Part 14 (2/2)

She brushed her hair back and stood. As he locked the case in a cupboard, she turned to him. ”You have a clock built in as well?” ”Of course. Do you want to know the time in Sydney?” ”No. But why, then, do you wear a watch?” ”To make myself normal. I can't avoid my ears or eyes as often as I'd like to - they're just there - but the rest is optional. If I have to use them, I will, just like I did when I first saw Cati, but the less I think about them, the better.

To blend into Kennedy I have to hide the truth even from myself, in a sense.

So no more PolNet, and no more magic clock.”

She smiled and shook her head. ”You'll never be normal.” ”Maybe not.” He patted the back of her hand. ”But that doesn't stop me trying.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

a.m.

[email protected] day of the Rea.s.similation promised many things, as h ew eather itself was ambivalent: dark clouds Jhl with irregular flashes of blue for control of the while occasional, startling glimpses of the sun the city to gold below. With atmospheric carbon dioxide levels still high, dustrial emissions being only a fraction of o in M_ they were before the War, weather was unseasonal '[email protected] a rule. Lacking global or even regional data, Kennedy 63(7*11-1 could only guess what each day might bring.

[email protected] efforts - incorporating everything from to casting runes - contributed to this 001ON& When sudden s.h.i.+fts in temperature could halve staple crop's produce almost overnight, everyone 'wanted to have their say.

Barney and Roads arrived at HQ on the dot of ten, breathless from the brisk walk. She went immediately to her desk to prepare for the day while he continued upward to the top floor, ignoring the occasional startled I ce in his direction. The only person he met on the 0 way who seemed at all keen to talk was Roger Wiggs, who accompanied him for the last few floors.

CIS.

omeone told me you were dead,” said Wiggs, brus.h.i.+ng his hair in the lifts mirror. ”Obviously they were wrong.””Obviously.” The existence of the rumour explained why people had been staring at him. He wondered briefly who had started it. ”You in on the meeting?”

”Unfortunately.” Wiggs put the comb back in his pocket. ”Any idea what it's about?” ”Not really, but I've got a bad feeling.” ”Me too. DeKurzak has had me going over the files for two days now and hasn't said s.h.i.+t. That worries me.

”At least you haven't got Blindeye on your back.” ”True. But we still don't have anything to go on. We're just as lost as we were a month ago.”

Roads said nothing, although he itched to take his fellow officer aside and brief him on Cati. There simply wasn't time to do so before the meeting.

The lift came to a halt and the doors hissed open. Michael, Chappel's secretary, met them and guided them through to the office without a word.

Raised voices, heard behind the door, ceased in mid-sentence when Michael knocked. ”Come in.”

Chappel was seated behind the desk, facing DeKurzak and O'Dell. A powerful tension filled the air. As Roads and Wiggs entered, the RUSAMC captain looked up with obvious relief and rose to his feet. ”Speak of the devil,” he said to Roads. ”Nothing bad, I hope.”

O'Dell hesitated. ”No, of course not. The foyer guard just buzzed to say you were on your way up. It's good to see you're still with us.”

Roads inclined his head in grat.i.tude. DeKurzak pointedly ignored him. As he took the seat on O'Dell's right, he noticed with a sinking feeling what the liaison officer was holding in his lap.

The X-rays.

When Wiggs had settled into the one remaining chair to Roads, DeKurzak finally spoke. -Perhaps we can begin now, seeing we're all here.” '[email protected] voice was flat and expressionless, and his face but beneath the surface clearly seethed the that had been interrupted. He spoke directly Chappel, ignoring the others. ”I have an appointment eleven to finalise the security arrangements for Stedman's arrival, and I must not be late.” She met his stare. ”I know. I have to be there, too.” VC Roads and Wiggs she explained: ”General Stedman's has been brought forward to three o'clock.” ”Really?” said Roads. ”The timing's been to the splitfor a week now. Why the last-minute change?” O'Dell looked embarra.s.sed. ”Apparently the convoy ON better time than we antic.i.p.ated.” Roads smiled graciously, allowing the explanation to *M Without believing a word of it. He found it more that the General - and therefore the RUSAMC - Mr, chosen to test the readiness of the city.

