Milo Moon: It Never Happened (29 page)

*****

Marie’s mobile beeped twice and woke her. She opened her eyes slowly and finally flipped her phone open.

‘Contact Fleury or Rousseau. Martin’

Then she checked the time. Eight-thirty.

‘Shit! So much for a sleep-in,’ she mumbled to herself, and got up gently and headed to the bathroom realising along the way that she had a headache and a hang over.

*****

Luc and Sylvie met with the head of staff responsible for Milo and Mary’s accommodation.

‘Look, I don’t think they’ll be a problem,’ Sylvie said.

‘They function very well, but have, well, a childish mental capacity and personality,’ Luc added.

‘Well, I feel responsible in a way. Either my staff or the police should’ve checked the roof area. It’s very easy to access. Our perimeter security is very good, and I suppose the only reason we didn’t do our normal checks earlier in the evening was because we knew Dr. Rousseau was with them.’

‘Well, I feel quite confident that they’ll settle in. And both myself and Dr. Rousseau will be making regular visits over the coming months.’

‘I note from their file, that the both of you are listed as being responsible for them. They have no family?’

‘That’s correct. If they were younger, they would be considered wards of the state, but their ages are well over this possibility.’

‘If there are any issues at all I’ll call you, but I feel confident that they’ll be fine here.’

‘Good. We’ll pop in and see them and then be on our way. Thanks for you help.’

*****

‘So, Dr. Mueller, do we understand each other now?’

‘This is inhuman!’

‘After what you’ve been involved in. Don’t start me laughing.’

‘What’s your name?’

‘I don’t have one,’ Henniger said. ‘But you can call me, sir.’

‘I refuse.’

‘Names don’t bother me. Only facts doctor.’

‘I should have diplomatic representation.’

‘Oh Dr. Mueller please. Your government has told us they don’t want you. In fact they seem quite happy to just let you, let’s say, evaporate. The Americans have an interest, but only in getting you shipped of to Siberia or somewhere where you’d probably be shot anyway. So right at the moment, I’m probably your best friend.’

‘Carruthers will be making representations.’

‘She already has doctor. From what we understand she would very much like you released. So the sniper can have access to your head. As I said, no friends.’

‘I have friends.’

‘Yes doctor, I’d already gathered that. But I wouldn’t call customers friends.’

‘I don’t know what you mean.’

‘Your bank accounts speak very clearly for you doctor.’

‘My bank details are….’

‘Not from me doctor. Don’t go thinking that banking secrecy excludes our intelligence services. We just keep it from other countries.’

‘I, I...there were some……’

‘Tell me about China, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, and Ukraine for a start doctor.’

‘I had some contacts with…..’

‘Contacts doctor? Very generous contacts who paid you fucking millions over the last five years.’

‘They were private arrangements.’

‘You really are testing my patience, doctor. So, before I consider our little battery charger again, maybe you can tell me, before you start screaming and can’t be understood, what you’d like the resolution to your dilemma to be. Shot, poisoned or blown up, or have us turn your balls in smoking little rissoles. I don’t see any other alternatives.’

‘There are always alternatives.’

‘I’m listening.’

‘Libya.’

‘Keep going.’

‘A new identity in Libya with a transfer of my accounts.’

‘Your retirement fund?’

‘You could say that.’

‘In return for what doctor?’

‘The full details of Klinik Siebzehn to today.’

‘But you’ve already sold this information.’

‘No. Only products and research from the program.’

Henniger paused for some time. ‘Dr. Mueller. Would I be right in surmising that you had a profitable sideline to your job, but the threat of being retired off would have ended or worse, exposed your activities.’

‘I….’

‘Let me finish. So your solution was to expose the facility and thus be able to slip away with your own retirement fund and let the big three suffer the embarrassment of the exposure of their post war agreement. All very possible and a well-developed plan I might say. Except for one Mary Seaton who wasn’t sedated enough. I’ve been informed by my medical advisors, that there was no real need for Seaton and Moon to be sedated for the procedure. Local anaesthetic was sufficient. You insisted on sedation to protect yourself. But unfortunately, something went wrong and she was able to identify you.’

Mueller sat quietly with his head bowed. His body language taking on more signs of defeat by the minute. Henniger knew he had his man, but still wondered what would become of the doctor.

‘Doctor Mueller?’

‘Fuck you. Fuck you.’

‘Excellent. We’ll try the charger with some electricity this time.’

‘No! Fuck you, yes. Yes, fuck you.’

‘So you were George Smithe with an ‘E’?’

‘Yes.’

‘Very good then. We can start getting somewhere now. Just one silly question first. Why did you insist on the stupid ‘E’ all the time?’

‘Estoicplasmilliophosphate. The medication I needed to take to enter Sootere. It was a joke.’

‘Nice touch doctor. Nice touch indeed. Take his cuffs off,’ Henniger ordered.

‘And Libya?’

‘Depends how cooperative, honest and detailed you are doctor. I don’t trust you yet. But in time I may warm to you.’

‘Not very reassuring.’

‘Best I can do for the moment.’

Chapter 28 - A Life To Live

Marie called Sylvie just before midday and was pleased to hear that Mary and Milo were settled. She arranged to travel with Sylvie on her next visit the coming Sunday, as she had a day off then. She knew she could have easily requested time during her police hours to visit, but she preferred to keep it discrete and personal.

Her hangover had improved and with just a little over two hours before her shift started, she thought she’d better put something substantial in her stomach. In the middle of preparing a pasta lunch the doorbell rang.

