The Kidnappers

THE KIDNAPPERS
BY
RICHARD COTTON
                                 White light shone down on the table from above, whilst hunched over his experiment Professor John Jones large body just filling the small chair the heat made sweat drip down has he concentrated so hard that John barely heard the lone hover car outside of the building. It’s was night now, most of the others were at home glancing down at the digital watch on his right arm John thought he had better go now. Stand up slowly John walked to the hat stand, removing the white lab coat John hooked it on to the stand, then picked up the blue light-weight jacket. Glancing back to the table one last time John shrugged, turned to leave the room, closing the door slowly John nearly bumped into the short dumpy security guard walking past him.
“Evening John,” The guard said brightly.
“Night,” John mumbled.
The guard was in the wrong area John could do with out him at all, reaching into his left upper pocket to take out a cigarette from the packet the sat in there, it wasn’t his normal brand, but it was all he could get at the shop. After lighting the cigarette John made his way to the door that lead out on to the street. The lights buzzed in the low fog that surrounded the building it was going to be a cool night John thought to himself. Stepping off the last step a silver hover car sped along the road, it rushed around the bend to hover up onto the pavement in front of him. The door hissed open. A hand reached out grabbing him from the pavement where he stood. The door slid shout and the car hovered off leaving just the cigarette butt burning on the floor.
                               **************************************
        Daylight lit the scene at the offices. The short guard stood outside looking down at the cigarette butt that sat there. He held a slim mobile phone to his left ear.
“Yes officer the professor disappeared last night. Yes it was all caught on the CTTV cameras,” He spoke to the policeman on the other end.
“When did all this happen, sir,” A crisp voice echoed around the walls.
“Last night officer,” He repeated.
“Why didn’t you tell us then?” The officer asked.
“We didn’t find out till this morning sir,” He replied.
“I’ll have someone out there right away,” The officer said.
                       **********************************************
           My day had started out badly and looked as if it was going to continue that way. Looking at the glass door to my office I saw the name Colin Lamb Investigator of missing persons; was that really me, I didn’t feel like it at the moment. My head thumped with a massive hang over from last night, why had I agreed to go to that stag do I’ll never know. I used the glass of the door to try and comb my hair down, but it insisted on staying untidy; it was a good job it was still short from my army days. Walking over to my office chair I slumped down into it forcing it to sink slightly. Taking out a tumbler from my desk draw I poured myself a hair of the dog. The noisy door swung open, I glanced up to see who had entered There stood my partner, Clive Thomas all six foot of him, his black suit clean and tidy, the hanky sticking out of his left pocket , his black shoes polished to with in an inch of their soles, black hair comb left to right with a neat parting.
“So what’s happing today, shorty?” Clive spoke in his posh voice looking down on me.
“Nothing right at this moment long-shanks,” I said.
“Looks like you had one to many last night?” Clive saw my pain.
“I’ll recover,” I said rubbing my head.
The door opened again letting two well built men walk into the office, both were wearing uniforms of the local police.
“Is Mr Lamb here?” I saw the tall one speak his name tag said Jim Smith.
“He might be. Who’s looking for him?” I replied.
“I’m Officer Smith from the local county police,” Jim spoke again leaving his partner to look on.
“I’m the man you’re looking for,” I replied looking at Jim.
“Good, we need your firm to help find a missing person,” Jim said earnestly.
“Why can’t you find him?” Clive asked.
“We need someone outside of the police, as we believe there’s someone on the inside trying to pay off witnesses,” Jim replied.
“What make’s this person so important that they’ve to be found?” I asked.
“He is a top scientist that has information that would make things bad in the world if it got out,” Jim replied.
Clive and I looked to the policeman that was speaking.
“That’s why we need an independent person to do the search,” Jim said.
“Where did this person go missing?” I asked.
“They took him from outside his offices in Cardiff, Wales,” He replied giving me a card.
“What was he researching?” Clive asked.
“All we can tell you is that it involved a gas that could act like a fog,” Jim shrugged not knowing if this was right.
“We have to find this person, is it a man or woman?” I asked.
“It’s a man. When you find him we don’t want him to fall into the wrong hands again, or you’ll go to prison,” Jim said.
“Are you going to pay us for this?” I asked.
“Pay! You might get some money from where he works from but that’s all,” Jim replied.
“You got a name we can have so we know who we are looking for?” Clive asked.
