Milo Moon: It Never Happened (27 page)

‘Dr. Mueller?’

‘Yes, within a year.’

‘And you’ve worked very hard I presume.’

‘It hasn’t been a nine to five job, no.’

‘One could say you’ve invested you life in this project.’

‘Yes. One could say that.’

‘So, your retirement plans. Were they your plans, or were these plans forced upon you?’

‘You mean, was it my idea?’

‘Yes.’

‘I believed I had more to do, if that’s what you mean.’

‘Were you advised as to who would replace you?’

‘I was given a little information. Yes.’

‘Such as?’

‘The new head of the program was going to be from England.’

‘And did you approve of this?’

‘No. Certainly not.’

‘Why?’

‘The program has always been a German project. They may as well have proposed an American.’

‘So, what did you do about the situation?’

‘What could an old man do?’

‘Perhaps destroy the program before you retired?’

‘Now why would I do that?’

‘I don’t know doctor. You’ll have to tell me.’

‘Look, I’ve answered all your questions. May I go now?’

‘You seem to be in a hurry George.’

‘I’m not in a hurry. I just want to go home?’

‘Where’s home George?’

‘I don’t want to answer you?’

‘You helped two people escape George. Why did you do that?’

Mueller remained silent.

‘One of the patients recognised you George. Not enough sedative it seems. A bit of a mistake.’

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

‘George Smithe. Smithe with an ‘E’, I’m told. Why with an ‘E’ George?’

‘I have nothing to say.’

‘Very well George. I have to tell you that you’ll be our guest for some time I’m afraid.’

‘Mueller didn’t reply. Just sat and stared into space.

*****

‘Mr. Guyer is here to see you Madam Klausner.’

‘Good, send him in, Patrick.’

‘Hello Marc. Take a seat.’

‘Thanks Françoise. Managing okay on your first day?’

‘Hardly Marc,’ Françoise said with a smile. ‘Look, I need to discuss this CERN problem with you.’

‘Sure.’

‘Look, Staheli was way out on a limb on this. I’ve read his file, and almost all the actions he’s taken are solo. Nothing officially recorded on file.’

‘What, just his own notes?’

‘Yes.’

‘Any actions or agreements that could be classed as suspicious?’

‘Suspicious yes. Illegal possibly. Immoral maybe.’

‘Ouch. So he was good to his word when he said he’d fix it.’

‘It seems so.’

‘So where’s it at with the CERN issue?’

‘From what I’ve read, almost everything is in motion. He gave authority for the US to gain access to CERN to start moving people out. The head of the facility is in our custody at present, and the two escapees in our care have been given Swiss nationality and have had their tracking devices removed. There are a few handshake agreements with the US, EU Russia and UK, which looks like he tried to get the best deal out of all of this.’

‘What agreements?’

‘Bi-laterals, a resolution to the US banking problem and nomination for the Security Council. A lot of outstanding issues.’

‘He did well then.’

‘But, were his actions legal, Marc?’

‘More to the point Françoise, is not what he did, it’s what you do with his decisions.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘My reading of this would be that in recording nothing officially, Staheli was prepared to take the heat later and probably knew he could face charges. However, he believed in his decisions strongly enough to proceed to get this matter dealt with. I would also surmise that he planned to destroy his notes once the matter was resolved.’

‘So? What’s your advice?’

‘Let his decisions take their course. I mean, monitor them along the way, but don’t take any action yourself. If, and I say if, you are convinced at some point in the near future that this CERN problem has been solved, then destroy his files.’

‘Is this all legal Marc?’

‘More prudent and expedient.’

‘So, you’re saying, let Staheli hang with this?’

‘He’s already hung himself Françoise.’

‘So, dropping dead was convenient for him?’

‘For all concerned I would say.’

‘You’ve been president once before Marc. Does it get easier after the first day?’

‘Sorry Françoise. No it doesn’t.’

After Marc Guyer left, Patrick came into Françoise’s office to inform her that Klaus Henniger and Ernst Gehrig would be arriving at five-thirty.

‘Oh Patrick. Is it possible to get some tea? I’m dying of thirst.’

‘The last time I bought tea wasn’t very successful Françoise. It was Mr. Staheli’s last request, if you know what I mean.’

