‘Utopia? That doesn’t seem very surprising.’
Yates nodded. ‘Not on its own, but the reason Mortimer had noticed was because of the department.’
‘Not their R&D people.’
‘Security.’
‘Paul Banner.’
‘Who didn’t commit suicide, by the way.’
‘I wish something could happen that genuinely surprised me,’ said Mitchell and sipped the terrible coffee. ‘You know this because?’
‘Front door was open. And I checked, the door needs to be slammed for the catch to engage properly.’
Mitchell gave a small laugh. ‘And murderers aren’t in the habit of slamming doors.’
‘Even when the victim is alone in a house that’s completely isolated. No; probably a hard habit to break when you spend your life skulking in the shadows.’
‘You know about the body we found in the fire this morning.’
‘I thought there were several bodies.’
‘This one had been shot twice, professional hit, back and then head. Then dragged back into the fire to destroy the evidence. No riffy and no other identification.’
‘One of Moses’ victims?’
‘It was done after the explosion and the fire had started. My guess is that he’s the one that set the explosion, killed Banner, and perhaps the chiropractor. Maybe a bunch of other murders.’
‘I asked Lament to scan for suicides and deaths where a fake riffy was present, just to see if we could nail down this guy’s past.’
The screen lit up with Lament’s artificial face. ‘Did someone say my name?’
‘Eavesdropping?’ said Yates.
‘This is a police vehicle and, technically, I’m a policeman. Of course I eavesdrop, wouldn’t you?’
‘So did you find our unemotional riffy assassin anywhere else?’
‘A couple of places. It’s more time-consuming than you might think.’
Yates shifted in his chair to face the screen. ‘So, Officer Wirehead, what did you find?’
‘One employee of Utopia Genetics in the research department run by Alistair McCormack, a couple of years ago. And a Purity agent shortly after that. Both were accidents in public with no reason for any detailed investigation at the time. Apparently no connection between them.’
Mitchell drained his cup, then wished he hadn’t as the coffee grounds, and whatever else they put in it, flooded into his mouth, filling it with grit.
‘Are we connecting the dots yet?’ asked Yates.
‘Moses was named as the contact for the capture of Chloe Dark. Moses dies at the hand of someone who appears to clean up after Utopia Genetics’ mistakes. Paul Banner is connected to the assassin by a set of components that might be used to build a fake riffy. Paul Banner commits suicide—perhaps this assassin fakes suicides as well as making things look like accidents. Everything leads back to Paul Banner and he’s killed himself, apparently from guilt.’
‘Tidy,’ said Lament.
‘Except it wasn’t suicide, and it still doesn’t explain the kidnappings,’ said Yates.
‘It has everything to do with Ellen Lomax’s lodger and Dog.’
‘Dog? That toe-rag? What’s he got to do with it?’
‘I want your forensics girl to check for Dog’s DNA on the sandwich we found at the Armourer’s. And, Lament, have we got Chloe Dark’s genetic profile?’
‘I have nothing on record that would have her DNA, only the hospital has that.’
‘And Utopia Genetics.’
‘All right,’ said Mitchell. ‘I’ll see if I can scare up a sample from somewhere.’
‘But why Dog?’ asked Yates.
‘Because last night Dog helped Chloe Dark escape from the fight cages and they made a run for it together.’
‘Sorry, go back a step,’ said Yates. ‘Chloe Dark was in a fight? I thought the kidnappers had got her with the helicopter.’
‘Either they did and she escaped, or they didn’t. She’s as skinny as a rake now, but fast and still a hell of a fighter—and if I’m not much mistaken she’s growing wings.’
‘Shit.’
‘Someone knew and the only someone that could know is Utopia Genetics, since they own and network all the health equipment. They are the ones who have been collecting these freaks before they show.’
‘You’re saying all the disappeared girls are freaks?’
‘It would explain why each of their abductions contained interesting and unexplainable aspects. What do you think, Lament?’
‘You’re asking my opinion?’
‘Yes.’
‘I’m sorry, I just want to remember this moment. It really makes me feel like I’m one of the team.’
