His earlier phone conversation with Dominic, when they were leaving the airport, had been abruptly cut short after little more than a minute. When he called back, the phone went to voicemail. Steve sent texts, but there was no response. He had no more contact with them, and no idea what to do once the Dodge van finally stopped.
Steve considered the options. Both he and Sinon were well built and physically fit. The chances were high they could overpower both Jeff and Nick, especially if Jonathan threw himself into the fight. But what if Jeff and Nick had weapons? As far as he knew, every person in America carried a gun.
He looked at Sinon. “Any good at martial arts, mate?”
Sinon nodded. “I can handle myself. Why? Have you got a plan?”
“No,” replied Steve. “But we’re going to need one soon. We’re nearly at the junction for Plainfield. What do we do then?”
Sinon thought for a moment. “I don’t reckon Jeff or Nick are going to do anything to harm your friends,” he said at last. “They were great guys when I came to the last hackfest. It was a big party, and we built some cool stuff.”
“If they’re great guys,” said Steve, “why have they kidnapped Dominic and Jonathan?”
“Maybe they haven’t. Look, the message Bernhardt Freude sent to Dominic said there was a time limit. It’s today. We don’t know what time today. I guess Jeff and Nick reasoned they had to get to DarkStone as soon as possible.”
Steve shook his head. “But then why can’t I get through to Dominic on the phone? It would be a bloody sight easier if I could. Then we’d know what the fuck was going on up front.”
DOMINIC WAS trying to piece together all the new information he was learning from Jeff. The more he heard, the more it made sense. The legal frameworks Bernhardt had asked him to work on over the years were all concerned with the theoretical defusing of corporate power. Bernhardt had only ever shown him elements of the legal structures. But they seemed to restore rights to individuals and establish greater responsibility and accountability for large organizations. Bernhardt had once casually mentioned he was involved with a worldwide movement, but he never referred to Charter Ninety-Nine. Dominic felt his friend and former lover had never trusted him. Now that Bernhardt was dead, Dominic would never find out why he had been excluded.
Jonathan opened his eyes and looked at the speedometer. “He hasn’t slowed down,” he said and closed his eyes again. “Why do we have to be in such a hurry?”
Jeff leaned forward. “It’s because of the date in that message Dominic received. We’ve got until midnight to get inside the DarkStone data center and plant that chip you have. From tomorrow, the access codes that were in Bernhardt’s message will no longer be valid. Now he’s dead, it could take us a long time to find a way inside.”
“So tell us, Jeff,” said Dominic. “What’s so special about this chip you want?”
Jeff picked up the notepad again and drew a circle below the stickman he had previously drawn.
“Most computer networks have strong barriers against hackers,” he began. “They’re called firewalls. Every little home computer has one. The big networks have big firewalls, like this.” He drew his pen around the perimeter of the circle he had just drawn.
“We can usually penetrate a firewall for a short period of time,” Jeff continued. “But for an assault on the scale we’ve planned, we need to get inside the world’s data systems for much longer. We need something inside the firewall that’s trusted.” He drew a small square inside the circle on the notepad.
“That’s the Dormant Gateway chip. The DG chip. Karl Michael and Nick designed something that’s really neat. It can sit inside DarkStone’s data center at Plainfield until we’re ready. It can wait for months, maybe years. Then, when we’re set, we briefly penetrate the firewall and activate it. The chip’s in a data center that’s trusted worldwide. WRI have made sure of that. The DG chip draws in all the rewritten histories we’ve prepared, through the firewall, and sends them back out into the world’s networks. The virtual world is transformed.”
He ripped the page from the notepad and handed it to Dominic.
“Here you are,” he said. “A little keepsake. This is a key moment for Charter Ninety-Nine. We’re close to rewriting the world.”
Dominic looked down at the crude sketch. He crumpled it in his hand and thrust it into the outer pocket of his jacket.
The van pulled into the right-hand lane of the highway and began to slow. Dominic looked through the window and saw the turnoff sign for Plainfield. He turned back to Jeff.
