“Maybe not. But we do.”
Suddenly uncomfortable, Olly changed the subject. “What about this Tell’s flat?”
“Albion, bruv. They’re all over it. Even found the camera.”
“Shit.” That meant they’d know where Tell himself was soon enough. They wouldn’t be far behind him.
“It’s bare mad, fam. We got everyone talking every which way. Someone, Dalton maybe, or Sabine, sent strong word – sit tight and wait for further instructions. Meantime, we’re going through all that data you gave Bagley, trying to figure out where that drone came from.”
“Did you tell them…” Olly began
“That you were still running around? Nah. So far nobody but me has noticed you ain’t back yet.” Krish paused. “You’d best hurry though, yeah?”
“Why? Think they’ll be pissed off?”
“They already pissed off, fam. Shit’s about to go down.” Krish hesitated. “Stay chill, Olly. And if you find anything – I mean, anything…”
“I’ll contact you,” Olly said. He ended the call, finished his coffee, and started up the stairs again. He put his Optik away and fished out his stun gun. It hadn’t done him much good so far, but it might come in handy if Tell got stroppy. If he was even here. For all Olly knew, his quarry had already run again. If Olly were in his place, he’d have done the same.
But he hoped not. This was his only lead.
On the sixth floor, Olly crept slowly along the corridor, trying to make as little noise as possible. When he reached the door, he made to knock – only for it to swing open before he could touch it.
“Come in,” someone said, from inside.
Olly hesitated, trying to decide whether to run. An older man stepped into view, a revolver held confidently in his hand. “Do not run. Come inside. Quickly now, before someone sees.”
Olly swallowed and did as he was ordered. “Are– are you Marcus Tell?”
“If I am?” The old man closed the door and motioned for Olly to move through on into the kitchen. The flat was small, but classy. Like a photo from a realty company’s website.
“I…” Olly hesitated again. “Look, can you get the gun out of my face?”
“No. What do you want?”
“That depends.”
Tell – Olly was fairly certain it was him now – frowned. “Why were you in my flat? And where is your friend? Not attempting anything foolish, I hope.”
“We were looking for you. And no. She’s… she’s dead.”
“How?”
“A drone,” Olly said. He looked at the older man. “Just like the one that shot the guy who stole your Optik a few days ago. Remember him?”
Tell frowned. “I do. Come. Sit. You look done in. I will make some tea.” He lowered his weapon and gestured to a nearby table.
“Tea?” Olly said in disbelief. “We ain’t got time for a brew-up, mate. That drone is still out there.”
“Indeed. Do you have my Optik?”
Olly hesitated. “No. I lost it.”
“Then the chances of the drone finding us are slim. At least for the moment. Sit.” He indicated a chair.
Seeing no other option, Olly sat. He looked around. The décor was straight out of an old soap opera, like those his mum used to watch all the time.
“What is this place?”
“My flat. I have several. This is one.” Tell put the kettle on, then sat opposite Olly. He set the pistol down on the table. “You came after me alone?” He shook his head. “The folly of youth.” Tell tapped the pistol with a finger. “You are not the police. Nor are you Albion. A criminal, then?”
“No.” Olly paused. “Well, maybe?”
Tell smiled at that. “Ah. DedSec.”
“Yeah. You know us?”
“I know some things. You are revolutionaries?”
“Resistance, innit?”
“Same difference.” Tell’s smile faded. “I will not ask how you came to be on my trail. I will say it is possibly fortuitous. For the both of us.”
“What do you mean?”
The kettle whistled. Tell rose and turned it off. As he prepared their tea, he said, “Three weeks ago, I was… employed to assemble a number of improvised explosive devices. This I did. Now, my former employer wishes me removed from play.” He set a steaming mug down before Olly. “Builder’s, I’m afraid. Milk?”
Olly stared at him. “Just a drop. Go back to the bit about the explosives.”
Tell sat back down. “I assume DedSec would be interested in stopping said devices from performing their function?”
“You mean blowing up? Yeah, that sounds bad.”
“Excellent. I will tell you everything.”
“Really? I mean, that’s great and all.”
Tell was silent for long minutes. Then, “I am sorry about your friend.” He took a sip of tea and looked at Olly. “I would have no more ghosts on my conscience.”
Olly shook his head. He hadn’t been prepared for this. He couldn’t really say what he had been expecting, but not this. “Tell me,” he said, finally. “Start with your employer.”
“I do not know their name. They call themselves ‘Zero Day’. I suspect it is an alias.”
“You think?” Olly paused. “Why you?”
Tell smiled. “If you are here, I’m sure you’ve realised that Marcus Tell is not my real name. That the life I lead is not mine, yes?”
“These Zero Day people was blackmailing you,” Olly said.
“Even so. They told me that unless I served them, they would reveal my identity to certain parties who bear me no love.” Tell’s smile turned grim. “I was a revolutionary of sorts myself, back in the day. There are many who would see me dead.”
“And they wanted you to build bombs. Why?”
“That I do not know. I do not even know where the bombs are. Though I can guess.” Tell paused. “There were others involved. A courier, from the Kelley gang – working for Clan Kelley, I always suspected. And a supplier, Holden.”
“Holden?” Olly frowned. The name sounded familiar. Something Liz had said. “Bagley, you listening?” Tell raised an eyebrow at this seeming non-sequitur, but said
