Interface: A Techno Thriller Read Online Free PDF

shelves and a bookcase held a number of medical texts and journals. A high-end stereo and record turntable were set up in a cabinet; classical piano music was playing softly.
    "Neil, good morning." Heidn, his long grey hair brushed back, walked over and offered his hand.
    Bradley shook it. "Professor, good to see you. Has the move gone smoothly?"
    "No complaints. I hired my own movers so they would be more considerate with my possessions, but then our overzealous security team wouldn't let them in. I had to go and speak to them personally about it."
    "You can't blame them," replied Bradley. "There are plenty of things in here we'd like to remain unseen. Did you get my message?"
    "I did indeed. Very clandestine."
    "Can you attend?"
    "A secret meeting with our CEO? At which my presence is demanded?" Heidn patted Bradley on the shoulder. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."
    "You don't want to know what it's about?"
    "And spoil the surprise?" He ran a hand through his grey hair. "Besides, I'm pretty sure I can guess. I've been at CERUS a very long time. Few things that happen here surprise me anymore." He sighed and added, "Those years of experience make me think the wise course would be to forget the whole thing."
    Bradley shrugged. "My job is just to present the choices. Others make the call."
    The professor nodded. "However big this company gets, only one man ever makes the decisions."
    "Let's hope he makes the right one."

TEN

    KATE ARRIVED AT THE WEST London shopping plaza ahead of schedule. It was the kind of second-tier mall that aimed to be gleaming and aspirational, but had failed to attract the better retail chains. Now a heavy London grime had settled in every corner and Kate's shoes stuck to the grubby floors as she made her way through the lunchtime crowds, looking for the food court.
    As arranged, she bought two cappuccinos and sat at a table tucked away to one side. There she opened a newspaper and waited. Five minutes later, a man emerged from the crowd and stood at her shoulder. His brown suit looked as ill-fitting and uncomfortable as he did; he kept touching his wire-frame glasses with a nervous twitch.  
    "Were you followed?" he asked.
    Kate indicated the chair opposite. "I very much doubt it." She passed one of the coffees over to him as he sat down. "In my experience big companies have a lot of worries on their plate. They don't usually have the time or inclination to set covert operatives watching their staff."
    He narrowed his eyes. "If they knew about me, they would, but I've been careful."
    "And that's great, but now the truth should come out," Kate said. "Shareholders, employees, the public: they shouldn't be lied to. If the financial situation is as dire as many suspect then it's time to--"
    "CERUS has made plenty of mistakes with its finances, but I can assure you they are not its biggest mistakes." He shook his head. "I wanted to talk to you because you have a platform and your background is in science. You'll understand what I'm about to tell you and you'll know how to turn it into a story that everyone else can understand."
    She gripped his hand. "Mr Armstrong, I don't know what you know, but if I can possibly help you, I will."
    His eyes narrowed. "You realise this could be dangerous ."
    "If you're so concerned, why not involve lawyers? Or the police?"
    "There's a CERUS lawyer so new he can't be part of the system. I started to speak to him at the launch party, but... I changed my mind. He seemed like a good kid, but can you ever really trust a lawyer?" He laughed bitterly. "And if I go to the authorities, this story is never getting out."
    "This all sounds very dramatic, but you have to understand that without evidence of whatever it is that is concerning you so much..." Kate raised her hands.
    Armstrong looked around the food court, then reached into a pocket and removed what looked like a watch case. With a practised motion he flipped open the case. Inside was a small glass vial, filled with a