The Infinity Mainframe (Tombs Rising Book 3) Page 3

  “Everyone who wants to join the network can. The next generation HALO will be available free for everyone.”

  More applause.

  “Please stay and enjoy the hospitality. I’d like to thank you all for coming, and hope you have a safe journey home.” Devan wound up his talk to huge rounds of applause. The people genuinely seemed to love this man, but Ruby knew that it wasn’t the case with everyone. This hand-picked crowd would always support OsMiTech and Devan no matter what they did. In her department, she saw aspects of the organisation that the public didn’t. Nikoli was one of the lucky ones who got to see behind the curtain. One of his responsibilities was to monitor the success of the telepath registration scheme and that meant he had access to the main OsMiTech building at Marine Lake.

  As Devan left the stage, the background music was turned up again, and the lights returned to the pre-speech ambience. People worked their way back to the bars at the back end of the room. Ruby, however, had had enough for one night. Tired, and still fuming at the way Nikoli had acted, she knew the best place for her was bed, and she resolved to get there as quickly as possible.

  She joined a smaller stream of people leaving the reception. Ruby noticed they were still holding their event bags, visual proof to others that they’d just been to the event of the year. She walked behind a group of event-goers for a while, then she turned left towards the town centre and the train station. She didn’t much fancy splashing out on a taxi and it was only a short walk from the station to her flat. The night was cool and that helped her sort her head out. Besides, she wanted time to think, to get her mind around the events of the evening.

  She noticed the snoop from the event following her once she crossed the next road. The shops had been closed for hours and there weren’t any people she could turn to. She glanced up into the sky and tried to spot any security drones. The low flying automatic cameras could be used to attract attention if you could find one. With the area being this quiet, though, they were most likely being diverted to other less salubrious parts of town.

  At the next shop, she paused as if examining the contents of the window, but Ruby wanted to check whether the snoop was still close. She glanced in his direction; he stared back at her.

  Shit. She took in a sharp breath and hurried on towards the station—only a few hundred yards. These shoes were problematic, though, probably should take them off. Might need to. What did the man want with her? There was something about the way he had looked at her that set her mind racing. She could stop. Confront him. That would be the sensible thing to do.

  So, she stopped and turned.

  The man wasn’t there. Her mind raced with the different possibilities before settling on the one that saw her hurrying for her train. He’d wanted to frighten her. For whatever reason, he wanted her to know that she was being followed.

  10:23 PM

  The train journey gave her a chance to calm down. What she needed was to get home and sleep and forget about her confrontation with Nikoli. Trains at this time of night were relatively quiet, and she reflected on what Scott Logan had told her when she’d apprehended him. The man had taken extreme measures for his cause and would now pay the consequences. Did she feel pity for him? After seeing so much violence committed in the name of causes, there was no pity left.

  Several people left the train at her stop and she took her time leaving the platform, enjoying the cooler air on her skin.

  The snoop was waiting for her as she left the station. She froze, not expecting to see him again.

  There was no way back through the station other than to the platforms and her train had already left. She was trapped.

  She checked her HALO, wondering whether to place an emergency call, but everyone she cared about was at least half an hour away.

  “Ruby Parry,” he called out to her, “we need to talk.”

  Ruby’s mouth went dry. Her eyes darted to the left and right, seeking anyone that might help her, but there was no one. The only way out of here and back to safety was through the turnstiles and past him. She clenched her fists.

  “You’ve followed me from the OsMiTech event,” she said matter-of-factly as she approached the man. “You could have just spoken to me on the train.”

  “Trains give me headaches. I wanted a clear head.”

  His tone made her doubt him. He’d had plenty of opportunity to speak to her. Was this just an attempt to find out where she lived?

  “You’d better have a good reason or I’m calling the police.” And she gestured at her HALO to make her intentions clear.

  He moved back from the exit, making it clear he would not stop her leaving. “I just wanted to talk.”

  “You had plenty of opportunity at the reception, you needn’t have stalked me.”

  “Hey, who’s stalking? This is business.”

  She held her HALO to the turnstiles then walked through, eyeing up the main road outside the station entrance. It would take her only ten minutes to get home from here and she reckoned she could get a decent enough head start on the snoop if she had to make a break for it.

  Her gaze swept past his narrow turquoise eyes and straight to the class three tattoo inked on the right of his forehead, half hidden under his inky-black hair.

  “I’m sorry I’ve scared you.”

  “You didn’t.”

  “Why did you follow me?”

  To his credit, he didn’t deny it.

  “You’re an agent at the DRT.”

  “And you’re a snoop. Have you been snooping in here?” Ruby touched her forehead and checked her blocking patterns were cycling.

  “There is the Code to consider.”

  “Snoops don’t follow the Code.”

  He smiled, but it was polite with no warmth.

  “Trust me, I haven’t peeked.”

  “What does it matter that I’m DRT?” Ruby asked.

  The snoop strolled over to a bench and without looking back called over his shoulder, expecting her to follow. “I wanted to thank you for apprehending that rogue tonight.”

