John Steel Collection - Books 1-3

Chapter 8

John Steel woke early. The reoccurring nightmares had woken him around four in the morning. He had showered and changed into a black suit from London and a black shirt and tie. His shoes were from Oxford. Steel preferred to dress all in black. He was in mourning, or possibly because he just liked the colour?

Steel poured a mug full of the Jamaican roast coffee and gazed out of the window.

The night before, Steel had gotten a text that he was meeting with the manager at seven o’clock. It was going to be an interesting meeting, that was for sure. He looked at his watch. The hands of his old army watch said it was nearly six o’clock. It would take him at least half an hour to get to the Whitehall offices.

John Steel finished his coffee, headed over to his front door, and put on a pair of military wraparound sunglasses. He decided not to wear the contacts because they irritated him too much, which he would have to bring up in the meeting.

Luckily, Steel’s firm had a technical wing, and his tech support guy was on the case. Steel had asked for smart glasses, preferably with a different range of optics, such as night vision or at least heat signature, and also some better contact lenses. Steel didn’t think it was possible, but it might just work with the leaps in technology.

As he left his suite and caught a taxi to Whitehall, his thoughts returned to Barryman. He gazed out of the window at the houses and people. Steel liked the feeling of normality that the city brought. It was fortunate that the people never knew how many times their lives had been saved without knowing it. What was the saying? ‘Ignorance is bliss?’

Half an hour later, John Steel was walking through the main doors of the MI8 offices.

He said his good mornings and skipped going to his office. Instead, he made his way directly to the CO’s office.

Steel had been ushered directly into the CO’s office. There was no time for friendly chit-chat with Miss. Monday.

Steel took one of the two chairs that sat in front of the CO’s desk. The other was already occupied by the man known only as Staff.

Staff‘Contacts giving you hell again?’ CO asked.

‘Yes, sir, but I have the tech department on it,’ Steel said.

CO nodded thoughtfully.

‘So, they got to Barryman first?’ CO said. His voice was deep and gravely.

He reminded Steel of Churchill.

‘Yes, sir, I’m afraid so,’ John Steel replied.

CO nodded as if to confirm what was being said. ‘Damned shame. A good man. He worked with your father. In fact, they were the ones who got MI8 approved by the PM,’ CO said.

‘Really, sir. I didn’t know that,’ Steel said. His tone was emotionless. As though he didn’t actually care.

CO looked up at Steel with stern eyes. ‘Tell me you have something, Major?’

‘It would appear that our old friend Santini is in New York, Manhattan, to be precise,’ Steel said, passing the files.

CO found the photo of the woman. ‘Do we know who she is?’ CO asked.

Steel shook his head. ‘No, sir. She has no record, so Interpol and every other database had come up empty. So, she doesn’t seem to exist on paper,’ Steel said.

CO continued looking through the notes and files that Barryman had collected together. Information that had cost him and his family dearly.

‘I take it you want to go to New York. Try your luck there?’ CO said.

Steel could see the glint in CO’s eye. The man had already known Steel’s answer. In fact, it wouldn’t have surprised Steel if the man had already ordered a cover story and a plane ticket for Steel before he had even gotten up that morning.

‘Have you ever been to New York before Steel?’ CO asked.

Staff remained silent and took notes. A possible requirements list of mission necessary equipment.

‘Once, sir, on holiday,’ Steel replied.

CO nodded again. ‘Know anything about the NYPD?’

‘I know they’ll be upset if they find I’m pissing in their pond, as it were,’ Steel replied.

‘Quiet. That is why you’ll be joining them. We’ll get a cover story ready and everything. Go over and get settled. We’ll contact you with the details once everything is in place. Just try and stay out of trouble until then, will you?’ CO said. ‘go home and pack. Miss Monday will phone you once the flight has been arranged.’

Steel eased himself out of the Chesterfield armchair. ‘Understood, sir,’ Steel replied, then left the office.

‘Do you really think he will stay out of trouble, sir?’ Staff asked.

‘No, in fact, Staff, I’m counting on it. Let those bastards know we are coming for them,’ CO said.

Staff nodded. ‘Right then, sir. I better start making some calls,’ Staff said and left the room.

‘Miss Monday, I need you to make some flight reservations for Major Steel. JFK, one way, then get me the Foreign Secretary on the phone.’

