Abacus

side door, a grinning Randall eased Hobbs into his seat. “Well, big guy, see you at work tomorrow, and please don’t hesitate to ring me if you need a lift, you know, with that injury and all.”
    Hobbs looked straight ahead , still looking unhappy with his defeat. “Won’t need a lift, boss, I’ll be okay,” he mumbled, gingerly pulling his seat belt on. Randall watched the car drive out of the car park and turn up the street. He knew a return bout with quite a different outcome might not be too far away.
    With music blaring, Randall drove home from the gym with a huge smile on his face. He was a little concerned about the injury Hobbs may have sustained, but on the other hand he may have passed on a valuable life lesson. Always respect your opponent.
    Over the sound of the music, he heard a vibrating sound on the console. It was a text message on his silver phone from DL. Will ring in thirty to discuss bait. “That would be bloody right,” he muttered.
    S peeding and weaving through the city traffic, he needed to make it home before the thirty-minute deadline. “Get out of my bloody way,” he yelled impatiently at a motorist in front who had apparently stopped for no reason. Randall followed up with a long blast of the loud horn from the Merc. As the car in front slowly moved on, he saw that it had stopped to allow a small dog to cross in front. The dog looked a little lost as it crossed the busy street without its master. “Sorry, mate,” he said, waving apologetically. He didn’t like to see animals hurt.
    * * *
    Once home he burst through the front door flinging his bag and jacket on the floor on his way to the dining room. Placing the phone on the dining table, he took a few deep breaths as he settled himself into a chair. Looking at his watch he could see it was exactly thirty minutes since the last text. As he patiently waited, he was amazed at just how loud the kitchen wall clock ticked when there was total silence in the house. Glancing down at his wristwatch, he confirmed he had the time right. Finally the silver phone vibrated and madly jumped around on the tabletop. Flipping the phone open, he put it to his ear.
    “Ra ndall, my boy, how are you?” Noel asked in his soothing voice.
    “Good as can be , how about yourself?”
    “Always plenty to do , we never seem to run out of assignments, do we? Matter of fact, there are hundreds of future assignments being born every hour.”
    Randall laughed. “So true, so true.”
    “Anyway , we need to discuss the current bait. He has had a good run so far, but we are starting to wonder whether his use by date had arrived.”
    Randall paused. This topic was very unexpected and had caught him totally off guard. “I know we’ve had him a lot longer than the others, but he has been a bloody good operator,” he said supportively.
    “I appreci ate what you are saying, but we need to start planning for a change in bait. I think it would be best for all. We are also a little concerned about how his disposal may affect you after such a relatively long association.”
    “C’mon , Noel,” he urged. “You know I have been around long enough to not get emotionally attached. Rest assured, when he buggers up you will get the text to finish him off.”
    “ That said, you still need to start preparing for future assignments without him. If his time is up you need to let us know straight away. As per usual, if we see him not playing by the rules he will be terminated immediately.”
    “Underst ood.”
    “Ok ay then, look after yourself and we will be in touch soon.”
    “Ok ay, Noel, speak later.” Tapping the phone thoughtfully on the table, Randall considered the current bait, “Irish”. Out of all of baits he had managed, none had been with him as long as Irish, and now it seemed their partnership was in its twilight.

    CHAPTER 6 - ABACUS

    Randall recalled his very early conversations with Noel when he was first told about the organisation Deliver Live and the Abacus. Initially, as expected, he was sceptical until he was provided with two things. Firstly, confidential documentation supporting Noel’s account, and second and most importantly, DL granted him a wish.
    In nineteen sixty- eight, the US Military and American Federal Police performed training missions together as part of the Civil Disturbance Plan to ensure homeland security in the USA. The Civil Disturbance Group, or CDG, ensured that both civil disturbance and law enforcement issues