The Shock of the New

Chapter 27: Busted

For Ian Clarkson, the next few days left him in a state of total paranoia. On the rare ocassion in which he stepped outside the flat, Ian was convinced that he was being followed by a member of the secret police every single time he turned around. He rarely ate or slept which heavily concerned Grace.

"It's fine" he told her when she tried to check on him "I'm just tired and miss my job. Once I'm back at work, I'll be right as rain"

Over time however, his entire sense of paranoia began to fade. Ian eventually became convinced that if the W.E.R. really were going to have him arrested they'd have done it by now. One such morning, he was having breakfast by himself (Grace having long since left for work) and decided "Sod it! I'm going out! I've got a few more days without work ahead of me and I might as well enjoy the bloody thing!"

After he'd finished his breakfast, washed and changed, Ian stepped out of the flat with a greater feeling of freedom

"Screw Neave and her stupid friends!" Ian told himself "I've got a good life ahead of me in the utopia of the W.E.R. and I'm gonna make the most of the damn thing!"

Ian spent said day in the park sitting on a bench and reading on his phone. Although he kept an eye out for her, Neave didn't show up this time. Ian smiled to himself

"Maybe she finally got what was coming to her" he chuckled. The thought of Neave being sent to the correction centre and getting rehabilitating filled him with glee. The fact that he'd likely never have to hear from her again was a big bonus.

After spending time in the park, Ian went back to the coffee shop where he'd met Neave for the second time. Once again, she was nowhere to be seen which allowed Ian to drink his coffee in peace while checking his phone. Ian then laughed to himself

"You know, when Neave's not around, being suspended from work isn't such a bad thing. I should try and get myself suspended more often.!"

Ian was just finishing his coffee when his mobile rang. Answering it, Ian was greeted by Grace's voice

"Hi Ian!" Grace said in a positive tone that Ian hadn't heard since he'd been suspended "Sorry for ringing you at short notice, but I need your help with something"
Elated at the fact that Grace sounded happy to see him for the first time in ages, Ian asked

"Sure thing! What do you want me to do?"

"It's a little favour. I'm gonna need you to come down to my work"
Ian was puzzled "Can't someone at the clinic do it?"

"Sorry" Grace replied "We're all tied up and I figured you've got nothing better to do, so..."
"Don't worry!" Ian laughed "I'll give it a try. I'm on my way now!"

Once Ian had hung up, Grace turned to the man with her

"He's on his way. How'd I do?"
"Perfect, Mrs Clarkson" he replied, Noticing Grace's worried face, he added "Don't worry. You're doing the right thing. Mr Clarkson needs to face the consequences of his own actions which have been contrary to the values of the state"

Ian made his way to the place where Grace worked. Located on Tyndall road, it was a decent sized health clinic that could treat the vast majority of diseases, providing one was properly insured and of the white race. As he turned the corner and spotted the clinic, Ian wondered just what he'd have to do for Grace. Hopefully it wasn't a very difficult job and at any rate it'd help him pass the time.

Once he entered, Ian walked up to the girl at the front desk

"Ian Clarkson" he told her "Here to see Grace Clarkson"
The girl nodded and typed a couple of things on her computer, then looked at him

"Grace is in room 5C. Go down the corridor and turn right, it's the first one on your left"

Grace e was sitting at her own desk typing up a couple of notes when Ian walked in.

"Hey there!" he grinned "I'm here to help!"
Grace smiled "Just a second. I've gotta type up a couple of bits"
Ian nodded "Sure. I'm not in a hurry..."
As Grace typed however, Ian noticed that she looked somewhat nervous.

"Something bothering you?" he asked. Grace didn't reply

"Come on" Ian tried again "There's something on your mind isn't there. If there's something bothering you, I'm happy to listen"
Grace stopped typing and swallowed nervously

"Look Ian. I'm sorry about this"
Now Ian was confused

"Sorry about what? I said I'm happy to help and-"
"No no" Grace shook her head "You've got to understand. I'm doing all this for your own good"
"Doing what?" Ian was slightly scared by this remark "What the hell are you on about?"
"Come on Ian. We both know that your behaviour in the last few weeks has been off. I put it down to nerves after being suspended from work. Until I found out what you've done"
Ian stammered "I haven't done anything-"
"Don't bullshit me Ian. You've been meeting with that girl and you've been doing things for her that aren't entirely legal"
"No!" Ian practically chocked "I've done nothing illegal and-"
"You visited a black market and brought illegal materials. You stole evidence from a morgue that could have helped identify a potential terrorist! If that isn't signs of losing it, I don't know what is!"
Ian could feel his heart pounding in his chest. He turned to run only to find that the door was locked

"Grace!" he yelled "Open the fucking door!"
"I can't do that Ian" Grace replied with a sigh "If I let you go, I'm as guilty as you are!"
Ian scowled at Grace "You fucking bitch!" he screamed "What the fuck did they tell you! Whatever it is, it's fucking bullshit! Do you understand?!"

Before Ian could explain further, the door to the office burst open and several armed police officers burst into the room. One of them lunged at Ian only for Ian to angrily punch him in the face. Ian then tried to run only for another officer to club him over the head with a baton. Immediately he collapsed on the floor, with his head spinning and blood running down his face. Ian tried to get up, only for one of the officers to kick him in the chest. He let out a gasp and lay on the floor as the officers pulled him up.

The next thing Ian knew, he was being dragged into the back of a police van. One of the officers spoke

"Ian Clarkson! You have been charged with aiding and abetting enemies of the state. You are hereby charged with treason! You have the right to remain silent and anything you say can and will be used against you!"