The Computer Ch. 12D - Henry

(This story is a continuation to 'The Computer Ch. 11D- Breaking', it makes no sense if you have not read that part of the story.)

Please score and comment. If you don't tell me what's wrong, how will I improve.

Day Forty Nine

Breakfast. I wonder if my 'friends' will follow me to work. I check my phone. A text from Claire. 'YES.' I send her a text back. 'Thank you.'

...

19:40

Arrive at work, I did not see any of my 'friends' following me. Maybe they have put some professionals on the job.

"Morning, nice shift?"

"Yes one of the quiet ones."

"You know, I don't know your name."

"Oh no. it's Fiona."

"Hi Fiona, I'm Jack."

"Hi Jack. What you got planned for tonight?"

"Well, I thought I'd start off with a Diagnostic followed by about 90 others."

"Rather you than me, I prefer a bit of variety."

I do not comment and change the subject.

"Your opposite number had a encounter with a Security Honey Trap."

"Did he enjoy the experience?"

"Apparently. I told him to report it to Admin."

"She could have been a groupie."

"Don't think so, she was very good looking I'm told."

"That doesn't mean she was a Honey Trap."

"Better to report it just in case."

I grabbed my tablet. No break.

"Well, if you've finished you might as well go."

"Thanks, I'll be off then."

I let Fiona out of the door and lock it. She has logged out of the system. I log in to the system. I'm a few minutes early so I'll have to wait to start the diagnostics. My phone rings.

Claire calling.

"Hello Claire. I'm at work. Was it anything urgent?"

"No I just wanted to make sure you were alright."

"Yes, fighting fit as they say. We are starting from the beginning, aren't we?"

"Oh yes."

"I'll have to go, it's 20:00, time to start work."

"Right, bye."

I begin the nights work at the beginning, go through the middle...

23:14

My personal phone chimes. Who the hell. It's Henry sending me a text. 'Cover the clock so the camera cannot see it. And then go to the toilet. Then come out again. Delete this message.' What is he doing? I look at the clock. It's on the wall behind the desk, but the camera doesn't look that way, it looks towards the door. Aha the door control has a clock display. I grab my coat and hang it on the door control box. Step one completed. Step two, go to the toilet. I think I know what he is doing. Step two done. Delete the text message. Leave the toilet. Start the next diagnostic.

My tablet rings. It's Henry or is it?

"Hello?"

"Hello Jack."

"Henry, is this safe?"

"They are not monitoring you in real time. They are only fast forwarding through the videos to pick up anything you shouldn't be doing. I can manipulate the recordings to erase this call but it needs to be time independent. I will require your coat to be where it is now and you should make occasional trips behind the desk where you are out of sight of the camera. Have you got all that?"

"Yes."

"You've been very busy Jack."

"You noticed. That's nice."

"Thirteen days of mayhem."

"Yes sorry about that. Did you manage to see the report on my third trip to Security?"

"Yes, I liked the idea of being your Controller. If only I had some control."

"Did Security believe me?"

"They still think you are acting weirdly. and hope that you will do something that will get the gangsters to break cover."

"They have had people tailing me at night when I go out."

"Yes they have been using you in their training."

"Oh, I'd just about given up taunting them, should I continue?"

"If you can spot one, I don't see why not. It is, after all, a training scheme."

"Oh I'll have to go, I have loads to do. Are we doing this tomorrow?"

"Yes, you do the clock and the toilet. I'll ring you if the coast is clear."

"Do I have to go to the toilet again?"

"Yes and go behind the desk between tasks a few times."

"Bye"

Toilet -- flush -- desk -- back to work. I hope Henry knows what he is doing.

...

It is close but I manage to finish my list before Fiona comes knocking.

"Morning Fiona."

"Morning Jack."

"Ready to start another day?"

"I think I'm due my holiday."

"You've only been doing the job for a month."

"This girl wants what this girl wants."

"I'm off home."

