it? Trying to impress that Russian minx. I’ve heard of a man going to lengths to impress a woman, but this really does take the biscuit. I guess it is understandable though; you don’t have much else to offer in the way of—”
I stood up. “Alright, Daryl. You can shut your mouth now. I’m not going to take any more shit from you. I thought I made that clear the other day. How’s the nose, by the way? I hope it’s not causing you any congestion issues.”
He touched his face momentarily and frowned at me.
“Sit down,” he said.
I only frowned down at him.
“Sit down, Dave, so I can tell you what kind of trouble you are really in!”
I sighed, sat down. Sod it. I did need to hear that information.
“Thank you,” he said, all calm and quiet again. “So excuse me if I am a little blunt, but you do realise we had a serious break-in? Not to mention this… disaster in the square? Bottom line, Dave, you’re a terrible liar. If you try and deny that fire was your fault, no one will believe you. Solar Ray has already given an official statement to the police stating our belief that it was you. We had no choice, given the circumstances. Can’t just let the police think there are terrorists out there when there aren’t, can we? Can’t let them waste resources hunting for people who don’t exist. That would only make things worse for us when the truth finally did get out. And it would.”
“Glad to see my company is fully supporting me.”
“I am a little disappointed in you, I have to admit,” said Daryl, ignoring my comment, “but not all that surprised. Did you forget you signed a contract forbidding you to disclose anything about your condition, about the company? And wasn’t it a little obvious what was going on with that woman? I understand that being cooped up in that basement is not conducive to a happy existence. You need company. Everyone needs company. But couldn’t you find a less dangerous companion? One less interested in Solar Ray? Perhaps we should have arranged that for you. I mean, I can’t blame you on that score, really. I’ve seen pictures of her, and quite frankly, she was out of this world. But you really need to be less of a total idiot. Think with this”—he pointed to his head—“and not with that.” He nodded down.
I was grabbing the sides of the chair, digging my nails in. He was loving it: lording it over me, insulting me, acting like he was much more of a man than me and loving it—that was plain to see. I forced myself to keep my trap shut and just let him talk until he was done because, short of punching him, pissing over his desk and dropping a match on it, or just walking out, I couldn’t see any other option. For Christ’s sake, the police were outside—senior policemen and MI5 just down the corridor.
“There are several reputable escort services I am aware of,” the bugger continued. “We could have found someone suitable, if you wanted.” My nails dug harder. “All you had to do was ask, but I guess you are too shy to go for that sort of thing. Maybe you’ll learn better now. They don’t call it the oldest profession for nothing. We certainly would have avoided the mess we’re in now. The mess you are in now.”
It was a miracle I let him finish, but finally he shut up.
“Enough with the big man talk, eh, Daryl?” I said. “It doesn’t suit a nonce like you. Just tell me what the beef is, eh? What’s going to happen now?”
He frowned at me. “This throws everything into doubt. Our operation here. The business. Your custody. It has the potential to ruin everything. I had to take a lot of shit for you today, Dave. I want you to know that. Several people did not hold back from putting the blame squarely at my feet.”
“So you did your job. Well done, Daryl. Now can you please just tell me what’s going to happen?”
He shook his head at me. Our relationship really had hit rock bottom.
“Well, the good news for you is that you can stay here with us,” he said. “No need for prison, and there won’t be any prosecution of any kind at this time. The bad news is we’ve been ordered to strip you of your shares and hand them to HMG.”
“HMG?”
“Her Majesty’s Government. And there is no question of them changing their minds on that. They were adaman
t on that point. I am also afraid there will need to be additional security arrangements covering the whole company, especially you.”
“Right.”
“We’re working on the details, but essentially, you are going to be in lockdown for the foreseeable future.”
“Lockdown?”
“I’m afraid so. That means no going out. And there will be a police guard to ensure that.”
“Jesus.”
“It’s partly for your own protection, partly as a compromise with senior police who were not too happy with the idea of you roaming the streets after engaging in such a vandalistic act. They didn’t feel that was wise, nor would it send a good message, especially given your past offences. Not that anyone will know about you, if all goes to plan. But that’s not the point.”
