The Persona Protocol - By Andy McDermott Page 0,159
waggled the controls, putting the UAV into a spin.
‘I see we do need some more security guys in here,’ growled Morgan. ‘Hamilton, take over from him. Kyle—’
‘I know, I know,’ said Kyle, standing. ‘I’m busted.’
‘Just stand over there and wait for the SPOs. Hamilton! Where’s that car?’
Kyle’s replacement took over the controls, stabilising the drone. The office building came back into view – but there was no sign of the target vehicle. ‘I can’t see it, sir.’
‘Search wider. We’ve got to find it.’
‘I don’t even know which way it was heading, sir. It could have gone in any direction from the nearest intersection.’
‘We can’t exactly tell Metro to put out an APB on “a black car”,’ said Tony. The camera panned across another block – revealing at least half a dozen vehicles that would fit the description.
Morgan simmered, glaring at the wall screens. ‘Okay. Tell them to search that building, just in case they’re still inside. It’s a long shot, but we have to check. Then get MPD to set up roadblocks – ten-block radius.’
Tony looked at the capital’s expansive grid on the map. ‘That’s a hell of a lot of streets. They’ll never be able to close them all off.’
‘We have to try, damn it!’ He turned and glared at Kyle, who was being escorted away by a pair of guards. ‘Wait, don’t take him to holding. Take him to my office. And bring Voss and James, too. I want to know what the hell’s going on here. Tony, come with me.’ He started towards an exit, then stopped as he realised the Bullpen’s staff were staring at him in confusion. ‘Well? You’ve got your orders – get on with them! Find that car! Find Adam Gray!’
‘Put your head down,’ said Adam as he saw a police car approaching from the other direction. ‘They’re looking for two people, not one.’
Bianca squirmed lower in her seat, dropping below the window line. The MPD cruiser drew closer, the driver’s eyes flicking towards the Mustang – then it passed. Adam checked the mirror. The cops disappeared into the distance. ‘Okay, they’re gone. They’re not looking for this car.’
She cautiously lifted her head. ‘What now?’
‘Go somewhere quiet, then use the PERSONA to see what’s on that disk.’ He glanced at the bag in her lap. ‘Find out what was in my mind.’
He looked ahead. An alley led between some run-down commercial buildings. He slowed and turned into it. ‘The neighbourhood’s a bit grotty,’ said Bianca.
‘We’re not going to get carjacked by drug dealers in broad daylight.’ He slowed the Mustang. ‘This should do.’
It was a brick structure with a small loading dock set into its rear, real-estate signs proclaiming that the property was available to rent. The windows were boarded up. Adam turned the car into the space and stopped. They were completely hidden from the main street; anyone looking for them would have to come down the alley to find them.
If someone did do that, the Mustang would be blocked in by their vehicle. But it was a chance he had to take.
He twisted to get the cases from the back seat – and let out a grunt of pain. ‘Stay still, I’ll do that,’ Bianca told him. ‘Let me see.’ He reluctantly shifted position. ‘Oh, God. You’re still bleeding – it’s all over your back!’ A blotchy dark patch had swollen outwards from the wound, soaking his clothing.
‘It’ll look worse than it is,’ he said, trying to reassure her – and himself. ‘It’s just spread because I’ve been pressed against the seat.’
‘Are you sure? How do you feel?’
‘I’m feeling . . . that I wish I’d used anaesthetic. But I’m okay. Really.’ He managed a small, strained smile. ‘Get the PERSONA set up.’
It was awkward doing so in the confines of the coupé, but after a few minutes Bianca had connected both units of the PERSONA device and switched them on. Despite its rough treatment since leaving the STS building, the system appeared to be in working order. She took out the memory module. ‘Are you sure you want to do this?’
Adam finished donning the skullcap. ‘I don’t know if I’m going to like what I find out. But I’ve got to find out.’ He faced her. ‘Is this on okay?’
She reached up to adjust the electrodes. ‘There. You’re good.’ Her hand stayed against his skin for an extra moment as she regarded him with concern. ‘What are you going to do if it really is something bad?’