“Professor John Jones. He is 45 years old, has an ex with children, but lives on his own at the moment,” Jim replied.
“Thanks,” I said.
With that the two policemen left with out saying anything more. I picked the tumbler up tipping what was left.  “Clive you go to Cardiff to find out as much as you can about this John. I’ll stay here in London to do some research,”
“You won’t do anything stupid whilst I’m away?” Clive asked.
“No. You go on,” I replied.
          Clive left soon after the policemen had been leaving me in the office alone. I decided to go to the nearest public computer to find out as much as I could. Only to see that the papers, news screens and computer sites were running the story already.  I went to the nearest library to find an address for the scientist and what collage he went to, but every time I tried to access the information I got locked out. So I gave up when the local pubs opened and decided to go for a drink. That might help me think better.
              ***************************************************************
           Two weeks later I sat in my offices papers strewn across the top still waiting to hear from Clive in Cardiff. I had a slight head ache from trying to find out the lead. I was about to give up when the phone rang. “Colin Lamb speaking how may I help you?”
“I’ve located the car used in the kidnapping,” I heard Clive say on the other end.
“Clive that’s good news. Where is it?” I asked.
“Police found it dumped in verge two miles from Cardiff train station,” Clive replied.
“Great, can we get a look at it?” I asked.
“They insisted we look first before they start to process it,” Clive replied.
“I’m on the first train from London to Cardiff. I’ll reach you sometime this evening. Be at the station to meet me,” I said.
“Sure. See you later,” Clive replied.
 Replacing the receiver I picked up the hip flask that sat on top of my desk, which was engraved with my name and my ex-wife’s. I kept it has a reminder of better times.                    
                         Staggering out of the office in to the early evening air outside, I saw people giving me odd looks. It wasn’t anything I was wearing as I had my t-shirt that pronounced that I love beer and needed the nearest bar. My jeans were faded but there and done up. On my feet I had my trainers and socks. On my head I wore a hat that I had from my time in the army. None of this could be drawing their attention. So I shrugged and carried onto the taxi rank.
              Finding a black cab sat there I asked the driver to take me to the train station. Has I sat there I kept thinking of the easier jobs I used to do first. Like finding missing wives, husbands, children, there was also the odd pet or two. But a top scientist that was in a different league. I might get killed by some foreign party just as I found him. I quickly shoved this thought to the back of my mind has I entered the station to go aboard the train. The night had been warm, but it looked like there was some fog forming. It wouldn’t be bad if it was going to be there for a short time, but it looked like it was going to hang around for the whole morning.
                           The hover train slid to a halt at Cardiff station later that evening  leaving the train I found the platform to be very empty for that time of night, looking down to my digital watch I saw that it was only seven o’clock. I walked to the ticket box placing my ticket in front of the bored looking man who sat on the other side, he glanced from the paper he was reading, nodded then went back to reading. It was then that I noticed the headlines. The lead story was about the president of America coming to England for a visit. That intrigued me. But not enough to keep me there. I walked out of the station. I heard the train leaving as I stepped out side to the street. It was quiet there. No one seemed to be around.
           Looking at my watch again I saw that ten minuets had passed, and Clive hadn’t shown up. So deciding the walk would do me good. I started along the street slowly taking in some of the sights as I went along. Hearing footsteps behind me I glanced back to notice that someone was following me. Damn it I had forgotten to study a map of Cardiff town, and then at least I would’ve been able to loose them quicker. I stopped to see if I could still see the figure, but the fog was getting thicker, I might’ve even imagined this person following me. I was about to start walking again when a hover car pulled up along side me. Looking inside I saw that it was Clive driving. I opened the door and got in.
“About time to,” I said.
“Sorry, I had a phone call asking us to head for the police station,” Clive said.
“What for Clive?” I asked.
“They’ve some information on Professor Jones,” Clive replied.
 Looking out the car window I turned to Clive “It looks like this fog is going to last a week,”
“Don’t you think that it’s strange this fog has started here in Cardiff and the missing scientist is researching fog,” Clive said.
“I don’t think he would start here Clive,” I replied.
The car fell into silent all I could hear was the hum of the motor and the computer buzzing. Outside I could just see shop lights through the fog.
“We’ll reach the police station soon I think you had better tidy your self up,” Clive spoke for the first time in ages.
