Chapter 18 - Evidence
"Stella and Jack continued their search the next day, whilst Frank and Stark interrogated Bruce Norris. The three of them sat in the MI High interrogation room whilst they waited for someone to come for Bruce, because he was under 18, they couldn't question him without having a guardian present. The door opened and Meryl Spencer was led into the room, Carrie took off her blindfold and shut the door, the other three agents were watching from the other side of the glass.
;""Miss Spencer, thank you for joining us, our intelligence says you were with Mr Norris when he was detained by one of our officers" Frank said, Meryl nodded, "Let's begin, is there anything you want to start with Mr Norris?" Frank asked, Bruce nodded,"What's going to happen to me?" he asked, "Well, depending on what you tell us, will be the difference between going back to campus, where I assume you will be handed some form of punishment, or we will charge you with either espionage or high treason, and you will spend the rest of your life in jail. Your choice Mr Norris." Stark said. Bruce looked at Meryl unsure what to do, Meryl shrugged, "Your choice Bruce, this is serious." Stark clicked his fingers and Rose entered the room, she placed the evidence bags on the table before leaving, "Recognise these?" Stark asked, Bruce nodded, and pointed to one bag, "That's what I was getting rid of." He looked at the other bags full of alcohol, cannabis, and the documents, "I don't know what they are." He said.
"These were taken out of your friends' rooms, they're currently on a mission with the chairwoman, do you know what these documents contain?" Bruce shook his head, "Kyle just said….""Kyle Blueman?" Frank asked, Bruce nodded, "Yeah, he just asked me to go in his room and grab the stuff from the bottom of his wardrobe and get rid of it. I didn't know there was more" "The items in this bag you had on you are all from Blueman's room, you didn't take anything from anyone else's room?" Frank asked, Bruce shook his head,/
"Do you know what's in these documents?" Stark asked again, once again Bruce shook his head, "they contain sensitive MI9 data, agent information, mission reports and information, and blueprints to MI9 Darkmere prison, any idea what they were doing with it?" Bruce shook his head again, "Look, I just took the things from Kyle's room, I don't know what they are or what they are doing with it, they've barely spoken to me since I started dating James' ex, I just did what Kyle asked because I want him back as my mate again."/ ""Have they had any contact with anyone willing to buy this information?" Stark asked, ignoring Bruce's last comment, Bruce shrugged his shoulders. There was a tapping on the glass and Stark and Frank stopped the recording and exited the room./p
"Sir, maybe we could give it a go? He might open up to us?" Oscar asked, Frank nodded and sent in Rose and Oscar. Oscar started the recording again, "Remember me?" he asked Bruce, he shook his head, "We were on your campus, MI9, we're on this joint mission with your friends." Bruce shook his head again, "I see a lot of people in the dojo, it's become a bit of a blur." He responded."Listen, Bruce" Rose said as she got the photos out of the bag, "here's a picture of my team, and your in the ring with one of them, if this picture gets out, or gets sold to an enemy agent, our careers are dead. And so, is yours, you'll never go undercover again, I'm guessing you'll be booted out of CHERUB if that happens?" On the other side of the glass Frank smiled, they hadn't thought of using the emotional tactic on a teenager. Bruce turned to Meryl, "Just tell them what you know Bruce" she said. "James recently got a lot of money; I remember him asking Lauren to help him translate some documents into Russian so he could sell them. I thought it was just the usual, kids selling old homework you know." Oscar nodded, and Bruce continued, "Can you wait outside?" he asked Meryl, she nodded, and she left the room, outside, Carrie turned off the audio. "I want to speak to your boss," Bruce said, "not those two, the boss boss, I'll tell you everything that goes on I don't want to lose my career or go to jail; I just want to go home."
