The Janus Discord (ONC2024)

Chapter 2

Matt entered his department, balancing his coffee along with some rolls of blueprints. He slowed as he saw Arthur talking to Norma, by his drawing board.

"Hey, man of the hour. Heard the news?"

He set down his coffee and put the blueprints on the board, opening and weighting them down with his set square. "What news, Arthur? Hi, Norma." He rolled his eyes at her.

"Solomon is in hospital. A hit-and-run last night. He's pretty busted up."

"Isn't it terrible, Matt?" Norma looked ill - but not as ill as Matt felt.

"How- when did you hear that?"

"Cynthia, his secretary, sent email messages to all departments. Doug is going to address the staff later this morning." Arthur actually smiled. "You okay, Connie. You look a little pallid."

The phone rang and Norma leaned back to answer. "It's for you, Matt." Her eyebrows rose.

"Huh? Uh- thanks." He took the phone around the desk and answered, watching Arthur from the corner of his eye.

"Fifteen minutes. Coffee shop."

"I uh, uhm- okay. Thank you." Jesus, Devon and his cryptic calls. He hung up and shrugged. "You want my coffee, Norma? I have to go out for a few minutes, I'll pick up another one."

"Hanky panky, Connie?" Arthur chided.

"Yeah, Arthur. Got a whole chorus line waiting to see me." He answered with sardonic parody.

Devon was at a table in the corner. Same jeans and leather jacket, and darting eyes. Matt walked over and sat, expression quizzical.

"There's a new phone in your mailbox at home. Try not to make unnecessary calls."

"Unnecessary!' Matt looked around and dropped his voice. "I was nearly run over last night - on purpose. Right after your lovely message from the other day. I felt that met the criteria of suspiciously extreme."

There was a pause as surprise passed over Devon's face. "Did you get any information on the vehicle, or anything at all?"

"Yeah. Cement curbs are bloody hard on the head." Matt hissed, annoyed. "Look, if that's all you wanted, I have to get back."

"Your employer was run down last night. He's in hospital."

"I know. We all know already. Why, what are you saying?"

"I don't believe in coincidence."

Devon got up and left without another word. Matt sat for a minute, his mind a blank, then he went to the counter and purchased another coffee.

******

The rest of the day was wasted as far as his work was concerned, and he worried he might be missing important data. On top of that, Arthur seemed to be facing his way every time he looked up. Doug Spiers had made an announcement, offering condolences for Solomon , and closing the doors early for employees to go home and grieve.

It was lucky Doug wasn't there in person to hear the derisive snorts from many. However, getting out early was a plus. Matt headed straight home, collecting his new phone and locking himself in his apartment, while he wondered what action he should take.

He scooped the last of the noodles into his mouth and was heading for the kitchen when the intercom buzzed. Setting down the dishes, he switched off the TV on his way to answer.

"Hi, who is it?"

"Art, can I come up, we need to talk?"

Arthur! Shit, what does he want? Not a bloody basketball game I hope. "I'm just having dinner," he lied.

"C'mon, Connie, it's important."

"Fine. Come up." He pushed the entry buzzer and went back to the kitchen, grabbing a slice of bread to back up his lie.

"Nice digs, Constable," Art said, stepping past him at the door. "Guess that's why you have to skimp on dinner, eh?"

"Hilarious. What do you want that's so important?"

"Icecap."

The word stopped Matt mid-chew, and he coughed trying to swallow. "What?"

"Don't pretend, Connie. I know what Icecap is all about, and I know it's been breached."

"Who the hell are you, Arthur?"

"I'm on the other team."

Matt went to the kitchen and tossed out the remainder of his piece of bread and came back, slowly, wiping his hands. "I think you'd better start explaining."

Arthur sat and crossed a leg over his knee. "Common story. I ran into some money problems, and a fairy godfather came to my rescue - in exchange for specific services. I was to extract the coded secrets from the design drawings and pass them on."

Matt sank onto the arm of a chair. "You! You're the one passing them on?"

"I have been, but lately something happened and things have become seriously dangerous. You did great work finding the data, by the way. Look, Connie, I know you're part of the Icecap program. The people I work for are just as professional as yours - and now with this breach . . ."

"So, why are you telling me all this if you're on the other side?"

"Solomon's hit-and-run."

"What? What about it?"

"They're cleaning up messes, and I fall into that category now."

Matt pressed his fingers to his temples. "Are you saying Solomon is- is--"

"One of ours. Yes. But not for long by the look of it."

"I don't- I can't believe that."

"I'm not here to lie to you, Connie. I'm here to ask a favour."

"A favour? What favour?"

"Bring me in to your people. I'll give them everything I know."

"What! Do I look like a cabbage? I'm just gonna walk in with you and say, hey, fellas, I caught a spy who wants to flip?"

"If you don't help me, Connie, I'll wind up like Solomon - or worse."

Matt stared at the man he had loathed for three years, thinking, now he was actually considering his plea. His own close call looming in the back of his mind.

"You know somebody tried to run me down last night."

Art looked stricken. "Oh, Christ. Oh, man, this is not good. They are looking to erase the Icecap program from the books." He sat up, hands clasped. "You have to do this for me, Connie. For both of us."

"I have to think. This is too much too fast. I already broke protocol once. If I do it again, they're liable to deny me completely."

"Connie, you can't worry about thinking this through, man, it's do or die - literally."

2095 WP word count