((This chapter didn't want to have a name. I went for this because it hit me out of no-where and I won't come up with anything else any time soon.))


Chapter 10

Writing on the Wall

'The guy's name is Doctor Jacob Soutar,' Francis told Adam from the passenger seat. 'Other than that, all I know about him is that he's been all over the globe for his work. N-Pro Tech hired him as a researcher, much like your Megan.'

'She's not my Megan by any stretch of the word, Francis.'

'I … no. No, she's not. Anyway, he travelled to all the important places. During the Incident, he was in Hengsha. He's not augmented himself, so he wasn't affected. Apparently he sat it out in a dumpster. He says himself he's a bit paranoid, so please, do be patient with him.'

'He knows we're coming, right?'

'Yes. You need to go right at that intersection.'

'Where did you say we're going?'

'I didn't. We're going to Dundee. And yes, I know it's going to take us one and a half hours to get there. He lives in Glasgow. That's twice as far.'

'How did you persuade him to meet us halfway?'

'I didn't need to. He doesn't want us to meet him on his turf.' Francis smirked. 'He doesn't realise that I know pretty much exactly where he lives.'

'Imagine that, Pritchard, not everyone is a black hat.'

'I'm not a black hat, Jensen. Not for a long time.'

Adam smiled. 'If you say so. What's all that stuff you're carrying with you here?'

'You call that a laptop, Jensen.'

'There's more than a laptop in there, Francis. You've got cameras in there.'

'I may or may not have the necessary stuff for him to install the MANES.'

'You're not just giving that to him, are you?'

'Don't be ridiculous, Jensen. Of course not. But he mentioned that he's not quite happy with the available security systems, and I said I have on to sell to him.'

'Got that patent yet?'

'On its way.'

'And Marcus?'

'Is in hospital. We'll try to visit him tomorrow. Again, I suggest you flash your badge, maybe you feel less worried about it in a hospital than at a police station. Other than that, you'd have to CASIE your way in there. I doubt they'll just let anyone through to him.' Francis sat up straighter. 'Oh, and the Detroit guy's more than willing to talk to anyone who'll listen to him. He's not getting much compassion at home, so anyone who offers some support and maybe closure's good.' He lowered his voice. 'This must be hard for you, Adam. You went through the same thing. These people, none of them wanted to be augmented, it was just done to them against their will.'

'I'm fine, Francis. I hated this at first, but I'm used to it now. I can even face myself in the mirror without flinching.'

'I don't think you've got anything to flinch from, Adam. But I may be biased here. You need to get on the motorway now and stay on it until it says Dundee. Tell me when we're there, I need to … you know. Do some thinking.'

Ϡ

Frank felt a hand on his shoulder and jumped. Adam was obviously trying not to grin. 'Good morning, Francis. We're within sight of Dundee.'

'I wasn't sleeping.'

'Sure. You were thinking. I could hear you think very clearly.'

'Don't try to be funny, Jensen, you're not succeeding.' The problem was that Frank was smiling like a fool. 'Drive towards the town centre, there's a café called Belinda's Chancery. We're meeting him there.'

'And I thought you're paranoid.'

'Well, you're about to learn just how wrong you were about me.'

'Maybe regarding paranoia. Not about the rest, Francis.'

Unable to help himself, Frank reached over and brushed his hand over Adam's shoulder. 'You'll have to find a parking space here, we'll have to walk a bit.'

'How about that one?' Adam asked, swerving into a free space.

'Perfect. Congratulations on managing to park on an angled parking space.'

'Yes, Pritchard, let's hope I don't accidentally hit the heap of rust you bought when we get home.'

'Don't you dare,' Frank said.

Adam laughed while he got Francis's equipment out of the trunk. 'You used to be better at threatening me, you know.'

Despite himself, Frank smiled. 'Don't remind me.' He led the way to the pedestrian area where they'd find the café. 'I wanted to get you fired, you know.'

'I know you didn't want me hired.'

'There were guys stealing neuropozyne.'

'Ah, yes. You wrote to one person that you wanted to find evidence before I could or something. That was an attempt to get me fired?'

'Not a very good one, I know. For what it's worth, I'm glad I didn't succeed.' He looked around and snorted. 'Now will you look at that?' He pointed at the café. 'If I run my finger down those windows, they'll come away black.'

'Yeah. Mine, too.'

Frank elbowed Adam. 'Now listen. This needs a delicate touch.'

'And I'm a bull in a china shop, is that what you're saying?'

'You have an aura that screams cop, Jensen, and I'm not sure that's going to go down well. Let's try and handle this with … Where are you going?'

'Into the café, Pritchard. I'm not completely green, you know.'

Frank hurried after him. He found Soutar on a table in the darkest corner of the almost empty place. Adam had halted just inside the door. 'Mistake,' he said softly. 'If you want to be secretive, meet someplace crowded.'