‘Right,’ Françoise said with a smile. ‘In that case Patrick, I think I’ll get it myself.’

*****

‘Oh it’s beautiful. Look Milo. Look at the lake!’

‘And the sky Mary. Sky and mountains.’

‘So you like it then?’ Sylvie asked, as she showed Mary and Milo around their new home.

‘A kitchen too!’ Mary said excitedly.

‘And a television and sofa and a table with four chairs, Mary.’

‘Right you two. Come with me and I’ll introduce you to your new friends.’

Sylvie took Mary and Milo to meet the staff. Although Milo and Mary were sharing a self contained two bedroom apartment, it was part of a supervised facility to ensure they had medical treatment available at all times and access to the cafeteria, library and exercise facilities. A large grassed garden extended down to the lakeshore. The other sixteen residents all suffered from mild mental conditions, but the facility was designed to allow the residents as much freedom and independence as possible.

After an hour of enthusiastically meeting people and finding their way around, Sylvie took them back to their apartment to help them prepare an early dinner. On the way, she took a photograph from her pocket and showed Milo.’

‘That’s George Smithe,’ Milo said and he showed the photo to Mary. ‘Look Mary.’

‘I saw him yesterday Milo.’

‘Where?’

‘At the hospital.’

‘I didn’t.’

‘That’s because you were sleeping, Milo.’

‘Oh. I wish I had seen him too.’

‘So you’re sure who this is?’

‘Oh yes Sylvie. This is George Smithe. The man who helped us leave Sootere.’ Milo said.

‘Will he visit us, Sylvie?’ Mary asked.

‘Oh, I don’t really know, Mary.’

‘Will Marie visit us?’ Milo asked.

‘I’ll see what I can do. Okay?’

While Mary and Milo went about the excitement of discovering their new apartment, Sylvie sent a text to Ernst Gehrig.

‘Both confirmed him as George Smithe.’

‘Okay you two. What’s for dinner for your first dinner guest?’

‘Who’s coming for dinner?’ Mary asked.

‘Me of course!’ Sylvie said with a big smile.

*****

When Marie arrived for her shift, there was a message for her to contact her commander, Pierre André. She rang his office, and his secretary arranged a five o’clock meeting for her. As she hadn’t seen Pierre André since her return, she was anxious to find out what he wanted. Then she went about trying to fill three hours and not think about Pierre André or whether Jean-Paul would agree to move. She knew it was too soon in their relationship, but something inside her kept telling her that he was the one. Luckily, her thoughts were interrupted by her sergeant.

‘We’ve got a drunk causing a ruckus at the station Dupont. Can you handle it?’

‘On my way sir.’

Chapter 26 - The Evening News

‘Nice to see you back, Dupont’

‘Thank you sir. Nice to be back.’

‘I hear you did a very good job on your secondment.’

‘Oh, it wasn’t a difficult assignment sir. In fact I quite enjoyed it.’

‘So you’re not disappointed that it ended?’

‘No sir. It was an experience, but I knew it was only for a short period.’

‘And the spooks in Bern?’

‘Well, if I may say so sir, it is very different from the Geneva Police that’s for sure. I don’t think any one of them told me their name. It made it a little embarrassing when trying to address them, sir.’

‘I understand Dupont. A very different force indeed.’

‘Yes sir.’

‘Look, the reason I wanted to see you is just to tell you that you’ve been recommended for promotion.’

‘Well, thank you sir. I didn’t expect….’

‘You’ve performed very well in recent years, Dupont, and my superiors and myself believe it to be well overdue.’

‘Thank you. I appreciate your confidence in me, sir.’

‘So, the paperwork will come though in the next few weeks, and we’ll find a place for the new Sergeant Dupont in the coming months.’

‘All I can say is thank you again sir. I don’t know what to say.’

‘That’s fine, Dupont. I know you’ll do a very good job. So, back to your shift then.’

‘Yes sir.’

When Marie left her meeting with André, she checked her phone. She had felt it vibrate during her meeting.

‘Barbara is missed by two M’s. Do you wish to contact? No obligation. Martin.’

Marie closed her phone, and let the idea digest for a while.

*****

‘So, where are we at with this CERN business?’ Françoise Klausner asked Henniger and Gehrig.