“What if I don’t have the chip?” he asked.
The van lurched as Nick’s hands twitched on the steering wheel.
“Shit, Jeff,” called Nick from the front. “You didn’t frisk him at the airport?”
Jeff stared at Dominic. “You’re kidding me, of course.”
Dominic said nothing. Jonathan opened his eyes and glanced from Jeff to Dominic.
“Please, lover,” Jonathan said to Dominic. “Don’t play games with this man. Just give him the bloody chip. I don’t want you murdered in the middle of a field.”
SINON FOLLOWED the black van off the interstate and onto the Lincoln Highway, which headed for Plainfield. They passed a gas station and diner before the road led into open countryside, with no sign of human habitation around them. After less than a mile, the Dodge van pulled off the road onto a dirt track that headed into the fields.
“Okay, Steve,” said Sinon. “What’s the plan? We’re about to need it.”
“Why aren’t they going on to Plainfield?” asked Steve. “It’s still a few miles ahead.”
“I guess they need to deal with us first. They know damn well we’ve been following for the last hour.”
The Range Rover bumped its way along the dirt track behind the Dodge van for another hundred yards before the van pulled into a clearing by some trees and stopped. Sinon brought the Range Rover to a halt in the middle of the track, with the engine ticking over.
“What are they doing now?” he asked.
His question was soon answered when the side door of the van slid open and Dominic and Jonathan stepped out, followed by Jeff.
Steve slammed his door open. “I’m not waiting here,” he said. “You stay with the car and get ready to ram them if they try anything.” He jumped out and strode toward the three men who stood beside the Dodge van ahead of them.
Sinon watched the departing figure of Steve for a moment. Then he switched off the engine, reached beneath his seat, and pulled out the gun he had hidden there earlier. He opened his door, jumped down, and followed Steve up the narrow track.
DOMINIC AND Jonathan stood back as Nick jumped down from the driver’s seat of the van and pushed past them to get to the rear door. He opened the door and started to unload their luggage.
Dominic looked at Jeff. “Shoot me if you like. I’m not giving you something that will ruin the lives of millions of people in the way you describe.”
Jonathan looked imploringly at him. “Dominic,” he pleaded, “don’t say that. What about us?” He took hold of Dominic’s arm. “It’s not worth it. Just give the man his chip, and they can take us back to that petrol station, and we can go back to San Francisco.”
Dominic brushed Jonathan away and glared at Jeff.
“You seriously plan to turn people’s lives upside down?” he asked. “Hoping you might create a fairer world? What’s the guarantee? You could cause devastation like we’ve never seen.” He shook his head. “No wonder Bernhardt didn’t tell me the reality behind what he was doing. I would never have agreed to help him.”
Behind them, there was the thud of bags hitting the dirt as Nick threw their luggage out of the van. When the back of the van was empty, Nick started to open each bag in turn, tipping the contents onto the rough ground.
“Dominic,” said Jeff, “we’re not in the habit of using guns. We don’t want to shoot you.” He stepped forward and stood directly in front of Dominic. He was
several inches taller than Dominic, and his frame was broad and intimidating.
“Bernhardt always said you were stubborn,” said Jeff. “Brilliant but stubborn. We know you’ve got the chip. All you have to do is hand it over. We’ll finish what we have to do at the data center, then take you back to the city.”
“Hey, Delingpole,” a man’s voice came from behind them.
Dominic turned to see Steve facing them, standing stock-still. Behind him stood a man pointing a gun at Steve’s head.
“Delingpole,” said the man. “You and Jonathan walk over here. Slowly. Don’t do anything stupid, or Steve’s dead.”
“Sinon, what the fuck are you doing?” asked Jeff.
Sinon briefly motioned with the gun toward Jeff. “Shut up, Jeff. Or you’ll be dead too. Raise your hands.” He glanced over at Nick. “And you too, Nick. Both of you. Get down on the ground.”
