Dead Edge

by Jack Ford

  ‘Hey baby, I’ve missed you.’

  ‘Missed you too, Daddy.’

  ‘Did Grandpappy bring you, honey?’

  ‘No, Rosedale did.’

  It was like a blinding light hitting his eyes. Focus disappearing. And there it was again, the image of Maddie and Rosedale together. And now the image of his daughter playing happy families with that son-of-a-bitch.

  It cut. It stuck. The words strangled by his emotions. He just about said, ‘That’s nice, baby. Is he here?’

  ‘I sure as hell am, Thomas, how ya doin?’

  Rosedale tipped his hat. Winked at Cora. Sent Cooper into a silent rage, but he said, ‘I’ve been better. God knows I have… See you’ve got your boots on this time.’

  Granger, usually one to let folk just get on with things, felt the tension like it was a rubber band striking his face, turned the conversation back. ‘Anyway, Coop, that’s the situation. Pretty damn nothing.’

  ‘And that’s why this place was broken into and I was jumped on, was it?’

  ‘They’re separate issues.’

  ‘What about being warned off? Is that separate? Is that nothing? And you know who and what I’m talking about. I think you’re still hiding something.’

  Maddie looked from Granger to Cooper. ‘Fill me in here. Tom?’

  ‘Leave it, you hear me?’ said Granger quietly.

  ‘No, Granger, I want to know what’s going on. We’re all supposed to be a team… Tom, come on.’

  Granger growled. ‘I’m warning you, Coop, learn when to keep your mouth shut.’

  Turning his back on Granger, Cooper ignored the advice as he talked to Maddie. ‘I was warned a few days ago to back off. I can’t say by who, but Granger knows all about it, don’t you? You think they did this? That they were part of it?’

  ‘I don’t know, but I doubt it.’

  ‘But that’s not to say it couldn’t be them,’ Cooper said.

  Granger seethed and Maddie, knowing better than to push Cooper on something he didn’t want to reveal, spoke with disappointment.

  ‘Why didn’t you say about this before? Either of you? I love you, Granger, you know that, but if you don’t give us answers, I’ll join Tom in his digging and see what turns up. And for someone who values their reputation, I don’t think you’ll like it, because it’ll hardly be discreet. I’ll make sure of it. So would you care to explain what the hell is going on?’

  He didn’t. He didn’t at all. And he didn’t appreciate Maddie’s bold-ass stance either. Not one Goddamn little bit, but Granger said, ‘Okay, and this really is everything. And Maddison, you and me need a talk later… I had a call from a couple of people recently. One of them had connections with NATO. In the military commission. He basically told me we had to forget everything. The boat. The boy. Ismet. Pretend like it never happened.’

  ‘What did you say?’ Rosedale asked.

  ‘What any sensible person would do. I agreed. Because that’s exactly what we’re going to do… Forget it all. All of us.’

  ‘What about this place, and what happened to Thomas? We can’t forget that.’

  A mixture of exasperation and concern fed into Granger’s words as he answered Rosedale. ‘Look, being perfectly honest with you, I did think it was Cooper who broke in… It had all the hallmarks of him. Expertly overriding the security system. Hacking into the Turkish – albeit Qatari – file. I honestly thought it was him because he kept pushing to know more… and of course, he’s crazy.’

  Cooper said nothing. Granger continued.

  ‘But as it wasn’t him, it does get me thinking and it does worry me. And you know I’m not one to hyperbolize a situation but I do agree with Cooper – it could be somebody warning us off. I don’t know who though.’

  ‘Oh come on! You know as well as I do who’s behind this,’ Cooper said.

  ‘No, I don’t know, but I do know it’s worked. We are officially warned off. You hear me? And whether it’s the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or the Qataris, or who Cooper thinks it is, it makes no odds… I’ve deleted the file and all record of the job.’

  Maddie said, ‘Why? We might’ve needed to keep some of those details.’

  ‘No, we won’t. There are some people in this world you just don’t want to mess with. And you three better listen because otherwise, to quote Dorothy Walker, if you don’t, then you ain’t got the good sense God gave a rock. And to quote me, if you don’t, you may well be unleashing hell.’

