He located the release button under the desk and buzzed them through the turnstile before escorting them to the elevators, where he pressed the call button for them.
“I’ll see you shortly.” He gave a semi-bow before he returned to his desk.
“Jeez, he’s a strange one,” Maria said, looking at her partner as the glorified receptionist walked away.
“You think everyone is a bit strange.” He leaned closer to her. “Although this time I think you might be right. Flashlight cops always are, aren’t they?” He winked.
“You got that right. I’ll tell you who else I don’t like—concierges!” She shook her head. “Something very wrong about those guys. They all seem to know too much about everything.”
“You really are a trusting soul, aren’t you?” He laughed.
The ding from the elevator signaled its arrival. The doors opened, and as they boarded, he reached out and pressed the number five button.
“Mark my words, those guys will run the world one day. Wouldn’t surprise me if they’re behind the new world order.” She stood back and watched the numbers over the door ascend as they travelled to the corresponding floor.
Her partner looked at her, observing her whole demeanor. Sometimes he was unsure if she was drunk, winding him up or, if she was that weird that thoughts like that were in her head.
“Concierges? Running the world?” He looked incredulous.
“Oh yeah; always tip them well. You don’t want to be on the wrong side of them when they make their move,” she said as a matter of fact.
Ding. The elevator had arrived at their chosen level and the doors slid open. She exited without looking at her partner, who stood open-mouthed.
“You are one seriously fucked up individual,” he said as he snapped out of his daze and followed her down the corridor.
He had almost caught up to her when his phone rang. Stopping to retrieve it from his pocket, he studied the screen for a moment. “You go ahead!” he called after her. “I’ve got to take this.”
She waved a hand over her shoulder in acknowledgement and was a few feet away from Chris’s office when she heard a scream coming from inside. She turned to call after her partner but he had gone. Taking a moment to assess the situation, she drew her weapon and was edging her way to the office door when she heard the distinctive voice of Andy’s daughter.
“Don’t shoot, don’t shoot!” Jen sounded scared.
The detective looked down the corridor, hoping to see her partner coming, but he was nowhere to be seen. “No time to wait,” she muttered under her breath.
She edged closer to the door, getting herself in position, and strained to hear what was happening in there. She had been to the office several times before, which gave the advantage of knowing the layout of the place.
A quick glance down the corridor confirmed there was no sign of her partner. She took a deep breath and burst through the door, instantly scanning the room to assess the situation.
Andy’s brother, Chris, was sitting behind his desk, with Jen immediately behind him. Both had their arms raised above their heads. A young unidentified male wearing a red baseball cap stood between Maria and the suspected hostages, pointing what appeared to be a rifle at them. In one swift motion she was on him, violently grabbing him from behind and putting him into a headlock as she thrust her weapon under his chin.
“Drop the gun and don’t you fucking move,” she snarled through clenched teeth.
“Maria! No!” Jen protested, waving her hands.
“Maria, it’s okay.” Chris jumped from his chair. “Please put the gun down,” he pleaded.
The female detective tried to comprehend the situation as she looked over to the software executive and noticed he was smiling. That is not the reaction of someone who has had a firearm pointed at them, she thought. Bemused by his unperturbed attitude, she glanced at the weapon the suspect was holding. It only took the briefest of moments to realize it was a toy gun, a Nerf gun.
The suspect had begun to tremble, which resulted in his employer erupting into a fit of laughter. “Please, please, don’t shoot. I’m putting the gun down. It’s only a toy,” he pleaded.
“What the fuck is going on here?” Maria said.
The door to the office suddenly flew open behind them. Andy entered, pointing his weapon at the female detective and her prisoner. He must have heard the confrontation from the corridor. The look of anguish on his face when he saw his daughter quickly turned to relief.
“Maria, put the gun down. He works here.” Andy ordered. “It’s okay, that’s Martin Miller, he works here.”
She glanced over her shoulder at her partner, then back to the detainee before releasing her grip and re-engaging the safety on her firearm. Miller fell to the floor, breathing heavily.
“Would someone please tell me what the fuck is going on here?” Maria exclaimed, with adrenalin still coursing through her veins.
They were all startled by the sight of Sinclair rushing into the office, slightly out of breath. “Is everything all right, Mr. Cooper?”
“Fine, John,” the software executive assured him. “Just a little misunderstanding.”
Jen moved from behind her uncle and came around the desk. “We’re role playing for a new app, Maria.”
“What?” She looked confused.
Chris chuckled loudly and adjusted his thick rimmed glasses which had slid down his nose. “This is brilliant; we should be catching this on camera!”
“We are, Mr. Cooper,” the security chief informed him. “Here, let me show you.” He edged his way over to Chris’s desk, keeping an eye on the female detective. “It’s all been captured on the security system. That’s how I knew there was a problem.”
“Really?” His employer looked at Maria and pointed at the man shaking on the floor. “In that case, shoot him.”
The color drained instantly from Miller’s face. “No!” he screamed, holding his hand up, sending Chris into uncontrollable laughter which, in turn, sent Jen into a giggling fit.
