Chapter 1

Gene Simmonds, CEO of Syntel Corporation, looked across the glass-topped desk at the two men seated opposite: Gordon Henderson, Operations Director and his deputy, Damian Hodges.

"So after smoke knows how many years Gordon, you've finally located the bastard that's caused us so much trouble?"

"We had an eighty percent positive from the surveillance grid," the Operations Director replied, a balding man in his late forties. "We recently obtained several images of him exiting an early model sport coupe with Elysian registration plates. Natalie ran it through City Records and we traced it to a residence in the west quarter."

"What action have you taken?" Simmonds demanded.

"After establishing that the whole family are in residence, we've stationed a recon team on the ground. There's no way he's going to slip through the net."

"I'm amazed that she's still alive. Make her disappear into thin air and let him wonder whether it's us. So long as there's any lingering doubt in his mind, he won't cut and run. We'll allow him to suffer for a while then put him out of his misery."

"You're going to leave him loose?" Henderson asked incredulously. "After all the time and effort it's taken us to locate him?"

"He won't go anywhere without her," Simmonds stated confidently. "When we eventually bring him in, we'll show him the consequences of his actions and make him truly sorry that he ever crossed us."

"What do you want us to do with her?" Hodges spoke for the first time, his tone conveying confidence in the presence of his superiors.

"Bring her here to the Facility. I've a fitting fate in store for her. When he eventually finds out what we've done, it'll break his fucking heart."

Hodges nodded solemnly.

A recent appointee to the team, Damian Hodges had been instrumental in finally tracing the subject. Installing the heuristic recognition algorithms within the central nexus of the surveillance grid had been his brainchild and there was no denying the results. Simmonds viewed the snappily dressed youngster and tried hard to think of a more suitable place in his organization for such a talented individual.

"You've done well."

"Just doing my job sir," he replied flatly, carefully disguising the feeling of smug satisfaction at the CEO's compliment.

Gordon Henderson scowled, aware that his years of toil on this particular task now counted for nothing. His protégé had already usurped his much-needed glory.

"Dismissed," Simmonds sighed, not even watching as his two subordinates withdrew to conclude his one unmitigated disaster.

Horns blared irately as Claire Savage cut viciously across two lanes of fast moving traffic and sped the SUV down the exit ramp of the city's orbital ring road.

"Mum," Hailey giggled as she peered out of the rear window, "the driver of that truck is making rude signs at us."

The children had crawled out of bed late forcing her to push the car to its limits to deliver them to school in time for first bell.

"If you'd got ready when I told you, I wouldn't have to drive like a lunatic," Claire chastised. "How many times this week is it?"

"It was Ruth's fault," Hailey protested, glaring mischievously across the back seat at her twelve-year-old sister. "She wanted to watch the Kelly J concert on the satellite."

"You wanted to watch it too," the younger of the two girls shot back indignantly.

"I don't know why I let you two stay up on a school night," Claire sighed. "It was spooling onto disk and you could've watched it at any time over the weekend."

"But it's not the same," the girls chorused.

Claire momentarily eyed the bickering pair in the rear view mirror before returning her attention to the road, concentrating on the task of navigating the remaining few kilometres to Cedar Valley High School. The girls did their utmost to test her patience. Despite that, she loved them unreservedly whilst conceding that they manipulated her without mercy.

The family had arrived back in New Arizona just three months previously. Before that, they'd lived for nearly four years in Elysia: an opulent enclave located on Oceania's eastern fringe. They'd eked out a meagre living amongst the rich and famous before a chance meeting with Jenna Hudson, the proprietor of the Parador Hotel. Her work as a chambermaid had brought in significantly more income than her husband Karl earned as an aerospace technician. It was mainly his unhappiness with her suspected extracurricular responsibilities that prompted him to return them to the land of his birth.

Despite her initial reluctance, she'd finally agreed to leave. She loved her husband more than anything else, remembering fondly their friendly banter over breakfast.

"See you later baby," Karl had teased as he'd departed for work.

She'd scowled and punched him playfully in the arm.

"I hate it when you call me that. It's so demeaning."

"I only do it to wind you up."

"I know you do honey," she'd replied, smiling in acceptance.

Breaking her reverie, the school crept into view and Claire pulled into a vacant parking bay.

At fifteen, Hailey was blossoming into a young woman. Her maturing body had already started to attract the attention of a bevy of male admirers. Long blonde hair and piercing blue eyes made her the epitome of modern youth: beautiful, intelligent and precocious.

By contrast, Ruth was dark-haired and gangling. She'd inherited her father's characteristics: quiet, thoughtful and introspective. Disregarding peer pressure, she resolutely refused to follow fad fashion despite attracting the inevitable derision of her non-conformity. Fortunately, the current school enforced a strict dress code policy that spared her the taunts and ridicule that had dogged her at previous schools.

Claire watched as the pair jumped out of the car and hastened over the flagged concourse, turning and casting their broad smiles before disappearing inside. They'd settled well into their new surroundings and already started to form new friendships, helping dispel some of Claire's misgivings about the prudence of the move.

