Time Bandit

by Michele deBes

Not what I expected, thought Jane, looking through the two way mirror at the man sitting at the table. He was a suspect in a computer fraud case, but he didn’t look like a hacker or a nerd. Just a regular guy who works out.

She glanced down at the police report again and frowned. Her supervisor had passed the case to her an hour ago and she barely had time to scan the pages in the taxi.

All going well she could be out of there by 10. Still time to catch the dinner party.

She walked around to where the officer waited for her. He unlocked the door, went in first, and took up position in a chair beside the wall.

The brown haired man at the desk, looked up expectantly and she noticed the tension in his body, the wariness in his face, but this was not unusual given the circumstances.

Mr Bailey, I’m Jane Carol, I’ll be taking you through your psychiatric evaluation. Your lawyer would have informed you.

His pale blue eyes focused clearly on her with an appraising look. He nodded and eased back in the chair.

God knows I need one after what I’ve been through. I’m pleased to meet you. His face broke out into a smile.

She smiled back, call me Jane, if I may call you Sam? she said as she placed her folder on the table and sat down opposite him. He was coherent, engaged and his sense of humour was in play. This was looking easy.

I’ve got the police reports here but I’d like you to tell me a little about what’s been going on, in your own words. She unzipped her folder and slipped out her notepad and pen.

He settled himself back.

Well I was just at work and there was some sort of electrical failure with the lift and I got zapped. I woke up in the hospital.

Do you remember anything from that time? She asked.

Yes, fragments, I was off my trolley, must have been the shock.

Yes shock can certainly scramble things up. She scanned down the report.

Disorientation, you didn’t know your name, where you were, or even ... her eyes rose to his ... what century you were in.

He laughed and dropped his eyes in embarrassment, like a said, I wasn’t thinking right.

Yes I can appreciate that. Its quite common in cases like yours. But usually the patients are incoherent, slurred speech, disconnected ideas, that sort of thing. What intrigued me is that you carried on several lengthy and complex conversations with police officers and hospital staff. That’s what alerted them to the need for this session. Can you tell me about any of those conversations?

He spread his hands. Not much, but I suppose I’ve got a great imagination, play a lot of games and I’m a motor mouth, what can I say .... They should see me when I’ve had a couple of cocktails.

She laughed with him, aware that he was charming her with his confident open manner.

Fair enough. I can see that the temporary amnesia fits in with a high voltage shock and that you should, and seem to be returning to normal. The symptoms are very unlikely to reoccur, can’t do any thing about the cocktails.

She tapped her notes as he chuckled. It’s all looking good but on the night that you received the electric shock in the lift, the company that you just started your short contract with two days before, the multinational company, suffered its first security breach since its new hacker proof system was installed. You can see why the police would be suspicious.

He leaned forward a new smile on his face and she knew he was involved in the crime. He couldn’t help a little self-congratulatory stretch run through his fingers as he put his hands on the table.

He dropped the smile. Look, I’m not a hacker, I was just working there in low security stuff. They’ll have no proof.

They need less proof if you are psychologically unstable, and with the transcripts of your interviews, they reckon they could have a case.

He sat back. Huh, I don’t believe it. He said and laughed.

She leaned back. Can I just say you’re quite relaxed with this situation?

Sorry it’s my way of coping. Life throws some strange things at you sometimes and you’ve just got to try to cruise through them. And I’ve got to say, you coming here has been the highlight of my stay. A couple of cocktails, nice music, we’d be having a party.

She smiled as she tidied up her notes. Look I don’t think we need to do much more here tonight, mine is a preliminary report so unless you have anything to add or say ...

The phone rang before he could answer and the officer took the call.

It’s for you.

Excuse me Sam, won’t be a minute. She jumped up and crossed to the phone.

Hello yes

She looked back at Sam as she listened.

I haven’t finished yet

Not much longer

Well they’ll just have to wait OK. I still have to do the paperwork before he can be released into their custody. Have they got all theirs?

OK all right, I’ll let you know the minute ...

She put down the phone and stood looking at Sam. Such a likeable young man, guilty or not.

What? He said.

Oh that was the front desk. There’s two people from the CIA waiting to pick you up. It looks like you’ll be leaving here.

Two?

Two, yes.

He rose slowly the smile slipping from his face. Take me where?

