Mask Read Free Page A

vid.
    “This is Slipknot’s residence.  Tactical has been deployed.  Strange, we are having a difficult time discerning the property owner’s information.  I’m hopeful you will be right again and he’ll join us.  He’s quite the talent.”
    “Oh , I feel quite certain he shall.  They always do, in the end you know, now don’t they?  Besides, if he chooses the anti-social path, Tactical will be there to act as the cleaner.”
    “Cleaner , Sir?”
    “A delightful old expression I came across in my research.  It refers to a secret individual who, for a significant sum of revenue, would tidy up after a crime had gone horribly — wrong.  If Mister Slipknot does not join us, I am afraid he will have gone horribly wrong, wouldn’t you agree?  See to it that his entire family is eliminated as well, won’t you?”
    “Of course, Sir, of course.”
    R. Garraty stared down at the vid of the quiet suburban home.  A top hacker was sitting there, either asking for a job or taunting him.  R. Garraty felt slightly sick to his stomach.  He had no confidence at all, in spite of what he had indicated to J. Anderton.  He desperately hoped he was wrong about this one.
     
     
    ******
     
     
    An hour later J. Anderton was back in R. Garraty’s office, pointing at his desk vid.
    “ Sir, if I may?  This is the on-site vid feed.  The house isn’t there.  As you can see, it’s an empty lot.  The house appears to have burned down and been cleared away some years ago.”
    “Are you suggesting he hacked our satellite mapping systems?”
    “No, I’m not suggesting it, I’m stating it as a matter of fact,” the new comer said flatly.
    Ms. H. Offred stood behind the man with her hands out and shrugged her shoulders.  R. Garraty nodded for her not to worry.  He had never met this individual before and was unsettled that someone would have the temerity to barge into the Office of the Deputy Director of Information Control.  He was imposing, dressed in a black jump-suit, like a member of Tactical.  But R. Garraty doubted he was assigned to that Division, regardless of the weapon clipped to his belt.
    “And you are?”
    “Lint.”
    “Just Lint?”
    “No, you may call me Mister J. Lint.”
    R. Garraty was taken aback, but said nothing.  The attitude was disconcerting, too confident.
    Mister J. Lint walked over to look out at the factory floor from the same spot Garraty had occupied earlier that morning.  I think we have an Indie on our hands, gentlemen.  I want this entire floor re-assigned.  Mister J. Anderton, how’s the encryption going on that book cover?”
    “Slow.  He’s good, real good .  I’ve never heard the term, what’s an Indie , Sir?” J. Anderton asked.
    “ A subversive hacker, a rogue, but no one is that good, they always leave a trail.  He’ll make a mistake and then we’ll kill him, his family, and his co-workers and maybe even his dog,” J. Lint said.
    R. Garraty glanced down at his private drawer.  Mister J. Lint made him nervous.
    R. Garraty stood up and walked around his desk.  Mister J. Lint was significantly younger, better looking and taller.  He stopped a few steps away so he wouldn’t have to look up.  “Rest assured I have this matter quite under control.  We simply have another applicant for IC, nothing to be alarmed about Mister J. Lint.”  He stared at J. Anderton for reassurance.  “And what Division exactly, gives you authority here?”
    Mister J. Lint just stared at Deputy Director Garraty as he pulled out a black retinal scan card and laid it on the wooden desk.  R. Garraty lost most of his self-righteous indignation when he saw the Marque of the Ministry’s Secret Police.  He’d never met one before.
    Mister J. Lint looked back across the factory floor.  “Interesting desk you have there Director, doesn’t look like it was assigned by Division.”
     
     
    ******
     
     
    R. Garraty and Mister J. Lint circled each other, pacing.
    “Sir,