Final Venture

I was interested to realize that I was beginning to think of Net Cop as 'us' rather than 'them'. I really did feel part of it. I was now a bit more sympathetic of the way Art talked about BioOne.

We were in Craig's office late in the afternoon, when Gina popped her head in. 'There's a Sergeant Mahoney here to see you.'

'I'll be with him in a minute,' Craig said. Then he turned to me and raised his eyebrows. 'What shall I tell him?'

'He knows about Frank and John Chalfont. John told me.'

'Shit. Oh, I forgot to tell you. I heard some more about this guy. He was an active contributor to NORAID. Still is, for all my uncle knows.'

I frowned, but I wasn't surprised. NORAID had been raising funds for the IRA for years. A supporter was unlikely to have warm feelings towards a British soldier who had served in Northern Ireland.

'Good luck,' I said.

'Thanks. You'd better go get yourself a cup of coffee.'

I left Craig's office to find Mahoney resting his bulk on a chair outside. His bright blue eyes shot up when he saw me.

'I'm surprised to see you here, Mr Ayot,' he said in a half-friendly, half-ironic tone.

'Net Cop is one of my companies, you know.'

Ah, yeah, that's right. You and Frank Cook had some kind of disagreement about that, didn't you?'

I didn't answer.

I ignored him and stalked off" to find someone to play table-tennis with. The Net Cop company facilities included a bare room earmarked for future expansion, which housed a table-tennis table and a competition ladder prominently displayed on a whiteboard. Craig dreamed of a weights room, but the company would need to get a lot bigger before he could justify it.

Mahoney was in a long time. I lost three straight games of table-tennis. These coders were bloody good. And my concentration was poor. I wondered what Craig and Mahoney were talking about in there. Mahoney and his men had been doing a lot of leg work. Had they found anything else that would incriminate me? It wouldn't take much more to get me arrested. I hoped Craig wouldn't give them anything.

Eventually I heard the sounds of Mahoney leaving. Craig came looking for me, and led me back to his office, via the kitchen, where he grabbed a large cup of decaf cappuccino. I had a cup of tea.

'What happened?' I asked.

'Well, you were right. When he saw me he did ask if I was the person with the camera seen down by the marsh. I told him I was. I figured there was no point lying about something he could easily check on.'

I nodded my agreement. 'So what did he ask you?'

'What I was doing there with a camera.'

'And what did you say?'

'I told him the truth. I said I was following Frank because he'd turned down Net Cop and I hoped I might find something to use as leverage. I said it was a long shot, but I was so mad it was the only thing I could think of.'

'Did he buy that?'

'Not at first. He tried to tell me I'd murdered Frank. Not directly, but he implied it. He made me go through my story backwards and forwards. I told him the same thing every time. And I explained that it would be dumb to kill Frank. What I needed to do was to change his mind. If he died, then the "no" would still stand. Which is what happened, right?'

'Did you say you saw me?'

'Yes. He liked that bit.'

I smiled grimly. 'And John Chalfont?'

'Yep. I figured if he knew about him and Frank anyway, it was best to tell the truth.'

'Did he ask for the photos?'

'Yep. I gave them to him. And the negatives.'

'Was there one of me?'

'Of course. I got a picture of you arriving.'

'But not leaving?'

'As I said, I left right after you arrived.'

'Great.'

'Sorry, Simon.'

I waited for Diane with trepidation. The bar at Sonsie's was full of young professionals and wealthy students limbering up for a Friday night on the town. Rather them than me. I had considered cancelling, but there was no point. Diane had to be faced some time.

She arrived only a couple of minutes after me.

'Hi,' she said, as she leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. Her scent overwhelmed me, reminding me of her apartment, the music, the whisky, her.

'Hi.' My throat was tight.

I ordered her a beer to go with mine. She seemed relaxed and confident in a bright blue suit with a tight short skirt. I didn't feel relaxed and confident at all.

'How have you been?' she asked.

'Busy. Running around trying to find out who killed Frank.'

'Have you got anywhere?'

'It's a case of the more I find out the more questions there are unanswered.'

'What about the police?'

'Oh, they're getting somewhere. Closer and closer towards arresting me.'

Diane smiled sympathetically and touched my hand. It was just a gentle pressure, but it sent a shock through my whole body. 'You've had a tough time.'

I nodded stiffly.

'Has Lisa come back?'

'No,' I said, pulling my hand away. 'But I really wish she would. I miss her.'

Diane withdrew her own hand and watched me.

I took a deep breath. 'I'm sorry about the other night. I almost did something I didn't want to do. No, no, that's not right, I wanted to do it at the time.' I paused to get the words right. 'I mean, something I shouldn't have even started. I want Lisa back very badly. And I'm not going to make the same mistake again.'

I watched Diane for a reaction. For a long moment she remained still. Then she spoke in a low, reasonable voice. 'I guess that says it. But if she's stupid enough to let you go, then she has only herself to blame. I like you, Simon. I think we could be good together. Just remember that.'

'Sorry,' I said. I didn't know whether Diane was putting a brave face on her rejection, whether she didn't care one way or the other, whether she was trying to show her interest without scaring me off, or whether, in fact, she just meant what she said. That was the trouble with Diane. You never really knew.

'So, what are we going to do about Revere?' she asked.

'We?'

'Yes. You and me.'

'I don't think I have much of a future there, Diane.'

'That's baloney. They'll find Frank's murderer eventually, and you'll be in the clear. Gil will retire, Art will be out of it, which leaves me.'

Diane's confidence was good to hear, although I wasn't even sure I'd be out of jail when Gil retired, let alone back at Revere.

'Lynette Mauer has told me she'll continue to invest in Revere, as long as I'm in charge.'

'Well done,' I said.

'Has Gil spoken to you?' she asked.

'Yes. He took me for a drink at his club last night,' I said.

She smiled. 'I know. What did he say?'

'Don't you know that too?'

'I'm well informed, but not that well informed.'

'He wanted me to promise I would back whoever took over, whether it's you or someone else. He seemed to have discounted Art.'

Diane's eyebrows shot up. 'Someone else?'

'Yes. He's talking about perhaps getting in an experienced venture capitalist from outside to take over the firm.'

Diane frowned. 'Hmm.'

'You'd better move quickly.'

'Maybe I should.'

We finished our beers in silence as Diane's brain whirred. I was thinking about how much I could trust her. I really didn't know.

We left the bar, and Diane set off on foot back to her apartment, while I grabbed a passing cab. It was still only eight o'clock when I arrived home.

I knew that I should appreciate my liberty, since it was looking ever more likely that I would soon lose it. But I was finding the waiting very hard.

I surveyed the apartment, empty without Lisa and her things. I hadn't heard from her since she had left for California. I didn't even know where she was staying: Kelly wouldn't tell me, and neither would her mother, whom I had called twice. I'd even tried her brother's number, only to be told I had dialled incorrectly. He must have moved. I had called Information, but they didn't seem to know anything about him.