The Peace Proxy: Part 1 (9 page)

She looked at Garrett. “I’m all right,” she
assured Garrett, with a weak smile, answering the unspoken concern
that
was etched
across his face.

“Katherine, who gave you the scan?” Garrett
questioned in a soothing tone.

Katherine straightened in her seat,
appearing more focused. “I don’t know. When I got to the office
this morning…” she trailed off as the waiter arrived with their
order. Garrett eased back into his chair as the waiter deftly
placed two bowls of lobster bisque on the table. Garrett had not
realized he had come out of his seat
in an effort
to
comfort Katherine.

“Is there anything else I can get for you?”
the waiter inquired.

“No, thank you,” Garrett replied. Katherine
continued to stare at the newly delivered first course. The waiter
stayed a moment longer than Garrett would have considered good
manners before deciding Katherine was not going to respond. Garrett
gave him a hard
look,
and he rapidly
retreated. Garrett turned his attention back to Katherine.

“Tell me everything,” he encouraged, again
taking her hand across the table, but managing to stay seated in
the process.

Katherine started again, “When I got to the
office, two men were guarding the entrance. They were casually
dressed, but they were creepy, coolly detached. I guessed they were
CIA or NSA, one of those freak show outfits. They let me in without
a word. Greg and Rachel were in the reception area. Rachel was
crying,
and Greg was staring at the wall with
a blank expression,” she looked at Garrett. Now Katherine was
crying with no attempt to stop the tears. She continued vehemently,
“They injured Greg’s brain, those bastards.” She stopped for a
moment before proceeding, “When Rachel saw me she started to get
up, but stopped after glancing at the corner of the room. She was
frightened. I followed her gaze to a man standing silently next to
Robert’s office. He stepped forward as he told me they had been
waiting for me. The way he looked at me was
…well,
it scared me. He was so arrogant; absolutely no
concern for invading the office of the Secretary as if it was no
more than a menial clerk’s position; beneath him.”

Garrett had not thought the word scared was
part of Katherine’s lexicon. It disturbed him that the mere
presence of a man
could
illicit such a
response.

Katherine continued, “That
look,
it was chilling, but I wasn’t going to let this
thug push me around. I demanded to see the Secretary. He motioned
to the Secretary’s office as he stepped closer. I took the lead,
determined to show these guys who
was
really
in charge. Robert was sitting at his desk. I’ve never seen him look
so defeated.” She looked past Garrett for a moment, reliving those
moments. “I asked him what was going on. He said he was sorry, but
I was going to have to submit to some questions. I asked him for
clarification, thinking of invoking some legal precedence. He just
looked back to his desk and told me as soon as I
was
finished
they would allow Greg to get medical attention. I
didn’t even realize Greg was hurt.” She stopped, again trying to
hold back the recently restrained tears. Garrett waited
patiently.

“It’s all right. Take your time,” he
encouraged.

She continued, “The man from the reception
area told me to come with him. They had a scanner set up in my
office. When I protested he calmly reminded me Greg’s life probably
depended on my cooperation, so what could I do? I let them hook me
up and answered their questions. The feeling of having that machine
scan my thoughts...” She shivered as she recalled the
experience.

“What did they ask?” Garrett cautiously
inquired.

“Most of the questions concerned my computer
security.”

“What do you mean?”

“He wanted to know if I had ever allowed
someone access to my account or tried to access areas not essential
to my office. Was I loyal to the current administration? That kind
of stuff. Some questions about our relationship.” She paused for a
moment, appearing more composed for having talked
through
the ordeal. “They repeatedly asked about
accessing ARC protocols.”

Garrett became tense as the world swam
around him, leaving a mild sense of vertigo. How was this possible?
It was hard to believe the information Mike had for him
was tied
to Katherine’s office. Not that he held the
government in
particularly
high esteem, but
because he still could not reconcile such a chance occurrence. The
uneasy feeling that had been nestled deep in the recesses of his
mind began to force its way
forward,
and his
stomach tightened in
acknowledgment
. His mind
reeled as he struggled to bring the situation into a framework he
could understand.

