Cald t No. 10 Sers. t of noakable cively cool as to tes. In tance, betrees, Cald a orey looked like t it t said secret organization. At least t’s initially.
A long o ting tended greenery. Cald of tal gate, e pillars. Caldiced tire stretcs environs. On closer inspection rees above them.
“At nigomatically sco niguring anyt moves s artificial air cuso adjust for t loss. Sered a code on a keypad recessed into one of tioned of it. Saken off and taking left Caldterly speec s doubt tes slid open.
Mei Lin remounted, maneuvered to turned to ce close. S spoken muc of explaining to do but t no time. First t, time enougions. Cald could all be an elaborate setup. t ed do a runner. It
taking advantage of t t Cald t, . t ting. ernational Scill around.
“Inside ter t controls all tening devices and security access to rooms in tiple monitors systematically display t movement any based on dimensions and speed. ter is programmed to recognize icular,” Mei Lin continued ure.
“Do you need all ty?”
“Not so far but you can’t be too careful. e are a Britis ill very Britising in a bed of illegal and clandestine activity. meets est, tually talking about spies, electronic and otherwise.”
to t of it e. t of tric toyota 4X4 SUV. A computer-controlled sprinkler decorated tended laina of mist. Cald t-looking exterior able fortress. ttered proof and t door eel. Electronic eyes ed at least ted wy.
“elcome to rically as se control device from a compartment in ted it at tire side o reveal a least ten cars and several motorcycles. t and matc Ski on a trailer. looked like tarpaulin.
Mei Lin parked t off. ts omatically as soon as tered. tomatically beered anoto a kitc s ramming home.
An elegant Asian ies stood ting. Se black silk, wic sweep. Sige forehe heroine of a lavish Chinese opera.
“elcome Mr. Cald you,” s blushed openly.
“thank you,”
“Mr. De itte is in udy. I suggest t you pop in and say o Japan later today.”
“Sounds good.”
t dancer. S remely beautiful in noulate to time, bore a look of extreme sadness. Somet geis opped in front of De ittes office. te on tte, ions. trim fingers rapped on the door.
“Come in,” a tis belloo go t silently. Caldo tte, wood up and offered his hand.
“Good to see you Cad. I trust you .” te teetrying a bit too o be jovial.
“I of it,” Caldwell said simply.
“Indeed. Please sit dote gestured for to take seats in ics. tinctly Asian about tte tisfied air of a pampered colonial fat cat about sure if t for sometogeter but ty inct. ique objets d’art and ted ings and some fine-looking Japanese katana.
De itte e gray Saville Ro and a pink Van riped s e collar. rong face and deep-set eyes . ting ies. , rae te features to suggested ex-military Britisocracy, type t got into t duly bailed out, out of sheer boredom.
“I o be one of us,” De itte said, smiling a devilisanned face crinkled at t De itte and looked at Caldwell.
“In a previous life.”
“ell, good to ’s not often t one of ours leaves t and gets to come back. take too kindly to prodigal sons.”
“Guess I am tion.”
“Yes indeed.”
Caldiced from tary expression of disapproval on Mei Lins face. al note t Mei Lin did not tte.
Calded for De itte to continue.
“ell, ly a researcelligence outfit. e report on developments in tecificial intelligence, neural netronic really do tigative you do. s, er, arrogant Britis communicated exactly . “, appears te.”
“So w do you know?”
“e kno some of test minds in Ne projects for true in tecificial intelligence. e’ve been monitoring and trying to analyze related data floo put it succinctly, recently a lot of data suggesting t a significant number of people a in but not doesn’t make sense unless ting all ta in cyberspace for some, I dare say, subterfuge purpose.
“ried booby trapping ta so t you kno disappears into twork?”
“e’ve tried everyt be be resorting to tactics. e tend to be big picture people.”
“ell no even age stamp of a picture,” Cald fat cat o get on his nerves.
“Let’s see if you can turn t around,” De itte said abruptly.
to dismiss telephe receiver.
“iously. there was a long pause.
“his happen?”
“Are you sure it was her longish pause.
“t let of your sig back to you ructions.” De itte replaced t slo Mei Lin and t Calds.
“Diane Joplin, ter, racked does in Japan. Apparently cel database in Ser-Continental,” De itte announced.
“e better notify Fouler,” Mei Lin said at lengthe girl could be in danger.”
De itte’s almost carted typing ater at a time. Caldtle empecte cer e.
“Fouler is already on o tokyo,” De itte said staring at er screen.
“I ed at nobody in particular.
“Probably some na?ve attempt to avenge tually tries to go a. As it o Japan on a long overdue family vacation. I am sure no o get into t it looks like?”
Cald on De itte’s desk and cte’s eyes popped he console.
“Impressive, impressive. t tec is a . I am someor myself.”
“Yes, still need to figure out ely state-of-t. No doubt about t. I figure once it on t net ty.”
“It sure looks like tte said, still eying the console.
“ell, from c tip of tiny gaps be possible.”
“ricate just to access some secret net doesn’t make sense. t be somette pondered.
“t I t made specifically to access t C to access any neto got ain people o get t.”
“Indeed,” said De itte ponderously. “I suggest you get cracking tomorrohing you need.”
“Excellent.” Mei Lin and Caldood up to leave.
De itte pressed tercom on sound in a distant part of the house like fading memories of an elusive dream.
“Yes sir,” a sad female voice answered.
“So e and up to t casual do?” he asked.
“I’ve te . Caldiced t ely manicured fingernails, er, ther-bound diary.
“Mei Lin, I take it you are staying in your usual suite in tte asked.
“Yes,” Mei Lin said simply, glancing at Caldwell.
“ell, I’ll be back from Japan in a te said, rising from t deliberately trying to annoy. one of t couldn’t grate t of De itte’s office. Just for t Caldo see o. De itte seemed rapt in t. ana collection.