Maria failed to see the funny side of the situation. “You guys are fucking freaky.” She frowned at them.
“This is how we work here.” The executive composed himself. “Someone comes up with an idea for an app, and we role play it to see if it works. And I have to say, after today,” he smiled broadly, “I think it’s safe to say, this one is a winner.”
Andy put his weapon back in its holster and sighed as he nodded to his partner, who looked at Miller’s trousers and noticed he had wet himself.
“Oh.” She awkwardly indicated to the damp patch. “Sorry about that. You might want to go and change.”
Miller looked down and noticed his predicament, then glanced at Jen. Embarrassed, he sprang to his feet and rushed out of the office.
“Oh, that is just priceless.” Chris laughed out loud. “Although, I don’t think we can actually put that in an app, can we?” He directed the question at Sinclair.
“As much as I’d love to say yes,” he shrugged, “I don’t think the lawyers would be happy.”
“I’m joking.” He laughed and removed his glasses to wipe his tear filled eyes with a handkerchief he had produced from his pocket. “Although America’s Funniest Home Videos might be interested in seeing the footage.”
Andy put his hands on his hips in disbelief. “So, I send my daughter here to learn, and this is what you do, play games?”
“Calm down, bro,” his sibling said. “This is how the whole process works. You want her to learn everything, don’t you?”
“Yes, but I didn’t expect it to be like a kindergarten.” He fumed. “What type of app is this anyway?”
“Oh, it’s just a first person shoot ‘em up,” Chris explained. “We have a client who manufactures laser guns for the leisure industry, and wants to incorporate an app that registers when the laser makes contact with the screen. A mobile Laser Quest, so to speak.”
“So you just stand around playing games all day?”
the detective persisted.
“Dad!” Jen stepped in. “It’s not like that. I’ve been learning all sorts of things today.”
“Oh yeah, like what?” He turned to his daughter.
“Look, I’ll show you,” she said with great enthusiasm, and got her notebook out to show him. “Martin showed me the basic binary codes for starting a program off. Then Uncle Chris took me to lunch—”
“Lunch?!” He cut her off and turned his anger back to his brother. “Do you take all your staff to lunch?”
“Only the special ones.” He winked at his niece.
“I told you, no preferential treatment.” He pointed his finger at him. “How is she ever going to learn?”
“Andy, stop.” Chris waved his hands in a calming motion. “I promise I won’t give her any more preferential treatment.”
“Fine!” Jen snapped, thrusting her notebook back its folder. “Thanks, Dad. You just can’t help yourself, can you?” She stormed out of the office.
Her uncle signaled to Sinclair to follow her, which he did, leaving Maria looking slightly awkward in the presence of the two feuding brothers.
“I’ll go get her in the car.” Maria broke the silence. “We’ll wait for you there.” She moved swiftly towards the door. “See you later, Chris.”
“Erm . . . before you go. Maria.” He stopped her before she could get out of the door. “I’m throwing a BBQ at my house this weekend for family, friends, and AppTech employees. We’ve just acquired a rival software company in a takeover so we’re celebrating. Everyone is invited, so you’re more than welcome to come along.”
“Thanks, Chris.” She nodded. “I’ll see you there.”
“Excellent.” He beamed. “Oh, one more thing. There’s likely to be a few water pistols there, so leave your gun at home. Don’t want you getting overzealous again.” He laughed again.
“Very fucking funny!” She gave him a sarcastic look and left.
Chris walked over to his brother and placed his arm around his shoulder. “Come on, bro, Jen needs a bit of fun in her life,” he said as he started leading him out of the office.
“I know,” Andy sighed.
“Wanting the best for her is only natural.” He continued in what was bordering on being patronizing. “Listen, I’ll treat Jen the same as the other staff during the week, and this weekend I’ll treat her like any uncle should treat his only niece.” They stopped walking and he turned to face his brother, placing both hands on his shoulders. “Come to the BBQ, and make sure you and Kim are ready to relax. Stay over and we can share a few brewskis.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” He exhaled in defeat. He knew Chris had made a fortune out of his powers of persuasion in the boardroom, as well as the ability to control a situation to his advantage. “I could do with some stress relief. Thanks, bro. Promise me though; Jen’s the same as the other staff.”
“I promise. Now go and make it up with her, and make sure she’s here bright and breezy in the morning.” He guided Andy out of the door. “Tell her she’s got a lot to learn from Uncle Chris. Now give me a hug.”
Andy succumbed to his brother’s positive influence and they hugged. “Thanks, man. See you in the morning.” He patted him on the back and walked towards the lift.
“Will do.” He smiled as he watched his brother leave. “Hey, give Kim a kiss for me.”
Andy waved his hand in acknowledgement and disappeared into the waiting elevator.
Satisfied his brother had gone, Chris quickly glanced at his watch. When he saw the time he fumbled to retrieve his cell phone from his inside jacket pocket, dialed a number and returned to his office while waiting for the call to connect. “Franco… How far away are you? Andy is just leaving the building. Take your time; if he sees you here he’ll get suspicious… Okay, Sinclair will let you straight through. See you in fifteen minutes.”