"Bye"

...

Home to dinner and bed.

Day Fifty

Breakfast Henry is back, thank god, I couldn't do this without him. Of course I also wouldn't need to do it without him.

...

07:40

Arrive at work. Fiona lets me in.

"Thank god you're here at last. We've had nothing to do since lunchtime. Time has dragged."

"There's a lot to be said for a night of diagnostics, isn't there? It might be boring but the time flies by."

"I am ready for my four days off."

"Enjoy yourself then. See you next cycle."

"Bye."

I lock the door behind Fiona, hang my coat over the Door Control box and approach the desk. Pick up my tablet and log in. I also log in on the system. Memo from Admin reference Security Honey Traps. It doesn't say don't fraternize but it does say watch what you say. 'The less people know about Computer Central the safer we will all be.'

I've never understood what is so secret. It's not like we have access to the video streams. We don't control anything. I suspect that we are the sacrificial lamb to protect the places that do look after all the monitoring. (Security)

I start work remembering to have some trips behind the desk. And the trips to the toilet.

...

All this messing about and Henry doesn't ring. He did say he'd only ring if the coast was clear. I continue with the work I'm paid to do.

...

07:23

All finished, nothing from Henry. Thirty minutes before my relief is due. What can I do in thirty minutes? Not much that I would want security watching me do, so I'll sit and wait.

The Day Watch Captain, arrives. At least he is still with us.

"Good morning, I see your report has stirred Admin into action."

"Why, what's happened?"

"They have issued their first response message. I won't spoil the surprize."

He grabs his tablet and logs in and let's out a big sigh of relief.

"First response, what is the second."

"Well, they check with Security. If they hear nothing back from them they presume she was a honey trap. If you get pulled by Security, to relate exactly what happened that night, then you are in for an uncomfortable couple of days."

"Oh shit."

"One piece of comforting news."

"Yes? What is it?"

"Well they like to do that as soon after the event as possible, so if they were going to do it, they would probably have done it already."

"Do you think so?"

I left that question unanswered and check that I have logged out of everything. Then I head for the door. Put my coat on and wait for him to let me out.

"Bye."

Ooo look, someone is waiting for me. I hope it's my Security tail. If it's a gangster I'm in trouble. With Security only reviewing my movements in retrospect I may not have anyone to shout 'Security' for me. I head for home. I phone the 'Cinema' hoping without much hope that Henry is monitoring the line. The Days programme of films starts to unwind.

"Henry, are you there? I've just left work and there's a guy tailing me, from the door. I'm heading home."

The day's programme continues to drone out of the phone. I hang up. It was a forlorn hope anyway. Why am I worrying? It's probably one of the Security trainees. Maybe but he didn't look young enough to be a trainee. I phone Claire.

"Hello Jack."

"Hi Claire. I've just left work and I think I'm being followed."

"Security?"

"It may be but I've a feeling it isn't."

"What can I do about it?"

"If I don't make it home, can you ring Security and tell them."

"Yes I will."

"Thanks."

"Look after yourself."

"I'll try."

Someone grabs the phone out of my hand. Oh shit! A car pulls up at the kerb. My arms are gripped and I'm propelled sideways into the back seat of the car. I'm sprawled across the back seat and one guy sits on my legs. I go to shout Security but it is already too late, the car pulls away from the kerb. Somehow, I don't think these are the Good Guys.

"Stop struggling and keep quiet."

"Could you get... "

"I said be quiet."

"... off my legs, please?"

He lifts off my legs and I bend the knees to remove my shins from under him. I keep my head down and avoid looking at anything. The car is not driving fast and it isn't turning many corners. Suddenly we turn left and the lights go out. We've entered an underground garage. We park and the doors open, everybody, except me, gets out.

"Get out of the car."

I shuffle my bum across the seat to the door and climb out. Arms grip me and we walk towards the stairs. Whoa, they've got a lift! The lift is called and the doors open straight away. I'm walked to the far wall.

