Mark Young - Off the grid

Gerrit rose, slightly confused. “Glad to meet you, Doctor.” He turned to Kane for clarification. “I think Mr. Kane was just starting to explain my role in all this.”

A sly smile emerged on Lawton’s face. “Keeping everyone in the dark as usual, eh, Richard?”

Kane motioned for the others to have a seat, before looking at Gerrit. “I never got a chance to tell you. Y’all will be traveling to Vienna with Henry here in about a week. Sort of a security detail.”

“Security? For whom?”

Henry pompously waved a hand. “Afraid it’s for me, old chap. They think some terrorist may have it in for me.” The younger man crossed his legs and folded his hands, sitting back in the chair as if he were a king holding court.

Gerrit glanced at Kane. “I’m not sure what-”

“I’ll go over the details later, Gerrit. I told them about you. And they thought you were an excellent choice for the job.”

The others nodded. Gerrit settled back onto his chair. Did they also know he was in this country under an assumed name? Since Kane introduced him by his real name, he assumed they knew nothing of his alias.

More secrets. And it had been a long time since he heard Doctor attached to his name. A long time.

Kane edged forward. “Dr. Clarke is the foremost authority in quantum computer technology and cyber-security issues.”

“You flatter me, Mr. Kane. I am one of a hundred scientists puttering around in the dark in this particular field.”

The man’s thinly disguised arrogance-cloaked in false modesty-rankled Gerrit. There were only a handful of scientists in Clarke’s field that could do what this man does. On the other hand, Gerrit could see why this man might be a high-value target for the enemy-if his own side didn’t shoot him first.

Kane continued. “Henry, you’re the one they chose to sit on a prestigious international panel for cyber-security technologies. And Dr. O’Rourke will fit very nicely in your entourage to Vienna.”

Clarke pompously patted Gerrit’s arm. “I’d be honored to have Dr. O’Rourke aboard. My secretary will send you my travel schedule to look over. She’ll make whatever reservations you require.”

Lawton sat quietly, watching the others interact until he gave Kane a nod. “My office will run interference.”

“Your office?” Gerrit asked. “Which office might that be?”

“Let’s just say Her Majesty’s security office is interested in Dr. Clarke’s well-being. Wouldn’t do to have him popped off on my watch, good fellow.”

MI6.

Gerrit looked over at Kane, whose face seemed masked at the moment. “No, that would not be good, Mr. Lawton. Let me know what you need from me.”

“My friend, Mr. Kane, will give you the details. I won’t be seeing you in Vienna, but I will be…available if matters turn sour. I guess we’d better be off, shall we, Dr. Clarke?”

The scientist shrugged, stood, and was about to leave when Lawton tapped him on the shoulder. “Why don’t you go on ahead, Henry. There’s one small matter I need to discuss with Mr. Kane and Dr. O’Rourke.”

Clarke looked back curiously and then left the room. Lawton closed the door behind him. “What an arse that man is. Sorry to stick him with you, Dr. O’Rourke. But we needed that clown to give you cover.”

“Cover?” Gerrit looked from Lawton to Kane.

Lawton nodded his chin at Kane. “Richard, why don’t you give our boy here the details.”

Gerrit saw the two men exchange glances before Kane leaned forward, eyeing Gerrit for a moment before turning to Lawton. “First, I wanna make sure you know all about our boy here, George.”

Lawton shook his head. “I’ll take your word that this is our man. That’s all I need to know.”

Kane leaned forward. “No, no, George. I want you to know why I’ve picked this good ol’ boy for the job.”

Gerrit shifted in his seat, feeling like this was some kind of job interview for a job he never signed up for-nor wanted. And if Kane called him boy once more, Gerrit was going to grab that long-haired creep’s silver locks and give him a Mohawk.

Kane reached into a drawer and pulled out a bulging file folder. “Just so I don’t forget anything, I’ve jotted down a few notes about our boy here. Quite a history.” He glanced up and gave Gerrit a wink.

Kane’s index finger trailed down a page before turning to the next. “Bachelor of Science degree in 1991 before joining the U. S Marine Corp, where you entered as an enlisted man. Qualified to serve with Force Recon just before the Persian Gulf War, field-elevated to officer status based on combat service and education.”

Kane shot him a look before continuing. “Let’s see, you left the military in 1996 and returned to MIT to earn a doctorate in electrical engineering and computer science. Says here you specialized in nanotechnology-something to do with nano electronics.”

“Mr. Kane, I don’t see how this trip down memory lane tells me why I’m sitting here today. Can we fast-forward to the present?”

“Patience. My friend George needs to know he’s getting the best. Like we say back home, ‘Don’t call him a cowboy, till you’ve seen him ride.’ My friend here has to know this is not your first time to the rodeo, boy. And I want to refresh my memory about your background while you’re here to correct me-if the record’s wrong.”

Gerrit leaned back, watching as Kane continued through the file.

“Now, in 2001 you started a research fellowship at MIT focused on harnessing nanotechnology by creating a…what do you call this-?”

“A nanofluidic device-”

“Right, a device capable of detecting biological warfare agents the size of a pinhead.” Kane glanced up. “My, my, boy. That’s got to be tinier than a little ol’ ant.” He returned his gaze to the file. “You just started on that project when they hit the WTC and Pentagon on 9/11. Three months later, you’re called back into military service.” Kane looked at him.

“I volunteered.”

“Now why would you go and do something like that?” Kane seemed to be toying with him.

Gerrit crossed his arms, leaning back. “They needed everyone on board for the Afghan invasion. A couple years later, they sent me to Iraq. So, where are you going with this?”

Kane lowered the file and clasped his hands together. “That leads us to 2004. Your parents and uncle.”

Those words sent a knife twisting in Gerrit’s gut. The police files from Seattle PD’s archives at his home came to mind. And on his wall, photos of the blackened car and what was left of his mother and father pinned up for him to face every day. Charred remains, barely enough left to bury after a closed-casket ceremony-a ceremony he missed because he was off fighting a war in the Middle East. Deep ops that lasted long after they lowered his parents into the ground.

Gerrit stood and leaned on the desk. “You had better have a good reason for dredging all this up or I am on the next plane back to the U.S.”

“Calm down, my boy. Don’t get your feathers ruffled-”

“And if you call me boy one more time, I’ll take that file and shove it where the sun don’t shine. Are we clear?”

Kane slowly rose. “I like a man who’s not afraid to speak his mind. I’m bringing this all up for a good reason. I need-your country needs-your help. These records,” he motioned toward the open file, “tell me you are a man who sacrificed for his country.” He leaned on the desk facing off with Gerrit. “Why did you give up your work at MIT to become a Seattle cop? Do you still think you’ll find out who killed ’em?” He seemed to forget that Lawson was still in the room.

“You read my file. You tell me.”