Chapter 2 – Two Pints for Your Thoughts
Two years earlier…
It was almost ten o'clock in the evening as Joel sat huddled over a half drunk pint of beer at a corner table in a crowded Boston pub called the Bull and Finch. It was a mild winter night outside and the streets were bustling with locals and tourists alike. Joel sat quietly and watched the pub crowd around him while he kept to himself. He occasionally looked up and out of the pub's window next to his table where he could see the old "Cheers" sign and beyond the hazy features of a full moon barely visible through the thick smog of the city.
In the background somewhere ten o'clock tolled on what sounded like an antique wall clock. Joel nervously kept an eye on his watch and the hostess as she sat late patrons to the pub. He wondered if the information he'd acquired was worth the price he'd paid. After all, the men he waited for were not known for being late, not even to their own happy hour. Joel split his attention between the window view of the stairwell just outside and the bar crowd. He made every attempt to avoid eye contact but he kept noticing two pretty girls eyeing him from the bar. He thought to himself if he wasn't working how much fun he might have with those two pop tarts. As quick as the thought crossed his mind, he pulled himself back to business. He turned his attention back to the stairwell. He saw both of them.
As they walked down the stairs, Joel got up from his table, picked up his beer, and wiped off the table as he headed for the door. Along the way he swallowed the last of his beer and sat the pint glass down on the side bar. As he walked past the girls, they both winked at him with interest but Joel was good at his trade and simply smiled at them as he walked past and approached the hostess.
The hostess nodded at him as he walked up and Joel returned the nod with a smile and with a boisterous voice he said, "Time for me to go, sweetheart." He swaggered from side to side a little to give the impression he was less than sober. She smiled back at him just as two older gentlemen came through the door, both involved in their own discussion. Joel stealthily pointed at the two men without them noticing and slipped the girl several credits for her time and cooperation. She glanced down at them below her hostess stand and grinned. She looked back up and mouthed the words, "Thanks for the tip" and smiled just as the two men stepped up to the stand.
The first man asked, "We'd like a private booth if you have one available." Joel stepped aside and nodded at the two men as he walked passed them and out the door. He overheard the hostess, "Of course, gentlemen. I have a nice corner table that just opened up, follow me." The men proceeded to follow her to their seats. Along the way one them commented how he'd always liked to have a beer in this old bar.
Several minutes later…
Joel had taken a brisk walk around the block and returned to the Bull and Finch. He found a spot right next to the old "Cheers" sign at the top of the steps that lead down to the pub. He glanced down and there they were, both of the men he'd passed coming out of the pub earlier. They were seated and apparently engaged in deep conversation at the table he'd been at earlier.
With tact and keen dexterity, he slipped a small device out of his trench coat pocket unnoticed. It looked sort of like a small magic wand. He placed it up in the armpit of his coat, mostly obscured from view, and pointed toward the men downstairs. With his free hand he controlled it with a tiny holo pad that resembled a music player and he listened with a set of old-fashioned wired ear buds.
To any passersby Joel simply looked like someone leaning on the rail listening to music as he occasionally tapped his foot to add realism. In reality, he was tuned into the men's conversation down in the pub and they were none the wiser. Joel relaxed against the railing as he eavesdropped on the men who had just finished their first round of beer.
Downstairs in the Bull and Finch…
Marcus Hall and Ezekiel LeMay had just started on their second round of beer when Marcus stated, "I've heard enough. I didn't expect you to take sides but it's over. She's got the job, even though I still think Vittori's experience…"
Ezekiel interjected, "I know how you feel about it, but there had to be a consensus in the decision and Lopez was it."
Marcus took a swig of his beer and nodded, "Zek, I just hope to God you and the rest of the experts are right about her."
Zek grinned, "Can we change the subject?"
Marcus's frown turned into a grin, "Hell, yes. We came in here to relax."
Zek laughed, "Sometimes I think you can be as stubborn as one of those damned M.E. activists."
Marcus leaned back and chuckled. After a few seconds he leaned forward over the table toward Zek and whispered, "I admit being passionate about my job but my zeal for it doesn't compare to one of those loony Mother Earth fanatics." Marcus took another swig of beer, burped, and grinned. "I can't believe you just compared me to one of those nut jobs."
