BrainWeb

by Douglas E. Richards

  “About what, Nick?” growled Fisher with a sudden intensity.

  “I really don’t need any rest after reading a mind for fifteen minutes. Or a day in between.”

  Fisher shook his head, relieved that Hall’s revelation hadn’t been worse. He had always suspected as much. He hadn’t pressed it because he had all the time in the world and things were going beautifully.

  “Go on,” said Fisher.

  “I was trying to stall. I didn’t believe you would let us go. So I was trying to slow-play your project. But now that I’ve come to agree with you, and trust you, I want to get back to my life. As soon as possible. So I’m coming clean. Congress is in session. Get a hotel room within a few miles of the Capitol Building and give me a list. I can go for an entire day, getting what you want on ten to fifteen politicians. A lot more if you’d let me use my implants to record what I learn instead of having to type it in. ”

  “Fantastic, Nick. I’m not happy you lied to me, but I can’t say I blame you. What I’ve done to you and Megan is indefensible. But I’m glad you finally decided to be honest with me. The country, and the world, will be far better off with an ethical man in the White House.” He paused. “I’ll book a room for tomorrow and put a list together as soon as we’re done talking.”

  “Great,” said Hall. “But since I’ll be gone for an extended time, I’ll want to move my daily call with Megan to the morning.”

  “Of course, Nick. I’ll have my men let her know.”

  ***

  An hour after Hall’s call with Earnest, Kent Lombardo brought him dinner as usual. Shrimp bisque flambé, spinach salad with pine nuts and dried cranberries, crab-stuffed salmon, and turtle cheesecake for dessert. He had never eaten better, and the story of Hansel and Gretel entered his mind, not for the first time. Beware of captors fattening you up for the slaughter.

  Hall stopped Lombardo before he could leave. “There is something I want you to get for me,” he said.

  Lombardo shook his head, annoyed as usual at having to cater to a prisoner, bringing him food and movies, downloading books to his Kindle, and picking up meals at the best restaurants in the area. “I can’t wait to find out what,” he said sarcastically.

  He knew intellectually that Hall could read his thoughts and he didn’t need to speak, but Hall had purposely never displayed this ability, figuring that if Lombardo and Hogan let their guard down there was more chance they would make a mistake.

  “Careful,” said Hall. “You don’t want me to report that you aren’t treating me well.”

  Lombardo just glared at him but didn’t respond.

  “I need a telephone book of the DC area.”

  “What? Where the fuck would I get a phone book? I’m not even sure they make those anymore.”

  “They do. They may not print them, but you can get a PDF file of the directory. That’s what I want. I’d do it, but as always,” he said, holding out his arms and showing his dual bracelets, “I’m Internet blocked.”

  “What use is a DC phone book to you? Who you gonna call? You don’t have phone privileges.”

  “I’m not calling anyone. I’ve been bored out of my mind. So I’ve decided to work on my memory. See how far I can get memorizing a phone book. You know those savant guys can memorize the whole thing.”

  “That is the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard. Memorize one of your science fiction novels.”

  Hall’s face hardened. “Memorizing a phone book is like the gold standard of memory tasks. Just random names and numbers. And this is what I want.” He sat down in front of his dinner and placed the linen napkin on his lap. “I know your orders, Kent,” he finished. “And this simple request is well within them.”

  Hall read his mind as he thought it through. He hated being the gopher, but he was being paid extremely well for easy duty. And he had detected an extra glint in Hall’s eye that indicated he would not let this go easily. And the last thing he needed was Hall reporting that he wasn’t being cooperative.

  “Okay, Nick. If you want to try to memorize the fucking phone book, be my guest.”

  39

  The instant Hall appeared on the monitor, the earliest he had ever called, Megan sensed there was something different about him. There was an excitement in his eyes she hadn’t seen for too long. An energy and alertness.

  Was it actually hope, or was she imagining things?

