Chapter 15: The bug

…

"Derek, Mr. Sarcozi is here to see you."

Chancer looked up at the guard's voice. Not David this time, another one. But he couldn't remember his name and in truth he didn't really care. He'd heard rumours that the guard he'd almost killed was returning to work in a couple of days. That made him smirk. He'd just been desperate to kill someone at that time and that guy had just happened to be there. Bad luck for him. But he'd survived. The last thing Chancer remembered was a sharp pain in his head then blackness. He'd woken up in his cell hours later. The guard hadn't come back in since. What the hell was his name? Ryan? Reece? Ray? Chancer shrugged. It began with an R. As far as he was concerned the idiot had acted like a woman anyway, so he would be no loss. Maybe he'd have another shot at him when he returned to work.

Grinning to himself, he stood up and let the guard shackle him and lead him back into the visiting room. Yep, there was Sarcozi, looking straight at him through the glass. Chancer nodded to the other man as his shackles were removed and he took his seat.

"Can you wait just a second?" Sarcozi asked the guard. "I need to pass this to him."

The guard pressed a button and a small window between them opened. Sarcozi passed Chancer the leather case. The guards would know it was an iPod as it was checked at the gate and it is one thing patients are allowed to have because they couldn't make calls on them. Chancer took it and waited until the guard had left before speaking.

"A fucking iPod?" He almost laughed. "Are you kidding Marky?"

"I don't know how it works," Mark said truthfully. "I just know what C.L. told me. All instructions are on there and he said in order to access it you'll need a password. He said 'as you're a chancer, you'll need to play the game to get rich.'"

Chancer glared at him, clearly taking offense to the pun on his name. Serves you right, Mark thought. Stop calling me fucking Marky then.

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

"I'm just passing on the message. The password has something to do with as you're a chancer, you'll have to play the game to get rich. Even I questioned it and he said it was better that I not know. Honestly Derek, I'm totally clueless. I don't know any more than what I've just told you."

Chancer sighed. "Fine. So what? Are you supposed to come back or something and take a report?"

I hope not… "Again, I have no idea. I was just told to give you the iPod and that message. Honestly Derek, I know anything else"

"He actually said he's a chancer, so play the game to get rich?"

"He did."

He's got a fucking nerve. Thinks just because I'm stuck in this nuthouse he can talk about me like I'm an idiot. I don't often kill men. But in his case I might seriously consider changing that!"

Sarcozi said nothing. What could he say? It wasn't like he disagreed after all.

…

Derek sat on the bolted down desk chair in his cell, looking at the iPod. His mind was racing. He couldn't even unlock it without this fucking password. I need to play the game to get rich? He thought. What the fuck Leach? I'm a Chancer? Was that just a deliberate pun on his name? Or was it another clue? I'm a chancer, but he's not a Rich, he's a Chris… Play the game…

"Jesus Christ!" Chancer said in frustration an hour later, slamming down the iPod. Fucking hell! He'd never work the damn thing out! He was giving himself a headache trying to do so. He stood up, walked to his bed and buzzed a guard asking for a cup of coffee. Fuck he could use a shot of whiskey. God knew he needed it.

Returning to his desk with his coffee, he again looked at the iPod in front of him. If Chancer was a clue, then the game must be some kind of name one. But how did that make any sense? To get rich? Rich was another name, a short version of Richard. Ok, so if it was a name game, then what was, to quote the old ABBA song, the name of the game? How did he play and crack the secret code?

Ok. So first things first. He'd established that this game of Leach's involved names. Chancer and Rich proved that. So the question was, what kind of name games were out there? Or at least ones which could give one access to a secret iPod? He frowned in concentration. He took a swig of coffee once he was satisfied it had cooled enough, then sat back, deep in thought. It couldn't be a guess the name game that made no sense. He had the names in front of him. So what else could one do with a name?

That was when it clicked. You could change it. The way it was spelt. Chancer had no doubt now, this password involved changing a name. So if the names he was supposed to change were already there, that meant changing the letters in said name. But he didn't think Rich or Chancer were the answers. This was better. He was getting somewhere. In which case, whose name did he have to change?

An anagram! Yes! That had to be it! That was the only way a name could be changed around. There were other names hidden in the name! "Got it!" He said out loud, his mind racing. It'd taken him over an hour to get to this point. Now, the question is, whose name did he have to make an anagram from? "Come on," he muttered under his breath. "Just think, then take well… Take a chance."

