Yesterday (Part Three - Chapters 55 & 56) (Patreon)

CHAPTER 55

A few floors up, at the top floor of the hotel, Victor Sertres sat patiently waiting. The city spread out in front of the large window in the living room of his suite. Confident, he watched the helicopter fly away and prepared for Professor Hebert's return. He had a thin screen next to him, from which he watched out of the corner of his eye the sinuous evolution of various graphs of ever-changing shapes and sizes. They visually represented the fluctuation of indicators and values on stock exchanges and markets around the world, in real time. He called it his “little aquarium”.

He shook a little fuzz off the shoulder of his tweed jacket and adjusted the cuffs of his shirt so that they protruded just enough below the sleeves. He double tapped the screen and its brightness dimmed, showing just two number lines running from left to right. He rested his arms back on those of the comfortable, modern armchair. It shouldn't be long before he got there.

—It worked! —exclaimed Hebert triumphantly after almost breathlessly entering the suite and closing the door behind him.

—Perfect —replied Victor Sertres, satisfied, getting up from his chair to offer the professor a seat. —That’s great news my dear Walter, now comes the hardest part.

Hebert laid his coat on a chair and accepted from his friend one of the two glasses of whiskey he had ready on the low table in front of him. They sat side by side in front of the window and after toasting the air, they took a brief sip of their drinks.

Hebert liked to be friends with Sertres, he admired his style and his dash. But also because he knew that all that was just a facade, and that behind his sleek hair, his athletic build and his refined manners acquired in exclusive schools, hid a perfect predator, a fascinating animal, extremely intelligent, calculating and with an unquenchable thirst for power.

A power that was finally going to be theirs, in full.

—Fascinating how easy it is being to steer them at our whim, my dear friend, —Sertres confided with a wink. —The latest reports have come in, everyone wants the product. No politician or broker is resisting us. Except for the glitch in Spain, the others are successfully assimilated, and we already have them under our control. We are very close.

—Of course, but we can’t waste time, everything must work on time or Kelt will notice.

—Don’t worry Professor, you’re done here, leave the rest of the operation in my hands, —said Sertres pumping himself up. —By the time our old friend finds out, it will be too late.

Hebert met Victor Sertres almost sixteen years ago during a Congregation spiritual retreat. At that time he was already an advanced young man with very good contacts. It did not take him long to discover that, despite their age gap, they shared a number of concerns, and they forged a brief but interesting friendship. They lost touch for a little over a year until Spencer Kelt, their shadow liaison within the Harperin Corporation, arranged for them to meet at Boodle’s, an exclusive London club that Hebert had joined not long before. The two recognized each other in amused surprise and greeted each other effusively. From then on they became a team.

They spent the first two years of their collaboration discreetly sizing each other up as they worked together doing mostly espionage work for the Corporation. But one day they had the opportunity to talk openly, almost by accident, as a “wall of silence” fell into their hands.

During their training, it was revealed to them that the Corporation had very advanced technology, almost inconceivable to the uninitiated, but absolutely necessary to carry out their work. They would make various devices of such technology available to them as support for their external missions. It was a way to help them perform tasks on their own, discreetly, without the need to resort to an Aureus, the nickname by which the psychics bred by the Corporation were known.

The “wall of silence” was a tiny device that nullified any possibility of eavesdropping, whether mental, physical or artificial within the invisible dome that formed around it once activated. It also served as a repellent to any unwanted presence. A small implant in the agent’s skin was enough to be recognized by the device and thus be able to enter and act within the wall, which spanned a few meters.

The device allowed them to talk for an hour that first day. They began by feeling each other out, but before long they were exchanging information.

—Professor, I say this out of respect and admiration for your work —Sertres began, —but don’t you think you’re a little... underrated?

Hebert raised an eyebrow but decided to throw him a line.

—Well, you are clearly feeling a little frustrated yourself.

—You know me a little, what I’d be capable of. It worries me to be part of something so big and not have a say, not be able to control it.

—They’re everywhere, that’s true, —Hebert nodded, playing along.

—And don’t you think it could be done better?

—Do you think you could do better?

Sertres considered for a moment.

—Yeah —he said resolutely. —In fact I think you and I could probably do much better.

—Together?

—Indeed, —said Sertres more confidently, —I could devote myself to the political and economic ramifications, I am good at strategy, you to the mental and sociological ones, —he offered optimistically.

Hebert could not suppress a smile.

—Do you really think they’re going to allow us to do that? Don’t you think that such an idea would end up being obvious to some Aureus?

—How many have you actually met?

—Well, I met two children years ago, but they’re out of the Corporation’s reach.

—How come?

