Free Memoria by Alex Bobl Page B

Either the detectives or those who attacked you, but we need to expect company."
    "You wait!" Barney insisted. "Don't you understand, both of you?"
    "Understand what?" Max turned to him.
    "You think. The murdered woman calls a press conference. Then she takes her clothes off and goes to bed. See what I'm getting at? "
    Frank tried to lunge forward but Max gestured him to stop.
    " Barney has a point. It doesn't add up." He paused, thinking. "We'll talk about it later. We need to act quickly."
    "What do you suggest?" Barney grumbled and sat back down.
    Frank glared at him, clenching and unclenching his fists.
    "We need to hide him somewhere," Max said.
    "Where?"
    "At your place."
    "At my what?" Barney jumped up. His b ulk loomed over Max . "You m u st be mad. Not with my-"
    "I count on her, too. She's the only person who can get access to the data."
    "No. You... you can't be serious. You planned it all along!"
    "You tell her what it's all about, and Frank will give her all the details."
    "No way. Not her. Anyone but her."
    'Oh, yes."
    "Oh, no!"
    "Yes, damn it! Sergeant Douggan !" Max slammed his fist on the desk, and the device jumped with the impact.
    "You can't give me orders!" Droplets of Barney 's saliva spattered Max 's face. "The war is over!"
    Max breathed out, removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes, red with exhaustion.
    "It is indeed," he put the glasses back on. "I'm just trying to appeal to your conscience."
    Barney lowered his head, hiding his eyes from Max . He sat back down, the chair creak ing under his weight. He breathed heavily and massaged his chest. Deep lines furrowed his face.
    "Anyone but her," he raised his pleading eyes. "You know I' ll follow you anywhere. I trust your decisions. I would do anything for you, storm the police department or Memoria building, all you need is ask. Just keep Maggie out of this. Please."
    Frank blinked, u ncomprehending. Barney seemed on the brink of tears.
    "She's a big girl now. You... and I," the coach put his hand on Barney 's shoulder and glanced at Frank," all of us together, we'll deal with it . The situation is far from easy. We can't afford to mak e mistakes."
    Barney shrugged his hand off.
    "How can you be so sure we haven't made a mistake already? You tell me!"
    "Because," the coach stood up, "because we've already let them down once." He jerked his chin, pointing it at Frank. "Him, and Maggie, and all those we fought for. Who still have to live here after we're gone. Barney , they're being brainwashed. Who is going to tell them about the past once we're gone? You think the migrants will? There're not many of them left, either, and they have their hands full with other things. Why? Because they want to remain human."
    "Stop it," Barney raised his hand. "Enough of that. Don't you stare at me like that! Sit down."
    "Is it a yes?" Max sat next to him.
    "It is. But not because of the migrants , damn them . And don't you dare compare me to them. I' ll follow you to hell and back, and you know it. But not because of the migrants. Two years we were fighting them. And we won — we did!"
    "Agreed," the coach glanced at his watch. "What time do you have ?"
    "Quarter to two."
    "Go now."
    "And you?" Barney rose.
    "I have some packing to do. There," Max handed him the device and he aded for the door. "The stash is safe, I presume?"
    "It was , last time I checked it," Barney replied to his back. "Are you sure force is really necessary?"
    Frank couldn't stand it any l onger. "I really appreciate your help and the attention you've given to my problems, but really ... "
    Max stopped on his way to the locker room and turned to him.
    " ... really, I don't understand! Who's Maggie? What's your plan?"
    " Barney will tell you," the coach disappeared in the locker room.
    Frank turned to the veteran.
    "Come on, then," he grumbled and headed for the front door.
    With a sigh of relief, F rank followed.
    "I'll be at your place tomorrow morning," the coach shouted from the locker room. "Six