Altered Egos by Bill Kitson

while, before picking up the phone again and explained what had happened to Ruth Edwards, seeking her approval for his next course of action. As soon as she’d sanctioned it, Nash called Mironova and Pearce into his office. ‘Go find Jack Binns,’ heinstructed Pearce. ‘Tell him I want him to round up whatever uniforms will be available’ – he glanced at the clock – ‘in an hour’s time.’ He then explained what he intended to do.
    Clara looked at him dubiously. ‘Mike, have I ever told you that you’re a devious bastard?’
    Nash grinned. ‘I believe it may have cropped up in conversation once or twice.’

    Pearce pulled in opposite the entrance to the company premises. Clara parked behind. The three detectives got out of the cars and surveyed the site. The two buildings were set well back from the road; the perimeter of the property was protected by a ten foot high wire fence, topped with evilly efficient looking razor wire.
    The sturdy looking steel double gates directly in front of the watchers had a gatehouse to one side. From his viewpoint, Nash could see two uniformed security guards inside. The business part of the property comprised two brick buildings. Nash guessed the larger, two storey building, would be the laboratory, the smaller an office block. Under the eaves of both, surveillance cameras were mounted on the facia boards. As they watched, the detectives saw the cameras swivel slowly, scanning the terrain. ‘There’s something almost sinister about them,’ Clara observed.
    Nash nodded. ‘They obviously feel they’ve something inside that’s worth protecting, but as to what it is, and who they’re protecting it from is another question altogether.’
    ‘The fact that military intelligence has become involved in trying to block our investigation might give some clue,’ Clara suggested.
    ‘True, although it could equally be industrial espionage they’re concerned about.’ As Nash was speaking, a white Transit minibus pulled in behind their car. ‘Here we go.’ Nash signalled to the others to follow him.
    One of the guards stepped out of the gatehouse as they approached. ‘What do you want?’ he demanded.
    Nash turned to Mironova. ‘That’s what I like, good old fashioned courtesy.’
    The guard was either immune to sarcasm or failed to recognize it. He stared at the police officers with thinly disguised hostility.
    ‘I’d like to speak to Dr North please, Dr Richard North.’ Nash’s tone was polite.
    ‘Nobody here of that name.’ The guard’s reply was as quick and as curt as the receptionist’s had been.
    Nash took out his warrant card and held it up in front of the man’s eyes. ‘I’ll ask you again. May I speak to Dr North?’
    ‘And I told you, there’s nobody here of that name.’
    ‘Very well, in that case I’d like to speak to the director.’
    ‘You may want to, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to.’
    ‘Couldn’t you at least ask?’
    ‘No, I couldn’t. Clear off.’
    Nash sighed. ‘That is very disappointing.’ He nodded to Binns, who’d joined them. ‘OK, sergeant.’
    Binns pulled a pair of handcuffs from his uniform pocket and began to administer the caution. As he reached the phrase, ‘Anything you say’, he snapped one cuff over the guard’s wrist. At the same time, one of the uniformed constables, who Nash knew to be a rugby player, took hold of the guard’s other hand and pulled it behind his back.
    ‘Hey, what are you doing? You can’t arrest me. I’m only doing my job. What’s the charge?’
    ‘Obstruction.’ Nash watched as they started to lead the man towards the Transit.
    The gatehouse door opened and the second guard stepped out. ‘What’s going on?’
    ‘Your colleague’s been arrested. He’s to be charged with obstruction. Now, do I get to speak to someone in authority, or not?’
    ‘There’s nobody here wants to speak to the police. And you can’t arrest him.’
    Nash smiled sweetly. ‘Yes, I can. Jack,’