EOTU by D. R. SMITH (best fiction books to read txt) đ
- Author: D. R. SMITH
Book online «EOTU by D. R. SMITH (best fiction books to read txt) đ». Author D. R. SMITH
The door cracked about an inch or two and the external conversation became clear and understood. Sanjay Patel was laughing with Mia who was saying something about body odor in a confined area. As the laughter died down, Eric heard the tail end of a comment from Dr Hemmer that more than likely referred to himself and was something to the effect of⊠âI thought he seemed too bright for a janitorâ. Nick Walker then sounded as though he was attempting to subdue the jovial atmosphere by quietly reminding everyone in the hall of the importance of this tribunal and the door was then once again pulled closed just short of latching.
Muffled conversation resumed until, after about 20 seconds, the group began filing in with each giving a superficial smile as they greeted Eric. Mia appeared to avoid eye contact directing her gaze toward the path ahead of her. Before Pete McNally had closed the door behind the final entrant, Eric caught a glimpse of Trey leaning against the hallway wall. He was pretty sure Trey hadnât seen him but figured he had taken part in the pre-meeting dialog and thereby knew something of the whole mess. A moment later, all were in their obviously appointed seats and Dr Walker reviewed the gathering from the head of the table. In addition to Eric, who was exactly opposite Walker⊠Habib, Angie, Sanjay, Pete, and intentionally positioned as far from Eric as possible, Mia⊠were all in attendance.
âI will begin by asking if there is anyone here who is not aware of what this meeting is about.â Nick queried while scanning the faces of all present. A hand appeared barely above the far end of the table with fingers wiggling and the owners head shaking. It was, of course, Eric. âSeriously Eric?? Youâve done what youâve done and yet youâve no clue why youâre here??â Dr Walker questioned accusingly.
âOf course I understand Iâve done something wrong, Dr Walker. I understand there will be consequences. But as to whom those consequential actions will emanate is what I donât yet understand. Thereby, I can truly say, that Iâm not completely queued in as to what Iâm here forâ, Eric said in a somewhat sarcastic manner. âI would guess Iâm going to be fired. I might even be carted off to prison or something. But is all of thisâŠâ he said waving his hand in a sweeping motion at the attendees encompassing the table, ââŠsome kind of conclusory panel brought together to decide what I should get paid for myâŠcontribution⊠to⊠the project?â His statement trailed off in a cautionary manner and his facial expression radiated a silly âI donât get itâ look as his shoulders shrugged. A couple of suppressed chuckles could be detected with hand covered mouths belying a smile. But all fought to remain serious in demeanor.
âVery funny Ericâ Nick said dryly. âBut not very funnyâ
âMay I say something Dr Walker?â Mia probed. All eyes turned in her direction including Ericâs. No doubt everyoneâs thoughts could only speculate what was about to be said. Dr Walkerâs pursed lip glare in her direction screamed âNOT NOW!â
âMia, hold on⊠pleaseâ Nick addressed her, holding a single finger up. âWeâll circle the table making sure everyone has the opportunity to ask or state whatâs on their mind⊠OK?â, he assured
âYeah⊠OKâ she conceded, nodding with some frustration in her retreat.
Nick returned his focus in Ericâs direction and continued. âWell Mr Mikos. Allow me to give you a vivid description of what youâre being âcalled on the carpetâ forâ He folded his arms as the weight of his 6â frame rocked back fully onto the springs of the chair and one leg crossed up over the knee of the other. He was now viewing Eric through his glasses that were really prescribed for much nearer use. He continued.
âThe concern we have is not so much what you did IN this building as much as it is about what you took out of this building. MARCH has spent literally millions of dollars to safeguard its facility and the information and equipment developed within it. I would venture to say that⊠uh⊠you, Mr Mikos, have not spent that much on securing your home? Am I right?â Nickâs question caused the entire circle to cast a gaze, obvious or not, in Ericâs direction. As one fully versed in MARCHâs security complexities, Pete McNally rolled his eyes.
Eric appeared visibly assailed and shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He knew very well where this was going and had no snippy comeback to offer. Several in the room were struck with a sudden recognition of Nick Walkers assertive management qualities. It was vividly clear that he knew his responsibilities as administrator and how to address these issues.
âJust how do you think dozens of people who have dedicated nearly 12 years of their lives working tirelessly to achieve a dream⊠a dream that requires extensive confidentiality and security by the way⊠feel after finding out someone betrayed that effort in one fell swoop?â Nick said with the voice of a parent endeavoring to instill an ideal in their child. âYou had some of our most treasured and intimate corporate secrets plastered all over the walls and ceiling of your bedroom. Diagrams, computations, launch and target coordinates, and personal communication information that involved years of hard work.â
Although everyoneâs attention was trained on the two individuals engaged in this important examination, an abrupt movement by Officer McNally distracted them from the center stage. He too had had his arms folded and was rocked back. But an unexpected and quick bolt to an upright position, unfolding of his arms and raising a hand up to stifle any further sound from the group, put everyone on the alert. His ear was aimed, like a sound-sensitive mic, at the door and his blank stare forward indicated a focus of attention on a sense other than sight. The scientists all had a puzzled look on their faces. The room became dead quiet as Pete slowly rose from his seat and stepped stealthily towards the door. Before anyone could take a second breath, he snapped the door handle and swung it open enough to lean his head out and quickly glance in both directions.