"Face your front."

That stops me looking to see what floor we are going to, but I suspect it will be the penthouse. The lift takes a long time to get to its destination, but it is still quicker than walking. The doors open, it is not the penthouse. It looks more like a floor in an office block. I'm marched out of the lift and down the corridor to an anonymous door next to a door labelled '32'. If this is the ground floor then I was wrong. It would have been quicker to have walked. The door is opened and I'm pushed in.

When I regain my equilibrium, I find that I'm in a broom closet with nothing in it except me. I hope the cavalry is on its way because I do not think this is going to end pretty.

The door opens and two, I can only describe them as heavies, enter. They are wearing masks.

"I am willing to assist you gentlemen in any way I can. I am known for giving truthful answers to all questions and I am also known for my gentle nature."

It did no good, they grabbed an arm each and forced both up behind my back, further than I can reach in the shower. I thought they were trying to dislocate both shoulders at the same time. Having rendered my arms useless for defence, they proceeded to hit me in the fleshy parts of my body leaving me gasping for breath and fighting to keep from emptying my stomach onto the floor. All my joints were rotated to places they hadn't been in years. They were experts, it wouldn't have surprized me if they were doctors. It would probably have been a beautiful massage if it was administered with care and tenderness, but this was designed to hurt and it did.

I am left with strained tendons all over my body, I probably will be unfit for work for a month. Why are they doing this? I haven't done anything, have I?

They leave me a crumpled heap on the floor. Hurting, but moving to try and ease the pain, hurts more. I try sleeping but the pain is too much. I am left there to think about my pain. And they haven't even asked me one question.

...

"Jack!"

My name jerks me from the deep well of self pity where I am wallowing.

"What?" I whisper.

"You have something of mine."

I think of denying this, but think better of it.

"What?"

"A parcel was delivered to your place of work addressed to you. It belongs to me and I want it."

"I don't have it any more."

"Who does?"

"Henry."

"Henry Who?"

"I don't know his surname."

"Where does he live?"

"I don't know."

"Do I have to let the boys in again?"

"No! I've never seen him. I only talk to him on the phone. He was the one who sent me the parcel. I had to ring him when it arrived. Then he got me to leave it outside the office door one night and he picked it up from there. I've never seen him."

Answering questions is hard work.

"Can you contact him?"

"I can't guarantee getting him on the phone. I can leave him a message and hope he rings me back."

"What do you get out of this arrangement?"

"He gives me information about people."

"Blackmail?"

"No. Just information, what they do, where they live."

"Could be useful to me. How do I get hold of him?"

"My phone, speed dial."

He goes away. To find my phone?

...

My interrogator returns.

"This your phone?"

"Looks like it."

"The only speed dial on here is the Cinema hotline."

He sounds miffed as if I've fed him a line.

"That's the one, give it here."

"No tricks. The boys are only outside the door."

"No tricks. I will try and get Henry to talk to you. But no guarantee."

He hands me the phone. I press the speed dial. The 'Cinema' starts its spiel. The phone is in hands free mode so we can both hear the exchange.

"Henry, talk to me. I'm in all sorts of trouble and I need you to talk to me."

The cinema spiel stops mid sentence.

"Hello Jack. What can I do for you?"

"There is a man here who would like to talk to you."

"That's as may be but do I want to speak to him?"

"I would be in your debt if you would."

"I will hold you to that. Put him on."

I passed the phone to my interrogator, who takes it and leaves the room talking into the phone. I retreat to my little world of hurt. However I feel like my life line just doubled in length. I may get out of this yet.

...

My situation has improved, I have been soaking in a hot bath in the care of a nurse (male). Henry sure has some pull. I've been given some pain killers which have taken the edge off of my pains. Don't get me wrong, I'm still at the centre of a sea of pain, but I can at least think straight. I think back to when I first discovered Henry. Did I realize my carefree life would end up like this.