Frank rolled his eyes. He had to work on not looking too disapproving of the doctor himself. He was fidgety, his dark brown hair looked as if it hadn't seen a brush in years, and his clothes were crinkled and stained. 'Tell him that, why don't you?' He reached the small table. 'Dr Soutar? I'm Frank Pritchard and this is Adam Jensen. We talked earlier.' Soutar looked at them both and nodded quietly. 'You said you could help me.'

'You? No. But your friend. Maybe.'

'With his memories, or with adjustment?'

'Both.' Soutar leaned close to them, closer than Frank would have preferred. 'Is he still in hospital?'

'Yes. They're going to send him to a rehab centre in three days.' Frank frowned. 'There have been more victims, Doctor. What do you think is going on with them?'

'What I think? I think someone is making a rather unethical experiment. Didn't a couple of victims have augments no-one knew?'

'Yes. One of them's been worked out. It's a kind of shock wave that knocks everyone out for a couple of minutes. Including the user.'

Adam looked at him. 'You didn't tell me that.'

'I didn't know until a couple of minutes before we left. The other's still obscure. Now Marcus has an augmented hand, but … well. People are wondering if that's all it is.'

'They shouldn't be wondering, they should keep him sedated!' Soutar's voice had risen very suddenly. He lowered it back to his almost whisper when he continued. 'He could be very dangerous.'

'Do you have any reason to think so?' Adam asked.

'Well. If you don't know what it does, always assume it's a weapon.'

Frank gave Adam a brief look and received a nod in return. It was probably better not to contradict. 'Doctor Soutar, I can hardly kidnap Marcus from the hospital and drive him down here to work with you.'

'No. Of course not. I will ask the rehab centre if I can work with him. I doubt they'll refuse the help of someone who used to work for L.I.M.B.'

'Why did we have to meet here?' Adam asked. 'If you plan to go to Aberdeen anyway, we could have talked there.'

'I wanted to be certain you aren't trying to … ah. I've been contacted before. By thugs. Multiple times. They wanted me to help them smuggle or to augment them …'

'I can imagine,' Frank said. 'We're from Detroit, both worked for Sarif Industries.'

'Well, then you know the worst of it.' Soutar looked defiant. 'I had to be sure you're who you say you are. Although you would be insane to use such big names for a con.'

'Anything we can do in the meantime?' Frank asked. 'Any way we might be able to trigger a memory?'

'If you were close, that alone might be enough.' Soutar shook his head. 'But … I don't think so. I believe that the biochip is actively blocking the victims' memories. This isn't just trauma induced amnesia. Mark my words. This is bad. Very, very bad.' Soutar clasped his twitching hands on the table. 'Mr Jensen, you used to be with the police, didn't you?'

'Yes.'

'Did you talk to the investigators? Do they have suspects? What of the other victims?'

'They don't really have a suspect. They guessed at a modus operandi and from that they built a profile of the doer.'

'But that's worthless! All conjecture!' Again, Soutar's voice had suddenly risen. Frank wondered how long it would take before someone decided he was a menace and sent the cops to collect him.

'Yes, at this point it's all it is,' Adam told him. He was completely unfazed. Frank wished he could say the same. Soutar made his skin crawl with his constant fiddling and his sudden outbursts. 'The other victims … We know one we can reach in the United States, but the others are tough to find.'

'And the last one? Anything peculiar about him? Was he involved with a pro- or anti-aug organisation?'

'He was … is a PI,' Frank said. 'I assumed that one of the earlier victims' relatives asked him to look into the case, but I doubt that by now. The other victims … most of them are people no-one would miss. Prostitutes, gang bangers. I have no idea who put him on the case or if he stumbled across it.'

'Or,' Adam said slowly, 'if he was an error.'

'An error?' Soutar asked.

'Maybe he was investigating undercover in the underclass and doing too good a job.'

Both Soutar and Frank stared at him. 'That happen often?' Frank asked.

'Undercover agents are a thing, yes.'

'We might want to keep that in mind.' Soutar said. He stood abruptly. 'Excuse me gentlemen, we've been here long enough. I will contact you once I am in Aberdeen. Good day.' He took a few quick steps away from them, halted, and returned. 'Ah. You have something for me?'

'Yes. Installation is very simple. The panels and cameras use wireless communication. All you have to do is let the MANES verify your identity in any way you see fit and it'll be all yours. Tell it what you want it to do. If you have questions, feel free to contact me.' Frank handed over the case Adam had carried to the café for him. 'Payment as we agreed.'

'Thank you. This will help a great deal.' Soutar all but ran outside.

Frank watched him leave, then looked at Adam. 'What the hell is wrong with that guy?'

Adam shook his head. 'I'm not sure. But I don't like him either.'

'I'm afraid he's the best we've got right now. Let's get out of here.'

'Isn't it a little rude to leave without ordering anything?'

Frank made a face. 'First off, no-one's asked us. Second off, I wouldn't want to put my lips on anything from behind that counter. Let's go before I end up as antsy as Soutar.'