Now convinced he had missed whoever it was that had been eavesdropping, he released a breath and resumed normal movement by softly closing the door and returning to his chair.
âThere was definitely someone out there a minute or two agoâ, he stated to his co-workers in order to justify his interruption. âYou can continue Dr Walker. Sorryâ he assured with an authorizing flip of his hand.
âQuite alright Pete. In fact, that right thereâŠâ Nick said swinging his hand out from his chin in order to point at Pete McNally, ââŠis essentially what this is all about Eric. Doesnât it seem an unfortunate waste of time for Mr McNally to exercise such cautious protective measures when everything heâs trying to protect is stapled to the walls of an employeeâs home?â
âDoesnât it seem an unfortunate waste of money though, to pay Mr McNally if I was able to get that far with your precious secretsâ. Eric quipped back, carefully refraining from making it sound too sarcastic and insulting.
âWhy you smart ass littleâŠâ Pete began while even threateningly rising up from his seat. He was pushed back by an outstretched arm from Dr Patel who softly said, âTake it easy Pete. Donât let him get to you my friendâ
The room fell into silence for about 10 very LONG seconds.
âAre you gonna let him get away with that Doc?â Pete questioned angrily in Nicks direction. Nick simply held his hand up to shush any further criticism.
Dr Walker turned to Angie and said, âDo have anything you want to ask Eric or any comments or observations you wish to present here?â
Dr Hemmer had her right elbow resting against her folded left arm while gliding a painted fingernail back and forth along the top edge of her bottom row of teeth. It was apparent she had been taking in everything that had transpired over the past 10 minutes or so and was ready to interject her perspective. She shifted her overall body position, brought her hands down on the table with a light slap, and released a breath of frustration. As second in command, she knew the power she carried but rarely employed. It wasnât her style to âstep on toesâ so-to-speak, but this was one of those rare moments she needed to exert her authority. She âdrum rolledâ the fingernails of both her hands loudly on the table top a couple times and then spoke.
âWell⊠I would like to excuse everyone from the room except Dr Walker and Eric and address them privatelyâ, she said without apology or question. Immediately, chatter arose among the others with things such as âWait? What did she just say?â and âHold it? I thought we were all going to get to say something?â being heard.
Oddly, Mia remained silent and simply turned to face Eric for a moment. She then became the first to cooperate with Dr Hemmerâs request by sliding herself back from the table, which she did without breaking her stolid eye contact with Eric. She then snapped her head around towards the door and walked away. Eric felt a pain in his heart and weakness in his knees and legs as Mia slipped through the meeting room portal. It took everything he had inside him to not call out, Hold it! Mia, please come back in! Iâm so sorry! Instead he closed his eyes and lowered his head as the real damage of his actions was beginning to amass in his mind. Miaâs move prompted the rest of the attendees to rise and do the same and within moments, the room contained only three occupants.
In a locked janitorial storage room on the opposite side of the facility, Trey Walker sat with his iPhone cradled in both hands as his thumbs busied about the screen. He paused a moment as the smart phone began playing an audio file recorded only a few minutes ago.
ââŠsome of our most treasured and intimate corporate secrets plastered all over the walls and ceiling of your bedroomâ the tinny distant sound of his Uncle Nickâs voice replayed from the phoneâs tiny speaker. His thumb made a sudden movement to prevent any further playback. He glanced around nervously to see if anyone had been near enough to hear the recording.
Once his attention returned to the electronic device, he selected his email app and opened an outgoing mail message screen. He then touched the ATTACHMENT icon and navigated to the folder where the âmeeting roomâ audio file was stored, selected it and watched it populate the ATTACHED field. Next, he chose an address from his address book and watched as it filled the âTO:â field of the message. He then positioned the cursor in the âSUBJECTâ field and typed âE.M. Meetingâ. He then typed âUNFORTUNATELY SOMEONE CAME TO THE DOOR AND STOPPED ME FROM GETTING ANYMORE THAN THISâ and hit SEND.
He stared intently for several seconds and watched as a window finally popped up stating âMESSAGE SUCCESSFULLY SENT TO⊠KHL@KTI.DEâ One side of his mouth raised in a nervous half-smile and he promptly slipped his phone into a zippered pocket in his coveralls. He then removed the Bluetooth mini-microphone from his side pocket and stuffed it under some rags on the upper shelf of an unused locker. Closing the locker gently, he stepped over to grab a mop and mop bucket and proudly shuffled off to the kitchen area to
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