Milo Moon: It Never Happened (24 page)

‘You’ll be on you own with this,’ Klausner said, and broke the silence.

‘Yes, I fully appreciate the gravity.’

‘Will you brief us on developments?’ Karl Schellenberg asked.

‘No. When you leave this meeting, this matter will never have existed.’

‘Very well Mr. President. I’m leaving this meeting that never happened,’ Françoise Klausner said, clearly indicating her agreement, and was followed by her five council colleagues.

Rudiger Staheli sat alone. Hating the decision he had had to make, but knowing he had no alternative. The usher came in some ten minutes later.

‘Is everything all right sir?’

‘Fine. Just having a small rest before my next meeting,’ Staheli said, as lightly as he could to the usher. He grabbed his brief case and set off for his office.

‘Get me Dr. Wilhelm Mueller on the phone,’ he asked his personal secretary, as he grumpily walked into his outer office.

‘Yes, certainly sir.’

Staheli went to his desk, and took a tablet to help the pain in his chest. He sat quietly until his phone broke his time of trying to relax his tightening chest.

‘Hello Dr Mueller.’

‘Hello sir. What can I do for you?’

‘I want these devices removed from Seaton and Moon.’

‘May I ask why?’

‘They’re tracking devices. I don’t want these things on Swiss citizens.’

‘Those two are not Swiss though.’

‘They are now, Dr Mueller.’

‘I see,’ and Staheli could almost hear Mueller thinking on the other end of the telephone. ‘The procedure would have to be done here.’

‘No, Dr Mueller. Impossible. It’ll be done in a Swiss hospital.’

‘But special surgical tools are required.’

‘Bring them with you.’

‘I have to say sir, that with all due respect, you can’t make this demand.’

‘Dr. Mueller. I’ve discussed this matter with your government. They have agreed to revoke your passport and allow us to list you with Interpol as a wanted criminal. It’ll take me less than two hours to have these matters dealt with.’

‘I must protest at ……’

‘Protest all you like Dr. Mueller. Your government has abandoned you. If you want out of here and a continuation of your employment, I suggest you get the tools you need, and do as I ask.’

‘So I have no choice then?’

‘No. Unless you want to rot in jail for the rest of your life.’

‘And if the procedure is not successful?’

‘Dr. Mueller. For your sake, and for the sake of many of your staff, you will make doubly sure that this procedure is totally successful.’

‘When will this take place sir?’

‘I’ll have my army medical people contact you. They’ll arrange for your transport for the procedure.’

‘Very well sir.’

‘Good day to you, Dr. Mueller.’

‘Excuse me sir,’ Staheli’s personal secretary said, as he entered. ‘You have a doctor’s appointment at three.’

‘Cancel it, and get me the Secretary of State on the phone.’

‘But it’s very early in the US sir.’

‘She’s in Jerusalem I believe. Get to it,’ Staheli said, impatiently and out of character. His secretary turning on his heels at the barked order.

On another line, Staheli rang the French president.

‘It appears the whole facility is on Swiss soil. Can’t be one hundred percent sure, but that’s the best I can say at the moment.’

‘And the facility itself? Where are you at?’

‘Hopefully in a few weeks, it will never have existed.’

‘Are you sure about this Rudiger?’ the president asked, in a concerned tone.

‘Yes. I’m sure.’

‘All right. Let me know if you need anything.’

‘Will do.’

Just after Staheli hung up, his other phone rang. It was the Secretary of State.

‘You need to speak, sir?’

‘Yes. You’ll have immediate access to evacuate.’

‘Right. And?’

‘We’ll keep the two escapees. They are Swiss nationals now, and we will release Dr. Schmidt to you after the facility is cleared.’

‘Anything else.’

‘The banking enquiry will go away I trust.’

‘I’ll advise the President sir and come back to you as soon as I can.’

‘Very well.’

After he finished, he called the German Chancellor, but he was in a meeting. He left a message for his call to be returned. Immediately, he picked up the phone again and called the Foreign Minister’s office in Moscow.

‘He’s in a meeting sir.’

‘Can he be interrupted just for few minutes? It’s important.’

‘Just hold please sir.’

Rudiger Staheli reached into his top draw and opened the small pill bottle and put another pill in his mouth, as his chest was tightening and making breathing difficult.

‘Are you there sir?’

‘Yes.’

‘Just putting you through.’

‘Rudiger.’

‘It’s almost done. Get the energy contact finalised inside two weeks and the matter will disappear from here. Your friends will make the travel arrangements.’

‘Understood Rudiger. Consider it done.’

‘Thanks.’

Staheli’s secretary appeared again.

‘The medical examiner is here sir.’

‘Yes. Send him in.’

‘Good morning sir.’

‘Yes, good morning. Now let’s get this moving. Make contact with Mueller at CERN and get him organised to supervise the surgery. Call Fleury in Ticino and have him ready the two patients. I want it done within the next two days.’

‘So soon sir.’

‘Yes. We need these tracking devices out of action, and let these two poor souls get on with some kind of a life.’

‘Any chance of a little longer sir.’

‘No. None. I suggest you get on to Mueller as soon as you leave.’

‘Yes sir.’

‘Advise me as soon as it’s been organised. Here’s my mobile number,’ Staheli said, as he wrote his number on his note pad.

‘Yes sir.’

When Ernst Gehrig had left, Staheli’s secretary gave him a message that the Chancellor had returned his call.

He picked up the phone and called back.

‘Yes Mr. Staheli,’ the Chancellor said in a coolish tone. They had never seen eye to eye on many issues, and he was sure the Chancellor was waiting for next year’s presidency rotation before trying to negotiate the outstanding bi-lateral agreements.

