Fatal by Arno Joubert Page B

dad. "Hello, Becky, or should I call you Alexa?"  
    The voice was familiar, and the metallic quality had gone. It was her dad's voice. She recoiled in shock and stood up, the chair scraping back and falling behind her.
    Frydman picked it up and nodded with a smile. “It was a shock to me as well.”
    Alexa gathered her thoughts and steadied herself.   “Um, hi, yes, Alexa is better.”
    “All right then, Alexa. It seems unfamiliar, but I’ll get used to it.” The face smiled. “You are exceptionally beautiful; you look so much like your mom.”  
    Alexa held her hand over her mouth. “Dad, is that you? I can't believe it,” she whispered. “I—I have many things that I want to ask you.”
    The face nodded. “Ask me anything, day or night, I'm always here. I’ve added a speed-dial code to your cell. Dial 111 on your phone to get hold of me. It's a toll-free number, it won't cost you a cent.”
    Alexa nodded. “OK, how did you manage to become alive again?”
    “Well, technically, I never died. At the moment I’m on life support, but I’m able to communicate with you.”
    “How?”
    "Well, the short answer is nondestructive whole-brain monitoring using nanorobotic technology. The long answer is a whole lot more complex than that,” the face said and smiled.
    Alexa nodded. “Nanorobots. But that hasn't even been invented yet."
    The face chuckled. “Oh, but it has. I've been experimenting with it for more than thirty years. The technology was never available to build computers small enough to be injected into a person's bloodstream. Effectively, I'm connected to machines keeping me alive, supplying my body with oxygen and nutrients. The computers allow me to access a CPU that I use for communication, like Hawkings does by typing on a pad with his lips.”
    "And where is your body?"
    “That's a secret. Suffice to say that you would probably never guess. But I will tell you when the time is right. I am still too vulnerable."
    Alexa leant towards the console. “You said I could call you anytime? You don't sleep?” she asked.
    The alphanumeric characters on the console danced around, then they contorted into a smile. “Anytime, baby. Day or night.”

     

Gordon’s Bay, Cape Town

    Alexa snuggled into Neil's chest. He was lying on his back, his arm around her shoulder.
    “So tell me, how did you managed to get a dishonorable discharge from the Marine Corps, Sergeant?” Alexa asked Neil, propping herself up on one elbow.
    He thought for a moment, rolled onto his side, and looked at Alexa. “Well, the day that Weinstein blew his brains out, when Bruce went to save your dad, I realized something was wrong.”
    Alexa nodded.
    “I went upstairs and saw Bruce kicking the crap out of Perreira, so I used the distraction to go through the files in Weinstein’s office.” He took Alexa’s hand from her thigh, playing with her fingers.
    “I found a safe in his office and broke in. It contained some, let’s say, unflattering photos of Weinstein in a compromising position with one of his troops.” Neil traced his finger up Alexa’s arm. “Things started to make sense; Weinstein was being blackmailed by Callahan.”
    “Blackmailed?” Alexa asked with a frown.
    “He was set up. They caught him in the act with a junior officer, a guy. Took photos, probably paid the troop. I found a note from Callahan threatening to circulate the photos to the entire Israeli Defense Force if he didn't do what they asked of him.”
    Alexa sat up and folded her legs. “OK, so what? It's a free country. Two consenting adults and all that?”
    Neil looked at her for a moment then shook his head. “Weinstein was coming up for a promotion, a one star general. And the Israeli Defense Force used to be extremely conservative when it comes to homosexual relationships.”
    "OK, what did they ask him to do?” she asked.
    “Two things, really. Weinstein had to ensure Callahan’s safety. That’s how my division became involved,” he