CHAPTER 34
From the limousine, Hiss pointed at The District’s monuments, reciting their history as if Locke didn’t know. He acted as if their argument hours ago never happened.
These great males who started the OWG and brought the World out of anarchy, glorified by these monuments, wouldn’t have ignored all the warning signs Locke saw. They wouldn’t have stood idly by while others tried to wreck the OWG’s plans. They wouldn’t have been willing to put aside their desire for the collective good because they were afraid of the truth.
As Locke exited the ride in front of the Govicide Building, his hands didn’t tremble. No feelings of trouble shook him. He’d resolved to keep his mouth shut long enough for Hiss to make an idiot of himself. Keeping his mouth shut would keep him out of trouble. Hiss liked to talk. Locke was happy to let him.
Then, Locke would jump to the Director’s side.
One final point pinched him right behind his ears when the driver opened the front door to Govicide Headquarters. What if the Director agreed with Hiss? What if Stallings was pleased with their progress? What if he, like Hiss, didn’t understand something bigger was going on here?
No, the Director was smarter than that. He’d expect more than what Hiss gave him. He wouldn’t be pleased with the progress so far. He expected more out of his Agents than this.
Zell waited for them by the elevator. She seemed to remember Hiss, smiling and hugging him. She briefly acknowledged Locke. Seeing the two of them together--Zell tall, skinny, and pale, Hiss short, chubby, and red-faced--was quite a sight.
They stepped out of the elevator onto the Director’s floor. All the young Govicide workers hustled here and there like the first time. Upon seeing the Agents, they bowed and clapped, then returned to their duties.
Zell opened the door to the first fancy room. There were the paintings Locke saw before. Seeing them made him realize how far he’d come in just ten days. Before, pride filled him.
Now, belief emptied from him.
The OWG wasn’t at all like the paintings showed. And the Free Enterprisers weren’t as ruthless as described . . . at least not yet.
Zell closed the door behind them. At the far end, just like before, sat the Director.
“My Govicide Agents, please take your seats,” the Director shouted down the table.
Hearing the Director’s voice initiated a tick of doubt inside Locke. He shook it off.
Hiss pulled out a chair and sat. “Director Stallings, thank you so much for wanting to meet with us. It is good to be back in the District.”
Locke sat beside Hiss, but then moved his chair further away.
Stallings folded his arms. “How long has it been, Govicide Agent Hiss? A couple of months, correct?”
“Yes, Director.” Hiss shifted in his seat.
“And you, Govicide Agent Locke. You, of course, were here recently. How have you liked traveling around the World?”
“It was . . . ” Locke, realizing his voice was too low, repeated himself speaking louder. “It was fantastic, Director.”
“Of course,” he answered seeming distracted with something else on his mind. “So, my Agents. I brought you here so you could give me your latest update face to face.”
Latest update, Locke thought. What did “latest” mean? They had given him no updates.
“Govicide Agent Hiss, you have been diligent in keeping me apprised of your progress.”
Locke’s jaw clenched, and his eyes cut across towards Hiss. His partner sent reports to HQ the whole time? Hiss made the occasional call but Hiss had been talking to the Director this whole time?
“Thank you, Director. I do what I can for the One World Government and for the Honor of Govicide. I am sorry we could not find more.” Hiss beamed, but didn’t bother to meet Locke’s eyes.
“I am sure more leads will turn up in the near future. But this case is a tough one. Especially Hamilton.” Stallings sneezed and cracked his knuckles. “Can you believe he still has not broken?” The Director shook his head and gazed out the window for a moment.
Locke tried to read the Director’s expression, but couldn’t help himself. “Break? From what, Director?”
“I guess Govicide Agent Hiss did not tell you. We have been using the information collected by you two to torture Hamilton.”