Nobody moved. The only sound was that of distant traffic on the interstate.
“Hey, Sinon,” said Nick. “You don’t have to do it this way—”
“I said shut up!” shouted Sinon. “Do as I say. Now.” Sinon shifted his legs apart slightly and steadied the gun on Steve.
After a long pause, Jeff raised his hands above his head and knelt down. Nick watched for a moment. Then he too put his hands above his head and knelt on the bare earth.
Dominic stood where he was.
“Who are you?” he asked.
“That doesn’t matter,” replied Sinon. “Just give me the DG chip and I’ll leave you all in peace.”
“If you so much as touch Steve,” said Jonathan, “I’m going to rip your fucking arms off.”
Dominic turned to Jonathan. “Come on,” he said. “I’m not going to sacrifice Steve. I can’t make that choice.”
Dominic started to walk forward, and Jonathan followed him. When they were within a few yards of Steve, they stopped. Dominic started to reach into the inside pocket of his jacket for the small package containing the chip.
“Oh no you don’t,” shouted Sinon. He swung the gun to point at Dominic. Steve seized the opportunity to turn and lunge at Sinon. At the same time, Jonathan threw himself forward.
There was a single shot.
Sinon fell to the ground. Steve landed on top of him and slammed his head into Sinon’s nose. Sinon’s fingers loosened from around the gun, and Steve grabbed it from him. Steve scrambled to his feet and stood back from Sinon, who still lay on the ground, holding his nose.
“So, you say you can handle yourself?” said Steve triumphantly. “Thank fuck I wasn’t on your side.”
Dominic looked round. Jonathan was lying motionless on the ground. He could see blood oozing through Jonathan’s shirt.
“Steve,” Dominic called out. “It’s Jonathan. He’s been hit!”
Steve looked up in horror. “Check his pulse,” he said.
Dominic bent down and desperately felt Jonathan’s neck for a pulse. He heard the sound of feet running behind him and turned to see Jeff coming toward them. He was carrying a first aid kit.
Dominic turned back to Jonathan and saw the bloodstain spreading rapidly across his shirt. He ripped the shirt open, revealing a large wound in Jonathan’s chest.
Jeff appeared at his side. “Okay, Dominic,” he said, “I’m trained as a first response paramedic.” He knelt on the ground and checked Jonathan’s pulse. He leaned close to Jonathan’s mouth and checked for breathing.
Finally, he shouted back to Nick. “He looks bad, Nick. Call emergency. Maybe they can send a chopper. Go bring that Range Rover down here. We’ll see if we can get him on the road fast.”
He turned back to Dominic. “Okay, Dominic. You want to keep your buddy alive? Hand over the DG chip.”
Chapter 30
STEVE PUT the Range Rover into reverse, looked over his shoulder, and cautiously inched the car back up the potholed road. Jonathan lay unconscious on the back seat, his head cradled in Dominic’s lap. Jonathan’s chest was strapped with a large dressing, which temporarily stopped the flow of blood from the gunshot wound.
Steve glanced down at Jonathan’s unconscious form before he looked back out the rear window of the Range Rover.
“I wish I’d shot those fucking guys,” he said. “I had the gun in my hand.”
“Steve,” said Dominic quietly. “Not now. They let us go at least. And they’ve called the air ambulance. Just get us away from here.”
As the dirt track widened out, Steve found a place to turn the Range Rover around. Once they were moving forward again, he accelerated down the road. The car lurched as it bounced from one pothole to another.
“Careful, Steve,” said Dominic from the back seat. “Let’s get him there with all the pieces he’s still got.”
As they approached the end of the road, Steve could see the parking lot next to the diner. He looked up to the sky as he heard a helicopter approaching.
“They’re here already,” he announced excitedly to Dominic. “He’s gonna be okay. I’m sure of it.”
Steve swung the Range Rover into the parking lot, and the car slid gently to a halt. Behind them, the roar of the helicopter became deafening as it hovered in a field next to the parking lot for a moment before finally landing.
