Read Interface: A Techno Thriller for Free Online

a small frown crossing his face. "Hell of a first day. How are you feeling?"
    "Like I've got a very sore head. Only just woke up."
    "What happened exactly?"
    "I was enjoying the view from my office and then... I guess I fell and hit my head. I'm not sure how." Tom sat up a little in his bed. "Does the head of HR turn up every time a CERUS employee is in hospital?"
    Marron gave a broad smile. "You're a new member of our team, and we want to make sure you're OK. I know we're a big operation, but everyone's important." He leaned forward. "Especially those on the top floors."
    "I'm sorry to have caused a fuss."
    Marron pulled the privacy curtain into place. "Tom, let me be honest. We've had enough bad press about the building already; the last thing we need is some story about a design fault causing an injury. You didn't trip on a rug or something, did you?"
    "Nothing like that."
    "I don't mean to pressure you. I just like to manage issues for Mr Bern before they become problems." Marron interlaced his fingers. "What did they say is wrong?"
    Tom blinked. "The doctor ran some tests, but nothing came of it."
    "Well, that is good news." Marron looked around with a slight furrowing of his brow. "But this place doesn't have the time or money to spend digging too deep. Tell you what, why don't we get you checked in to somewhere a bit more agreeable?"
    "I'm not on the company health insurance yet. Haven't done the medical."
    Marron waved a hand. "Don't worry about that. The company needs you at a hundred percent. Remember what I said during the interview: the future of the business depends on people like you." Marron patted Tom on the shoulder. "I promise, once you're finished at the place I'm sending you to, you won't know yourself."

TWELVE

    BERN HAD BEEN IN THE back of the van for more than an hour. There were no windows, so he wasn't sure the hood was completely necessary, but the team of bodyguards had been politely insistent. At least the seats were comfortable.
    The bodyguards had ignored his repeated attempts at conversation. Eventually he had given up and sat back, with nothing to listen to but the rattle of the engine and the grinding of the suspension, and with continual changes of direction he quickly gave up trying to work out where they were going. Finally he heard the handbrake being engaged and the van came to a stop. Then the hood was pulled from his face and he was guided out.
    He was inside a large, apparently disused warehouse, amongst rusting machinery and piles of rubbish. In front of him was something very large and angular covered in dust-sheets.
    "Good morning, Mr Bern," said a voice from above: a Russian accent, laced with overtones of Eton. "My apologies for the manner in which you were brought here. I prefer to stay under the radar for certain meetings."
    A man, probably in his late fifties, walked down a set of metal stairs from the gantry above. He wore an immaculate pale suit. Two large men walked behind him, also wearing suits, although they looked more like their choice of clothes was an order rather than a choice. There were four other men, similarly attired, standing by the doors.
    "Viktor Leskov, I presume?" Bern asked.
    The pale-suited man reached the bottom of the stairs and extended his hand. "It is good to meet you. I've followed your career with great interest, but I did not think we would ever do business."  
    Bern shook the hand firmly. "Mining was never an activity we had much to do with, although my broker always said it was a good investment. But I hear you've diversified."
    "I like to think that my other areas of interest are also good investments." Leskov pointed to a rough table and chairs. "Let's talk." He snapped his fingers and one of the large men produced a flask and cups, pouring hot, black coffee for them.  
    "Bradley briefed me on your discussions to date. He said you need a new kind of system interface."
    Leskov gestured to one of his men, who reached into a case and placed a