The computers that got installed were like no other.
‘These are massive,’ she commented to the bulky man who’d brought them in.
But it was Gui’s on-screen face who answered. ‘I already have two people on the case. Are you sure you want to do this?’
The question made her think of Radzi. ‘And these two people, they know about everything you and Nick have done?’
Gui didn’t say anything, which was as good an answer.
She touched Radzi lightly on the shoulder and spoke to Gui. ‘You got him the medicine, so yes, I think we can pull this off. Whatever information you already have regarding the Iyseeks, now would be the time to let us know. We don’t need to waste any more time.’
‘See the file over there? 50 pages.’ Seeing her expression, he added, ‘Not much. The Iyseeks clean up well.’
It took her two hours to have the entire file read and memorized. Frankly, she had no clue about what she was doing, but it seemed worth it – studying whatever knowledge she was privy to – because every time she thought of Jean’s disappointed face, something inside her ached like a gnawing tooth, a sore lump that sharpened her determination.
She tried to think back to six months ago, when she’d entered Nick’s room to find his papers on his bed. It was certainly odd, the way the papers were laid right side up, as though he’d just been reading them, or as if he’d wanted someone else to.
‘Think, dimwit. Think.’
There were the documents about the criminals. Andrea Kaniso, Chek Kavok, Hugo Jamber, Tallulah Printip, Jed Zhen – petty criminals, mostly thieving, all who managed to escape the law. Were they the criminals Nick researched on before settling on Iyseek? Were they Iyseek’s people? And the pictures of small babies, tiny babies, at least 20 of them, but Nick hadn’t offered any relevant information, not even their names. Why? What was so important about the babies?
Disconcerted, she racked her brain, and it dawned on her how meticulous her brother had been. He had filed birth certificates, driving licenses, fake identification cards, bank account numbers, times and dates and methods of thieving, names of victims – everything to know about the criminals had been carefully printed, splayed out across the bed like a winning credential. Nick must have known that once she looked, she could never get the information out of her head – but if that was the case, had he purposely made her know? Why hadn’t he told her earlier? What did he expect her to do now?
‘Nikki …’ Radzi stirred next to her.
‘Hey.' She mustered a small smile. ‘You feeling better?’
‘Head hurts like a son-of-a-bitch, and that medicine was pretty much made of poop, but otherwise, yes, I’m fine.’ He looked at her closely. ‘Wish I could say the same for you though.’
She helped him get up. ‘Gui got us the computers.’
‘Those big things? They look like calculators from the 1920s.’ He winced at his own joke. ‘And oh of course, yes-I’ll-use-my-amazing-brainpower, since you’ve already asked.’
She smirked at his sarcasm, becoming again the tough girl he knew. Right then and there, Radzi thought it'd be enough for him.
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