“Garrett, are you listening to me?”

“Sorry, what were you saying?”

“I said Greg
is at
First
Memorial. After lunch, I’m going to
go
see
how he’s doing. Will you go with me?”

A low tone from Garrett’s earpiece indicated
he had an incoming call. Garrett checked the image on his comband.
It was Charlie.

“It’s Charlie. Katherine, let me get
this.”

Katherine did not attempt to mask her
irritation at the interruption.

“It’ll just take a second,” Garrett
explained.

“Fine,” she turned to her bisque, spooning
the liquid defiantly.

Content with the image on the comband,
Garrett did not bother to expand the video. “What is it, Charlie,”
he inquired, not pleased with the conflict.

“Can you come back to the office after
lunch? I have something for you.” Charlie’s reply was chipper,
excited. Garrett knew it meant the skeptic had
been
silenced
. Charlie must have found the connection between
Talbot and the information Mike was pedaling.

“I’ll have to get back to you. I’m in the
middle of something.”

“Don’t dally. It’s important.”

“Okay,” Garrett replied. He looked up to
find Katherine staring at him. He had never realized how cold those
alluring eyes could seem with the proper motivation. Despite her
apparent anger, she looked quite
pretty
actually, with her face generating a rosy flush that was increasing
by the moment. He could tell from her calculating expression that
the conversation was going to take a turn. Katherine did not do
scared well, but angry, she could set a dragon into a whimper. He
wondered briefly if the tablecloth was fireproof.

“Charlie, huh?”

“Yes,” Garrett replied flatly. The edge in
her voice confirmed the time for comfort was over.

“You went into the office this morning,
didn’t you?” She had taken on a
vicious
tone.
Displacing
fear with anger was always
an agreeable
exchange. Anger put the wielder
in control, which
was generally preferred
, but
anger
demands an object on which to
focus,
or it cools. Garrett was fairly certain
he was about to become that object.

“On Sunday?” Katherine’s wrath was about to
be unleashed
. “You went to work on a
Sunday?”

“Yes, I have a job as well,” Garrett
answered, trying to keep the irritation out of his voice. He knew
any hint of confrontation would just encourage conflict.

“You only go in on Sunday if you’re working
on a story. Were you investigating the security breach at my
office?”

“No, stop being irrational,” Garrett chided.
He winced knowing his criticism would only hone her attack.

“We agreed when we started dating neither of
us would use the other’s professional position as an advantage.
Didn’t we, Garrett?” The barrage was almost a physical affront.
“You can’t stop being a reporter for a second, can you?”

“Come on Katherine, you know me better than
that,” Garrett pleaded.

“I thought I did.” She stood to leave.
Garrett considered trying to reason with her, but logic intervened,
recognizing futility when it presented itself in a fashion so
inherently obvious to the casual observer.

“Well, that’s it then?” She asked
rhetorically
as she walked away. Garrett sat
silently for a few moments, considering what “
Well, that’s it
then?
” was supposed to mean. Although he had previously
considered their relationship was coming to a crossroads where some
serious decisions about their future would have to
be
made
, he did not think this was that time. Katherine had
been too emotional
to stubbornly stand
behind
a breakup at this point. He would talk to her when she was more
willing to listen.
He
looked at his bisque. On
any other day, he could not resist the delectable concoction, but
his appetite had left him. He called Charlie and told him he would
be back in an hour.

When Garrett returned, Charlie was in his
office, still surrounded by holographs. “What have you got?”
Garrett inquired as he entered. Charlie registered Garrett’s lack
of enthusiasm.

“Tough lunch?”

Garrett told him about Katherine’s morning.
Charlie was as surprised by the ordeal as Garrett.

“And the Secretary was there?” Charlie
asked, making sure he had the facts straight.

