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Chapter 8.
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'You are not Tom Harrisson'
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Monday, Somewhere University complex
Tom was moving as quickly as he could, at the same time trying not to do any noise. He didn't want Chris and his other two companions to reveal they were followed.
Unfortunately Tom's plan to get out from them any information about today mysterious meeting during basketball match was unsuccessful. That's why he decided to find out it by getting there personally. The only problem was he didn't have time to notify Fuller about his actions in case it got hot.
It was getting dark now and the area of the University complex he entered was unfamiliar for him. Soon the three members of Brotherhood turned towards a lone building and headed to its side entrance. Tom was behind them. On his way he noticed small board indicating he was closing to the area belonging to Genetic Engineering Institute.
After entering the building the young cop found himself finally standing next to the door behind of them he knew were Chris with his friends and possibly Guardian. Tom looked around, for the place he was standing now was neither good enough to see or hear what was happening inside nor safe. He aimed towards the next-door class. Concluding from the inner architecture of the building the kind and arrangement of laboratories here should be the same as the ones he was having his experiment classes. Namely all laboratory rooms weren't individual but they made sequence of rooms separated partially by glass and partially by open hole in the wall between following laboratory. When Tom entered the room he congratulated himself the idea. He could hear and see everything was happening behind the glass in the next room. He got close carefully trying not to drop anything on the floor or to stumble over something in the darkness. The only poor light was coming from the next room, so that Tom was sure people there won't notice him, unless he makes some noise.
Tom started to watch carefully. There were six people in the laboratory. Three of them he knew for they were Chris and his companions. They were standing silently gathered together in one side of the room opposite the door. Their heads were lowered, Tom couldn't say if because of fear or respect. The closest to them was a short and thin man whose eyes were in constant move as if he tried to follow imagined flies. Next to the door was another short, but well built man, but Hanson couldn't see his face for he was standing in the shadow. Then the young cop turned all his attention on the sixth men. Judging from his clothes in all probability only he could be the mysterious Guardian. He was tall and muscular, dressed in black cloak with hood covering his face. Now he was talking to the three students with anger in his voice.
"You are late!"
"We are really sorry, Guardian" Chris dared to speak. "We left immediately short before the basketball match finished so that the area was still empty, but anyway we wanted to be sure nobody was following us. It took us some time."
The short-thin man got into the speech clearly discontent. "I hope they are more trustful with doing their tasks for our business than with their punctuality."
"There is no doubt. They've never let me down." Guardian answered watching the scared boys meaningfully and with threatening look.
"Now, to the point." The short-thin one changed the subject. "How are they going to be useful for us?"
"It is not your concern, Wallace. You give us your drugs and we will care how to smuggle it abroad. That's our job."
"But still that are my drugs. I want to know what's happening with them when they are not with me!"
"Forget it, Wallace. I can't risk to blow my dealing tracks. Hope you understand this and appreciate after your goods will get safely to Germany." Guardian said with flicker of threat in his voice. "Now, if you don't mind I would like to go on to my most preferred part of transaction."
Wallace nodded his head giving up the topic and bend for two cases lying by his legs. As he opened the first one everybody could see it was fully filled by small packets of white powder wrapped in plastic.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" He asked looking at the contents with pleasure. "All with your sign, as we agreed." After he said that he took another case and opened it as well. "As we agreed, twenty thou."
"Very well" Guardian smiled. He took both cases from Wallace and handed them to the man in shadow. Then he reached for Wallace hand and shook it. "Doing business with you is great pleasure, as usually. I hope you will arrive on our little ceremony on Saturday to celebrate our cooperation."
"Oh, I don't think so. I know the reputation of your sick ceremonies; many can't digest them. Too much blood and loud noise you call music. I am rather aesthete, if you know what I mean."
"So I am happy to tell you that there will be something for you. My boys are recruiting new member. They say he is really pretty piece of ass." Guardian answered with lecherous smile.
"You know, your preferences are making me a bit disgusted." Wallace said, and then added as new thought came to him. "But on the other hand, I am not as saint as I would like to be. I will come."
"You won't regret."
"Where it takes place?"
"My boys will get you know in proper time" Guardian answered and then continued as he noticed Wallace opened his mouth to oppose. "We trying to keep the location in secret as long as we decide it's safe for us to reveal it."
"Yes you're right, safety is most important. See you then." With that words Wallace turned towards the door and left.
Guardian waited several minutes in silence after Wallace went out, and then took the hood off from his head and turned towards Chris and his companions. Surprised Tom watched him with the highest intention, trying to remember his face. Guardians features were very sharp; tall forehead, narrow nose and mouth and goat like beard made his looks fearful.
"What do you have for me?" Guardian demanded.
"There is a symposium in Hamburg about Polymers for Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, in two weeks. I was talking with professor Potts, and he said he can bag invitations for us. But he starts asking too much questions, like for example why we are wasting our time for polymers whilst we're working in another section."
Guardian winced with disgust. "That Potts can make us trouble in the future. I hope you've given him good reasons?"
"Yes, we…"
"That's enough for me. I am really not interested." Guardian stopped him. Then he handed Chris the case with drugs. "How much chemical equipment and reagents are you taking on the symposia with? Will you be able to hide all of this stuff between your apparatus and reagents?"