  Since his captor was watching also, he was giving off just enough for the woman he loved to pick up, but not enough for Earnest to catch. At least she hoped that’s what was happening.

  “How are things?” he began. “You know, wherever you are.”

  “Same old, same old,” she said in bored tones, but she watched him with greater intensity than ever, straining to catch the slightest change in his body language.

  “I love you,” he said unselfconsciously, usually one of the first phrases one or the other of them uttered during a call.

  “I love you, too, Nick,” she said softly. “Why did you schedule such an early call?”

  It was early for him on the East Coast, but for her it was well before the crack of dawn.

  He quickly explained that he wouldn’t be able to call her at the usual time since he had come clean with Earnest, and would be spending eight to ten hours near the Capitol Building. “But this will speed things up,” he said excitedly. “We may be able to get our freedom in weeks rather than months or years.”

  Megan’s eyes narrowed. Why had he chosen to take this step? She had known he was stringing Earnest on. Buying time. But why change gears now? Nick wasn’t stupid enough to believe Earnest would really let them go.

  “That’s great news!” she said, faking as much enthusiasm as she could.

  “Yeah. I’m excited.” He paused. “But on another topic,” he said, giving her the quickest of winks, “before we run out of time, there is something I’ve been meaning to ask since we were first . . . separated. Have you been sleeping okay? I know what stress does to you. I’ve hesitated to bring it up, worried that if I got you thinking of insomnia I might actually cause it. But you’ve been looking tired, and I’m worried about you.”

  He had shaken his head just the slightest amount when he had asked if she was sleeping okay, and this was all the guidance she needed. “You’re right,” she said with a sigh. “I have had trouble sleeping. But I didn’t want to bother you with it.”

  “I was worried about that,” he said. He paused as though reluctant to continue. “Still hearing voices in your head?” he added softly, his tone one of understanding and compassion. “Is that still the issue?”

  Megan paused. Voices in her head?

  What was he trying to communicate?

  Hall’s chin bobbed up and down almost imperceptibly, encouraging her to work out the puzzle.

  “Because if you are,” he continued, “remember what the doctors said. They said if this happens, don’t even try to sleep. Read a book or do something else. Stay alert. Ignoring the voices doesn’t help. Really focusing on them is the only thing that can make them go away.”

  This time the message was unmistakable. Stay alert.

  Someone was coming for her. Something was about to change. And she shouldn’t risk sleeping until it had.

  And it was Nick, himself, who was coming, she realized a moment later. His was the only voice she had ever heard in her head. He needed her to be alert for a telepathic call.

  “Thanks for the reminder, Nick,” she said, giving him just a hint of a telling nod herself. “I’ll give that a shot.”

  40

  Kent Lombardo entered the luxurious hotel room with Hall and Hogan right behind him.

  The Mayflower Renaissance hotel was built in 1925 and had a rich history. It had hosted any number of presidents and presidential inaugural balls. FDR had penned his famous, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself,” speech within its walls. An iconic photo of Bill Clinton greeting Monica Lewinsky in a crowd at a 1996 campaign event had been taken at t
his hotel. And in 2008, room 871 at the Mayflower had hosted New York Governor Elliot Spitzer and a high-end prostitute, leading to a scandal that had ended in Spitzer’s resignation.

  But in all of its storied years of existence, the Mayflower had never hosted someone capable of reading minds.

  Until now.

  Hall sat on an elegant wood-framed upholstered chair, in front of a desk that was nicer and more substantial than the usual fare, obviously built for businessmen, and in this town, lobbyists. He unpacked his laptop and full-sized keyboard and prepared to get to work, while his two escorts took a seat on opposite ends of a couch nearby and braced themselves for a very long day.

  Hall read that they were dreading this assignment. Not that they had any fear he would try to escape. But while the usual outing was an hour or two at most, they would be stuck here for more than eight hours. Basically doing nothing. Watching a man type into a computer for an entire day was exactly as interesting as watching paint dry. Their instructions were to stay as long as possible, but to return to the warehouse by six, when their nameless boss planned to contact Hall for a report.