After a few minutes, two paramedics ran across with a gurney. Steve held the rear door of the Range Rover open while they assessed Jonathan’s condition. One of the paramedics turned to Dominic.
“He’s hanging in there, buddy,” said the paramedic. “But I’d say he’s lost a lot of blood. We’ll get him over to the emergency center right away. Do you wanna ride with?”
Dominic nodded. He turned to Steve. “When the police arrive, can you go back and get our bags?” he shouted above the roar of the helicopter. “That’s if they’re still there.”
“Oh, yes,” replied Steve. “If I run into those two shits—”
“No.” Dominic held up his hand and pointed a finger at Steve. “If you run into them, let the police take over. Don’t go looking for revenge. Don’t put yourself in danger.”
“Okay,” shouted Steve. “I’ll take it easy. I guess Jeff and Nick will be running around the data center anyway. Getting ready to change the world.”
Dominic smiled. “Maybe,” he said. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper. “But if you see Jeff again, give him this.” He handed the ball of paper to Steve. “Tell him I won’t be needing it anymore.”
Steve leaned forward and hugged Dominic awkwardly. They separated, and Dominic followed the paramedics as they pushed the gurney, with Jonathan strapped to it, across the parking lot toward the helicopter.
Steve looked down and unfolded the crumpled piece of paper. At the top of the sheet he read the name Peter Brown.
DOMINIC DOZED, sitting upright in his chair, sedated by the rhythmic sound of the respirator and an aria from Puccini’s Madame Butterfly. Late afternoon sunshine streamed through the window of the fifth-floor hospital room.
It was ten days since Jonathan had been shot. The hospital said he had lost nearly four pints of blood. Despite that, his brain function appeared to be normal, but he remained in a coma. Dominic spent most of his time at the hospital in Sacramento, sitting at Jonathan’s bedside. The room was large and airy. The window looked out over a busy main street that ran by the hospital. Dominic played opera tracks he knew Jonathan loved on a music system he had bought and read him the poetry of Maya Angelou and Walt Whitman, two writers Jonathan often read for pleasure. Dominic had checked into a small motel down the street from the hospital but spent little time there. He would get a change of clothes and a few hours’ sleep and then return to the hospital.
The door creaked open. Dominic stirred from his doze and opened his eyes. He turned to see who the visitor was.
“Alfonso!” he said as the tall Spaniard cautiously stepped into the room.
Dominic stood up, and the two men hugged each other. Alfonso held on to Dominic for several minutes before he s
lowly loosened his arms and placed his hands on Dominic’s shoulders. For a moment, he looked across at Jonathan, lying in the bed, before he turned back to Dominic.
“Gabriel brought me straight here from the airport,” said Alfonso. “He’s gone to the hotel, but he’ll be back in a while. What’s the news?”
Dominic shook his head. “No change since we last spoke two days ago. It’s going to be a while, they say.”
Alfonso dropped his hands from Dominic’s shoulders and walked over to the bedside. He reached out and laid a hand on Jonathan’s arm. Then he bent down and gently kissed Jonathan on the forehead.
Dominic brought a second chair across to the bedside. “Sit with me, Alfonso,” he said. “It’s been lonely these last few days.”
The two men sat silently as “The Humming Chorus” from Madame Butterfly started on the music system. Dominic’s shoulders began to shake, and Alfonso placed his bearlike arm around them.
“You’re not alone anymore, Dominic,” he said. “We’re here for you now.”
After several minutes, Dominic looked at Alfonso. His eyes were red, and he wiped them with his hand.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do, Alfonso,” he said. “Jonathan could be here for months. They say they can’t transfer him back to England. But there’s going to come a point when I need to go back. I’ll have to work.” He looked at Jonathan’s motionless form. “But I can’t leave him.”
Alfonso squeezed Dominic’s shoulder.
“Don’t think about it just yet,” he said. “One day at a time, my friend.”
The Deadly Lies Page 21