has its own people inside the government, at every level. They
want
me to run to the FBI so they can find me. Then it will all be over.”
“Dad, you’ve done a great job protecting me from danger.” Matt feels a lump in his throat. “But this is my chance to move on, to get away from all this. To finally grow up.”
“You don’t know what you’ll be up against.” Kent pleads. “I won’t be there to watch out for you.” His voice drops again. “I could lose you.”
Kent is stooped over, staring down. From the sagging flesh under his eyes, he seems to have aged ten years in just a few minutes.
Pushing off from the table, Matt rises and puts his hand on his dad’s shoulder. “I love you, Dad, but I have to do this.” His hands go down on his dad’s shoulders. “I’m sorry, but I
am
going to Japan tomorrow.”
Kent stands up. He turns and puts his arms around Matt. “I can’t lose you, son.”
For a long time, they hold each other.
Finally letting his arms slip off, Matt takes his jax off the table. “I’ve got to go pick up Jessica. We’re already late for the concert.” He starts to walk away, and then turns back. “One more thing. What’s the name of the company that wants us dead? At least tell me that. I can’t seem to find anything about it on the Mesh.”
Kent looks at his son.
“MX Global Corporation.”
CHAPTER 11
A s the disgruntled director storms out of the MX Global boardroom, the crisp clicking of his hi-carbon shoes grows fainter down the hall.
Ryzaard sits with arms folded across this chest and stares at Van Pelt without so much as lifting an eyebrow.
Beads of sweat stand out on Van Pelt’s forehead. “This meeting of the Board of Directors is hereby temporarily adjourned.” He clears his throat and reaches for a handkerchief to wipe his forehead. “I respectfully request the remaining directors to stand by in this room. I shall get back to you shortly.” He glances over at Ryzaard.
They both stand and leave the room on the heels of the director. A loud chime tells them that he’s just disappeared into an elevator.
Waiting for the next one, they say nothing as they stand shoulder to shoulder.
As soon as the doors part and they step in, Ryzaard turns to Van Pelt. “You gave me your assurance that
all
the directors would be compliant.” The doors slide shut, and Ryzaard swivels so that he’s towering over Van Pelt and staring down into his eyes, noses only inches apart. “There is no room for error!”
Van Pelt wipes his forehead again. “Yes, of course. That was my intent.”
“Good intentions are the domain of losers and weaklings,” Ryzaard says. “Fortunately, there’s a tried and true method used by the corporation for this type of situation. For some reason, which I can’t fathom, you’ve allowed the old ways of your father to fall into disuse in the last few years. I learned about it shortly after coming here. It seems to have been a long and honored tradition which I intend to revive.” Without taking his eyes off Van Pelt, Ryzaard pulls out his jax, traces a line on its side with a finger and raises it to his mouth.
“Who are you calling?” Van Pelt says.
“Hello, Ivan.” Ryzaard talks directly into the jax. “I need your help.” As he speaks, he continues staring into Van Pelt’s eyes. “A certain car will be leaving corporate headquarters in a few minutes heading for New Jersey, I believe. You’ll be jax’d the tracking information. Please have the car intercepted with the usual protocol.”
Ryzaard puts the jax in his pocket. “Don’t worry. Ivan is very good at what he does. He’s worked for the corporation for many years. Now go have a drink. Take a nap. I’ll call you when we are ready. Maybe you can learn a thing or two.”
When they return to the boardroom, three hours have gone by.
The directors are milling about the room, talking in loud voices, arms waving, venting frustration. When they see Ryzaard and Van Pelt
want
me to run to the FBI so they can find me. Then it will all be over.”
“Dad, you’ve done a great job protecting me from danger.” Matt feels a lump in his throat. “But this is my chance to move on, to get away from all this. To finally grow up.”
“You don’t know what you’ll be up against.” Kent pleads. “I won’t be there to watch out for you.” His voice drops again. “I could lose you.”
Kent is stooped over, staring down. From the sagging flesh under his eyes, he seems to have aged ten years in just a few minutes.
Pushing off from the table, Matt rises and puts his hand on his dad’s shoulder. “I love you, Dad, but I have to do this.” His hands go down on his dad’s shoulders. “I’m sorry, but I
am
going to Japan tomorrow.”
Kent stands up. He turns and puts his arms around Matt. “I can’t lose you, son.”
For a long time, they hold each other.
Finally letting his arms slip off, Matt takes his jax off the table. “I’ve got to go pick up Jessica. We’re already late for the concert.” He starts to walk away, and then turns back. “One more thing. What’s the name of the company that wants us dead? At least tell me that. I can’t seem to find anything about it on the Mesh.”
Kent looks at his son.
“MX Global Corporation.”
CHAPTER 11
A s the disgruntled director storms out of the MX Global boardroom, the crisp clicking of his hi-carbon shoes grows fainter down the hall.
Ryzaard sits with arms folded across this chest and stares at Van Pelt without so much as lifting an eyebrow.
Beads of sweat stand out on Van Pelt’s forehead. “This meeting of the Board of Directors is hereby temporarily adjourned.” He clears his throat and reaches for a handkerchief to wipe his forehead. “I respectfully request the remaining directors to stand by in this room. I shall get back to you shortly.” He glances over at Ryzaard.
They both stand and leave the room on the heels of the director. A loud chime tells them that he’s just disappeared into an elevator.
Waiting for the next one, they say nothing as they stand shoulder to shoulder.
As soon as the doors part and they step in, Ryzaard turns to Van Pelt. “You gave me your assurance that
all
the directors would be compliant.” The doors slide shut, and Ryzaard swivels so that he’s towering over Van Pelt and staring down into his eyes, noses only inches apart. “There is no room for error!”
Van Pelt wipes his forehead again. “Yes, of course. That was my intent.”
“Good intentions are the domain of losers and weaklings,” Ryzaard says. “Fortunately, there’s a tried and true method used by the corporation for this type of situation. For some reason, which I can’t fathom, you’ve allowed the old ways of your father to fall into disuse in the last few years. I learned about it shortly after coming here. It seems to have been a long and honored tradition which I intend to revive.” Without taking his eyes off Van Pelt, Ryzaard pulls out his jax, traces a line on its side with a finger and raises it to his mouth.
“Who are you calling?” Van Pelt says.
“Hello, Ivan.” Ryzaard talks directly into the jax. “I need your help.” As he speaks, he continues staring into Van Pelt’s eyes. “A certain car will be leaving corporate headquarters in a few minutes heading for New Jersey, I believe. You’ll be jax’d the tracking information. Please have the car intercepted with the usual protocol.”
Ryzaard puts the jax in his pocket. “Don’t worry. Ivan is very good at what he does. He’s worked for the corporation for many years. Now go have a drink. Take a nap. I’ll call you when we are ready. Maybe you can learn a thing or two.”
When they return to the boardroom, three hours have gone by.
The directors are milling about the room, talking in loud voices, arms waving, venting frustration. When they see Ryzaard and Van Pelt
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