He disconnected the call, sat behind his desk, and waited for his mysterious guest to arrive.
The Genesis Chamber
Chapter 5
The sun had disappeared below the horizon, sending the secluded cabin into relative darkness. Inside, the wolf placed another record on the player and listened intently as the words of Ella Fitzgerald singing “Every Time We Say Good-bye” drifted through the cabin, sending him into another trance.
Every time we say good-bye, I die a little,
Every time we say good-bye, I wonder why a little,
Why the gods above me, who must be in the know.
Think so little of me, they allow you to go.
He stood looking towards the ceiling and dared to sway in time with the music as he let his mind drift.
“No, please no!” the boy remonstrated as the man grabbed him by the upper arm and dragged him away.
“You know the rules, and you know the punishment,” the man scolded.
Before he knew it the boy was face down on a table, his naked buttocks exposed, unable to escape due to the vice-like grip on the back of his neck from the man holding him down. He screamed and pleaded for forgiveness, but to no avail. The punishment and the pain continued to the point where the boy passed out.
The wolf suddenly snapped out of his dream-like state by the sound of the needle clicking at the end of the record. Disappointed that he had missed one of his favorite songs, he pressed the replay button and continued with the ritual of preparing a meal before sitting with his guests.
The boy’s whole body trembled with fear as he sat naked from the waist up, apart from the red cape draped over his shoulders, just staring at his food. Sitting opposite was a man wearing the evil pig mask worn by previous guests.
“Come on, boy, eat your food,” pig man grunted.
The wolf glared at the pig with a feeling of utter contempt, then turned his attention to the boy. “Do you read the Bible, boy?” he asked in his thick Southern accent.
“Excuse me, sir?” the boy whimpered.
“You heard the man; do you read the Bible, boy?” Pig squealed again.
“Shut up!” the wolf snapped, clearly vexed by the pig interrupting his moment. “Eat your food.”
The pig shrugged away slightly and carried on eating.
“Do you read the Bible?” the host addressed the boy again.
“No,” he replied.
“Well, that’s the end of that conversation. Eat up,” Wolf ordered, and proceeded to consume his food in silence. When he had finally finished, he placed his knife and fork neatly on his plate, took his napkin and dabbed each corner of his mouth before throwing it back on the table, then looked between his two guests. “Let’s do this,” he growled.
There’s no love song finer
But how strange the change from major to minor
Every time we say good-bye.
***
Sometime later, the wolf watched as the lifeless body of the boy drifted into the dark, inky-black water of the swamp. Satisfied his deed had been done, he turned the rowboat towards the cabin and casually rowed.
The Genesis Chamber
Chapter 6
The next morning, Andy and Maria were sitting at their usual places in Coop’s Diner, drinking coffee and waiting for their breakfast to be delivered. Andy’s face lit up at the sight of his father exiting the kitchen with his Southwestern omelet. He didn’t hesitate; as soon as the dish hit the counter, he dug in.
“Mmm… Just like Dad used to make,” he sarcastically mumbled between mouthfuls.
“Very funny,” Coop replied, and turned his attention to Maria. “So, have you shot any Nerf gun-wielding nerds today, Detective?”
“Hilarious. Is everyone a fucking comedian today? I wonder where you heard about that?” she sniped, and glanced in her partner’s direction.
“Hey, don’t look at me.” He held his hands up as if surrendering.
His father laughed and patted her on the shoulder. “Yeah, I have two sons, remember?”
“I take it Chris had great delight in telling you about our, errr . . .” the
male detective placed two fingers under his chin mimicking, a gun, “hostage situation.”
Both father and son started to laugh at her actions. She swung her seat sideways to face Andy.
“Yeah, right, you guys keep laughing it up and I’ll shoot you right here, right now.” She swung her seat back to face the counter. “Nerf gun or not.”
Coop composed himself. “I'd love to have seen it. That guy is a bit of a weird one.” He moved forward to lean on the counter. “Tell me, did he really piss himself?”
“Like a newborn baby. Hey, he probably drew mud as well.” The broad smile on her face signaled she was joining in with the fun, and all three laughed out loud.
Andy stopped laughing and cleared his throat. “Speaking of pissing, I need to go to the bathroom.”
They both watched him disappear into the bathroom., Coop waited a few seconds then he leaned in closely.
“What did you want to talk about?” he whispered.
She quickly glanced around the diner to see if anyone was close enough to hear what she was about to tell him. “Yeah, listen. I checked with missing persons, and he’s not the only kid that’s gone missing lately.” She spoke softly.
“Really?” He sounded shocked. “Tell me more; how many?”
“There’s been eighteen kids between twelve and thirteen years old gone missing from the local area in the last two months. All male. And they’re only the ones that have been reported missing.” The volume of her voice got louder as she conveyed the information.
“Jeez, that’s a lot of kids.” He nodded towards the bathroom. “What’s Andy doing about it?”
“He told me to throw it back to missing persons.” She shook her head.
“Why?” His anger was apparent.
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