Control (Shift) (14 page)

I pulled up my tablet and did a search for Francesca Kingly. And there she was, smiling out at me from the screen. A young woman in ARES uniform. How could we have been so stupid? Anderson was obviously the name she took after getting married, which she must have done between leaving ARES and signing up for Project Ganymede. That, combined with the fact we’d been looking for a man, meant we’d never have found her if not for Benjo.

I sensed a change in the light and turned around. The back wall that was usually a full-length mirror was now smoked glass, still dark but clear enough to see through. Standing on the other side was Sir Richard. He’d been watching the whole thing.

He leant forward and pushed a button on the control panel in there. His voice filled the tiny room, reverberating through hidden speakers and sounding like he was coming from all angles at once.

“I’d like to see you in my office, Tyler.”

He pushed another switch and the glass returned to its mirror state, reflecting back my face, which was a picture of shock.

I played back my conversation with Benjo. Had I given myself away? How much could Sir Richard have worked out? And what was he doing at work this late?

I paused before knocking on his door. Up until now I’d managed to stay off his radar. I kept my head down and my boots polished to a reasonable shine and he’d ignored me. Just as I wanted it. But it looked as if he wasn’t going to ignore me for much longer. I thought about Shifting and avoiding this whole mess. But if I’d never gone looking for Benjo we’d still be looking for Frank Anderson, the man. Maybe I would remember that Anderson was a woman after Shifting. But I didn’t know if I could take the risk.

Sir Richard must have heard me shuffling outside. “Come!”

The door creaked as I opened it. I swear it never creaked when it was Morgan’s office. Either Morgan junior had kept the hinges oiled or Sir Richard had got someone to make it creak, just for the extra intimidation factor.

“Sir?” I said stepping inside. He was sat behind his desk on the phone to someone.

“Do you think I’d be calling at 2 o’clock in the morning if it wasn’t important? Get her in here now!” he shouted into the receiver before placing it back in the cradle and turning to me. He looked tired, not surprising given the time.

“Pull up a seat, Tyler,” he gestured at one of the leather-covered chairs in the corner. I dragged it closer to his desk and sat down. The seat was so low, I could barely see over the top of his desk.

“So, interesting events took place at the Pyramid today, it seems,” he said, tapping the brown covered folder on his desk that contained my report.

I was regretting ever telling him. “Yes, sir.”

“Any idea who the attacker was?”

“I don’t know. One second President Tsing was holding a toy rabbit, the next he was…” I closed my eyes, trying to block out the images.

“And you remember it all. Even after the Little Guards made their Shift. You remember?” he said, leaning forward in his chair.

“Yes, sir. Seems so,” I said.

“And has this always been the case, this ability of yours?”

“Pretty much, sir,” I said.

He let out a snort of air and sat back in his seat. “You’re not the only one, Tyler. I worked with a chap who could remember the old realities. Name of Cooper.”

“Really?” I said, hopefully. Maybe my ability didn’t make me into a total freak after all?

“Yes, odd fellow. But one of the best Fixers ARES ever had,” Sir Richard said.

“What happened to him?”

“Oh, he ended up in an asylum. Quite mad. There’s a reason we train you to forget past realities, Tyler.”

“Yes, sir. So I understand.”

“But in this case it has proved useful.” He tapped at the folder. “I’ll inform the Prime Minister. It might help ARES gain a little more favour. If the attack had been successful the outcome would have been catastrophic for international relations. If we’re lucky, we might just be able to take credit for stopping it.” He slid the report out of the way and started scribbling on a pad of paper.

So that was his game? He’d say that it was ARES members who’d saved the President. I didn’t really care as long as it meant I could get out of here.

“Will that be all, sir?” I said, after the sound of scratching ink pen became too much to bear.

“Not quite,” he said without looking up. “Mr Greene is a very interesting character is he not? And it seems you two have met before.”

“I, er, I had a run in with him in the past, sir.”