—It’s a long story, in any case they are not part of the present structure of the Corporation, —Hebert dismissed the matter with a gesture. He ran his hand over his chin. —The truth is that except for the one they shot down in London a while ago, I don’t know of any other active one, —he admitted thoughtfully, —but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any or that they aren’t watching us. Trust is not one of their virtues.

—I have a theory that there really aren’t any Aureans left. Maybe there never were.

—And what makes you think such a thing?

—This, —he said, pointing to the little box from which the invisible wall of silence emanated, —if they had bred as many psychics as we take for granted, why use technology instead of their own abilities? Why do they need us?

—Yes, I’ve thought about it myself. They are getting more and more technology, yet there is less and less communication.

—I firmly believe that the Corporation is disappearing.

—Falling apart? —Hebert was surprised. —Impossible, don’t you see their hand everywhere? They are omnipresent, and it’s getting worse, —he exclaimed, opening his arms.

—Yes, sociopolitical trends and movements give them away. I am finding it easier and easier to recognize the handiwork of other teams around the world. We ourselves regularly have some brief and concrete missions, but they are entrusting everything to artifacts. I suspect that they, the original ones, are not present, —said Sertres with conviction, —it is as if they have lost interest.

—Perhaps their ultimate goal requires it, —Hebert ventured.

—Or perhaps their ultimate goal has nothing to do with us, —Sertres blurted out.

—What do you mean?

—It’s something I can’t put my finger on, a feeling that has been bothering me for some time, my instinct tells me that their plan goes beyond what you or I can imagine, —Sertres explained, —I’ve always been good at logic, and with that in hand, the result is disturbing, although it offers us an opportunity.

—I’m not sure I follow.

—Perhaps if, as I imagine, their ultimate interest does not lie in our society, I believe they will be increasingly confident, minding their own business as long as nothing shifts from the plan. That would create the right climate for us to get our hands on some of their technology once we execute my plan. They may have lost interest in us, but I haven’t. Did you know they don’t need schools any more?

Hebert looked at him in surprise. That young man possessed something that fascinated him since their first meeting. Now he was beginning to understand the reason for that fascination. His ambition was contagious, his intelligence sharp. He dared not say anything else aloud. He put his index finger against his lips. He had to be quiet, he was putting them in grave danger, even inside that wall.

—Shut up, we can’t stay inside the wall forever.

—Well, I didn’t tell you at first, —Sertres said, putting his hand in his jacket pocket, —but I brought you a small gift.

Sertres offered him a small yellow pill which Hebert took in his hand and looked at with distrust.

—It’s a suppressant, nothing more, —Sertres reassured him, —swallow it. It will record a loop of your brainwaves that will activate itself every time it detects some kind of intrusion in your mental flow. Once you swallow it, it will become part of your body forever, it will be undetectable and it will work automatically. Of course, you must make sure no one knows about it.

—How did you get it?

—Let’s say I have my sources and I’ve been doing research on my own for some time. It’s best that you don’t know anything else for now, but if you decide to go ahead, there are ten years of undercover work ahead of us until we achieve our goals.

Now that moment was near.

Only two days away.

Hebert gulped down his drink and stood up.

—I must go.

—I know, —said Sertres from the armchair, —don’t worry, everything is on track. Let me know when you reach your destination.

—I will, —Hebert replied. He hesitated and finally decided to share a matter that was on his mind. —Will you take care of Oscar Samper?

—Honestly, professor, I don’t care anymore what Mr. Samper wants or can do, and I don’t understand how the Harperin Corporation has been so conservative in this matter. If it were up to me they would already be out of business, he and his entire family. But I gave in to your squeamishness and we almost compromised the whole operation. That’s enough.

—What do you mean?

—The only failing we have ever had. I decided to listen to you and we sold the product to Samper's future son-in-law so that we could control them from the inside, but it turns out that he died because of a treatment rejection, specifically in a hospital in Madrid, you have no idea the trouble we are having to cover up the matter. Thank goodness we managed to keep it out of the media, but this is the last time I do you a favor, Hebert, that family is poison, you owe me big time!

—But the twins are important. Maybe...

—I know you think that, Hebert, but I don't believe so, because I remind you that we have enough technology nowadays to solve these issues and go ahead with the plan. Cleaning up our trail has become very simple, if not, look how well we have managed Kelt.

—I don’t know, —Hebert hesitated, —I think it’s important to have the twins on our side. Just in case.

Sertres gave him a furious look, but he pulled himself together in an instant. He put his hands on his shoulders and lowered his voice.

—Well, try to recruit them one last time, I will leave it to you to decide how, but make haste, for if they are not with us when the time comes, the first thing to be done is to eliminate them, and you know it. We don’t need anyone sticking their noses into our affairs. This is all too important to be wasting time on minutiae. Don’t let your feelings get the better of you. You owe them nothing.

