smiled the same disquieting smile etched on the façade of the building. “Let’s not keep her waiting.”
Moyer sat in the boxy chair that had been provided, a mate to those in the lobby.
“I told you that I might need a favor someday,” Perko flashed his yellow teeth at Moyer. “Today is that day. One of the Begat protestors gave you something on your way out after your last visit.”
Moyer nodded, “A card.”
“You are to make contact with him. I want you to join their group and gather information.”
“What kind of information?”
“I want to know what their plans are, their objectives. I want to know how they are organized and where the members reside. And I want names.”
“But, sir, I’m not a spy.”
“Exactly,” Perko grinned. “No one will suspect you.”
“But I won’t know what I’m doing.”
“Just appear receptive and keep your ears open for a while. Make them feel you sympathize and are interested in joining their cause. Gain their trust.” Perko turned his head toward the monitor and watched Robyn for a moment. “Now get along before your wife starts to worry.”
Moyer stood to leave.
“Mr. Winfield,” Perko said, his face stern, “do not mention our arrangement to anyone, not even your lovely wife. Understood?”
Moyer nodded.
Chapter 9
D uncan lifted himself from his chair when Moyer stepped into the lobby. “Mr. Winfield, I was telling your wife that we will set up an appointment in about six weeks so you can pick your child. We will assemble a profile of the twenty best outcomes, showing how they will look as adults.”
“That will be fine.” Moyer extended his hand to his wife. “Let’s go, honey.”
As they approached the door, Moyer slowed. A security agent blocked the way. After a brief hesitation, the agent stepped aside as if he had just received the order from the top floor. Moyer picked up his pace, pushed the door open, and pulled Robyn through behind him.
It was a quiet night. The air was freezing and the Circle nearly empty. Moyer’s heels clapped against the bricks. He was relieved there were no footfalls behind them. The security agent had been an unwelcome surprise. He wondered if Perko was trying to send a message.
Robyn sighed and clutched his arm tightly. “You were gone for a while. What was all that about?”
“It was nothing. Mr. Perko offered his congratulations and wanted me to fill out more paperwork. He said he thought you will make an excellent mother.”
Robyn held his hand the entire way on the ride home. She talked of the future and began planning for the baby. Her eyes glowed. She pressed into him on the seat, the warmth of her passing through his clothes to his skin.
When Moyer arrived home, he went to the bathroom and locked the door. As he stood before the mirror, the remnants of a smile still lingered on his face. He thought of Viktor Perko’s smile and his own faded. He knew his orders and knew what he must do. With the card the giant gave him in his hand, he studied the address, let his mind go blank and drifted onto the net. In seconds he was connected. His head was flooded with the image of a small room, brightly lit, sparsely appointed with tattered furniture. He announced himself.
The image of the room jerked. “Who the hell is this?” a man barked.
“Moyer Winfield. You gave me your card outside Hogan-Perko.”
“I did what?”
“Is this the albino giant?” Moyer wished he could see his host.
“He’s not here,” the voice said.
“When can I speak with him?”
“Who knows?”
“I need to get in touch with him. Can you pass along a message?”
“I’m not a messenger.”
“Please, it’s important.”
“Call back later and close this connection pronto.”
Moyer’s consciousness drifted back into his bathroom. In the mirror, his reflection bore a stunned expression. A knock at the door sent a jolt through him. “Are you alright?” Robyn called.
“I’ll be right
Moyer sat in the boxy chair that had been provided, a mate to those in the lobby.
“I told you that I might need a favor someday,” Perko flashed his yellow teeth at Moyer. “Today is that day. One of the Begat protestors gave you something on your way out after your last visit.”
Moyer nodded, “A card.”
“You are to make contact with him. I want you to join their group and gather information.”
“What kind of information?”
“I want to know what their plans are, their objectives. I want to know how they are organized and where the members reside. And I want names.”
“But, sir, I’m not a spy.”
“Exactly,” Perko grinned. “No one will suspect you.”
“But I won’t know what I’m doing.”
“Just appear receptive and keep your ears open for a while. Make them feel you sympathize and are interested in joining their cause. Gain their trust.” Perko turned his head toward the monitor and watched Robyn for a moment. “Now get along before your wife starts to worry.”
Moyer stood to leave.
“Mr. Winfield,” Perko said, his face stern, “do not mention our arrangement to anyone, not even your lovely wife. Understood?”
Moyer nodded.
Chapter 9
D uncan lifted himself from his chair when Moyer stepped into the lobby. “Mr. Winfield, I was telling your wife that we will set up an appointment in about six weeks so you can pick your child. We will assemble a profile of the twenty best outcomes, showing how they will look as adults.”
“That will be fine.” Moyer extended his hand to his wife. “Let’s go, honey.”
As they approached the door, Moyer slowed. A security agent blocked the way. After a brief hesitation, the agent stepped aside as if he had just received the order from the top floor. Moyer picked up his pace, pushed the door open, and pulled Robyn through behind him.
It was a quiet night. The air was freezing and the Circle nearly empty. Moyer’s heels clapped against the bricks. He was relieved there were no footfalls behind them. The security agent had been an unwelcome surprise. He wondered if Perko was trying to send a message.
Robyn sighed and clutched his arm tightly. “You were gone for a while. What was all that about?”
“It was nothing. Mr. Perko offered his congratulations and wanted me to fill out more paperwork. He said he thought you will make an excellent mother.”
Robyn held his hand the entire way on the ride home. She talked of the future and began planning for the baby. Her eyes glowed. She pressed into him on the seat, the warmth of her passing through his clothes to his skin.
When Moyer arrived home, he went to the bathroom and locked the door. As he stood before the mirror, the remnants of a smile still lingered on his face. He thought of Viktor Perko’s smile and his own faded. He knew his orders and knew what he must do. With the card the giant gave him in his hand, he studied the address, let his mind go blank and drifted onto the net. In seconds he was connected. His head was flooded with the image of a small room, brightly lit, sparsely appointed with tattered furniture. He announced himself.
The image of the room jerked. “Who the hell is this?” a man barked.
“Moyer Winfield. You gave me your card outside Hogan-Perko.”
“I did what?”
“Is this the albino giant?” Moyer wished he could see his host.
“He’s not here,” the voice said.
“When can I speak with him?”
“Who knows?”
“I need to get in touch with him. Can you pass along a message?”
“I’m not a messenger.”
“Please, it’s important.”
“Call back later and close this connection pronto.”
Moyer’s consciousness drifted back into his bathroom. In the mirror, his reflection bore a stunned expression. A knock at the door sent a jolt through him. “Are you alright?” Robyn called.
“I’ll be right
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