‘The head of the facility is German.’

‘What?’

‘I think you’d prefer he disappears further east.’

‘You can’t be serious.’

‘I’ve met with him. Dr. Wilhelm Mueller. Our intelligence confirms that he is the son of a German officer found guilty at Nuremberg.’

‘So what’s your position?’

‘Get the bi-laterals sorted with Françoise Klausner and her team. Signed within two weeks, and your problem will disappear.’

‘Are you making a threat here?’

‘No. Certainly not. A statement of fact, that’s all.’

‘What if the people further east don’t take him?’

‘He’ll still disappear.’

‘Get Klausner to contact the minister.’

‘Very well. Thank you for your understanding.’

‘You’re playing a very dangerous game you know.’

‘Yes, I know the ramifications.’

‘Right, let me know when it’s all done.’

‘Yes. Will do.’

By late afternoon, Staheli had contacted everyone he needed to, except for the British Foreign Secretary. It had been a long day, and he knew he could be contacted just as easily at home. The pains in his chest had eased a little, but he still felt uncomfortable and considered a short rest a good idea. He was also waiting to hear from the US. He needed their agreement as soon as possible.

When he arrived home, he was glad his wife was holidaying in Italy with her sister. He didn’t need company tonight. Laying down on his sofa and trying to let the stress dissipate, he fell asleep.

*****

‘Where are we going Sylvie?’

‘Back to Geneva, Mary. To take out that silly thing in your head.’

‘It doesn’t bother me really,’ Milo said.

‘But it will be much better to have it out Milo. You don’t want anyone from Sootere being able to find you, do you?’ Luc reasoned.

‘Will they do that?’ Mary asked.

‘We just want to make sure. That’s all,’ Luc said.

‘Will we come back here?’ Milo asked.

‘No Milo. After the procedure, and you’re both well enough, you’ll move to your new home,’ Sylvie said, with a confident smile.

‘Where will it be?’ Mary asked.

‘Near a lake, with a view of the sky, clouds and mountains,’ Luc replied.

‘We’ll like that ,won’t we Mary?’

‘Yes, Milo. We will.’

Luc Fleury nor Sylvie Rousseau told them exactly where, as it was to be kept secret until after the surgery in Geneva. But they knew they would be well cared for in a medically supervised home for adults with mild mental illness. Sylvie knew the centre, as she had visited it on a few occasions. It was located just outside of Brunnen, in the German heart of Switzerland, and would offer both Milo and Mary the security and quiet life they deserved.

*****

Dr. Mueller met with the neurologists at HUG to discuss the procedure. The instrument Mueller brought with him allowed the implant to be removed under mild sedation and local anaesthetic. When one of the neurologists asked how the devices were implanted, Mueller looked at the Ernst Gehrig who had accompanied him.

‘We cannot discuss that gentlemen. I’m very sorry. Our only concern is the successful removal of these implants.’

‘And what will happen to the implants once they are removed?’ the neurologist asked.

‘Dr. Mueller will take possession of them.’

Mueller looked at Gehrig in surprise, and received a knowing nod.

‘When are the patients expected?’ Mueller asked.

‘We’ve been told to be ready for surgery at two p.m, tomorrow,’ a neurologist said.

‘Very well. I’ll have Dr. Mueller here by midday,’ Ernst Gehrig said, signalling the meeting concluded and guided Mueller to the door. When they returned to the waiting car and driver, Mueller asked, ‘Will you be taking me home directly?’

‘No sir. You’re in custody until the procedure is successfully completed.’

‘But you didn’t mention…..’

‘I’m sorry Dr. Mueller. It must have slipped my mind to tell you.’

‘You can’t just arrest….’

‘You’re not under arrest. You’re in protective custody.’

‘Protected from who?’ Mueller asked.

*****

It was after eleven o’clock when Rudiger Staheli was woken suddenly by his phone. He shook his head trying and wake up before answering.

‘Staheli.’

‘I have the President on the line for you sir,’ a heavily American accented woman’s voice said.

‘Thank you madam.’

‘Putting you through now, sir.’

‘Sorry it’s so late.’

‘That’s fine sir,’ Staheli replied.

‘Look, this problem we have.’

‘Yes?’

‘The Secretary of State has briefed me on your conversation of earlier today.’

‘Good.’

‘If we can resolve one last thing, we can move on this.’

‘And this last thing sir?’

‘Landing rights for our Rendition Program.’

‘You know that’s dynamite here, sir.’

‘That’s the deal. I know you want us to move quickly on this.’

‘Yes. The quicker the better. Can I ask why you need the landing rights?’

‘No. I’m sorry.’

Staheli knew he had no choice. ‘I’ll sign an executive order when we sign off on the banking deal.’

‘Good. I’ll get things moving this end. When do you want us to start the move?’

‘Immediately.’

‘Very well. I’ll get to work on it, and sorry again for calling you so late.’

‘No inconvenience at all, sir. I’m glad we’ve resolved this issue.’

‘Yes. Good night then.’

It only left the British to sort out in the morning. But now the process was underway, Staheli was confident they would agree to his small request to support Switzerland’s nomination to the UN Security Council and their nomination for chairman of the World Bank. He went to bed feeling much better.

*****

Marie and Jean-Paul had bought a tourist fridge magnet of the Matterhorn and had agreed that if it was upside down, Marie was away working. They had gone to bed early, and Marie woke a little after midnight. She kissed Jean-Paul, and then blew gently into his ear. He twitched and half opened an eye as he woke.