Enemy Chapter Nineteen
Enemy Me
Author: J Carrell Jones
Table of Content
Chapter Nineteen
The Security team missed check in. That worried Forrest. He sat at his desk and checked an anonymous MesBox. Nothing. The van and the units were unmarked and comfortably untraceable. Only an unfortunate and careless cross-contamination would tie in one of his contractors, who could eventually point to his desk.
Troy chimed the door. He chimed several more times within several seconds.
Forrest, irritated, pressed the enter button.
Troy hurried over. The look on his face told Forrest something was wrong. “Sir, channel 7. Important. All bad news.”
Strange. Forrest had never seen Troy flustered. He clicked the main display screen. It was a 190 inch flat screen unit secured against a vacant portion of the far wall. The display flicked on and caught the newscaster in mid speech.
“ . . . CEO Forrest Taylor is alleged in a conspiracy to release a highly controversial drug known as Transgenetics. Currently, set for Human trials, the FDA has placed a hold on the go ahead . . .”
Forrest’s heart sank. “No, no, no, no, NO!”
“Sir, more bad news.” He handed Forrest a tablet. The Watcher Group released a special report on the dangers of Gene Therapy. A headline article id’ed key players in Transgenetics development. It accused Forever Life of conducting illegal deadly human trials. Several photos showed Pete Walker’s face twisted in agony.
Forrest got up and went to the window. He could see the flashing lights of Division vehicles convoying to the main gate. Forrest made a mental note to stop all donations to Thorpe’s future campaign.
The lead car stopped. Someone got out and approached the guard station. Seconds later the officer had the guard in a choke hold while another one worked the controls to open the large steel gate. Another officer approached the two and slapped handcuffs on the guard. The convoy resumed its way to the main entrance of the building.
Forrest’s phone rang. The caller id said ‘Martin’. Bastard he thought. Forrest sat at his desk. “Troy, handle Division please.”
Troy’s facial expression said it all. Doomed. He nodded and left.
Forrest picked up the handset. “Donald. . .”
Martin replied, “Forrest. The board held an emergency meeting. Sorry to have to give you the news. We voted you out. Under clause 12 section 4 item a3 you will not receive a parachute option . . .”
“You set me up, you bastard. How could you?”
Martin replied, “You may blame me, but it was your own arrogance that did it. You have eight hours to take what you need. How could you take us down this . . . ?”
“Take us? You signed off on Transgenetics!”
“But not torture and murder.”
Forrest remained silent.
Martin continued, “You took us down a road that’ll cut deep in profit. Tomorrow morning the Exchanges will open. Every investor will sell. We’ll drop and you are to blame. You no longer have access to company files . . .”
Forrest tapped out several commands on his computer. All came up ‘Access denied.’ He hung up – no use in talking. He walked over to the wet bar and poured a half glass of Cognac. Lime juice, sparkling water, and several black olives completed the drink. He finished in three swallows. He walked out of his office, passed Troy’s unoccupied desk. His private elevator would not respond to his palm press so he was forced to use the public lift. He pressed Garage PRV and was thankful that the elevator made the trip without anyone requesting a stop. Today he would take one of his private cars home. ‘Sid’ he thought. His lawyer. He’s going to have to call Sid. Sid was the best and could have gotten Jesus out of a jam if he had been there. Several Security Units were waiting near his car. He sighed. Good, at least they’re allowing me to have some protection on the way home. As he got nearer to his car one unit stepped out and blocked his way.
“Please, sir. I have to ask you to wait.”
Forrest scowled. “Wait for what?”
The unit said, “You are to be held until Head of Security has a chance to clear you.”
Clear . . . clear me! What the fuck! Clear me!”
The other units stepped forward. A second unit said, “Sir, display any further acts of aggression and you will be pacified.”
Forrest was shocked. “Aggression! I’ll . . .”
The unit stepped closer.
Forrest closed his mouth. And held his hands up to his chest with palms facing out.
The unit stopped.
Forrest waited ten minutes until the evening Chief of Security arrived with several other units.
“Sorry, sir. But the Chairman . . .”
“I’m the Chairma . . .”
“The Interim Chairman said to search you for any company property. Please spread your legs and lift up your arms, sir.”
A now red faced Forrest complied. The search was quick but degrading. Afterward he got into his car.
“Sir, the main entrance is choked full of reporters. I suggest the service entrance.”
Forrest bite his bottom lip, nodded, and sped toward the service entrance. Disgraced. Tears welled up in his eyes and started streaming down his cheek. He pulled up next to the intercom/Gate access unit. His card wouldn’t work. He tried several more times. Then he pressed the call button.