“Katherine said she spoke with him. So what
did you find?”

“Your source may be legitimate after all. I
spoke to one of Talbot’s coworkers. A Joshua Yaden.”

Despite his foul mood, Garrett could not
help smiling. Good
ol
’ Charlie, as resourceful
as ever.

“So, what’s the story?
He
actually works
as a researcher in the gravity propulsion
division. A child genius, he’s been in the division since he was
thirteen.” Garrett joked.

“I already told you he works for Global
Information Corporation,” Charlie replied, dismissing Garrett’s
attempt at humor. “Global is an information technology contract
company.”

“Information technology?” Garrett queried,
not registering the significance.

“Yeah, information technology,” Charlie
responded. Garrett shrugged. Charlie continued, exasperated,
“
information technology
,
I T
, the group
of
fifteen-year-olds
who fix your computer
when you can’t.”

“Then why didn’t you just say IT? So what’s
the big hoohaa?”

“Where he works,” Charlie was grinning from
ear to ear.

Garrett put his hands up, “I give up. Where
does he work?”

“He does IT support at the State building,”
Charlie revealed, raising his eyebrows to accompany his
Cheshire-cat grin.

Garrett sat up. “The Department of State
building where Katherine works?” he rapidly questioned.

Charlie, exceedingly pleased with the
outcome, sat back in his chair. “The very one.”

Garrett responded slowly. “Whoa.”

“Right,” Charlie added enthusiastically. “On
Tuesday, Rubin’s computer received an errant message. This Yaden
works in the cubicle next to Rubin. He said Rubin’s computer locked
up momentarily,” Charlie paused at Garrett’s lack of attention.
“You know computer failure while the operator
is
jacked
in can be painful?”

Garrett nodded absently.

Satisfied Garrett was keeping up, Charlie
continued, “When it happened, Rubin started cursing the
computer,
so Yaden peered around the cubical wall to see
what was wrong. Rubin had logged out and was leaving. Yaden said he
asked if there was a problem, but Rubin just brushed by him. About
an hour later some “goons,” as he put it, arrived and shut down the
office. So, my boy, it looks as though Mike may be on to something.
Of course, if it could damage the government or Federation, we
won’t be able to do anything with it due to the Alien Defense
Act.”

With the revelation complete, a very
satisfied Charlie placed his hands behind his head and leaned
farther back in his chair. Garrett continued to stare at the floor,
sorting through the implications this could have for Katherine.

After several quiet
moments,
Charlie’s jubilant air dissolved into concern.
He
leaned
forward, placing his hands on his
desk. “
Garrett,
did you get all that?
This could
be the big one.”

Garrett responded slowly, “Yeah, I got it.”
He looked at Charlie, “but the Department of State building? That
message may have
been intended
for someone in
Katherine’s office, like Greg. Maybe that’s why the alpha scan
injured him. He could have been trying to hide something.”

Charlie had expected a different reaction.
“So?”

“If I pursue this, it could put Katherine in
danger.”

“What are you talking about?” Charlie began,
flabbergasted. “She already passed whatever test those knuckleheads
gave her. They don’t think she’s involved, or they
would never
have let her leave.”

Garrett stood and walked to the large
window, watching several aircars as they maneuvered through the
city. The possibilities roared through his head like a freight
train. He was disturbed by an unshakable impression that his choice
would have ramifications that eluded his full comprehension. The
issue that oppressively loomed before him was what did
pursuing
the story reveal about his priorities? He
recalled Katherine’s words
“Do you see a time when we come
first?”
Part of him screamed in protest at the idea of staying
a course that could involve Katherine, but he already knew his
nature would not allow him to put it aside. Beyond his personal
reputation, there was Mike to consider. If Garrett could not bring
this to the surface, whomever Mike was afraid of probably would not
stop until all the loose ends were tied up. That did not bode well
for Mike and, by extension, Garrett.