Authors: Richard Murphy
When Daniel wasn’t being wined and dined by politicians or businessmen he generally ate in the kitchen of wherever he was staying with Jones; but tonight he thought he’d wheel out the silver service.
As soon as he had a name he’d done his research. Professor Benedict Lyndon Grey. Born in England, graduated from Oxford before heading up research divisions at several big tech companies. Now a leading expert and lecturer on quantum theory and multiverses. His credentials were extraordinary, but what was his connection with Davis?
As he heard footsteps ascending he got up from his seat and approached the door just as Jones showed the Professor in. He was in his fifties, thin and short with grey hair parted at the side. He smiled enthusiastically and shook his hand with vigour.
“Professor Grey,” said Daniel, “A pleasure to meet you.” Up close his face was small and angular, his eyes dark and sharp.
“Likewise, Mr Loman.” Grey’s eyebrows raised as Jones squeezed past to stand behind Daniel.
There was an awkward moment when no one said anything before eventually he suggested they sit down for dinner. It was a long, dark wooden table and he seated himself and Jones at either end with Grey in the middle.
“You mean to interrogate me, Mr Loman?” said the Professor, as he picked up his napkin, placing it carefully across his legs, a smile easing from his lips.
“Not at all,” said Daniel, “that will be Jones’s job. He’s the professional.”
There was another awkward pause. “I’m joking,” said Daniel, “and please, drop the Mr Loman.”
Drinks were poured, salutations spoken and glasses raised. They started off with light chat, the Professor telling them a little about himself, his days at university then various projects he’d run. Throughout Jones probed and questioned. Was he genuinely interested or looking for mistakes?
They dined lightly; small exquisite meats and sauces were served, along with good wine and fresh breads. Finally, after dessert, they sat back and Grey started to talk business.
“So, gentlemen, you will be no doubt wondering about my arrangement with Mr Davis and the purpose of my visit?”
“The thought never occurred,” said Jones.
“I am sure it did, Mr Jones, just as I am sure you had your friends in the FBI run my profile through their computers after we met this morning.”
Daniel looked across at the ex-detective eyeballing Grey. “Go on,” said Jones.
“Mr Davis, as you may be aware, is no longer on the project. He’d voiced concerns over Toby’s methods and strategy. Toby did not like this.”
“So he’s been fired?” said Jones.
“Reassigned,” said Grey.
“Do you know Toby too?” said Jones.
“I know his methods,” said Grey, with a wince.
“And where do you fit into all this?” said Daniel.
“Mr Davis and I had worked on a project together previously and we kept in touch. When we met recently we talked of your situation and I offered a solution based on some research I was doing at the time.”
“A solution?” said Jones.
“I believe I know a way to destroy the robot.”
Daniel said nothing but his eyes caught those of Jones. Was there finally a way out?
“Why didn’t I hear about this?” said Daniel.
Grey shrugged. “Everything has to go through Toby. He maintains strict control. Mr Davis put forward my proposal and he rejected it.”
“What was the proposal?”
Grey paused to make sure he had their attention. He did. “I’ve been conducting research into the creation of antimatter and quantum teleportation.”
“Now I’m lost,” said Jones.
“Antimatter is the exact opposite of matter. The particles have the opposite charge and when the two meet…”
“It’s very bad?” said Daniel.
“Correct. I proposed creating an antimatter copy of the robot. I believe it could be done. I would then introduce the copy to the original and, in theory, they would both obliterate each other.”
“Why didn’t Toby go for it?” said Daniel.
“Firstly, there was the cost and the time. Antimatter is tremendously expensive to create and takes a very long time. At present a fully equipped lab can only create a few nanograms per year. It would take several million years to create enough antimatter to form a copy of our friend. However, I have recently completed some research and believe there is a way to conquer this. I just need the funds to develop it.”
“And secondly?” said Jones.
“Secondly there was the risk. Any variation in mass either side would mean that a tremendous amount of extra energy would be released. You would have to make the copy have exactly the same mass.”
“Exactly?” said Daniel.
“Within billionths of a nanogram.”
“I see,” said Daniel. He stood up and went to the sideboard to pour himself a scotch. Grey politely declined.
“This plan,” he said, “I assume there’s a detailed proposal? Fully costed and specified?”
“Of course,” said Grey.
“Send it to me,” said Daniel.
Grey nodded. “You’re interested?”
“I’m interested in any way of stopping it, but I have a question. What’s in it for you?”
Grey shrugged, the creases in his shirt gathering around his neck. “A fair point which brings me on to the final issue Toby had with the plan. I wanted to maintain intellectual property rights to the antimatter creation technology. If I succeeded, I would be able to introduce a new fuel source into the earth tens of times more powerful than nuclear. We could run cities, power vehicles, reverse global warming. The possibilities would be boundless.”
