Ensemble [Book 1: SEKTOR V Trilogy]

Chapter 25: Something Was Not Quite Right

Chapter 25: Something Was Not Quite Right

Maddy immediately contacted Steve Arroyo who was her eyes and ears on the ICP front within her regional domain that included the Philadelphia metro area. "Steve, I just had a most intriguing and somewhat disturbing conversation with Jack Cranston. He tells me that the Ministry has exerted a heavy footprint since our last Jump. How bad is it?"

"Seriously?" responded Arroyo.

"Steve, would I call to joke with you?" she said in a mildly irritated tone.

"I'm sorry. It's just that the exact opposite has transpired. Over the past week, things have been quite odd. Normally, we'd have to get involved and run some sort of interference so that the ICPs can effectively operate. Recently, however, they've been able to run full-scale operations almost with impunity. Just yesterday, we had two of our people witness, in plain sight, what I would describe as an ICP extortion event. The activity itself wasn't that unusual except for the fact that it occurred with the help of two known Ministry operatives. So, no, there has been an anti-crackdown, if anything."

Could they be working together? Why though? Maddy thought. It didn't make any sense. "Steve, would you say that the incident you described was isolated?"

"No, I wouldn't. While it's only been going on for a week or so, we're seeing ICP operatives pretty much doing whatever they want, whenever they want. Of course, there's been an upside to all of this anomalous activity. Our revenue receipts for the past week are way up. About 25 percent over the past 8 days."

"Interesting," she said. "It sounds like you are doing very little to earn that money."

"Exactly! So maybe this isn't so bad after all?"

Maddy ignored his semi-rhetorical, half-serious question. "Have you received any in-field, or perhaps upper-level requests from the ICP about training?" Before he could respond, she added, "Also, have they asked about updating the surveillance equipment we manage for them?"

Steve laughed. "Now, that's funny. No, that's not how these guys operate. On technical matters, they only interact with us—OK, complain—when something breaks and they need it fixed 'yesterday'. That's about the extent of our technological collaborations."

"That sounds about right." Maddy chuckled. "As far as the money goes, are they resisting or resenting paying extra, given their recent 'good fortune' with the authorities?"

"No, not really," responded Arroyo. "In fact, I'd say that they've been a much cheerier bunch of late."

"I bet," she said under her breath.

"Excuse me, Director?"

"Oh never mind, Steve, it was nothing. Thank you for your help, it has been very informative. Please continue to keep me apprised of ICP activities and be sure to contact me ASAP if, or when, something unusual happens."

"Certainly, Madam Director," he said before ending the call.

~

Maddy already knew something was up, but after this bit of intel, she was genuinely concerned. She'd better contact Chancellor Datek on the secure line as a matter of course. She'd wanted to reach out any way to brief him on the upcoming Dial Jumps...

"Hello, Chancellor, I hope this is an acceptable time for us to talk?"

"Maddy! I always have time for you. How have you been, and how are things going at the Institute?"

"Rather well on both fronts, thank you for asking, Chancellor."

"Chancellor? Come on Maddy, cut the crap. We're nearly the same age and we grew up through the ranks together. First name or no name is how we're going to do this." He was trying his best to sound tough but Maddy knew better. In school, everyone called him The Charming and Disarming Harris Datek. A nod to the fact that he didn't have a mean bone in his body. What he did have, however, was a brilliant mind, fantastic people skills, and a lot of ambition, three traits that led him to become the youngest Chancellor on record at the Institute. It was a selection that surprised no one, including Maddy.