Read Provenance I - Flee The Bonds for Free Online

was a shiny horseshoe moustache, the way he stroked it, the most disturbing.
    Twelve years ago, Celbrohn’s in-laws had sold a successful chain of restaurants to a Continuity Baron, although not by choice. For six generations of investment and twenty-eight restaurants, they’d received two thousand credits and a five-thousand credits capital gains demand. Celbrohn had married into wealth and joined Continuity. He was still Continuity, but no longer affiliated to the plutocracy who profited from it.
    The corners of Penny’s mouth strained upwards. ‘Hello, Uncle. I didn’t expect to see you.’
    ‘Why? Didn’t you think I could afford to eat here?’
    Steve felt Penny’s hand ball under his. ‘You know that’s not what I meant.’
    Celbrohn dismissed her with a hand flick. ‘Enjoy your meal.’
    Throughout the brief exchange, Celbrohn had ignored Steve, as he had done during each of their previous encounters. Penny’s head drooped.
    Steve squeezed her hand. ‘Forget it, Pen, he’s always the same.’ Before she could respond, the food arrived.
    The meal was excellent, and the melting chocolate pudding had the desired effect. Penny’s playful smile returned, the one he’d fallen in love with three years before.
    They timed their exit to coincide with Celbrohn’s absence from his table. Outside, the lazy afternoon sun added to their relaxed mood. As Steve passed a window, he peered in. Celbrohn’s chair remained empty.
    ‘Hold up, Pen, I need the loo.’
    ‘Why didn’t you go while you were in there?’
    ‘Sorry, won’t be long.’
    Steve walked back into the Blue Boar and turned left.
    A myriad of recessed spotlights reflected off chrome fittings and glazed white tiles. On his left, a line of basins sat opposite the cubicles. He flicked on a tap and took out his MCD. An Advocate’s Mutable Control Device did more than pay restaurant bills.
    He tapped the screen. This wasn’t the first time he’d passed Celbrohn’s biofield through CONSEC’s Continuity Protection Files. As usual he found nothing, and as usual that surprised him. The only member of Celbrohn’s family who didn’t have a CPF against them was Penny. Steve had deleted it.
    A toilet flushed.
    Celbrohn didn’t make it to the door. Steve spun around; grabbed the camel leather jacket’s lapels and threw Celbrohn up against the tiled wall.
    With one foot jammed against the door he studied Celbrohn’s incredulous face, ‘It’s very simple, don’t ever upset Penny again.’
    Celbrohn’s head arched back, red heat crept up his neck and flowed into the crevice of a sneer. ‘Or what?’
    Steve released his grip and straightened Celbrohn’s lapels. ‘Or the next time we meet, you won’t see me.’ He left Celbrohn glued to the wall and walked out.
    Penny had made it as far as the second shop, ‘Better?’
    ‘Much thanks.’
    The black and silver patrol car screeched to a halt before they’d reached the fifth shop. Doors opened and slammed shut.
    ‘Hey, you!’
    Penny’s face wilted; her body shrank. ‘CONSEC.’ She looked up, desperate eyes searching his, ‘What did you do?’
    Steve held her shoulders and smiled. ‘Nothing. Wait here, I’ll sort it.’
    Her face solidified. ‘No, you won’t. He’s my Uncle.’
    Steve increased the pressure. ‘Please, Pen. Having both of us there will only make it worse.’ Impossible in fact .
    Two Defenders waited by the patrol car. Celbrohn stood nearby, stroking his greasy moustache.
    Steve stopped two metres away.
    ‘Good afternoon, officers.’
    They wore the slate-grey tunics, black epaulettes, and utility belts of CONSEC Grey. On their left chest pockets, sunlight glinted on the CONSEC badges’ four steel rings. The black diamond patches on their left arms carried a bronze number; Barlton came under the jurisdiction of District 7.
    Celbrohn stabbed a finger at Steve, ‘That’s him. That’s who assaulted me.’
    The bronze chevrons pinned to the mandarin collar of the right-hand