Hunted

Chapter 13: Plan C

Under another set of circumstances, Wayne Gilger might have taken the time to be impressed. He was standing for the first time in his life at the door of Robert Clark's home. The estate was sizable, even for the home of a wealthy person, and the lawn, shrubs, and flower gardens were manicured to perfection. The security was extensive but subtle, fences and guard posts hidden neatly by landscaping. The home itself was almost breathtaking in its grandeur, with a dozen large bay windows spread over three floors, sleek granite-gray posts supporting the high porch overhang, and an ornately decorated, black iron double door entrance that stood three meters wide and four high.

Anxiety allowed Gilger no mental space to enjoy the sights. Less than fifteen minutes after Jack Haley had once again slipped through Syntek's fingers, he and Kevin McDade had decided they needed to report to Clark personally and immediately. Gilger could tell from the look on the guard's face when they had been admitted that Clark was not the least bit pleased to be disturbed at home, but it couldn't be helped. Clark would have been angrier had they waited until morning to fill him in on the latest details of the hunt for Haley.

A servant, notified by the guards of their approach, wordlessly gave them entrance to the mansion and bid them follow with a wave of one finger.

Gilger stepped aside and let McDade go first. McDade had been a military man for twenty-two years before Clark had persuaded him to join Syntek. He had spent twelve years in the Space Force and another ten on special projects that Clark would give no details on, if he had any to give. McDade was quiet for the most part, unless he was with his team and giving orders. His task force was a group of ten men and two women that Gilger thought of as nothing more than highly trained-and highly paid-mercenaries. McDade had a rock solid build and was in every way the perfect physical model of a drill sergeant, from his powerful legs and his barrel chest to his strong chin, piercing hazel eyes, and close-cropped hair. McDade showed particular respect to no one but Clark-his superior officer-and although he was beneath Gilger on the corporate ladder, Gilger never pushed him too hard. There would be time for that later, if needed, when he took the reins of power from Clark. For now, let McDade think he was second in command if it helped him get the job done.

Clark was waiting for them in his study. Like the hall they had passed through, the walls here were covered with well-known paintings, and a collection of more than twenty antique vases was placed throughout the room, both behind glass and on pedestals. Past Clark and his desk was an ominous bookshelf that covered an entire wall and contained thousands of volumes. Knowing Clark to be a voracious reader, Gilger wasn't surprised that there was every indication that the books were actually used with some frequency, rather than being merely decorative.

It was still ten minutes shy of nine p.m., but Clark was already dressed in night clothes, their navy blue visible below the ruby red robe he wore. He sat down slowly on a leather upholstered chair, and seemed to make a point of not inviting his guests to sit while he eyed them with a scowl on his face. "I know you're not here with good news."

"You're right, sir," said Gilger. "But we thought it best we update you immediately."

"Go ahead," Clark snapped, still scowling.

Gilger cleared his throat, silently berating himself for needing to do so. "Haley returned to his home this evening. As you are aware, we knew through Sarah Haley that he was on Mars Station and that he was heading more or less directly home. The police, of course, had a trace on the call he had placed to her, but didn't know he was coming back, since Sarah was ordered not to give them that information. We provided the police with a false tip and made sure the way to his apartment was clear."

"All that went according to plan," Clark said.

"Yes, sir. Exactly according to plan. Once Haley was home, we were able to listen to his conversation with his wife through the implant. Things went well to a point. She extracted the information on where he had been and who he had contacted. Then, more importantly, she ascertained that he indeed had the device with him, and that he had used it. Once she knew it was on his person, she tried to get it from him."