I brewed yet another mug of Grey tea and went back to organizing the names I'd gotten from the seminar. I'd decided to send out actual messages, with enclosures and samples. The way I felt I wasn't up to direct personal links, and besides, that would have been pushing too much. Better to send the messages and then follow up in a week or two. That assumed I'd be free to follow up, but I hadn't heard anything from the Safety Office, one way or the other, and no one had showed up at my door.
I did check my depleting accounts, and was surprised to find that the honorarium from AKRA for the seminar had already been deposited. So had two weeks "rent" from Paula. Both would help, but I worried that Paula couldn't afford the rent yet. I'd told her not to start until the first of February.
Whether she'd been fast-force-raised as a cydroid or not, she clearly had a mind of her own, and some definite opinions, if quietly expressed.
I hoped I'd find out what they were, in time, and that my brains would be in a good enough state that I could appreciate whatever they were.
With a faint smile at that thought, I took a sip of the tea.
Chapter 99
Tuesday began like Monday—exercise, breakfast, cleanup, children to school. I stopped to top off the Jacara's fuel cells, and no one at the upscale fuel center looked strangely at me. In fact, they ignored me, which was fine. I got back to the house a little past nine and settled into Dierk's office with a mug of hot Grey tea.
Once there, I forced myself to concentrate on the text of my follow-up message to all those I'd met at the AKRA seminar. I'd gone through two drafts, trying to keep my mind on the words, when the gatekeeper chimed.
Sergeant Jacob Ohly, Denv Safety Office.
I stiffened, then took a deep breath, and pasted a polite smile on my face. Accept.
According to his projected image, Ohly was a wiry man, a good ten centimeters shorter than I was, I judged, with short-cut brown hair, and soulful black eyes at variance with his hard appearance. "Dr. Jonat deVrai?"
"Yes?" I tried not to sound wary, and my voice came out sounding tired.
"Sergeant Ohly, Denv Safety Office. The Office thought you ought to know. It's not regular, but nothing about this case has been regular, and you and your family have been through a great deal. Captain Sudro felt you should know."
Should know what? "I appreciate the concern ... but I have to say that I'm a little in the dark, Sergeant."
Ohly laughed. "That you would be. Officer Bastien talked to you on Friday. Wasn't that right?"
"He did."
"I've seen the record, and he was pretty tough on you."
Was Ohly trying to play the good safo? I nodded. "I'm certain he was only trying to do his job."
"He was. You see, this bombing, there was a report and a record that the bomber looked like you, sir. But it wasn't you. We've had it confirmed now."
For a moment, I was totally confused. Then ... then, I understood, and I wondered why I hadn't before. "I said it wasn't, but... ?"
"Those cydroids ... you remember the ones that looked like you?"
"There was another one?"
"Yes, sir. It was a setup, like what they tried with your family. I don't mean to bring up bad memories, but someone knew you'd be in the building, and they timed it just right. You were meant to be left holding the bag, sir, except the DNA evidence confirmed it wasn't you, but one of the cydroids. Anyway, we'd appreciate it if you'd keep this quiet for a little bit. The captain is going to be making a statement in a few minutes, but we didn't want you to be taken off-guard."
"Thank you, Sergeant. And thank the captain for me." I didn't have to counterfeit the relief or appreciation.
"That's our job, sir." Ohly smiled. "Glad to do it, Colonel." Then he was gone.
I hadn't known Ohly, not in the Marines, but you never knew where people found out things. I was glad he felt that way, though.
I also knew why Minerva hadn't told me. She wanted the surprise and relief to be real. She probably worried.
Minerva ... I just got a link from the Denv Safety Office.
I had calculated that they might contact you, but the probabilities were not absolute.
Thank you.
It balances, Jonat. I could not help you at other times, even though you asked for and deserved that help. If I could have helped then, your later actions would not have been necessary. You will still bear a greater burden, but that could not be helped. There was a laugh, almost bitter. We may still have to balance matters in the future.
I didn't even want to think about that at the moment. Will you tell Paula? I don't want to interrupt her on duty.
No. You can link her through me.
I supposed Minerva was right. Paula? It's Jonat.
Are you all right?
Sergeant Ohly just linked. They've concluded that a rogue cydroid programmed by Deng was responsible for the bombings. The taggants and the DNA evidence clinched it. Captain Sudro will be making an announcement sometime soon.
I'm glad for you. How do you feel?
Relieved. Sorry. Guilty. Glad that there's a chance to go on. How are you doing? I've thought about you a lot...
I know. It helps.
You help. Even Charis said you were nice.
She laughed. I've got a screen problem. I have to go.
Take care of yourself.
I didn't have much more to say to Minerva, and I could only hope that everything would work out... somehow.
I kept All-News on, waiting, wondering exactly what Captain Sudro might say. At ten-twenty, the story hit, and I stopped working on my contact message and just watched and listened.
