Part 4 (1/2)

s took a deep breath, suddenly conscious of the Fheavily. at he was sweating urzak looked surprised; Roads' outburst had startled him, too. ”What exactly are you driving er Roads?” at it's not me, you son Of a b.i.t.c.h. I'm not the nyone.” or the a.s.sa.s.sin, and I'm not protecting a t Wiggs might be.” his head e's not. Jesus. Roads felt like banging steering wheel. ”We're just trying to do our jobs.” nd no-one's stopping you.” The liaison officer ned the fine work red away. ”No-one's questio :@ve done for RSD over the years. That's not the issue What is at stake is this case, at this moment, and we're going to solve it.

Given that it's not a simple unit, and that there's no keeping politics out Of it, have to consider every possibility.oads bristled at the 'we', but kept his mouth in little longer, DeKurzak. k this time. ,Just give me a n't believe in the uncatchable thief. ter of fact. ”Neither do 1, as a mat DeKurzak smiled.

we've only got three days left before General Ut dman arrives.”

appeared, and @,-,',The turn-off for Old North Street Ak, ”

ful for the toads swung the wheel to follow it, grate the scene of the break-in approached, istraction. As urzak broke the brief, tense silence. ”I'm only doing my job, too, Phil.

Remember that, [email protected] our relations.h.i.+p will be a little less strained.”

”Vith daylight had come the spectators. A couple of 31-dozen had settled in shaded doorways and windows for 64the morning, curious to see what had happened. Most were young parents with small children in tow, looking for entertainment. Although loitering was technically illegal, being a waste of human resources, none of the attending officers bothered to move the crowd along.

Barney was asleep in the van, stretched across the rear seat with her coat bunched up against the window, acting as a pillow. He felt like a b.a.s.t.a.r.d for waking her. ”What -?” She opened her eyes and rubbed her forehead. ” Oh, it's you.” ”Sleeping on the job?” ”Yes and no. HQ sent Ras.h.i.+d to relieve me not long after you left, but I thought I'd wait for you to come back.” She glanced at her watch. ”I only lay down ten minutes ago.” ”This fanatical devotion to duty will get you places.” ”That's a relief.” She struggled upright and tugged at her clothes. The rear of the car was suffocatingly hot and her uniform damp with sweat as a result. ”Are we going now?” ”Not yet. We have a visitor.”

”Who?” ”The MSA have sent someone to watch over our shoulder. He's standing just over there and answers to the name 'DeKurzak'. ”Watch us why?”

Roads filled her in on the meeting that morning, content to let the MSA liaison officer wait a few minutes longer. By the time he finished, Barney had recovered a semblance of alertness. ”So they're giving us a deadline?” ”Seems that way.” ”b.a.s.t.a.r.ds.” She groaned as he helped her out of the van. ”Okay, I guess I'm ready. As if I haven't already done enough for one day.”

presume you went through this lot for eye- ” Roads said, indicating the crowd with a nod.

h, not a one. Door-knocked, too.” Barney raised 'd to point. ”This is 114, right? One hundred and 113 and 115 are empty offices, haven't had for at least ten years and haven't been converted commodation because no-one really wants to live -this area. One hundred and twelve and 116 are antable, but unoccupied. City records don't mention one ever inoving in, so they've been empty since the f - just like '114 itself, supposedly.” They walked to where DeKurzak was standing, watchthe squad move in and out of the house. Roads made introductions. DeKurzak shook Barney's hand with an ratiating smile, then suggested they move inside. The cellar was cool but crowded, and considerably ore ordered than when Roads had last seen it. The 2 iles of components had been returned to their respeclive boxes; all the cupboards were closed.

[email protected] replacement was talking earnestly with .11 @Raoul over one of the terminals. A short, dark-haired :man, he had a ]a rge smallpox scar on his left check that V-i Kennedy's utilitarian approach to medical care had not allowed to be removed. He looked up as Roads and Company approached. ”Good morning, Phil.” ”That depends. Have you got anything for me?” ”I'm not sure.

We have the security check on the d ata -system. ,[email protected] ”And?” ”It looks like nothing was stolen.”

Roads raised his eyebrows. ”Run that by me again?” ”As he said,” said Raoul, his dark skin dusty. He wiped his hands on a rag as he approached. ”It's as clean as a preacher's p.r.i.c.k down here.”

46DeKurzak looked curiously at the new arrival, and Roads explained as briefly he could: ”Raoul ran this Place. He can tell us what's been stolen.” ”Which is nothing,” Raoul repeated. ”But that's inconsistent,” Barney said. ”Why would the Mole go to the trouble of breaking in and then not take anything?” ”To prove he can?” DeKurzak suggested, obviously dissatisfied with remaining an observer. ”We already know he can.” ”Then maybe he was scared off.”

Roads shook his head. ”The building was empty until Raoul arrived. Right, Raoul?” ”That's correct. He set off the alarm as he left. He must have finished what he came to do.” ”Exactly. But what the h.e.l.l was that?” Roads rubbed thoughtfully at his moustache. ”How's the list of hardware coming?”

”Finished. We're about to check for discrepancies.” ”Good. That might tell us something.” ”Do you really think so?” asked DeKurzak, peering curiously into an open box nearby. ”Of course.” Roads fought yet another explosive response, already sick of justifying himself to the liaison officer. ”This is the first time the Mole hasn't lifted data in six weeks. If he took hardware instead, then that must mean something. And if he didn't, same again. Any break in the pattern, no matter how slight, is significant.” ”I guess you're right.”

DeKurzak looked suitably chastised. ”I wasn't thinking.”

