Manhattan in Reverse (27 page)

‘Their money must have originated here.’

‘I’m sure you’re right. If we find out in the next three weeks, we’ll be sure to inform your Directorate.’

‘Could it have come from the same source as your party’s money?’

‘We are not dignifying that with an answer,’ the female lawyer said sternly.

Svein Moalem gave Paula a small mocking shrug to say
out of my hands
.

‘You set up your party after Fiech’s organization had already won Isolation from the Dynasties,’ Paula said.

‘Interesting allegation, Investigator.’ Moalem glanced at the female lawyer. ‘Do you have proof of this?’

‘At the moment I’m purely interested in motives. As someone who embodies the Isolationist dream, can you tell me why Fiech sacrificed himself?’

‘I’m sure old Earth history is full of martyrs; all neatly documented if you are that interested. But I suspect he believed as I do. And those who truly believe in the cause of freedom will go to any lengths to see it become reality. I commend his bravery, though of course I cannot condone his method.’

‘Yet his methods secured your goals.’

‘They helped focus the imaginations and aspirations of everyone on this planet. He woke us up to the oppression we laboured under.’

‘I don’t believe the people of this planet are inspired by monstrous violence. Over a hundred and thirty people suffered severe bodyloss on the Nova Zealand plane alone. Your citizens would want justice for them and all the others whose blood was spilt.’

‘Justice, yes. But we equally disapprove of the vengeance we’ve seen your Directorate unleash.’

‘Excuse me?’

‘Who did you find guilty of the Nova Zealand crime, Investigator? Not the person who pulled the trigger, at least not the whole person. The man you have in your suspension facility lived a different life on that day. Your prisoner is not guilty of bringing down that aircraft. You hold a prisoner of conscience. A patsy whose sole purpose is to satisfy the masses to the benefit of your political masters.’

‘Dimitros Fiech committed that crime,’ Paula said, doing her best to hold her temper in check. She knew the Prime Minister was provoking her, trying to throw her off track. ‘There is no question of that.’

‘So already we see the difference between your culture’s rigid nature and our more liberal, progressive quality. Your laws cannot adapt to new circumstances.’

‘Fiech’s memories are an alibi, nothing more. It’s no different to using cellular reprofiling to change your facial features.’

‘It is completely different; it is his mind. The mind of the person you have suspended knows he was on Ormal during the crime. You said it yourself in the deposition: He knows his office screwed up sending him there, he knows he paid the taxi fare in Harwood’s Hill, he was the person who watched the land roll past through the plane’s window, he was angry and frustrated when he arrived at the resort, he tasted the vodka at the airport bar, he fancied the redhead stewardess who helped him on the plane, he had the hangover. That was Dimitros Fiech. Nobody else.
His
personality. Him! Your imprudent freedom fighter was someone else.’

‘Who was erased by his colleagues. And I will find them,’ Paula growled out. ‘In order to do that, I need to comprehend the psychology behind all of this. So tell me, help mitigate Dimitros Fiech’s sentence: why exactly do you want Isolation? What can you possibly achieve here that requires this drastic severance from the Commonwealth?’

‘That’s a very long list, Investigator. Starting with removing the contamination of a morally bankrupt, decadent society.’

‘At the cost of medical benefits? Your industrial capability is going to be reduced drastically.’

‘Not as much as your propaganda insists. We shall live here peacefully, and progress in our own way. A way not dictated by the Dynasties or the Senate. Many people are attracted to such a notion. Millions, actually. Do you really begrudge us such liberty?’

‘No. I just don’t see what ideology can’t be pursued within the umbrella of the Commonwealth. It is not as oppressive as your party claims, as
you
are well aware. A great many reduced-technology communities flourish on Commonwealth worlds. What you have engineered here is radical. I’m trying to understand its rationale.’

Svein Moalem sat back in his chair and gave Paula a thoughtful stare; very much the politician trying to convert another wavering voter. ‘You of all people struggle to understand? Forgive me, but that is hard to believe.’

‘Why?’

‘You were created and birthed on Huxley’s Haven, the most reviled planet in the Commonwealth. How the illiberal classes hated its founding. A world with everyone genetically predisposed to their job, a society in which everybody has a secure place. It is living proof that alternatives can work. Surely that’s a concept to be welcomed and admired?’

‘Its functionality is admirable. However, even I don’t approve of its static nature. Those humans can no longer evolve.’

‘Yet they live perfectly happy lives.’

‘Yes,’ Paula said. ‘Within the parameters established by the Human Structure Foundation.’

‘You would want Huxley’s Haven broken up and abandoned?’ He sounded very surprised.

‘Certainly not. Its citizens have a right to their existence. It is pure imperialist arrogance for outsiders to propose alteration.’

‘You see, Investigator, you make my argument for me. That is your answer. The right to self-determination is a human fundamental. Such a thing is not possible while under the financial hegemony of the Dynasties and Grand Families.’

‘Everything comes down to money in the end,’ Paula offered.

‘Quite.’

‘I still can’t believe some abstract ideology is enough for Fiech to sacrifice himself.’

‘Hardly abstract,’ Moalem waved at the city outside. ‘His wish has become our reality.’

Paula pursed her lips, following his gesture. ‘I hope it’s worth it.’

‘It is.’

She stood and gave him a small bow. ‘Thank you for your time, Prime Minister.’

‘You’re welcome, Investigator. In fact, I’d like to offer you a place here with us. Our police forces will need a substantial reorganization after the cut-off. Who better to manage that? You are celebrated and respected on every world in the Commonwealth. Your honesty and devotion to justice have broken the hatred and prejudice barrier. In a way, you are what we aspire to be.’

‘That’s very flattering, but the answer is no.’

‘Why not? Indulge me, please, I am curious. You left Huxley’s Haven. The only one of millions ever to do so. You found the Commonwealth more attractive. Why not us?’