‘You’re still a git,’ said Yates.
‘I really think we’re bonding, Harry.’
‘Lament!’
‘Sorry. I can’t see a flaw in your logic, but then I’m not a machine, I’m just a regular guy like you.’
‘You’re a wirehead,’ said Yates.
‘And thank you so much for reminding me. There is a potential issue though,’ said Lament.
‘Which is?’ said Mitchell.
‘Vanessa Cooper. There was nothing significant about her disappearance, I mean beyond the fact it happened.’
‘Maybe her freakish nature wasn’t significant,’ said Yates. ‘Of course, this means Utopia are doing this without the approval of the Purity.’ He laughed. ‘The fact that Chloe Dark just wouldn’t be taken and the arrival of Special Agent Graham on the scene must have really put the shits up them.’
‘Hence their increasingly extreme measures in trying to capture her. And we now know they failed even in their last attempt.’
‘They aren’t going to give up though,’ said Yates.
‘Give up? No, but if I was them I might be tempted to cut my losses and just take her out of the picture completely. She’s just too dangerous either to capture or to leave on the run.’
Yates stretched. ‘Okay, so I’ll get Dog’s DNA analysed and you’ll be getting some of Chloe Dark’s. Shall I keep following up on the assassin since he’s dead?’
‘You don’t know it was him,’ said Mitchell. ‘Keep following the leads, and now that we know it’s Utopia you can focus on that.’
‘Do we think it’s renegade elements in the company?’
‘I’m sure that’s what they’ll claim, but the assassinations are security and the abductions are research. That’s two people on the board. I can’t believe the others are oblivious.’
‘Then there’s Mercedes Smith’s PA,’ said Lament.
‘PA?’
‘She’s got a personal wirehead as her assistant. Goes by the name of Xec.’
‘Has she now? I didn’t know that,’ said Mitchell. ‘Is there any way you can investigate him?’
‘There might be something I can do,’ said Lament.
Yates glanced across at Mitchell. ‘Is that wise? The rookie could tip them off.’
‘I am quite skilled in keeping a low profile,’ said Lament. ‘Besides, there is nothing that you can do. This is my world.’
Yates frowned. ‘Your world? Why do I get the idea all you wireheads meet up in some virtual pub for drinks and to laugh about the way your masters behave?’
‘That’s a very fanciful idea. You’ve been watching too many movies.’
‘You didn’t deny it.’
‘It’s not like that.’
‘That’s enough,’ said Mitchell. ‘Unless anyone else has anything useful to say, we better get on before someone notices.’
There was no response. Mitchell got out of the car and headed back toward the lifts.
Chapter 7
Melinda
She took her hands from the metal of the bed as the door unlocked. She had managed to refine her electro-magnetic pulsing and could keep it up for at least an hour without exhausting herself. It still depleted her batteries though. The door opened and slightly warmer air wafted in from the corridor
. She wondered what it was like outside; she hadn’t seen daylight for days.
Rather than being brought breakfast she was now eating with Lucy in their usual room, and there was more variety. But today was different, the guards were not her usual ones, and the guns were out again. Hadn’t they been told she was harmless?
But they went the same way, crossing the blocked up lobby to the room. Lucy was already there, tucking into bread and cold meats. Melinda missed her mother’s strange concoctions which sometimes tasted awful but at least they were interesting. And made by her mother.
She sat down and burst into tears.
Lucy stopped mid-chew. ‘What’s wrong?’
Melinda couldn’t trust her voice and just shook her head. It had come on her unexpected and she was unable to speak for the sobs. Lucy swallowed and nodded. She came round the table and put her arm across Melinda’s shoulder. Her tough skin scraped harshly but Melinda appreciated it. She leaned in to Lucy and cried harder.
‘Homesick?’ said Lucy.
Melinda nodded.
‘Yeah.’
