The Abyssal Box, page 2
She stood. ‘Forgive me, gentlemen. A situation is developing, and I need to get a report on it.’ She strode away from the table as she started dialling.
Even if they artifact was recovered, this would mean more trouble for her. If it wasn’t recovered, that probability would become a certainty.
Chapter 3
Cassie was reconsidering her decision to let Peter drive. His enthusiasm had only been enhanced by the prospect of some action, clearly an inappropriate response.
At least when they reached the warehouse district the traffic grew less congested, and so minimised the likelihood of collisions. Even if the clearer streets encouraged him to step on the gas.
All she could do was direct him according to the GPS, so that he didn’t have to look at it. Doing so also meant she wasn’t staring at the streets whizzing past them way too fast, and she wouldn’t see their end coming if the inevitable happened. Which it didn’t, somehow.
He only slowed when they came into sight of the taskforce van, and Nugent’s car. They slowed enough that he didn’t actually screech to a stop, which was something. Cassie might still need to suggest a remedial driving course for him. She wasn’t sure if their targets knew they were here, but she’d had him turn off the siren a couple of blocks away.
Their FBI adjunct, Nugent, stood unhappily as Yuen directed her Euclidean team into position from the back of the van.
‘Where are they?’ Cassie asked as they joined them.
Nugent pointed at a building that looked little different from its neighbours. The parts of it visible from their position offered little clue as to what it contained. Or had previously contained, since a closer look noted the rust on the doors and locks. It didn’t look especially active.
‘We’re sure they’re in there?’ she asked.
Yuen nodded, fully kitted out in the protective body armour her team used. Cassie and Peter also had sets available, and should probably put them on. While she disliked not using their police issue stuff, the Euclidean gear was tougher, and would stop more bullets. The branding wasn’t too overt anyway, and only for their subsidiary private military contractor company, Cyran Security. But it was the principle of the thing that grated.
‘They took an artifact from the facility,’ said Yuen. She nodded to the closed van. ‘The Finder tracked it here.’
A missing artifact. Great. That didn’t make thing at all more dangerous. Cassie often wished the artifacts could be buried in a very deep hole, and made to stay there.
The Finder was the Euclidean asset who used the Compass: an artifact that could track anything to which it had been touched and attuned. Which, in reality, was probably even creepier than it sounded, and may leave all kinds of weird radiations from its use. She’d found it better to avoid thinking about such things. Especially in dangerous situations.
‘Which one?’ she asked, just to know what they’d be walking in to.
‘The Box.’
She racked her brain for the briefing material they’d had on the artifacts.
The Box; The Abyssal Box; Pandora’s Music Box; the Thief of Faces. It looked like a normal music box - hardly commonplace these days, but still. It recorded the appearance of anyone looking into it, down to the DNA level. Its attuned user could flick through the stored appearances, and choose one. They’d then be transformed into an exact physical duplicate of the person chosen.
Creepy, but not immediately offensive. And they shouldn’t have had the opportunity for a new user to use it scanning any strategically compromising faces, so it’d offer little immediate tactical advantage to the robbers.
‘I have teams set up at the known exits,’ said Yuen. ‘We’re getting hold of the plans for the place, and I’m waiting on more units before we move in.’
‘Call in the police to take it,’ said Cassie, nodding to Peter to make the call. ‘It’ll work better for the legalities, and if we can keep them contained then we have time.’
‘There’s an artifact in play,’ said Yuen. Not aggressively, but she had her duties, and the artifact would be her priority. ‘The situation is dangerous.’
‘That’s what we’re paid for.’
‘We’re paid more.’
‘Then you can buy the drinks later to show your appreciation.’
Yuen simply stared calmly at her.
‘I read the files,’ said Cassie. ‘It’s not immediately hazardous if they avoid it. Also, we’ll need a warrant before we go in.’ She turned to Peter, still on the phone but looking like he was on hold. ‘Get that started and run a check on who owns the place.’
He nodded.
‘You need a warrant to go in,’ said Yuen.
‘You need a warrant to not be arrested for breaking in.’
‘We’ve got good lawyers. And we followed them here. Aren’t there laws about being in pursuit of felons?’
‘For actual cops,’ said Cassie. ‘And did you see them actually enter the building? Or are you assuming because that’s where the Finder says the artifact is? If called to testify, how would you explain how you’re so certain they’re in there? Without risking getting committed. Unless they open fire, we should hold position and play this strictly by the book.’
‘We’re okay if they shoot at us, though?’
‘That’s a crime. We’d be responding. But don’t think about faking it.’
Yuen shrugged, and turned back to surveying their target.
‘I’ve got the floorplans,’ said Nugent, looking at his phone. He fiddled about with it a bit. ‘They show no links to neighbouring buildings. It has a basement, but that should be isolated.’
That wasn’t to say there hadn’t been renovations made without the changes being updated on the plans, or which hadn’t been officially sanctioned.
‘The company that owned it went bust,’ said Peter. ‘Ownership seems murky at the moment, so we won’t get permission from them.’ It also meant the place was unlikely to have a link to the perpetrators.