Roads, slightly mollified, turned away. ”Ras.h.i.+d, this is Antoni DeKurzak of the MSA. When he's finished looking around, have one of the squad take him to see Wiggs at the scene of last night's homicide. HQ will give you the address.”

id mock-saluted. ”Yessir.”

while, I'm going to get some steep. Have someme if you find something.” I do, boss.” y. Ciao.” ey climbed the stairs, Roads felt DeKurzak's e at his back.

The liaison officer knew he'd been . but Roads wasn't going to let that bother him. Is keen, at least,” said Barney. es, but a little on the paranoid side, too, if I'm any of character.” Ain't that dandy.”

o, not really.” They exited the building. The ing crowd watched them walk down the steps to sidewalk with mild interest. ,-Rey had' hardly gone more than a few steps towards @car, however, when Barney stopped and squinted ugh the sunlight. ”Hang on.” @[email protected]'What?” Roads followed the direction of her gaze. the second floor of one of the neighbouring build- half-visible through a curtained window, somemoved. ”Th at's strange,” Barney said. ”I checked 116 myself.” ”Did you actually search every floor?” .-No. I just knocked where I couldn't get in, and left it that.” She squinted to see better, but the movement n't return. ”Do you want to check it out?”

5,.

[email protected]@ ” @”Do we have to?”

[email protected] ”NO.” For once, he was glad to play devil's advocate. @!Maybe it's time we called it a night.” ”Well and truly.” She didn't move on, however. ”But I suppose we'd better have a look. f.u.c.k.”

Roads followed her past the van and through the to the address next door. The building wasnarrow, two storeys high, and had obviously been much better-kept in years gone by; its stonework was now chipped and scarred, its gla.s.s for the most part broken. Like 114, it had a small yard and fence, with a flight of steps leading to its front door. From the street, its interior looked abandoned, and didn't welcome potential visitors.

Barney knocked once on the door, waited a second, then shouldered it open.

Dusty silence greeted them, but both sensed the presence of an occupant, somewhere in the building. ”Squatters?” proposed Roads. Individual property owners.h.i.+p had been abolished in the first decade of the Dissolution, with housing dispensation resting in the hands of the Mayoralty. After the difficult years, however, the number of houses had gradually exceeded the number of tenants and the rules had been relaxed. Squatters presently had the right to move into any building, provided only that the building was officially listed as unoccupied. It was entirely possible that someone had moved into the house next door to 114 without registering the move with the Mayoralty.

Barney shrugged in answer to Roads' question. ”Could be. Doesn't explain why they didn't respond when I came here earlier, though.” ”I don't know. You can be fairly intimidating when you're short of sleep.” Roads ignored the look she cast at him, and indicated the stairs. ”Shall we?”

The first floor was empty. Roads' shout of ”h.e.l.lo?” echoed dully from stained walls and ceilings. He was about to suggest that they try the second floor when the sound of stealthy movement came from the stairwell.

He and Barney took positions out of sight on either side of the stairs, pistols at the ready. The slight sound became the creaking of steps as someone descended ,:into view. Roads peered at the indistinct form, in both height and by the shadows: small ost probably female, hair long and in curls; dark-coloured and loose-fitting. Her hands to be empty. silhouette of the woman stopped on the last step.

ne there she called, softly. ”is someo iding place. She As nodded to Barney in her h ed her pistol and stepped into view. ”h.e.l.lo,” she 4MY name is officer Daniels. I'm with RSD.”

4 ibly started at Barney's appearance.

woman vis ? I haven't done anything.” do you want otioned 'No-one is suggesting You have.” Barney in Y: woman to come down the. stairs meone else here with @,,,,ok her head. ”There's so A n; I saw ma him. Where is he?” ads stepped forward. ”We're investigating an nt that occurred next door,- he said. -Part of that o, neighbours for possible tigation includes checking itnesses. I don't suppose you saw [email protected] The woman glanced between them before asking: @-*Vhen3-”

Last night, early this [email protected] Shc shook her head. -I wasn't here then.”

r,”””But you live here?

came up here for the view.” ?”

y esitated. ”Because I was curious.” She The woman h better light, pped down from the stairs. In slightly Id finally make out the details of her face- She adscou sted, maybe early s older than her slight figure sugge rties. Her dark brown hair and eyes, full lips and cestry. The ggested a distilled European an i)., live skin su hind her betrayed ,',y1,-.,,V.ay her hand gripped the bannister be her tension.”Will you tell me what happened?” she asked. ”Next door, I mean. What sort of 'incident'?”

Roads met her stare evenly. ”If I tell you, will you tell me why you want to know?”

The woman hesitated again, but only slightly. ”You first.”

Roads pa.s.sed the buck to Barney, who explained: ”Someone broke into the building next door. 'No-one was hurt; we're not even sure if anything was taken. There's nothing to be concerned about, if you do live in the area.”

The woman looked sceptical. ”So why all the fuss?” she asked. ”Houses are broken into every day.” ”We're still looking into it,” Barney explained, ”but we believe this break-in to be the work of the Mole.” 'The who?” ”The Mole,”

Roads echoed. ”There have been notices on the b-boards. You've never heard of him?”

The woman shook her head. ”I don't really follow the news very much.” ”Maybe you should.” Roads quickly outlined the history of the serial thief as it had been presented to the public, all the while watching the woman's reaction. As she absorbed the information, her face remained appropriately serious, but a slight look of relief was evident in her eyes. ”I'll keep an eye out,” she said when he had finished.

”Thank you.” ”And that makes it your turn, I think.” Roads kept his voice firm. ”Why did you want to know?”

She shrugged. ”It's kind of stupid, really. I live with someone, you see, and he didn't come home last night. I thought ... I don't know what I thought. I was worried. ”Does he do this often?”