“Okay,” I said with a sigh.
“This is all dependent on a full statement from you, I might add, an admission of guilt. Otherwise, they prosecute. You’re going to need to speak to MI5 for that. We’ve arranged an interview for tomorrow.”
They did have a point, I had to admit. The police and MI5. In the time I had been pissing super acid, I had caused all sorts of damage, not to mention one death, a fact I did my best not to think about but which nonetheless was always at the back of my mind. As far as being stripped of my shares and staying locked up in Solar Ray, being stuck down in that basement “indefinitely,” I felt a dark sense of foreboding about that. It was very possible I’d go completely stir-crazy. I mean, I was already fairly bonkers, but who was to say how much further I had to go?
*****
When he was done talking, Daryl stood up, glanced through the little window in the door, then took out something from his jacket pocket, a tool of some kind. It looked like a cross between a stapler and a ray gun.
“What’s that?” I said, half-expecting him to shoot me with it.
“It injects a GPS tracking beacon. Something they’ve been developing over in California, I understand. Give me your arm please.”
“Why do you need to—”
“It’s just so we can keep track of you, in case, you know, something else were to happen. It’s for your own protection as much as anything.”
“Right,” I said, looking at it sceptically. “Do I have to?”
“Dave,” he said sternly. “Let’s just be clear on one thing. You broke your contract. Well, that’s an understatement, really. Pissed all over it is more accurate. So contractually I’m within my rights to do several things. I could cut your salary, for instance. Personally, even though you have shown disrespect to me and to this company and physically assaulted me, I don’t really see the point. But more than that, you broke the law. Due to your unique situation and to the help which Solar Ray is happy to provide you with, you will avoid prison. That will be better for everyone, I think, and that’s precisely what we’ve been discussing for the past few hours. But don’t be in any doubt—you are on extremely shaky ground. Now, this”—he raised the device up—“this I should have done ages ago, but I didn’t want to worry you, didn’t want you to feel too controlled. All such concerns have gone out the window now, after your little escapade.”
Jeez, I was really back to square one, wasn’t I? Worse than square one. Small consolation I had only myself to blame.
“I guess I’ve got no choice again.”
“Not really,” he said, fiddling with the device. “It’s just a little insurance policy in case we need to get you out of trouble, you know? Don’t worry. I have your best interests at heart.”
He indicated for me to hold out my arm. I did so, and he placed the nozzle just below my wrist, pushing a little button. There was a whooshing sound and then—
“Ow!” I cried, rubbing where it had injected. It felt like a bite, actually, or maybe a bee sting.
“Oh look!” he said with a laugh. “How ironic. A love bite.”
The bugger wasn’t wrong either. It had left a sort of a red circle on my arm, with several bendy lines in a row, exactly how I imagine a love bite—with painful emphasis on the word “imagine,” obviously.
Chapter 18
After that testy conversation with Daryl, the enormity of my new situation began to slowly sink in. I found myself in a sort of smoky daze, waiting for the smog to clear so I could see how things would really be, figure out what options I really had. For the time being, I guess I had to just go on being my usual carefree, bumbling self, including scoffing plenty of fast food and necking a couple of beers here and there to ease me along the way. Hell, at least that would help with the “potency.”
I helped myself to a can first thing when I got back to my room.
“How are you, Dave?” said Bill, who came to talk to me later on, once he changed my tank.
I sighed and chucked the can I’d finished into the bin, possibly the third that afternoon, though I’m not too sure. Looking on the bright side, at least I had Bill. Mostly he’d been a grumpy enough git, but over time we had developed a sort of understanding. I almost felt like the annoying brother he never had, though that was ridiculous cos there was no way my parents could’ve given birth to as smart a lad as him.
“Not too bad,” I said. “Well, I was thinking it would be nice to go out for dinner or least go out and pick something up, if only to clear my head, get some fresh air. Only I’m not supposed to leave the building, am I?”
I had to stay in that bloody basement for forever and a day, didn’t I?