He sat once again at his small desk, getting more and more frustrated. When he closed his eyes, all he could see was the damn iPod screen. He was getting a headache from it. Standing, he lay down on his bed for a while. He needed a minute before he went back to it, money be damned.

Suddenly he heard what sounded like a struggle, the loud clanking of chains then the cell door right next to his slamming shut. He went to the bars and saw three guards standing against the wall, wiping sweat from their faces and gasping for breath. "Good work gentlemen," he heard Dr Loomis say. "Are you all ok?" He didn't have to think too hard about who'd just been escorted in by three guards. They hadn't even removed his chains!

Chancer found himself yet again thinking. His mother had taught him a way to think about something before he did it. She'd brought him up alone since his father had left them when he was three. Of course chasing another woman. Chancer wondered if that was partly why he hated them so much. Women. They were bitches who'd taken his father away from him. He'd never kept in contact with him or his mother. He didn't blame his father; he blamed the bitch who'd stolen him from them. The only woman safe from him was his mother.

It was known by her and now him as C.S.W. could, should, would. Could he do this, should he, would he? Right then, the loudest one was the one in the middle. Should. This was a fucking suicide mission! This absolutely was insane! They'd just locked the damn killer next door to him and he was still in chains! Something had clearly happened just now, an attempt or success on the life of a guard or patient by the silent killer. Chancer shivered a little. Should he do this?

Even if he thought of the other two could and would, should was still the one shouting loudest. Michael Myers was only protecting the damn woman he'd been asked to eavesdrop on. The guy who'd almost killed someone just then it seemed. As for would, well yes he would do it for the money if nothing else, plus possibly a chance to get out of here to kill and rape more women sadly not Danielle Hayward, but… Could he do it? That was the final question. Was he up for it? That went well with should in this scenario. He knew the risks, his death. Standing, he walked slowly back to his desk. If he was honest with himself, he knew he had to get the damn thing to work first so he'd know what he was being asked to do and how to do it before he considered fully whether he could or should.

Sitting down again, he once more picked up the iPod. Play the game to get rich, he thought. It seemed to him that Rich was a clue. Was it the first line of this password he needed? He picked up a piece of paper from the pile and the ridiculously blunt pencil he was given. He understood why they didn't give him a sharp pencil, so he couldn't plunge it into someone's eye, or neck.

He wrote down R.I.C.H and looked at it intently. Looking at the four letters in front of him, he considered. If this was an anagram, how could you turn them around? He only had one vowel, so it couldn't be that difficult. Slowly, he wrote C.H.R.I and felt a jolt of excitement. Of course! He was pretty sure he almost had it. Play the game to get rich. RICH. He'd turned R.I.C.H around and got the beginnings of what?

Chris, of course! Who was in charge of this? C.L! Chris Leach! So was the anagram a turnaround of Chris Leach's name? Judging by what he'd just found, it was possible. He hadn't used the S of Chris yet, so he turned his attention to the name Leach. L.E.A.C.H, he wrote, then looked carefully at it. Bearing in mind he still had an S to play with that had to be part of the second word, assuming of course RICH was the first. H.C.E.A.L. He wrote then, again thinking hard. He didn't think it was CHEALS, he'd never heard of anyone with that Surname, but what the hell? This was Chris Leach after all. His hand shaking a little, he typed RICH Chelas into the password box.

PASSWORD INCORRECT! Flashed up on the iPod screen. Chancer cursed under his breath. Ok, but he was close, he was sure he was. He couldn't be that far wrong surely. So what next to do? Simple. Swap the places of the A and the E. This time, he typed in RICH CHALES. He could hardly believe it when the iPod unlocked and a welcome screen appeared. By God he'd fucking done it! He now wondered if even Chancer had been a clue after all, considering C.H.A. Were the first three letters of the second half of the word.

Ripping his piece of paper into unreadable pieces, he tossed them in the toilet and flushed. Ok, so he was in. Now what? He glanced down at the welcome screen and started to read the text moving across it.

Well hello Derek. So you're in. Congratulations. Told you playing the game would get you rich. Or should I say, might. You have to do your job first. Don't worry about the little timer in the corner by the way, it's just counting down the time until this document is automatically deleted. Rely on your memory my dear man, you'll need it.