“And this was at Greyfield’s? Oh come on, Tyler,” he said, re-capping his pen. “I know you were there. I’ve known all along. I have reports of you running around asking people where you could find Ms Jones the day that the place went up in flames. And I know she was there. And I know that you are a very determined young man, ergo… I was just waiting, no hoping, that you might tell me yourself.” He steepled his fingers under his huge chin and for a moment looked just like his son.

“Yes, sir. I went to try and find Aubrey. I didn’t tell you because I was worried about getting into trouble.”

“Oh, you’re not going to be in any trouble. At least not if you just tell me everything that happened.”

“I don’t know what you mean, sir.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose as if trying to hold back a headache. “Stop playing the fool, boy. We both know that something very unusual occurred that night. We found Abbott’s charred body tied to a machine and it was clear that he could have let himself out if he wanted. But he didn’t. At first we thought the SLF might have been responsible for his death. But I questioned Isaac Black myself.”

“You spoke to Zac in the cells?”

“Cells? What are you on about? I spoke to him a few weeks after the event when he was issued with a Shifting license.”

For a moment, the two versions of Zac’s fate flickered in my mind. In one, he’d been arrested for unlicensed Shifting and locked up in the cells downstairs. In the other, the reality we were in now, he’d gone legit, got a license and used it to become hugely successful playing professional football. Yet more ripples peeling off from the Shift at the Pyramid.

“Oh, yes. Of course,” I said, trying to gloss over my confusion.

“He was very helpful. He said he’d had a change of heart about ARES and was willing to help us in any way he could. Especially given that was the only way he was going to get an official license for Shifting. Anyway, he said he had nothing to do with Abbott’s death and I believed him. When we questioned the soldiers who were on duty that night, they said that they’d found themselves acting against their will, leaving their posts and in some cases, falling asleep on the floor. And they all said they’d seen a boy matching your description walk by them and they’d not been able to stop you. Not a single one. Can you explain that to me?”

“No, sir, I can’t.”

“You mean you won’t.” He glared at me through narrowed eyes. “Do you have any idea how much pressure I am under to maximise the performance in this place? To prove that we are actually of some use? If Miller had his way every one of you children would be locked up and experimented on. Poked and prodded like lab rats. He wants to do more than control your powers, he wants to weaponise them, do you understand? It’s lucky he listens to me. I’m all that stands between you and the operating table and all because I have promised to give him what he’s after. Answers.

“We have never truly understood the Shifting power,” he continued, stroking his moustache. “There are theories and speculations. Some feel that it is simply what it is, while others, Mr Abbott included, believe that there is yet more to be discovered. Untapped reserves of power that would only be revealed in the right circumstances. What do you think, Tyler? Do you believe we’ve discovered everything there is to know, or is there yet more to find out?”

I mumbled something about not being sure.

“I used to think that the power was fleeting, limited. But after the research uncovered with Project Ganymede I’m not so sure. And maybe you hold the key to that. You and what happened that night.”

“I don’t know what you mean, sir. I went there, got Aubrey out and then left.”

I was a terrible liar. My cheeks were burning and I had to hold on to the edge of my seat to stop my hands from flapping around my mouth.

“But of course there is the footage from the security cameras.”

My quick intake of breath was a total giveaway. I didn’t know about the cameras. Or at least, I assumed if there had been any that the fire would have destroyed any footage.

He continued to stare at me, stroking his long chin in slow repeated movements. “But maybe we won’t need that.”

There was a knock at the door.

“Come!”

I turned around, relieved that someone was coming and I might have a chance to get out of here and call Aubrey and we could work out a plan. Only it was Aubrey at the door.

She looked tired, she’d clearly left her flat in a rush and hadn’t had time to put on her make-up or do her hair. She also looked scared. Her body was stiff and shaking slightly. Her eyes darted around the dark room and finally found me. When they did, she let out a loud sigh and her shoulders dropped.

“Scott, you’re OK,” she said.

I stood up as she ran forward and threw her arms around me. I returned the hug, resting my chin against the top of her head. I was so tired, so empty after everything that had gone on today, I just wanted to stay like this and let everything else fade away.

