GLAZE by Kim Curran Read Free Book Online

 
    ‘We have reason to believe that the NF are behind a series of high-level hacks. I would have thought that as a director of a multinational corporation,’ Lee says, playing Zizi’s own words back at her, ‘you would care about such things.’  
    He was right. Zizi did care. Only last month she’d ranted about how when she’d been a hacker they used to believe in something. About how they used to have manifestos and consciences. But now all they wanted to do was wreak havoc. She hadn’t been impressed when I asked what her old hacker buddies thought of her selling out and working for their biggest target. Glaze was the hacker’s holy grail after all.  
    ‘Why should we?’ Max says, stepping in front of Zizi. ‘Glaze is hacker proof. Now, if we can return to the issue at hand. The attempt to taser a minor, simply because she didn’t appear on your register... Well, that is not what we had in mind when we agreed to your request for assistance in this operation.’  
    So that’s why WhiteShield were there. The police had needed their help.
    ‘ Our request?’ Lee says, his eyebrows practically jumping off his forehead. ‘The way I heard it, it was WhiteInc who stuck their noses in. Now why was that?’  
    Max waves the allegation away. ‘Yet again, Detective Lee, you aren’t in possession of all the facts. Decisions like this get made way above your pay grade.’ And Max says it with exactly the right touch of disinterested superiority to suggest that every decision is made way above Lee’s pay grade. ‘Now, back to the issue at hand. While I appreciate all the fine work the Metropolitan Police Force does, it does concern me that your people can’t tell the difference between a dangerous criminal undermining society and a girl who isn’t old enough to be chipped. Perhaps if the Met agreed to full integration with the Glaze network everyone would be working with the correct data … ’ He leaves the sentence hanging.  
    ‘So everyone in the force could all be bombarded with useless information 24/7? We’re fine with the limited access we have, thanks.’ Lee’s hands clench around the rolled up tab.
    ‘Apparently not,’ Max says, nodding his head towards me. ‘Now, I really hope I don’t have to get a company lawyer...’ He leaves the sentence hanging again. WhiteInc employs the best and meanest litigation lawyers in the country. Max makes sure of it.
    Lee pats the tab against his leg, his knuckles white. Max has him rattled and he knows it.  
    ‘Right, Petri,’ Max says, turning away from the detective. ‘Look at me and tell me the truth. Are you a revolutionary bent on bringing down the social order?’
    I stand up and look him squarely in the eyes. Max says the eyes never lie. That to look a person in the face and lie goes against all that we are. Which is why he always insists on doing business face-to-face.  
    ‘I’m not a revolutionary,’ I say. ‘I don’t want to bring down anything. The only thing I want is to go home.’  
    ‘That’s good enough for me.’ He turns to look back at Lee. ‘Detective? Will that be all?’  
    The two men stare at each other. Max is taller than Lee, but he doesn’t have the detective’s bulk or youth. Not that it’s going to come down to a physical fight.
    ‘Do you think you’re above the law, Mr White?’ Lee says, the tendons in his jaw flinching.  
    Max pauses for the longest time, an amused expression playing about his face. ‘Not above it, no.’
    ‘Oh, so it doesn’t apply to people like you? Talk about the entitlement of privilege. Well let me tell you, Mr White…’
    ‘Do you know the true meaning of the word “privilege”, Detective Lee?’ Max says, cutting Lee off.  
    The detective hesitates, confused by this curveball.  
    ‘I didn’t think so. So few people have a classical education these days. Maybe you should look it up. Petri, let’s go.’  
    I stand up, programmed to follow Max’s instructions.