‘The transfer has started, and we’ve granted easier access for the Americans,’ Henniger replied.

‘And how long to complete the transfer?’

‘Hard to say for sure, but a few weeks I would imagine.’

‘Are we assisting in any way?’

‘No m’am.’

‘Well, use your discretion. But the quicker it’s done the better. If you can help the US people in a low key way, go ahead.’

‘Yes m’am.’

‘And Seaton and Moon? How are they doing, Mr. Gehrig?’

‘Very well indeed m’am. They’ve been transferred to a centre near Brunnen and I have word that they’re settling in well.’

‘So all is going as planned?’

‘There’s one matter m’am,’ Henniger said.

‘Yes?’

‘It’s Dr. Wilhelm Mueller. We’re still holding him.’

‘Why? A problem?’

‘We’re not sure as yet. He’s been identified by Seaton and Moon as the man who assisted their escape.’

‘I’m sorry, Mr. Henniger, I don’t understand.’

‘Well, both Mr. Gehrig and myself have noted from their file that they received assistance and documents from a Mr. George Smithe. The file we gained from Moon contains documents that he says were supplied by this George Smithe. By chance, Mary Seaton recognised Dr. Mueller as George Smithe during her surgical procedure at HUG. We’ve since asked both Moon and Seaton to identify photos of Mueller and they’re both adamant that Mueller is in fact this George Smithe.’

‘So, what you’re saying here is that, Mueller, the head of the human experimentation program under CERN, is the same man who aided the escapees in a clear attempt to have the facility discovered and probably closed?’

‘That’s the way we’re going with this m’am.’

‘But why Mr. Henniger? What possible reason would he’ve had?’

‘He was going to be retired off soon m’am. I have a suspicion he was annoyed about it.’

‘And do you regard Moon and Seaton as reliable in their identification, Mr. Gehrig?’

‘I’ve got no reason to doubt them m’am.’

‘And their general condition and state of mind?’

‘They’re making excellent progress, but we’ve got disturbing information from them.’

‘Go on.’

‘Well, since the implants were removed, they seem to have had a dramatic improvement in their longer term memory. It’s of course very disjointed, but there is a disturbing pattern developing.’

‘Yes, Mr. Gehrig?’

‘Their recollections seem to be based around a place called Klinik Siebzehn. We’ve done some initial checking and we believe that this was a Nazi human experimentation clinic that was operational from 1943 to 1945.’

‘So you’re saying they have memories of being there?’ Klausner said, with incredulity in her voice.

‘Yes m’am.’

‘What the hell are we dealing with here?’ she asked.

‘We’re not sure m’am, but it’s certainly becoming more complex by the day.’

‘Mr. Gehrig. How could this be at all possible?’

‘Both Moon and Seaton refer to an Ariel and a Hilda as if they were childhood friends. It is through these two that they have given us the information.’

‘Jews?’

‘We’re not sure yet m’am. Too soon to jump to conclusions.’

‘Okay, keep working on it and keep me informed, Mr. Gehrig. Now, back to Mueller. What are your plans for him Mr. Henniger?’

‘I’d like to keep him in custody and find out more. My only concern is that there may be some pressure from the Germans or Americans to have him released.’

‘Well I’ve had no word from anyone, and I can’t see any mention in Mr. Staheli’s files. So I would say go ahead. I’m sure the German government won’t want anything to do with him. Maybe the Russians and Americans. Who’s in charge of the transfer operation?’

‘Dr. Agnes Carruthers is my contact. I met with her and the US ambassador regarding access and transport routes.’

‘And no mention of Mueller?’

‘No. None.’

‘Right gentlemen, keep me informed. You have my direct line and mobile?’

‘Not your mobile m’am,’ Gehrig said.

‘Get the numbers from Patrick on you way out, and daily updates for the time being please.’

‘Yes m’am,’ they said, almost in unison.

*****

‘Are you going to stay here too?’ Mary asked Sylvie.

‘No Mary. I’ve got my own home. I’m going back tomorrow.’

‘So, I’ll be alone.’

‘No Mary. You’ve got Milo now.’

‘I think he likes the television better than me,’ Mary said, and looked towards Milo glued to the widescreen television, tuned to the travel channel.