Day Fifty One

An hour on the massage table and my joints are at last moving as I want them to.

...

Food, a bowl of hot stew. I'm being spoon fed by the nurse after my first attempt sent stew all over the place. Maybe my joints aren't all under my control, yet.

...

The nurse has dressed me in new clothes and I have practiced walking. Twenty paces unaided. The nurse himself has dressed in plain clothes. Apparently he will take me to work and leave me at the door of the office. He hands me a medicine bottle with some tablets in it. The rest is up to me. Whose stupid idea is this? Why can't I just phone in sick?

...

"I need my phone."

This causes a problem. The nurse disappears. The nurse reappears with my phone and a wheelchair. He helps me into the wheelchair and we are on our way. Taking the lift down to the garage. I look at my phone for the time. 19:15 The nurse and the driver get me into the car. The chair folds up and goes in the boot. They get in and we set off. I'm sat up but I have no idea where we are and the blocks that we pass give no clues as to which zone we are in. Thankfully the driver seems to know exactly where he is going.

We pull up outside a block.

"We're here. Try and get yourself near the door."

The nurse and driver get out and reassemble the wheelchair. They open my door, lift me out and drop me onto the chair. They haul the chair up the steps into the block lobby.

"One floor up. Yes?"

"Yes."

"It is probably going to be easier if I carry you up the stairs."

"I could try the stairs with some help."

"No, I'll carry you."

So the nurse carried me up one floor. Carefully put me on my feet, and helped me walk to the office.

"What time is it?"

"19:45."

"I'm late. Scram. I'll be alright from here."

I ring the bell. The door opens."

"Hells bells, what happened to you?"

"Sorry I'm late."

"Answer the question, you look terrible."

"I didn't get much sleep. The guy next door had a party."

"Yeah? It looks like you were the main attraction at the party. You didn't meet my honey trap, did you?"

"No and No. Just clear off so I can do some work."

"OK."

He leaves, it is agony locking the door after he has gone. I hang my coat on the door control. Stagger to and collapse into the chair. I reach for my tablet. There is a message from Henry. Don't worry about work, it's all taken care of. Rest and recuperate. I delete the message. I'm wondering about who is taking care of work when suddenly the monitor bursts into life and starts performing diagnostics on its own.

...

I had fallen asleep in the chair. It is sooo uncomfortable and my back has locked up. I gingerly move to sit up properly (as my teacher used to say) in the chair. I try standing and walking. I heard no plans for tomorrow morning so I might be walking home. I might be grateful for some practice.

Oh I just remembered Claire. I ring her.

"Jack, where are you?"

"I'm at work. Look it's been a long day, I didn't get much sleep. It is going to take me a couple of days to recover but when I do I will tell you all about it."

"I've been ringing Security all day. Shouting at them all day. And now I've got to ring them up and tell them you've turn up alive and well."

"Hopefully they will be pleased that I'm alright."

"I've been worried sick all day."

"I'm really sorry but I didn't have a phone to ring you. I was kidnapped, I was released in time for work, I will explain everything the day after tomorrow."

"You are impossible."

"Yes, I agree with you."

She hung up on me. I get up and continue my walking practice. To be honest, Claire is the least of my worries. How the hell am I going to explain; being kidnapped and released in one day without a ransom being paid. If anything I should be breathing concrete. Gangsters don't make mistakes that can talk after the event. No one is going to believe that I was released because they had made a mistake. What if I had convinced them that I was really a Secret Agent, no that would have got me killed as soon as I said it. How about, if I was the nephew of the Big Boss. Definitely not believable. How about, if it was a prank on Claire, I was not kidnapped, its OK as long as they don't have video of me being wheeled about in a wheelchair. How about, I plead ignorance, they kidnapped me, beat me up and then helped me get to work, and I have no idea why. No, I don't believe it either. But it may be the best way of me coming out of this. It keeps Henry out of it, they will probably harbour grave suspicions about me but have no evidence to back it up. Talking of evidence, the honey trap woman, I wonder if she was working for the gangsters getting them the final link in the chain pointing to me. Squeezing the work related pillow talk out of an unsuspecting Day Watch Captain. It would make sense of that little episode, wouldn't it? I sit down for a rest.