  “All part of the service.”

  He turned to look at her. “Even so. Thank you.” He smiled and impossibly, Ruby felt heat curling down her spine.

  The man continued, “Any idea who he is?”

  “He’s in police custody. They’ll process him and take it from there.”

  “And you’re not going to try to find out more about him yourself?”

  She shook her head. “My job’s done.”

  “Aren’t you interested in why these people do what they do?”

  “Trying to kill people?”

  “Trying to take a stand.”

  “Against what?”

  He rubbed his temple. He looked tired and it aged him.

  “What you do in your department is necessary, worthy. But these people have their own beliefs.”

  “He was going to kill people. You saying he had a right?”

  The snoop shook his head. “Of course not. But maybe the Registration Act isn’t the panacea you think it is.”

  “Without it, there’d be chaos. Telepaths would be—”

  “—walking the streets like free men.”

  “No. We’ve seen what can happen if telepaths aren’t monitored. Just look at Walter Jarvis.”

  The snoop shook his head. “You’re the victim of your own propaganda. He was a nut job. And he was a telepath. The two aren’t connected.”

  “That’s speculation.”

  “And on your part as well. What evidence was there that Walter’s telepathy led him to kill?”

  Ruby paused. She wasn’t as familiar with the case files as she’d have liked.

  “Devan thinks he knows what he’s doing, but he’s not as smart as he believes. There are others out there who can see past the champagne parties and understand the patterns he’s following. I want to make sure that this country doesn’t continue down this path that it seems incapable of escaping.”

  “You talk in
riddles.”

  “I’m sorry I’ve scared you.”

  He got up from the bench suddenly and headed back into the station. Ruby watched him leave, knowing she now had another problem that itched to be solved.

  She didn’t hang around and hurried off down the road. All she wanted to do was crawl into bed and close her eyes. A short ten-minute walk through the dark streets and she opened the door to her flat. Buster, the AI dog that Fin had bought her on a whim, ran up to the door and barked erratically. It sounded like his servo motors needed servicing. Another expense.

  She got herself a drink and sat on the edge of the bed for a minute, letting Buster nuzzle against her palm. Idly, she wondered whether she should call Fin, see if he wanted to come over. Her bed was large, and she missed having someone to share it. If it wasn’t for Buster, the house would be deathly quiet and she couldn’t bear that.

  A vibration from her HALO indicated a message had arrived—several messages. The first from OsMiTech congratulating her on her new HALO and wondering why she wasn’t yet wearing it. The second was from Nikoli.

  Call me.

  It would be so easy to just accept his apologies and tomorrow they could pretend that nothing had ever happened.

  No. That wasn’t how this would pan out. She would not let him off the hook that easily. Nikoli could wait until morning. She set the device to sleep then turned off the light and went to bed.

  Saturday, 20 April 2115

  6:00 AM

  Ruby rolled over on her side and tried to bury her face in her pillow, but Buster had sensed the movement and jumped onto the bed, climbing over her shoulder to reach her face where he licked it with his artificial tongue.

  “Not now,” she said, pushing him away.

  Buster fell on the floor.

  A moment of regret—worry she’d broken it. Ruby pushed herself up and leant over the edge. “Come here,” she said, letting the dog jump up into her arms. He didn’t seem damaged and lay happily across her lap, letting her stroke at the sensor behind his left ear.

  It was only six o’clock.

  As she made her toast, she reflected on all that happened with the rogue and Nikoli and later, that snoop. When she got to the office, she’d dig into his background. She ate in silence and checked the calendar in the kitchen. Within a week, the landlord that owned her father’s flat would be demanding payment. Damn. When did this happen? When did she become her father’s keeper? Things were easier when Fin was around, contributing to her own rent, but…

  No. Stupid idea. Fin wasn’t moving back in. She would solve this on her own.

  But she wasn’t sure how.

  After getting dressed, she set her HALO to wake and it vibrated almost immediately. Fin. She hesitated before answering.

  “Hi,” she said.

  “Jesus, I was worried.”

  “Well, you’ve no need. I’m fine.”

  “But you were with him last night. The police will want to talk to you.”

  “Fin, what are you talking about?”

  A hesitation. He was probably sulking again.

  “It’s all over the news feeds this morning. Nikoli and his wife were murdered in their house last night.”

  Ruby’s legs gave way, and she found herself sat on the floor, her body numb. She let her hand drop from the side of her head and stared at the wall; the patterned wallpaper spun. A moment passed, maybe longer. She heard in the distance Fin’s voice calling her and realised that he was still talking, checking if she was OK.

  “I’m still here,” she said, talking into the HALO again.

  “I’m sorry. I thought you’d know. I didn’t expect to be the one telling you.”

  “I’ve only just woken up. Have they got them? Whoever did it?”

  “No. Do you want me to come over?” The voice was hopeful.

  Murdered.

  How could this be happening?

  “No. I’m good. I just need time to think.”

  “OK. I’m here if you need to talk.”