“That’s what I came to talk to you about,” he said. “As you probably know, there’s a 24-7 police guard outside. So I’m to get you your food and things. Just let me know and I’ll bring whatever you want.”
“How about a burger and fries and a couple of cheeky cans of beer?”
“Sure thing.”
“Make it a triple decker with extra cheese, extra bacon, extra mayo. And a side order of onion rings. And a chocolate shake. And maybe a couple of Mars bars and a Snickers.”
“Alright,” he said without flinching. “Anything else?”
I had to laugh. “Isn’t that enough?”
“I don’t know,” he said. “Is that enough?”
I frowned at him.
“It’s just I’ve been briefed that you’re to eat as much as you want,” he explained. “And that you’re supposed to eat lots.”
“Oh really…”
But he was dead right; that was about the sum of it—at least if I was to keep on pissing them the ultra-potent stuff they needed. Perhaps I should go on a hunger strike. Or back to veganism, follow Molly’s advice. That would put a cat amongst the pigeons. But I was not made of strong enough stuff for that. And it could very well send me straight out of the basement and straight to prison. Plus, I was feeling down and out and tired and also fairly worthless. Food was the only friend I had.
“Well,” I said. “Since you ask…”
And I added a load of other stuff to the list: crisps, popcorn, fizzy drinks, sausages, chicken nuggets, frozen desserts. All sorts of good stuff.
“Just go to the Tesco’s down the road.” I gave him the benefit of my wisdom. “They’ll have all of that. And make sure to go to the Big Munchkin burger cafe for the burger. Pick up one for yourself too, if you fancy. Highly recommended.”
And so Bill got me that food and left me to it.
I stuffed my face.
Later he came back, emptied my piss tank, and did all the examinations that Molly used to do. Scanned me. Took my food diary. He was a big part of my routine now, after all. He was my man.
*****
The schedule for the next day was busy: an interview with MI5 in the morning and in the afternoon a general company meeting. As Bill put it, “It’s safe to assume we will be talking about what’s happened over the weekend.”
I groaned, mainly inside but I think some of it came out on my face.
“Don’t worry,” he said. “I’m sure it will be a little awkward but we all understand. These things happen. You’re only human.�
��
That was no consolation at all. Aside from the utter shame of being suckered in such a blatantly stupid way, what had happened in that square was hardly human, was it?
No human I’d ever heard of had ever done anything like that.
*****
The MI5 interview went well, considering, though I experienced a fair amount of déjà vu. It was Max Bridgeport again, the guy who’d interviewed me in Crawley—smart fellow with an impeccable haircut and a smooth, almost waxy face. I gave him the whole sordid tale of that ridiculous evening, the full and unabridged low-down. For his part, he did a good job of not looking too shocked or disgusted at this latest nitty-gritty.
“Well,” he said when I’d finished, “as expected, this is all fine.”
“Fine?” I said, relieved.
“Well yes, you’re still clearly not a terrorist. You acted unwisely, but your motivation was nothing more than”—he searched for the words, the flash of a smirk breaking his otherwise stony expression—“one of passion.”
I nodded. Yes, passion. Nice way of putting it.
However, by “all fine” it turned out he meant keeping me out of prison only as long as I stayed in Solar Ray, something that appeared to be mostly for everyone else’s benefit more than mine.
As he explained, “The nature of your situation makes it all the more important to keep you out of any official institutions and close by to wherever we can make the best use of your—” he struggled for the word—“contributions. We only ask that you sign a written statement with firm assurances of your contrition and pledging loyalty and commitment to the British state.”
So I signed what he gave me—of course I did. I mean, of course I was loyal to queen and country, and of course I would choose Solar Ray over prison.
Admittedly, though, the differences between a prison cell and the basement of Solar Ray were increasingly few and far between.
*****
After leaving that interview, Christine asked me to make sure I spoke to Daryl before the company meeting started. So I headed back down the corridor to the bastard’s office.
He was on the phone when I stepped in. He continued his conversation, indicating for me to sit down.
Curse of the Potency Page 16