What happened to ‘cruising through it’? She said but when he didn’t smile she could read his anxiety on his face.

Are you worried they’ll hurt you in some way. I expect it will be just more of the same.

No ... yes I am worried. Their heavy guys. he rose, fingers pressed on the table.

Look I’ve put them off for a while, you don’t have to go now. Thoughts of getting out of there early left her mind. Here was a turn of events that had her intrigued. Just sit down and we’ll talk about it.

He looked at her for a long moment and she held his gaze. Again she felt she was being scrutinised. A smile forced its way on to his face and he sat down.

Sorry, but this place gets to you. He said and there was real fear in his eyes as he visibly tried to relax, shaking his shoulders and settling into the chair.

We need a coffee. Barry do you think you can get us a couple. She said turning to the officer. We’ll be OK here.

Barry left the room and she turned back to Sam.

His smile had gone again and he was watching her with quick eyes.

I can understand why you don’t want to go to the CIA Sam. There’s only a few options you’ve got right now. If you go for the insanity clause you stay in police jurisdiction where I might add you retain my services. If I file a normal report, you’ll be handed over now.

That’s easy, I’m crazy. He said trying for the smile again.

Well its not that easy, I don’t file false reports, and you have to convince me. I believe in giving a person a fair chance, or as fair as it gets around here. We’ve got another hour. You haven’t been very forthcoming about most of the things we talked about. I think its time started telling what’s really been going on.

He scraped his hand through his hair. Ok just as long as I have your assurance that you won’t give me to those guys.

I can’t promise anything. It’s all up to you. She said and he nodded.

What is it about the CIA guys that has you so worried?

They aren’t CIA.

Who are they?

He sat back. They’re the time police.

A small smile broke through and he rolled his eyes and looked away. Everyone wants the truth and no one wants to believe, don’t worry I’ve seen it all before.

Ah yes I read some of that in the transcript, it read like a movie script I thought? You’ll have to try a little harder. I’ve been in these cells every week for years and I can tell when someone is lying.

He leaned forward putting a hand on the table rubbing his thumb and forefinger together. Then he looked up at her. As I was saying, they are the time police ...

She knew better than to goad him again, it was a strong belief system he was exhibiting and it was better to let him play it out. She also felt his need, the need to share.

Go on. She said

And they are after me because I have unauthorised and unlimited access to the whole of earth’s history and I’ve been having fun with it, making money out of it.

How?

Priceless objects, very lucrative market.

Why the hacking then

The coffee cup used by Jason Malloy? the master hacker of the 21st century? Come on, its worth a fortune.

Your saying this Malloy is the hacker?

Sure, But no one will believe that the guy who designed the system would be the one to bring it down. I’d been following his code, a hobby of mine, that guy is smooth. But who is going to believe me. I’m crazy right?

She ignored his question and sat for a moment tapping her pen on the table. He certainly was paranoid but spoke plainly and honestly.

What happens when the Time Police catch you?

He narrowed his eyes at her. That’s the trouble they almost did. Just the minute Malloy finished his coffee and started the ball rolling. Those two guys turned up. I made an emergency crash out. Landed two hours earlier in the lift. I could have ended up anywhere. It was random and I just jump two hours back. Anyway, it got them off my trail. The door of the lift was just opening when I flashed in, I must have been glowing, it was a dirty trick I had to pull. The guy waiting to come in the lift just said ‘Man that lift just gave you a shock’. That’s the last thing I remember for a while.

What happens to you if you are caught by these men?

I don’t want to think about it. They are after what’s up here. He tapped his head.

And that is?

My neural graft. It’s the key in all this, I can’ t let them get their hands on it.

She was rifling through her notes. There’s nothing in the test results that suggest ...

Oh please your neurologist wouldn’t find it in a million years. Oh that’s right they do.

He was smiling again, enjoying himself.

Can’t you just zap back out again.

The TP’s hit me with something, and then the jump, I played a wild card and it backfired badly.

I’m all out of zap.

So your stuck here.

No I expect one of my friends will notice me missing sooner of later and come looking.

I guess they have to be careful with the Time Police about. She said.

Yes, your right. They’ll zap me back with one of the hand held units.

Back to where?

To my allotted time.

When is that?

So far in the future you can’t even imagine.

The door opened and the officer bought in the coffees. She sat back studying him as he slurped his coffee in obvious enjoyment.