Chapter 26

Dan had gone back to work as normal. This world did not acknowledge the existence of stress or PTSD. He told Martin about the attack on the party and they considered the implications of it. Both of them knew that Bertie was somehow involved. He had known about the party and about the existence of the gas.

The party at Eric McBride's house had been talked about, but it was only to be used as a possible way to overhear government secrets. The deaths of the soldiers at the army base had been spoken about as an example of what the OWG was capable of. It seemed that Bertie had taken these two pieces of information and turned them into a deadly assault.

Martin listened as Dan told him about the conversation he had overheard. There had been an attack at an army base and something dangerous had been stolen.

"A bomb went off during the raid. Bertie is a clever lad. He could certainly work out how to make an explosion."

"So, he went in and stole the canister" Martin had come to the same conclusion as him.

Bertie's actions had revealed a number of things. He knew how to make a bomb. He had no compunctions about killing for his cause. He had known that Dan was at the party and he had no worries about killing him and his wife either. They had known he was committed to bringing down the OWG and now they had seen how ruthless he was.

Dan was angry about Bertie's actions. The rebel had, in effect, tried to kill him and his in laws. The information that he had passed on had not been used to campaign peacefully against the OWG. It had been used for murder. He was now indirectly responsible for the death of his mother-in-law, Sarah.

He could not imagine how Eric and Sam would react if they found out that he had been involved with dissenters. The very dissenters whose attack had killed people. And then there was Phyllis. How would he ever tell her that her son had murdered his wife's mother. Dan's house was a powder keg ready to explode if any of his secrets were revealed.

Dan would not be attending the next meeting of the leadership group. Eric was staying with them for a few days and a police car had been stationed outside of his house. Martin would have the job of telling them what had happened at Eric McBride's party. He was going to suggest that they disband for a while until things calmed down.

Both Martin and Dan were concerned about what Bertie might do next. The attack had not been reported in the newspapers, so they were unsure of what he knew about the results of the assault. He might not know that Dan was still alive or how many had been killed. The information would leak out bit by bit and once he knew that Dan was still around what would he do then?

It was conceivable that Dan would want revenge on Bertie and might go looking for him. Martin had asked him if that was what he intended to do. For the short term, Dan was going to lie low. The focus of the police and the army were on his family and he could not step out of line in any way. If he saw Bertie again, he was quite sure that it would result in violence.

He was wondering about Serena's role in all of this. Dan did not think that she would have sanctioned Bertie's attack. He guessed that she had been kept in the dark about his plans. The smashing of the window and the throwing of the canister was a, one man job. It was likely that Bertie had acted alone.

Did Serena think that he was dead? Was she mourning for him? He was fairly sure that under the circumstance he would never see her again. He hoped that she was no longer affiliated with Bertie and his group and had found somewhere safe to live. He could not give her any more thought. That part of his life was over.

The children were bemused about the adults in the house being so sad all the time. Grace had more of an idea what was happening because she was older. Alex would be quiet when Sam was upset often moving to her and patting her hand as if to comfort her. Phyllis was the one who helped them all the most. She prepared food, shopped and cleaned with the minimum of fuss. Dan had even seen her hugging the usually icy Sam.

He thanked her several times a day for the way she had looked after his family. Phyllis said it was her job, but she had gone above and beyond to help them begin their recovery. His heart ached when he looked at this marvellous, kind woman whose son was a murderer. He hoped that she would never have to find out what her son had done.

Dear Daniel,

Sorry if this letter is badly written but I have very little time. I'm sure that you know that I had no idea what Bertie was planning to do. None of it. He went off after the last time when we met at the house in the labour zone near your town. He did not tell me or anyone else where he was going.

I have now learned that he made a raid on the army base in Wiltshire. He had been experimenting with explosives for years and he had a stock of bombs hidden in various places ready to use. He also has groups of people all over the country ready to do whatever he asks.

He went to the base and he set off one of his bombs. The explosion sent dozens of nails flying through the air and two soldiers were badly injured. How could he invent and use such a thing?

There was no real news about what he had done for some time. When I found out I was shocked. I wanted to get away from him, but that has not been possible. He keeps me close to him and I am like a prisoner. I fear that he saw us kiss and that he didn't like it. He said he was glad that you had not died when the news came through, but he didn't look happy.

I am terrified about what he will do next. That was not the only canister of gas that he stole. He has another 27 of them and having killed once I know that he will not hesitate to do so again.

I hate the OWG and what they do. I realise though that if we kill with the gas we are as bad as them. This is not what I want so I am sending you this information in the hope that you can think of some way to stop Bertie before he kills more people.

We are constantly on the move and I don't know where we are a lot of the time. If there is any way that I can let you know our location I will do so.

I apologise for putting this burden on you but I do not have anyone else who can help. I know that you will feel the same as me and want to stop him.

Take care of yourself.

Love Serena.

The folded piece of paper had been pushed into his hand as he left work and headed for his car. He had driven away from his office and then stopped in a quiet road before he had opened it and read its contents. His hands were shaking when he read the part about Bertie having another 27 canisters of gas.

The ministry must have known almost straight away that the lethal gas was missing. They must be searching frantically for those responsible and the stolen gas. The secrecy around the whole event meant that Dan would not know if the OWG had found Bertie, or if he had used any of the other canisters.

He thought back to the night when he had kissed Serena. Bertie had appeared out of the darkness and the look on his face had been one of annoyance. He was a young man given to having a serious aspect or a scowl so Dan hadn't particularly registered his look. It seemed now that he had not liked Dan becoming close to Serena.

That had added another layer of guilt about Sarah's death. Had Bertie been convinced to target the party with the thought of killing Dan as well as hitting the establishment? When he went home that night, he could barely look at his family knowing that his actions had played a part in the tragedy which had befallen them.

Eric had moved back into his large house more as an act of defiance than because he wanted to. He would be alone, apart from the servants, in the big space which would surely magnify his loss. He resumed his role in the government with work being his refuge from the feelings he could not display.

Sam was at least getting out of bed and getting dressed now. Dan was encouraging her to get out of the house. He suggested that they go out in the car with the children, but she said no. She was paranoid about being anywhere other than in her home. Hopefully this was a temporary thing.

Dan felt like a horrible man as he looked at his wife. She had lost her mother and suffered a terrible trauma. He tried to be sympathetic but she was hysterical a lot of the time. This, added to her usual anxiety, waspishness, bitterness and spite, made it difficult to tolerate her moods let alone empathise.

He thought about the other Sam and her reaction to the loss of her baby. He had found that hard to fathom, but it was minor compared to this Sam. Dan focused on his children trying to ensure that they were not dragged into the drama which surrounded them. Phyllis was there to look after them and give them the things they needed, discipline as well as hugs and fun, when he was at work.

He had stuck close to home in the last two weeks but he had to get away for a break. Dan telephoned Martin and they arranged to meet. He needed to discuss the letter he had received from Serena with his friend. Knowing about the other canisters meant that he had to make some big decisions about what he would do next.