Mirrored Man: The Rob Tyler Chronicles Book 1 by GJ Fortier

hide your leg,” June threatened as
she wadded up another piece of paper and threw it her attacker.
    “I thought you liked Gummy Bears,” Don
retorted.
    “Yeah, well, I had a big breakfast.” She
laughed as she watched her missile hit him squarely on the nose.
Don's head fell back and his arms went limp as he played dead. “And
I'm not picking these up,” she added, pointing to the gummies on
the floor. “You're—”
    Just then the intercom beeped and they heard
a man's voice say, “Good morning, Doctors. The senator has arrived
and is on his way to your location.”
    Don's head snapped up, his eyes wide. “Oh,
crap!” he shouted, and then he started to laugh.
    “Pick 'em up. Now!” June ordered through
gritted teeth.
    “Too late,” Don said, still laughing and not
taking his eyes off of June as the door opened. She stared back at
him as the visitors stepped inside, then turned and glared at the
speaker in the ceiling. You could have warned us sooner.
    The three newcomers entered. They couldn’t
help but see the rainbow of candies on the floor as Tiong
introduced them. “June Phillips, Donald Cook, meet Senator Kitchens
and Major Greg Mathers of the Air force.”
    June rose to her feet, placed an
I'm-completely-oblivious-to-the-Gummy-Bears-on-the floor look on
her face, and extended her hand to the senator. But her eyes were
fixed on the major. Kitchens shook her hand and looked over at
Greg, smiling.
    “I think you've made a new friend,
Greg.”
    June blushed. “It's a pleasure to meet you,
sir,” she managed, as she turned her attention to the senator.
    Standing behind her, Don hadn't seen the
exchange but could guess what had happened. His eyes were also on
the major as he offered his hand. “The mystery man at last. It's
very nice to meet you, sir,” he parroted, and then turned to
Kitchens. “Senator.”
    “Major,” June said curtly, verbally
acknowledging Greg.
    “Now that that's over with …” Kitchens
attempted to lighten the mood.
    “Who are these men and what are they doing
in my laboratory?” a male voice harshly demanded from the
other end of the room.
    Professor Yeoum Chi had entered the room
unnoticed by the others, his raised voice startling the group. The
senator quickly recovered and painted on a smile, hoping the
professor hadn't noticed he had been affected by the abrupt
interruption.
    Yeoum was alerted to the presence of the
major and senator when they arrived at the convenience store. He
chose to take on a dominant presence with them, as he always did
with everyone. Dressed like the others in green hospital scrubs, he
strode toward them quickly, an intense scowl on his face. The
diminutive man’s gray hair betrayed some idea of his age, but that
was his only feature that did. If Kitchens hadn’t already known
Yeoum was in his seventies, he would have guessed him to be in his
late forties. The professor’s exotic features were a clear
indication of his Asian heritage, and his disposition was certainly
in keeping with his reputation. But now, in his presence, Kitchens
sensed something ominous about the man.
    “Professor Yeoum.” Tiong stepped forward to
head the man off. “Allow me to introduce Senator Kevin Kitchens of
the Senate Appropriations Committee.”
    Yeoum stopped short of the group, paying no
mind at all to the candy on the floor. He folded his arms across
his chest, squared his shoulders and looked Kitchens up and
down.
    “Professor.” Kitchens only nodded, knowing
that if he offered a handshake it would be refused.
    Tiong rolled his eyes, making certain that
the professor couldn't see him, and that Kitchens could. “And this
is—” Greg stepped toward Yeoum with the beginning of the
introduction, leading with his outstretched hand.
    “I know who this one is.” Yeoum’s voice
betrayed no sign of an accent.
    Undaunted by the professor’s treatment, Greg
let his arm drop to his side and smiled. He was enjoying himself.
His day was shaping up very