The iFactor

by R. W. Van Sant

  “I was just saying it’s an important fact.” Rishards said dully.

  “I’m sorry.” Matt told her. “We’re all a little short.”

  “Okay” Taylor agreed. “Y is Y. What about A? Why did the killer choose a different way to kill each victim?”

  “Creativity?” Perry offered.

  “Time?” Rishards added.

  “Maybe both.” Matt added. “Doc, is it possible for a killer of this type to plan multiple ways of killing? I mean really give it thought, plan them out in advance.”

  “Please use my correct title,” she admonished. “Yes, I suppose it is. More difficult, but I think it could be possible.”

  “Then all that would be necessary is for a person to stumble into the wrong place, at the right time. The killer would know how much time they have and choose their methods to match time and place.”

  “But how could they know how much time they have?” Rishards protested.

  “I don’t know. Maybe you’re right, maybe there are segments of the population that can feel the black-outs, people who for some reason are sensitive to the flares. If they can feel them then maybe the intensity of the flare can determine how long they have.” Matt was getting frustrated with her inability to grasp the concept. “But is there any doubt that somehow the killer knows?”

  Everyone in the room sat silently, and a couple heads bobbed in the affirmative.

  “Then we are asking the wrong questions.” Perry offered.

  “We don’t need to find a link in victims, it’s random. Location and time is based on best time and place during a black-out, method is predetermined by the killer based on how long the blackout will last.” Matt summarized. “Assuming all this to be true, what are the new questions?”

  “Who keeps a file cabinet of murder plans?” Perry asked. “Is there any way to find out about the black-outs apart from being told by the colonial government? I mean there are other signs, such as producing radio static.”

  “Now that is a good question.” Matt sat up. “Can you look into that? It’s still just window dressing.”

  “Sure thing,” Perry volunteered. “Just as soon as we get out of here.”

  “Is it possible to run a search of anyone who might have been wandering around the murder locations days or even weeks prior to the events?” Matt asked.

  “Possible, but getting the warrant won’t be easy. “Rishards remarked.

  “I bet it’s a lot easier to get today, than it would have been yesterday.” Taylor added.

  “Doctor?” Rishards returned.

  “You will learn that those with the authority move much quicker and more decisively, when it is their families in danger.” The doctor replied.

  “That’s cynical.” Rishards told her.

  “But most likely true.” Matt said. “Request the warrant and let’s see what happens.”

  “Okay,” Rishards stood up. “Chief says you have good hunches, we’ll try this. I just had a thought. What if our killer was operating on a hunch?”

  “What?” the thought stunned him.

  “You said that hunches were just your brain processing unconscious clues into something the mind can use.”

  “Yeah?”

  “What if all of this is right.” She continued. “What if the person has some way of detecting a black-out, they see the traffic, have a few good ways to kill someone publically and just have really good hunches about when and how to do it?”

  “That theory could also explain why they targeted the good detective here.” The doctor mused. “I mean, even I have heard about your extraordinary hunches, Dales. If Rishards theories were correct then you would be the only opponent worth defeating.

  “A psychic murderer?” Perry earned a dark look from Rishards.

  “I’m not psychic.” Matt said. Still, he couldn’t help but think what if the killer had dreams such as his. His blood ran cold. “Is it possible to get a list of anyone who has demonstrated that kind of potential?”

  “Maybe, we can search the medical records. They might show up as psychological symptoms.” Rishards added. “Okay, let’s get on all this. Matt, do let us know if you have a hunch.”

  “This time tomorrow?” The doctor asked.

  “If we haven’t caught them by then.” Perry said.

  “In that case I really hope we don’t have to meet.” Matt said as the others left the room. “I really hope not.”

  “Amen.” Rishards walked out, leaving Matt alone watching the door. He turned off the displays and stared at the blank screen.

  Chapter 38

  Jill was at the mall, waiting for him at Say Soy. She looked a little tired, but she was still alive and, for the moment, that made Matt’s heart leap. He conjectured that shopping could be arduous, especially when someone was forced to do it for ten hours straight. He was loath to tell her that their date had to be delayed. He waited until they were halfway to the office and there wasn’t anyone around to inform her of his compulsory psychiatric session.

  “I have to meet up with someone back at the station first, it shouldn’t take long.” Matt responded.

  “It’s not your fault,” she said. “How about after your meeting we go to my place, I’ll cook you dinner. Any chance you can miss the appointment?” “No, it would be my job,” He said. “And I need to get a refill of my PTSD pills.”

  “Why?” she asked.

  “Why?”

  “Yes,” she looked at him intently. “What would happen if you didn’t take the pills?”

  “You saw for yourself,” Matt turned away.” I almost hurt you.”

  “No you didn’t, unless I was in danger of being sheltered to death.” She replied. “And I think that the event itself indicates that the pills are not working very well to begin with.”

  “I’ll talk to the doctor about a better prescription. I think I’ll be all right when everything settles down. There’s just been too much going on. Too much stress.”

  “And you think that will get better do you?”