DeKurzak cleared his throat pointedly. Chappel #=1 [email protected] printed files on her desk. ”All right. As Antoni and Martin know, I received'a 11t;i0re- from the Mayor this morning, which, among k things, makes a couple of recommendations I feel [email protected] should discuss.”

”Discuss?” DeKurzak scowled in annoyance. ”What's there to discuss? They seem perfectly clear to me.” ”What does?,” asked Wiggs, nervousness showing on OW brow, glistening. ”We'll get to that.” ”Tell them, Margaret.” DeKurzak gestured at the letter on her desk. ”Or I will.”

She glared at him. ”Need I remind you, Antoni, that these are simply recommendations? I have the final sayin RSD affairs - not the Mayor, and certainly not the MSA.”

He waved a hand dismissively. ”it doesn't matter who makes the decision, as long as it's the correct one.” ”And I remain unconvinced that this is correct.” She glanced at Roads and Wiggs, then down at her desk.

”Nevertheless, it seems I have no choice.” Her eyes rose again to meet Roads'.

”In his letter, the Mayor recommends that, effective immediately, all investigations into the Mole and the a.s.sa.s.sin be handed to the MSA/RUSAMC cooperative, where they will be jointly handled by Antoni DeKurzak and Captain Martin O'Dell.” ”The sonofab.i.t.c.h,” said Wiggs, shaking his head.

”All we need is a little more time.” ”'Time'?” DeKurzak stood, on the attack.

The sheaf of X-rays punctuated important points as his hands moved.

”Rea.s.similation is today. Not next week, or next year - today. You've had more than five weeks to produce results. Do you expect us to sit back and wait until the killer hands himself in?”

-We're doing our best -” ”Which is obviously not good enough. The moment has come to let someone who knows what he's doing take charge of the investigation.” ”Like you, I suppose?” ”Martin and I have already agreed upon how we shall divide responsibilities,” said DeKurzak stiffly. ”And I will be a.s.suming control of your investigation, yes.” ”Great, just great.” Wiggs looked at Roads for support. ”Come on, Phil. I can't believe you're just sitting there taking this s.h.i.+t.” ”I'm waiting.” Roads folded his hands in his lap, trying to radiate an aura of patience he wasn't feeling. ”There's more to come.”

”Indeed there is,” said DeKurzak without looking at returning to his seat. ”Read the rest, Margaret.” Chappel unfolded the letter.

”Mayor Packard also I$ , I K that you, Phil, be placed under house arrest an inquiry into the nature of what he calls your ifticau: and not infrequent relations.h.i.+p with * criminal elements within the city'. He goes on to that your allegiance may not be wholly with the in this case, and that your judgement may therefore ON compromised.” ”That's bulls.h.i.+t. I'm as straight as they come.”

DeKurzak turned on him. ”Then how do you justify 111111- secret dealings with Keith Morrow?” ”He supplies me with information ”Which you fail to include in your reports. Concealing information regarding a known and wanted criminal is alone tantamount to corruption.” ”Depending on the circ.u.mstances.” ”RSD regulations disagree with you.” ”Everyone on the force has a gra.s.s. It's the way things work ”Granted, and we might be prepared to overlook it this once - but for these.” DeKurzak waved the X-raysClearly visible on the transparent picture were Roads' various biomods. ”I can explain ”C-n you? You illegally entered the city, forged your date of birth on RSD records, falsified a medical examinatio and lied to protect your secret on a number of other occasions. In this light, any explanation you have must be regarded with extreme suspicion.” DeKurzak threw the X-rays to Wiggs, who had indicated that he would like to see. ”I can't believe we entrusted a position of such responsibility to a man with ... with machines in his head.”

DeKurzak's face was red, madesuddenly old by his anger. ”And don't bother protesting that you're a good cop. It's no wonder you're so good given your unnatural advantage over the rest of us. How did it feel to rob the marksmans.h.i.+p t.i.tle from someone more worthy, Roads? Did you feel superior? Was it guilt that made you retire from the compet.i.tion, or had you set your sights on a higher goal - ?”

