Skyfall (22 page)

‘Larinan Mann.'

Lari started awake from where he'd been slumped. He had no idea how long he'd been asleep, but it must have been a while, because the enclosure had significantly fewer people in it than it had when he'd nodded off.

‘This way please, Mr Mann.' The speaker, a short man, stood beside the guard at the entrance to the enclosure. He looked familiar, but there was also something nondescript about him, which made it hard for Lari to place where he'd seen him before. He followed the man into the lift lobby of a nearby mixed-use building.

‘Just through here.' The man led him across the lobby to an unmarked door which he opened, gesturing Lari inside. Apart from two hard chairs, the room was completely bare, and it was lit so brightly that it reminded him momentarily of the white exposure chamber back in DGAP.

‘Take a seat.' Lari obligingly sat, while the man closed the door and leaned back against the wall, considering Lari thoughtfully.

‘Now, Larinan – you don't mind if I call you that, do you?'

‘No. Why should I?'

‘Because it's not the name you gave one of our officers earlier this evening when he asked who you were.' He retrieved a flashpad from a pocket and glanced at it. ‘I believe you identified yourself to him as someone named Dariand.'

‘Is that all this is about? Listen, the only reason I gave that guy a false name is—'

‘It doesn't matter, anyway, Larinan. That's not why you're here. I just thought it was … interesting.'

‘So why am I here, then? When my father finds out he'll—'

‘Doctor Mann has been informed that we have you in custody and he will be notified when we are ready to release you, Larinan. In the meantime, I suggest you do everything you can to help us.'

‘My father knows I'm here? And he hasn't—'

‘Even your father doesn't have the power to overrule a security investigation into two major explosions. My authority comes direct from the Prelate herself.' The mention of the Prelate brought his memory of the man's face flooding back to Lari.

‘I know you. You were in that meeting yesterday afternoon.'

‘Very astute, Larinan, though I don't recall that we were actually introduced. My name is Jenx, and I'm the Prelate's head of citywide security.' He sat lightly on the edge of the other chair. ‘Now, can you explain why your maglift records for yesterday would contain a major discrepancy?'

The palms of Lari's hands went clammy.

‘Yesterday?'

‘Yesterday morning during first shift, to be exact.' Jenx arched his fingers into a steeple at his chin, and looked at Lari evenly. ‘According to the lift logs, you left a mixed-use dome – Dome 750 South – at 1012, and then left the same dome again several hours later.'

‘I was visiting a friend.'

‘You're not listening to me, Larinan. I said the logs have you
leaving
750 South, both times.'

‘So.'

‘So there's no record of you going and coming back again in between. Nor, for that matter, is there any destination log for your outbound journey at 1012. It's as though you vanished into thin air, only to return to your starting point much later in the day. And that interests me, Larinan.'

Lari clenched his fists, digging his fingernails into the palms, using the pain to keep focused.

‘I don't know what you expect me to tell you. Obviously there's been a glitch in the system.'

‘The system doesn't get “glitches”, Larinan. Not unless someone puts them there. Which is why I'm very interested to hear your explanation.'

‘I don't have any idea what you're talking about.'

The security man raised one eyebrow, just briefly but long enough to let Lari know he wasn't fooled.

‘We'll let it pass for the moment then, Larinan. But I expect an answer – a believable answer – before I'll allow you to be released.' The corners of his mouth twitched in a grim smile. ‘If I allow you to be released. Now…' He glanced quickly at the flashpad on his lap. ‘I understand that you're friends with Kesra Anatale.'

Lari's heart skipped in his chest.

‘So?'

‘You two have known each other for how long exactly?'

Lari was careful to keep his expression neutral.

‘Ages. We went through school together.'

‘That's right, you did. The advanced school, right?'

‘Yeah.'

‘She must be bright, then.'

‘I guess.'

‘And so must you, for that matter.'

Lari didn't respond.

‘So it's odd that her lift log for yesterday seems to have developed exactly the same …
glitch
as yours.'

Lari could feel Jenx studying his face, watching for any twitch, any weakness.

‘If you say so. I think it just proves that your system is stuffed.'

‘Your friend is very good at manipulating data systems, isn't she?'

‘Why don't you ask her?'

‘Just answer the question.'

‘Yeah. But like you say, she went through the advanced school. We can all manage data.'

‘Not like Kesra, though. I gather she's been in trouble a couple of times for unauthorised access to files and systems.'

‘Never for anything serious.'

‘But you do admit that she has previously been in trouble for it?'

‘I guess.' Lari inwardly cursed himself for making such an elementary error.

‘Tell me about Ratz, Larinan.'

‘Eh?' The sudden change of topic drew a puzzled stare. ‘What?'

‘Ratz.'

‘What are you talking about?'

‘Do you know anyone by that name?'

‘No.'

‘Are you certain?'

‘I think I'd remember a name like that.'

The investigator rose and slowly paced around behind Lari's chair. ‘You still haven't given me an explanation for the inconsistency in your lift logs, Larinan. Or explained why you and your friend Kesra have the same error in your logs.'

An obvious solution presented itself. He wouldn't tell the truth, but he wouldn't lie, either. He sighed.

‘Okay, fine. You obviously know that Kes and I worked out how to re-route the maglifts.'

The security man stopped his pacing, and when he spoke his tone was measured.

‘How?'

‘We hacked into a user interface that Kes stumbled across when she was …'He hesitated.

