Casimir

CHAPTER 64

Vincent woke Janice and Xavier up early the next morning. Xavier got up, his mind and body ached. He could smell! porridge from downstairs. Xavier walked downstairs followed by Janice. Xavier could see that Janice had a rougher night than he had but said nothing. They joined Vincent in the kitchen and all three sat down as a bowl of porridge was prepared. As they sat Vincent looked at Janice and Xavier. He knew that there was a lot to do in the days ahead knowing you couldn't just walk attack a group as powerful as the Centauri and time was needed to build men and resources as well as intelligence but time wasn't a luxury they had. Vincent could sense Janice knew it. Vincent looked to Xavier and felt sympathy over his fathers betrayal.

Xavier poured out a panful of porridge into a large ceramic bowl adding honey to the bowl. He noticed Vincent wasn't eating anything and queried "The porridge is good. Thanks. l see your not eating". Vincent knew Xavier meant well 'Its, its nothing and poured himself a bowl. Vincent turned to Janice "l had a talk with some of my colleagues last night and discussed the situation with them. They are prepared to help. A lot of them got upset during the selling of the Casimir Reactor and realised they had been swindled out of a lot of money. Janice held a cup of tea in her hand "So what are we going to do".

Vincent smiled. Ifs time to meet the boss of the Harmoniser and is eager to meet you

especially as most of his friends were wiped only a few days ago. Janice looked to Xavier "Its O.K. I've met the boss once over 7 years ago". Vincent looked to Xavier "When l mentioned you the boss seemed quite interested to meet you knowing that your helping to work against your father. He respects the predicament and your desire to help us". Xavier responded "l am eager to help not just for my father but to stop the Centauri group they have caused enough damage for one lifetime".

After breakfast. Xavier and Janice walked to a waiting car. Vincent closed the door behind

knowing it could be the last time he saw it and had bought only a decade earlier and had

loved every minute of it. Vincent turned back to the waiting car and the car drove off.

Xavier looked at the necklace given to him by his mother and how he wished she was still

alive and thoughts of her had been on Xavier's mind for days since the awards. Janice looked to Vincent "We're going to get them''. Vincent looked to Janice and knew she was fishing "We'll get them".

The car stopped outside a small stone cottage on the edge of Hebden Bridge, West

Yorkshire. Vincent, Xavier and Janice walked to the house. Xavier was surprised at the size

of the house and was expecting something bigger with people preparing weapons to help

them. The door opened as a lady in early 50's opened the door. Janice felt uncomfortable

knowing the great respect Vincent had for this lady. As the door opened she saw Vincent

"You old timer, Janice long time and you must be Xavier. Pity about your father". Xavier was taken aback by the forwardness of the lady and reckoned it had something to do with the intelligence community.

As they walked on Xavier saw a couple of men people in the old ladies house. The lady

introduced to Xavier as everyone sat down. I'm the reason the Harmonisers exist or what's left of them. My friends call me Mrs 34 or for you call me Miriam. As they sat one of the people started speaking "We've decided that we are not going to send in dozens of men this time as it is to risky and could be quickly. What we're suggesting is that Xavier goes ahead of us and meet his father to find a way in and once he has we come in". Xavier looked a Iittle uncomfortable "You want to use me as bait for my father". The gentlemen nodded his head "Pretty much. We have no idea what to expect in their. You will have to go unaided, unarmed and with no bugging equipment. Essentially your going in blind but we have number you call us and it is written on this card". Xavier looked uncomfortable of the bait as he received the business card with a number to ring. Xavier looked to Vincent but said nothing. Vincent could see the look on his face "This was decided in the last few hours, Without you we have no way of stopping Ethan and his group. You find a way in say you want to help your father complete the Casimir Reactor and then contact us where we will tell you a drop off point to give us intelligence''.

