Interface: A Techno Thriller (35 page)

"You could say that."
 

"Do you really think Heidn would have used the gun?"

"I read the situation as best I could. And of course he was a similar enough age and build to play your part in the car crash. Dental records were hardly a problem to modify. All in all, it was extremely convenient. I wasn't looking forward to commissioning the theft of a suitable corpse."

"I see the newspapers lost interest in my death after only a couple of days."

"It looked like an accident; the world moved on."

Bern shrugged. "Well I'm anxious to move on as well. You have the money?"

Marron smiled. "It's taken you such a long time to get to that I was half wondering if you were the real William Bern. The Leskov funds are in the process of being sanitised through a number of accounts. They'll be at their destination within twenty-four hours. As will the money we've been siphoning off from CERUS these past years."

Bern nodded, turning the wheel slightly. "That was the worst part for me."

Marron raised an eyebrow. "Stealing from your company?"

"No. Having to suggest that I had failed."

Marron reached into his jacket pocket. He produced a small padded case. "Well, we have plenty of rewards to make up for it. Like this. Handle it
very
carefully."

Bern frowned and popped open the case. Inside was a single crystal vial surrounded by a cooling unit and protective padding.

"Blood?"

"Zero's blood. The nanites didn't work as we planned. But they worked all the same."
 

Bern smiled.

"That's the good news." Marron coughed. "We had a few... issues that had to be dealt with."

"I always knew there would be some collateral damage."

Marron hesitated. "I had to remove Celia."

Bern sucked in his lower lip. "I'm sure she gave you no choice. Was it quick?"

Marron nodded.

"She didn't deserve to suffer. Even if she wanted that for me. What about Holm?"

"Regrettably, Ed decided to go with Leskov."

"And Bradley?"

"He couldn't wait to get on that helicopter."

Bern smiled. "So it's not all bad."

"I'm still not sure that Leskov was the right play. We will have made enemies among his circle."

"Not if they think we're dead. More to the point, it wasn't us that shot him down. It was our friendly neighbourhood government."

Marron hesitated. "Leskov changed the deal at the last minute. He tried to pay only half."

"How rude."

"I think it was because he didn't trust me like he trusted you. I don't have your charm."

Bern flashed his teeth. "Nobody does. Anything else?"

"He insisted on taking Subject Zero with him."

"We lost Zero?" Bern blinked rapidly. "Why wasn't that the first thing you mentioned? That is... a substantial set back."

"You should hear the full story first." Marron frowned. "I didn't realise you'd be so concerned. I had limited options if I was to frame MI5 for shooting down Leskov
and
frame
him
for the destruction of the Tower."

"But the Tower is still standing," Bern said, "which means there will be evidence for the government to crawl all over."

"That bomb was unsolvable in the time they had – it was far too complex. But it wasn't defused by the government."

"Then how?"

"It was Zero."

ONE HUNDRED TWELVE

BERN TURNED FROM THE STEERING wheel, an expression of relief crossing his face. "You said he was in the helicopter."

"My passive monitors intercepted fragments of a government radio communication," Marron said. "It said he landed by parachute. They then dropped him on the Tower roof. I assume he used one of the ejector seats that Leskov was so proud of – even though he was also too slow to use one himself."

"But how
did
Zero manage to stop the detonator?"

"He must have used the interface."

Bern blinked slowly. "Then we have to get him back. He's too valuable to leave in government hands."

"What we have to do is get you away from here. The beta site is the only secure location. After all our planning we cannot risk you."

"I'm overruling you, Peter."

"You should know Reems is at the Tower. They also have Lentz."

"With any luck those two will cancel each other out." Bern drained his champagne glass. "Start deploying a team."

"There may be other options. We already have a Zero 2.0 waiting in the wings."

Bern's eyes narrowed. "You mean your daughter? You want to use Zero's nanites on her? We've discussed this before – many times."

"But the situation has changed. If it worked on Zero, there's every chance she's also suitable. Wouldn't it be better to have a subject who's loyal to us – who
wants
to cooperate?"
 

