I threw together two charts and a colored map, and then gave Istancya a hug. "Thank you!"
"You owe me.” She said it warmly.
After that, I went down the hall. Kerras's office was open.
Rehm was standing there. He looked at me. "All his files are gone. Bimstein wanted me to check. There's nothing there. Someone wiped them. Or maybe Bimstein transferred them.”
"That's strange.” It wasn't, but it was better to say that it was. "You'd better tell Bimstein.”
Rehm frowned. "Would you want to tell him?"
"No. But he asked you to look.” I offered a sympathetic laugh. "Better you than me.” As I went back to my cubicle, I had to laugh again, if quietly and ruefully.
Kerras's console and files had been carefully erased, of everything. No one even thought that there might be something else left.
"I thought you were going,” Istancya said.
"Loose ends. I'll be on my way in a minute.” Then I scanned the sheets Les had left into the system and set it to fire off copies under certain circumstances. The addressees included a number of people, including a couple of senators.
I did take an electrocab to get to DPS.
I got stopped in the DPS foyer by the automatic gates and a simmie that declared I wasn't cleared. So I put through a call from there to Chiang.
Of course, all I got was his simmie.
"It's urgent.” That must have been a code word because a brown-haired sergeant appeared.
"Yes? May I help you?"
"This is Jude Parsfal, and I'm stopped down in the lobby. I need to see Lieutenant Chiang, and it's very urgent.”
"I'm sorry, Mr. Parsfal, but he's tied up right now.”
"The last time I had to wait to get to him he was not happy, Sergeant. Tell him I have some information that he needs urgently. I do mean urgently. About the McCall case.”
"I'll see what I can do.”
I stood there and watched the empty space where the holo projection had been.
The sergeant's image reappeared.
"He'll link with you. He says to keep it short.”
"Is he here in the building? This shouldn't go too many places.”
Another pause and blankness before the sergeant reappeared. "Come up to the third level.”
I had barely reached the third level, where the sergeant whose image had instructed me sat behind an arc of consoles.
Chiang appeared. He looked disgruntled.
"What do you have, Parsfal?"
"Some more information on why—"
"This way.” He turned.
I followed him back into his small office. Before he could say anything, I handed him the hard copy. "Kerras died last night. He left this hidden for me. I don't think his death was as natural as Bimstein does. All of Kerras's files were wiped. McCall set up the holding companies that are buying MMSystems. That's hard. Kerras also got far enough to think that Kemal was fronting for the Martian Republic in buying MMSystems.”
Chiang scanned the hard copy. A cold smile crossed his face. "This is good. Do you know where Kerras got this?"
"Someone at NASR I'd guess, but I can't confirm that.”
"We're getting close.” He looked hard at me. "Not a word. You say one word, have you cited for every minor offense you make for the rest of your life.”
I glared back at him. "Senator Cannon already knows some of this. If he goes public, we have to. You can't make my life much worse than Bimstein can if someone else gets this. I've played square with you longer than any other researcher or T-head would. I can't sit on all this much longer. Hours at the most.”
The lieutenant actually sighed. "Figured as much. Hold off three hours, and I'll give you what we have. It's more than you have.”
I thought. Three hours. It would take me an hour to put what I had in usable form. "I'll try for three. I can give you two for sure.”
"Try hard, Parsfal.”
"I'll try, but that depends on Senator Cannon and the other nets, Lieutenant.”
"The longer you can hold, the more I'll be able to give you.” He folded the two sheets. "If you want that story, I need to be moving.” He just stood there looking at me.
"Thanks, Lieutenant. I'll give you as much time as I can.” I had the feeling he'd give me a lot—if I could hold out. Whether I could was another question.
I walked out of DPS wondering where it would all lead.
Chapter 43
Cannon
When I got into the office at nine-thirty on Friday, with only a half hour before committee, there was a message on my private line.
The image was that of Les Kerras. He was flushed, breathing hard, and he looked awful.
* * * *
"Senator… you might want to check my fund transfers from the Nauruan National Bank to the various Kemal holding companies, especially ChrisCo. I'd guess that the Martian Republic is fronting Kemal to take over MMSystems so that they can have greater control over the next generation fusion tug systems.
"If I'm not here, talk to Jude Parsfal, not Bimstein or another T-head. Parsfal knows plenty… maybe more than I do.”
* * * *
That was it. Kemal fronting for the Republic? The man had neither ethics nor common sense. I didn't expect ethics from him, but how could he trust a world who could throw asteroid fragments across the entire Earth? Or who threatened economic reprisals whenever the slightest thing went wrong?
I tried to reach Kerras. All I got was his simmie.
A half hour passed, but he didn't get back to me. I didn't know Parsfal, and hesitated to call him yet.
How could I do anything? If I made a charge like that against Kemal, I'd be liable for privacy suits, damages… you name it. That didn't take into account the boost it would give Hansen. He could charge that I was seeing imaginary enemies everywhere, that I had gone paranoid, and was attacking the man who had saved and expanded CerraCraft.
