Read Online Onekka - The Tragedy of Jaqui Fennet by Michael E Bell - Free Book Online Page B

call me, we need to meet.
Hurry!"

The screen went blank, leaving Jaq with her thoughts. Her first reaction was
that it smelled like a trap. Had DePennier planted Helen to draw Jaq out,
entice her to confess something?

You're paranoid, Jaq.

She closed her eyes, suddenly finding thought impossible. When the very walls
seemed to be pulling in, pulsating in time to her heartbeat, she knew it was
time to hide the world. Sure enough, in the self-imposed darkness, she was able
to calm her breathing and look at things as rationally as possible.

Was this a trap? Perhaps - DePennier had shown he had no qualms about using and
abusing Helen's mind. Jaq replayed Helen's message in her head, studied the
haggard features, the terror in the eyes. That was genuine, and Helen had
proved in the past she knew, or at least suspected, that her memory had been
fiddled with. That meant, surely, she would be less responsive to more invasive
suggestion. Jaq was fairly sure Helen was not involved.

Most importantly, though, Helen could be an accomplice. As this thought
burgeoned in her mind, Jaq saw a way forward. She'd been stuck, unable to
proceed with the office a crime scene, just waiting to be caught. Now, there
was something she could do.

Opening her eyes, she moved to the comm unit. From the look of her, Helen would
not be at work today. Time to find out what was going on.

*

"I'll have a coffee, please," said Jaq to the waitress in the park
cafe. No computerised table menus here - something for which she felt very
thankful. The 'outside' environment extended to a light breeze that ruffled
leaves on the surrounding trees and bushes, and played with the hair of diners.

Across the table, Helen sniffed productively. Her hands were shaking as though
charged with electricity and her hair, despite some apparent effort, looked
like an overcrowded bat sanctuary. "One double Espresso, an Americano with
an extra shot, and two energy bars."

Jaq caught the waitress' arm as she scribbled. "Make that a camomile shake
for my friend, please."

The waitress nodded and departed, and Helen gave Jaq a shaky look, her eyes so
wide there was white all round. "You think that's best? I feel exhausted.
I need the energy."

"What you need is a week in bed," said Jaq with a smile. Not to
mention a break from having your head messed with. "What's the matter,
Helen? You're a wreck."

Helen glanced around before talking, and then leaned forward across the small
table so she could whisper. "It's DePennier, I think. It can't be anyone
else."

"What's he done?"

"I had memory gaps. Things ... Things didn't make sense, Jaq. I have clear
knowledge of what I did three weeks ago, but nothing for two weeks after. It's
not the first time. I ... I think I see things I shouldn't, and DePennier
rectifies the breach. My doctor told me it was trauma; that my brain locked off
the memories to protect me, but I wasn't sure."

Jaq smiled in what she hoped was a sympathetic manner. "That would make
sense once, but not if it's happened a lot. Helen, we had a conversation right
after I was laid off. We spoke about my access rights. Do you remember
that?"

Tears bounced from the woman's cheeks as she stared at Jaq, her fingers curled
beneath her jaw. Clearly she had no idea about the conversation. What a
poor, used soul she is.

"I don't think you have a natural problem, Helen. I think this was done to
you."

Helen nodded her head emphatically, sending her wild curls bouncing. "I
know now, Jaq. I've been a bad girl." She sniggered and covered her grin
with a nervous hand, then rolled her eyes conspiratorially. "I looked at
the files I shouldn't know about. There's loads of them in a hidden folder on
the system. Personnel files, listing everyone aboard Onekka and their profiles."

"Profiles?" Jaq wasn't sure she wanted to know.

"Psych evaluations, behaviour mapping, that sort of stuff, and erm ...
what they call corrective treatments."

Jaq sighed. She'd read about cutting edge medical