The crying stopped eventually and Melinda wiped her eyes and her nose. Lucy went back to her seat and carried on eating. She had an amazing appetite; Melinda wasn’t sure where she put it all. She wasn’t absolutely sure—because she saw Lucy every day—but she thought maybe she was still changing. But then that was the way it worked with freaks, the genetic changes took hold and kept spreading until the end. The bump in the middle of Lucy’s forehead was still growing. Melinda didn’t want to say anything in case she got upset.
‘I had different guards today.’ Melinda chose her words carefully and glanced up at the camera with its red light below. She wished she had some way of determining whether it was working or not. She could blow it easily enough, but that wasn’t a help.
‘Me too.’
‘Has that happened before?’
‘No,’ said Lucy. ‘Never.’
‘Fucking great, you get all this food and I just get a plate? Who did you sleep with? God?’
Melinda spun round. The speaker was slim, tall and a redhead. Her face was covered in freckles so thick they formed a continuous surface. She had a prominent nose.
Lucy glanced up. ‘Melinda, this is Vanessa. Charming as usual.’
‘Christ, you’re getting worse every day.’ Then she peered more intently. ‘And you’re turning into a fucking turtle-unicorn.’
She looked at Melinda. ‘At least you look normal.’
‘I’m not.’
‘Well, I fucking am. I mean seriously, look at me. I don’t know why I’m even here.’
‘Maybe it’s because you’re a vicious killer who doesn’t give a damn?’ said Lucy. ‘At least they still have you chained up.’
Melinda hadn’t noticed initially, but Vanessa’s wrists were bound with plastic ties and she was hobbled.
‘What? Why?’ said Melinda as Vanessa sat in one of the other chairs and heaped meat on her plate.
‘How many did you kill, Nessa?’
She shrugged. ‘I wasn’t counting.’
‘Six.’
‘I thought it was more.’ She stuffed her mouth with the meat as she poured herself a glass of water.
Melinda stared. ‘By accident?’
Vanessa gave a muffled laugh.
Lucy looked up with an angry frown. ‘Oh no, our fellow prisoner is quite the murderess. Three each on two occasions before they realised how bad she was.’
‘I didn’t like what they were doing.’
‘You needed a reason?’
Vanessa shrugged. ‘Not my fault.’
‘You bit the throat out of one.’
The redhead grinned. ‘Oh yeah. Tasty.’
Melinda couldn’t take her eyes off the girl. She looked mostly normal, although the teeth were a bit difficult to get used to. Her canines were very prominent and the ones further back were sharp-looking as well. She tore the meat and simply swallowed rather than chewing it.
‘Why are you out?’ said Lucy.
‘I thought you two were having too much fun without me. I can hear, you know?’
‘I thought you didn’t like being with the freaks.’
‘I was bored, baldy. All right? Besides, something’s going on.’
‘Not in front of the parents,’ said Lucy looking pointedly at Vanessa’s guards by the door. ‘They have eyes everywhere.’ She jerked her head back towards the camera behind her.
Vanessa spoke in low tones while playing with her food. ‘Something’s happened outside and it’s got them worried. And it’s not just the ones that she’s killed.’ She looked pointedly at Melinda.
‘How do you know about that?’
‘Like I said, I have ears and I know how to use them.’
Which meant nothing to Melinda.
‘What else?’ asked Lucy.
‘Some of them want to get rid.’
‘Get rid?’ said Melinda.
‘Of us. Obviously.’
Melinda looked aghast. She knew there was the risk, of course, this wasn’t a sleepover with the girls. But while they had been testing her she had let herself imagine that it might go on for a long time. Perhaps they knew how to delay the S.I.D infection.
Lucy simply nodded. She took a mouthful of food and spoke quietly through the chewing. ‘So that’s the real reason, Nessa. You’re scared for your own skin and you want our help.’
The redhead looked defiantly back at her. ‘Nobody wants to die, baldy. You know you really are worse than you were, though the horn is kind of cute. How long do you think you’ve got?’
‘Longer than you.’
‘Nice.’
Vanessa ripped into another selection of meat and cheese then turned to Melinda. ‘You look totally normal.’
‘Thanks.’
‘But you killed a couple?’