The hardest lesson in politics is to do nothing until you know what to do. The second hardest is to figure out what to do when you're standing alone. I'd figure it out, and I wasn't about to go off half formulated.
With no answer from Kerras, I headed for committee. I was turning toward the members' entrance when a young newsie accosted me. She was attractive—and aggressive. She charged past to Jaffrey, almost into my face.
"Senator Cannon! Senator! It's been said that you believe women should remain in the home, or even if they work that they should remain secondary to their spouses. How would you address that?"
Where had that come from?
I laughed. "Each person should run his own life. I don't tell people how to run their lives. That's the great thing about NorAm. We allow people to be free. Each family should work out who is responsible for what. Not the government.”
"But your wife's career has been secondary to yours. Is that something you decided for her?"
I shook my head and offered a smile. A warm one. "No one decides for Elise. She is a most capable woman. She chose to be a talent assessor. She could be a senator.” I paused, drawing out the silence for a moment. "If she happened to be the fortunate one. If she happened to be the senator, then you'd be asking her why my career was secondary.”
Several of the other newsies laughed.
"Now… if you'll excuse me. There is a committee meeting.”
I slipped through the members' entrance and into the back room.
Jo Jaffrey came in after me. "Have you been making speeches on the sanctity of the nuclear family again, Elden?"
"I haven't said a word. Not one.” I laughed. "Not in years.” I'd learned that lesson early. I didn't have to be taught twice.
"Then your opponent must have.” She smiled. It was an understanding expression.
"You, too?"
"Not this year. Two years ago, they caught me when I suggested that not all coastal protections were well thought out. I was charged with returning to the bad old days of coastal tourism and exploitation.”
The committee meeting was mercifully short. We had a markup of the technical amendments that would conform product definitions for a series of minor nanite formulator components to world standards. We finished in less than an hour, and twenty minutes of that was because Silvio Berta had to question each provision.
Just before I left the back room, a Senate messenger handed me an envelope. The outside bore the imprint of Margot Halensek, the senator from Saskan. I took it, but didn't open it. That wasn't a good idea in a public venue.
The time was eleven-fourteen when I stepped back into my office. I came in through the front. It was easier that way, because everyone knew I was back in my office. I looked at Ciella first.
"Ciella? Did I get a call from Les Kerras?"
"No, Senator. It's been quiet this morning.”
"Thank you.” I linked Ted, because the door to his small office was closed. It usually was. He liked quiet. Ted, I'm back. Anything I should know?
The Education Department staff agreed to accept the wording on the Music Grant pilot program, and to the pilot program at UDenv. They also accepted the conditions—that the administrator of the program be a solo performer, currently employed there in either contract or adjunct status. They even bought the regional centers—including the one at Cedacity. The bill and report are scheduled to be signed on Monday.
Good. Thank you. I'll be in for a while.
Once I got to the office I pulsed the door shut and opened the envelope. I couldn't imagine what Halensek wanted. It had to be some sort of invitation or formality.
It was neither, and it clearly wasn't from Margot. Inside the envelope was a hard-copy story, with a picture, and a small square of paper folded shut. I read the story first.
* * * *
Eastside Denv resident killed in smash and run on East Ridge shuttle platform. Jonathan Ramses was the assistant to the Deputy Minister for Information Services of the NorAm Securities Registry…
* * * *
The picture was that of the man who'd given me the information about Kemal. I unfolded the paper. I almost had to pry it apart. There wasn't much there, just a few words.
You've been warned. It will get worse if you don't stop.
As I watched, the paper crumbled into dust. So did the picture, leaving only the hard copy of the news story.
I could feel my temperature rising. Kemal! The audacity of the man.
Elden? The link was on my very private line, the one only Elise had.
Accept. I wondered what the problem was.
"So I could be a senator?" Elise laughed, not quite kindly, her image seemingly scanning my office. She was calling from her home study. That was normal on Fridays, because she didn't go into the net offices except on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
"You certainly have the brains for it,” I said.
"I don't see her.”
"See who?"
"The sultry research clerk who linked here looking for you.”
I froze inside.
"So… she is there.” Elise's voice turned hard.
I shook my head. "I got a warning just a while ago. A note in an envelope. It scanned as clear, but it was the kind that turns to dust a few minutes after you open and read it. Someone wants me to stop asking questions about something. The last line was something like, 'If you don't stop, things will get worse. '"
For a long moment, Elise studied my face. I could feel it even through the holo link.
"I believe you. I actually believe you. You have that stunned look. I've only seen that expression a half-dozen times since we were married—like when you found out Emma was a girl. Or when—"
"Elise…”
"Elden… just be careful.” Her voice actually softened. "I'll see you tonight.”
She was worried, and Elise never worried.
Someone with a message from Jonathan Ramses.
I froze for a moment, then clicked on the recorder. I'll take it.