"Or we might produce someone we could never hope to control." Bern shook his head firmly. "If something went wrong... She's your anchor: she keeps you focused, grounded. I don't think the world is ready for an
ungrounded
Peter Marron."

"I'm prepared to take that chance. As is Alex."

Bern sighed loudly. "So, what? We should kill Zero to ensure he doesn't talk."

Marron hesitated. "That might be unduly risky in all the--"

"You were happy for him to die in the explosion, but you don't want to do it yourself? I'm confused. Are you emotionally attached to the subject?"

"It's not that. With the helicopter, I had no choice, no chance to discuss it with you."

"So? We're discussing it now. Is there a problem?"

Marron shifted uneasily. "There is something you need to know. My apologies for not raising it sooner."
 

Bern raised an eyebrow.
 

"There are certain things that you've always trusted me to handle without your express knowledge. You have to remember that I've only ever acted to protect the security of your operations. I've taken absolutely no pleasure in what have been necessary measures." Marron swallowed. "When we identified Zero as a suitable candidate for the original Tantalus, there was one element I kept from you."

Bern rolled his eyes. "Cut to the chase, Peter."

"He's your son."

Bern blinked several times, then tipped his head to one side. "Subject Zero, Tom Faraday, is my son?"

"You had a relationship with his mother: Amelia Fourier."

"I remember her having a termination."

"She didn't go through with it. She kept the birth from you."

Bern nodded slowly. "How long have we known each other, Peter?"

"Nearly thirty years, since our army days, but why is that your first question?" Marron hesitated. "Wait... you knew! That's why you were upset when you thought he was dead."

"You might know
people
, Peter," Bern gave a sigh, "but I know you. I know how you operate. You keep aces up your sleeve on everyone. It would have been naïve of me to assume that I was not on that list."

"Then why didn't you do anything about it?"

"Because I wanted you to think you
did
have a card to play. I didn't want you to know that card was worthless and start looking for a better one."

"You knew you had a son? You knew I'd chosen him as a subject? Why didn't you stop it?"

"Because, in all the circumstances, it was the right thing to do." Bern gripped Marron's shoulder. "Peter, this is why you are so good at your job. I'm not sure I could ever replace you. I like to spend my time on the grand vision, whereas you make things happen, including all the things that need to happen but nobody should ever know about."
 

Marron took a slow breath. "So what now?"

"We get Tom back. Do I now have your support?"

"You always do."

An alarm sounded on the deck.

Alex burst through the doorway of the bridge. "We have a problem."

ONE HUNDRED THIRTEEN

KATE FOLLOWED LENTZ INTO THE laboratory on Level 75, the special-forces soldier remaining on guard outside.

"Well," Lentz said, "I think that went somewhat better than expected. And, may I say, what a brilliant observation with regard to Bern's accident. I'm sure Reems is in a spin checking that out."

Kate folded her arms. "I've adopted a simple strategy: assume everything that happens is a lie."

Lentz frowned. "Why do I feel that some of your anger is directed at me?"

"You're considering their offer, aren't you?"

"I have to weigh all the possibilities before I can decide on the best outcome."

"Best for whom?" Kate asked. "For Tom? For you? I saw your eyes light up when Reems offered you the opportunity to be back at the centre of things. This is everything you've dreamed of for twenty-five years."

"When you're a little older, maybe you'll understand what it's like to be in hiding for so long, pondering past mistakes, drowning in might-have-beens. Maybe this time I can do it right."

"If you really believe that then you're delusional."

"If I don't do it, someone else will try. Better me, controlling this from the inside than fighting it from the outside."

"I'm sure Tom will see it that way."

Lentz gave a sigh. "You really think he'll be fine out there on his own? He needs our help. The reality is that we can't provide it without support."

"And you think you can trust Reems? Besides, it's all moot if we can't find him."

"It would help if we could narrow down our search. Do you have any idea where he would go?"