Locke hoped the Director didn’t notice him flinch. He chased the expression away. “I thought Hamilton was off-limits to all Govicide workers.” Locke tried to not sound like a Hamilton sympathizer. “You said you couldn’t allow your--”
The Director interrupted. “Govicide Agent Locke, that was over a week ago. Since then, with the information you have collected, we have data to use against him. The sites, the cash, the thing on the tundra, combined with a few lies, seems to be working. Before, when you interrogated him, we just had a bunch of useless dead bodies. Now we have economic information. And that is much more powerful.”
“Yes, Director, how is the torture proceeding?” Hiss piped up, knocking on the table.
“We think he could break at anytime. With the pills, the physical and mental torture, sleep deprivation. It is only a matter of time.”
Slumping in his chair, Locke didn’t care if the Director noticed. This was a set-up the entire time. And Locke had been an unknowing partner.
His own work led to Hamilton being tortured. He imagined Hamilton in Homicide’s torture room, screaming as the Govicide interrogators probed him for information. Locke knew the methods, having taught them to several Agents over the last two years.
Hiss and the Director continued to talk, ignoring Locke. Their conversation strayed from Hamilton. Locke’s fingernails tore at his suit fabric, his anger causing small frays to appear.
His attention stayed on Hamilton. If Hamilton suspected Locke and Hiss gave the torturers all their information, then Locke had no hope of getting more out of him. Locke could easily postulate whom Hamilton wanted to make his fifteenth and sixteenth victims.
And even if Hamilton didn’t know where the torturers got their information, Locke couldn’t see himself looking Hamilton in the eye and not telling him so the next time they met. The guilt would bubble to the surface and drown them both.
A horrific thought brushed aside everything in his mind. What if Hamilton told them Locke came to see him? What if Hamilton told them about Jade’s pregnancy? What if Hamilton told the torturers he told Locke about the Symbol?
Each agonizing question curled the anger inside of him like a spring. Locke wrapped his feet around the legs of the chair. He felt he could snap them in two.
“Govicide Agent Locke, do you have anything to add?” The Director’s question pulled Locke back to the present.
“Excuse me, sir?” Locke sat up.
“Do you have anything to add to Govicide Agent Hiss’ report about Snow City?”
“Uh, no, Director.”
Hiss and the Director resumed their conversation.
Locke considered he wouldn’t still be sitting in his chair if Hamilton mentioned him. If he’d said the Agent came to visit him, Locke would’ve been thrown in the Govicide Prison already. Especially if the killer told them about the pregnancy.
Hamilton could’ve used his knowledge to gain favor with his torturers, telling them he had information on one of their Govicide Agents breaking a mandate if they would go easier on him.
But, Locke wasn’t in prison. Hamilton had kept Locke’s secrets to himself?
Why would Hamilton protect him? The killer had every reason in the World to divulge the information. He could’ve stopped his torture sessions in an instant by mentioning Locke’s name. But he didn’t. He might have even been excused from some of his murders if he exposed a corrupt Agent. But he kept his mouth shut.
A lump lodged in Locke’s throat. His work had caused Hamilton’s torture. And in turn, Hamilton kept his mouth shut about Locke, about Jade’s pregnancy, about everything they talked about.
Locke had been weak with the Govicide luxury around him, while Hamilton showed strength in the face of imminent death.
Hiss’ and the Director’s conversation registered as background noise. But obviously the Director wasn’t displeased with their progress at all.
The meeting dragged on. The more Locke heard, the less he liked. Hiss assured the Director they were on the verge of something big. That all of the cash would be tracked down. That Hamilton would talk eventually. That very soon the OWG would be providing even more Goods and Services to the Masses.
Locke’s stomach rolled over. He didn’t believe a word of it.
He wanted to tell the Director and Hiss that if Hamilton hadn’t mentioned Locke talking to him in his cell last week, then Hamilton would never say anything of any value. He wanted to say they were no closer to catching anyone than they were a week ago. He wanted to say . . .
“Director, have you ever seen an upside down U around the District?” Locke’s slouch transformed into a salute. Out of the corner of his eye, Hiss shook his head.
