Milo Moon: It Never Happened (28 page)

‘No, in fact the opposite. No problem at all. That’s what worries me.’

‘She’s got you then?’

‘We’ll see. Can I let you know by say, mid next week?’

‘No later.’

‘Okay. I’ll call you.’

Jean-Paul looked at his watch as he left the concert hall. Two-fifteen. Too late to go to Marie’s, he thought. She’ll have work tomorrow.

*****

‘Any news officer?’ Sylvie asked, but knew it was in vain.

‘Sorry m’am. Nothing yet. It’ll be sunrise soon, so it’ll be a little easier for us.’

Sylvie went back to Mary. She found her crying on the sofa. Sylvie felt like crying too, but took two deep breaths before going to comfort Mary. At the same moment the doorbell rang. She went to open the door.

‘Oh Luc! Am I glad to see you,’ Sylvie said. ‘Mary, come and say hello.’

Sylvie made coffee for a very tired looking Luc, who had driven for hours to get to Brunnen. The first rays of light were making their way slowly from behind the mountains.

‘You didn’t have to come tonight Luc.’

‘Well, once I was awake.’

‘Sorry.’

‘That’s okay. Are you all right, Mary?’

‘I think Milo has been terminated.’

‘Oh no, I don’t think so, Mary. Let’s wait and see.’

The door of the apartment opened and Milo casually walked in.

‘I’m in the sky! I’m in the sky!’ he shouted.

‘Oh Milo,’ Sylvie said. ‘Where have you been?’

‘I’m in the sky. Milo Moon. Yellow and bright and beautiful.’

‘You’ve been looking at the moon, Milo?’ Luc asked.

‘Yes! The moon! Me, Milo Moon.’

‘Sylvie, let the police know he’s here will you?’

‘Sure Luc.’

‘Mary, I’m in the sky. Not when it’s blue, but when it’s black and the sky sparkles.’

‘I thought you’d been terminated Milo,’ Mary said, as she wiped away her tears.

‘No Mary. No. I saw it on the television. They said it was the moon, so I went to look for it. It was beautiful. You can come with me next time.’

‘Oh Milo, yes,’ Mary said with a smile.

‘We were looking for you Milo. Where were you?’ Luc asked

‘Up on the roof. It was so exciting Luc. I could see people and a plane in the sky that made a loud noise and stayed still with a big light and, and, and oh so many things.’

‘But we were worried about you, Milo. You didn’t tell Sylvie that you were going outside,’ Luc said.

‘She was talking to Mary, so I didn’t want to interrupt,’ Milo explained.

‘Well, maybe next time you should tell Mary when you go out at night. She was very worried about you.’

‘There are a lot of rules to learn, Luc.’

‘No, not rules Milo. Just a new life for you and Mary.’

*****

‘He just wandered in a few minutes ago, officer.’

‘Did he say where he’d been?’

‘On the roof watching the moon,’ Sylvie said, just a little embarrassed.

‘Well, a good night for it. A full moon all night.’

‘I think we’ll have to be careful the next full moon then.’

‘We should’ve clicked. Looking for Milo Moon on a night of the full moon.’

‘Yes. We were all a little silly to miss that.’

*****

Françoise Klausner arrived early for her second day as president. Patrick had not arrived, so she went to make a coffee for herself. As she was about to go to the coffee machine, she heard her phone ring.

‘Klausner.’

‘Good morning, Madam President. It’s Agnes Carruthers. I was given your number by the US ambassador.’

‘Yes. What can I do for you, Mrs Carruthers?’

‘It’s concerning Dr. Mueller.’

‘Yes?’

‘We believe he is being held in custody and I wish to ask that you have him released immediately.’

‘Why?’

‘He came of his own accord to perform a surgical procedure, but we understand he was placed in custody after he had completed the operation.’

‘That is as I understand the turn of events.’

‘In that case then, there’s no reason he should still be held.’

‘I’m sorry Mrs Carruthers, but it’s my understanding the Dr. Mueller is assisting us with some related investigations.’

‘What do you mean, related?’

‘I’m sorry. I can’t discuss that.’

‘I must remind you that Dr. Mueller is the head of this program, and in the current circumstances, his knowledge would be of great value in assisting with the transfer.’

‘I was informed last evening that the transfer was proceeding smoothly under your supervision Mrs Carruthers, so I see no need for panic here.’

‘I do not wish to be rude Madam President, but there are those in much more powerful positions than myself who wish that you release Dr. Mueller immediately.’

‘And who are these people you’re referring to?’

‘I’m not at liberty to say.’

‘I see. Look, thank you for your call, Mrs Carruthers. If there’s any news, my office will be in contact. Good day.’

Françoise then picked up her phone and called Klaus Henniger.

‘Listen. I just had a call from Agnes Carruthers. All in a tizz about getting Mueller released. She’s panicking for some reason. I think someone or something has spooked her. She was going on about powerful people wanting Mueller released.’

‘My reading of it would be more that some powerful people may want Mueller dead.’

‘And that hopefully won’t happen while we have him in custody.’

‘Yes, exactly m’am.’

‘Right. Keep me updated.’

When she hung up the phone she heard Patrick entering his office.

‘Patrick!’

‘Yes m’am,’ he said, almost running into her office.

‘This president stuff really doesn’t stop. Would you mind getting me the coffee I’ve been trying to make for over an hour.’

‘Certainly, Françoise.’

‘Oh and Patrick.’

‘Yes?’

‘No sugar. I’m too sweet as it is.’

‘No one would believe that Madam President,’ he said with a smile.

‘Good.’

Françoise checked her email. Mostly routine except for one from the State Department in Washington confirming that the Secretary was ready to sign off on the banking probe and landing rights. She knew this meant the Rendition agreement. She flagged the email to attend to later.