  “Once we catch this guy.” he started.

  “Then it will just be another situation that causes you stress. Wouldn’t it just be better to learn to deal with stress without the drugs?” She said. “I mean if you are suppressing a memory, that’s supposed to be bad for you, right. Shouldn’t you be trying to remember?”

  “You want me to become a screamer?” Matt objected.

  “I don’t think that would happen. From what you said last night, you’ve been having memories all along, just spread out over time and breaking out in your dreams instead of all at once.”

  “I don’t think that will make a difference.”

  “Sure it would,” she said. “You’ve been building up immunity, allowing your brain to create new pathways to handle the information.”

  “You think?”

  “Sure there is every reason to believe you wouldn’t become a screamer, just catatonic,” she laughed.

  “Yes, I can see were that would be an improvement. We’re here. I want you to wait in the waiting room for me, don’t go anywhere.”

  Jill ran her hand across her chest twice. I promise. You should see if the doctor can give you something for overprotection compulsion.”

  “I’ll ask.” They walked inside.

  “Do you think it’s wise to get into a relationship at this stage of your recovery?” the psychiatrist probed.

  “It isn’t something that I have been pursuing.” Matt said. “It’s just kind of happening.”

  “That is why you brought her here?”

  “I brought her here because there is reason to believe that she might be in danger.” Matt responded.

  “Shouldn’t she be in protective custody?” his doctor asked.

  “There isn’t enough evidence yet, so I’m keeping an eye on her in my spare time.”

  “Are you sure that you are not allowing your fears to control you?”

  Matt thought it over. Okay, yes, he was letting his fe
ars control him. He was afraid of losing Jill. He was afraid the monster would get to her and he would be unable to protect her. He was afraid that he might really be psychic and that his dreams would once again come true, most of all he was afraid to say any of this to anyone let alone a psychiatrist who had the authority to lock him away or take away his badge just when he needed it most. “Just doing my job doc.”

  “Just keep in mind that relationships are difficult. At this stage of your recovery, you are hardly a stable relationship partner.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind, Doc.” He gave it a few minutes of serious thought. Perhaps he was correct. He had accurately predicted the outcome of the last several relationships he had been in, temporary thought they were. Matt didn’t want to think of hurting Jill the way he had the others. She was different though, he knew it. He could sense it. No one before her could have understood or accepted what he had become. That was why he couldn’t let harm come to her, even if it meant leaving her so he couldn’t bring harm to her himself. Once this whole situation was over, he’d deal with that contingency, for now she had to be protected. There was no one on Sirius who could do that better than he could. “So far we just like each other. Nothing else.”

  “Just be sure you are ready for a relationship again, take your time. There really is no rush. If she’s the girl you think she is, she’ll wait. But for now, it is my professional opinion that a relationship could hamper your recovery.”

  “I’ll keep it in mind.” When Matt left the session, he did not leave with the peace of mind he’d hoped. He did however, have the new prescription in pocket. Jill’s smiling dimples greeted him. Oh Doc, Matt thought. You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.

  Chapter 39

  Hand in hand, they walked back to the colonial security office, stopping only for a quick shopping run to get the food Jill promised to cook for him. It had been a very long time since he’d had any food not of his own concocting, or from a cafeteria or restaurant.

  The walk from the psychiatrist’s office was uneventful, almost relaxing. Matt tried to keep his guard up, but he took one of his new pills as they left the office and between Jill’s calming effect and the sedative, he was too relaxed to be jumpy.

  Matt walked up to the intake officer. “I’m off duty, but I’m here to see Officer Perry. Can you let him know I’m here?”

  “He’s not in at the moment.” The officer responded. “You and he are friends right?”

  “Not very good friends, I just met him.”

  “Well if you see him, tell him chief is on the warpath. He doesn’t like his officers to disappear in the middle of his shift. He’s not even answering his com. Tell me the truth, he’s got a girl right?”

  “Honestly, I have no idea, but he was supposed to be here, he wanted a favor from me.”

  “I don’t know what to tell you, Dales, no one has seen him in a couple hours.”

  An alarm started ringing, echoing throughout the station. “What’s up?”

  “I haven’t got a clue.”

  Matt headed down the hallway toward the main lounge to find out what was up. The faces of his fellow officers showed only stunned silence. They were all trained to recognize the alarm, but it had never gone off. The alert screen read “officer down.” No one had ever attacked an officer on Sirius.

  Matt ran into the conference room. “Computer, report on Officer Down Alert.” The screen lit up with a split screen, the left half contained a map of the city, and the right half had the file of Officer Perry. Matt watched as the bio-readout went from “critical” to “deceased.”

  Matt slumped into the chair. He liked Perry, he trusted Perry.

  Vanderhaar stalked down the hall, his jaw tense and brows furrowed. “Okay, everyone to your stations. There will be an announcement shortly. Dales, why are you here?”

  “Perry wanted to talk to me about something, I think it might have been about our mystery man in the park. I think he found out something and maybe it got him killed.”

