The Syncode

Chapter 14: An Enigma Part II and A Little Romance

She looked at him skeptically. "Hmm."

Sherlock rummaged through a file marked 'Top Secret' stenciled in red at the top.  "Don't trust him."

"Oh? Why not?" This would be interesting.

"I know my brother. He's plotting something."

Mycroft looked affronted. "Well I wouldn't put it quite in those terms. I take the information that is given to me and act accordingly."

"Precisely." Sherlock handed Joanne a sheaf of papers detailing the various equipment that was taken from the hut soon after the scientist's demise. "This lists the equipment that was confiscated at the hut and held at the nearby Rothera Station. It does not mention their journals and notes, nor the disposition of them." He glanced over to his brother. "I assume our cousin is working on that information?"

"Quite so. Because of the multiple governments involved, the Australian's part of the research was temporarily sent to Mawson station. Julian is working to ascertain their current location."

"And the American's? There were two of them, plus whoever they worked for." Joanne needn't have asked. She already knew the answer, remembering Julian's reference to favors being called in. 

This was confirmed when a fleeting look of distaste passed over Mycroft's features and as quickly disappeared. "Our cousin is dealing with the American side of things."  As he spoke, his phone buzzed an incoming text. Lines of letters and numbers flooded the screen in Syncode. It was from Julian.

Here are the names of the Americans: Pat Conan, who worked directly for VB and oversaw that side of the project; Silas Wright (scientist), Larry Hanrahan (scientist) who incidentally went down in a plane crash with Conan on their way to PL via Argentina. SW and the other four perished on board the RSS Scoresby. Someone wanted that project stopped. 

Joanne perked up at the last sentence. "Yeah, just like the banksters didn't want Tesla providing free energy to the world. Would have made them go broke what with all their investments in the new electric companies at that time!"

Mycroft looked at her in disbelief. "Banksters?"

"Yeah, even more ruthless than gangs, and on a global scale. They have power and money and control pretty much everything. Why do you think JP Morgan pulled his funding for the Wardenclyffe Tower? Tesla was a great scientist, but naïve business wise. He never stopped to think what it would mean for Morgan and his cronies if he had succeeded. Free energy for everyone, then boom, there goes their investments in companies like Westinghouse. Why do you think Edison hated him? He was more businessman than inventor, and put the almighty dollar ahead of anything else."

Sherlock smiled cryptically. "Reminds me of someone I know."

Mycroft sat up, ramrod straight. "I assure, I do not-"

"I was referring to Magnussen, actually."

Another answer Mycroft hadn't been expecting. "Oh." Choosing not to elaborate, he quickly busied himself with his stack of papers.

Joanne sensed something monumental had happened regarding the brothers and this Magnussen. She figured it was in her best interest not to prod Mycroft about it, though his reaction had amused her. He had thought Sherlock referred to him! Whoever this guy was, he must have been a lot like Mycroft.

Another text came through as Mycroft frowned at the phone. "He asks about you. Would you like me to relay anything?" 

A quick glance at his stormy expression made Joanne choose a short reply. "Just tell him I'm fine and that I hope he's doing ok." She paused. "And that I miss him."