Sir Richard coughed his disapproval and so, reluctantly, I let her go and sat back down.

“Thank you for joining us at such short notice, Jones,” Sir Richard said, not sounding grateful at all.

“The person who called told me that Scott was in trouble,” Aubrey said.

I looked back to Sir Richard, wondering why he’d summoned Aubrey and just how much trouble I was in.

“Oh, not really, Jones. Take a seat. We’re just going over the events on the night of the thirtieth of September last year.”

“Again? I’ve told you everything already,” Aubrey said, deciding to stay standing. She rested her hand on the back of my chair.

“Ah, but you neglected to tell me that Mr Tyler was with you that night. Don’t bother trying to deny it,” he said, before Aubrey had a chance to speak. “Tyler himself has admitted to it.”

She scowled down at me and I knew I was going to get a serious talking to later about how I had to learn to keep my mouth shut.

“And now I would like your help in piecing together some of the events that took place that night,” Sir Richard said.

“I don’t know what you mean, sir,” Aubrey said, her mouth a small pucker of irritation.

He raised himself up out of his chair till he was towering over both of us. “No more games now, do you understand me? You will tell me what went on or I will make you.” Spittle flew as he roared at us.

Aubrey backed away. “Sir, I don’t know what you–”

“Enough!” he bellowed. “I had hoped it wouldn’t come to this.” He pulled open one of the drawers in his large oak desk. Aubrey and I exchanged a look that said a lot about wanting to get the hell out of here. When we looked back to Sir Richard he was holding a gun.

It was an-old fashioned pistol, the kind you saw soldiers wear for ceremonial occasions. But that didn’t mean it wasn’t still deadly. Sir Richard had clearly taken good care of it. Its dark barrel shone with a purple sheen from being polished time and time again.

He flipped open the cylinder and slotted a brass bullet into one of the chambers. I stood up and backed away from the desk. Aubrey was on the other side of the chair and I reached out my hand, trying to reach hers. Our fingertips barely touched.

“Sir, I’m sure there’s been some misunderstanding.”

With a flick he closed the cylinder over and pointed the gun, first at me then slowly he moved it so it was pointing at Aubrey.

“Actually, Tyler, understanding is exactly what this is about.”

“Please, sir. Put the gun down,” I said, holding out my free hand to try and calm him.

“Make me, Tyler.” He kept the gun pointing directly at Aubrey but he was looking at me. “You can, can’t you? What was it Greene said? That you’d be amazed at what you could make people do if you put your mind to it. Well, go on then, Tyler. Amaze me.”

There was a small click as he cocked the firing trigger back. I moved, hoping to put myself between him and Aubrey but he flinched. “Don’t move, Tyler, or it’s over.” His voice was steady although his hand was shaking.

I looked at Aubrey. Her eyes were wide, but she didn’t look afraid. She had her chin lifted and her shoulders back.

Shift, I thought. Don’t be stubborn. Just Shift
.
Only she wasn’t moving. I looked back at Sir Richard.

“I don’t know what you’re asking me to do, sir.”

“I’m asking you to stop me.”

I took a step towards him, reaching my hand out for the gun. “Not like that. With your mind, boy!”

“I... I don’t know what you mean. I can’t make you do things. No one can.”

“You’re a bad liar, Tyler.”

I looked from Sir Richard and back to Aubrey. She turned to me and smiled. “Go on, Scott. It’s OK. Do it.”

“Yes, come on. I haven’t got all night.”

So, he wanted me to force him to stop. Like I’d forced those men in Greyfield’s. Like I’d forced Abbott to kill himself.

I dipped my head and stared at Sir Richard, trying to summon up that strength inside me. Tried to direct my will at him. “Put the gun down,” I said.

Sir Richard raised an eyebrow. “Nope, you’ll have to try harder than that.”

I tried again, searching inside myself for any vestige of that power. “Put the gun down,” I said, louder although even less certain.

Again nothing happened.

“Come on Scott, you can do it,” Aubrey said, and her brow was furrowed above her nose like when she’s really confused about something.