  Ruby hung up and set the HALO to do not disturb. She needed to get her head together. The obvious things hit her first, and they were the things she thought the police would be most interested in. Nikoli had not been his usual self last night. He’d had a private meeting with Devan Oster then left in a hurry, upset by something. He’d been flirting with that woman. God, did she know?

  Candice had clinked HALOs with her. Ruby swiped through her device’s history and found her contact details.

  Candice Hart.

  All she needed to do was press her ring to make the call. She hesitated. What could Ruby say to her that she’d want to hear?

  God, this was a mess.

  Ruby lowered her hand, opened the bedroom window and rejoiced in the cool breeze from outside.

  Buster ran up, agitated then licked her hand. She grabbed onto the stupid toy and held him in her arms, trying to feel comfort from the plastic and metal and fake fur. He purred. When did they decide to make a fake dog purr?

  Nikoli sent her that message last night. He’d wanted to speak to her. But why? She’d assumed it was just to apologise for being so rude to her, but what if it was something else? What if he’d needed her last night? Had he known who was trying to kill him?

  Monday, 29 April 2115

  9:13 AM

  A week had gone by and the days had blurred for Ruby who’d tried to stay focused. The jury was still out on how well she’d managed. Nikoli’s death had floated at the top of a few news feeds for that first day before sinking without a trace soon after. Glynn had given her a couple of days off but on the third day after Nikoli’s death she was expected to be at her desk, and so she was.

  Fin had rung every day and every day she’d responded the same. She was fine. She didn’t need him to come round. She would be OK. He began to anticipate the responses, and she worried she was driving a bigger wedge between them than was already there. But it would have been easy to use this as a reason to get back together and pretend that things were right between them. If she ever got back with Fin, it would be because it was the right thing to do, not as a reaction to Nikoli’s death.

  The Department for the Regulation of Telepaths had its office in Liverpool on the newly rebuilt dockside, one of a dozen new units constructed with a view onto the Mersey. There were days when she’d stare out of her office window, watching the ripples on the water and the drones in the air patrolling the borders. On most days, she’d catch the bus into the centre and walk the last ten minutes to work. She’d do that early, giving herself a chance to settle and have a cup of tea, maybe try to get ahead of the day by researching long outstanding cases, hoping that she’d get a lead worth following.

  Today was different.

  Nikoli was being buried today.

  She’d been invited of course. Nikoli’s sister-in-law had arranged the whole thing. All that remained was to put this day behind them and do their best to help the police catch his killer.

  The police had interviewed her about the days before his death. They wouldn’t give her any details other than what had already been leaked to the media. On the night of the InfiniteYou launch, Nikoli returned home shortly after half ten. The AI in his house had been disabled. Both he and his wife had been found dead. The neighbours had heard nothing. She’d asked about forensics but the policeman had politely told her that such information was private to the investigation.

  When she asked whether his death had anything to do with his working at the Department for the Regulation of Telepaths, her enquiry was met with a blank stare. Did she believe that it was?

  Sitting at her desk, sipping away at the now lukewarm cup of tea, Ruby didn’t notice Glynn enter her office.

  “Hey, you’re early.” His tone was full of concern.

  Ruby looked up and offered a wan smile. “Couldn’t sleep.”

  “The service is at eleven isn’t it?”

  She put her cup down and returned her attention to the access point in front of
her. Case files were scrolling up the screen slowly. The words not registering in her vision at all. “I’m not sure I’m going.”

  “Of course you are. You’re coming with me.”

  “Glynn… ” she said softly.

  “Ruby, I know you’re upset—”

  “Upset?”

  “—but this will help. Nikoli wouldn’t want you brooding. It’s not good for you.”

  “Glynn, let me decide what’s good for me.”

  “No. Sometimes I think it takes a friend to point out what’s best. I’m telling you as a friend that you need to go to the funeral.”

  Ruby didn’t want to look up at her boss. If she did, she might cry, and she was damn well not going to let that happen in the office.

  “What’s happening with Nikoli’s eyes? Have they been accepted onto the Remnant Programme?”

  He cocked his head. “Don’t worry about it.”

  “Glynn,” she said firmly.

  “Yes. Jack Winston and Honey Brown. They’ve good records. Hopefully, they’ll uncover some useful information.”

  She’d not heard of Jack Winston but she recognised the name Honey Brown. The woman had been on the programme since it began and was in her seventies.

  “Any more from the police? Do they know why the eyes were left intact?”

  “If they know, they aren’t saying.” Glynn sighed. “Just let this take its course. The keepers will find evidence and then the police will catch them. Have trust in the system.” He crossed his arms.

  “You’re being serious.”

  “Yes, I am.”

  Their eyes locked. Eventually, Ruby broke the deadlock. “I want some time to look into what Nikoli was working on.”

  “I’ll be looking at his outstanding caseload this week. I want a clear picture first of what’s what. Then, I can share.”

  “It’s important, Glynn.”

  “Don’t you think I know that?”