Janice looked to Vincent and she was not aware of the plans and had been kept out of the

loop. "This, this is unacceptable. You can't expect Xavier to do this". Janice stopped as she realised that it was useless putting up a fight when Vincent made a decision. Xavier looked to a dock on the wall 3.30 pm "When do l leave". Vincent looked back "We need to move now but you have an hour. Miriam wanted to talk to you before you left". Xavier followed Miriam into the next room. Xavier was a little shocked by the news. Miriam studied his face "l asked to meet you specifically Its not easy what your doing. You have been through a tot already'. Xavier could see Miriam was struggling as she handed him a picture of Kingston and was surprised to see his face "What has this got to do anything. Miriam looked to Xavier "Your friend isn't who he Claims to be. He has been working with Ethan for many years now. He was sent to you see how you investigated and the work you were doing in La Paz'. Xavier felt like he had punched and felt sick knowing that Kingston was a prized colleague. Xavier looked hurt "l, l don't, l don't understand", Miriam "You couldn't have known. You need to get going'. Xavier knew she was right and left the side room and headed for the front door. Vincent handed him a set of keys "Take this, everything you need is in the car. Don't do anything suspicious Ethan is no fool and he is no double suspicious enough about your father'. Xavier nodded and headed out of the door unsure of what to make of it.

As Xavier got of the house he saw a dark blue Bentley that he hadn't seen on the way into the house. It was similar to Janice's own car and got in it. Xavier was impressed that they got a Bentley at the last and reckoned it wasn't particularly discreet. Xavier sat in the car and gripped the steering wheel before looking into the glove compartment. In it he found £2000 worth of money and contact details and the instructions to bum the information. Xavier turned on the car and typed in the address for Ethan's house. Xavier glanced through the paperwork and there was a picture of Ethan which welled up feelings of revenge and hatred. Xavier looked at the satellite navigation screen. Xavier sighed at the screen it was over 200 miles away south of where he was.

Xavier again looked to his necklace "God help me". Xavier knew he needed it and drove the car away. He knew that he would have to act fast but how to catch the attention of his father away from Ethan. Xavier pondered this before the realisation that Kingston had betrayed him. Xavier knew he could forgive his father but Kingston was a different matter. Xavier knew it was no good protesting and drove the car away from the house and headed for Guildford.

Xavier drove the car fast. The sun had gone the only light where the overhead tungsten lamps beaming onto the motorway. Xavier pondered over his father and looked to the screen. He had less than a hundred miles to go. The car needed filing up and Xavier pulled into a petrol station unsure of what to do.

Then a thought came to him. He stopped filling the car only half filling and drove off to

Guildford. As Xavier entered Guildford he saw a pizza shop and sat about devising his plan. Xavier walked in and ordered a pizza and asked them to customise it for him putting on only olives, tuna and beef. The pizza was given to Xavier. Xavier drove slowly to the house where his father was and slipped in a piece of paper under the pizza. Xavier parked the car dose to the house and walked for a half a mile to the house. Xavier looked at the house and was impressed by its size knowing it was not your average house and reckoned it was Iit like a Xmas tree. Xavier looked to the gates as nerves set in. Xavier plucked up the courage and pressed the buzzer. A voice crackled through "Hello, what do you want". Xavier put on his best voice and covered his away from the cameras. "Pizza for Armando Kolasa". The voice crackled through "Very well stay there". A security guard opened the gate and saw Xavier but didn't recognise him.

Xavier handed over the pizza trying hard to not look nervous. The guard took the pizza away not realising there was phone inside and a note inside for Xavier's father. The guard walked to Armando's Office and saw that he was in his Office in the main house. The guard knocked on the door. Armando answered it "Come on in". The guard entered "Pizza delivery, sir." Armando reckoned it was a bit odd and knew he hadn't ordered a pizza but didn't protest and was famished from working on the reactor. Armando said nothing to the reactor as the guard left Armando's Office.

