The Mysterious Disappearance of Alistair Avery: A Finnigan Flynn Investigation

VI

Flynn and Viola sat in the golden office of the Prime Minister, waiting patiently for him to join them. Viola was tapping her foot and glancing at Flynn. She seemed to be nervous but hid it well, Flynn knew that only he was the only one who could pick up on such emotions.

"Stop that," he said as he twiddled his thumbs.

"I can't help it, I'm antsy."

"You're always antsy." He quickly cut the conversation short and stood as The Prime Minister entered the room. They had long ago solved the case of Avery's disappearance, it turned out that Avery had in fact killed himself, for reasons nobody could quite understand. Since then, though, the Prime Minister had been employing Flynn and Viola's services quite regularly.

"Ah, here already!" The Prime Minister tipped his hat and climbed into his huge chair. "Haven't been waiting long, I hope."

"No, sir." Flynn took a seat as the Prime Minister motioned for him to do so. Viola remained standing.

"Well, I'm sure you're wondering why I've called you here today!" The Prime Minister smiled. "There seems to be a bit of a revolt on the East Coast. Not sure what's going on but I'm sure you'll figure it out!" He smiled his big goofy grin.

"Yes, I'm sure you have no idea." Viola sneered and the Prime Minister placed a chubby hand on his chest in shock.

"Are you suggesting I'm lying?" He asked and Viola scoffed, but Flynn raised a hand and she stayed quiet.

"Please, sir, you know Vi, she's a bit hot tempered. Don't mind her." Flynn laughed and got up out of his seat. He made his way to a corner of the office and picked up two large machines with shoulder straps. He handed one to Viola and she slipped into it as he did the same.

"Ah, new inventions?" The Prime Minister rubbed his hands together with anticipation. "I'm excited to see what these ones do."

"Oh...you won't be seeing them in action." Flynn smiled at The Prime Minister as Viola took one of her pistols from its holster.

"What's going on here?" The Prime Minister asked.

"I'd suggest you take a seat, sir." Flynn said, stepping closer to the golden desk. Viola stayed close behind him, not lowering her weapon.

The Prime Minister sat back down and gulped, groping around under his desk for something. "You know that lift is the only way out of here." He said to Flynn but Flynn just laughed.

"Well, it's definitely the only way for your guards to get up here," he said, "but I'm afraid I also know how dreadfully long it takes for it to reach the top floor. You'll be long dead by the time the guards arrive."

"Why?" The Prime Minister asked. "Why would you want to kill me? After how good I've been to you? A pathetic private investigator like you would never get any work if it weren't for me!"

"Actually, we've been getting plenty of work on the side." Viola laughed.

Flynn heard the lift start to lower from the floor they were on. The Prime Minister had clearly signalled the guards and they'd called the lift down to them, it wouldn't be long before they were over run.

"You've been killing innocent Outlanders for long enough," Flynn said.

"Killing...Outlanders?" The Prime Minister gasped. "I would never kill anyone."

"Not you, no." Flynn shook his head. "But your mines? I've seen what they do, I've seen lives destroyed by your quest for progress. Are you saying you have no idea these things are happening?"

The Prime Minister fumbled for words. "It doesn't matter what I say now does it?" He finally asked. "You'll kill me either way."

"Yup." Viola didn't hesitate before answering.

"Fine then." The Prime Minister sneered. Flynn had never seen the man angry before, his chubby face was flushed with emotion as he bubbled with rage. "I'll admit it, I ordered those mines to be built but my death will not bring an end to them. Progress is inevitable and I refuse to let the lives of measly Outlanders stand in the way."

"You're right, Henry." Flynn said, using the Prime Minister's first name quite comfortably for the first time. "Your death won't stop progress. But it will sure as hell slow it down long enough for us to grow our forces. The people of Warracksford will not roll over and die so you and your pathetic government can have your way. We'll fight for our lives, fight for our right to love and laugh and--" Flynn's speech was suddenly cut short by a gun shot.

"Sorry," Viola said, shrugging as Flynn focused on the bullet wound in the Prime Minister's forehead. The man's eyes were lifeless and dull as he slumped sideways off the chair.

"Vi!" Flynn whined. "You know I've been working on that speech, I wanted to deliver it perfectly..."

"Yeah, well, he's dead isn't he? Mission accomplished, let's get out of here." As she spoke Flynn noticed that the lift was rising, it wouldn't be long before the guards were there. Viola approached the huge window that over looked the city and adjusted the weight of her PFD. "This thing had better work."

"I think I've worked out all the bugs." Flynn said as he pressed the buttons on his metal cords and the machine clunked on, steam hissing from it like an angry beast.

"You think?" Viola said. "You mean you haven't tested them yet?"

"Well...once..."

"How'd it go?"

Flynn remembered the beating he'd taken by the wall and ceiling of his office and smiled. "As well as can be expected."

Viola shook her head and turned her PFD on. "Let's go then?" She asked and flames burst from the bottoms of their PFDs. They rocketed forward, smashing the window as the iron grate of the lift slid open to reveal the angry looking guards.

Viola screamed as they fell through the air, cursing Flynn for his faulty inventions. "This is shit!" She screamed over the rushing air. "You're shit! Your inventions are shit!" Just then both PFDs shuttered and squealed as they kicked back into action. They took off through the air, Viola's screams of anger and rage turned into screams of fear and excitement as they sped away from the setting sun, The Fortress and Creswick.