”Antoni,” Chappel tried to interrupt, but DeKurzak rolled on over her. 'No, Margaret. These are questions we should all be asking. Let's see if he can answer them to anyone's satisfaction. ”

Roads' face flushed with barely-checked anger. ”I never once used my abilities in any other capacity than as dictated by my profession. I am not a cheat, and I do not feel superior to anyone born in a time lessadvantaged than mine -”

”But we have only your word for that, don't we? The word of someone who has already proved to be a liar.” ”I believe him,” put in O'Dell. ”And what would you know?” ”More than you, obviously -”

”That's enough,” Chappel interrupted, scowling at them all across the expanse of her desk. ”This is not a trial and I am not a judge but, by Christ, I'll throw the next person who speaks out of line into the can for a week. We're here to discuss the cases first, and Phil second. You've had your say, Antoni, so be quiet.”

DeKurzak's lips drained of blood as he retreated into his seat and crossed his arms. Roads tried to read the tangled knot of emotions displayed before him.

What, he wondered, was DeKurzak afraid of?

Only one answer made sense, and that was failure. The cases were still open; neither the Mole nor the killer had been caught. That would have an adverse effect on rs record - unless, of course, he could pa.s.s as a of the blame onto Roads as possible. NU. just righteous indignation, thon, Roads decided, treachery as well. ”Roger?” asked Chappel. ”Do you have anything d like to say?”

ere - ea ec ine t e opportunity to ta e si es. -Ume staying out of it, Margaret. Sorry, Phil.” ”That's okay. I understand. ”And, as for the case,”

Wiggs added to DeKurzak, Vl be glad to get back on day s.h.i.+ft. The f.u.c.ker's all buddy.” Chappel intervened before the liaison officer could ”Martin?” ”I agree with Phil's theory that the Mole might be a kM*MoT;idii4 - in which case I'm the obvious choice to the case.” He shrugged at Roads. ”But I don't illfflo we can blame Phil for being the way he is, or for trying to hide it. The knee-jerk reaction is even stronger here than back home.” He cast a scathing glance sideways at DeKurzak.

”What I'd like to do is to point out a fact in Phil's favour that the X-rays don't show.”

Chappel nodded. ”Go on.” ”I am obviously too young to remember either the War or the Dissolution, but I have access to military records that doc.u.ment their history, at least in part. One episode concerns the final days of the Third Mobile Battalion. Briefly, the battalion was ordered to Philadelphia in 2047 to spearhead the suppression of a civilian rebellion. Orders were to kill on sight, not to detain, until such time as the leaders of the rebellion were neutralised. A bloodbath, basically, is what the military wanted, to teach the city a lesson.”

Roads closed his eyes with a wince, but didn't speak. He remembered it more vividly than that. Beingreminded of it by the RUSA files the previous day had been bad enough. In this context, it was horrific. ”The battalion's third in command,” O'Dell continued, ”a major on exchange from the Australian Armed Forces, led a mutiny against his commanding officers. He refused along with over a third of the battalion to comply with orders of that nature. Under other circ.u.mstances, he might have been commended for his actions. During the mutiny, however, while defences were down, the civilian rebellion attacked and the battalion was wiped out. Although the force behind the battalion tried, it was unable to gain control of the city without the Third Mobile. The major who led the mutiny - Philip Roads - disappeared, and was subsequently presumed dead. ”You can substantiate this?” DeKurzak broke in. ”It's all in the files. Files to which, I should point out, Phil had no access. They could not have been falsified.” ”And your point?” ”That his actions displayed strength of character and moral conviction. He may have betrayed his command, but only to further a greater good.” O'Dell smiled ironically, and added: ”Philadelphia, as you must know, is now the capital of the Reunited States of America.”

DeKurzak made a mocking noise, but Chappel waved him silent. ,,Phil?,, Roads stirred himself from the memories O'Dell had awoken. ”I have only one thing to say, and I'll keep it quick. I doubt there's anybody in this room who would deny that I'm one of Kennedy's most qualified officers -” ”So you've said,” DeKurzak sneered. ”But that only makes your inability to apprehend the Mole doubly suspicious. ”

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