Armando opened the box. His eyes lit up as he saw a mobile and a note. Armando was

intrigued and reached for the note "Compliments of your son. l know you like tuna and beef. Use this mobile to contact me. The number is on the phone just press 3. I'm outside dose to Ethan's house. Need your help". As Armando read the note Ethan walked passed Armando's office and saw him with a pizza in his hand. Armando put the phone and note down away quickly as Ethan and sat in front of Armando "l didn't know you had ordered pizza'. Armando offered him a slice. Ethan decline "No thanks I've eaten enough with Ava's cooking". Armando knew Ethan was in one of those moods which he couldn't judge what he wanted. Ethan looked to Armando "Listen I'm sorry about you having to work with Kingston. He's good at what he does and he is an asset to your research and to our success". Armando sat calmly l know he is useful but he's a distraction in the lab. He may know his way around but he has no idea about the research or where its going. There were occasions l had to correct formulas he knew". Ethan could see Armando's dilemma "Tell you what. l will Kingston transferred to looking at the latest results from oil sampling off the Bering Straits". Armando nodded "Sounds a good idea. It will mean you get your reactor and everyone is happy". Ethan nodded and left the Office. Armando hated Ethan and had grown to dislike him even more since

leaving Birmingham.

Armando waited a couple of minutes as he heard Ethan walking back up the stairs. Armando walked out of his office to a part of the where house no one would discover him. He walked into a ground floor dining room that overlooked the front courtyard. Armando looked around to make sure that he hadn't been followed and rang the mobile- The phone rang and rang. Xavier was sitting in the car as the mobile rang. Xavier answered it "Hello." Armando heard his sons voice "Xavier this is me". Xavier recognised the voice "Good to hear from you. Listen l need to get in". Armando knew he had much to say and much to make up with his son. Armando responded Okay don"t use the front entrance its heavily guarded. There is a fence dose to the house close to a set of woods. Its not well guarded and should be to the west of the house". Xavier looked at the compass given that he had in the cars glove compartment. Armando continued "l am at the west side of the house now. I'll make sure your not spotted entering the house. Xavier responded "Okay l am on my way:. The phone call ended as Xavier walked to the woods and walked through them. He could hear twigs break under his feet and walked as quietly as possible and could make out the house and reckoned it was at least a good half mile from. Xavier walked in the direction of the house and then fell down a long v-shaped valley tossing and tumbling. Xavier got himself grateful that no bones had been broken. Xavier walked as an howl hooted overhead. Xavier looked around and walked closer to the house ahead of him.

Xavier got to a wooden fence dose to the house. He heard footsteps and could see two

guards walking the perimeter of the house and dived behind a tree. The guards shone a torch in Xavier's direction and scanned the horizon before turning back to their rounds. Xavier approached the fence and climbed over checking around him. Everything was clear. A light went on in a room. Xavier quickly saw the outline of his father and walked up a set of granite steps before ducking through a set of double doors opened by his father. Xavier walked into the dining room and so no one around. Armando was at the side of some thick curtains and walked over to his son. Xavier its me. Xavier jumped around and saw his father. Xavier was relieved to see him and the two embraced. Armando tried to speak . Xavier interrupted "Its OK I forgive you. Lets leave at that- Hows Tierra"- Armando took a step back. She's still tied up and is guarded by Solomon constantly. Xavier could see the predicament and knew Solomon would be a difficulty. Armando took his son to a side room off the main dining room "Its good that your here. We can finish the reactor". Xavier said nothing knowing this wasn't why he came "Father. I'm here because the Harmonisers want to stop Ethan. They're willing to offer you amnesty if you cooperate or you will go down with Ethan". Armando was taken aback but understood his sons predicament "Maybe its time to end things. Ethan's becoming more suspicious of me everyday. It would only be a matter of time before l was no longer needed. What do you need". Xavier continued "What l need is to get you out of here'. Armando was not eager to lose his son a second time and needed his help on Casimir 2. "Son you came back for me. Lets finish the work. l only a day from finishing on how to make it work". Armando heard someone in the corridor dose to them. Xavier shot behind a sofa. The door opened s Kingston entered "l thought l heard someone in here". Armando said nothing "Your imagining things. Its a big house and night time with a nearly full moon". Kingston said nothing and left Armando none the wiser.

Xavier got up as he heard Kingston's footsteps walk away. Armando turned his son "There is something you need to know about Kingston. He works for us". Xavier said "l know he

betrayed me". Armando continued "He sold you out for the keys to the kingdom. Don't worry he will pay".