Dr. Possible stepped into Ryan's office; the door did not swing open as he had expected it to but rather slid open and shut as he passed through before locking with a metallic click.
A sharply dressed man in a double breasted suit sat in the center of the room. Dr. Possible recognized him immediately as the very man he had been waiting to see, Andrew Ryan.
Ryan looked up from his paperwork and addressed James. "Please have a seat Dr. Possible I'm just giving another go your resume and we'll begin."
James did as he was told. He sat down in the plush red armchair opposite that of Ryan's and looked about the room while he waited for the opportune moment to speak to arise. The room was covered in red carpet and surrounded by firm wooden furnishings of cherry oak. There was a montage of magazine covers and newspapers in dedication to Andrew Ryan's achievements throughout the year as well as photographs of the millionaire playboy industrialist standing next to other great Americans such as Howard Hughes and William Randolph Hearst. James's attention was soon brought back to the matter at hand.
Ryan shuffled through the papers he grasped in his hand and read his significant findings out loud. "Dr. James Timothy Possible, Age 32 years, has Doctorate in Theoretical Physics from the Middleton Institute of Science and Technologies, married to Dr. Anne Possible Age 30 years, and one daughter Kimberly Anne Possible age 4 years old. So James you're a family man I take it?" said Ryan as he set the porfolio down on the desk
James felt taken aback by this while he was prepared for his credintials to come under scrutiny he certianly did not expect his family life to be in question much less known about by Mr. Ryan.
"Yes sir, been happily married these past six years, and yes I've been blessed with Kimmy-Cub for the past four." James said in an upbeat tone "But how'd you find all that out if you don't mind me asking"
Ryan ran his fingers through his pencil mustach "Yes as you've probably figured out that wasn't on the list of questions on your application sheet when you filed it in here. To be fair in this given situation I'll ask you a question and when you answer it I shall give you an answer in turn."
James pondered at this but then decided that it was best to play along. "That sounds fair enough sir"
"Well then, if I am to assume that your question you just asked shall be your first then I will give you an honest answer. Sullivan my informant in the NYPD looked you up through the phone company, all perfectly legal I can assure you." Ryan said as he withdrew a tobacco pipe and ignited it with a silver lighter "Now, I understand you worked on some of the captured experiments that the German Army was working on durring the war. Anything that could be put to use in say a practical manner?"
"It depends on what your looking to do sir, the stuff I worked on and might I say only had minor success with was primarily with the captured V-2 Rockets. Unless your looking to bomb something rather inacuratly at a very high speed I'm afraid theres not much use for them." James said confused as to where the conversation would lead to next "What is it your looking to do?"
Ryan stood up and walked to the window to his back and slid open the blinds. "To change the world, tell me do you know what makes the difference between a man and a slave?"
"What sir?" James said dumbfounded
Ryan turned again to Dr. Possible "A man chooses, a slave obeys" rings of smoke forming above his head "The outside world you see has become a hostile and inhospitable place and even these once great United States have fallen into the will of the parasites don't you see?"
"I'm not entirly sure Mr. Ryan" said James
"Is a man not entitled to the sweat of his brow?"
"Yes" croaked James
"Really then why is it that the man in Washington says no it belongs to the poor, no says the man in the Vatican it belongs to God, no says the man in Moscow it belongs to everybody?" Ryan spat as his pipe came dangerously close to falling to the floor with each word
"I don't know" James said hesitiantly
Ryan smiled "Because they're all parasites, scrambling for something they didn't earn, but heres the thing. We're different you and I. You know that I am a man of means and you have something that I need."
"What is it you require of me Mr. Ryan?" James said quizically
"Your expertise my boy your expertise, sign on with me and I can assure you that you'll never have to worry about money again. I can also take you further in this world than any of those governments can ever hope to. What do you say?"
James stood up at this "Mr. Ryan you have your man"
"Good we have much to discuss, tell me have you ever heard of a man named Bill Mcdonagh?" Ryan said as he walked with Dr. Possible to the front of the office
"No sir can't say that I have" answered James as the office door slid open
"Not to worry you'll have plenty of time to get to meet your new partner in the coming weeks when your working as my new Assistant General Contractor" Ryan said before the door shut again and locked with the familiar metalic click
James calmy walked over to Elaine the secretary and leaned over to ask her a question "Excuse me but where might I find the nearest payphone?"
Elaine looked up and smiled before answering "Down the hall to the left"
"Thank you" James said as he turned and began walking toward the phones
James picked up the first availible telephone and spoke into the reciever "Operator? Get me Middleton, Colorado."
Meanwhile in Middleton Colorado
Anne was busy hanging clothes on the line when she heard the phone ringing from inside the house. She set down what she was currently working on and began to carefully walk back to pick up the phone. What ordinarily would have been an easy task was made into a complication of steps due to the now potruding tummy that meant she would soon be do. Although she was told to stay off her feet as much as possible she wasn't one to listen to others advice and had a tendency to be a very independent woman. Step by step she walked until she finally made it to the phone and picked it up.
"Hello, Possible residence" Anne said as she spoke into the reciever
"Hello Anne, I got the job Ryan made me assistant general contractor" James said enthused
"That's great honey" Anne said as she felt the baby kick inside her tummy "my this little one is turning out to be quite the athelete"
James vioce came in from over the phone "You know Kimmy has always been very active since the day she was born"
"No the baby just kicked again dear" Anne said with a small sigh of relief
"Hold the phone down next to the baby, I want to talk to him" said James
"It could be a girl too you know" said Anne in a matter of fact tone
"True enough honey but it could be two as well" said James with a slight laugh
"Don't even joke about that" said Anne in a hushed voice
Anne reached down and did as she was asked putting the phone to where the baby could here it. James's voice echoed into the womb "Hello little one, this is daddy. I know this world may seem strange and foreign when you enter it but I'm doing my best to make sure it's a good one, for all of us." Anne having realized that he had said everything that he needed to placed the phone back to her ear.