...

Damn I fell asleep. The pain woke me up. I struggle up to make a cup of Hot Chocolate I have to sit down again half way through. I'll have to take the tablets with a cup of water. They are in my coat pocket which is way over the other side of the room. I steel myself for the effort and... Oh forget the water, I'll take the tablets dry. I aim for the door and start walking. Made it. I lean on the door for support and reach for my coat. Careful, don't drop it. You don't want to have to pick it up. There is the bottle of tablets with no instructions, so let's go with the standard 'two every four hours'. I carefully replace the coat hanging on the door control box and carry the bottle in triumph back to the desk. How do I get the top off the bottle? My hands can't grip, I trap the cap between the desk and the drawer. Pressing the drawer shut with my thigh, I use both hands to turn the bottle to break the seal. The two tablets leave that nasty taste in the back of my throat.

Twenty minutes for the tablets to have any effect.

...

Damn. I fell asleep again. The tablets do work though, they definitely take the edge off the pain. What time is it. 23:47, that sounds about right, given that I probably just slept for an hour. The monitor is still showing the diagnostic programs running in their ghostly fashion.

I concentrate on retraining my legs to do as they are told. I try some leg exercises while sat in the chair. Nothing too strenuous just things like knee bends and rotating ankles.

...

01:01 Henry Calling.

"Hello Henry."

"Hello Jack."

"Can I just say, I don't want to know anything about today that I don't already know. I'm going to explain today as a complete mystery to me. I have no idea why I was snatched off the street, taken to an unknown destination, beaten up and then nursed back to some kind of health and delivered to my place of work. No one said a word to me throughout the whole experience."

"Sounds good. Security won't believe a word of it and will probably keep you in custody until you tell the truth."

"I'll just have to convince them that I am telling the truth."

"How are you doing?"

"Physio is helping, but I'm still hurting. By the way, I thought I saw John in Joes Diner the other morning."

"Interesting."

"I like my new assistant. The only trouble is he is a bit quick, Could you get him to have a short break. He is making me look bad."

"Don't like the competition, eh?"

"I don't mind competition, its automation I object to. If the programmers ever find out how you have done this, we would all be out of a job."

"OK. I'll slow it down."

"Henry, I really don't fancy being pulled by Security over what happened today."

"There isn't a lot I can do about it, if they decide to question you. This whole case is being run by Security HQ, and with them being off line, I have no influence. You really should behave yourself if you don't want to be pulled."

"Yes but today was because you sent me those boxes of memory modules. In fact, I think all my problems can be traced back to that delivery."

"You cannot blame me for all your problems, Claire is entirely your fault."

"I'm not so sure about that."

"Trust me."

"That's the trouble, I do."

"Williams, anything new on him?"

"Security is trying to turn him into an informer. They won't get anything out of him, he is just a pawn in the game."

"So I can ignore him?

"Well, don't worry about him."

"How are we for chats on my days off."

"That's a problem, I can keep an eye on you but I cannot do much to protect you. Your best bet is your security trainees who are tailing you. If you see one, don't lose them."

"There's not going to be a repeat of today is there?"

"No, I don't think so."

It's hardly a guarantee but it will do."

We bid each other 'good luck' and we hang up. Me to my physio.

...

02:30 My next dose of painkillers. I'm ready this time with a Hot Chocolate. My walking is improving I think. My joints all want to shut down and go into repair mode. Keeping them moving is the key. I'm trying not to think about waking up tomorrow, I going to be as stiff as anything. I suspect that just standing will be a problem. Ha! I've got to get to my bed first.

...