I glanced to Clive, and then back outside the fog seemed to be doing the conga dance in front of my eyes. Soon we reached the station where Clive parked the car up, and then we headed for the small reception office. The door hissed open. A tall slim police sergeant sat behind the desk. He looked up from the book he was reading.
“How can I help you two gentlemen?”  He spoke with a slight Welsh accent
“We were asked to report to Inspector Watkins,” Clive spoke first leaving me to look at the walls.
“What is it about sir?” John asked (I saw his name on the desk)
“Just tell inspector Watkins that Mister Lamb is here to see him,” I said.
The sergeant looked us over as he picked up the desk phone. I saw him speak to someone on the other end.
“You can go in,” John said after awhile.
 After he had pressed a button the side door opened. We walked in to the corridor just to the left of the reception room. On the other side there was another policeman who showed us to the Inspectors room.  There we found Inspector Watkins. He stood up and shook our hands firmly. “Hello Mr Lamb and Mr Thomas. Please sit down,”
Clive and I sat on the two swivel chairs that sat on the other side of the inspector’s desk.
“Why’ve you asked us to come here?” Clive asked
“We’ve reasons to believe the kidnappers of the Professor might’ve someone that is after you two as well,” Inspector Watkins replied.
“I thought I saw someone following me,” I said out loud.
“You could be right Mr Lamb,” Inspector Watkins said.
“Do you’ve any more information on Professor Jones for us?” Clive asked.
“I still don’t trust you enough to let you have any more than you already have,” Inspector Watkins replied.
“How can you not trust us?” I asked.
“There’s still a missing person that you need to find before I can trust you fully,” Inspector Watkins replied. The inspector looked at me with his steel gray eyes and made me shiver.
“How can we find out anything on him with so little?” Clive asked.
“Maybe you’ll find something on him, but make sure you keep us informed if you do,” Inspector Watkins said.
“Do you’ve any ideas where we could start?” I asked.
“Go back to the laboratory, yes I know you’ve been there already Clive,” Inspector Watkins said.
I looked to Clive. He shrugged his shoulders.
“So we go back there,” Clive said.
I stood shaking the inspectors hand as I did so. “Thanks for what you could do for us. We will be back when we find something,”
“Good. I will be here,” Inspector Watkins said.
 As we headed back to the hover car I saw the fog had turned really thick by now. “It’s a good job this car has got radar Colin,”
“Yes the fog is going to be a nuisance later on,” Clive replied distracted by something.
“What are you thinking about Colin?” I asked.
“Err, What? Oh! Nothing important Clive,” Colin replied.
                            *************************************************
                  Soon Clive pulled up outside the laboratory, it was a tall square glass building set in the middle of two others that where exactly the same. The only way you could tell the difference was with the name on the board. I went in first with Clive following, glancing around I soon found the security guard with his peek hat that hid his balding head.
“I’m Frank Smith, how can I help you two?” Frank asked
“I’m Clive Lamb and this is Colin Thomas we’re here to investigate the disappearance of Professor Jones,”
“Have you any Id please?” Frank asked.
I reached into my jacket pocket slowly. “Yes here is my wallet,”
 Frank took the leather wallet opened it so that he could see the plastic card within.
“Ok you may come in,” Frank said.
“Frank was you on duty the night Professor Jones was kidnapped?” Clive asked.
“Yes I was,” Frank replied.
“Did you see anything of what happened?” I asked.
“Not the kidnapping but I did see him leave his office. After that I had to take the lift up to the roof when the actual kidnapping must’ve happened,” Frank replied.
“Did the Professor seem different that night?” I asked.
“I didn’t see him long enough to say,” Frank replied.
“Can we see his office, if at all possible?” Clive asked.
“Follow me, don’t touch anything,” Frank said setting off.
 Frank led us from the doors to a short flight of steps upwards. At the top we took a short corridor to Professor Jones’s office. Frank went in first followed by Clive and me.
“Do you think we can have a look around on our own?” I asked.
“I’ll just be outside the door,” Frank said.
After he had stepped outside I glanced around. “Do you think Frank is involved?”
“No, I don’t think he would turn up for work if he was,” Clive replied.
The office seemed eerie but for the light it could’ve been a normal office down town. I saw that the professor had crammed a lot of things into such a small space.
“There’s some open files over here,” Clive said.
“Ok you look at them,” I went to the other side of the room.