Chancer looked down and saw the little red clock. It read 4 minutes 35

seconds and as he watched, changed to 34. Damn. He knew Chris Leach was a technical genius, but this? He made so-called I.T experts look like kids with their very first computer. Chancer was surprised Leach didn't have a computer which said Welcome home Chris in a seductive female voice when he walked through the door then a slot opened in the front and his piping hot dinner came out, followed by a beautiful prostitute hours later. He looked back at the screen. He needed to read this and fast.

So, I'm not entirely a slave driver Derek. This iPod is a five hundred GB model, packed with all your favourite music, movies and of course porn. Plenty of women being abused for you to watch. But that's in your free time. How much of that you have is up to you, but if you want money you'll have to work for it. So, the app, this iPod only has one app on it, it's called "I'm listening." All you have to do is open it and hold the device up with the microphone pointed towards where you need it, while wearing the headphones included with the iPod. It can hear up to fifty ft. away, as clearly as if they are next to you. But if you want payment, you have to be listening. Did you think you could just put it on and leave it? No chance. Every hour, you'll have to press the "I'm listening" button labelled with a little earphone icon, or your payment will stop being calculated. There is also a "talk" button marked with a telephone icon, but that is only to be used if it's urgent. I should also tell you about the password. If it's entered incorrectly three times within ten minutes, well let's just say you won't be able to re-enter it a fourth time. You won't be alive to try.

Chancer stared at the iPod in a mixture of horror and awe. Leach had rigged this so-called iPod to kill if the wrong password was entered three times? Holy fuck! He'd known Leach was a genius, but this? Chancer didn't know whether to admire this amazing technical feat, or scream and throw the iPod down the toilet. How would it kill? Release lethal gas? Explode? He hoped he wouldn't find out. He knew the password and had flushed the paper, so it wouldn't be an issue. Still, one thing was certain. Leach didn't want anyone else getting into this iPod. So much so he'd kill to stop them. Chancer wanted to say Leach was bluffing, but if he knew Leach like he thought he did, he wasn't. Chancer sure as fuck wasn't going to try it to find out.

I will also be sending in my contact to get face to face reports from you as well. Just in case. The files are recorded onto a secure external server, but… You know. Can't take any chances. We might miss something. So expect visits from him from time to time. You know him and they'll let him in.

Chancer looked up from the screen, anger rising in him. What the fuck? Leach was making him work every angle for his money. It fucking better be worth it. The problem with Leach was that he had so much power and influence, not to mention he was terrifying, no one dared to refuse him. Chancer looked through the bars again towards Michael's door. He could just see the killer standing stock still at his cell bars, steadily gazing at Hayward's cell. The sight made Chancer hesitate. This was suicide, this really was insane! Could, would, should he do this?

He knew it wasn't too late to back out, money be damned. If Michael Myers found out what was going on, Chancer would be dead before he even realised it. If he could kill a guard and countless others without blinking an eye then he'd definitely kill Chancer for spying on Hayward without a second thought. If Michael had second thoughts that was. For a few seconds, Chancer was seriously tempted to say no. To hand this goddam killing device disguised as an innocent looking iPod in and tell Leach to fuck himself and his client, just as he'd said to Sarcozi. Having seen how nervous Sarcozi had been when he'd handed it to him, he sensed Mark was also uncertain about this. They would both be spying on Hayward and by association Michael Myers. Sarcozi knew this too, Chancer was sure of it. He wasn't even sure Sarcozi would come back. He was skittish, always had been. Yet, if Leach dangled a big enough money carrot in front of him, he wasn't sure Sarcozi would be able to refuse it. Chancer could understand, to some degree, if enough money was offered. Given how, to use the clue, rich, Leach was, it would be a huge sum. He wasn't sure he could refuse it either.

Slowly his hands shaking a little, he opened the "I'm listening" app. It looked very easy to use. A headphone Icon and a "Stop" button. Next to it was a telephone Icon with the word "Talk" on it. He assumed that would get him through to the people he was working for, if needed. He didn't know how long he was expected to listen for each day, he assumed the more he heard the more money he'd get. He sighed as he plugged in the earphones which had come with the iPod, (or was it, killing machine) and pressed the "I'm listening" button.