A minute later a voice came over the unit’s speakers, “Yes?”
“This is Forrest Taylor. I need to leave.”
The gate remained closed.
“I need to leave. Open the gate, god damn it!”
The gate remained closed.
Forrest roared and punched at the ceiling several times. He took a deep breath and begrudgingly said, “Please. I just want to get home.”
After several seconds the gate opened. Forrest drove up the path to the main road. Several Division cars were blocking the intersection. Forrest stopped as an Officer approached him.
A detective walked up to the car. “Mr. Taylor, please turn off the engine and step out.”
Forrest let the window down. “Detective, why are you stopping me? I’m a citizen.”
The detective nodded, “Understood, sir. But I still need you to step out.”
Forrest put his window back up. “How dare they!” He yelled to no one in particular while punching in the number to Sid. “I’ll sue the company, I’ll sue Division. Everyone!”
A deep voice answered. “Fineburg, speaking.”
“Sid! This is Forrest, I need . . .”
“Forrest, Forrest,” Sid interrupted, “Where are you?”
The detective knocked on the car window. He moved his lips but Forrest heard nothing.
“In my car. I’m being detained. Division officers and a Detective are blocking my way home.”
The detective knocked on the window harder. It thumped and startled Forrest.
“Sid, this is a disaster.”
“I heard.”
“You what? Heard? How?”
“Forrest, it’s all over the news and the Net feeds. Is it true?”
Forrest pursed his lips.
“Is it true? God help you if it is.”
“Some.” He finally said.
“Sheesh, Forrest.”
“You can fix this.”
“Forrest, look. This is not looking good. You need to turn yourself in and . . .”
A very loud thump hit the window. The Officers were using a battering ram. Thump, thump!
“Sid! They’re trying to break into my car! Call someone!”
“Forrest, turn yourself in . . .”
“The fuck I will!”
“You have too. You’re a private citizen away from the company.”
Then it hit Forrest. Out in the open, vulnerable. He had no Security Units for protection. “Sid, I’m scared.”
“I’m making a call to the Mayor and the Division Chief, but it’s gonna take time. Doing it now before it’s too late.”
There were several more thumps. Forrest considered running but that would have been dumb. He turned off the engine and lowered the window a bit. “Okay, I’m stepping out. Please don’t hurt me.”
The Officers backed up allowing the car door to open.
“Sid, for God’s sake, hurry.” Then he said, “Car, record mode.”
The vehicle beeped. A computer voice said loudly, “Vehicle is in record mode. Vehicle is in record mode.”
Forrest only hoped that would be enough to guarantee not being shot by a Division Officer. “I’m stepping out.”
The Detective let him clear the car. He took a deep breath. “Mr. Taylor, I have a Warrant for your arrest.”
“What’s the charge?”
“Fraud. Kidnapping. Assault. Murder. Please turn around and place your hands on top of your head.”
Forrest started to turn around when his knees buckled.
The Detective caught him and pressed him hard against his car. He placed restraining straps around Forrest’s wrists.
It was a nightmare Forrest thought. A true nightmare. He looked up and saw a few helicopters hovering overhead. Three were Division, the other half dozen were from News Agencies.
Prax had finished passing out the bags of Popcorn and drinks when Mike started the compilation. He had been recording all the major News channels and spliced the best of the broadcasts together. A live feed picture was nestled in the corner of the large display when someone yelled. “Look, they got him cornered.”
The feed played out the moment Forrest’s car was stopped by Division, the battering ram on the window, and Forrest finally arrested. The display zoomed in close on a teary eyed face as the detective placed restraining bands around his wrists.
Marty said, “Now what? This is over, right?”
Mike said, “Not quite. I’ve established IDs for everyone as well as history, medical records, residencies, education, everything that will allow you to function as regular citizens.”
Pearl asked, “What about work?”
“Taken care of. The documents Division has in their possession financial records that shows Forever Life had been paying you a living stipend for your earlier participation in the illegal Transgenetics program. George and I had discussed the possibility of executing his plan.”
Jackie said, “And these residencies?”
“All our hidden entrances and exits are within each of your units. Nanobots and remote units have been mimicking normal life patterns. Everything will show natural wear and tear through normal usage.”
“Mike?” Kent started. “You can do that?”
There was a long pause. Everyone waited.
“Yes.”
“What do we do now?” Morgan asked.
Silence hung awkwardly in the air.
“Live.” Mike said. “But tonight you may stay up and watch Vids.
Kent laughed first, followed by everyone else.