Deadly Genome

To my mothers...

A corpse in Manhattan is not a big deal, but authorities trying to uncover the crime, that sure is. To be able to discover the truth, private investigator Michael Lorrey will have to untangle the web of lies suffocating the city. From the deep grounds to the tallest spheres, going through the ones that are destroying his very own life...

A ruthless murderer, a moving love story, an ambitious game and dark interests where nothing is what it seems.

INDEX

—PROLOGUE

1-THE MURDERER

2-THE CAPTAIN

3-THE SNITCH

4-THE FAGGOT

5-ANDERSON

6-MASTER

7-THE FILE

8-THE BUYERS

9-THE STATION

10-THE SCENE

11-HIS HOUSE

12-THE LAPTOP

13-THE POLISH

14-VIKTOR

15-THE REPORT

16-THE TUNNEL

17-THE HOLLY’S

18-DLACHEGOGO SABIL...

19-MR. TURNER

20-MR. HENGINS

21-THE INTERROGATION ROOM

22-JAIL

23-THE FLORIST

—EPILOGUE

—PROLOGUE

THAILAND, September 1998

When the phone rang early in the morning, James Hatherley couldn’t imagine that that was going to be one of the strangest days in his short career in the diplomatic body.

Hatherley here.

Hello James! Have I woken you up?

No, William! I’m used to waiting for calls at five in the morning.

I’m very sorry, but the ambassador’s secretary insisted. You have to come immediately. This is chaos. You can’t even imagine.

What’s happening?

I don’t know much, but it seems like there’s been a robbery in a factory of the technology park.

I have an alibi, and my wife will back me up.

James, this is very serious. The ambassador’s wife is a shareholder of the company and she’s hysteric. She does not want the local police to enter the building if there’s no one from the embassy present. They want you to go.

What for?

I don’t know, James. Here everyone’s nervous and no one explains a thing, but the secretary has been very clear. You have to come right now!

He hung up the phone grudgingly and sat up, trying not to wake up his wife. He wished he didn’t have to take a shower, but the steamy night seemed to be quite evident in him. When he came out of the bathroom, a cup of coffee awaited him.

Why have you woken up?

My man is not going to drive until he has cleared his mind.

It’s not necessary, sweetheart. Go back to bed and rest.

Why do they do this to you, honey?

It’s the job, and you know it. They’re transferring me in a month and then we can forget about this horrible place.

Of course, do you want me to make you something?

Promise me you’re going back to sleep and give me a kiss.

Yes, my love.

Twenty minutes later, he arrived at the British embassy in Bangkok. His boss and friend William Newcomb was in the parking lot, accompanied by two secret police members from Thailand, along with their unmistakable vehicle.

Hello, James! These gentlemen will take you to the place of the facts.

What’s this all about, Will?

It looks like there’s been a theft in a microprocessor factory. The ambassador’s wife is very worried. She does not want the police to take photos of the machinery. She thinks they’ll sell them to the competition.

That’s the biggest idiocy I’ve heard in my life! replied Hatherley angrily. His employees must have already sold even the blueprints of the very last screw.

The policemen left discreetly when they noticed the anger of the man that had just arrived.

James, you already know her. She has threatened the entire world. They say she has even woken up a minister.

And me too! What am I supposed to do?

It’s only about being present and supervising the inspection. Lieutenant Song will be in charge that everything’s done as you say.

What I don’t know is how I want things to be done. He will speak our blessed language, right?

The two policemen approached smiling and repeatedly bowing, inviting him to board the vehicle.

They took almost an hour to get there. It was a white, very modern nave, surrounded by extensive gardens. «They give away the floors here», Hatherley thought, surprised by the enclosure’s size. At least a dozen police cars were lined up by the entrance, but none had entered yet. When their vehicle, driven by Lieutenant Song, approached the entrance, the gate opened up to allow entrance and everyone else turned on their lights and sirens, creating a multicolored line behind him. He couldn’t help but smile, as he had seen the exact same scene in some movie.

Mr. Hatherley, said the lieutenant after turning off the engine, we will have to wait and give some time to the scientific police to do their job. They are not going to be delayed and will not take photographs until you are present. Then, we can proceed with our inspection.

Do you know what has happened?

I’ll let you know as soon as I can. I have to speak with the manager and I’m waiting for a call from the hospital. There are two injured security guards. Right now I know nothing else, sir.

Can I wait in the garden?

I’m afraid they will also work on the exterior, so you must stay in the automobile. I’m sorry for the discomforts we are causing, sir.

Can I at least smoke?

Of course, sir.

While he was lighting up a cigarette, he observed the two policemen go towards the entrance door, from where the bulkiest man he had ever seen in the country came out. «The manager», he deduced. He thought about his wife to make the wait more bearable. He wished to go back home and still find her in bed. On his way he would buy a good breakfast for her and...

Mr. Hatherley, we can begin. The lieutenant had returned.

Already!? he asked, surprised, as he had not even finished smoking. How is that possible?

We are quite efficient, sir.

I can see.

If you’ll join me, I’ll have the pleasure of introducing you to the manager, Mr. Keow.

He remained in the entrance, to which they headed.

Mr. Hatherley, I introduce you to Mr. Keow. James held out his hand, thinking he looked like a sumo wrestler. In exchange, he only got a smile and a reverence. I’m sorry to tell you that he does not speak in your language, but I’ll be glad to translate what he told me.

The manager of a major British company does not speak English, isn’t that a little odd?

I don’t know, sir. He tells me that around two in the morning the security guard of the perimeter was attacked. They drugged him. Then, they deactivated the alarm system. They are worried because it seems like they already knew about the connections box beforehand.

And where is that box?

Hiding in the back part of the garden. We could go see her, if you wish.

I don’t understand much of what is going on, so I don’t think it will be necessary.

I understand, sir. Then they forced the door, which is not easy.

Why?

The door is armored, and it has the strongest locks in existence.

Then how did they force it?

We are not sure, the strange thing is that the door is not damaged. It was a very clean job. Then they surprised the interior guard and drugged him too.

How did they drug them?

We don’t know. They are performing analysis in order to find out. But it was a very strong drug because they are still affected by it.

What do you mean by affected?

Well..., For some reason he doubted his answer for the first time. unconscious.

So, no one has talked to them yet.

No, of course.

I see. And, what did they steal?

Well, at least that is good news. They weren’t able to take anything.

Why?

Because the money was in a safe-deposit box. We think that at not being able to open it they got scared and ran off without taking anything.

Was it a lot of money?

No, not much actually. Only the amount to pay to a local provider. All of the important transactions are made through the bank.

Can I see the safe-deposit box?

The lieutenant talked with the manager in Thai, which stood still like a statue. He didn’t even look like he was breathing.

Please follow us, Mr. Hatherley.

They led him through several corridors. On the sides, there were crystal doors where different rooms could be seen. In some, there were computers, in others there were design tables, in many, there was machinery that was impossible to identify for someone who was not from there. Everything was extraordinarily clean. «Aseptic like an operating room», Hatherley thought. They arrived at a small office. There, on a table, was a metallic box of about 60 centimeters from the side.

Can I touch it, or do you have to take fingerprints?

You can examine it if you wish, sir.

He didn’t need to examine it, but weigh it, which he did.

And all the company’s money is here.

"They don’t use a lot of