"Hi, Alice Saunders," she answered, with more cheer than she felt.
"Mrs Saunders, it's Staff nurse Patel, I wonder if you could return to the hospital?" nurse Patel's voice was calm but persistent.
"What's wrong with Damon? Tell me, he should still be asleep shouldn't he?" Alice asked, frowning.
"It would be much better to discuss this face to face, Mrs Saunders" the over polite nurse suggested.
"He's dead isn't he? TELL ME!" Alice's voice was edged with panic.
"Please calm yourself Mrs Sau..." nurse Patel was rudely interrupted.
"TELL ME!" screamed Alice.
"Yes, but it's not due to..."
Alice hurled her phone against the lounge wall; it flew apart, the battery and keypad landing in opposite corners of the room. Alice grabbed her bag; frantically looking for the credit card that Damon had forced on her, all logic was gone. 'It was the last thing he held, must find it.' Alice grasped the card and brought it to her trembling lips. The card felt oddly cold, Alice looked closer at it. It was too thick for a credit card; she screwed up her eyes to read the small script on it 'Memory Stick PRO 1Gb', it was a data card. Alice ran to the computer in the study, 'Damon has sent me a message' Alice's thoughts raced as she headed for the study.
Unknown to Alice her whole conversation had been observed; Lorraine crouched in the bushes watching carefully. She now crept to the study window, keeping her body low. She soon realised that Alice was too engrossed in the computer to notice anyone, and stood up a little way, to relieve her complaining muscles. Alice pushed the memory stick into the port on the front of the PC, and a folder opened on the desktop. Alice studied it intensely; a look of disappointment clouded her face. Lorraine saw Alice reach for the mouse and click.
The screen turned orange, and a large yellow word appeared 'unravelled' Lorraine realised what the program was, one millisecond too late. Her eyes were now like Alice's, fixed on the glowing screen, as the orange colours shifted and danced. Synapses fired, connections were made - two minds had the vector uncovered in them. The control was shifted from autonomous to voluntary. The higher minds now knew of the vector, and had full access to its secrets and control. Reality snapped back into place as the swirling colours faded.
Alice swung away from the screen, her mind reeling with unwanted information. Her gaze fell directly on Lorraine, orange eye meet orange eye; she knew, they knew, they both knew all.
The grey suited man sat observing the London Street far below him with interest. This was his habit, his relaxation. The black phone on his solid oak desk rang; he swung his sculptured leather chair around with ease and gathered the handset into his manicured hand.
"Bowen, Ministry of Defence," he answered, "I see, tell me more"
Bowen listened with growing attention to the story he was being told, his body tensioned as his concern grew. Finally he spoke.
"You are right to contact me Dr Skelly, I will arrange a place of safety for you both. Leave it with me."
Bowen extended his right forefinger to cut off the call; he then keyed a short code.
"Charles, it's Woody, we've got a bit of a ball's up in Norfolk, yes that's right - WI. Look I need a safe house for a couple of women in danger, arrange it pronto could you?" he paused, "Smashing, fancy a rubber later on this week? Good I'll get someone on it. Cheerio!"
Bowen rested his hand on the desk momentarily, before swinging back to watch the masses below; his grey eyes calmly observed the scurrying populace. Affairs of state drifted away, and he was as motionless as the sign on his desk, as sculptured as the writing on its glossy surface. The writing that read 'Anthony Woodford-Bowen, Minister of Defence.'
Lorraine sighed, and relaxed back onto the settee.
"We should be out of here tonight, Alice. Somewhere safe" she smiled.
"Thanks Lorraine, I judged you badly" Alice apologised.
Alice lifted her hands to Lorraine's ample bosom, and searched for the telltale peaks.
"This time I have no doubts," Alice murmured, as her lips met Lorraine's.