"Yes, there will be no problem."
"Good, now tell me…" the older man started.
As Tom assessed he had heard much enough he decided to get out of there before they will finish their conversation. He had to contact Fuller immediately and tell him the news. But unfortunately as he moved back he hit the laboratory table and several glass bottles and test tubes fell on the floor and broke with loud noise.
"Shit!" was the only what Tom had time to think because a second after first glass landed on the floor he was running towards the door and then along the corridor.
"Don't let him to escape!" Guardian shouted.
Tom was on half way towards exit when somebody hit his back and he fell heavily on the floor with full speed. He tried to struggle to get free but two pairs of hands turned him violently on his back and he was met with stunned face of Chris Mycroft.
"Tom!" He shouted surprised. "What are you doing here?"
In the same time approached his companions with Guardian on the front. "Who is that?" The leader of the group demanded. "Do you know him?"
"Erm... It is Tom Harrison I was talking you about."
"Aah…" Guardian bent himself and looked closer at Tom with interest. "Our delightful new candidate to Omega – Alfa Brotherhood. Can you tell me m'boy what were you doing here?"
Tom flicked off holding him hands with quick move and stood up on his feet. In the mean time he was desperately thinking about some way to get out of there.
"Chris mentioned about some mysterious meeting taking place today, so I was curious what it was about."
Guardian shot murderous gaze towards Chris who seemed to shrink in himself with fear before the older man. Then Guardian turned all his attention back to the young man.
"So, because you were curious you just followed my pitiful subordinates and overheard our private conversation?" He said, not even expecting answer because he continued half with anger half with pleasure. "Did you know that curiosity killed the cat?"
Tom was opening his mouth to give some cheeky response hoping his self–confidence could help him to obtain Guardian's acceptance. But then somebody got in the conversation.
"I know you!" Everybody in the corridor turned towards the short–well build man who spoke for the first time during this meeting. His voice betrayed astonishment and long restrained anger. "You are a cop!" With the last word he moved forward so that Tom with growing panic recognized a man who he himself arrested for selling drugs in the school in their precinct about three months ago.
"A cop!" Guardian shouted surprised. "Jimmy! Are you sure you are not mistaken? He is too young to be a cop."
"No. It is Tom Harrison" Chris broke in quickly fearing that if Tom really was a cop Chris would be in big trouble by trusting him so foolishly. "He is a student in the same class as me… He moved from Boston University of Technology. I was talking with professor Potts about him."
"Don't let him to mislead you by his young appearance." Jimmy warned them. "I did this mistake and finished in jail. He is really a cop from Jump Street programme, people there are working undercover between young people."
"Well, well. That's a surprise." Guardian said. "I was aware of FBI agents nosing into my business. They are still making me troubles. But police? And undercover? They have to feel desperate to reach so low." After he finished he moved towards Tom towering above the smaller young man, grabbed him by his hair and forced his head back. Hanson felt an icy shiver going down his spine as he saw cruel twinkle in Guardian's eyes.
"Well, Tom" he hissed. "I think we need to have a 'chat'."
Hearing that, Tom was desperate to find any way out of this situation. He was sure after that 'chat' he will be killed. Guardian won't leave him alive if not for the sake of his safety (because Tom saw his face and knew his secrets) he will do this for the sake of pure pleasure.
oOo
"God, please" Tom whispered desperately. "Let Fuller be still in the Chapel." He was standing in the pay phone box panting heavily, tired after exhausting run.
Soon after he left in hurry the Genetic Technology Institute building he realized he was followed by Guardian companions. It didn't take them much time to bring themselves to order and gather another people for help and tread on his heels. Last half an hour Tom tried to lose them in the unfamiliar for him area, but they seemed to know exactly where to go and didn't let him to leave boarders of University. Finally Tom dared to stop and rest for a moment because he didn't hear and see any disturbance in the cold late evening air. The young officer was aware that without help of his friends from the Chapel he had no chance to get out of here in one piece. He needed help. The sooner the better.
"Jump Street Chapel, Fuller speaking." Finally there was answer on the other side of wire.
"It's Tom" Hanson gasped quickly and then without drawing single breath he continued. "I need backup immediately. I am somewhere around University." Tom looked around looking for any trace of his oppressors. "I was following Chris... I saw Guardian and his client but they noticed me... There was Jimmy Clarke, he recognized me... Now they are chasing after me."
"Tom! Are you hurt?" Fuller asked frightened by his heavy breath.
"No, it is from run." Hanson answered quickly aware what Captain was thinking at the moment.
"We will be as quick as we can! Just another question, Tom. Have you seen his face?"
"Yes and…" Tom started simultaneously looking towards suddenly disturbing and growing pair of lights on his right and shocked gasped "Oh God…" as he realized there was a car closing up to him. Tom didn't have chance to avoid the impact, it was too late. The only move he managed to do was to rise his arms protectively in desperate try to defend himself against inevitable.
In the Chapel Adam Fuller stood up unconsciously and pressing forcefully earphone to his head listened in horror as something hit the call box on the other side. He could hear Tom's short groan of pain lost in the noise of cracks and scattered broken glass. After that the connection was cut off and there was only silence. Fuller replaced the earphone quickly back and with shaking hands dialed new number.
"Doug?"
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