  “Let’s not go jumping to conclusions. We will find out what happened, then we will make an announcement.”

  “Okay, Chief.”

  “Dales, did you see the psychiatrist?”

  “I just came from there.”

  “I want you to go home and rest. You look like you need it. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “But, chief—“

  “Dales!” the chief barked, “I will let you know, see you in the morning.”

  “Yes, chief.”

  Vanderhaar headed off down the hall, continuing to order the officers back to their post as Matt headed back to the lobby.

  “What’s going on?” Jill came up behind him. “You just abandoned me in the lobby.”

  “I’m sorry, Jill.”

  “What’s that?” She pointed to the board behind him. Next to Perry’s image, a message appeared as a general announcement to the colony. “I’m sorry!”

  “Let’s get out of here.” Matt panicked. It was him, he’d gotten to Perry. The vision of Vanderhaar holding Jill’s bloody chip filled his mind. He grabbed her hand and headed directly toward the door, intending to get Jill out of the station. He wasn’t sure what was going on, but he desperately needed time to think things over. Jill was silent until they were several yards away from the building.

  “What’s up?”

  “An officer was killed.”

  “I’m so sorry, did you know him?’

  “Yeah. He was the one I was going there to meet.”

  “I don’t get it.”

  “I think he had some information for me.” Matt couldn’t believe that the killer had gotten to him before he could tell him about what he’d learned. Was it possible that the executive he’d been following was the killer?

  “Are you in danger now?” she asked.

  “I think I’ve been in danger since I got to this rock.”

  Matt strode with resolution, regarding their surroundings intently, until they reached her apartment. They walked up three flights of stairs. Matt was pleased to discover that she merited a good security system. It wasn’t as secure as his was, but it was good enough to stop all but the most tenacious and imaginative of intruders. Her apartment was a little small, still much larger than the one that belonged to Kossman.

  The living room was tidy, with book and nick knack shelves lining the walls. The majority of the books bundled on the shelves were of the type you’d expect to find on a teachers bookshelf, children’s stories, history, and science with a healthy smattering of fiction and romance novels. The knick-knacks that separated the clusters were all, without exception, crude and handmade. Matt assumed they were gifts from her students. He hesitated at the doorway as he scanned to find another exit out. He didn’t like the thought of her not having a second escape route. No, that wasn’t entirely the truth. He didn’t like going into a room without having another way out.

  “Sorry,’ Jill said as she set the grocery bag on the table.” I don’t have a balcony, but I do have a great view.”

  “Good.” Matt was relieved they could not be watched and one less method of entry meant one less to guard.

  Jill went over and opened a large window overlooking the park. Matt could see the fire escape outside the window even from the door. Feeling relieved, he moved over to the window and progressed to inspect the locking apparatuses. It was constructed well and the locks looked solid. He closed the curtains. “Keep this locked. Someone could climb up this way.”

  “Well the apartment has a good alarm system, so you guys at the station will be the first to know if someone tries.” She laughed. “Sit down and relax, while I fix us something.”

  Matt found a comfortable chair that faced the front door. He adjusted his gun accordingly.

  “So,” Jill’s voice greeted his ears. “Do you want to talk?”

  Was that a loaded question? “A friend of mine died.” He wasn’t sure how much to tell her. Was it better to leave her in the dark? Or
let her know exactly what was going on, or at least as much of it as he could without revealing colonial secrets. No, he started being completely honest, he would continue. If he held back information and it cost her life, he couldn’t live with himself.

  “Matthew” her voice was soft and sympathetic. “What happened?”

  “I don’t know.” If the news hadn’t broken yet, it would soon. “I want to tell you something.”

  “Okay.” She said as he felt her hand on his shoulder. He was surprised the abrupt unforeseen touch didn’t send him into a terror.

  “You have to promise me, you won’t tell anyone until the news breaks. I could be in big trouble if you do.”

  “Lose your job?”

  “Going-to-jail type of trouble.”

  “Then don’t tell me.” She said. “I’ll tell you. There is someone out there killing people and for some reason the impossible to beat colonial security system has failed and, now with your friend, there are three people dead.”

  “More.” he said quietly.

  “More,” she said and sat down. “Shit.”

  “The officer who died, you knew him.”

  “Was he the guy you were with at the restaurant?”

  “Yeah, he was the one I was going to meet with. He had some information for me about a smuggler. He might have been killed for that information.”

  “Oh, god. Promise me you’ll be careful. A Fantasia smuggler?”

  “You’re a good guesser.”

  “Yeah, I’m psychic.”

  “Don’t let the Trust find you.”

  “What?” she sounded surprised.

  “It’s something Vanderhaar has been warning me about, every time I have a good hunch. He says that the Trust will disappear me.”

  “Matt,” she looked into his eyes. “What do you know about the Trust?”

  “A conspiracy fantasy, a myth. They are just stories about a shadow government organization that kidnaps people with psychic ability and uses them for their own nefarious ends.” Matt started laughing. “Governmental or corporate boogie men.”