‘When she was?' Jenx prompted.

‘Trying to find somewhere that we could be … alone.'

Lari steadied his breathing. This was the important bit. If Jenx didn't believe him now, it was all over.

‘Alone.' There might have been a hint of amusement in the man's tone.

‘You know. Together. We thought that if we could loop a maglift and keep it running around the system, it would give us … a little privacy.'

Jenx sat slowly back in his chair.

‘So Kesra is your girlfriend?'

‘I guess.'

‘For how long?'

‘What?'

‘How long have the two of you been together?'

‘Dunno. A while.'

Jenx picked up his flashpad and studied it. Lari watched as he slid through various data menus.

‘You haven't told anyone.'

‘About me and Kes? No.'

‘Why not?'

‘You know who my family are?'

‘Of course.'

‘Well, there's your answer. Kes is, you know, a mixie. My father'd go crazy if he found out.'

‘But she went through the advanced school.'

‘That doesn't matter to my dad.'

The security man put the flashpad down again and regarded Lari with a kind of amused curiosity.

‘I'm not certain that I believe you, Larinan. But for the moment I think I'll give you the benefit of the doubt.'

‘Why?'

Jenx smiled, but it was not a friendly smile.

‘I must like you, let's just think of it that way, eh? Now …' He leaned forward slightly. ‘Obviously you and your friend Kesra have abused the privilege of access to the maglift system and clearly there has to be some sort of consequence for that.'

‘What?'

‘Crime and punishment, Larinan. If we allow the two of you to override the lift security protocols and hijack lifts wherever and whenever you want, what sort of example does that set for others?'

‘It won't happen again.'

‘I hope not. In the meantime the two of you will have your maglift access revoked until further notice.'

‘But …'

Jenx cut off Lari's protest with a wave of his hand.

‘Don't even try. Neither of you will have clearance until the security division decides that you can be trusted not to abuse the privilege.'

‘But how will I get around?'

‘You won't. That's the point.'

‘What about my placement?'

‘I'll authorise you to travel to and from the DGAP hub only, and only when your lift passage has been cleared by your father. You will also not be permitted outside the DGAP building while you are here in Port North Central. As of today, Larinan, you have no authority to travel anywhere in Port City.'

‘This isn't fair.'

‘Of course it is. You and your girlfriend have wasted a large amount of my time and the department's resources this afternoon. This is simply the price you have to pay.'

‘When will I get my access back?'

‘I told you. When we decide you can be trusted again.'

‘But how long will that be? How do I know you'll even remember to review my case? How—'

‘Don't worry, Larinan.' Jenx smiled that same cold smile. ‘You can be certain I'll be keeping a very close eye on both you and Kesra.' He stood up and crossed to the door. ‘Now, your father is waiting over at the security station and he'll escort you home.'

The door slid open. Outside, Port North Central had been darkened for the night and the only sounds came from the continuing cleanup of the results of the two explosions. The noise reminded Lari of why he was there in the first place, and as he stepped out into the lift lobby he turned to Jenx again.

‘Can I ask one last question?'

‘You can ask. Doesn't mean I'll answer.'

‘What happened this afternoon?'

The man looked amused. ‘I'd been wondering if you'd ask.'

‘Well?'

‘Something exploded.'

‘What?'

‘No idea yet. Check the webs tomorrow.'

Lari followed in silence as he was led back to the security station. There, Dernan Mann stood waiting.

‘It's about time! Do you have any idea how long I've been here?'

Jenx smiled. ‘I apologise for delaying you, Doctor Mann, but after this afternoon's problems, we have to be thorough.'

‘Listen to me, Jenx. If you think that arresting my son on some trumped-up allegation will give you any more sway with the Prelate, then you're severely—'

‘Doctor Mann, I'll remind you that we are dealing with a potentially subversive situation here and that the authority vested in me to deal with that situation comes directly from the Prelate herself. I have no need whatsoever of any further discretionary power.'

His father fixed the investigator with a hard glare. ‘Then I assume you have an explanation as to why my son was detained.'

‘Of course.'

Dernan Mann waited expectantly, but Jenx simply smiled again.

‘I'm sure you realise that I'm under no obligation to explain myself to you, Doctor. Larinan can bring you up to date on the way home. Speaking of which, you'll have to go back to DGAP and use the hub there. Larinan can explain that, also.'

‘What? Listen, Jenx—'

‘And now, I'm afraid I really can't waste any more time. Thank you for your help, Larinan. It's been a pleasure meeting you again. Good evening, Doctor Mann.'

With that, Jenx walked away. For a moment Lari thought his father was going to follow him, but Dernan Mann simply watched before spinning on his heel and setting off towards DGAP.

‘Dad—'

‘Not now, Larinan.'

‘But don't you want to know—'

‘Not here. Right now I want to get you back home and nothing more.'

‘But …'

His father stopped abruptly and faced him.

‘Listen to me, son.' His dark eyes flashed. ‘This afternoon when I heard about the explosions, I was convinced you were dead. Then I'm told you're alive but in custody on suspicion of having been involved in the …' – he paused, searching for a word –
‘incident.
And now I find that you've been interrogated by the Prelate's personally appointed head of security. At the moment I don't know whether to be relieved, angry or just plain scared. So what I want you to do is be quiet and follow me home. All right?'

Dernan Mann was nervous.

And that, more than anything else that had happened, sent a cold shiver down Lari's back.