‘Yes, sir, right away.’

By the Time John Steel had gotten back to his penthouse to pack, a man had waited patiently at his door.

‘Morning, Tom,’ Steel said.

‘Morning, Sir,’ Tom Edison said. Tom was a tall, slim man with thick brown hair which held no discernible style. He was in his late thirties but looked more like he was in his early twenties and acted as if he was.

Tom Edison was one of the many technical engineers of his Steel family’s company. However, most of the work that Tom did was for Steel personally.

‘What do you need, Tom?’ Steel asked, slightly confused by the visit.

‘I got the things you wanted,’ Tom said, tapping a metal briefcase that he held close to his chest.

Steel shot Tom a curious look. ‘What things?’ Steel asked as he opened the front door and let Tom enter first.

‘The glasses and the contact lenses, as well as a new phone,’ Tom said proudly.

Steel stared at Tom in amazement. ‘How? I only asked for them last night?’ Steel said.

Tom shrugged sheepishly. ‘It was something I had been working on for the military and MI6 anyway, but they didn’t want it. Apparently too costly. So, I broke it down from visors down to sunglasses and contacts. Although you haven’t got half the tech, the visor would have not in that time frame anyway,’ Tom said.

Steel nodded. ‘So, what do I have?’

‘Night vision, but the range is only fifty feet. Thermal, but that is only ten feet,’ Tom explained. You have a HUD, which is fixed into the right lens, so any messages or maps you will get in there. All this is controlled through your new phone,’ Tom said, waving the large, screened cell phone.

‘Got any good games on it?’ Steel joked.

‘Ha, Ha, yeah, right,’ Tom said dryly. ‘The glasses and contacts need to be charged overnight. So, I’ve put in a special charger that connects to your laptop for updates.’

Tom opened the briefcase and took out the glasses and contact lenses, then laid them out on the glass coffee table in front of the sofa.

Steel picked up the military-style wraparound sunglasses and inspected them. ‘How do you switch them on?’ Steel asked.

Tom was waiting for the laptop to boot up. ‘They are retina activated, so only you can use them. To everyone else, they are just sunglasses,’ Tom explained. ‘OK, put them on and don’t blink,’ Tom explained.

There was an image of Steel’s right eye on the laptop screen. Then, suddenly, blocks of light moved around the image, picking up the unique details of Steel’s eye.

‘OK, boss. Now the contacts.’

Steel carefully placed on the contact lenses and did the same. Again the image on the screen mapped out Steel’s eyes.

Identity confirmed. Welcome, John Steel. It said on the screen.

Identity confirmed. Welcome, John Steel.‘Cool, any more toys for me?’ Steel asked.

‘I’ll have them sent over to you in New York,’ Tom said.

Steel shook his head. ‘Nope, you can bring them when you come over. I need you over there with me,’ Steel said.

‘I know you are my boss, but I can’t just up and leave everything?’ Tom protested.

‘So, you are turning down a chance to work in the New York office?’ Steel asked, puzzled. ‘And what exactly are you leaving?’

‘Nothing, but that’s not the point, and yes, I’ve course I would love to work in the NYC office?’ Tom’s tone was defiant and almost wrang with disappointment.

This puzzled and amused Steel. He knew Tom was weird, but this just confirmed it.

‘OK, sorry, Tom. You can stay here. I’ll get someone else,’ Steel joked.

‘No–no. I guess I have to go if you need me that much,’ Tom said, heading angrily towards the door.

‘I’ll call you with the details,’ Steel said.

‘Fine, but I do this out of protest,’ Tom said and shut the door behind him.

Steel laughed to himself and shook his head.

Suddenly, Steel’s cell vibrated in his pocket. He took it out and checked it. There was a text message.

Flight Heathrow to JFK. 16:25 hrs. Reservations at Hilton. Tickets at check-in.

Flight Heathrow to JFK. 16:25 hrsReservations at Hilton. Tickets at check-in.Good luck. MM.

Good luck. MM.Steel found it amusing the way Miss Monday always signed out MM.

MMHe replied with a simple. Thank you, I’ll bring you back a souvenir.

Thank you, I’ll bring you back a souvenirSteel plugged in the new glasses, cell phone, and contacts into the laptop and left them to charge and update while he packed.