“What, Govicide Agent Locke? An upside down U?” The Director sounded confused.
“Yes. It’s been in every city. There are many around Gambling City. But I also saw one on a lock in Cornville. On a pole in Snow City. And on the tundra. And the most recent ones were on two silos in Francoville. They’re everywhere. Do you know what they are?”
“I am guessing graffiti. I do not get out much, Govicide Agent Locke. I think I told you that before.”
Hiss interjected. “Uh, Director, Govicide Agent Locke brought this up to me before and we already discussed it.” He gave Locke a meaningful glance, full of unnamed threats.
Locke lowered his voice so only Hiss could hear. “I have something to say and I’m going to say it.”
“Hey,” Hiss whispered, grabbing Locke by the arm, “we are minutes away from getting out of here. Do not ruin it.”
“Is there a problem, Agents?”
Hiss beamed up at the Director. “No, Director. None at all.”
“Then please, Govicide Agent Locke, continue.”
Grabbing Hiss’ arm in return, muttering, “He wants to hear what I have to say. Are you going to get in the way of the Director?” Locke retorted.
Hiss released Locke’s arm at the question.
“What I said, Director, is I’ve noticed these upside down U’s all over. And I don’t know what they are.”
“Like I said, Govicide Agent Locke, I have not seen them.”
“Well, Director. They’re present in all the areas where this cash has disappeared. Some are big. Some are small. But I think they mean something.”
The Director shifted in his seat, crossing his legs. “What do you think they mean?”
“I think they are the sign of Free Enterprisers.”
Locke felt Hiss roll his eyes.
“Free Enterprisers? Did I hear correctly?” Stallings craned his ear forward.
“Yes, Director.” Locke swallowed the lump in his throat. Hamilton had been strong. Now was his chance show strength as well.
Stallings laughed. Hiss added to the chorus by directing a chuckle at Locke.
“Govicide Agent Locke, we are going to have a problem with you if each time you see something unusual, you think it is Free Enterprisers,” the Director answered, regaining his composure.
“But Director. They’re everywhere. They were put there on purpose.” Locke reminded himself to watch his tone.
“That may very well be the case. But Free Enterprisers? Come now. Govicide Agent Hiss, have we not found Offenders who used signs before?”
“Yes, Director. We have,” Hiss answered.
“And Govicide Agent Hiss, what do you make of these U’s?”
“For the record, Director. I only noticed the ones on the silos in Francoville. These others he is mentioning, I did not see. But the ones on the silos were graffiti. They could have been painted two days ago or twenty years ago.”
“Upside down you say?”
“Yes, Director,” Hiss replied.
Locke wanted to scream. He wished they were in Gambling City instead of the District. He’d march them right out to the street and show them all the Symbols. “But, Director. I think something is going on here.”
“Free Enterprisers?” the Director asked, lowering his head a degree. He took a long deep breath then rose, striding to the bay window. “Govicide Agent Locke. You know Free Enterprisers are not real. You know they were created at the beginning of the OWG to make sure everyone understood there was only one way for everyone to have everything. And that is through the OWG. The Masses doing their own thing causes everyone to suffer. The Free Enterprisers were created as a reminder to everyone. Sure, we have Offenders who try to get around the System. They try to outrun us here at Govicide. Try to evade the OWG. But none of them stop using the OWG. They still get their OWG Healthcare. They still get their OWG Food. They still get their OWG Entertainment. They still ride the buses. They do not truly want the OWG out of their lives. Not that it matters. We still catch them and put them away. Some we execute. Others we allow to live. But what you are talking about, if I read you correctly, is that you think there is a group out there who wants the OWG to disappear. They want to take over. Because that is what a true Free Enterpriser is. Am I right?” The Director paced, getting closer to Locke than he had ever been. He stopped, straightening a chair against the table.
Locke added up what he knew. Everything about Hamilton. About the messages. About the Symbol. About the different sites. About the cash.