The Denv Safety Office has announced that the ulta-ex explosion last Thursday, which killed four high-level executives from noted multis, has been traced to Industrial Security Systems. The explosion was apparently triggered by an illegal cydroid created in a hidden ISS laboratory at the Rocky Flats facility. The ulta-ex used in the explosion contained ISS taggants, and the identity of the cydroid setting off the blast that destroyed the room and all occupants has been verified by GIL and intensive DNA testing ... That DNA confirms that ISS not only operated an illegal and unregistered cydroid operation, but that those cydroids were implicated in the murders of Everett Forster, Aliora deVrai, Dierk VanOkar, and those killed in the explosion at the Centre for Societal Research ... as well as in the attempted murders of Jonat deVrai and Tan Uy-Smythe...
ISS spokesperson Gillian Jorgensen released a statement from the multi that placed all blame on former Director General Tam Lin Deng. ISS claims that the last explosion was the act of a renegade cydroid created under a secret program conducted personally by Director Deng. "ISS will open all facilities and records for DomSec investigation..." Jorgensen expressed regrets that the ISS board had not been able to discover Deng's program in time to avert the tragedies, but pledged full cooperation with DomSec and the Denv Safety Office...
Senator Juan Carlisimo announced plans to introduce legislation prohibiting all use of cydroids. "Cydroids represent the most harmful fusion of man and machine ... the worst of both, rather than the best..." Early indications are that Carlisimo's bill will enjoy wide support in both the Senate and the House.
I did notice that the Kemal-related deaths had been conveniently ignored, and that ISS had to have been tipped off even earlier than I had. Otherwise, they couldn't have had a prepared statement ready so soon. There were also more than a few loose ends, such as the use of the cydroids to infiltrate communications, but I had my doubts as to whether they'd ever get tied up. That was life. There were always loose ends, but this time I really didn't care, just so long as the children, Minerva, Paula, and I didn't get tangled in them.
Chapter 100
Needless to say, I was feeling much better by noon, and I finished the contact text for prospective clients, and sent out almost two dozen messages. They couldn't hurt, and they might even result in more business.
At ten past one, the gatekeeper chimed once more, Stacia M
ydra, Associate Director General of Sante.
What did she want with me? I set the system to record, even before I signaled, Accept.
The image of a slender and dark-haired woman appeared before me, smiling politely, even warmly. I didn't trust the expression, but waited.
"Dr. deVrai." She paused ever so slightly. "I had wished to link with you earlier, but I was somewhat distracted by events."
"From what I've seen in the news, I can understand why, Director Mydra. I'm not so certain that I wouldn't have been equally distracted if you had reached me. It was very disconcerting to discover that another clone of me had been used in such a ... such a cold-blooded set of murders."
"Yes. They were very cold-blooded. Efficiently so, and very regrettable. I don't think Director Deng ever understood the ramifications of what he had started. Putting a trained professional killer, like that cydroid, into a situation where there is nothing to lose can create great tragedy. While we will mourn what has happened, life must go on, regrettably." After another pause, she smiled again. "Your work for and at the Centre for Societal Research was truly brilliant. Sante would like to employ that brilliance. It would be a shame if we did not enlist that expertise to work for us, especially after all you've been through and all that has happened. I hope you would consider doing so."
"You are most kind, Director Mydra. My consulting services are always available, but I will counsel you that I've been known to be very direct in my advice. I'm not a political consultant, but one who looks for the most effective solution for his clients. My operation is very low-key, but far wider than most people realize. I would be more than happy to provide my economic and media expertise to you and to Sante on mutually agreeable terms."
"Of course. I am not the economic and media director. That is Jason Podarak. If that is acceptable to you, he'll be in touch with you. If you have any problems or concerns, please don't hesitate to let me know immediately."
"Director Mydra, given your spirit of cooperation, I doubt that there will be any problems, but in the most unlikely event that there are, you will be the first to find out."
Her eyes flickered ever so slightly.
"You are as direct as you say, but that can be an advantage to us both. There are less likely to be misunderstandings that way."
"I'd certainly prefer it." I smiled politely. "I do enjoy doing the best economic and media consulting possible, and that is what I'd like to do for you and Sante."
"That is what we would like you to do. Jason, then, will be in touch with you. That will most likely be tomorrow, after I've had a chance to brief him."
"I'll be looking forward to his link."
The projection vanished.
For a time, I just sat there.
We'd exchanged messages on two levels, and I was fairly certain we had an agreement on both. What had come through was that Mydra hadn't wanted trouble ... or maybe she had. Had she avoided attending that board meeting in person on purpose? Had she had some insight and personal agenda? I doubted that I'd ever know that for certain.
I wanted to share that with Paula—and Minerva—but at the same time, and I didn't want Paula to be distracted by her safo duties ... or rushed. So I went back to considering what else I could do to boost my consulting.
I didn't have to wait long.
At two-fifty, I got a link from Reya Decostas.
"Jonat, I've been meaning to get back in touch with you, but January is slow, and I took some time off..."
I wondered about that, but just nodded.
"... and I was talking to Chelsa Glynn, and she'd said that you had done a marvelous presentation at her seminar."