Both men sniggered. Zek said, "Well apparently their nuttiness made the news again. RDA's Lunar Security busted another cell of them…"
Marcus cut Zek off, "Too close to work talk. Let's chat about something closer to home." Zek fell silent as he recognized the curious expression on Marcus's face was about to lead to a topic he'd rather avoid. Zek stared down into his beer and took several stout swigs from it in hope it would discourage the question but it didn't work.
Finally, after several more swallows of beer Marcus asked, "Well Zek? Did you finally do it?"
Zek's hands began to fidget while his expression took on a hint of nervousness as he looked up from his beer. He leaned forward and replied with a softer tone in his voice, "Yes. I told her in my last message."
A strange look crossed Marcus's face. "You're kidding me?"
Zek said, "no, I did it, despite all the pestering advice from you and the others. You just have to understand it's hard to apologize. Especially to my ex."
Marcus grinned, "I know it's hard but in your case I think she'll understand. The only part that bothers me was the fact that your last message was secure."
Zek developed a big smirk on his face as he leaned back and took a swig of his beer. "Yep and she accepted my apology and one day she'll remember it."
Marcus replied, "I'm not sure if that's foolish or bold but I guess you'll find out when you get there."
Zek said, "I think she'll understand, especially since I can argue it was for her own safety. Of course, she has so many other things to worry about with the legitimate part of her mission approved and all. I have to admit Marcus, the bio-encrypt software you gave me worked better than I expected. I used the test phrases you gave me from the last session and she didn't know what I was talking about. It's kind of weird to think that we've had several conversations about the special aspects of the science station's mission and she won't remember any of it 'til I get there. That's a pretty amazing brain game if you ask me. Don't worry, I'll be sure to tell her it was your idea."
Marcus grinned. "Actually, the technology is old hat. It's getting it to work over a superluminal channel that's new and that was Tom's idea."
Zek interjected, "I'm glad we were able to get him and Nathan together again over at M.I.T."
Marcus replied, "looks like the trip was worth it."
Suddenly Zek frowned, "I guess they talk the same language because I couldn't get him to even answer my damned calls."
Marcus took a sip of his beer, "sometimes a father has to step back and let someone else do the talking." Both of the men just stared at one another for a moment as Marcus' words sank in.
With a more serious tone Zek said, "The question is how long will he stay on board, eh? We're about to begin the final phase of the project if everything remains on schedule. To add, there are still a lot of things that have to fall into place for this to work. It's a fucking miracle we've managed to keep a project of this complexity under wraps this long."
Marcus quickly whispered, "little lower my friend." He glanced around at the pub crowd, all of whom appeared oblivious to their conversation.
Zek smiled and in a lower tone continued, "Sometimes Marcus, you're just way too paranoid."
Marcus laughed. "It's in the job description." Marcus grew serious and lifted a glass for a toast. "To a vigilant future." Zek stared at Marcus for a second and then raised his glass and bumped it to Marcus'. "Indeed and absent friends." They both finished their beers and burped in near unison before their empty glasses reached the table.
Zek said, "You've finally had a couple of beers at the Bull and Finch. You ready to head out?"
Marcus nodded and both men stood up to go pay their tab.
Joel quickly put his listening device away and started walking out on the crowded Boston Commons where an open-air concert had just concluded. It was no trouble for him to blend into the crowd. Along the way, he pulled out a small holo pad and placed a call to an unlisted address. An older male voice answered, as the video image on the pad remained blank with only two words pulsating in red, "Image Blocked." In a deep confident tone the voice said, "You have something for me?"
While Joel walked he whispered, "Accept encrypted data upload with this call for assignment 'North Church'."
The voice replied, "Understood."
Joel continued, "Made contact with subject 'Heavy Man,' as expected. I detected several keywords of interest that have been uplinked with this call for your review." There was a short pause as Joel checked around him to ensure no one in his immediate vicinity was following him. He continued, "I recommend two lanterns, I repeat, two."
There was a short pause on the line but finally the voice replied, "very well then. It's by sea. Your services are no longer required. Do you agree?"
Joel replied, "I concur and Zee, I consider us squared. Good luck with your personal project and don't call me again." Joel ended the call. He wiped the holo pad's memory, shattered the holo glass across his knee, and dropped it in a nearby storm drain.
Joel glanced around to see if anyone had observed his actions. As with any big city everyone tended to mind their own business and tonight was no different. The crowd paid him no attention. He pulled his coat hood up over his head and quietly walked off into the dimly lit coble stone streets of Beacon Hill.