‘I didn’t leave,’ Paula said, feeling her shoulder muscles tense up. ‘I was stolen from my birthing clinic. The political activists who took me wanted to make a point in their campaign to “liberate” Huxley’s Haven. Consequently I was brought up in the Commonwealth. I chose to stay.’

‘You found it more desirable than the most secure civilization ever established?’

‘I was created a police officer; it is what I am. There is more crime in the Commonwealth than on Huxley’s Haven, and it is the culture I was brought up in. It was logical for me to stay. Here I would never lack for challenges.’

‘So the activists were right then? The manufactured people of Huxley’s Haven would be able to settle in the Intersolar Commonwealth?’

‘They could physically settle. Intellectually, I doubt they would be able to integrate. Myself and other police officers are a very small minority of the population. The exceptions. I understand that after my “batch” the Foundation changed the psychoneural profiling. Huxley’s Haven police officers are no longer as liberal as me.’ She licked her lips in amusement. ‘A notion which discomforts the Commonwealth even more. Can you imagine a less forgiving version of me, Prime Minister?’

‘That’s a tough one, I admit.’ Finally, he stood, a faint smile on his lips. ‘Good day, Investigator.’

*

Two days later, Paula woke up to a call request from Christabel flashing in her virtual vision. She yawned. Stretched. And told her maidbot to bring some tea. Then her virtual finger touched Christabel’s green icon.

‘You made it back okay,’ Christabel said. ‘I heard it’s getting tough in Baransly. CST asked for a week’s extension before they switch off the wormhole; they’re worried they won’t be able to get everyone out before the cut-off.’

‘There’s a lot of people there,’ Paula said, remembering the trip back to the CST station, the way her police escort had to force their way to a train for her. ‘What did the Merioneth government say?’

‘No.’

‘Figures. Moalem has worked hard to reach this moment. He’s not going to allow anything to stop it now. Especially now.’

‘Especially now? Did you get some useful information?’

‘Very. He was the alibi memory. Svein Moalem went to Ormal and spent the day living Fiech’s life.’

‘
What?
You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.’

‘No. I’m not.’

‘How do you know that?’

‘He fancied a redhead.’

‘Come on, talk sense to me.’

‘Moalem told me the stewardess on the plane Fiech flew on from Essendyne back to Harwood’s Hill was a redhead. He’s right, too.’ Paula closed her eyes, recalling the memories that didn’t belong to her, the ones she’d read from Fiech’s brain. Seeing wavery images of the attractive woman in her neat blue and green uniform, Celtic-red hair all tied up with leather clips. Trying to smile as she supported his body up the stairs and, amazingly, still calm when she deposited him in his seat and he made a crude drunken pass.

Paula had interviewed the woman a week later as she retraced the alibi, confirming the memory.

‘So?’ Christabel asked.

‘That detail wasn’t in the memory deposition filed with the court. I just said a stewardess.’

‘He could have found out.’

Paula pulled the straps of her slip up properly on her shoulders as the maidbot came in with a large breakfast cup of green Assam tea. ‘Why would he?’

‘Because they’re obviously all part of the same group of Isolationists. He’d want to know everything connected with the case.’

‘No, this was a casual detail. I know it was. He was the one on Ormal.’

‘Oh bloody hell, so now what?’

‘Obviously, he has to be arrested. He was a major part of the crime. If he was as deeply involved in the Free Merioneth Forces as I suspect, he could well expose the others with a memory read.’

‘Not going to happen. There’s only two and a half weeks left to Isolation. You’ll never get clearance for that. It would take a small army to go in there and arrest their new Prime Minister. Actually . . . How come you didn’t try while you were there? I know you. You cannot stand back.’

‘I know. It’s engineered into my nature. But the probability of a successful outcome if I’d tried to arrest him on the spot was zero. They would simply have eliminated me.’

‘So natural self-preservation is stronger than the rest of you, after all. That’s a relief to know.’

‘It was simply a decision based on common sense. I am going to arrange a meeting with Nelson. He may be able to secure me the return ability I need to complete the case.’

‘Damn, that’s a long shot.’

‘Yes, but what else have I got? The Directorate won’t be able to lift Moalem from Merioneth.’

‘I wouldn’t count on the Sheldons doing it either. The political fallout would be too great: Lifting someone from an Isolated world and making them stand trial here all because they assassinated Dynasty members. That won’t look good for the Dynasties, Paula, not politically. Isolation was the end of this, the deal.’

‘I know, but Nelson is the best option I’ve got.’ She sipped some of the tea. ‘What were you calling me about?’

‘I’ve been digging round where I shouldn’t have, as you asked. I’m not sure how relevant this is now, but the Dynasties know who’s been backing the whole Merioneth independence movement.’

‘Who?’

‘Now promise you won’t shoot the messenger.’

Paula grinned and took another sip. ‘I won’t.’

‘The Human Structure Foundation.’

The surprise made her start. ‘Damnit!’ She struggled not to let the tea spill onto the bed.

‘You okay?’

‘Yes, yes.’ Beside her, Aidan stirred at the commotion.

‘Look, I can maybe make some enquiries at this end, see if my Dynasty will go along with a covert extraction. The Free Merioneth Forces hurt a lot of Halgarths. Heather was not happy about giving them Isolation. We could put together an operation with the Sheldons.’

‘That’s more like vengeance,’ Paula said quietly. ‘Not due process.’

‘You’re running out of options.’

‘I know. I need to make a few more enquiries about this. I’ll get back to you.’

Aidan blinked round, lifting his head off the pillow. ‘Something wrong?’

‘No.’ She ran her hand through his dishevelled hair. ‘Early start, that’s all. Something unexpected came up. I’ve got to take a trip.’