Memory Zero (Spook Squad 1)

If Mary was supposed to be confirming the PM’s route, then maybe this was it. Maybe luck was with them, for a change.

She rose, and they moved cautiously into the next corridor. Five minutes later, they were outside. It was almost too easy.

“Chopper’s gone,” he noted, pointing to the empty helicopter pad. “Kazdan’s obviously taken off already, though I’d like to know how, given it’s daylight and he wasn’t wearing a full protection suit.”

“They’ve developed some sort of second skin that protects them from the UV rays. The vamps in Jack’s house were wearing it. I snagged a piece.” Though God only knew what condition it would be in after being in her pocket all this time. She unlocked the car door, then tossed the keys across to Gabriel and climbed in the passenger side.

“That’s obviously how Mary moved about in daylight.” He glanced at her. “It’s not a good development.”

“That’s exactly what I thought.” She placed the disk into the onboard computer. The screen hummed to life, revealing an itinerary. She quickly scanned through it.

Gabriel headed for the gate. The slight shimmer that indicated an energy field disappeared as they neared. Obviously it had been designed to keep people out, not in.

“The PM’s got three appointments left,” she stated. “He’s having lunch with the Premier at a restaurant called Henry’s, and then he’s off to open the new shuttle port. Lastly, the state opera, tonight.”

“It’ll be the shuttle port,” he said, grim certainty in his voice. “There’s been a lot of opposition to it, and there’ll be plenty of reporters present. Sethanon likes an audience.”

She glanced at the clock. “Then we have three hours and twenty minutes to arrange some extra security and get there.”

“Call this number—” He hesitated as she grabbed the onboard phone, then gave her the number.

After several rings, there was a cautious, somewhat croaky, “Hello?” The screen remained static—whoever had answered wasn’t chancing the vid-screen.

“It’s Gabriel.”

The screen came to life, and a sandy-haired man stared back at her. Stephan, in yet another guise.

“Hi, Sam. Nice to see you back in safe hands.”

“Nice to be back in safe hands,” she said, somehow resisting the impulse to add that she was, as yet, unsure just how much safer she was in Gabriel’s hands.

His gaze went to Gabriel. “What’s up?”

Gabriel didn’t take his eyes off the road, which was just as well, given the speed they were traveling. “We think Sethanon’s planning to switch the PM sometime during the shuttle port opening. Kazdan’s the executioner.”

Stephan ran a hand over his shadowed jaw. “Security’s tight. SIU, State and the Feds are all involved.”

“Kazdan has a full rundown of the security plans. Mary handed them to him.”

Stephan’s eyes hardened. “She’s dead, I gather?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

In that instant, Sam saw another difference between the two men. Saw why Stephan, not Gabriel, was the leader. There was no remorse, no regret, in Stephan.

“You heading there now?” he asked.

“Yes, but it’s going to take us a couple of hours. We’re over near Western Port. How much pull has Byrne got?”

Byrne was on the Director’s staff, if Sam remembered rightly. But if Stephan was Hanrahan, why not just use his alter ego again?

“Enough. I’ll start phoning around. Call when you get to the port.”

The vid-screen went static. She glanced across to Gabriel. “Why not use Hanrahan?”

“Hanrahan’s dead.”