An SUV pulled up at the gates, windows tinted black, and a lone woman stepped out of the passenger seat with a severe expression and a crisp suit that looked like it'd just come from the cleaners. She came straight towards them with a brisk stride, not slowing as she buttoned up her coat and raised the collar to cover her neck.
“Detectives Ward and Lanning, come with me,” she said with a French accent.
“Who are you?” Michael said.
She flashed them an identity card and stuck it back in her pocket before Michael could read it properly. “I'm from the company. They're putting me in charge of Richmond station. We have some talking to do.”
Michael and Richard exchanged weary glances.
They were back in Harris's office, and the Frenchwoman took the major's chair, reaching under it with one hand to raise the height. She sat up a little taller than before. Her skin was deathly pale in the dim light, as though the blood had been drained from her face, and those handful of wrinkles suggested she was in her early forties.
“You've caused the company a lot of problems. Not nearly as much as your commanding officer, but you've still played your part.”
“It might help if you were to elaborate on the situation, ma'am,” Michael said.
“You really don't know?” she said, raising a thin, plucked eyebrow.
Michael shook his head.
“Yes, well, I suppose that might explain a few things then. I tell you this only because it will inevitably leak sooner or later. Harris has exceeded his authority, and he's been strong-arming money from the surviving members of Belton's family since these troubles kicked off.”
“How so?”
“He blocked the official investigation into the murders, and then offered to find the killers in return for repeat payments and a lump sum upon completion. The family wanted revenge as much as justice, so they went along. He used the pair of you as pawns to further his own investigation, not to mention plundering company resources for his own private needs.”
“Yeah, why doesn't that surprise me? What about Eratech? What about the bombs, the hits on police units and assassinations?” Richard said.
“Tangential to what Harris had you on, although it goes without saying that the three of you managed to complicate matters far beyond your means.”
“You're talking about the drones Eratech are developing, aren't you?” Michael said.
She narrowed her eyes. “How did you hear of such things?”
“Harris. How else do you think?”
“Our differences have, had, been resolved with Eratech, at least until you kicked the hornet's nest again. The government brokered a cease-fire between both companies. They were getting anxious, their project is already over budget, and really, we're all on the same side here. We want to make money, and everyone was losing money with this corporate war going on. I don't know what's going to happen now you just wiped out dozens of their employees.”
“So what, you just sign the treaty of Versailles and decide to party on? They were slaughtering us out there just because we're employed by Assurer,” Richard said.
“The police contract for Lower London provides a great deal of income for Assurer. By putting pressure on it, they attack one of the company's key revenue streams. It's just unfortunate for you that you were caught up in the crossfire. Look, Mr Lanning, this is a business, not a public service. No money, no company, no job for you.”
Michael sighed. “You don't even care, do you?”
“No, why should I? I'm a trouble-shooter. I'll fix the problems here, collect my fee and then move onto the next assignment.”
“They tried to kill me in my own flat. Should I be concerned?” Michael said.
She shrugged. “I don't know. Any troubles arising from your little escapade with Harris are your own to deal with, but if it makes you feel any better, I expect it will be smoothed over eventually, given the money changing hands between our companies. All of this leaves me with the question of what to do with you. The company have given me free rein to do what needs to be done in order to correct the institutionalised problems of this station.”
The Frenchwoman went silent, alternating her stare between them both.
“So we're out on our arses like Harris,” Richard said.
“Harris isn't going anywhere, not as a free man. Firing you was my first thought, but events have taken their toll on manpower. I suppose the irony is that you have done your jobs too well, and I can admire that much. I'll keep you on for now, at least until you give me another reason not to.”
“Are you going to take those bodies to pieces?” Michael said.
“No need. I believe your fellow officers have already done that for us. The company will probably reverse engineer them. Eratech have problems in America with the civil war, and we're in a much better position to continue developing the technologies. We're done. I will see you tomorrow, early, if you intend to make a better impression than you have tonight.”
They stepped outside, where the floors were caked in mud. Neither of them spoke a word, and Michael stopped at the stairs, leaning against the railings as he looked down. “I think that went as well as it could.”
“I suppose so. We still have jobs, but Jesus, what a night. What a month, even. I've never seen anything like it, and let's not even get into our new superior.”
“We'll figure her out, or more likely, she'll leave when she realises the bureaucracy around here will drown her chances of climbing the company ladder any higher.”
Richard started down the stairs. “I look forward to that day. See you tomorrow, it's going to be a fucking nightmare.”
Outside, Michael thought of phoning Sam to pick up him. He decided against it, nodding to the guards at the checkpoint as he ventured out into the streets. His skin was already numb to the cold, and he stopped to look back at Richmond station, eyeing the chequerboard pattern of lights gradually fading into darkness.
He walked to the end of the road and turned a left into an alley, where the shadows swallowed him alive.
The Chop Shop Page 25