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Authors: Geoffrey McGeachin
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himself married to the Defence Minister’s daughter, he’d probably have been unemployable.
‘Perhaps you might like to introduce the rest of your associates, Mister Murdoch,’ Pergo said. He looked at Clare, Carter and Peter. ‘I’m Chapman Pergo, Special Assistant to the Minister for Defence.’
I made the introductions and Pergo shook hands and did the ‘very pleased to meet you’ bit with each of them, including Carter Lonergan. This seemed a little strange, given the barney I’d seen the two of them having not three hours earlier.
‘You still haven’t mentioned what brings you and the heavy cavalry down to this neck of the woods, Chapman,’ I said when all the insincere gladhanding was over.
‘I am the bearer of good news,’ he smiled. ‘By mutualagreement, the investigations into this morning’s awkwardness on the harbour will now be handled by the Department of Defence. You are relieved of any and all involvement in this operation and are free to enjoy the rest of the holiday.’
‘On whose authority?’ I said, and from the corner of my eye I saw the bleached-blond heavy unbuttoning his jacket. It looked like Pergo wasn’t going to take no for an answer.
He took a single sheet of A4 paper from his pocket, unfolded it and held it up. ‘You may read this, but you may not retain the original or a scan or photocopy. In essence it says you are to turn over all files, notes, recordings, and any other pertinent data on this investigation collected thus far. You are to retain no copies of said files, notes, recordings or data. The letter is signed by the Defence Minister, both in that role and in the role of acting Minister for Homeland Security. It is countersigned by the Ambassador of the United States of America on behalf of the US Director of Homeland Security and the US Secretary of Defense.’
He smiled once more. ‘The letter further advises that the people in this room are forbidden to reveal any details of this morning’s events to anyone, under penalty of any or all secrecy acts and security regulations that pertain to their particular jurisdictions. And by anyone we mean anyone. I am also authorised to use deadly force in ensuring compliance with this directive. Are there any questions?’
No one spoke. When you’re screwed you’re screwed, and we were well and truly screwed. But Pergo wasn’t finished yet.
‘Lieutenant Kingston is to report to her ship within thirty minutes or she will be listed as AWOL, and Mr Sturdee I believe has an urgent meeting with the Commissioner of Police.’
Pergo’s goon pulled a file box from a shelf and casually emptied the contents onto the floor. He placed the box in the centre of the conference table. ‘All notes, diaries, PDAs, recording devices and mobile phones, please,’ he said.
He murmured into the microphone on his cuff, and on the monitor I saw one of the other heavies on the dock approach the office door. ‘Buzz him in, would you babe,’ he said to Julie.
For a second I thought she was reaching for the Fairbairn-Sykes commando dagger she kept on her desk as a letter opener, but she calmly buzzed the guy in. Such restraint – must be the martial arts training.
The two heavies began disconnecting computers from their monitors and keyboards and handing them out the door to another goon, who was placing them in the boot of the lead Commodore.
‘These will be returned once we’ve removed all the data pertaining to this investigation,’ Pergo said.
When the heavies were satisfied they’d collected everything of value, they backed out of the office. Pergo did one final sweep and his eyes landed on the camera bag on my desk. ‘You had that with you this morning, I believe.’
No sense denying it. Lonergan had seen me shootingpix on the island. Pergo opened the bag and removed the half-dozen memory cards from the holder in the lid. He put them in his pocket and reached for the Nikon. That really pissed me off. Nobody touches my
‘Perhaps you might like to introduce the rest of your associates, Mister Murdoch,’ Pergo said. He looked at Clare, Carter and Peter. ‘I’m Chapman Pergo, Special Assistant to the Minister for Defence.’
I made the introductions and Pergo shook hands and did the ‘very pleased to meet you’ bit with each of them, including Carter Lonergan. This seemed a little strange, given the barney I’d seen the two of them having not three hours earlier.
‘You still haven’t mentioned what brings you and the heavy cavalry down to this neck of the woods, Chapman,’ I said when all the insincere gladhanding was over.
‘I am the bearer of good news,’ he smiled. ‘By mutualagreement, the investigations into this morning’s awkwardness on the harbour will now be handled by the Department of Defence. You are relieved of any and all involvement in this operation and are free to enjoy the rest of the holiday.’
‘On whose authority?’ I said, and from the corner of my eye I saw the bleached-blond heavy unbuttoning his jacket. It looked like Pergo wasn’t going to take no for an answer.
He took a single sheet of A4 paper from his pocket, unfolded it and held it up. ‘You may read this, but you may not retain the original or a scan or photocopy. In essence it says you are to turn over all files, notes, recordings, and any other pertinent data on this investigation collected thus far. You are to retain no copies of said files, notes, recordings or data. The letter is signed by the Defence Minister, both in that role and in the role of acting Minister for Homeland Security. It is countersigned by the Ambassador of the United States of America on behalf of the US Director of Homeland Security and the US Secretary of Defense.’
He smiled once more. ‘The letter further advises that the people in this room are forbidden to reveal any details of this morning’s events to anyone, under penalty of any or all secrecy acts and security regulations that pertain to their particular jurisdictions. And by anyone we mean anyone. I am also authorised to use deadly force in ensuring compliance with this directive. Are there any questions?’
No one spoke. When you’re screwed you’re screwed, and we were well and truly screwed. But Pergo wasn’t finished yet.
‘Lieutenant Kingston is to report to her ship within thirty minutes or she will be listed as AWOL, and Mr Sturdee I believe has an urgent meeting with the Commissioner of Police.’
Pergo’s goon pulled a file box from a shelf and casually emptied the contents onto the floor. He placed the box in the centre of the conference table. ‘All notes, diaries, PDAs, recording devices and mobile phones, please,’ he said.
He murmured into the microphone on his cuff, and on the monitor I saw one of the other heavies on the dock approach the office door. ‘Buzz him in, would you babe,’ he said to Julie.
For a second I thought she was reaching for the Fairbairn-Sykes commando dagger she kept on her desk as a letter opener, but she calmly buzzed the guy in. Such restraint – must be the martial arts training.
The two heavies began disconnecting computers from their monitors and keyboards and handing them out the door to another goon, who was placing them in the boot of the lead Commodore.
‘These will be returned once we’ve removed all the data pertaining to this investigation,’ Pergo said.
When the heavies were satisfied they’d collected everything of value, they backed out of the office. Pergo did one final sweep and his eyes landed on the camera bag on my desk. ‘You had that with you this morning, I believe.’
No sense denying it. Lonergan had seen me shootingpix on the island. Pergo opened the bag and removed the half-dozen memory cards from the holder in the lid. He put them in his pocket and reached for the Nikon. That really pissed me off. Nobody touches my
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