Джеффри Дивер - The Goodbye Man

“The hell’s this?” he snapped. Whether he was playing a role or not, this is exactly what anybody would have said.

“Quiet. You’re coming with us.”

“No. I’m not going any—”

“Shut up.”

One of the AUs flung his uniform and shoes toward Shaw. “Get dressed.”

“What did I do? What’s—”

“Get dressed. Or we’ll drag you through the camp the way you are.”

Shaw got dressed.

Five minutes later he was being escorted through the back door of the Assistance Unit. Gripping his arms near the threshold of pain, the men led him up a corridor and into a small interrogation room, like one of those in police departments the world over. It contained only a table and two functional gray metal chairs. These walls were not purple and did not exhibit Egyptian artifacts or paintings. They were white. It was warm inside and the smell was of pine cleanser.

Claustro is Latin for “bolt,” as in bolting the door. And who doesn’t know what phobia is?

Shaw was positive that one of these AUs had been present at Hugh’s beating of the reporter.

They turned and closed the door behind them.

Leaving Shaw to reflect on the list of offenses that had been committed by Novice Carter. The knife theft, the break-in at the gardening supply building, the verbena seasoning of Victoria’s dinner, the sprinting attempt to save John from a horrific death. It occurred to him that they didn’t really need cameras, since Eli had turned his followers into snitches to dime out any Toxics.

Now he was sure he’d been right about being tailed. Twice: on the way to speak with Victoria, and just a few hours ago after the break-in at Building 14.

Who was the spy? Frederick or someone else?

The door opened and Hugh walked inside, accompanied by the AU who’d held the journalist’s mouth to stifle any cries when Hugh dislocated his shoulder. This man stood in the corner. Hugh sat and scrolled through a tablet. Glancing up at Shaw, he gestured toward the other chair.

“So?” Carter Skye would be understandably uneasy under these circumstances. On the other hand, like Adam Harper, he’d done time, had a troubled childhood, had been a scrapper when younger. He was in rock-solid shape. The play Shaw had written did not call for the main character to be intimidated easily.

“Sit.”

He did, after a tang of defiance.

Of course, there was always the possibility they had learned that Mr. Skye was a character of fiction, and that Colter Shaw was the one they’d invited into this soundproofed, windowless chamber. No one had used a name in addressing him. Which of the two alter egos did they think he was?

If they knew he was a spy, then acting was irrelevant. It would be a fight. He was thinking of potential combat solutions to the situation when he noticed that the AU in the corner was holding a stun gun.

Hugh looked up from the tablet; Shaw could not see what was on the screen. The supervisor said in a gravelly voice, “What’s Rule Fourteen?”

“Don’t do anything to dis...” he stumbled on the word, “to mess with the integrity of Master Eli, other staff, the Foundation or the Process.”

If Hugh was impressed by his memorization skills, the AU didn’t indicate it.

“That word, ‘integrity.’ It has two meanings, you know.”

Shaw blinked. “I don’t know... It means honesty or something, right? The hell’s going on here?”

Hugh continued, “And it means structurally sound. Like the integrity of a ship’s hull.”

“Does it?” He eyed Hugh closely.

“Both of those apply to your behavior.”

Damn it, use a name. Let me know who you’re talking to. Carter or Colter. Would it come to a fight? Him against the three here?

Hugh flipped through his tablet. “What you’ve done is a crime against both types of integrity. You’ve betrayed Master Eli and you’ve jeopardized the Foundation itself.”

“Still don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“We have evidence. Witnesses.”

“Bullshit.”

Hugh blinked.

Shaw leaned close and snarled, “You got it, let me see it, asshole.”

“What?” Hugh whispered, aghast. The other AU regarded Shaw warily.

“Now! The evidence. And the witnesses. Bring them in here.”

“You don’t talk to us that way, Novice Carter.”

So it seemed they didn’t have the complete dirt on him. Hugh could, however, still order him Tased and beaten for the sins committed by Carter Skye.

Rule 14...

“Master Eli does good work here. Hundreds of people lead better lives thanks to him. And you’d endanger all that by being disloyal?” Hugh nodded to the AU, who now brandished the stun gun.

“We want to know what your motive is, who’s the Toxic you’re working for? Or are you here on your own?”

The AU muttered, “Maybe he’s in it for the money. He’s here to steal the Process. It’s happened before.”

“We’ll find out.” Hugh glanced at the Taser.

The AU hit a button and a faint red light glowed like a snake’s eye caught in a flashlight beam.

“Whatever you think I did, it’s a mistake,” Shaw said in a firm voice.

Hugh held up his hand. The armed AU paused.

“I came here because my life is messed up. All the issues I told Journeyman Samuel about. And when I saw what Master Eli’s done for the Companions, when I heard how he can change our lives forever, I knew I’d come to the right place. This is... What you’re saying is crap. You’ve got me mixed up with somebody else. I haven’t been disloyal. I never would. Master Eli is one of the most brilliant, generous people on earth.”

Shaw rose and turned to Hugh. “I swear I haven’t done anything.” Sounding unnerved, supplicating.

The two captors seemed to relent a bit at this.

Which is when he spun to the right, knocked the Taser man’s hand aside and in a simple wrestling takedown, upended his opponent and slammed him to the floor.

A curious noise came from the throat. Maybe trying to form words. Maybe just trying to breathe.

Shaw paid no attention. In an instant he ripped the Taser from the gasping man’s grip and turned it on the other two. He eyed them calmly, as if searching for the optimal target. Equally unemotional, Hugh watched him carefully.

Shaw muttered, “Your information is wrong. Don’t you or anybody else threaten me again. We clear on that?” He tossed the Taser to the floor near the hurting AU.

Then behind Shaw, the clapping started — that infectious, staccato clapping, beating out the time to the “Ode to Joy.” He turned.

The sound was coming from Eli, who stood in the doorway, his head cocked, his generous lips in a slight smile. He lowered his hands and nodded at Hugh and the gasping AU, who struggled to his feet, looking with more trepidation at Hugh than at the man who’d just decked him. He collected the Taser. Hugh was clearly not pleased that his man had been bested. But he glanced at Shaw and nodded with grudging respect. Hugh stepped from the room, his minion scurrying after, holding his chest.

Before the door closed, Shaw glimpsed one of the bodyguards, Gray, whose lined face gave off no emotion whatsoever. Then he noted Squat and Steve appear, the latter with his ever-present notebook.

The lock clicked and Eli and Shaw were alone.

“Well, done, Novice Carter. You passed with flying colors.”

Colter Shaw had in fact decided, about halfway through the kidnapping, that the incident had all the earmarks of a test. Hugh hadn’t been specific, citing only “disloyalty,” not any particular transgressions. Generic “evidence” and “witnesses.” And there’d been a stiffness about his delivery. He’d also decided that if he were to move up in the organization, and get access to the evidence he sought, he’d need to act the part of a Select.