The Dark Edge Chronicles - Hardwire

Redemption has a New Face

Dee's TR-6 made short work of the early afternoon traffic as she made her way out of the city's core to the suburbs, heading straight for her apartment where Duffy was waiting for them. As she concentrated on wheeling them between big SUVs and the ubiquitous pickup trucks that every Southern Albertan seemed to own, Mordecai pulled open his wallet to examine its contents.

It seemed like a good idea: logic dictated that the contents of the wallet would've been rather thoroughly examined by the officers in charge of evidence. Some of his things may have been misplaced in the shuffle.

But, much to his surprise, not only did he find all of his own identification and information intact, he found several pieces of additional information. First of all, there was the white with red trim Social Insurance Number card and a tiny birth certificate on official paper, inside a plastic sleeve for protection, that officially made him a Canadian, born and bred. With that, came a colorful driver's license, the photo taken from one of his other pieces of I.D. so flawlessly finished that Mordecai knew it was a professionally-done job.

There were several other pieces of I.D. too: a medical services card, a number of bankcards and a VISA card. And, oddly enough, a library card. All made with his old photos and so seamless as to appear completely authentic.

"Part of my new persona?" he asked softly, holding the cards up so that Dee could easily see them.

The tall redhead glanced over and caught sight of the cards and quickly nodded before turning her attention back to the road in front of her.

"Of course," she replied. "We had to do a full work-up on you that would appear legit and seamless under any amount of scrutiny. It took some resources but, considering what they've gotten us, I'd say they were worth it." She flashed him a quick smile. "You also have a credit history, complete with a car you got repossessed back in high school while you were finishing your senior year. Bank records, school transcripts, record of education and degrees, the whole smash. As far as the collective authorities out there are concerned, you've been Mordecai Kelly your entire life, named after your mother's favorite author, Mordecai Richler. Your parents: Sean and Moira, both retired in Victoria, little brother Jack who works in construction in northern Alberta, with cousins down in the States and over in Ireland. We got it all covered."

"I see." Mordecai frowned thoughtfully. "You've done this sort of thing before, haven't you?"

"Once or twice," Dee admitted with a soft laugh. "I did some work for CSIS before I joined the PD. Or, as the bureaucrats are calling it, the Calgary Police Service. I still have my old security access and clearances that make all this maneuvering a little easier to do."

"I can imagine." Mordecai smiled tightly. "Can I take by this little confession that we're free and clear to discuss what you and your associates have in mind for me?"

Dee chuckled softly.

"I suppose you can. Well, here it is, in a nutshell. It all started when Duffy and I, both assigned to the mayor's taskforce investigating the strange occurrences in Calgary, were stunned when it was abruptly turned over to the RCMP. Apparently at the mayor's request. We were summarily dropped from the investigation, much to our collective chagrin. So Duffy devised a plan involved Interpol that would get us back in ..."

By the time Dee finally pulled her little British sports car into its parking slot in the underground garage beneath her apartment building, Mordecai was slowly nodding his understanding.

"Did you get all that?" Dee asked as she put the car into neutral, pulled up the parking brake and turned the engine off.

"I think so." A tight smile appeared on his face. "But I'm afraid I have a couple of concerns."