  “You can turn on the TV if you want,” said Hall. “It won’t bother me. I’m going to be a while.”

  Hall could read that both men were debating if they should. Both came to the conclusion, independently, that watching TV wouldn’t pose any security risks, since they could still keep tabs on him.

  Lombardo picked up the remote and glanced at his partner. “Maybe we will,” he said, turning the TV on and hitting the menu button to make a selection.

  Minutes later they were watching the last remake of Godzilla, which neither man had seen for years, becoming more engrossed in the movie, and less in him, by the second.

  Hall groaned. “Sorry to interrupt,” he said, gesturing to his open laptop, “but the battery is low, and I left the charger in the car.”

  Both men were annoyed, and had some uncomplimentary thoughts for him, but this was especially true of Gary Hogan, who was low man on the totem pole and knew what was coming. Sure enough, Lombardo pulled keys from his pocket and handed them to him. “Go down and get the damn cord,” he instructed.

  Hogan grabbed the keys, took one last look at the television, and then left the room.

  Within seconds, Lombardo was once again engrossed in the movie.

  Hall gathered his courage and resolve and mentally braced himself for what was to come. He waited another minute, until he knew he could wait no longer. Then, as quickly and quietly as he could, he rose from the desk and flung his closed laptop at Lombardo ten feet away on the couch, like a Frisbee. Lombardo caught sight of the approaching missile at the last instant from the corner of his eye and managed to dodge, but the laptop still glanced off his side painfully.

  Lombardo stood to get his bearings, reaching for his dart gun, when he caught a face full of desk chair, spinning him toward the TV and onto the floor. His nose was broken and he had a gash in his cheek that was leaking blood.

  “Toss me the tranq gun, barrel first!” barked Hall.

  Lombardo was absolutely stunned by this development. A cuddly puppy had turned into a rabid wolf before his eyes. He ignored the blinding pain coming from his broken nose and prepared to attack. The dart gun had landed just behind him, but he had other options.

  “Really?” said Hall, holding the heavy chair over his head, poised to strike again. Two of its legs had broken off, but it had a heavy base and its remaining two legs would be all that he needed. “I can read minds, Kent. Your hand gets any closer to that knife strapped to your leg and you’ll be wearing this chair again.”

  Lombardo considered. He was now injured and in great pain, and Hall could get in at least one more lick with his bludgeon. But he was a professional, trained in hand-to-hand, and Hall was not. He would beat the shit out of this little pecker.

  “Yeah, you’re a trained pro,” said Hall. “And I’m a little pecker. And you could beat the shit out of me if it was a fair fight. But it’s not. Ever fight someone who knows your next move before you do?”

  This gave Lombardo additional pause.

  “The tranq gun!” demanded Hall again. “Now! Toss it here or I’m going to turn your face into hamburger.”

  Hall shook his head in disgust. “Are you kidding? Shooting me while trying to pretend you’re giving me the gun won’t work either. How stupid are you? I can read your fucking mind! Nothing you think of trying will work, dumbshit! Now grip the barrel with two fingers and toss it toward me.”

  Lombardo stared deeply into Hall’s eyes and resignation came over him. He reached behind him for the gun and tossed it toward Hall as he had been instructed.

  Hall picked up the weapon and shot Lombardo in the chest. The man was already on the ground, but was angled toward Hall, and fell the rest of the way to the carpet.

  Hall quickly moved the unconscious mercenary a few feet farther behind the couch so he couldn’t be seen by the returning Gary Hogan, who Hall read was rising in the elevator, charger in hand. He picked up the laptop and tossed broken wooden legs and splinters out of sight behind the couch.

  Hogan was approaching the door. Hall could see through the man’s eyes as he slid the keycard against the sensor. He pulled the door open and stepped inside, his only concern getting back to the movie before he missed something important.

  He had missed something important. Nick Hall hiding behind the opening door.