‘Jean-Paul!’

‘I’ve come for the inspection.’

‘The inspection?’

‘You said you had a room to sub-let.’

‘Oh Jean-Paul,’ she said, as she hugged him. ‘I’m making lunch. Hungry?’

‘Yes in fact, I am.’

*****

‘Thank you for your support in recent days,’ Françoise Klausner said, as she started her first Federal Council meeting as President of Switzerland, which was followed by voices of congratulations from her fellow councillors.

‘Thank you all. Let’s move on then,’ she said. ‘I must inform you of the situation regarding the CERN facility. As we speak, the facility is being cleared and we foresee an end to this horrid saga in a matter of days. We have Dr. Wilhelm Mueller in custody and he is being cooperative in supplying information about his activities. Seaton and Moon are now settled near Brunnen in a specialist care facility after having had successful surgery to remove the tracking implants. Although there is still much to be done, I’m confident that this matter will be resolved fully in the coming weeks.’

‘And the details of the resolutions that were necessary?’ Antoinette Haller asked.

‘There are no details available on the presidential records,’ she replied.

‘Yours or Staheli’s?’ Haller asked.

‘All my actions and decisions are fully detailed and recorded in accordance with procedure.’

‘And Staheli?’

‘As yet, I haven’t had time to be fully briefed on his files.’

‘You’re taking over where Staheli left off then?’ Alfred Letsch asked.

‘Naturally councillor. Naturally,’ she said. ‘Unless there are any further questions, maybe we could move on to other matters?’

‘I believe we need to agree on an election date for a new Federal Councillor,’ Karl Schellenberg replied.

*****

‘I wasn’t sure you’d be back.’

‘Did you think I’d run off?’

‘Maybe. It’s one of my faults. I push too hard sometimes.’

‘And one of my faults is being a very slow decision maker.’

‘Opposites huh?’

‘Hmm? I had my first try out last night at the Palladium.’

‘For your new career? That’s great. Did you enjoy it?’

‘I was going to call you when I finished because I was so excited, but it was very late and…’

‘You don’t need to explain, Jean-Paul. Just tell me you loved it.’

‘Well, to be honest, it was fantastic. I’ve got so much to learn, and I’d need to do a lot of work to get my skill level up, but…….’

‘You want to do it.’

‘Finishing someone’s sentence is a sure sign of….’

‘Don’t say it! Don’t say JP! I’m sorry.’

‘No, I think it indicates closeness and understanding.’

‘Okay, I’ll go that far. Hey, look, I’ve got to get ready for my shift. Will you be here when I get back?’

‘Would you like me to be here?’

‘Only forever.’

Jean-Paul smiled, and Marie went to get ready for work. Still unsure if Jean-Paul was ready for what she really wanted.

Jean-Paul was sipping coffee when Marie returned, dressed for her shift. She gave him a kiss and a hug.

‘I’ll be back around ten. See you when I see you, JP.’

Jean-Paul gave her a kiss and a smile, as well as the look of someone who was deep in contemplation and decision making. Marie knew she hadn’t got her man just yet.

‘Oh, I forgot to tell you. I’m gonna be a sergeant!’ Marie said, as she popped her head back through the door, and then left.

*****

‘Are you ready Dr. Mueller,’ Henniger asked.

‘I have no choice.’

‘Good. Well done. So let’s start with how the program started. Klinik Siebzehn.’

‘I wasn’t there.’

‘I know. But your father was.’

‘That has never been proven.’

‘Does it matter really? I believe you know the history anyway.’

‘Yes. Very well. Klinik Siebzehn was established in 1943 to study behavioural psychology and to conduct research to see if it was possible to alter memory and behaviour.’

‘Brainwashing?’

‘No. That’s such a vulgar Americanism. The initial studies were looking for a means to change how a brain thought, or more particularly, if thoughts could be placed into a brain. As you’d understand, this would’ve had major implications in a time of war. Say with enemy prisoners or undesirables.’

‘Basically, reprogramming them.’

‘That word didn’t exist then, but yes, in layman’s terms probably reasonably accurate.’

‘Did the researchers there make any progress before 1945?’

‘Yes. They developed a rather crude compound by today’s standards, but were able to modify certain behavioural patterns and opened the possibility to reconstruct certain memories. This is why the Allies were so interested in the program.’

‘Were any other programs from the Nazi era protected or continued after the war?’

‘I don’t have any evidence myself, but I think one would have to be quite naive to believe all the work was totally abandoned.’

‘So, can I just establish when you joined the program?’

‘Officially?’

‘Either or both.’

‘Officially I started work in 1979, but I had been involved for a number of years before and during my studies.’

‘And who employed you initially?’

‘A nameless man of course. But officially I have worked at CERN as an officer of the German Department of Health.’

‘Have you been to this department in Berlin or perhaps Bonn then?’

‘Never stepped foot in it. Wouldn’t know where to find it.’

‘I’m sure my people will ask you these questions again, when we get to recording your detailed statement doctor, but for the moment I’m looking at generalities.’

‘Very well.’

‘In general terms, and in language I can understand, what was the prime purpose of this Sootere facility as it was called?’

‘Simply? We developed a successful technique that enabled us to record all the information held in a single brain, and then reintroduce that data in total to another brain. In addition, we could erase all the information residing in a brain and then install a new version.’

‘Like a computer hard drive?’

‘A very basic and crude way of understanding the process, but yes, I suppose so.’