What would it take to overrun the OWG? A large group of subjects. Guns. But they were un-mandated and not manufactured anymore. Tactics to organize everyone so they knew the plan. An understanding of the inner workings of the System, and being able to show subjects how to get around it. There were Hamilton and Messenger. But how many more? Thousands? Tens of thousands?
“Director, before I answer that, we know Hamilton murdered those Agents in the same cities where the cash warehouses were. Most of this trip consisted of going back to the locations of the murders. Upside down U’s were at all his murders. I think he drew them himself.” A kernel of a thought came to him. But it came and went so fast he couldn’t understand it. “The cash is one of the Free Enterprisers’ main weapons to undermine the OWG. That is, according to the Manual. We also know these Free Enterprisers--let’s just call them that for now--tried to mislead us with our own WPS devices. So, we have murder. Cash. A plan that involved fooling us. And we still don’t know how Hamilton got around the World. Or how they moved the cash in the first place. And how could Hamilton be in such good condition without the OWG?”
The Director paced again. “Yes, Govicide Agent Locke. But, everything in the World is working properly, right? There have been no problems with any distributions of Goods and Services. Has there?”
“No,” Locke answered.
“And the vehicle outside Snow City. Govicide Agent Hiss believed it was a setup to get you two out of the way, correct?”
“Yes.”
“So, we cannot count that. And you still do not know how the rest of the sites relate to each other, do you?”
“No.”
“And there has been no revenge for that little mess up in Cornville?”
Locke forgot all about Ames’ death already. He hated himself for it.“No.”
“And one more thing, Govicide Agent Locke. If these subjects are truly Free Enterprisers, in the strictest sense of the word since you brought it up, have there been any attempts at someone murdering you?” The Director stopped, spinning on his heel to face Locke.
Locke thought to the night when the Messenger left the note on his bed. “Me? No. Why me?”
“Well, you did have something to do with one of their comrades getting caught. You are one of the reasons he is in prison. Who knows how long he would have gone on? But you, along with Govicide, stopped him. So, I ask you again. Has anyone attempted to harm you since you caught Hamilton?”
The Director had put Locke at the center of a puzzle. Of course, the answer was “no.” There had been no attempts to kill Locke. But answering the truth, it took some punch away from Locke’s argument. Fortunately, he didn’t tell the Director the complete truth. He could imagine what he’d say. No, Director. I have talked to Hamilton. We had a half hour conversation. And one of his Messengers has been leaving me notes on this trip. And when the Messenger had a chance to attack me in my room, he didn’t.
“No, Director. No one has tried to harm me.”
“And there we have it. No violence except for the killing of the Agents, but the subject has been caught. No stoppage of Goods and Services. No large group of subjects that anyone has seen or heard. No threats made against the OWG or the System. But, you insist there are Free Enterprisers just because of some graffiti?”
When the Director put it like that, Locke’s idea sounded preposterous.
Why should he change his mind? The Director was the expert, not Locke.
“I think I see your point, Director.” Locke slumped.
“I told you,” Hiss chided to the side.
“Govicide Agent Locke, I admire your aggression and worry for the OWG.” Stallings stepped to his favorite window again. “But your imagination is getting the best of you. All you and Govicide Agent Hiss are doing is tracking a bunch of Offenders. These Offenders happened to kill a few more Agents than we would like. They are no different than all the Offenders before them. They think they can outwit the System. They cannot. They think they can outwit Govicide. They cannot. Remember: Two billion subjects on this World need what we provide. There is no reason to overthrow it. They would only be destroying their great standard of living. Let me say there is a group of, say, fifty thousand subjects who get together and try to overthrow the OWG. Come in here. Destroy the System. Trying to send us all back to pre-OWG. Do you think the rest of the two billion subjects would stand for that? Will these two billion subjects really just let their OWG Healthcare, their OWG Food, their electricity, their entertainment, their sex credits, their heat, their air conditioning, their education, would they really allow a measly fifty thousand subjects take it away from them? Of course not. See, Govicide Agent Locke, it is impossible for any group to overthrow the OWG. Because everyone needs us. And the Masses will defend the OWG against anyone who tries to take their Goods and Services away. So, you see, there is no real way Free Enterprisers, even if they existed, could win. The Masses would never stand for it.”
