The Invisible Assassin(63)

‘Yes,’ said Jake. ‘I’ve seen the website.’

‘The Watchers showed you, no doubt,’ said Gareth.

‘The Watchers?’ echoed Lauren, even more non-plussed.

‘I’ll explain them later,’ said Jake.

‘There’s not much to explain,’ said Gareth. ‘They are basically harmless. Well-meaning, but we do share the same aims.’

‘To keep the Malichea books hidden,’ said Jake.

‘Until the world is ready for them.’ Gareth nodded.

‘And when will that be?’ asked Jake.

Gareth sighed. ‘When human nature changes and stops wanting to use new discoveries for the purposes of war and domination, power and greed.’

‘In other words, never.’

‘That depends whether you are an optimist or a pessimist about humankind,’ said Gareth. ‘But I think that’s enough abstract philosophy. The real question is: what is to be done with you?’

‘Why do anything with us?’ asked Jake. ‘You’ve got the book. It’s over.’

‘We both know that isn’t the case,’ said Gareth. ‘Ms Graham has already said she doesn’t intend to let this stay hidden. She wants to carry on, searching for the books. And, sooner or later, she may find another one. And the next time we may not be able to do anything about it.’ He gave a rueful smile. ‘Which does present us with a dilemma. Do we let her remain free to do that, or do we have her locked up for the murder of Carl Parsons?’

‘That was self-defence!’ burst out Jake hotly.

Lauren looked sadly at Jake. ‘I was about to say I didn’t do it,’ she said in a tired voice.

‘Sorry,’ mumbled Jake apologetically.

‘We listened to your phone conversation,’ Gareth reminded them. ‘Regardless of what you were about to say, Ms Graham, I’m afraid there is enough evidence pointing to your guilt. Now, it may be true that you could plead self-defence, but really we’d prefer it if you weren’t charged at all. If you were charged, there are many things that could come out in court that we’d prefer not to have aired.’

‘Like the existence of the books of the Order of Malichea,’ said Lauren.

‘Exactly.’ Gareth nodded. ‘At the moment we prefer them to remain as some fantasy. A mythical library believed in by a few harmless crackpots and conspiracy theorists. So, I’m afraid, Ms Graham, you are going to have to die.’

‘You can’t kill her!’ cried Jake, shocked.

Gareth looked at Jake, equally shocked.

‘I never suggested killing her,’ he said, a pained expression on his face. ‘I’m saying that Lauren Graham has to die.’ Turning to Lauren he added, ‘We will give you a new identity, a background of such perfect creation that no one will ever discover it is false.’ He gave a slightly smug smile. ‘We are very good at this. We’ve had to do it on many occasions. However, it will mean you moving to a different country for a while.’

‘How long is a while?’ asked Lauren, tight-lipped.

‘A year or two,’ said Gareth. ‘Maybe five or ten. It would not be wise for you to return until we tell you that you can.’

‘Ten years!’ echoed Jake, horrified. He turned to Lauren. He could see the tears in her eyes that she was fighting to hold back.

‘You have no family alive except your cousin Robert,’ continued Gareth. ‘Your parents are dead. There’s no one really to ask questions if you disappear.’

‘I have friends,’ said Lauren defiantly.

Gareth shrugged. ‘Friends move on,’ he said. ‘As for Robert, we’ll explain the necessity to him.’

Lauren sat silent, and Jake could sense the turmoil that was going on inside her.

Finally, she asked, ‘Where are you thinking of sending me?’

‘We thought New Zealand,’ said Gareth. ‘It’s a wonderful country.’

‘And a long way from England,’ said Lauren.

‘Yes.’ Gareth nodded. ‘There is that point as well.’

‘And what about me?’ asked Jake. ‘Do I have to die too?’

‘You haven’t killed anyone,’ said Gareth. ‘You can stay here.’

‘And if I choose not to?’ demanded Jake. ‘If I want to go to New Zealand?’

Gareth gave a sad smile.

‘I think you might find the authorities in New Zealand may not let you in,’ he said. ‘They might find your name on a list of terrorist suspects who shouldn’t be allowed to enter their country.’ He sighed. ‘In fact, Jake, I think you might find your name on a list that will make it difficult to leave the country at all.’ He turned his attention back to Lauren, then to Jake, and finally addressed them both. ‘Well?’ he asked. ‘What’s it to be?’