To The Stars

“Nothing that I can see after a quick look around, nothing important.” He realized that he was looking at the TV while he talked, noticing the marks on the rug. “There is something, I just noticed. The TV has been moved. Perhaps they tried to steal it.”

“There is that possibility. I’ll report it to the police — and send up the mechanic to change the combination on your front door lock.”

“Do that. Now. I’m not happy about this.”

“Nor should you be, sir. A complete investigation will be made.”

How subtle they were, Jan thought. Could the TV have been left off the marks on the rug on purpose? Was this a warning, a slight nudge in the ribs? He didn’t know. But now that he had seen the moved set, reported it, he had to investigate further. If he were innocent that is what he would do.

He rubbed his jaw as he walked around the set. Then knelt to look at the screws that held the back in place. One of them had a fresh shine where a screwdriver had recently cut the surface. They had been inside it!

Within ten minutes he had the back off, the guts pulled, the circuit boards out — and was looking at the device wired across the power leads on one of them. It was the size of an acorn and shaped very much like one, with a glint of crystal in the rounded end. It had lined up with a tiny hole drilled in the front panel. Bugged! With a sharp movement he pulled it loose and bounced it in his palm angrily, making up his mind what to do next, what he would do if he were as innocent as he pretended to be. He went to the phone and called Thurgood-Smythe at home. His sister answered.

“Jan, darling, it’s been ages! If you’re free tomorrow…

“Sorry, Liz, all tied up. And it was Smitty I wanted to talk to in any case.”

“And not a word for your sister I suppose?” She pushed her hair back with her hand and tried to look martyred, but did not succeed very well.

“I’m a beast, Liz, you’ve always known that. But I’m in a rush now. We’ll get together next week, I promise.

“You better. There’s the sweetest girl I want you to meet.”

“Lovely.” He sighed heavily. “Now would you kindly put me through to your husband?”

“Of course. Wednesday at eight.” She blew him a kiss and touched the transfer button. An instant later Thurgood-Smythe was on the screen.

“Someone broke into my apartment while I was away, Jan said.

“Petty crime is getting very bad this winter. But not my department, as you must know. I’ll transfer this to the police…”

“Perhaps it is your department. Nothing was stolen but I found this wired to the TV.” He held it up. “Very compact, very expensive. I haven’t looked inside it but I imagine it has full sound and video and broadcasts a signal for at least a kilometer. If it doesn’t belong to your people it is certainly something you would want to know about.”

“Indeed it is. I’ll look into it at once. Are you involved in anything the industrial espionage people might have an interest in?”

“No. Communication satellite work.”

“Then it is mysterious. I’ll have that gadget picked up and let you know.”

Jan had just finished putting the back on the set when the door annunciator chimed. A heavy-built man somber expression stood outside and produced a Security identification which he held before the camera when asked.

“That was quick,” Jan said, letting him in.

“You have something for me?” the man said, tonelessly.

“Yes, here it is.”

The Security man pocketed the bug without looking at it. He was staring at Jan instead, coldly. “Don’t mention this to Mr. Thurgood-Smythe again,” he said.

“‘What do you mean? What are you talking about?”

“I mean exactly what I said. The matter is out of your brother-in-law’s hands because of the family relationship.” He turned to leave and Jan called after him, angrily.

“You can’t just walk out after saying that kind of thing. Who are you to order me about? What is the meaning of this bug?”

“You tell me,” the man said, turning about sharply. “Are you guilty of anything? Do you have a statement to make?”

Jan felt the color rising in his face. “Get out,” he finally said. “Get out and don’t bother me again. I don’t know what this is about and I don’t care. Just go away and stay away.

The door closed and it was the door of a cage. Jan was locked in and they were watching him from the outside.

During the day the circuitry work occupied his mind. He buried himself in the communication satellite — much to the pleasure of Sonia Amarigli — working hard to distract his thoughts. He was usually the last one to leave at night. Tired, and very glad that he was. A few drinks at the bar, sometimes even eating dinner there, staying on until he was tired enough to go home and to bed. It was foolish of him — he knew that surveillance could work as well any place — but he detested the idea that they were watching and listening in his own flat. Nor did he bother to search for any of the devices. That would be a fool’s game. Better to imagine that he was being watched at all times and act accordingly.