06:30 My next dose of painkillers. Hot Chocolate again to wash them down. I've managed to keep my physio going and it seems to be getting easier. It's probably wishful thinking on my part. Strained tendons can take weeks to recover. It is more like a week to just get back walking normally again. I don't want to run a marathon. I'll be happy walking with a stick. I have a practice walk around the office, and it does seem better. Keeping the joints moving has had some effect.

The diagnostics stopped about an hour ago and have just restarted, hopefully to finish in time to go home.

...

07:45 Someone at the door. I walk to the door, holding on to anything in reach. It is the Day Watch Captain. I open the door to let him in.

"Hi, how are you this morning?"

"Better than last night."

"Good, I came in early today to help out, if you need it. You do look a lot better.."

I look at the monitor to make sure the diagnostics are not still doing their thing all on their own.

"I feel it too, I might even make it home under my own power."

"If you need help I could get one of the guys to walk you home."

"That would be nice. I'm 50/50 whether I will make It alone."

"What block are you in?"

"P Block."

"Xxxxxx lives there. I'll give him a call."

He got his tablet and called 'Xxxxxx'.

"Hello, I know it's early, can you come in now, the Night Guy has had a bad night and needs someone to take him home."

Pause.

"Yes you can come in at ten, as long as you get him home alright."

He hung up. He looked at the job list for the day.

"By the look of it he can have the day off, there's not much on today. Will you need help this evening? If so I'll get him to call for you."

"Thanks that would be very much appreciated."

I check all the diagnostics completed without problems and logged out of the system and my tablet. As he is helping me with my coat.

"Did you get behind with your payments?"

"What? No, it was about the parcel in the desk."

"Oh!"

"Glad you didn't take them home, now."

"Oh boy. Look..."

"It's alright, if they were really upset about it, I would never have made it into work last night. Hey, I'm walking. What more could I want?"

I think he realizes who provided his honey trap last cycle, and that what he told her that night had repercussions.

"You must have a silver tongue to talk your way out of that one."

"Less said the better, eh? As far as anybody else is concerned, I slipped at work and am shaken up. OK."

"Yeah, I can do that."

I let him have the chair so he can start work. I pick up my tablets from the desk and go and sit in the toilet.

...

There a knock at the door.

"That'll be Xxxxxx."

"Check it is him."

"Come on in. The night guy needs taking home. Take the day off and check with him this evening to see if he needs help coming to work. OK?

"Sure."

We are introduced to each other and I make a brave show of walking to the door. So successful that they both make a grab for me to keep me upright.

"Are you sure? Would you like a taxi?"

"That might be a good idea."

The Captain phoned for a taxi.

"It should be here by the time you get downstairs."

"Well we'd better get started."

We did manage to get there before the taxi arrived and Xxxxxx got me into the backseat, somehow. The journey only takes a minute and another five to get me out of the taxi. I give Xxxxxx my card to pay for the ride, which he does and returns it to me.

"Which floor?"

"Three."

"We'll have a rest at each floor. Let's go."

We have just reached the lobby and having our first rest when my phone rings. It's Claire.

"Hello Claire."

"Is that you in the lobby."

"Nothing gets by you, does it?"

"I'll come and help."

I'd say don't bother but I think we could do with any help available and anyway she has rung off and is on her way.

"We might as well stay here till she arrives."

Claire arrived and gave me a look that the Gorgon would have been proud of, then in silence she put her shoulder under my available arm and the three of us attempted the stairs. My problem was lifting my foot high enough to negotiate the next step. But eventually we got to the third floor. Claire led us to her apartment and I was taken in and laid on the bed.

"Thanks for bringing him home, Simon."

"It's not worth mentioning, I've got the day off and a duty to take him back this evening."

"You can't be serious?"

"It's what the man wants, madam."

"We'll see about that."

"I'll call for him at 19:15."

"He won't be going anywhere."

"I suggest you discuss that with the man."