  Hall squeezed the trigger and Hogan fell to the ground, unconscious before he even knew what hit him.

  Hall rushed into the bathroom and raised his wrists, one by one, a few inches above the marble sink and slammed his bracelets into the hard surface. Close enough that he wouldn’t injure himself, but still forcefully enough to break the internal components.

  The Internet came surging into his head.

  He was back!

  At the same instant, an alarm tone sounded on the phones of both men collapsed to the floor, alerting them that he had freed himself from his personal dampening field. He recovered both offending phones and smashed them on the bathroom floor. He then took Lombardo’s knife and managed, with great difficulty, to remove both bracelets.

  Hall checked the time. He now had about eight hours before Frank Earnest would know anything was out of the ordinary.

  A day earlier Frank Earnest had finally made a mistake. He had been too busy to chaperone Hall’s daily call with Megan, so he had given Lombardo the responsibility to set it up and listen in.

  And he had given Lombardo the phone number where Megan was being kept, informing him it was a land-line for heightened security. This was all that Hall had needed. It was a 520 area code. The phone book PDF Lombardo had downloaded for him, even though it was only for Washington, had a table with all area codes across the country.

  And 520 was for Tucson, Arizona.

  Bingo. He had known Megan was in the desert in the Southwest somewhere, but he needed to narrow this down by a thousand-fold, which this area code did nicely.

  Now that his implants were working he confirmed that 520 was Tucson and he was able to call up a map of the precise geography covered by this area code.

  He had rehearsed his every step the night before. He didn’t even want to think about what would happen if he wasn’t able to get to Megan before his escape was discovered. And the most important part of this was ensuring that Lombardo and Hogan didn’t regain consciousness until long after this time. Earnest had never once called them to check on things when he was reading minds, always assuming they had the situation well under control.

  Hall was convinced Earnest was a politician himself, and the good man he was working to help was no one but himself. Why else did he take such care to ensure Hall never saw his face, or heard his actual voice?

  Hall studied the make and model of the tranq gun in his hand while his implants magically called up the specs. One dart should be good for four hours of sleep. Three darts would put a hundred and fifty pound man out for ten
hours, although this wasn’t recommended.

  Hall unloaded an additional three darts into each unconscious man, making four in total. If this didn’t kill them, it would put them out for twelve or more hours.

  He felt for a pulse and found one in both men, slow and weak, but there. Good enough.

  Hall stayed for an additional ten minutes, reading key members of congress and effortlessly transmitting details of scandals and transgressions and dirty laundry to the cloud for later retrieval. This time he wasn’t doing it for Earnest, but for himself.

  He liked to think he had fairly rigorous ethical standards. But the school of hard knocks had taught him that he couldn’t be naive any longer. It was time to store some leverage for a rainy day. One never knew when it might come in handy.

  This accomplished, he stripped Lombardo and Hogan of their identification and cash, checked himself in the mirror, and left the room, carefully placing a do-not-disturb sign on his door as he did so.

  41

  Mike Campbell had set up several command centers from which he could direct the dozens of underlings he had working around the clock to find Altschuler, but progress had been all but nonexistent. And his wasn’t the only group searching for the diminutive genius. Altschuler was considered a national treasure and the public pressure to get him back was immense.

  Heather, who was known to be his fiancée, had been forced to barricade herself inside her home and had hired a publicist to field endless interview requests, making it clear that she would not be making herself available to the media under any circumstances.

  Hank Cohen, the executive Altschuler had recruited from Intel, had taken over as Theia’s interim CEO until such time as Altschuler was found or confirmed dead, and Heather at least had peace of mind that the company was in good hands.

  Campbell visited Heather and filled her in on the latest reports. There was no sign of Girdler and no sign of the implants. And although he stopped short of telling her this, they were running out of hope. The more time that passed, the colder the trail became. Despite beefed up security at harbors and airports, the implants were ridiculously easy to hide and could be anywhere in the world by now.