"Meryl was put back into the interrogation room whilst they informed the Head of MI9 about the questioning. Meanwhile back on the CHERUB campus, Jack and Stella were continuing their search of the CHERUBs rooms, they hadn't found anything else since they were in James' room. "Last one to go" Stella sighed, "David Moss, age 17" Jack was let into the room first, the pair had worked out a routine Jack started the search and ruled out any illegal drugs or alcohol and then Stella would search for documents or emails. Jack found nothing, and Stella came into the room, they found an old mission briefing from four years ago mixed in with bank documents and something else, she took it into the bathroom and called for Jack. Jack transformed in the bathroom, "I can't read these" Jack said, Stella shook her head, she couldn't read them either, David Moss was either communicating with someone in a different language, or they'd just found some of his homework. "I call Oscar." Oscar answered and they showed him the documents, Oscar identified the language as Russian, and more worryingly, the letters were addressed to The Grandmaster. "We need to find this David Moss" Jack said, he heard movement in the corridor and quickly transformed back into a wolf, Stella put the jacket back on and they came back to a girl standing in the room, "Can I help you?" the girl asked, "Agent Morris, MI5 – I'm just doing a routine security sweep on campus, who are you?" Stella said as she flashed her fake ID. "I'm Clare, I live across the hall, I've come to get somethings for Dave." Stella nodded, "Where is he? I would quite like to speak with Mr Moss." Clare shrugged, "on a mission somewhere, he sent a message saying he needed more clothes sending, so I was just supposed to get them and take them over to mission control." Stella nodded, "Take what you need, you can take me over there" she said. Clare grabbed some clothes from David's wardrobe and showed Stella the way to the Mission Control building.
"Stella knocked on the door, and she, Jack and Clare entered, "Agent Morris MI5 I'm doing a security sweep, I need to speak to you about the whereabouts of Mr David Moss." Stella said as she sat down, Clare placed the clothes on the desk and exited the room, shutting the door behind her, "Dave is on a mission currently, and I cannot divulge that information Miss Morris, now if you please" the man said and pointed to the door. Stella smiled and let Jack off the lead, she noticed the mans name on the plate on his desk, "Mr Asker, I think I'll start with your office, if you have any questions or objections, please direct them to the intelligence minister, as he has authorised this search, now if you wouldn't mind leaving your work phone on the desk and leaving the room." Stella said with authority, Ewart Asker sighed and placed his phone on his desk and left the room. Jack couldn't find anything, but Stella found more documents that were similar to those found in James' and Dave's rooms. Ewart Asker was the Zara's husband, she must have known that her husband was up to something shady, Stella called Stark.
"Stark, London, we've found more documents in Zara's husbands' desk, we're almost done here, just a few offices to go, then we'll be back. Is Norris talking?" Stella nodded her head as to acknowledge the reply. She put the phone down and called Ewart Asker back into the room, Stella asked him to sit down. "Who is David Moss' handler on this current mission?" she asked, "I am" Ewart replied. "How long until the mission is completed?" she asked, "a couple of weeks, maybe months, it's just started." Stella nodded, "Bring me another mission controller of a similar rank to you please Mr Asker." Ewart nodded, and left, he came back with a blonde woman, "Chloe Blake" she said as she extended your hand. Stella shook her hand, "Which one is your office?" Stella asked her, Chloe pointed directly across the hall. "Wait here please, my dog will make sure you don't run off" Stella left to quickly search Chloe Blakes office, Jack sat in the open doorway, Chloe approached him and he growled, she knelt down and extended her hand and Jack realised that she was trying to introduce herself, not run away, Jack sniffed her hand and allowed her to pet him. Stella returned shortly after, Jack looked up at her and she shook her head. "Miss Blake?" she said to Chloe, "Do you currently have any active missions?" she asked her, Chloe Blake shook her head, "I just got back, I haven't had time to prepare anything yet." She replied. "congratulations, you've just got a new mission, you're taking over from Mr Asker, I'll leave him to fill you in on the details. Don't go anywhere, I'll be back soon." Stella left the room, again she left Jack in the room. She quickly searched the rest of the offices and downloaded the CHERUB archives onto a MI9 hard drive. Ewart filled Chloe in on the mission, Jack was interested to learn that David Moss was on a mission with a young agent investigating a human trafficking ring in the States. Stella came back after an hour and a half, "You up to date?" She asked Chloe, she wasn't going to let