Hebert nodded crestfallen.

—All right, all right —he conceded, —I’ll see what I can do.

Hebert left the room and Sertres sat back down in front of the window. He tapped the screen twice and confidently stroked his glass. The professor was doing well despite those little disagreements. He was satisfied with his decision, involving him had been a good idea after all, and his role valuable. Now it remained to be seen whether he would be up to the task in subsequent events.

Planning and implementing what was necessary to achieve his goals had not been easy. Starting so young was, especially in the beginning, a small setback that he had to navigate with great skill. But when he stumbled upon the truth almost by accident, he knew he had no choice. He had to devote his life to it, and armed with that certainty he knew how to make good use of the years that followed. He had solidified his position in the Congregation, his political contacts had blossomed and matured thanks to his admission as a full member of the White's Club, and he already had two large banks eating out of the palm of his hand.

Soon there would be many more. He had plenty for everyone.

CHAPTER 56

Eva wanted to wake up from that bad dream. She didn't feel ready to face any more emotions that week, she needed to recover, she needed everyone to shut up and leave her alone. The good news was that Laura reappeared mid-afternoon at the Stanhope Clinic. She arrived in a cab and walked in under her own steam, Eva was shocked to see her and ran to hug her. She couldn't get her to say anything coherent before she was attended to, and she had been sedated and sleeping in one of the rooms on the second floor ever since. Jonah was still unconscious, and having them both admitted at the same time in the same place where Adrian had died a few days earlier was increasingly unsettling. Her nerves were shattered.

It was already two o’clock in the morning and she kept walking around the table in the office they had borrowed from the clinic. Oscar was sitting in front of her, haggard and tired. He had just shared with her part of Laura and Jonah's story.

—I still can’t believe you’ve been able to hide something like this from us for all these years —she reproached him again.

—Eva, I know it’s a lot to take in at once, but please try to understand, the situation was very sensitive.

—A brother? —she exclaimed incredulously —Laura adopted? —she grumbled —don’t you think we deserved to know? And mom?

—Your mother didn't know anything.

Eva looked at him stupefied.

—What do you mean? That’s impossible.

—Eva, you don’t understand, there are many things you don’t know.

—There’s even more? —she exclaimed, raising her hands as if to grasp the situation —I’m tired of you telling me what I can and can’t understand, do you want to drive me crazy?

—Listen, darling, listen to me and don’t interfere, don’t even try, you don’t need to know any more at this moment, leave it to me.

--What, do you think I’m stupid? —Eva replied, putting her arms on her head —how could I not want to know more? She’s my sister!

—And I’m sure that when the time comes she’ll tell you everything herself, don’t worry —Eva turned and looked at him astonished —Don’t look at me like that! Laura found out a little over a week ago, after your mother’s funeral, and I thought we’d never have to talk about it. But everything got messed up by the accident.

—And what has mother’s accident got to do with it?

—Nothing! —he calmed her down, —I know now that it has nothing to do with it, all right, don’t you worry about it, —he finished, murmuring sorrowfully, almost to himself.

Eva took another nervous walk around the room and ended up sitting down in front of Oscar. She took a deep breath trying to calm down and, breathing in, she challenged him with her eyes.

—If I find out that anything related to your business killed mom, I’ll never speak to you again.

Oscar raised his head in exhaustion. He was beginning to be fed up with so many lies. They had brought them nothing but misfortune.

—Eva, —he answered gravely, —I swear to you that none of this has anything to do with me or you. And that’s it, let’s not talk about it any more today. We need to rest. I do.

Oscar got up and went to his room, leaving Eva alone, obdurate and with her arms crossed. He needed to sleep, even if it was only for three hours. That little rest would help him face the situation with more clarity.

He felt a great relief when they recovered Laura, although it was short-lived, because she was not entirely their daughter. She was confused, lost, unable to string together two sentences in a row. It was as if she had only had just enough strength to return to them.

They gave her a quick check-up but found nothing. They still sedated her and put her in a room at the clinic.

Jonah was still unconscious. He had suffered a stroke, but according to the doctors, it was not serious and they expected him to recover soon. He was being monitored in intensive care.

The clinic staff had started asking questions and Oscar had to talk to their manager to clear the air. A new donation sealed their silent collaboration, but he knew that the time would come when he would no longer be able to contain the situation.

He needed to talk to Jonah urgently. Maybe something of what they had found out would quench his thirst for revenge. And he needed Laura, to help him communicate with him, and finally understand everything that had happened.

Aminarti.

Where could he be?

He had not thought of him again all day. He realized that with Jonah admitted to the clinic, he had a new bargaining chip. He would phone him in the morning.