“And you would be a very rich man,” said Jones.
“Ah,” said Grey, “now there you’ve got me.”
Daniel smiled. “At least you’re honest. Thank you Professor. We’ll talk again some time.”
Recognising it was time to leave Grey made his farewells and headed down the stairs accompanied by Jones. Daniel had barely a moment to himself before he heard his head of security tramping back up.
“I don’t think this is what we’re looking for,” said Jones.
“What I’m looking for is certainty.”
“Of what?”
“Its destruction,” said Daniel. Just uttering the words made him shake underneath his clothes. He felt his fingers tighten and looked at Jones for a response.
“His solution sounds…unique,” said Jones. “But it’s a lot of money and a lot of risk.”
“Let’s see the proposal before we make any decision. There’ll be years of research anyway.”
With that, he said goodnight, and strolled across to his bedroom. A quick check of his phone revealed dozens of emails that could wait until the morning. Tonight he was going to sleep; perchance to dream.
Central Intelligence Agency
Interview Transcript
File Number – 133329DKK
Date and Time:
Classified
Agent Conducting Interview:
Classified Classified
AGENT
Classified
So it was a tough time for you. Yes, the financial rewards, but a life moving from one country to the next. Every fifty-three days, or thereabouts, you would fly back to the States from Europe, or vice versa. All the time, the entity being kept under water.
LOMAN
Not too tough. I was doing well out it.
AGENT
Classified
Maybe, but there were close calls too.
LOMAN
Yes, there were.
AGENT
Classified
One incident in Florida caused particular concern. A miscalculation meant that you arrived in Orlando in the wrong week. By the time your plane had landed the robot was less than a kilometre away and nobody had noticed.
On another occasion
Classified Classified Classified Classified Classified Classified
LOMAN
Yes, I remember that.
AGENT
Classified
You were sued by the government for damage to a Federal building. But, no lives were lost and pretty soon after the entity was back in its now almost permanent home of the Atlantic Ocean.
LOMAN
Yes, that’s right. We had trackers on him so I knew when I had to make a ‘jump.’ That’s what we called it. We ran a much tighter ship after that so there were no mistakes. I had a great team around me and things were a lot safer. He never got close.
AGENT
Classified
You say ‘he?’
LOMAN
I think of ‘him’ more like an old friend now. Without him my life would have been so much more different.
AGENT
Classified
Do you ever wish it had been?
LOMAN
Perhaps.
Veronica’s warm wool sweater felt good and smelt so nice he didn’t want to pull his face out. In the background a log fire crackled excitedly whilst outside there was a blizzard wailing at the windows. But here, in her arms, he felt harmony.
“I missed you,” he said, into her chest. They were laid on the couch together.
She kicked off ballet pumps and adjusted her position to get comfortable. The light from the windows made her face pale and she stroked Daniel’s hair and gently kissed the top of his head.
“How have you been?”
“It’s been crazy,” he said, “I’m just so tired. I don’t even know what day it is never mind what I’m supposed to be doing or where I’m supposed to be.”
“I heard the government tried to stop it again.”
“It’s back to the drawing board. They’ve got another idea; I think it involves gas or something.” He sat up, stretched his arms and made his way to the window. The room was luxurious, the hotel the best in the whole of Sweden. About twenty miles from Stockholm, it was as a secret hideaway known only to the rich and famous; and Daniel was both.
They’d arrived three days ago. Daniel had left Jones in charge; Grey was off spending his money on various items for his experiments, much to the grumbling old cop’s dismay. The robot itself was at the bottom of the Atlantic once more; but, as ever, getting closer with each step.
“I’m glad you waited for me,” he said, still looking out of the window.
“You said you’d be back.”
“I never break a promise and I promised myself I’d be here with you, one day.” He turned, suddenly looking awkward. “Not here in Sweden, I mean…” He crossed back and sat down beside her, holding her hand. “I mean ‘here.’ Does that sound corny?”
She smiled and kissed him, her lips sticking to his for just a fraction of a second afterwards. As she pulled away his eyes remained close.
He beamed, a stupid happy grin, but it was real. He hadn’t felt this way, ever. Veronica made him happy, free and able to forget the world around him. Perhaps, with times like this either side of his necessary trips he could have a normal life? They could honeymoon all they wanted to, live in a few different locations and the children could be schooled privately as they travelled. It was no different to the way some movie stars lived so why should he feel guilty?
No, he reasoned, it wasn’t guilt. Just the knowledge that, if they wanted to, a movie star could buy a normal house in a normal street and just raise a family like everyone else. Or could they? Maybe this was how they felt too.