He pointed it towards Danielle's cell, holding it casually as if he was listening to music. Immediately he heard a soft hissing noise which he knew was from the iPod's microphones, which he was sure were way more powerful than standard ones, then heard Hayward cough. Jesus Christ! She was all the way down the other end of the corridor, yet he could hear her as if she was next to him. Too bad she wasn't. He'd fuck her then kill her and love every second of it.

Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to concentrate. This could be a very long job. Not to mention he had to press the button every hour just to tell Leach he was working. All it probably did was ping Leach's inbox with an email without which he wouldn't pay him. Probably didn't calculate anything at all. Technical son of a bitch had thought of everything. When the hell was he supposed to sleep? What if he missed something important? No loopholes to exploit and entering the wrong password three times would be the last thing he did in his life.

…

Danielle sat on her bed with her hands over her mouth. So Dr Stark had been right. She'd heard Michael being put into the cell next door to Chancer and Dr Loomis asking, "Good work gentlemen, are you all ok?" He'd told her Michael had tried to grab Ryan by the throat. So Michael was dangerous on and around Halloween.

She'd felt tears spring to her eyes. "Is there anything I can do?" She asked.

He's going home for the day but thank you," Dr Loomis replied. "He'll be fine, he wasn't hurt."

She sat there, four words running constantly through her head like a stuck record, but which she couldn't deny no matter how hard she tried. I love a killer. I love a killer. I…

…

"Back into the breach," Rick said as he pulled on his heavy jacket. It was freezing outside and he was finally able to return to work. He'd taken the full two weeks off and now he was back. Joanne had told him of what'd almost happened to Ryan. Dr Loomis had called warning her to be careful on her shift that night and about the interaction between Michael and Danielle for now. Two guards and no physical contact. Joanne had covered her mouth just as Danielle had, blinking back tears.

"Is he ok?" she'd asked Dr Loomis.

"He'll be fine, he went home after it happened. Just please be careful, you and Rick as the two guards who work closest to Michael."

"We will," Joanne had said, "Thanks."

Now, Joanne's emotions crashed over her, but this time of a different sort. Standing, she pulled Rick tightly to her and kissed him hard. "Hey," Rick soothed, as she fought back tears and hugged him as tightly as she could. "What is it babe?"

"I just love you so much Rick," Joanne said through the lump in her throat. "Please, please be careful tonight. I almost lost you once, I can't do it again!"

"Shh," Rick murmured, kissing her back. "I'm not going anywhere Jo. Plus I could say the same for you sweetheart. You do the same job as I do and you're even better at it than me."

"Oh shut up," Joanne smiled faintly, trying to wipe away her tears.

"Hey I'm serious," Rick murmured, as they held each other tightly. "You were asked to look after her and she trusts you. You're a damn good guard Joanne Turner and don't you ever forget it! So you be careful too, you hear me?"

"I hear you darling," they kissed again.

Dr Loomis had called Rick two days before, asking him if he was sure he wanted to work a night shift as his first day back. Rick had said it was fine, so now here they were. Dr Loomis knew about him and Joanne, he saw them one day when he'd come round to visit Rick while he'd been off. He smiled and simply said, "Congratulations. About time. We could all see it except you two!"

Rick and Joanne had stayed together every night since they'd become a couple, either at hers or his. Now they left Rick's in his car, both in uniform. They'd pick up their equipment in the office before starting. They called the office the guard hub which had all their lockers in and their break area. But Joanne tended to bring her own food rather than spend money in the staff canteen. Occasionally she did treat herself, but not often. Today she decided she'd treat her and Rick to a cooked breakfast in the canteen once their shift was over at 7AM.

For the last few days, Rick had come to pick her up from work at the end of her shift. Damn. She was never letting this man go. If he didn't ask her a certain four word question before too long, she'd ask him herself. Joanne Turner had never felt so happy or in love in her life. Rick had met her mother twice now; with her father gone she'd treated him like her son from the first moment they met. Although that might've been because Joanne had told her all about him for months.

"She hasn't stopped talking about you actually," Ruth Turner had said the first time she met Rick, pulling him into a tight hug as if she'd known him all her life. "So I feel like I know you already. Do come in, both of you, lunch is on the table."

When Rick had called her Mrs. Turner the first time, Ruth had mock glared at him and said "Hey, I'm Ruth to you dear boy. My future son in law calls me "Ruth," Rick didn't say it again, he'd just smiled. Joanne could see the two already loved each other by the end of the meal. Good. They were the two people Joanne Turner loved most in the world.

