Merlin Phoenix Clinton didn't enjoy driving at night. he had to pull the
seat closer to the wheel so he could peer myopically into the dark, clenching
it tight as he could. He didn't like being spoken to when driving either. Or
talk shows on the radio. he especially didn’t like Aaron talking to him at
night or any other time. As they passed the 'no doctor, no hospital, one cemetery' sign
in Waihola, he knew he would start up. He always did.
*I love that sign. it’s so stupid.
Merlin ignored him but it didn’t work
*Do you like the business cards*no, i don't like the business
cards*you don't like the embossed hound on them* yes that’s good. i just don't
think you should have put undercover operatives on it*but that's what we are*i
know but we don't want anyone else to know that do we*why*because we won't be
undercover anymore if they know we're undercover, will we*ah ok, i didn't
think of that*anyway, i don’t think we need business cards. i mean, who can we
show them to*o k. i could redo them to make them more neutral, so we can
give them out to contacts. just names and cell numbers*ok that might be worth
it
33 minutes later, the car bumped over a hole, slowed and stopped outside
a building. They looked up.
*No light on Merl. actually, no roof on it.
Nothing but the sky. Merlin got his notebook out and leafed through it.
*fuck. give me the map.*we’ve gone to the wrong house haven’t we*yeah,
right road, wrong part of town. that’s the problem with the whole no phone, no
gps, laptop idea* i need to practice my map reading I suppose. long time since
the scouts.
Ten minutes later, outside the right house, it was
quiet and it seemed the same inside too. No curtains or blinds were closed
giving a view clear through the house to the back garden.
*ironic we have no electronics on us but the whole
house is covered*big house for one person, isn’t it*when
she turns up, we'll stay for about 5 minutes and that should do the job.*shit,
look, the light's gone on, she must have been sitting in the dark*maybe she
parks at the back of the house. i'll start the car and see if the noise makes
her look out. I'm sure she'll recognise the car from the other day*Merl, drive
round the back, she's just put a jacket on.
They parked on the other side of the road, diagonally behind.
After a few minutes, a woman came out, stared in their direction, got in the
car and drove down the hill.
*this is perfect Aaron, we'll stay with her for 5 minutes then clear off
back to the office*can we get something to eat then, i'm hungry as.
Merlin and Aaron sat in the tiny room that was their office at a small
table wedged against a wall, eating KFC. The rest of the wall was taken up by
computer gadgetry stacked almost to the ceiling.
*my daughter asked me about the ethics of banking this morning and how I
can justify doing it. i just said would you prefer we couldn’t afford food.
that’s a cop out she said*she’s right though but it doesn’t matter. I don’t
particularly like some of the things we do but if we didn’t do it someone else
would. anyway, we were offered the franchise not the Wilkins brothers and
they’d be far worse*but you’re saying the same as me*no I’m not. I don’t
believe in ethics at all. Can’t see the point to be honest. I spent 20 years as
an engineer, long hours, dirty, tiring and I never got as much as I earn now
for driving round in a car with you. That of course, is the down side* thanks,
I appreciate that. Do you ever wonder what this is all about* this woman or the
whole thing? *both *not very often. It pays our wages. anyway, enough smoko
time, we need to listen some of this audio.
Oscar, you’re an arsehole and your rude. A little bit of sympathy would
be nice. You sent me plenty about Rick’s tumour and photos and I didn’t
complain. The same car that followed me was outside the house tonight when I
left. 2 middle aged men were in it, they didn’t look dangerous but they could
be. They had moustaches like that old 118 118 advert. I think I’ll go to the
police. What do you think?
H
X
___________________________________________________________________________
Ok, I’m sorry. I’ve never been to New Zealand but I can’t imagine who
would be following you, you’re just not interesting enough. You should go to
the police but that might be who it is. Rick is doing well by the way. Let me
know what happens.
Oscar
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