Reaching the desk the professor used to write his findings on I noticed the top was covered with loose white sheets covered in doodles, next to them equations that he must have been working on at the time, then I spotted the newspaper. It had the headlines about the proposed trip of the American president Sarah James. The date of her trip and the fact she was coming to Wales all had been ringed for some reason. There was also a set of keys and a pipe next to the paper, when I saw a photo of the Professor. His young face and clear bright eyes looked as if it was to good a job for him. He could have been a film star with them looks.
“Have you found any reason the Professor should be kidnapped Colin?” Clive asked.
“Not yet, the only clues I’ve found out is this strange gas he was trying out. It looks like some sort of sleeping gas,” I replied.
Clive walked over to where I stood. “It doesn’t look like he had got it right yet,”
Glancing around the room I was puzzled by what Clive had just said. He was right the Professor hadn’t finished by a long shot.
“So why was he kidnapped Clive?” I asked.
“I don’t know Colin. There’s something wrong with this case,” Clive replied.
“There seems to be something missing from this case that’s very important to solving it,” I said scratching my chin.
“What do you think it could be Colin?” Clive asked.
“I don’t know, something doesn’t tie in,” I replied.
“There’s more loose ends than I care to think about Colin,” Clive said.
“I need a drink,” I said rubbing my head.
“Oh no you don’t. You need a clear head,” Clive said.
“Look! Don’t tell me what I need,” I snapped.
I turned to leave the office, and then I saw the map of Cardiff pined to chipboard on the wall. It was then I noticed a route marked out in red from the train station to the town hall.
“I thought you were going for a drink?” Clive snapped.
“I’ve changed my mind Clive,” I replied.
“What are you looking at?” Clive asked.
“Do you see this route marked out on this map,” I replied pointing out the map.
“So what about it?” Clive asked.
“What surprises me is that the Professor knows about it,” I replied.
“That would make him a target then, hang on though, how would he know the route and why?” Clive asked.
I stood there for a second thinking on what Clive had said.
“You’re right Professor Jones shouldn’t know about it. There’s nothing in the paper is there?” I replied.
“No this paper only shows the date and what she might be doing,” Clive replied.
“So where did he get this route from?” I asked.
Clive looked at me with a shocked expression. “That means there is an informant somewhere,”
“Yes it does.  I don’t think inspector Watkins even know about this,” I said.
Looking closer to the map I ran my finger along the route “This takes the president close to the castle then back towards the county hall,”
“That could mean someone could be waiting,” Clive said.
“Yes but what for?” I asked.
“They plan to kidnap the president,” Clive replied.
“Or?” I asked.
“Assassinate her,” Clive replied.
The office fell silent for a second or two has we stood there. I went out of the office where Frank led us back to the front door.
“Where next Colin?” Clive asked.
“We’ll have to go back to the police station,” I replied.
“Why there?” Colin asked.
“So we can find out who could be involved in choosing this route apart from the inspector,” I replied.
“You don’t think he’s involved?” Colin asked.
“It’s hard to tell any one could be involved,” I replied standing for a second outside glancing around.
“Come on Colin don’t just stand there,” Clive said.
“Don’t you think it’s odd?” I asked.
“What?” Clive replied looking at me from within the car.
“All this fog. Its sudden appearance just here tonight,” I replied.
“Colin fog is fog it come’s at any time,” Clive replied.
“Still very odd,” I said getting into the car.
“You don’t think the Professor is trying to use the sleeping gas?” Clive asked as he drove off.
“If he is I don’t feel sleepy,” I replied.
Clive headed for inner Cardiff police station.
“But if he was that mean he kidnapped himself,” Colin said.
                    ************************************************************
                As Clive drove deeper into Cardiff I noticed hover cars left in the streets haphazardly, at first Clive found it was easy to get through as there were few cars, but the nearer we got to the town the harder it was to drive, soon Clive  had to pull up due to the weight of cars.
“It looks like we have to walk Clive” Colin said.
“But what if it’s the sleeping gas?” I asked.
“To get anywhere we have to take that risk, anyway if it’s sleeping gas we would be asleep by now,” Clive replied.
Clive slowly opened his door, the fog drifted in. I sat there but felt nothing happening so I got out.
“How are we going to find the police station in this Colin?” Clive asked.
“Use the hand held navigator,” I replied.
Clive opened the boot of car and took out a small hand held computer. “It’s got the address programmed in now,”
“Good lets go,” I said.