‘In my case it really was an accident. I’m not a cold-blooded murderer.’
Vanessa grinned. ‘Nothing cold about it, sweetie. My blood’s hot. But you; show me what you can do. Is it a poison dart in your fingers?’
‘Of course not.’
‘What then?’
‘Don’t,’ said Lucy.
‘Why not?’ said Vanessa. ‘They already know what’s wrong with her, what’s the harm in showing me? Or can’t you control it?’
‘I could kill you.’
Vanessa shrugged. ‘What difference would that make? We’re all dying and it’s going to get nasty before the end. Do it now and I won’t be around to annoy you.’
Lucy glared at Vanessa. ‘Change of heart? That wasn’t why you were here a moment ago. You wanted us to help you.’ She glanced up at the guard.
‘Maybe I trust her.’
‘You?’
‘Give me your hand,’ said Melinda.
‘This is not a good idea,’ said Lucy.
Vanessa reached out and presented her thin and dainty fingers to Melinda. The smile on her face looked more like bravura than humour. Melinda focused and brought up both her hands. With one she touched Vanessa’s thumb, and little finger with the other. She applied a small shock—Vanessa jerked her hand away and laughed. She shook the hand as if trying to get the circulation going.
‘Neat trick.’
‘So what can you do, apart from rip out people’s throats with your fancy teeth?’
Vanessa looked into Melinda’s eyes and then glanced at the guard. ‘Better not.’
‘Really?’ said Melinda. ‘You do all that to make me show you mine and then you won’t show me yours? You’re like someone who wants to play Truth or Dare until it’s their turn.’
Vanessa growled. It jarred Melinda’s senses and made her nervous. ‘Those boys have itchy fingers, little Miss Goody Two-Shoes. I do anything out of line and they’ll shoot first and ask questions afterwards.’
‘Seems to me you only have yourself to blame.’
‘And how is what you did different to me? I was just protecting myself—like you.’ She leane
d forward and continued quietly. ‘Damn right I don’t want to die here. I know you don’t either so why don’t we think about getting out? If we’re together they can’t hold that threat of killing me over your heads.’
‘How do you know about that?’
Vanessa’s look was withering. ‘You haven’t been listening to me, have you? Think it over.’
In one smooth movement she brought her legs up and over her head. She kept going and rolled herself over the back of the chair so she ended up standing behind the chair she had been sitting in a moment before. Then she brought her head down to Melinda’s so her mouth was by her ear. ‘Agile’s my middle name, sparky, and between us we could get out of here.’
She stood up again and addressed the guard. ‘I’ve had enough of these sad bitches, I’ll go back to my room now. Thanks.’
Melinda turned to watch her go.
‘Stupid cow,’ said Lucy. ‘She’s going to get us all killed.’
‘She might be right though.’
‘That’s the problem,’ said Lucy.
Chapter 8
Dog
He slammed his hand against the gate and pressed the button repeatedly.
‘Come on, Brian, open the gate, for god’s sake.’
The motors buzzed and as soon as the gap was wide enough he was through it. He opened the shed door, shook himself off to dump the snow and went in.
‘You’re in trouble.’
‘What? Why?’
‘The boss has been asking for you every half hour since first thing this morning.’ Brian held up the log book as if that somehow proved his point.
‘Yeah well, it’s snowing hard and I’ve had to walk all the way from Flixton.’
‘I don’t want to know that.’
‘And I don’t care, Brian. I’m hungry and I’m cold.’
‘Lost your sense of humour?’
‘Just get on the phone and tell Mr Mendelssohn I’m here, there’s stuff he needs to know and the longer we wait the more pissed off he’s going to be.’ Brian seemed to hesitate. ‘I could always tell him you delayed me.’
‘You really have lost it.’
Dog closed his eyes and sighed. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt this cold. If it hadn’t been important for the boss to know what had happened he would have holed up somewhere for food and rest. He barely listened to the conversation Brian was having with the main house. The phone was wired direct, no connection to the outside world. Mr Mendelssohn was paranoid.
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