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  Keeping his eyes on Cora playing with a number of bugs, both dead and alive, amongst the dry dusty desert ground, Cooper lit a cigarette, grateful he had his daughter to channel his energy into, rather than have to look at Rosedale who stood a foot away and had his stare locked and fixed on him. Son-of-a-bitch.

  ‘Tom, what are you thinking?’ Maddie asked.

  ‘You mean about what Granger said, or about something closer to home?’

  She sighed loud enough for Cooper to hear. ‘What Granger said, of course. All this stuff about it being a warning, though I can’t see it coming from NATO, can you?’

  ‘Why not, stranger things have happened, hey Rosedale?’

  Rosedale said nothing. Held his stare as Maddie continued to talk, as they sat by their cars in the middle of four hundred acres of wilderness. Hot desert land owned by Onyx.

  ‘It’s hardly a warning though, is it?’

  Cooper frowned from under his strawberry blonde hair. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Well whoever it was, it was less like a warning and more like they were looking for something. I know you were jumped on, Tom, but that was just circumstance. Wrong place, wrong time. It wasn’t like they were waiting for you, rather you got in their way. They were clearly looking for something… It’s the only reason they hacked into the files. But what? I mean, there isn’t anything.’

  Cooper began to rummage in his well-worn green canvas bag. ‘Apart from this.’

  Cooper held up a small, black memory stick. Maddie looked at him curiously.

  ‘I forgot all about it, what with the boy, and then with what happened between Ismet and I, and me getting sick… I’m not making excuses, I should’ve remembered…I’m sorry.’

  Snatching it out of his hands, Rosedale gave Cooper no leeway. ‘Damn right you should. I’ve said it before, but you’re becoming a Goddamn liability. Those pills have turned your brains into mush.’

  Working hard, real hard, not to get into a fight with Rosedale, Cooper focused his attention on the objective. ‘I took it from the ship. I found it just before I went into that bathroom, where I found the boy. It just slipped my mind, I swear. But this is what they must’ve been looking for at the ranch, and maybe they thought we’d uploaded it onto the computers at Onyx.’

  ‘What’s on it?’

  ‘That’s the thing. I don’t know. Like I say, I’d forgotten all about it. Rosedale’s right, it was a stupid thing for me to do, but maybe there are the answers we’re looking for on it.’

  Maddie nodded. ‘Tom, you said earlier someone warned you off. Who was it?’

  Cooper blew out his cheeks. Watched Cora with love. ‘Honey, trust me when I say, I can’t tell you… But don’t worry, I’m going to go and see that person as soon as I can… And believe me, I’ll get some answers… one way or another.’

  NEW MEXICO, USA

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  Dust from the tires drifted up and into the truck as Cooper sped over Arizona’s state line into New Mexico, heading for Texas, and from there a flight from Rick Husband Amarillo Airport.

  He needed to drive. And there was something about interstate 40, with its long-stretching roads which went on and on and on and on through the wilderness, through the cactus-filled desert past mountain ranges, where the Native Americans once roamed freely. Where man was second to nature. A place where he could get his head together. Just him and the road…

  ‘Daddy?’

  …And C
ora.

  ‘Yes, honey?’

  ‘This is fun.’

  He glanced; a smile, a grin and a nod. ‘It sure is, baby. We should do this more often.’

  They fell silent again as the warm wind blew through the ’54 Chevy, blowing hair across eyes.

  His cell on the dash began to vibrate, jumping around like a cat on a hot tin roof.

  Quickly pulling off the road and onto the dry, bumpy grassland, Cooper reached over.

  He answered, ‘Cooper.’

  ‘Mr Cooper?’

  ‘Yes?’

  The line was bad.

  ‘It’s Dr Panayiotou from the hospital… ’ He trailed off, waiting to hear the acknowledgement.

  Winking at Cora as he stepped out of the Chevy, it took Cooper a moment to realize who the caller was. ‘Yes, yes. Hey, sorry… How are you doing?’

  ‘You asked me to keep you informed about the young boy.’

  ‘Sure, that’s right. How is he?’

  ‘I’m sorry, Mr Cooper, but he died last night…

  ‘… Mr Cooper?

  ‘Mr Cooper…?’