Following Clive closely to make sure I could also see the small screen as we walked past the centre it seemed like a ghost town more than a thriving shopping area. Walking for sometime it seemed to me that we were getting no where; soon though the little dot on the screen told us we had reached the police station.
             On getting closer I noticed that the sliding door stood Open for some reason. I walked into the reception area. The sight that greeted me was one of chaos. Papers where strewn all over the floor. Behind the desk I saw the desk sergeant lay face down on the floor. He seemed to be asleep which seemed odd.
“Do you think this has something to do with the president’s trip?” Clive asked.
“Yes I do. But why are we not asleep,” I replied looking around to see if there was any clues but all there seemed to be was a mess. “What day is this visit Clive?”
“It’s Monday,” Clive replied.
“That’s today,” I said.
“What do we do?” Clive asked.
“What time is the president due?” I replied.
“I think she is due about two o’clock this afternoon,” Clive replied
“We’ve time to plan lets find a computer,” I replied.
Walking to the nearest room I noticed that it was six in the morning so I had to do some quick research. I sat there looking at the blank screen, pressed the switch to turn the computer on, then I felt my eyes get heavy. The next thing I knew the computer was on and the time was flashing one o’clock in the afternoon.
“So where do we go from here Colin?” Clive asked sleepily.
“Let’s start close to the police station,” I replied.
I stood up my feet felt like lead. We went outside.
Clive turned and asked “What will we use for transport Colin?”
“We’ll have to take a police car for now,” I replied.
“Won’t we get in to trouble?” Clive asked.
“We need away to get around,” I said finding one police hover car that was open and still had the keys in the starter. “This will do,”
Clive got into the drivers seat and started the car up. I switched the radar to see through the fog. Clive turned the powerful lights.
“Go west first towards the train station,” I said.
“Ok Colin,” Clive said.
Clive had only been driving for twenty minuets when I noticed something following us.
“Clive pull over for a second,” I said.
“What for Colin?” Clive asked.
“I think we’ve something following us,” I replied.
Clive pulled into the kerb. I watched as the blip to the rear did the same.
“Do you think it’s the kidnapper?” Clive asked.
“I don’t know, it’s hard to tell,” I replied.
“If it is, what do you think they want?” Clive asked.
“Us dead,” I replied.
“What now?”  Clive asked.
I looked back to see that the driver’s door had opened, a lone figure got out to head for some doors of a hotel we had parked next to.
“I’m going to see what is happening,” I said opening my door.
“Don’t be a fool Colin,” Clive said.
“I have to see who this is. You come in if I’m not back within twenty minuets,” I said.
I steeped out heading for the hotel. Just as I reached the doors a large figure came at me going full pelt grabbed my around the waist in a bear hug. I felt my breath been taken away slightly but had enough training to keep myself fully aware. With my free right hand I smashed my fist into the jaw of the masked person. They let go of me, staggered back but steady on their feet. The person’s fist hit my stomach. I reeled backwards puffing slightly. As I recovered I saw the figure enter the hotel. I followed slowly into the lobby. There was no sight of anyone around. My nerves tingled as I stepped farther in. The silence unsettled me, but I knew I had to do this. Glancing around, I saw some stairs heading upwards from the reception desk. To the right of the desk lay the lifts. None of them had been used. To the left a door lead into a bar room. I decided that I should take the stairs up to find him. My foot falls echoed around the large area as I walked.
                         Slowly making my way up the stairs I failed to see the light beam, which fired a gun. Everything happened in slow motion. I saw the tip of the bullet fly past me; hit my left shoulder just at the large knuckle bone, the force knocking me into the back wall spattering it with blood.  Pain shoot though my body, tears ran down my eyes. I feel to my knees. Looking down I saw the red splodge oozing out around my white shirt. At some point I would have to get seen to, and then I saw Clive enter the hotel lobby as I knelt there.  He gave me a quick glance. I signalled that I would be ok. Then I pointed up the stairs. I stood shakily to make my way more slowly up stairs again but this time I made sure it was clear by holding my gun at arms length to make sure there was no more beams to trip. Reaching the last few stairs I squatted down looking slowly over the top stair into the corridor ahead. I caught a glimpse of a figure slowly moving away from the stairs. I raised my gun, fired. The figure stumble but kept on moving   forcing its way into the nearest room. By this time Clive had reached the stair I was on. We made our way slowly to the room. Glancing around the open door I saw no one there so pushing the door fully open we went in slowly glancing around to keep everything in sight. The room was dull but my eyes soon adjusted to this, then I noticed the computers and papers that filled the room.
