21
Wallace’s mansion consisted of a series of interlinked one-storey units, the architecture all straight lines and right angles that somehow managed to work amongst the wooded backdrop. I counted a dozen guards in addition to the trio that escorted me to the front door, and assumed there were at least the same number in concealed locations. Wallace evidently took his security very seriously. We came to a halt at the door where the guard growled terse jargon into his mouth mike. After a short pause he nodded, handed me my smart and walked back to the trees with the rest of the escort. The door opened a few seconds later, revealing a tall dark skinned man who looked to be about sixty, meaning he hadn’t bothered with rejuve for a while now.
“Inspector McLeod,” he greeted me in a gravelly b
