Viking Bay Read Free

saw Kay; she obviously knew what Kay looked like, even though they’d never met.
    Mercer was in her forties, pretty and trim. She had short dark hair and smart brown eyes. She was also dressed very well for a person Kay assumed was a civil servant. Kay didn’t know the brand name of Mercer’s white linen suit, but she was pretty sure she couldn’t afford it. She did know the brand of Mercer’s shoes—she was a bit of a shoe freak—and she definitely couldn’t afford them.
    A waitress arrived as soon as Kay took a seat across from Mercer and asked if Kay wanted a drink. Mercer was drinking what appeared to be a Manhattan, the maraschino cherry bobbing in the whiskey.
    Kay wondered if it would be appropriate to drink at what wasessentially a job interview and decided: Why not? It wasn’t too early in the day for a cocktail. Plus they wanted her badly enough to fly someone out from Washington to meet with her. “I’ll have a Stoli martini with a twist,” she told the waitress.
    While waiting for her drink to arrive, Kay made an attempt at small talk, asking if Mercer had been to San Diego before—she had—and if she’d had a pleasant flight—“The usual hassle” was Mercer’s response. Mercer made no attempt to be friendly or put her at ease, and Kay was glad when her drink was served so they could get down to business.
    â€œSo. You have a job for me,” Kay said.
    â€œMaybe,” Mercer said. “There are a few things that need to be done before we finalize anything.”
    â€œLike what?”
    â€œWe need to complete background checks on you equivalent to those required for a Top Secret Security Clearance.”
    Kay knew that for a Top Secret clearance, the government looked at an individual’s work history, tax returns, financial solvency, and travel abroad. They looked at every document they could get their grubby little hands on. Federal agents also interviewed people who knew the person and tried to get them to spill dirty secrets; they talked to past employers, neighbors, and ex-spouses. What Kay didn’t understand was what Mercer meant when she said the background checks would be
equivalent
to those required for a Top Secret clearance. It was either a Top Secret clearance or it wasn’t.
    â€œThen a doctor here in San Diego will give you a very thorough physical.”
    â€œI had a physical just a year ago. There’s nothing wrong with me,” Kay said.
    â€œThings can change in a year,” Mercer said. “I should know. And we can’t afford to waste a lot of money training you and find out later that you have some incurable disease.”
    Now, that was cold.
    â€œFollowing the physical, you’ll fly out to D.C. and meet with a psychiatrist we use.”
    â€œYou think I might be nuts?” Kay said. She smiled when she said this, but she was actually offended that her prospective employer questioned her mental health.
    â€œNo, we don’t think you’re nuts exactly, but the type of people we employ tend to have issues—we probably wouldn’t hire them if they didn’t—and we consider an in-depth psychological profile a prudent precaution.”
    â€œI don’t have any
issues
,” Kay said, no longer smiling.
    â€œSure you do. You have authority issues. Control issues. Trust issues. You’re conflicted about your daughter. You like sex, but you appear to have no desire to have a normal relationship, get married, and have more kids.”
    Kay wondered whom Mercer had talked to and started to protest, but Mercer held up a hand, silencing her. “Hey, we’re okay with all those things. But we need to make sure you don’t have some deep-seated psychosis or phobia that we’re not aware of, the type that could affect your work. By the way, you may be hypnotized as part of the evaluation. Do you have a problem with that?”
    â€œYeah,