"Not much of a talker are they honey?" giggled Anne
"The sooner kids learn to talk the sooner they learn to talk back Anne" James laughed "Speaking of talkers where's Kimmy?"
"Upstairs alseep for naptime" said Anne quietly
The reality of the situation was that Kim was never asleep in the first place. The moment that the phone rang she had edged her way to the corner of the stairs and began to listen for anything that she could hear from her position.
"Speaking of which I should go check on her, I love you James." Said Anne
"Love you too" said James
"Goodbye" Anne said as she hung up the phone and began to head towards the staircase
Kim began to tiptoe back to her bedroom and hid underneath the covers of her bed. As Anne rounded the corner into Kim's bedroom saw what looked like a disheveled attempt of a very inexperienced four year old trying to look as if she was asleep.
"Kimmy you can get up now I know your awake" said Anne
Kim flipped up at and instant with her auburn pigtails almost spinning as she did so "How did you know I was awake mommy?"
"I was four once believe it or not" said Anne smiling at her daughter "I'll tell you what you come and help me with the laundry outside and later when its time for bed I'll finish reading that book you like so much."
"The Little Mermaid?" Kim asked
"The one and the same" Anne answered
Dockyards New York City Port 5:32 P.M.
Dean Stoppable kept close pace behind Ryan as he walked the beat of the shipyard as he had planned taking in the salty air and the comings and goings of the dockyard workers. The air was cold for a spring afternoon but in the eyes of Ryan so was the world. He was on his was on his way to speak with some representatives at Scarlet Sovereign Import and Export when a sudden gust of cold air came through and he felt the need to seek shelter for the time being. Both Mr. Stoppable and Ryan fastened their overcoats while they looked about the yard.
"Stoppable" Ryan said "You see any place where we might get warmer until this gastly weather dies down?"
Dean looked around a bit and saw a bar located on the far end of the yard "Over there sir place called The Riviters Rest." And both men began walking at a fast pace to the bar
Dean held the door open as Ryan walked into the room first then followed suit. The bar was bustling with with all manner of people sailors, a few railroad workers from the loading dock and even a few men that could pass as union bosses. Ryan decided to have a drink and walked up to the bar. A young man in his mid twenties dressed in standerd bartenders attire with a flat top haircut came up to serve Ryan.
"Whaty'll have?" the bartender asked
"Whatever's good" said Ryan as he looked up and down the bar
"Thaty'll be the bourbon then, warm ya right up" said the bartender
"Bourbon would be perfect" smiled Ryan
The bartender reached under the counter and grabbed a bottle and uncorked it. The amber liquid poured smoothly into the glass and settled before he handed it to Ryan. Ryan poured the drink down in one gulp and felt an almost instantanious warming effect.
"Strong" Ryan remarked "Not like any bourbon I've had the pleasure of tasting"
The bartender smiled "Old family secret"
"Whats your name?" asked Ryan
"Jack Bell at your service sir" said the bartender
"Well Jack I have a proposition for you. You hear a lot of things that go on in these dockyards right?" asked Ryan
"I suppose" replied Jack
Ryan leaned in to whisper "I want you to report anything you hear that seems odd or out of the ordinary to me. I'll pay you for your findings of course"
Jack looked puzzeled at first but then gave his answer "Sure thing boss man but how am I to go about reporting these findings?"
Ryan scribbled down a number on a sheet of paper "This number will get you in contact with my informant Sullivan, he'll see to it that all important information makes it to my desk."
"Will do sir" said Jack as he stuffed the piece of paper back into his pocket
Ryan grinned "Now on to another matter, how much do I owe you for the bourbon?"
"It's on the house sir besides I suspect I'll be getting enough income from you in one way or another"
Ryan laughed reached into his coat pocket and retrieved a ten dollar bill and placed it under the glass which he had been served and proceeded to walk outside with Mr. Stoppable close behind.
Upper Manhattan NYC, Rich's Malt Shop
James stepped into the Diner and looked about the busy room. Nearly all the tables were full and the place seemed a bit understaffed. A man waved over James to a free table and handed him a menu.
The man's ID badge read John Rich, Manager and Owner "And how are you doing today sir?"
"Just got hired by Andrew Ryan couldn't be better if I tried" said James with a snicker
John laughed at his "Well put in a good word for me will you? Do you need a minute or are you ready to order?"
"I'll just a coffee and a hamburger if you please. If the foods as good here as everyone in this town says you can be damn sure that I will." said James
Middleton Colorado, Kim's Bedtime
Anne was just finishing the story of The Little Mermaid for Kim and was tucking her into bed "However the Little Mermaid cannot bring herself to kill the sleeping prince lying with his bride, and she throws herself into the sea as dawn breaks. Her body dissolves into foam, but instead of ceasing to exist, she feels the sun; she has turned into a spirit, a daughter of the air. The other daughters tell her she has become like them because she strove with all her heart to obtain an immortal soul. She will earn her own soul by doing good deeds and she will eventually rise up into the kingdom of God."
Anne closed the book with a soft thump and kissed her daughter goodnight.
"Mommy?" asked Kim
"Yes Kimmy?" Anne answered
"Do you think we'll ever get to see real mermaids and live under the ocean one day?" Kim asked softly with a yawn
"Maybe someday Kimmy but now its time for sleep" said Anne
"But I'm not tired" Kim tried to say but quickly feel into the dream's of her fantasies
Kims mom stood there and whispered "I love you Kimmy, sweet dreams."