  ‘I’m here.’

  ‘I’m sorry but he didn’t really have a chance. When he was brought in he was suffering from advanced dehydration as well as heat stroke. His brain had been starved of oxygen and his organs had already started to shut down… I am sorry.’

  ‘Yeah, so am I… Did you find out who he is?’ Cooper asked flatly.

  ‘No, but we called him Andreas. It means brave. Strong. He was a fighter, I’ll give him that. I’m surprised he made it as long as he did.’

  Another pause. Cooper held back his emotions. ‘But what about his parents? Someone must know who he is.’

  ‘Mr Cooper, this is a situation we see all the time. There are thousands upon thousands of refugees. Separated from their families, or their families having been killed. A generation of displaced people, and nobody’s really doing anything about it. This hospital is overwhelmed.’

  ‘Thank you for letting me know, Dr Panayiotou. I appreciate you taking time out.’

  ‘There was one other thing, Mr Cooper… Seemed very strange, given the circumstances, but a person came in here asking about the boy.’

  ‘What? Who?’

  ‘I’m not sure. He wouldn’t leave his name. But he was very insistent on knowing the situation.’

  ‘Do you know where he was from?’

  ‘Again, I couldn’t tell you, though he did have a very strong Middle Eastern accent if that’s any help. I’m sorry I don’t know any more.’

  ‘No, that’s fine… thank you… Dr Panayiotou, what about his funeral?’

  ‘Mr Cooper, death is all around here. This is the island of the drowned. There’s no room to bury him. He’s been despatched in a refrigerated shipping container along with dozens of other bodies to the mainland, in order to be buried in a field of unmarked graves.’

  Cooper clicked off his cell. Lit a cigarette. Walked away from the Chevy. Far enough away for Cora not to hear him cry out, nor see him drop to his knees.

  ‘No! No! Not okay! Not okay!’

  ‘Daddy? What are you doing? Are you looking for something? Are you looking for a bug?’

  Cora stood above Cooper, the sunlight behind her, obscuring his vision as he squinted up, wiping and leaving streaks of dust on his face. ‘That’s exactly what I’m doing, honey, I’m looking for a bug. Just can’t seem to find it… Come on, let’s go.’

  Cooper, stood up, dusting down his pants. Took Cora’s hand.

  Walked to the truck.

  A deep breath. Turned on the ignition.

  ‘Daddy, you weren’t really looking for a bug were you? You were crying.’

  Cooper glanced at his daughter as she sat on the sun-faded leather seats of the Chevy.

  ‘Cora, I love you.’

  ‘I know.’

  ‘Do you? Do you really?’

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘Well then that’s all that matters.’

  Clutch in. Clutch out. Foot down. Dust under tires… And almost a smile.

  WASHINGTON, D.C.

  USA

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  ‘It’s great you brought Cora… I really appreciate that, Coop. Shame I can’t stay longer but I’ve only got a window of ten. But it’s great to see you. Both of you. Especially considering how we parted last time.’

  ‘You bastard.’

  ‘Excuse me?’

  ‘Oh you heard alright, but if you want me to repeat it, I will… You bastard.’

  Woods gestured his hands in the air as they stood in the middle of one of the newly yellow-painted master bedrooms of the Executive Residence of the White House. Walked up to Cooper. Right up. His face hard. Matching his stare. ‘What the hell are you talking about?’

  ‘I’m talking about what you did. But if you think for a minute you’ve warned me off, think again, John. I don’t scare that easily. I’m only just beginning.’

  Woods exhaled heavily. Flared his nostrils. Rubbed his chin as if wiping a drop of Lobster bisque off.

  ‘What did you think I was going to do, John? Me of all people. You should know me well enough to realize that I wasn’t going to take it lying down. Wasn’t a warning enough? You had to send someone to my house…’

  Woods interrupted. Quickly. Hell on leather. ‘Hold on there. Hold on right there. I have no idea what you’re talking about.’

  ‘Bullshit.’

  Anger sat on Woods’ face. Sitting tightly in every muscle. ‘What the hell do you think of me? Yes, I warned you and Granger off, but you don’t understand.’

  ‘What part don’t I understand? I know they’re Qatari.’