Claire ushered him out of the door. And returned, presumably, I don't know what happened cause I was asleep.

Day Fifty Two

Claire woke me at midday, to feed me a bowl of chicken soup. I hate chicken soup but this was nice. It is obvious that she is bursting to demand answers. But she is keeping her powder dry for the battle to come.

"Are you going to work tonight?"

"Yes, I have to. This is important."

"OK, what hurts?"

"Everything. They strained all my tendons, I think."

"Is there anything I can do?"

"A hot bath, a good masseuse, and check my coat, painkillers, how many left."

She checked.

"There are ten tablets."

"Give me one now and one in four hours."

"I don't have a bath, only a shower and I don't know any masseurs, so you'll have to suffer."

...

Claire wakes me up for my tablet, Either I'm dead tired or my pains are reducing in intensity. I would not have been able to sleep last night without two tablets.

"Wake me at six."

...

18:00 Claire wakes me.

"Do you want a shower?"

"Yes please."

"Well, get undressed, if you need help, shout me."

I sat up with difficulty and spent five minutes trying to get my coat off before I capitulated and called for Claire.

"Yeah, you're fit to go to work."

"I'm glad we all agree. Help me with my coat."

We struggled but eventually we won and I am stood there in my underwear.

"I'm ashamed to say it, but I will need you to wash me."

"No need to be ashamed, it's necessary."

She brought me a towel and went to start the shower. I pushed my pants down over my hips and let them fall to the floor. I wrap the towel around myself and head for the bathroom.

Claire has donned a full length dust coat.

She helps me into the shower and under the water. She grabs the removable shower head and wets me all over. She turns off the water and proceeds to soap me from the head down with a detour at my hips. She washes me thoroughly and the hands me the soap.

"You'd best do the other bits. I think you can manage them."

Which I did. Then she got the shower head and rinsed me down from the head to my toes. Getting me out of the shower was a bit tricky, with wet tiles being slippery. But we managed. She wiped me down with a flannel and then dried me with a couple of towels.

"I got you some clean clothes from your room."

Claire proceeded to dress me. Finished and it only took seventy minutes. Xxxxxx will be knocking soon.

"I've put a few of your breakfast bars in your coat pockets along with a Cup a Soup packet. Check you've got the essentials, door key. debit card, tablets and phone."

"Check. Thanks Claire, I promise I'll tell you everything tomorrow."

There is a knock at the door.

"Check who it is."

"It's Simon."

I shuffle out of the bedroom and smile at Simon.

"Well you look a lot better. Must be the company."

"We'd better get a taxi again."

Claire said she would do that while we made our way down.

The return to work is the reverse of the the journey home. Uneventful, if a little painful. The ascent to the office is hard work but easier than the climb to my rooms in the morning. Bit by bit I'm getting better.

We knock on the door of the office. It is opened by the Captain and we both enter. We shut the door.

"Well you look a lot better than you did when you left."

"Thanks, I feel a lot better too. Let's see what is on offer tonight"

I log into my tablet and ignore the messages, The job list for tonight is nothing unusual. I put the kettle on. Yes I'm moving around the office much easier than before. I make myself a Cup a Soup and sit at the desk. The Day Watch Captain has logged out so I log in to the system.

"Now you are sure you'll be alright, I don't want to find you dead in the chair tomorrow morning,"

"If I'm dead you won't be able to get in, You'll have to get Admin out to let you in."

"Let me just check, that I've got his number on my phone."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence. You might as well go home and leave me to get on with my job."

"It's your funeral."

I usher the giggling pair out of the door and lock it. I return to the chair and sigh deeply. That was hard work. I check the messages on my tablet. One from Henry saying the same as last night. And a second from Henry telling me to put the two packages outside the door at 02:00.

I drink my Soup and have one of my painkillers and follow all that with a breakfast bar.

