The receptionist told Raiya of a distressed woman claiming to be the partner of Scott Alendry. Normally she’d never consider an impromptu visit but the plight of Scott had gained some media coverage, and refusing help would reflect badly on herself.
The woman rushed in to Raiya’s office.
Raiya said, ‘Please, do take a seat.’ There was the more formal upright chair that associates used. ‘It’s Deanna, isn’t it?’
‘Yes,’ she answered, seemingly calmer now.
They both sat either side of the desk. ‘I know things must seem a bit desperate at the moment. How are you coping?’ It was the obvious question. Not very well, clearly. But it was a way into the conversation.
‘It’s not true what they’ve been saying – the space agency. No malfunction could send them so far off that they can’t even be detected.’
‘Why would they lie to you, Deanna?’
‘Because they don’t know any more than I do what really happened.’
‘What do you suspect?’
‘Most people would think I’m mad for suggesting this. But something strange has happened to Scott over the last few weeks. The way he’s been acting – kind of, well … carefree, stupidly happy about his assignment. And in the bedroom … well, he could never get enough.’ She looked to the floor, perhaps embarrassed at having said too much.
‘OK, so you believe something happened to Scott after he’d been given this new assignment.’ Raiya recalled the last session with Scott following his accident. He hadn’t really said much at all, quite defensive but in high spirits.
‘Actually I can understand your concern but I cannot give you any conclusions.’
‘Doctor-patient confidentiality. I understand. But there’s something else: he was having these dreams about a man jumping off a mountain. He couldn’t tell me what it meant; I only got him to talk about it after he was giving this name in his sleep. Torin, I think.’
Raiya felt a sudden chill run down her spine. Do you mean Torbin?’
‘Yes, perhaps that’s it. Why – do you know him?’
‘It’s a name I’ve heard mentioned. But let me ask you: do you suspect a connection with what’s happened to the ship?’
‘I think he was involved with some strange people, connected with that original project. He wouldn’t tell me much about the latest investor, so I did some investigating, asked a few colleagues in the business, and I’m fairly sure there is something dubious about them. Sure, everything seems legit on their site, but it’s all surface: there’s no real contacts, it’s all channelled through secretarial and administrative staff; no one with any real connection. There was no way of getting through to speak to even an associate, they just fobbed me off with lame excuses.’
‘Have you reported them to the police or security agency?’
‘Of course. And they say they’re investigating, but my guess is they’ll not find anything illegal with them. I mean a lot of these corporate bodies are entitled to a degree of discretion, provided they keep within the law; freedom of the market and all that.’
‘The space agency might want to investigate them. But if you want me to give a statement regarding Scott I am willing to do so.’
‘Thank you.’
‘Dr Rengil will also, I’m sure, provide any evidence.’
Deanna’s expression fell. ‘Right now I just want him back. At least to know where he is. Is that too much to ask? Why are they not trying to locate him? It doesn’t make sense. It’s like something’s being covered up.’
‘They’ll have to do something,’ Raiya assured her. ‘The media pressure alone will force the agency to keep searching, even if they have to collaborate with Cisa.’
‘I know, doctor, they’ll be some finding eventually. Maybe they’ll find the wreck of the ship. And that’ll be it: we’re all be expected to move on with our lives. Well, I won’t move on. I won’t accept it.’
‘Deanna, I urge you to see Dr Rengil---’
‘To give me something to calm myself down. No thank you, doctor, I would rather keep my my wits about me than be doped up.’
‘I understand.’ She realised she must have seemed as dismissive as the others towards Deanna, only couched in psychiatric-ese. ‘Believe me, I will do everything I can to help you, to help Scott.’
‘Thank you, Dr Fortenski.’ Deanna got up to leave.
‘Please do come back. I can arrange for you to see Dr Rengil. there’s no charge, your insurance cover can be transferred for here.’
‘I’ll manage, but thanks,’ Deanna said quietly, before walking out.
Raiya opened her console, did a general search on Scott Alendry. There were a few basic facts about the first assignment on Eludi-4; nothing revealing. Not that she really expected anything that would give an insight.
Her normal response would be to contact Len; run by him this feeling off unease, this suspicion that some conspiracy was in operation, drawing her inextricably into its web. But Leonard Heigener, her once most trusted confidant and friend, had become distant. In their last conversation he seemed his usual warm, friendly, humorous self, and yet that bond she’d once had with him had been broken. Something different about him, although any rational analysis of it eluded her. Except she knew as soon she observed: there was a darkness behind his smile, within his eyes.
Perhaps there was only one person she could rely on.
She entered Jannson’s security office. He looked up from the dark suspended rectangle of his console, his face a combination of surprise and pleasure. He always seemed to relish the chance to help her, and now he must have sensed this would be something important.
‘I need you to help me track down Torbin Lyndau.’ Raiya said, watching as his expression soured.
‘Doctor---’
‘Please, do call me Raiya. I think we’ve known we’ve known each other long enough now.’
‘Raiya.’ He said her name so carefully it was if he was trying out a new foreign word, or the name of a woman he’d only just met. ‘I don’t know if I can track him down. I don’t know if I should.’
‘But you could help me find him.’
‘I could try. But Mr Lyndau is a dangerous man. He must have some very powerful friends to be able to escape the police.’
‘That’s why it’s important I find him.’
‘But then what? I don’t understand.’