"I enjoyed doing it."
"That business at the Centre for Societal Research ... that must have been an awful strain on you. Twice, was it, that cydroids impersonated you?"
"ISS stole my DNA almost two years ago. I'd reported it when it happened, but until this came up, the safos never could figure out who had done it..." I shrugged.
"It's so good that it's all been cleared up. I actually have two assignments for you, if you're interested..."
"I'm always interested in consulting, Reya." I gave her a broad smile.
After she left me, with more work than I'd had in months, and a friendly smile, I sat back. Just like that... it was over. I could sense and feel that. Some of the details I'd never know, such as how Deng had shifted cydroids to try to help Vorhees, or whether the cydroids had ever infiltrated secure comm lines. That was life, and something I'd learned years before in the Marines. You never learned everything, no matter how hard you tried, and there were times not to try. That was wisdom, too, knowing when to try and when not to. Now was a time not to, because it wouldn't accomplish anything.
Even before I left to pick up the children, I'd heard from Methroy and Bruce Fuller. There was no doubt that I'd hear from more people. I just wondered how long it would be before Eric Wong linked, with a referral from one of his members. What had happened left no doubt in my mind, not that I'd had much before, but this reinforced the point, that certain parts of the world were very small indeed.
Charis and Alan were among the last out of the building, but that didn't bother me. I was just glad to see them. I waited until we got back to the house before I said anything. Then I sat them down in the kitchen.
"You look serious, Uncle Jonat. Did we do something wrong?" Charis asked.
"No. You two didn't do anything wrong, nothing at all, but I need to explain something to you before anyone else tells you."
"Is it bad?" asked Alan.
"It's not bad, now, but it's about something bad that happened. There was an explosion last Thursday at the Centre for Societal Research, and some people were killed."
"I heard about that at school," Charis said. "Why are you telling us?"
"Because the head of the Denv Safety Office announced this morning that one of the men killed in the explosion had been the one who ordered the murder of your parents and who tried to kill me." I paused. "He had cydroids—you know what those are, don't you?"
"They're like clones, sort of, but people can control them or program them," Charis said.
"That's right. Well, this man—his name was Deng—had cydroids made up that looked like me, except they weren't exactly like me, and these cydroids killed some people, and one of them was one of those that killed your parents, and another tried to kill me. The last one killed this man, because something went wrong with his plans ... but a lot of people died because of what he did."
"He was evil." Alan drew out the last word.
"Very evil, but I wanted you two to know that the safos did discover who was behind all of this."
Alan nodded. He'd heard enough.
"Does that mean you won't have to worry as much about us and about you?" asked Charis.
"I'll probably always worry about you two. Uncles and parents do. But I won't worry quite as much."
"Does that mean you won't see Paula anymore?" asked Alan. "You wouldn't need a safo friend as much."
"It means he can see her more," Charis said. She looked at me. "If he wants to."
What could I say to that, with both of them looking at me?
"We don't know each other very well. I would like to get to know her better."
"If you taught her football," Alan said, "we could play two on two."
Charis rolled her eyes, in that superior manner I would need to watch.
"We'll have to see." I cleared my throat. "Now ... you have a little while before homework, and before Charis has to practice."
"My turn at choosing." Alan was out of the kitchen at a run.
Charis did not follow. She looked at me.
"Yes, Charis?"
"You loved Mother, didn't you, Uncle Jonat?"
"Yes. I miss her every day."
Abruptly, she threw her arms around me. "I miss her so much." She began to sob. "I miss her..."
I held her, patting her back, wondering what I could say. Fi
nally, I murmured, "It's all right to miss her. It's all right..."
"I miss her and Father..."
"It's all right..."
"You won't go away, will you?"
"I'm here, Charis."
In time, she stepped back, and I handed her a tissue to blot her face. She didn't quite look at me. "I don't want to watch the netlink."
"You don't have to."
"Can I stay here while you fix dinner?"
I decided against insisting that she practice. "Would you like to help?"
She nodded.
So we had the old NorAm staple for children, macaroni and cheese with fried apples, and Alan ate every last apple section on his plate.
Even though I also wanted to share all the news with Paula, she was still at work, and I had to wait until after seven, while the children were bathing, before I could reach her by link. I wanted to see her image, not just hear projected words.
"How are you doing?" She was still in uniform.
"Better, I think. And you?"
"The same. Captain Sudro is a lot like Lieutenant Meara was. He's already made a few changes."
"I received a link from what looks to be a new client. I thought you'd like to see it. It could be very profitable, and it might smooth things out a great deal. I'm going to send a copy of it, and I'd really like you to see it. I'll just hold here while you do, if that's all right."
Her brows wrinkled, for just a moment. "All right."
She accepted the transmission and watched and listened.
I waited.
When it was over, she looked at me, with a smile, a slightly sad one. "You seem to have a new client."
"It does look that way."
Minerva? Can you link me to Paula? I didn't want what I said next recorded anywhere.
Yes, Jonat.
Paula?
Can you trust her?
Flash Page 45