‘No one to complain about us going in, then?’ asked Yuen, though not with any hope of being given the go ahead.
‘The warrant’s being written up,’ said Peter.
One of Yuen’s people came up to her with a pad. Yuen stared at it a moment before turning to them. ‘Thermal scan shows no one inside.’
Private security had all the best toys, which at least in this circumstance allowed the tensions to ease off. They weren’t under immediate danger of being attacked. At least not from inside the building.
Yuen looked at Cassie. ‘Still need a warrant, though?’
She was sure there was a smile somewhere behind the impassive expression. ‘Yes.’
There was enough skirting of the law by the taskforce as it was, even when they were actually upholding the law. That they did so in a less than transparent manner exacerbated the image issues.
‘Are we sure the artifact is still inside?’ asked Nugent. ‘There’s no way they could be...’ He struggled a moment with things he still wasn’t comfortable talking about. ‘Spoofing the signal in some manner?’
‘No way we’re aware of,’ said Yuen.
‘Then why dump it here?’ asked Nugent. ‘If they knew enough about it to want it, they must know you have the means to track it.’
‘And the fact they left it here and cleared out so quickly implies they wanted this,’ said Cassie. ‘We should get the bomb squad out here.’ She glanced at the van, then their surroundings. ‘And consider getting the Finder somewhere more secure.’
‘The van’s fortified,’ said Yuen. ‘I don’t want him leaving in case the Box starts moving. Even if we can’t find heat signatures, I’m not trusting anything until it’s secure.’
Sending the Finder back would also require reducing their bodies on the ground to ensure he was safe, so it might be wise to stay as they were until reinforcements arrived. It shouldn’t take long.
‘Let’s get our vests and gear on anyway, just in case.’
Nugent and Peter nodded, and the three of them returned to their cars to get suited up.
She hated this kind of thing. It’d started out so relatively pedestrian. A robbery homicide. Then it had to go and turn into some kind of game, one whose rules everybody had neglected to share with her. Why couldn’t she get normal crimes?
The vest was halfway over her head when the building erupted. Even over the background sounds of the city it was loud, a sudden sharp crack, laced with breaking glass, and a concussion that shook her enough to be a concern. More of a shock than a direct threat, though.
She pulled down the vest, then glanced around to check the others were uninjured. They were on their feet, however unsteady, with no bloody marks.
Next up, she confirmed the source, which was clearly the building they’d been watching. A number of windows on the lower floors were newly broken, and smoke came from some of the lower ones. A large blast, but not large enough to bring the place down. Yet. Enough to possibly cause structural damage.
They joined Yuen, who was on the radio checking on her team. She turned to them. ‘No serious casualties.’ She hesitated as another burst came from her earpiece. ‘Confirm that?’ After a brief response, she turned to them. ‘The Compass has lost the Box.’
‘What?’ asked Peter. ‘What do you mean it’s lost it? The signal, or was the Box destroyed by the blast? Can these things be destroyed?’
‘Matter of debate,’ said Yuen. ‘All I know is that the Finder’s lost the signal. Only that signal.’ She glanced at Cassie. ‘Do we still need to wait for the warrant?’
‘No,’ said Cassie, giving Yuen a moment to stand up and prepare to give orders before finishing. ‘But unless there’s an immediate danger still inside, we’ll have to wait for the Fire Department to clear it before we can go in.’
She was rewarded by a mild glare from the usually impassive face, which was rewarding. Since the day looked like it would drag on, she should get her entertainment where she could.
Chapter 4
Amanda ensured her mask of calm was firmly in place as she spoke to Yuen on the phone. The council ante-chamber might not technically be enemy territory, and she was alone at the moment, but that was no reason to let her guard down. It was probably worse than enemy territory. Among ostensible allies you had to avoid overt moves until you had no choice, or until they had no hope. Forced politeness was the way of things.
It was more ostentatious than the council meeting chamber itself, which had no decorations that could distract from council business. Out here, portraits of revered elders of yore stared down on those awaiting audience. All of them seemingly caught in a judgemental pose. They’d established their branding early on.
‘We have to wait for the Fire Department to declare it clear before we can go in,’ said Yuen, a sliver of frustration escaping her controlled tone. ‘We’ll be watching in case the thieves are among them, but there’s only so much we can do.’
‘Don’t risk causing a scene,’ said Amanda. ‘Just report any suspicions.’ She shared the irritation at being bound by protocols, but that was the game they were stuck in. It wouldn’t pay in the long run to throw their weight around at every inconvenience. Power was best exercised strategically.
The door to the council chamber opened, and Markham joined her. Having the full report now would have been useful, but that wasn’t where she was. She’d have to make do with what she knew, no matter how bad it was for her.
‘Alert me to any updates as soon as you have them.’ She ended the call and turned to Markham. ‘There was an explosion.’ She kept her tone commendably calm. ‘The Compass lost the signal to the Box.’
Even given his controlled composure during these meetings, Markham couldn’t help his eyes widening, and an intake of breath. He quickly pulled himself together. ‘What do you think it means?’