‘It’ll be fine Mary. It’s new for him. He’ll be here for you.’

‘He hasn’t asked to see my breasts for days.’

‘Oh, I’m very sure he’ll be back to his usual self very soon in that regard Mary,’ Sylvie said, a little embarrassed.

‘Will we ever go back to Sootere?’

‘No Mary. Why?’

‘Because we thought George had been terminated. And he hasn’t so he must be in Sootere.’

‘You liked George then?’

‘He was kind to Milo and me. Really.’

‘What did he do for you Mary?’

‘He let me keep Hilda and Milo keep Ariel. No one else in Sootere kept their old friends. And he helped us leave Sootere.’

‘What about Anne and Michael?’

‘Now, I think George gave them to us. To help in the ducts. They were both experts, you know.’

‘So you think George took care of you.’

‘Oh yes. I told you. He gave me breasts!’

‘Yes. Yes Mary, I recall you told me about that.’

‘Look, there’s sky on the television too!’ Milo said.

‘Sky, sky, sky. Is that all you look at now Milo Moon?’ Mary asked.

*****

Marie arrived home a little after ten. Tired, but still excited about her promotion. There was a note on the table. Her heart sank when she realised Jean-Paul was not around, and she knew the note must be from him.

‘Got a gig tonight. A trial for my new career. Still thinking about your real estate proposal. Call you tomorrow. xxx JP.’

‘Shit, shit, shit.’ she thought to herself. ‘I’ve scared him off.’

*****

His mobile was ringing and Luc Fleury looked at his bedside clock. One-fifteen.

‘Errhh...Hello, Fluery.’

‘I’m sorry Luc. It’s Sylvie. Milo’s missing.’

Chapter 27 - Same Problems Different Depth

‘Start with the grounds. Keep in a line down to the lake, then work your way back in two teams on the flanks of the grounds,’ the police sergeant ordered, as his team began the search. ‘Take your dogs up from the back of the building,’ he ordered, through his radio.

Other police officers set up lighting for a small command post in the lawns of the home as a police helicopter with a searchlight hovered above, searching surrounding roads.

‘I’m so scared, Sylvie.’

‘It’ll be all right Mary. The police will find Milo. I’m sure he just went to look at the sky or something. You know Milo.’

‘But he’s not allowed out in the black.’

‘What do you mean Mary?’

‘That’s when you’re terminated. In the black.’

‘You mean at night?’

‘In the light it’s safe. But the black is when they come to terminate you.’

‘We’re not in Sootere now Mary. I’m sure Milo will be all right,’ Sylvie lied. Hoping against hope that Milo would be found.

*****

Marie soothed her body and mind and celebrated alone with red wine. Her shift was at two again tomorrow, so she passed the early morning hours alone with a bottle of Humagne Rouge. She picked up her mobile and found the message from Martin. She pressed reply and wrote,
‘Yes. If no problem. When, where and how? Barbara.’

She refilled her glass and took a good sized sip, and breathed out, but her mind was full of Jean-Paul. She wanted him, but knew she may have pushed too fast, and scared him. She reflected on the few men that she had had in her life. Nothing like this. If this was what love felt like, she thought it needed improvement. All she felt, apart from the glass in her hand, was doubt and emptiness. Today of all days. Her big day. Sergeant Marie Dupont. And no one to celebrate it with. She decided that the bottle needed finishing.

*****

‘Beats the hell out of banking hey, JP!’

‘Well, that’s not hard to do.’

‘So, you enjoyed it then?’

‘Oh yeah. Did I do a reasonable job?’

‘A great job. But you’ll react a bit faster when you’ve had more practice.’

‘So I missed something?’

‘No. Just don’t rely on the gauges and headphones. Get into it like the crowd and give them the sound they want.’

‘Sound’s a bit freestyle then?’

‘Sound is JP. It changes all the time. An open door and a breeze and sound changes.’

‘So, more feeling then?’

‘You’ve got it! Especially for open-air festivals. Forget the gauges then.’

‘Right. A lot to learn then.’

‘So, JP? Is it a goer for you?’

‘A few things to sort, but I’d like to. Really.’

‘Like what? Can’t do shit about the hourly rate.’

‘No, that’s okay. Just my flat and a woman.’

‘Oh, JP. Woman problems?’