Ewart fill in another mission controller, however when she learnt that Dave was on a mission with an 11 year old she knew she would felt guilty if she left them without an adult contact point. "How come you're not in the States Mr Asker?" Stella asked Ewart, "had to collect items and take them back, RAF jet was due to take me back tomorrow morning, the agents are working with the FBI, there's an FBI agent in the house with them, I felt like I could leave." Stella nodded, then pulled out a set of handcuffs, Chloe Blake stepped back, "Ewart Asker, I'm arresting you on suspicion of espionage and high treason, you do not have to say anything, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law." She left the room, continuing to recite Ewart's rights as she left. Jack stayed with Chloe Blake who looked shocked. Stella returned only moments after, "Oh, Miss Blake," she handed Chloe her card, "The second Mr Moss is back on British soil and has been debriefed I expect a phone call." Chloe nodded, "Can I speak to him about this? The mission is still in its infancy, I could replace him?" she asked Stella, Stella paused and called the intelligence minister, "Pull Moss. Call me when you've made the switch and send him to Heathrow, I'll meet him there."/
"Stella, Jack and Ewart Asker arrived back at the hotel, Jack jumped on the bed and Stella took the jacket off him, she also uncuffed Ewart. "Drink?" she asked him, he nodded, and she made two cups of coffee and flicked on the TV. There was a news story about the leak, Stella turned the TV up "You should hear this" she said. "More on that story that several agents and official in the security service have been arrested following the discovery of several documents which are believed to have been sold to foreign intelligence agents." Stella shut the TV off. Ewart protested, "They were never going to be sold." "I think that should have been made clear to one of your agents – I can't say no more until you get your lawyer unless you waive that right." Ewart sat silent. There was a knock at the door and Jack recognised it was Frank. Stella opened the door and Jack jumped into Franks arms, "hello boy" he sat as he put Jack down. Jack jumped back on the bed as Frank produced a blindfold. "Mr Asker, you're being transferred to MI9, you're required to put on this blindfold." Ewart nodded, he was in no position to argue./p
"Ewart was put into a car with Stella and other MI9 agents, Frank had driven to the hotel in his own car, Jack transformed back into a human and stretched before double checking they had all their belongings and got in the car. "Sorry about jumping up" he said as he looked at the paw prints on Frank's jacket. Frank laughed, "Don't worry about it. You've done good. Zara's husband, Senior Agent David Moss, and two of the four on the mission currently. Anything on John Jones?" Jack shook his head. "Squeaky clean, only dodgy thing we found was he once forgot a car payment, but he paid it the next day. He's ex MI5 he's the one person we knew there would be nothing on." Frank nodded, "Actually," Jack said as they pulled into a service station, Frank knew Jack would be hungry, "there was something dodgy in Jones' draw" Frank looked confused, Jack smiled, "a picture of you and Stark about 15 years ago" Frank tapped Jack on the shoulder and they pulled into the drive through.
"It was late by the time Frank and Jack arrived back in Stoneybridge, so they headed straight home. They pulled into the driveway and found Mr Jeffries sat on their doorstep, "Alright Mr J?" Frank said in his caretaker voice as they got out of the car, Mr Jeffries nodded, "I need to speak to Jack if that's alright Frank" Frank and Jack were both confused but they let him into the house and went through to the kitchen, "What do you need sir?" Jack asked. Mr Jeffries explained "Rebecca, sorry, Dr Whitewood, was a good friend of mine, this arrived on my desk this morning, for you." Frank came into the kitchen upon hearing Dr Whitewood mentioned, "What is it?" Jack asked, Mr Jeffries shrugged, "Paperwork, I didn't read it, I assume you two know each other?" Jack nodded, "She's helped us out of a few scrapes" he replied. "Do you know what happened to her?" Mr Jeffries asked sadly, Jack shook his head, of course he knew, but he couldn't say that. "The police say she was murdered, who'd want to hurt Becca?" Jack shrugged, "disgruntled patient?" Frank suggested. Mr Jeffries nodded, "Anyway, I'd better be going." He said, Frank showed him out and Jack began to dig through the paperwork. The top section was largely mundane, research papers into human medicine, the bottom however contained details on his pack, all the research and studies Segolia had done on the wild pack. Frank came back into the kitchen "Would Jeffries have read it all?" he asked worriedly, Jack shook his head, she was careful, every other page is on human medicine, you'd only pick it out if you knew what you were looking for." Frank nodded, "What are you going to do with it?" he asked. Jack shrugged, "I'll show it to Jana and Rhydian eventually, for now, I guess I'll just hide it away."