Mr Hook's Big Black Box

Kris Alexandros: New Day, New Plan

It was the second time I'd woken up and made myself ready for college since we acquired the Box. The third day of chaos, I guess, and we still didn't have a clue how deep the rabbit's hole really went. As I went about my ablution, I couldn't stop thinking about all the things that had already happened, my imagination trying to fill in the gaps in the story. I had wanted so much to ask the others for their stories between the movies and television of last night, but I thought we all needed a break. I would learn the full details of events as soon as the Box was safely stored away and Spenser was out of our hair.

I set off to college some time before nine, even though I didn't have a lecture until eleven. There were other things I needed to do first. Once I hit the cycle path I started running, hoping maybe to burn away some of the previous day's anxiety with adrenaline and endorphins. Halfway there, Marco rocketed past. He waved, but didn't stop long enough to say anything more than a passing "Hi". Once he was out of sight, I allowed my pace to slow a little. There were things I needed to do, and I could jog without rendering myself out of breath. I fumbled in my jacket pocket until I produced my cell phone, plugged in my earphones, and looked down just long enough to dial.

"Yes?" Uncle Sal's voice was curt and businesslike.

"Uncle Sal. It's me, Kris. I have the Box now, and I can arrange a pickup soon. One of my friends has it in a safe at her house, but I do not believe it matches the description you are looking for. The crate split, and this Box is a polished metal piece in the shape of a coffin."

"It was based on a historical treasure," he replied, after a long delay, "Created by a modern artist, combining renaissance gothic aesthetic with pre-industrial affects. That's what my guys tell me, it's like some weird piece of art. But it's got a dozen layers of surface, like a crazy pass-the-parcel present. Plenty of space to hide illicit materials within the structure of the Box. It could be the one. They tell me that the one at the airport in Kutaisi is a wooden coffin, which is not what they were expecting, but events are proceeding on that end as well. If we are to maintain our reputation, we must resolve this matter quickly."

"Spenser is insane," I answered, "I've discovered a few more details now. I asked a group of my friends to deliver the Box to him, and told him what time they would arrive. Then he had his men attack them on the way, with firearms. Needless to say, my friends no longer trust him or his men to come anywhere near them. He also has government officials crawling all over his facility. I think at this point he needs to be removed from the equation, because I can guarantee all his plan will bring you is collateral damage and publicity. Let me deal with this. I can convince my friend to give me the codes to the safe, so if you have any men in the area who are actually reliable, they can come and collect the merchandise while she is out of the house or asleep. I want Spenser out of the way."

There was silence on the line for a dozen strides or more. Then Sal responded.

"You've learned the way we do business quite quickly," I could only read that tone as a tacit approval, "Your desire to protect your friends does you credit. This Circle has always been about protecting our family, enforcing our law on the islands where the authorities had little reach. You make me wish I had invited you to join us sooner. And you will get your delivery men. I will call you back later today."

"Thank you." I hung up, and thought about my plan. I didn't know I could convince Monty to give me the safe codes, but I had to try. Because some instinct told me that Spenser wasn't going to stop even if Sal told him to. He knew how valuable the Box was to us, and he was going to keep on trying so he could ransom it back to the Circle, or to the mysterious 'friend' who actually owned it.

I hoped I could just ask Monty to give me access to the safe, say I wanted to keep the Box company or something. The way she kept on talking about it like a person, she might go along with that. I would have preferred to tell the truth, but getting my friends involved with this Circle would make them a vulnerability. It would put them in danger. I was resolved now that I would get rid of this Box at the earliest opportunity, keeping my friends away from its true nature if I could, but telling them otherwise. The only thing that mattered was ending this affair without any unnecessary violence.

Having the key in my pocket would make a big difference. As I reached the college campus, I was already starting to think of a better plan. If the client was only after items concealed between those layers, then it should be possible for me to get those items out. I wouldn't need a delivery driver to take the Box out of the country if I could open it and determine how to access the contraband within. Then my friends would never need to worry about it going missing, Spenser would stop hounding us, and everyone would be happy.

I was also starting to think about what I would do if Spenser came to talk to me again. Ferrari said she was contacting the police, and calling in favours from campus security. Now, the campus security men were mostly tasked with issuing spare keys to those who lost them, operating the college's internal mail system, and also operated as general workers doing all the little tasks that kept the place in running order. But they also needed some kind of qualifications to show they were capable of maintaining order, and that likely meant that many of them had served in the police force previously. There was a good chance that if Spenser came to talk to me, I would be able to find a way towards his arrest. I just needed to stay alert.

But first, after the long run from town, I needed to return to my room and take a shower, and to find clean clothes for the day. I thought that I would easily have time before the start of my first class.