The Director had a way of making a point. He had years of practice.
Doubt crawled into Locke through his ears, on the back of Stallings’ words. For over a week, he’d convinced himself a wave was rising against the OWG; a looming wave about crash down and wash away the OWG. He was sure of it.
However, in a matter of a minute, the Director managed to make Locke question it all. The Director said the attempt would be futile, so why would anyone try?
“Director Stallings, I think I see what you’re saying.”
“There have been similar young Agents. They come in here and see a Free Enterpriser on every street corner. They eventually fall into line and figure out how we work, and why Free Enterprisers do not exist. You will do the same.”
But he didn’t want to be like every other Agent. He wanted to be . . . unique. Another word un-mandated in the OWG.
“So, anything else to cover?” The Director walked to the head of the table.
Hiss stood. “No, Director.”
“No, Director.” Locke rose more slowly than Hiss. “You have made me realize the error in my thinking. Thank you.”
“Okay. Well, then--”
“Excuse me, sir,” Locke interrupted. The thought kernel from earlier in the conversation popped in his mind again. “Now that I think about it. I’m obviously new and have made some bad assumptions. If I may, would you allow me to interview Hamilton again?”
With no ban on Govicide Agents any more, the Director had cleared an obstacle. No more sneaking around.
He continued, warming to his sudden idea. “It might help me see, even more so, that you’re right. That Hamilton is just a murdering Offender. That he’s not a Free Enterpriser . . .” His lips stumbled, not quite believing his good fortune. “ . . . I mean, if he’s in Gambling City anyway. I could talk to him. See what makes him tick. Especially since you already let me interrogate him before even though I wasn’t an Agent yet.”
He shifted his feet, hoping the Director wouldn’t see through his underlying motivations. The Director made him doubt the Free Enterpriser idea but that didn’t stop him from wanting to glean more information from Hamilton.
Stallings gazed out his window again. “You know, Govicide Agent Locke, Govicide Agent Hiss told me about how he caught you outside of Hamilton’s cell when he first met you.”
Not an ounce of anger dropped onto Locke with that statement. Subconsciously, he’d suspected it all along. “It’s true. I was there.”
“Just doing his work I assigned him. You are a new Agent. We must keep an eye on you. Especially since I appointed you and you did not pass the Govicide test. The first subject of the Masses to be a Govicide Agent picked by me cannot fail. You understand? It just would not be very Director-like if I appointed you and then you failed. Hiss is only making sure I made a good decision.”
“Sure,” Locke answered.
“Regarding talking to Hamilton . . . ” he coughed, “ . . . the experience might be good for you. But I am worried about what Hiss said about you observing Hamilton when you knew it went against my mandates.”
“Director, I knew what your mandates were, and if I planned to break them wouldn’t I have been talking to Hamilton when Hiss found me? I mean, I didn’t know Hiss would show up early. I was curious. I spent two years chasing him. I couldn’t help but be a bit sentimental. And since he sat only a few hundred yards away . . . well . . . ”
“I see.” Those cracked knuckles rapped the desk. “Never disobey me again. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, Director. I do.”
“But . . . maybe talking to Hamilton will be good for you. You got to talk to him as a Homicide Detective. This time around I am sure you will see he is nothing but an Offender. Because we cannot have new Agents running around seeing Free Enterprisers everywhere.” The Director returned to his chair.
This was just the bit of luck Locke hoped for. His bold question proved worth it. He wouldn’t have to sneak around. He wouldn’t have to lie to Hiss. He wouldn’t have to come up with excuses. This time, his meeting would be official, but yet off the record.