‘I think it’s too soon to think anything useful,’ she said. ‘But what we do know invites certain deductions. How did they know where to find the Box? It implies some kind of information breach.’ As she had oversight over the site, it was a failing under her command. Which someone would point out if she didn’t get in front of it.
He glanced at the door to the meeting room. ‘These problems are all being seen as your responsibility.’
And, by extension, his. At least by his political rivals, and anyone they could convince. Although since everyone on the council was a political rival at some point, it only offered an excuse for moves they’d make anyway.
‘Yes,’ she said. She had no doubt he’d distance himself from her behind her back. Or in front of her face. That was simply how the game was played. Everyone was either a player or a pawn in their games of powers.
‘Whatever you have on Absalom,’ he said,’ I doubt it’ll keep him in line forever.’
‘I doubt it’s kept him in line this long,’ she said. There was no sense playing coy, since he’d already deduced certain things, if he didn’t already know them for certain. It was never wise to underestimate how much he knew.
‘You need a win here. And you’re starting from a poor position. There’ve been too many security lapses in your domain. Possibly an unfair judgement since you oversee the most obvious targets, but you know that won’t matter. And while I believe you made the smart decision getting into bed with the government, too many upsets of this kind could make certain outsiders inquisitive about exactly what we have that’s worth stealing. That kind of focussed inquisitiveness, we can do without. It would upset our twitchier colleagues.’
Not that she believed the implication of his loyalty to her, of course. She was a pawn. One who might potentially cause him trouble. If he saw a profit in burning her himself, it’d be the smarter play for him. She had to remain useful, but in the right way.
‘It’ll take more than some local troubles,’ she said. ‘I convinced them distance from the taskforce would be wise. Provided they get the goods I admitted we could offer, they’ll be happy to ignore us unless things get too loud.’
‘Explosions are loud,’ said Markham. ‘Newsworthy.’
‘Local news,’ said Amanda. ‘And we own some of the local news stations. We’re having it downplayed.’ Or would do, when she got a moment to order it done.
‘There are too many local stories, forming a pattern that might not be so easily ignored. It risks becoming too loud for me to be able to help you.’ Delivered with a mask of sincerity he’d had decades to perfect. Of little use if the person you used it on knew you well enough to barely notice its façade.
She’d never deluded herself about their relationship. He’d been in the game so long that he saw the world in turns of moves, pawns, and opponents. Amanda had no intention of being the former two, and would sooner avoid openly being the latter. But there was no call to go bursting his bubble.
Not that she doubted his assessment. Her survival was at stake here. Both professionally, and in a more literal sense. Euclidean didn’t have much in the way of demotion opportunities, and she was too young to retire. It may entertain someone to keep her around, serving them, but she’d probably prefer a more final demotion.
There would be alternatives, of course, if she could find them. And she would.
Faking a genuine smile for him, they headed back into the council arena to break the bad news in the most positive way available. This was politics, after all, and it was all about selling a perception of reality.
Chapter 5
Waiting was no one’s favourite part of police work. Well, possibly a few Cassie could think of, but she wouldn’t necessarily consider them cops. But when it was your case, and everyone else seemed to be working on it, it wasn’t easy to be left waiting for something to come in, or something else to happen.
She worked her frustration out walking the perimeter of the scene. With the earpiece in, so she could talk to Jimmy while pretending to be on a call.
‘Can you offer any insights?’ she asked.
‘Your jacket needs washing.’
She resisted a sigh, not that it mattered whether she gave an echo of a dead criminal the satisfaction. ‘Can you offer any insights regarding the case?’
‘Nothing you wouldn’t already have considered. It was staged for an audience. Either you were lucky you didn’t go in earlier, or they were watching and detonated remotely.’
Forensics should tell them more about the explosive, eventually.
‘Why do I even bother talking to you, then?’
‘Because I’m unable to share what you say, so I make a useful vessel for venting your problems without having to interact with an actual living person.’
Not glaring at him took some doing, but it’d look odd if anyone noticed. ‘I wish you were still alive, so I could kill you again. What am I doing here?’
‘Upholding the laws that let those in power maintain the illusion that there’s any such thing as justice,’ said Jimmy.
She shot him a quick glare this time. ‘Yeah, but you were a corrupt cop, so shut up.’ She studiously avoided saying anything as she returned to where the others still loitered trying to keep busy. Not that she anticipated a more useful conversation there, but they might be less likely to irritate her.
The wait had worn away some of Peter’s enthusiasm. He still looked restless though, pacing about on his own.
‘Anything new?’ she asked.
‘Yuen’s assigning her people to check the neighbouring buildings in case the blueprints weren’t up to date,’ said Peter. ‘She’s getting quietly impatient at how long the Fire Department are taking to clear the building. They’ve already checked the adjacent buildings to ensure their integrity, so she’s double checking they’re also secure against people sneaking in where she wants to be.’
There was no point interfering, unless someone asked them to leave.
‘The Finder’s been sent back to base,’ said Peter. ‘Full escort. He’ll listening, or whatever, for the signal. But I doubt it’ll just pop back up.’
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