"He never said, but I think he'd go after
them
."

Lentz nodded. "It's likely. He may feel he can outmatch them now."

Kate shook her head. "After all he's been through, he's going to get himself killed."

"You know, I don't think Tom's the one who's really in danger," replied Lentz. "Not this time."

◇
◇
◇

Reems looked at her tablet computer and swore. Her team had already sent evidence that Bern's dental records had been tampered with: there could be only one reason why that would have happened. The journalist had been right. That meant Bern and Marron had been executing a plan that was years in the making. After all this time hoping to counter them, had she been outplayed?

The anonymous tip about Leskov – the reason she'd had both ground and air teams in the vicinity of CERUS Tower – was all clearly part of their scheme. They'd
wanted
her in place to shoot a helicopter down. It had got rid of Leskov
and
provided the perfect cover. Reems felt sick inside.
 

George Croft strode into Bern's office, looking perturbed. "We have a further problem," he said.

"We don't have enough already? I need to get back to HQ, so tell me on the way."

"Getting there will be the problem. It's your helicopters."

"Is Air Traffic Control still closing London? Just give them my clearance code."

"You don't understand. The helicopters were taken."

Reems blinked. "Taken where? By whom?"

Croft cleared his throat. "We don't know."

Reems sat forward. "Five military grade helicopters were taken from right outside this building?"

"As ridiculous as it sounds, that is exactly what I am saying."

"Was nobody guarding them? Where were the pilots?"

"Apparently all five helicopters started powering up, appropriate codes were sent and they all took off, despite the fact that the pilots were in a briefing together in the Tower's lobby. And it gets stranger. According to eye witnesses, all five helicopters took off in perfect formation: so perfect it looked like they were joined by rods."

"I know what you're suggesting." Reems stood up and walked to the window. "I know the interface was designed to fly helicopters, but do you really believe Faraday could be behind this? Surely he'd need weeks, months to train to fly even one of them, but five?"

"It's either that or five mercenary pilots, with acrobatic flying experience, just happened to be in the area."

ONE HUNDRED FOURTEEN

ALEX POINTED ACROSS THE WATER. "Incoming helicopter." She ran across the bridge and tapped on a computer screen. "It's a government model."

"Reems!" Bern hissed. "How did she find us?"

Marron stared at the screen over Alex's shoulder. "She shouldn't even know to look."

"Are our weapon systems operational?" Bern asked.

"There wasn't time to test them," Marron replied, "but I made sure we had a back-up." He pointed through the window to a metal chest strapped to the deck.

Alex sprinted out from the bridge and flipped the chest open. Inside was a shoulder-mounted rocket-launcher. She lifted it and lodged it in the crook of her neck, then began flicking switches.

The tannoy system whined then crackled. "Put it down,
"
said a voice on the speakers.

"Faraday?" Marron asked. "How can he be--"

"There's no need for the third person. I can hear you just fine. I'm using the speakers as a two-way channel."

"Tom?" Alex asked, lowering the weapon. "How did you find us?"

"
Using the talents you gave me. You're not the only ones who can track people. Do I have permission to land on your helipad?"

"Are you alone?"

"Thanks to you, I'm more than capable of flying a helicopter on my own."

Marron glanced at Bern, who nodded. "One wrong move and we'll shoot you down."

"Given how valuable I am to you, I consider that unlikely. Especially as I simply want to talk."

Bern cleared his throat. "Then land when ready."

"Ah, Mr Bern, back from the dead. I look forward to making your acquaintance."

The sound of the rotors grew and they could see the silhouette of the craft against the stars as it slowly approached.
 

"Is it a trick?" Bern asked. "Perhaps he's already given away our location?"

"If he were going to do that," Marron replied, "why come at all? Why not tip off the Air Force or Navy?" He paused. "We'll get moving, just in case." He drew a pistol from his belt. "As soon as we've secured our visitor, that is." He hesitated then reached into his pocket, producing a small remote-control device, and handed it to Bern.