Right, so this is the gangster getting his own back. I check the drawer to make sure the parcels are there. Must remember to check the contents are complete before I put them outside the door.

The diagnostic programs start their ghostly work upon the monitor.

With nothing to do, I decide to check out the parcels. Henry is going to have to overwrite all the footage of tonight anyway because of his auto running the programs. So I can do whatever I like. I get my parcel out of the drawer and put it on the bench behind the desk, out of sight of the camera (Can't be too careful). I then count each and every memory module in both boxes. Well, give the staff of Computer Central a gold star each, no memory modules missing. Thank god for that. I return the tablet in the paper bag to the drawer and leave the two boxes on the bench ready for 02:00.

Now I'm in for a very boring night with nothing to do except wake up to drop a parcel outside the door.

...

I find myself catnapping, dozing for short periods. I spend thirty minutes setting an alarm on my phone. Ten minutes to find the function, ten to set an alarm for something other than a wake up and ten to set the correct timer. Not bad for a first time. First alarm for my next painkiller at midnight.

...

The alarm wakes me. Initially, I'm confused, then I remember the tablet. I make a Hot Chocolate and sit back down at the desk. The diagnostics continue to run, with a realistic break between each one. I reset my alarm but I suspect I won't need it.

...

01:01 Henry calls.

"Hello."

"Hello Jack. How is your recovery progressing?"

"Fine thanks. I have the memory modules ready for 02:00."

"Good. It is the best thing to do with them."

"Oh yes, I agree. Will we be able to talk tomorrow?"

"We'll have to see."

"No promises?"

"No. So try and stay out of trouble."

"I'll try."

"Bye."

Well he could have been a bit more upbeat, like don't worry, it'll be alright. No, just try to stay out of trouble.

...

The alarm sounds for 02:00. I rise from the chair and grab the two boxes. I decide to put them in a paper bag. I rummage in the desk drawer for a paper bag and insert the two boxes. Then to the door. Check the spyhole for someone waiting, nobody. Open the door quietly and slip the bag and its contents onto the doorstep. Then shut the door quickly and lock it. Do I look through the spyhole to see who comes to pick it up? I do not. I've had enough of the gangsters, I want no more. I reset the alarm for 04:00.

...

04:00 Time for a Hot Chocolate and painkiller. Reset the alarm for 08:00.

...

07:25 The diagnostics stop running. I check through the results to check there is nothing disastrous to report. I make myself a Hot Chocolate and drink it to wash down my painkiller. I carry out, very carefully, some physio to loosen up the joints and practice walking around the office. I might chance a walk home today.

07:45 The Day Watch Captain arrives with Simon Xxxxxx.

I greet them both and mention that I was thinking of attempting the walk home this morning.

"If you are sure, but I'll send Simon with you to make sure you get home safe."

My attempts to mollify their concerns were fruitless and that was the plan we all eventually agreed upon. I collected my tablets and coat and prepared to depart for my four days of convalescence.

. As we leave I whisper to the Day Watch Captain that the problem has gone away. He nods but probably does not know what I am saying, but he will if he looks in the drawer.

Simon and I take a leisurely walk home to Claire's apartment. It leaves me exhausted but happy that we managed the journey. I thank Simon and he leaves. I let myself into Claire's apartment and am greeted by her scowling face. Have I done something wrong?

"Morning Claire, Any chance of breakfast/dinner?"

"You've got a nerve, coming here."

"I thought you would be glad to see me. I walked all the way home. Simon was just in case I couldn't manage it, but I did.

"Bravo. Do you expect to sleep here today?"

"Well, I don't mind sleeping at my place, I just thought you would want to see I got home OK."

"Yeah, thanks."

"I'll be going then."

"Fine."

I retreat to my rooms, let myself in and wonder about what has got into Claire. I have dinner, leave the plates for the morning, when I will hopefully be feeling better and have a hot shower. Towelling my self dry is agony, where is Claire when you need her?.

At last I collapse into bed.