The Selfless Gene

Chapter 38

Thame awakes in his car at sunbreak, furious and resolute. The Intern was next, but first he needed not to be looking over his shoulder. The Order's soiree was tonight and he needed them dealt with. He starts the engine and drives back to his hotel. A quick shower and change of clothes, then check out. Alone in the shower, he tries to regulate his heartbeat and sense his brother, but every time he closes his eyes under the water, Isabella is flying through the air, out of his reach. He resolves to stay busy with his eyes open. After all, there was lots to do.

On route to dropping his car off, he decides to do a sweep of the facility. As he drives up, he sees safety boarding wrapped around the border, police safety warnings plastered all over. He pulls over to inspect the devastation and gets out to peer through a slither between the boards. Combusted steel and brick lay strewn, charcoaled and collapsed. Beams are warped, walls half demolished and the main structure completely imploded. The searing loss he'd felt last night must have been the army's destruction. And someone must have stolen something from this wreck. Paimona.

Thame doesn't waste any more time at the scene, returning the rental car back to its lot. He grabs his bag and texts Anna from The Order.

HEY, ONE LAST FAVOUR. IF YOU HAVE TIME?

YOU CAME BACK! OF COURSE, MY LORD. WHAT DO YOU NEED?

JONAS. WHERE IS HE STAYING?

OH NO, I SHOULDN'T. MBOZI!!! 🤯

THERE'S A VEGAN RESTAURANT IN CAMDEN CALLED MILDRED'S. I'LL BE THERE AT 1. VERY PUBLIC, NO MBOZI. TELL HIM TO KEEP IT QUIET AND TO BRING MY CEREMONIAL MASK.

OK. WILL I SEE YOU TONIGHT?

MAYBE. THANK YOU, ANNA.

Thame returns to his flat. He knows he has to be quick, but he's without clean clothes and needs to smarten up for the evening's gathering. With only a couple of hours until his meeting, he doesn't check for watchers or cameras and goes straight into his flat. Striding directly to his bedroom, he tips out his bag, strips down and changes into his dinner suit. Leaving his bowtie for later, he pops it in his pocket. Ready to leave. But he waits. Something's different. He can smell somebody else in the flat. Thame shrugs off his jacket and slowly moves out of his bedroom and into the hallway. The lounge. Someone was in there. He creeps forward, but without a weapon. There aren't any around for him to grab. He'll have to use the element of surprise. Controlling his breath to silence, Thame puts his hand on the handle. One quick turn and he could be finished. He pulls. Click.

"Oh, just come in will you?" A voice bellows from beyond the door. Startled, Thame pushes it open to see Jonas Olsen sitting on his couch, reading a book with his mask next to him on a cushion.

"Surprise."

Thame is rigid and tight, ready to spring at the man who previously tried to kill him.

"Okay. Bit dramatic of me. Thame, I'm not here to kill you. I'm alone. You wanted to speak to me and you wanted this." Jonas picks up the mask and nonchalantly flashes it in Thame's direction. He looks different to before, much more comfortable. His look is purposeful and catches the eye - it was designed to do so. It was the modern big business executive making a deliberate attempt to balance money and modesty, flamboyance and control. An exquisitely fitting suit, thin grey tie, quiet but expensive cufflinks, fully shaved face and his hair neatly combed. Jonas is a world away from the man that Thame had stopped on the boat.

Warily Thame moves to his armchair and sits facing him. "Why did you try to harvest and kill me on the boat?"

"Orders."

"Whose?"

"Mirna. In Seymour's absence, she is our leader. Well, I should say in your absence." Jonas offers.

"And you just do what you're told?"

"It's suited so far, but let's say Mirna and I have some things we line up on and some things we don't."

"It has to stop. All of it."

"Well Thame, I agree. The whole underground cult and mask bullshit is rather tiresome. Whilst some were worrying about some ancient war, people like me were running a business. One that we are proud of. We're big but ethical. We have a foundation that puts over some hundred million dollars a year into environmental charities. That's what I care about. And frankly, you killing your brother got people excited and flustered."

"So you believe now?"

"After the boat, yes." He puts his head down involuntarily in reflex of the memory. He knew his place in the order of things and despite his business prowess, this was beyond him.

"This whole thing will be finished soon. My brother, me, the enemy, the whole lot. The Cult will be done, from tonight."

"Only you can make that happen. It's a simple order but some won't take too kindly to it."

"Mirna?"

"Mirna. She agrees with business but sees it as part of the war. She is Queen Bee."

"It'll be a big show in front of everyone that matters. Mirna will be dealt with."

"OK, I believe it. Then just Seymour. He's last of the traditionalists."

"The Monk's position has already been made permanently redundant."

Jonas is shocked. He can't believe that Thame, with no resources, found him where they couldn't.

"Can I trust you, Jonas?"

"I've seen what you've done to those that cross you. We seem to want the same thing. I'd been led to believe you'd be like Henry, but I can see now that you're not."

Thame listens to his phrasing, breath and heart beat. He tries to smell his sweat or sense any physical change to his body caused by lying, but nothing. He was telling the truth.

"Here's my gift to you. Your mask, a new phone and an invite. Also, we have three listening devices across your flat. One on the bottom of the Adler elephant, one on top of your glasses cupboard and one more behind your headboard. There's a camera in each of your vents and, before this morning, surveillance in the flat opposite. Your neighbour Mrs Booth is also one of ours, but has left to see her sister on the coast, permanently. Watching you in the last year before your disappearance was my operation. They said it was for your safety, of course, although we wanted to keep you under control if we needed to. I can't make you instantly trust me, but I can be honest."

"Thank you." Thame starts pulling out the devices. "This phone, clean?"

"Yes. Device is clean. One last thing. Your brother. The Facility you know about, it's destroyed. Is he finally gone?"

"Almost." Thame pauses and collects up all of the cameras and listening devices and hands them to Jonas. "I guess I'm trusting you then."

"My Lord. See you tonight." Jonas takes his leave.

Thame sits down and aimlessly flicks on his TV. He checks his TiVo box to see it full of over a year's worth of boxsets. Everything not in the plan seemed pointless. With the TV playing in the background, he pops his sim into his new phone and turns it on. He copies a few key numbers like Andrea and Anna's, and then flings the phone to the side. The level of surveillance freaked him out, their invasive procedures left him feeling vulnerable in his own home. He turns off the TV, grabs his jacket and coat ready for the party. Thame leaves his phone as he doesn't trust Jonas to completely let him go dark, and heads out. Without the surveillance and having faced the threat over his shoulder head on, he feels a little more free.