Page 83 of The List

“The list was in Reed’s office. But nothing indicated he was aware of its significance. The telephone and office were bugged for later monitoring.”

He couldn’t believe this. In the twenty-plus years since the start of the Priority program this was their first security breach. They were always so careful. So precise. Hired only the best and demandedabsolute perfection. Anything less was dealt with severely. Now a damn lightning bolt might crash it all?

“There’s more,” De Florio said. “Last Thursday, Mr. Bozin conducted a private meeting with Brent Walker. It lasted about fifteen minutes in the main conference room, after a staff meeting Bozin specifically included Walker on. Yesterday, Bozin ate lunch with Walker and other company people during a break in the negotiations. I place no special significance on that. However, afterward, the two of them were alone for a few minutes in the restroom. The man I have stationed at the negotiations was unable to find out if they actually spoke or not.”

“But they were alone in the restroom?”

De Florio nodded. “My man went in right after to be sure.”

He instantly recalled how Bozin had made a point last week to ask that Brent Walker be included in the negotiations. At the time he’d understood the wisdom of the move. After all, that was the main reason they’d hired Walker in the first place. But why would they now be having private conversations? Talks that Bozin had made no mention of.

“Why do you find it necessary to so closely monitor your partner?” De Florio asked.

“Mr. Bozin has exhibited what Mr. Hughes and I consider unusual behavior of late.”

“You doubt his commitment to the company?”

“I’m not sure. As you know, Chris is a man of few words, making it difficult ever to know exactly what he thinks.”

“Mr. Bozin has always shown a strong dedication.”

“But he’s getting old and hasn’t been looking well of late.”

“I’ve noticed some deterioration myself. Is there some concern about Brent Walker and Mr. Bozin?”

“I’m not sure. I just find it significant that Chris wants to talk with Walker.”

“It could simply concern the negotiations or perhaps Walker’s association with Reed.”

“Brent Walker is green to this industry. Outside of helping with Reed, there’s little he could offer Chris. But it’s Walker’s association with Reed that worries me. Reed could discuss the list with him. They were quite close once. Probably still are.”

“That would certainly broaden our already difficult containment problem.”

“Hell, Jon, we can’t go around killing everybody. The idea was to save money, not help with overpopulation.”

“Now it may simply be a matter of survival.”

He glared at De Florio. “And not just ours, huh?”

“I have a definite stake in this.”

“Really, now? I assume you’re mobile as a bird. All the money we’ve paid you is probably in Europe or the Caribbean, safely hidden behind myriad protective laws. You’re not married. No family. We provide everything you need. You could disappear in a blink of an eye.”

“Perhaps. But I do not desire to spend my life in jail, or on the run from the law.”

“Neither do I. But, unlike you, I have no place to run. My roots are all here.”

“I understand,” was all De Florio seemed willing to concede.

He returned to business. “What do you recommend?”

“We need to continue monitoring Reed and learn what he does as soon as it happens. And we certainly don’t want to overreact. He may not be interested in that list at all.”

“I agree. We still need to get it back.”

“That would draw attention. But I have erased all vestiges of it from our system. It doesn’t exist here anymore.”

“Good to hear.”