With the day's first chore complete, Claire returned to the car and headed home to continue with the hectic life of housewife and mother. She drove at a more sedate pace, immersing herself in the journey and relishing how the vehicle responded to the slightest touch on the controls. Two months ago Karl had bought it for her thirty-fifth birthday, replacing the ageing relic that not even his engineering expertise could tempt into another moment of servitude. The SUV boasted a host of creature comforts that made it a joy to drive; cruise control, air conditioning and the latest fuel cell technology all combined to make the daily commute an almost pleasurable experience. She sighed contentedly, finally admitting to herself that the relocation from the coast was going to work out well after all.

As Claire neared home, she hummed happily to herself. She felt fortunate to have not only married the man that she loved but been blessed with two extra special children. Karl made enough money that they could live comfortably but part of her still longed for the affluence from their time in Elysia. Not only that, she was unaccustomed to having so much free time on her hands and was currently searching for a part time job to keep her mind active.

After much cajoling, Karl had finally acceded to her request to enrol in college. In three years, he could earn his engineering diploma and be eligible to apply for design jobs in his field rather than relegated to being just a 'knuckle dragger' as he often fondly referred to himself.

She drove down the quiet street on which they lived, waving through the window at the crouching figure of Kathy, their new neighbour. The pretty young woman was engrossed in tending to her flowerbeds and hardly noticed her presence. Yesterday, the woman had told her of the appalling abuse at the hands of her former husband and how much she now hoped for a life free from his influence. In all their years together, Karl had never come close to laying a hand on her. During her illness and traumatic recovery four years ago, his dedication and commitment had known no bounds.

The garage door opened automatically as the car rolled up the driveway. She parked, then entered the house through the interconnecting door. Once in the lounge, she powered up the plasma tank, projecting a three dimensional representation of a game show into the living space.

She casually flipped channels and happened upon a discussion on the failing fortunes of President Carlton. She'd hated the man from day one and was amazed when he managed to win a second term of office. Despite abysmal ratings, the pundits still favoured him for retention in the upcoming elections. The only member of the administration for whom she had any respect was Vice President Sam Weaver. In her view, he was a man of great integrity and more deserving of the top job rather than the almost impotent position that he currently held. She muted the sound and addressed the room.

"Malik, fifth symphony, third movement."

The soothing sound of strings softly filled the room from hidden speakers and restored her to a state of calm. She walked over to a small wall cabinet and extracted a squat silver flask from within. Pouring a generous quantity of the contents into a tall glass, she downed the foul smelling concoction in one gulp. The medication helped keep her illness in remission, but the children forever protested about its vile stench, pinching their noses closed and wafting the air in an exaggerated manner.

Collapsing onto the sofa, Claire savoured the feel of the soft leather against her bare arms and legs.

The house was a dream compared to the apartment in which they had lived when first returning from Elysia. No continual drone of outside traffic kept them awake at night and as far as she'd ascertained the current neighbourhood maintained a virtually crime free record.

The wall shelf held an ageing wedding photograph. A much younger Claire stared back at her, the adulatory expression that of a woman very much in love. Beside her, Karl's rugged profile effused confidence. Even now, his clean-shaven good looks valiantly resisted the ravages of time.

She looked across at her reflection in the mirror; sleek, well-toned curves and striking dark brown hair draped well below shoulder level. Admiring how well she was maturing, she quietly anticipated her first session at the local gym later in the week. I've got to keep in shape, she told herself, determined to avoid the slide into decline that motherhood often precipitated.

The doorbell drew her attention and she keyed the remote. The image of a tall red-headed woman replaced that of the political debate. Dressed in a smartly pressed trouser suit, she clutched a thick clipboard protectively against her chest.

"Hello?" Claire addressed the projection.

"City auditor, ma'am," the image replied. "We're doing registration for the Presidentials. I'll need your signature if you're going to be voting."

"I'll be right there," Claire replied fervently. "I can't allow that asshole Carlton in for a third run."

"No ma'am," the woman chuckled.

The front door responded to Claire's thumbprint against the lock, unlatching and swinging open to reveal the waiting official in the flesh. The woman had a photo ID hanging from a chain around her neck identifying her as Melanie Strauss.

"Where do I sign?"

"Right here, ma'am," the woman replied, passing the clipboard towards her and edging a step closer to point out the relevant areas of the form that she'd highlighted with a fluorescent marker pen.

After cursorily scanning the small print, Claire endorsed the marked boxes just as the woman slid nearer. Melanie's spare hand held a hidden device which she surreptitiously pressed into Claire's midriff.

Claire's world exploded into pain. She staggered backwards to escape but the woman expertly followed her, applying the sharp metallic instrument against the base of her neck. Bright lights filled her vision momentarily, and then a blanket of dense fog descended as she spiralled into darkness.

At the end of a long and gruelling day, Karl Savage responded to his pager and hurried to the shift supervisor's office. He believed he'd settled well into the new job but still held concerns that someone found fault with his work.

"Problems boss?" he asked as he stood nervously before the man.