“Someone’s up to something. Hopefully, they haven’t got Isabella.”
Nield walked in. Pale blue shirt, grey sleeveless vest, black trousers and the loudest tie Aaron had seen for a while. They didn’t wear ties like that where Aaron came from. Nield smiled at them both and after the customary greeting pushed some button on a device near the door. The lights dimmed and a projector screen came down from the ceiling.
“I’ve put together a summary of what we’ve discovered so far,” Nield said. “I’ve decided to start with the lady.”
<°)))><
The room lit up as an image of a couple appeared on the screen. A logo of some kind sat below the image, with what looked like a pink pill.
“There wasn’t much to be found on Ava Perdu, which would be the preference of a former spy—they like things to be concealed,” Nield said. “Perdu was a well-trained French intelligence agent until she resigned to pursue other activities—working with her husband in his pharmaceutical exploits. It appears his business is successful.”
Aaron decided that Ava Perdu looked like a spy.
“One assumes she possesses excellent persuasion, negotiating, and influencing skills,” the analyst continued. “She’s good at what she does—there was one report from an overseas agent who encountered her. They needed to work together to overcome an information theft and sabotage situation. A player needed to be taken out. She addressed the need very efficiently.”
Detective Taylor tapped his fingers on the table. Aaron looked towards the detective, whose eyes were focused on the screen. His tapping was either exercise or just a physical activity to keep him focused.
Aaron returned his gaze to Perdu. She was a good-looking lady—dark olive skin, dark hair, with a Mediterranean look. Her looks would be an asset in the type of work she did, particularly in persuasion. Those dark eyes could look right through you. Her husband also had the Mediterranean look. Fit, projecting a strong confident image of himself—wrapped up with scarves, as most French men seemed to be.
“So this woman is well trained, and has killed before,” Detective Taylor said. “No links to any government intelligence agency but performs the role of, most probably, a security intelligence officer for her husband’s company. Is she still active in the intelligence field?”
“We can’t be sure. Their company is doing well. It’s situated in the western outskirts of Melbourne. Its products are sold under the logo of Perdu@.” The analyst’s red laser pointer hovered around the logo. “The @ sign, I believe, identifies a link to atheism. They also appear to use the atheism symbol on their products, well at least with their most recent release—an antidepressant.” The analyst zoomed in on the pink pill with a close-up of the symbol.
“What’s the symbol mean?” Detective Taylor asked.
“The symbol is known as the atomic whirl—three electronic orbits crisscrossing.” The analyst used his laser pointer to highlight the bottom of the symbol with one of the orbits left open. “This open-ended orbital is supposed to acknowledge that there are still some gaps of knowledge.”
“Thanks for that. I’m sure all the pill-poppers out there pay little regard to the symbols on their medication. But I have this feeling I’ll be curious in future if I do pop some pills.” Detective Taylor looked at Aaron. “My preference is to avoid pills. Some mess with your head. I’d be interested to see what we’re going to discover about this little pink pill.”
Aaron detected a hint of sarcasm. “Well, that ball is going to be in your court.” Was Aaron’s involvement in this investigation going to get him any closer to the missing transporter device? Although he did need to ensure the Perdus were recorded in the appropriate national security database. Borderline radicals needed to be watched.
Nield brought up an example of the tablet with the symbol. “We are doing more research in the development of this drug—trials, approvals, etc. But at this stage we’re putting more energy into the information that you’re after, namely the accidents.”
“Good but what’s the big deal with the atheism? Why would one want to broadcast their beliefs—or lack of belief—so strongly?” Detective Taylor asked.
“Maybe borderline radical,” Aaron said. “Still working within the system, but they need to be watched. At this point they’re not actively trying to wipe out the believers, namely the Christians and Muslims, but they could cross the line.”
“Maybe they’ve crossed the line,” Nield said.
<°)))><
Aaron wondered what line had been crossed.
A picture of another lady appeared on the screen. She looked like an older version of Isabella, obviously her mother. Her brown eyes drew Aaron in like she had something important to say. She held a pair of glasses in her left hand and a pen in the other. A small silver cross hung from her neck. Some puffiness and shadows under the eyes gave away a hint of weariness.
“Lee-Ann Rose—Isabella’s mother—was a devoted Christian, a regular churchgoer. She worked for the Perdu’s and was one of their best scientists—her speciality was the workings of the brain. She was a sought-after conference speaker, and was approached by several pharmaceutical companies.”
“One does not ask about spiritual beliefs at an interview?” Detective Taylor said.
“A definite no, no.” Nield said. “As you’re both aware, Lee-Rose Ann and her husband died in a motor vehicle accident on their property. Two things stand out in the investigating officer’s report.”
The analyst’s smartphone was being used as the remote control. The project screen refreshed and some words appeared.
1. The company employees were not forthright in providing background information. A fear of losing one’s job was a restraining force in the interviews held. There appeared to be an indication of work-based conflict between Mrs Rose and the company.
2. The motor mechanic (a private contractor) who conducted the post-accident inspection was of a nervous disposition when interviewed and gave the impression he knew more that he wanted to disclose.
Aaron wondered if Mrs Perdu’s influencing skills had been put into practice. He stood up and walked over to grab a glass of water. “Anyone else want one?” he asked. No one else was thirsty.
“So we could say the accident was suspicious.” Detective Taylor said.
“We could,” Nield answered. “But we would need more proof.”
“Yes.” Aaron agreed. “Her daughter, Isabella, believes Ava Perdu was involved. Perdu had stated that she killed Isabella’s parents and it was picked up by CCTV recording equipment at the Rose’s property.
Aaron knew the Rose property was under surveillance because of the connection to the Professor. But there was little chance the drone covering the property would have picked up anything suspicious in relation to the accident. Besides, with her intelligence background, Perdu would probably have disabled the drone or sneaked in under the cover of darkness. Assuming she was involved.
“Then there was the fire.” The analyst again refreshed the screen. “Things start to get even more complex here.”
Yes, the fire. There was a communication problem with the drone with that event. Aaron’s mind wandered. What was this woman up to? Burn the building down? Why would she want to kill the girl?
“You with us, Aaron?” Detective Taylor asked.
Aaron gave his head a shake. He must have had a spaced out look. “I am. Just trying to put some pieces together in my head.”
Nield continued his update. “We sent in one of our forensic scientists as we were advised a bunker existed on the site. They were impressed with all the sophisticated electronics, but couldn’t locate the computer’s storage unit. With all the recording equipment installed on the property, it had to be recorded somewhere.”
“Well, there’s all the proof we need. So who’s got that storage unit device?” Detective Taylor asked.