  ‘He told you?’

  ‘Yeah, he told me. Was this another one of the little secrets you love to have?’

  ‘Don’t be a jackass, Coop. I didn’t think Granger was going to tell you, that’s all. What else did he say?’

  ‘Oh he didn’t, which is why you’d better start talking.’

  ‘I don’t like your tone, Coop. Rein it in.’

  ‘You’re not supposed to like it, John. And as for reining it in, go to hell.’

  ‘Watch your mouth and think about who you’re talking to.’

  ‘What? Are you going to start pulling rank on me now, John? Going to call for protection to have me removed? Look around you. There’s no secret servicemen up here.’

  Woods clenched his teeth. Worked hard not to clench his fist as well. ‘I don’t mean it like that, but show a bit of respect.’

  Curling his mouth up in disgust, Cooper said, ‘You want respect? Then you earn it and you earn it by telling me exactly who it was who attacked me.’

  ‘What?’

  Slightly thrown by what looked like genuine surprise on Woods’ face, Cooper quickly focused on what he’d come to say. ‘Or wasn’t that part of the plan? Were they just supposed to come in and out?’

  Matter of factly, firmly, whatever it took to get through, Woods shook his head. ‘Coop, listen. This is nothing to do with me.’

  ‘Stop lying!’

  ‘You’re acting real crazy, Coop. You really need to calm down.’

  Woods watched Cooper beginning to pace. Observed the sweat running down his face. The agitated demeanor. The hurried movements. The darting eyes. ‘Are you high, Coop? Is that what this is all about?’

  Cooper spun round. Voice loud. Angry frustration. ‘High? Is that what you put everything down to? Well, sadly for you John, I’m not… Now, I’m going to ask you again. Start telling me what this is all about.’

  ‘Coop…’

  ‘The boy from the ship’s dead, but then you probably knew that already. Going to bury him in an unmarked grave.’

  ‘What? Please, Coop. I’m struggling to follow you. Help me out here.’

  Like an exothermic reaction, Cooper exploded into a hot ball of anger. ‘Help you? You want me to help you after everything you’ve done? All I want are answers, John. I just want to k
now the truth.’

  Tired and short tempered already, it was Woods’ turn to blow up. ‘Truth? You want to talk about the truth? You have the audacity to talk about truth?’

  ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

  ‘The game’s up, Coop. Enough! We know you wrote the anonymous letters.’

  ‘What?’

  Woods grabbed hold of Cooper’s jacket. ‘Oh now it’s what, is it? All this time you made me think someone else knew about the accident. I was so worried I couldn’t sleep at night. I thought any moment I’d have to tell the American people what I’d done. About the pact we’d made together. I’d have to expose all the lies we told. And do you know what that would’ve meant? It would’ve meant all the changes and all the policies and all the hard work I’d done for this country and fought for would mean nothing. Jack shit. Oh, and not to mention Jackson. What would’ve happened to him? The guilt he would’ve felt if I’d stepped down. God, I don’t even want to think about it. But then all that doesn’t matter now, does it? Because all along it was you.’

  Cooper barged Woods into the chest of drawers. Knocked him sideward. Wanted to put his hands round John’s neck – somehow didn’t. ‘Me? I wrote the letters? You’ve lost your mind. I was the one who covered up for Jackson. Made sure he was in the clear. I lost everything. Me. Yet you have the balls to think I wrote those letters.’

  Woods spat his words. ‘Maybe you couldn’t handle it, was that it? Tired of everybody pointing the finger at you? Were you sick of the blame, Coop?’

  Cooper pointed to himself. ‘I blamed me, John. Every second of every moment. I can taste it in my mouth, at the back of my throat. But does that mean I wrote the letters? Like hell.’

  ‘Your prints were on the letter.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Your prints. Beau took the latest letter to someone he knew. Someone discreet. Mine. His and yours.’

  Cooper’s face crumpled up into a snarl. ‘So what did you do? Get Beau to take along something of mine with my fingerprints on? Because I’m telling you right now, they’re wrong.’

  ‘Of course not, because no-one ever thought it was you. But your prints cross-matched when they did a search. Came up from your stored prints on the military database…’