“I think we’ve found the kidnappers base,” Clive whispered.
The bed had been pushed right next to the wall so that a table with two chairs could face a computer. Looking at it I saw there was data running down the screen as the computer kept something working.
“Colin, I found the person we were following,” I said seeing a prone body close to the window.
It looked like they had rushed in, tripped over the loose edge of carpet catching the edge of the table with their head. Turning the person over I didn’t recognize him but this man might have been just helping.
“Someone knows how to run all this equipment,” I said.
“What part of Cardiffwould they pick the president up from?” Clive asked.
“Close to the castle,” I replied.
“That’s what I thought too,” Clive said.
“What time is it?” I asked noticing my watch had stopped.
“Its quarter to two,” Clive replied.
“I don’t think we’ll make the train station in time,” I said.
“What about this house close to the castle,” Clive asked.
“That looks good lets go and see,” I said.
Walking out of the hotel we went back to the police car. Clive drove slowly up the road to where the house.
“How will know if it’s the right one?” Clive asked.
“It could be the only one with more fog around it I suppose,” I replied.
“There is a house with all its lights on,” Clive slowed to point to one house.
“Great pull over,” I said hoping it was the place we needed.
Clive pulled to the kerb. The house had a large hedge growing around it, which made it easier for us to approach with out been seen, moving to where the gate was. Looking around the small twigs I saw a house standing in a well kept garden, light filled each room and there was a humming sound.
“Do you see anything Clive?” I asked.
“I can just make out what looks like four people in the front room,” Clive replied.
“Can we get around the back?” I asked.
“Let’s try,” Clive said.
 Silently I pushed the gate open, and then moved across the lawn. No one seemed to be looking out, this seemed too easy. Clive soon joined me.
“You have your gun ready Clive?” I whispered.
“Yes I have,” Clive replied.
 Reaching the rear door I looked in to see it opened onto the kitchen. There I saw a person sat to a table.
“What now?” Clive asked quietly.
“We go in,” I replied.
Testing the door knob carefully I found the door was locked. I looked in but no one had heard me. I indicated to Clive to force the door open. He stood up, kicked it hard with his right leg. The door burst inwards hanging off its hinges.  Clive rushed the four persons has they ran from the front room. Seeing him they dropped their weapons. I made my way to the person at the table on turning I saw that it was Professor Jones.
“So it was you all along,” I spoke first.
“Yes, I take it you want me to explain my self,” Professor Jones spoke in a light voice.
“Only if you want to. As you will have to tell the police when they come,” I said.
“Right,” Professor Jones stood, making his way to the fridge.
“It’s really simple really I was going to kidnap the president, then force all the governments into giving up their arms and gases. I wanted the world to be free of weapons,” Professor Jones spoke slowly sipping beer. “Then I thought why stop there. I would also ask for money in exchange for the president’s life. If no one paid I would kill her. What now?”
“You will be arrested. Most likely serve life behind bars for what you tried to do,” I said.
“I suppose that is right but if I behaved I might get out early,” Professor Jones said.
“What would you do when you got out?” Clive asked.
 Closing his eyes He looked like he was thinking. “Let me read you right. You want me to try to escape shooting me as I do so,”
I nodded my head.
Looking down at the carpet His eyes were dull and empty. “I would have no life in prison. Plus I think the government would want to talk to me a lot,”
“Yes,” I said.
“This would be a way out from all that?” Professor Jones asked.
“I think it would be the only way for you,” I said.
 Finishing the can off Professor Jones looked me in the eyes, crushed the can, and then threw at me. I ducked out of the way has he pushed the table on his way to the back door. I levelled my gun and fired.
Clive dashed into the room. “What happened?”
“He tried to escape,” I replied.
Clive looked down to the prone figure. “Come on Colin you need to be seen to,”
“What about the gas?” I asked.
“Finding the machine that made it out side I turned it off. So I think the gas will go now. The scientist from the M.O.D can have fun with it,” Clive replied.
“I need a drink. Let’s find a bar that might’ve some,” I said.
We left by the front door, outside things had started to improve. The sun was shining. For the first time I could do with a drink and still feel good.