"What does Ruth think about you working at Smith's Grove?" Rick had asked her that night. "You being her only daughter and all."

"Oh she's great about it," Joanne answered. "Said she's really proud of me, just tells me to be careful."

"As am I," Rick said, kissing her softly. Joanne adored him.

Now, they reached Smith's Grove and showed their ID. "Good to have you back Rick," Jason, the guard on the gate, said. Rick smiled at him. "Thanks pal. It's good to be back."

"You be careful though alright?" The guard shook Rick's hand as he handed him back his ID. "You're a good man, don't want to lose you the next time."

"Well said" Joanne said. Rick smiled at both of them. "I'm not going anywhere," he said.

They entered the guard hub and pulled on their vests and equipment belts. Jack and Dave who were also working the nightshift shook Rick's hand and welcomed him back.

"We've missed you man," Jack said. "Good to see you back."

Neither of them said anything about Rick and Joanne, but Rick saw them smile at each other. "Do they know?" He asked her quietly as the four guards headed in for their briefing from the night shift supervisor.

"Um yes?" Joanne looked at him as if he were stupid. "I told everyone, I'm so happy."

Rick pretended to roll his eyes, then squeezed her hand and smiled at her. "Me too," he said softly. "I'd have done the same." He didn't release her hand as they went into their briefing.

"Listen up!" Andy the night supervisor said and the room went silent. "Michael Myers, it seems, has a reason to kill someone." Three guesses who, Joanne thought.

"He could've very easily killed Ryan Jenkins this afternoon. So if you need to interact with him tonight, take precautions, stay well back and be very, very careful. Everyone get me?" They nodded, Jack and Dave murmured "Jesus" in unison.

"Joanne, I believe Dr Loomis has already given you instructions about Michael and Danielle this evening?" Joanne nodded. "Yes Sir."

"Just call me Andy," Andy smiled. "It's only us in here. No need for Sir tonight." They smiled back at him. "Yes Andy," Joanne amended. "I know what to do."

"Good stuff. Ok well that's all, have a safe night guys."

They all said "Thanks," then headed into the block to start their shifts.

…

Derek Chancer lowered the iPod, removing the earphones. He'd had it on listening for three hours now and had heard nothing. After he'd tested it the first time, he'd taken it off for a couple of hours before putting it back on, but there had been nothing for him to hear. She was in her cell alone and not talking to anyone. He'd have to wait until things got interesting. But at least he knew how the damn thing worked now.

Lying back on his bed, he thought of all the introduction screen had said. The password triggering a killing device if entered wrong three times within ten minutes, Chancer highly doubted that would really happen. On that he was sure Leach was lying. It would probably be within twenty-four hour. That would make the most sense. If he couldn't get in, for the risk of dying, he wouldn't make money. Technical bastard. He'd seen the little clock which came up when he entered the password, showing how many more attempts he had before… Well, before whatever happened, happened.

He died? Again, Chancer willed that thought out of his mind. Never mind how the so-called iPod would kill him. He really didn't want to think about it. Plus it wouldn't happen, he was sure of that. He'd also noticed the line, "Can't take chances" which had also annoyed him. That one was most definitely a pun on his name, even if the other ones hadn't been and he hated Leach for it.

Insolent son of a bitch. Yet, he couldn't deny the guy knew what he was doing and knew his stuff. Chancer couldn't help but respect him for that. Whoever this client was, he must be paying good money for Leach to bring this equipment into operation. He obviously really wanted to know Hayward's movements. The why, wasn't Chancer's concern. But he couldn't deny he was curious.

His ears pricked up then, as he heard the block doors opening. It was the night shift guards. He glanced at his watch. Yep, had to be them. He looked through the bars. Ah, so Ray, Reece, whatever the fuck his name was was back. Ha, Chancer snickered behind his hand. Don't come too close to me pal, or Michael Myers for that matter. Not unless you really do want to die this time.

"Hey Reece," he yelled. The guard glanced over and pointedly held up his name badge. Rick. That was his fucking name. Rick. "Alright Ricky?" Chancer yelled. "You look like a woman! It's no wonder I almost killed you! Come back for another go?"

Rick turned away. Grinning, Chancer lay down on his bed. Oh this was going to be so much fun. He heard the soft clinking of chains and felt himself shiver a little. Myers had clearly heard him. Ok, so he'd said enough for tonight.