‘It’s the Chancellor on line two, Françoise.’

‘Thanks Patrick.’

‘Good morning, Chancellor.’

‘Good morning, Madam President. Congratulations on you appointment, and please extend my condolences to Mr. Staheli’s family if you can.’

‘Thank you. I certainly will.’

‘Look, I know your just settling in, but there’s a sensitive issue we need to clarify.’

‘Yes?’

‘In my discussions with Mr. Staheli, we came to, how can I say this? An arrangement, regarding the head of this program under CERN.’

‘Yes Chancellor. I have his notes. I’ve already started on the bi-laterals with your minister.’

‘I’m aware of the progress there, but Mueller is part of the agreement too you know.’

‘Yes. I’ve read the notes regarding this issue.’

‘So, where is Mueller now?’

‘We have him in custody.’

‘May I ask what plans you have for him?’

‘We’re trying to discover more about Dr. Mueller. We’ve got a number of outstanding issues we would like clarified. We’ve got reason to believe he may have been involved in aiding the escape of the two patients we have.’

‘A mysterious man it would seem?’

‘Yes. We’ve got a few mysteries on our plate at the moment,’ Françoise said, with a light inflection.

‘Well, my concern is what you do with him after you’ve solved your mysteries.’

‘Right. A disappearing act I believe, from Staheli’s notes.’

‘Well, something like that. The last thing we both need is a mad German doctor reigniting the issues from Nuremberg.’

‘I understand Chancellor. However, as yet I haven’t had time to consider a viable solution. I only read the notes yesterday in fact.’

‘How long are you going to hold him?’

‘To be honest, I’m not sure. We’ve had unconfirmed information that there may be a threat to Dr. Mueller. It seems he has made a few enemies, so we may extend this to protective custody at some point.’

‘But you can’t keep him in the longer term.’

‘No. That’s correct. At most, probably a few weeks.’

‘And then?’

‘Normally it would lead to deportation, but I understand why you don’t want him back. So, we’ll have to find a different approach.’

‘If it helps, I have received an offer of cooperation on this issue from the Russian Foreign Minister.’

‘Yes?’

‘They may be willing to take him.’

‘But legally we can’t just hand him over to Russia.’

‘No. That’s correct. But he could be listed by Interpol.’

‘Yes, and?’

‘The US might take an interest then, and consider using their Rendition process.’

‘But Switzerland is not a party to the US Rendition process.’

‘No, not yet.’

‘Chancellor, I believe I understand you.’

‘Excellent. I’ll have my minister get the bi-laterals finalised.’

‘Thank you Chancellor.’

Françoise ended her call and sat pensively. She needed to be very careful, as she balanced decisions that had been made by her predecessor, and those that could be seen as being made by her. Luckily the whole episode had remained covert, but she knew the transfer process was the one area that could pose a danger of a leak of information. Getting one hundred and fifty-five patients and probably a hundred or more CERN staff out of Switzerland secretly was a monumental challenge for her secret services.

She called her head of the secret police Klaus Henniger.

‘You’ve probably only got about two weeks before Mueller will need to be released.’

‘Right. We’ll do what we can. We’re about to start his next session, so I’ll keep you updated.’

Françoise swivelled her chair and looked out at a clear day with very light cloud and morning sunshine. People scurrying for trams and buses. Others sipping coffee and reading the morning’s news. A normal day in Switzerland. She was pleased that none of them knew.

*****

‘We believe that there are people who would like to harm you Dr. Mueller,’ Henniger said.

‘You are surprised?’

‘No. Only that you don’t seem concerned by this information.’

‘There are always, how can I say? Issues.’

‘Tell me about George Smithe.’

‘No idea what you’re taking about.’

‘Oh Dr. Mueller please don’t insult my intelligence. The copies of the documents you gave Moon could’ve only come from you. We’ve had the handwriting analysed. Moon and Seaton have identified you as Smithe.’

‘Hardly proof.’

‘All right Dr. Mueller. I know it’s a tired cliché, but we can do this the hard way if you like.’

‘You have no right to threaten me.’

‘I’m sorry Dr. Mueller but you’re quite wrong. You don’t exist now, so you’re the one with no rights.’ Henniger said, as he gestured to his colleague. ‘Cuff him.’

‘What are you doing?’ Mueller protested, as his hands were handcuffed behind his back and each leg was cuffed to the metal chair he was seated on. Henniger’s colleague opened a small cupboard and removed a small portable automotive battery charger.

‘You can’t do this!’ Mueller shouted.

‘Shut up!’ Henniger snorted, as his colleague plugged in the charger and checked it was operating, by clicking the two spring dog clips together and producing a spark.

‘Ready sir.’

‘Go ahead,’ Henniger said, and his colleague opened the negative pole dog clip and attached it to the area of Mueller’s testicles, which even without an electrical charge had Mueller screaming in pain. He held the positive pole dog clip near Mueller’s neck.

Mueller continued to writhe in pain from the pressure of the dog clip, while screaming obscenities at Henniger that were mixed with his screams of pain.

‘I know Dr. Mueller. Rather uncomfortable isn’t it?’ Henniger almost shouted, over Mueller’s screaming. ‘Would you like to try it with a little electricity now, Dr. Mueller?’

‘Noooooo! Nooooo!’ Mueller screamed, and started to make sobbing sounds that mixed with his screams and pleading.

After a short while, Henniger leant over and removed the dog clip from Mueller’s testicles. Mueller continued to sob in pain, but his screaming subsided.

‘I believe you understand me now Dr. Mueller. I’ll let you catch your breath. When I come back, maybe you’ll be ready to talk about George Smithe.’