"No," said Philip. "There aren't any really rare minerals involved in any case. And I've made quite sure we have a safeguarded stockpile of the chemicals we use. That's an elementary precaution, I did that even before we filed the patent."

Greg rubbed the dressing on his nose with a forefinger. "Tell you, my own impression is that Kendric has made some sort of alliance."

"With who?" Julia asked.

He gave her a wan smile. "Don't know. Someone, some organisation, who would benefit from having your grandfather wiped. Kendric is an influence peddler, you see. Once he established that Philip Evans's memories were stored in the NN core, he could barter the information in exchange for an investment opportunity that'd give the family house money a return equal to the Event Horizon backing consortium. Get someone else to do his dirty work for him, and make a profit at the same time. That's his style."

"A kombinate?"

"No, I never believed it was a kombinate behind the blitz, a month-long delay in introducing the giga-conductor would be a nonsense when you consider their cyber-factories would have to be totally rebuilt to produce the stuff."

"What, then?"

"Sorry, I can't tell you. That's just the feeling I get out of all this." He shrugged. "Kendric definitely has some sort of scheme in mind, the buyout is proof of that, as well as his hatred for you."

"Mutual," Julia said automatically.

"I know."

And the way he said it made her glance at him, he'd sounded disapproving.

"What about this Wolf bloke," Philip said. "He's had two goes at me now. Seems to me, you ought to be concentrating on him, boy."

"I was coming to that. My contact has backtracked O'Donal's payments; he squirted Wolf's identity to me this morning."

"May we know the name?" Walshaw asked.

"Charles Ellis. Currently residing at the Castlewood condominium, New Eastfield, Peterborough."

She couldn't help the little start of interest. "I know that place. Uncle Horace lives there, it's not far from the marina. That proves Ellis is connected to Kendric, doesn't it?"

"Not necessarily. It's a perfectly logical place for someone that rich to gravitate to. Although I admit it's pushing coincidence a long way."

"Rich?" Walshaw enquired. "What is he, a tekmerc?"

"Apparently not," said Greg. "According to my contact Ellis is a data fence. He normally goes under the handle Medeor. Wolf is a totally new venture for him."

"What do you propose as your next step?" Walshaw asked. His grey eyes had narrowed, contemplating Greg with reserved, vaguely threatening preoccupation.

"Pay Charles Ellis a visit. He's the last link, the connection between the team of hotrods who ran the blitz and whoever paid for it."

"Seeing as how you're so close I'd like to send one of my operatives along with you," Walshaw said. "I know you prefer to work independently, and I respect that. But the stakes are mounting."