Interlude Forty-Eight: Dr. Sarah Palmer (Patreon)

Sarah knocked at the cottage door.

The grey-haired woman who opened it burst into a smile. “Sarah! Merry Christmas! We didn’t expect you for a couple of hours!”

“Merry Christmas, Aunt Caroline,” Sarah smiled. “I made good time. The Farnborough to Nottingham route was almost empty.”

“Come on in, dear, and let’s get you out of the cold.” Her aunt led the way to the warm kitchen, the scent of cake a welcome balm. “Your cousin and the children will be another hour, but we can have a hot cup of cocoa while we wait.”

“Actually, I’d like to catch up with Uncle Edgar first. If that’s okay.”

Caroline raised an eyebrow. “I take it this is official?”

“He asked me to do something for him a while ago.”

“He’s upstairs. Don’t push him too hard, he’s on a liquid diet and the drugs make him irritable.”

“I’ll be careful.”

Sarah left her aunt humming in the kitchen and climbed up the stairs to her uncle’s study. As far back as she could remember, it had been one area of the house which was off-limits, not only to her but also to her cousins.

Her knock was answered by a familiar gruffness. “Enter.”

“You’re looking good, Uncle Edgar.”

Edgar Curry, General, Royal Army (retired), waved his niece to a chair. “I know better than that, girl. We still have mirrors in this house.”

“How’s the chemo working?”

“My hair’s still not fallen out, so it seems the new drugs are more effective. Prognosis is good. How’s work?”

“Better than expected. Belessar opened up to us a few weeks ago.”

Curry grunted. “Stupid of him. What did you learn?”

“Way more than we expected. I’ve a detailed report here.” She handed over a notebook.

“Paper?” mused Curry with a grin.

“I’m not putting any of this into digital form. Once you’re done reading, burn it.”

“That dangerous, huh?”

“It included a detailed explanation of Belessar’s powers, how they work, what his limitations are, and explanations behind most of the anomalies we’ve observed. In the wrong hands, it could be disastrous.”

She sat quietly for a while, watching as her uncle leafed through the pages. She could tell from the widening of his eyes whenever he ran across a particularly juicy section.

At one point, he exclaimed, “Brain tissue? Seriously?”

“Diseased brain tissue works too. And he’s got a source now.” She explained about Honoria.

“Most of the ingredients in these ‘blueprints’ make very little sense.”

“Keep reading.”

Fifteen minutes later, he closed the book. “You are right. This needs to be classified, as high as it gets. You couldn’t have put it together sooner?”

“It took me a while to put it into a form that made some sense.”

“I don’t blame you. You’re sure Belessar suspects nothing?”

“He’s too trusting, frankly. He hired a man off the exhibition grounds because the guy was from his hometown.”

“I heard that through other channels. A Mr. Paul Drake.”

“He’s some sort of union leader in America. I haven’t the foggiest why Belessar prefers him.”

“Be careful of the man,” said Curry.

“Why?”

“MI5 did an investigation when we heard. According to U.S. federal records, Drake is a widower with a single teenage daughter.”

“You had MI5 investigate him?”

“We’re keeping an eye on everything that happens at Farnborough. A new hire definitely calls for our attention.” Curry paused. “What’s interesting is that the federal records don’t match the Tanisport city records.”

“Beg pardon?”

“According to Tanisport city - and school administration - records, Paul Drake has a son. A nineteen-year-old by the name of Andrew.”

“He didn’t come with them on the trip?”

“We checked border control. No entry visas for Andrew Drake.. Nor for Paul or Anne Drake, either. They traveled transatlantic without exit stamps in the US or entry stamps in Britain.” Edgar Curry cocked his head. “Don’t suppose you have an idea how that might have happened.”

“The portal,” said Sarah. “Belessar has access. He could have brought them over one night….”

“And taken them to a safe location, to attend the fair.”

“Then the whole act at the Convention - to deflect our suspicions.” She swallowed. “I have to tell Gideon.”

“You’ll do no such thing. We do not want to tip him off, understand? You’ll have to forget you heard his name.”

“Why are you telling me this anyway?”

“How does he introduce Nanocloud?”

“As his sister…” Sarah trailed off. “Bloody hell. That chatty teen prancing around in the convention was Nanocloud.”

“And Belessar’s true name is Andrew Drake,” replied Curry. “Graduated Everard High last year, one year of actual schooling and the rest homeschooled, a 3.9 GPA and excellent reports from all his teachers. Ignored their advice to pursue a college degree; last known occupation, unemployed, but hasn’t applied for benefits. Narrowly avoided murder charges last year when four men broke into his house, justified on grounds of self-defence.”

“... somebody broke into Belessar’s house.”

“It was before he got famous. He killed all four assailants in hand-to-hand combat; one of them had a gun. Also … their mother was killed in a shootout with the Grunters.”

“That explains a great deal.”

“There’s more, of course. Paul Drake was an office-bearer in a union in Tanisport; got injured during the August 2080 attack, lost his job, benefits suspended for unknown reasons. And yet, the family seems to be doing okay financially. Fixed up the house, cleared medical bills with no debt – an impressive feat considering the American healthcare system. I’d say we have a significant weight of evidence.”

“You’re not just telling me this to be careful of Belessar’s dad, I suppose.”

“He told you some things about his powers. He didn’t tell you about getting his father hired.” Edgar Curry stared directly into his niece’s eyes. “Do you still think he trusts you?”

Sarah swallowed.

“I’ll wager that there’s at least twice as much about his powers he hasn’t told you,” Curry continued. “Fortunately, you have the best possible source right there.”

“His father.”

“His father, I’m guessing, knows more about his powers than anyone else. Come up with reasons to involve him in the research. See how he reacts. And figure out what Belessar is not telling us.”