“Thank you, Director. I will not let the OWG down.” He saved the fist pump for later.
“Govicide Agent Hiss, could you accompany Locke when he goes to see Hamilton?”
As fast as Locke’s prospects grew, they died. It took all his energy to keep his head high. With Hiss there, nothing would get done. He’d have to avoid more topics than he talked about. In fact, Locke wouldn’t even waste his time if Hiss accompanied him.
Hiss shook his head. “Director Stallings, with all due respect, this heathen murdered my partner. And it upsets me . . . ” Hiss threw a glance at Locke. “ . . . that my current partner wants to talk to that Agent-murdering Offender. If you order me to, I will, of course. But, I would rather not. If Hamilton murdered my mother I would feel different. I got over her death pretty quickly. But a former partner--a Govicide Agent who was serving the OWG, that still hits me pretty hard.”
“I understand. Then we will allow Govicide Agent Locke to talk to Hamilton on his own.”
Once again, a burst of relief surged through Locke. Hiss’ hatred of Hamilton would, for once, work in Locke’s favor.
The Director continued. “But Govicide Agent Locke, I expect a full report documenting the interview second-by-second. You might miss something that our analysts will not.”
Locke had no problem faking a report. “Yes, Director. Of course, I’ll take care of it.”
“Good. If that is all, you two are dismissed.”
“Thank you, Director Stallings,” they replied.
Assistant Zell waited for them on the other side of the door, as if she’d been there the whole time. They followed her the way they came, the two Agents saying nothing to each other. Under normal circumstances, by this time Locke would’ve allowed his anger to attack Hiss in response to him holding out about Hamilton and all the updates. But, getting to talk to Hamilton without sneaking around doused the irritation.
The murderer wouldn’t be happy to see Locke, given his torture. Locke would just have to figure out how to extract the information once he got there.
Zell left them at the top of the steps in front of the building. “Good-bye Govicide Agent Hiss. Good to see you again. And Govicide Agent Locke, we’re counting on you.”
The limousine pulled away.
“Our meeting was going pretty well until you opened your mouth.” Hiss bent over and poured himself a drink. It was not Scotch this time. The label said OWG Non-Alcohol Bourbon.
“It didn’t exactly go the way I thought it would. You sure held out on me.” Locke stared out his window.
“Govicide Agent Locke, there is no easy way to tell my partner that the Director has asked me to keep an eye on you.”
“I didn’t mean that. I’m a new Agent. I guess it’s to be expected. I just wish you had told me about filing reports directly with the Director. I might have wanted to add something.”
“Such as?” Hiss laughed. “Like the whole thing about Free Enterprisers? Yes, that would have gone well. You see how he reacted back there. He would have pulled us back to the District in no time.”
Hiss was correct about that, Locke agreed now that he got to see the Director’s reaction.
“You knew about them torturing Hamilton?”
Hiss took a sip. “Oh yeah. I took great pleasure in it while we were away. Wish I could have been there myself. But that would have meant being in the same room as him so--”
“You should have told me. I did catch him after all.”
“Uh-huh.”
Locke could feel the blow-off.
They traveled the rest of the way to the airport in silence. Locke tried to be angrier with his partner, but the prospect of a meeting with Hamilton quelled it. One less topic to worry about.
But, Locke couldn’t see how he’d continue his partnership with Hiss. Hiss was unpredictable. A liar. Shady. Locke couldn’t trust anything emanating from his mouth. Every moment was just one mental test after another.
He’d have to overcome it. And preparing to question Hamilton was a good start. He’d get right to it as soon as they landed in Gambling City. He’d write down what he saw, what he thought he saw, what the secret messages said-- he thought it too risky to take them with him.
Hamilton had answers, Free Enterpriser or not. Hamilton knew something, even if he wasn’t the OWG destroyer Locke once believed he was. He knew answers Locke didn’t. Yet, Locke couldn’t understand how.
How did he know?