The Delta Chain Read Online Free

was a false alarm - just the latest
incident in a series of mishaps and system crashes within the
institute's computer operating network.
    Adam and John had been met at the front gate
by the institute’s security chief, Tony Collosimo, who’d gruffly
apologised for the false alarm. ‘Our IT lady is here and she’s
fixed the problem,’ he said by way of explanation. ‘She’s
established that the alarm was activated by another of these damn
virus problems we’ve been having.’
    William Westmeyer himself had come across,
with the IT consultant, from the main building. He introduced
himself to the officers and made his apologies but Adam found it
hard to take his eyes off the young woman who accompanied him.
Westmeyer introduced Kate, and said, ‘With any luck, gentlemen,
Kate here will solve all our systems problems so that something
like this won’t happen again.’
    ‘We've had a few problems of our own with the
police computer,’ Harrison said, ‘could use some help of our own,
couldn’t we, Adam?’
    Adam had to agree. ‘Unfortunately we need to
rely on the regional head office to send out their boffins when we
experience serious system faults.’
    ‘I'm sure Miss Kovacs could assist,
compliments of the institute, Detective,’ Westmeyer offered. He was
a tall, broad shouldered man, smooth and articulate in manner.
    ‘No problem,’ Kate added, ‘in fact, I’d love
a tour of the station when the chance arises.’
    The Northern Rocks police station wasn’t
huge, and the computers were basic PC desktops for data entry and
information retrieval. Without compromising any internal security,
Adam had shown Kate around the station the following week, and
she’d shown Adam and a few of the officers some admin ‘tricks’ for
using their systems more effectively.
    Adam and Kate shared a pub counter lunch that
day which led, a few nights later, to a dinner date at the local
seafood restaurant. Over oysters kilpatrick and a mouth watering
lobster dish, Adam learned that, in addition to computer
troubleshooting, Kate’s other great love was gourmet cooking, and
she arranged to visit Adam’s apartment the following week to
prepare and share a home meal. ‘Normally,’ she said, ‘I don't offer
to cook for a man until the third dinner date.’
    ‘And you’ll be cooking for me on the second.’
Adam picked up the rhythm of the humour. ‘I'm honoured.’
    ‘Consider yourself in the elite. But be
warned, these relationships that get fast-tracked can also burn out
before their time.’ They laughed together. But Adam found himself
hoping that wouldn't be the case where he and Kate were
concerned.
     
    Costas had arrived home shivering, fully
intending to step under a hot shower. Instead he draped himself
with a blanket and sat on the worn lounge in his small fibro and
tile cottage, staring blankly at the wall.
    The sudden shrill ring of the phone startled
him. He reached over to it. ‘Yes?’
    ‘Costas. Why aren’t you here?’
    He felt a wave of nausea rising from the pit
of his stomach. ‘Sorry, Barbara. Stayed fishing too long.’ His
voice was strained.
    ‘Should've known.’ Her voice held its usual,
easy warmth. ‘So are you about to leave? Dinner’s ready and, well,
you know Joey, he’s starving.’
    Costas tried to stifle the rising bile. After
a pause he simply grunted.
    ‘Costas...?’
    ‘Hold on-,’ he dropped the receiver and ran
to the bathroom. He could feel the ice cold, dead flesh of the
corpse all over - against his arms, his chest, his legs. Smothering
him. And the eyes...
    He vomited into the bowl.
    By the time he'd composed himself and
returned to the phone, the line was dead. He had no way of knowing
that Barbara Cail was already in her fifteen-year old Ford station
wagon, leaving behind the simmering roast and Joey’s protests, as
she made the ten minute drive from her home to the cottage.
     
    She arrived to find Costas ashen faced and
still shivering. He told her about the