The rest of the day washed away merrily as they drank, laughed and made love. Come dinner time neither of them were really hungry so they decided to brave the snow and go out for a walk. Daniel had an idea it might be romantic, but as they walked into the lobby his stomach sank.
Luckily, Veronica hadn’t seen the unruffled man in a cream suit lurking around the foyer. He excused himself and said he was going to the bathroom after he parked her in the main bar and placed a cocktail menu in front of her.
Outside the gents Toby was waiting. “Is this convenient?” he said, through a smile.
“No, it’s not convenient Toby. What are you doing here?”
“I’m sorry, but we have an opportunity that has arisen and I thought you’d be interested.”
He
Daniel
strode on into the bathroom and Toby followed. It was plush; oak fittings, marble floor and mirrors that covered the whole wall behind the sinks. He splashed his face and looked up into one of them at Toby who stood by the door.
“Couldn’t it have waited?”
Toby looked around, his eyes taking in details. His fingers drummed the black marble of the washbasin. “Maybe, but we didn’t get a chance to talk properly since Florida.”
Daniel scoffed; his bottom teeth stuck out and he crossed his arms. “You’re really a piece of work. You come here on my time off when I’m trying to have some personal space with someone I care deeply about because you’re…what? Affronted? In case you didn’t’ notice I didn’t stop to chat because an intergalactic robot was chasing my ass!”
For the first time he could recall Toby looked sheepish. He couldn’t meet Daniel’s gaze and it suddenly seemed as if he was addressing a naughty boy. Toby’s jacket hung on his back like it was a size too big and when he turned to face him the smile was impish.
“It’s been a long road. The end could be just around the corner.”
The cisterns which had been whispering away in the background barked to a halt. Daniel clenched and unclenched his fingers a few times. “Where and when?”
“Morocco, three days from now.”
The light from outside was starting to disappear and a long low shadow started to rise up off the floor.
“I’ll be there tomorrow,” he said. “Send me the details.”
Toby nodded, turned and left.
Daniel stared into the mirror after the door closed and sighed. His eyes were pale and sunken, his skin limp and hanging from his face. For a few moments he waited, expecting the figure in the looking glass to open his mouth or say something. Then his teeth clenched, a sharp pain appeared in his throat and finally tears started to drip down from his eyes and land in the sink. He wanted it to end. Every inch of his body shook uncontrollably and his own face pleaded back at him for comfort.
A sound at the door caused him to swiftly turn, mopping his tears. It was one of his ever present security team. Always out of site, but never far aware the gentle giant smiled awkwardly.
“Everything alright, sir?”
“Yes,” he said, sniffing.
“Miss Veronica asked me to come and check.” The guard shifted awkwardly, trying to avoid catching Daniel’s gaze.
“I’ll be there in just a moment.”
“No problem, sir,” he said, before softly closing the door.
Daniel breathed deeply, washed his face and then dried it on a cotton towel. Looking back into the mirror something flashed across his expression, but too quick for anyone else to see. After a deep breath, he strode with purpose out of the door and across the lobby to the cocktail bar.
Veronica sat staring across the lobby, people watching; unaware that several of them were highly paid security specialists who were in fact watching her. As he got closer to the chair he reached out a hand, trailing it across her back, around her shoulder and finally up behind her ear before leaning in to kiss her gentle lips.
“What did Toby want?” she said.
Daniel froze, halfway down to his seat.
“He popped over and introduced himself,” said Veronica, through a smile.
He sank into the seat and picked up the drink Veronica had ordered. Vodka Martini with a twist; he gulped half of it down.
“I need to be in the Morocco tomorrow.”
He could see the disappointment behind her eyes but she hid it well. He thought for a moment, before adding, “Why don’t you come?”
“Morocco? I’m not sure I could get any more time off work.”
“Let me see what I can do.”
“What are you going to do, phone the boss? You remember Tom, he can be difficult.”
Daniel already had his mobile to his ear and was holding up his hand at Veronica. “Steve? It’s me. I need you to run a check on a company for me. GBP Ltd.”
Veronica whispered, “What are you doing?”
Daniel held a finger to her lips. “Good,” he said to the voice on the other end of the phone. “How much stock can you buy? Uh huh. All of it. Then get the CEO on the phone. Thanks.”
He closed the phone and slipped it back in his pocket.
Veronica was staring at him with a twisted smile. “Did you just do what I think you did?”
“What do you think I did?” His eyes widened and he finished his drink.
“Bought the company I work for?”
“No, I didn’t buy GBP Ltd.”
“Really?”
“I just became the major shareholder.”
“Why?”
“So you could get the time off.”