He watched as James walked away from the police officer. What had they spoken about? James came back to his wife and they headed towards Aaron. He could see Mackenzie’s features in Kathy’s face. She walked up and hugged Aaron.

“Be strong, Aaron.” She stepped back and looked at Aaron. “We love you, Aaron, just like Mackenzie loved you . . . we’ll be in touch . . . are you okay?”

Aaron swallowed hard. “What happens now, Kathy?”

James spoke. “There’s a formal process that needs to be followed. Then they will release the body.” James placed his arms around Kathy. “We’re both tired, so we’re going to make our way home. We’ll be in touch, Aaron. You look after yourself.”

“I will.” He shook James’s hand and gave Kathy a hug.

What would happen now? A process would be followed. Life was a process—birth, death. It’s all about process. They would perform an autopsy, work out how she died and then put the body in a box. But he knew how she died and people were going to pay for it. The technology will be found and handed over to the appropriate people—the technology and those involved with it had killed Dad, Mackenzie and Paul. They are accountable and will pay for it. Nothing was going to detour Aaron from this objective.

<°)))><

Windsor had a miniature camera installed in the lift. Government ministers could do that sort of thing. He only viewed the camera footage when he had visitors, so as far as Windsor was concerned he was not breaking any privacy laws. Besides, it was a security matter anyway.

Starkey was in the lift. Windsor watched as Starkey pressed the elevator button for the sixth floor. Starkey was bent over trying to read some scribbling above the elevator buttons. Windsor knew it was a phone number with some crude suggestions after it. It was meant to have been removed but the cleaners had taken their time getting rid of it. It did not look good for the image of the apartment block.

Starkey looked annoyed and Windsor understood. It was past midnight and well past Starkey’s bedtime. He would not keep him here for long.

Windsor welcomed him. Yes, Starkey was jumpy and tense.

“Couldn’t this have waited until tomorrow, Grant? I don’t believe being at your beck and call was part of the arrangement.”

“Take a seat and calm down.” Windsor paced the room. He was also jumpy and tense. “We are now responsible for the deaths of a number of people. This is not good. Why are these things happening? It seems the technology is a bit flaky.”

Starkey shook his head. “Losing people is not good. I know that. I’m looking into it and will fix it.” That didn’t sound confident. He continued. “We’ve lost so much expertise with the fire and the deaths of those fine young men. But it might be something simple, like weather conditions. There have been electrical storms floating around recently.”

“That’s nice of you to bring up the subject of more deaths. I’d tried to forget about that fire.”

“Sorry, Grant. But they would have helped. As I said, I will fix it.”

“I know you’ll fix it, Bruce. But people are dead, and we’ll be in big trouble if they trace the technology to us.”

“We may be, Grant. But there are only a few of us who know about the technology. And we should be thankful about the fire—that’s removed any references to the technology.”

Windsor ignored Starkey. “They won’t listen to us now. Yet we can offer many something that they long for. We can get people to obey laws, not disregard them, and through that we’ll save many lives. We can get people back to doing the right thing through fear, for we know fear is the beginning of wisdom.”

“That’s the fear of God, I believe. I remember reading that somewhere and it struck a chord with me.”

“My, you are a wise man. I think fear pushes you in a direction, whether it be God or snakes or sharks. So fear is the beginning of a decision process. I think people fear snakes and sharks more than God.”

Starkey’s grumpiness seemed to have departed. “I just read about a wise man. He’d been bitten by a venomous snake but instead of getting to a hospital, he stayed home to watch a show on TV that he didn’t want to miss. It was only when the headache and cramps set in that he got himself to hospital.”

“You go off in tangents sometimes, don’t you, Bruce? That man’s wisdom is debateable, and it also shows you another controlling mechanism: television. People are weak and easily-led, and that’s why we have to do what we have to do. We’ll convince the people that they need to obey us, and excuse the arrogance, they will. Our way will lead them to a better and fulfilling life and love thy neighbour will rule again. How can they resist?”

Starkey went quiet. He sat there and just stared at Windsor.

“Everything okay, Bruce?” A twinge of doubt entered Windsor’s head but he shut the thought down before it penetrated too far. Now other thoughts attacked him. Was he starting to go off the rails. Was he losing the plot? Maybe there never really was a plot, just a vague idea that two people used to advance their own causes. And maybe those causes weren’t clear either. Maybe. He shook his head and told the negative stuff to get out of his head.

“But how are we going to get people on our side?” Starkey asked.

“That’s the question, Bruce. Let’s find the answer.” Windsor felt tired.

Chapter 21

AARON WAS NOT TIRED. They were into the early hours of a new day. Stragglers wandered past the church, some barely able to walk. The occasional car drove past. Aaron and Churchie had headed to their homes, with Aaron deciding he would sit with Churchie for a while, as he doubted he would sleep much.

“I’m angry, Churchie.”

“Why, Aaron?”

“Because someone is playing around with lives.”

“I’m angry too,” said a voice above them. Aaron looked up to see the Rev staring down at them.

“Mind if I join you both?”

Churchie smiled. “No worries, Rev.” The Rev made himself comfortable on the step below them.

“I haven’t actually met you,” the Rev said to Aaron.

Aaron put out his hand. “Aaron. And I know you are the Rev. Your friend here has told me all about you.”

They shook hands.

“Whatcha angry about, Rev? Churchie asked.

“Maybe angry is not the right word.” The Rev paused. “I believe God has spoken to me in a powerful way, and I’m struggling with how to deal with it.”

Aaron’s mind was on Mackenzie. He felt empty, as though he wanted to shut down, disconnect from the thoughts invading his head. Aaron thought about the still, small voice he heard earlier. “Do you actually hear God’s voice?”

The Rev turned to watch some people walk past on the footpath below. He turned back and looked at Aaron.

“Aaron, God communicates with believers in a number of ways. Maybe you read something in the Bible that gives you a kick. Or maybe people, or circumstances, trigger something. And sometimes it’s a still small voice that you sense but don’t hear—maybe a clear thought.”

Churchie jumped in to remind Aaron. “There ya go, Aaron. That’s what you experienced before, when you got told not to try and work things out.”

Aaron nodded and gave Churchie a half smile. “I already thought about that, Churchie.” He turned to the Rev, “I think I can relate to the still small voice.”

“Yes, Aaron. Some call that the voice of peace. Peace normally flows with it. But then there’s the actual voice of God. I had never heard it before, but I did today. It’s like an actual audible voice. It not only comes with peace but also power and the conviction that you need to act upon what was said.”

Aaron had reached the point where he didn’t know what to think anymore. In his mind, an image of Mackenzie stood before him. He closed his eyes and felt an arm on his shoulder.

“May God’s peace be with you, Aaron.”

He looked at Churchie. Aaron felt zapped. Where had his energy gone? Even to think was an effort. He would welcome God’s peace.

“Thank you, Churchie.”