I'd never seen the woman on the screen. I'd have bet no one else ever had, or ever would, that she was a special simmie, although her physical assets were certainly astounding, and clearly available.
"Eldie, dear… you're spending way too much time worrying about things that don't matter to your district.
Why, if you didn't worry so much about those, you might have more time for me.”
"Who are you?" I might as well ask.
"Eldie baby, you know...” The "know" was delivered with a practiced pout. "You know what you need to do.”
And she was gone.
I sat down behind the desk. Kemal was worried. He wouldn't have gone to such lengths otherwise. What else might the man do?
I put in a holo link to Gilligan on the direct private line, not the office lines that were all monitored.
"Gill, Elden here.” I didn't know why I said that. He could see me.
"What now?" Gilligan was a square man, with a square and honest face under short blond hair. He was also the best political operative I knew. That was why he worked for me. I always went for the best.
"What have you heard?"
"About what?"
I just looked at him.
"Heber Smith is getting lots of credits. Probably from Kemal. Some will go to Alredd. More will go to Hansen.”
"What else?"
"There's a rumor that you're looking where you shouldn't, Elden.”
"Would you mind telling me where you heard that?"
"I didn't. Someone whispered it to Allie just as she got on the shuttle here in St. George. She didn't see who.”
"I'm getting messages here, the blackmailing kind.”
"Blackmail? Isn't that old-fashioned, Elden?"
"When sultry-looking women I don't know have my private home number and holo there, and holo my office, asking for Elden…”
Gill winced.
"When I get questions in the Senate corridor from a newsie set up to pounce, suggesting that I'm an ancient chauvinist who wants to keep women shoeless and at home… when I get disintegrating notes suggesting I backoff…”
"I'll see what I can find out.”
"Good.”
Next came a link to Lottler. He wasn't in. Or he wasn't answering me. I suspected the latter.
I tried Canthrop. He was in.
"Senator. I've just seen that rezad on education—the one with the professor. We ran a few focus tests on a couple of selected markets. You've got a real smash there. I don't know why, but it is. I'd like to drop it into the rotation…”
"Ah… fine. Go ahead.” I forced a smile. "Have you picked up anything? Anything odd?"
Canthrop frowned. "Not that I can recall. Crescent Productions did tell me that several agencies were interested in Professor Cornett—both for her singing and as an upscaler.”
I frowned, because I was getting an override signal from Ciella.
Yes?
Senator… we thought you ought to know. There was an announcement that Les Kerras died last night, apparently from natural causes…
Thank you.
"All right, Bill. If you hear anything strange, let me know.”
He was still looking at me curiously when I broke the connection.
I laughed. Sometimes the choices are made for you. Ted… would you and Sam come in?
Then I linked to Pagel.
Pagel…
Yes, Mr. Chairman?
I want an immediate subpoena and information search warrant under committee seal, citing economic security, requesting the details of all fund transfers of greater than one million credits from the Nauruan National Bank to all NorAm banks and securities firms.
Senator—
Pagel… it's a matter of NorAm security.
The courts…
We'll see what the Justicia
ry says… I didn't care what they said. This one was a winner, and if it weren't, then I'd be as dead as Kerras. I want that subpoena, and I want it out this afternoon. It's that important.
Yes sir. I'll… we'll get it out. As I talked, I dug out one of the packets that held the information Ramses had given me.
By then Ted and Sam Wicker, my media aide, were standing on the other side of the desk.
"Sit down.”
They did, looking even more puzzled than Canthrop had.
"Ted… Sam… I need an immediate release, and I want it to go everywhere. Here are the guts. The Martian Republic has been attempting to buy control of MMSystems through the front mechanism of using a NorAm citizen and the holding companies and trusts of his family.” I handed a copy of the packet to Ted. "Those are the details.”
I let them look over the information.
"Ah, sir… can we confirm this?" Ted's voice was apologetic.
"You don't have to worry about that, Ted.” He didn't. It was my office, and my career, if it didn't work out. I'd trade both for my life, if it came to that, which it wouldn't if I were willing to make the trade. "We also need the following information in the release.” I cleared my throat. "Within days of receiving this information, from two different sources, both sources died under suspicious circumstances. Because of the serious implications of the information, under the emergency powers of the chairman of the Economic and Commerce Committee, I have requested an economic security subpoena of the relevant financial records. Uncovering the sordid details is vital at this time…” I let the words trail off.
Both looked stunned.
"Oh… the two sources are Les Kerras of PrimeNews and a Jonathan Ramses of NASR. They're both dead, within hours of each other.”
Ted looked at Sam, and Sam looked back at him. Neither looked directly at me.
"Go on. You've got enough to finish it and polish it. I want to see something in no more than an hour. Sooner, if you can. Go!"
They still had that stunned expression when they left.
Then I put through a call to Elise. She was there.
"What is it, Elden? You have that grim look.”
"Elise, dear… this has turned very nasty. For the next few hours, until I call you, you'd better stay home, and make sure the defense screens are on full.”
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