‘Nor do I entirely. But somehow he is key to what’s been happening to me, and other things that you wouldn’t even believe.’
‘I will trust whatever you tell me, Doct – Raiya.’
‘I can’t tell you any more now. I don’t even know if that will put you in danger, if I haven’t already.’
‘I’m always there for you, Raiya. You know that.’ He said her name with more certainty now.
‘I know that now.’ She’d known for a while that Jannson had feelings for her, but she’d tried to dismiss that as something that would never be taken forward.
‘I must tell you, Raiya, I am very concerned for your safety.’
‘I’m glad of that. But I’m due to leave for the day. By all means keep a track on my location – I’ll keep my comm badge active.’
‘Still, I … I don’t think it’s safe---’
‘Then come back with me. Bring whatever monitoring equipment you need. We can work together on this.’
‘Oh, okay,’ Jannson said. Raiya could see he was trying to suppress a smile. ‘We should go in my car, it has stealth capability. It may be safer to go to my place.’
‘No, I’d rather go back to mine. You can check for any surveillance devices.’
‘Yes, of course.’
On the journey they hardly spoke. Jannson said a few words about his monitoring equipment, but she certainly sensed a tension between them.
‘Please tell me: do you think I am in danger in my own house?’
‘Possibly.’
‘If there’s anything tangible to indicate that, then I’ll leave.’
The car descended to her detached stone and wood-panelled house. The garden illuminated at their arrival. Raiya was suddenly conscious of how extravagant it must seem to someone whom she thought of as being of a fairly austere disposition, a man not given to folly.
Jannson made no comment about the interior, the turquoise and white radiance of the hallway, the subtle magenta infusing with a low-level white side bioluminances. Raiya imagined his place would be brightly illuminated, no suggestive mood lighting. She thought of upping the light levels from the usual. But why? He should see her in her natural environment where she felt the most comfortable.
‘Please, do make yourself comfortable,’ she said, as casually as possible. And told him where all the facilities were situated.
‘Thank you,’ he said, with what seemed to be a meekness to his voice.
She cooked dinner. Jannson clearly knew his choice would be not whether he stayed for dinner but what he selected to eat.
In the meantime he scanned around the place for any possible signs of surveillance. ‘Every room’s clear,’ he informed her, ‘Except, one---’
‘My bedroom, you mean?’
‘Of course, feel free.’
But as he was scanning round in her room the thought occurred to her that she hadn’t bothered to tidy up before leaving that morning in a hurry for work. She tried to remember if she’d left any underwear strewn about, as was so often the case.
Jannson emerged from her bedroom with a sheepish expression on his face. ‘All clear,’ he said simply.
‘That’s a relief,’ she said, but thinking how her bedroom wasn’t clear of some embarrassing items.
‘Not that I can can say for certain we’re not being monitored, there may be remote observation drones hovering outside.’
‘Well, let them hover and observe all they like ... while we enjoy dinner.’ She motioned towards the living room.
After half a bottle of wine Jannson seemed to relax a bit more; he’d even undone the top button of his starched shirt. She offered him some old clothes from her ex that had been prepared to go off to charity, an offer she’d regretted now, judging by his uncomfortable reaction.
Raiya herself had changed into a thin blue dress: not so tight or low-cut that it gave any obvious signs; it just made her feel comfortable. The wine also helped. It was tempting to start another bottle, but about half each seemed adequate.
‘You might want to take off that shirt,’ she said to him, noticing his face had become reddened. ‘Or I could turn down the thermostat.’
‘Yes, that would be fine,’ he said hastily, not really being clear which option he prefered. ‘But I wouldn’t want you to be cold.’
‘It’s up to you, Jannson.’
Jannson took off his shirt. Raiya observed that he kept himself in shape; unusually lean for a man of his age. He never revealed his age but she thought he was probably a few years older than her – perhaps no more than late forties. It was difficult to be sure these days since gerontological treatment wasn’t uncommon, yet remained the standard option for only a minority with the disposable income. She herself had considered multi-rejuvenation, but wondered if it would make her seem vain, and not the best example to set to those of her patents who were insecure about their looks. No, better to age gracefully.
After the meal, Raiya changed the music to something more pacey but with still a sensuous ambiance, and sat on the long reclining couch. Jannson joined her without needing to be invited.
Raiya didn’t know if it was the wine affecting her mind, but she knew then that she wanted him. She leaned towards him and they kissed. She then pushed him quite forcefully onto his back. Raiya considered inviting him to remove her dress, but already he looked stunned … but aroused. Instead she then straddled him, pulled the dress over her head, leaving her hair untidy about her shoulders. She had nothing on except for her bra (for that sexy lift). How calculated it must all have seemed. Make the seduction easy. Make me seem easy, she thought.
She undid his fastenings as deftly as her half-inebriated state allowed.
She’d barely got him inside her before he climaxed. The poor man, it was all too much. The look of dismay on his face. Perhaps he’d fantasied about this moment for some time, but that it wouldn’t be over for him so soon.
He looked up at her, redder faced than ever. ‘I’m sorry, I couldn’t help---’
‘Don’t worry about it. It was my fault, I shouldn’t have jumped on you like that.’ But the regret was seeping into her mind – that this whole thing had been a mistake. She was like some oversexed harlot. She’d orchestrated this whole evening to lead up to a seduction.
But her mind was still buzzing. Would the Raiya of ten years or even a year ago have acted like this? Had something changed in her?
***