~Chapter 14~

ONE MONTH EARLIER...

Hands trembling, the boy held the tattered paper. He had spent the past hour reading and re-reading it, causing it to become wrinkled, the ink slightly worn. The words it contained held the key to a better life... No more scrounging through the garbage at Condor's Lounge for scraps of food... No more slipping the guard at the bus depot whatever money he could find to keep from being kicked out overnight...

From now on, he would be living large; huge house, maybe even a mansion; an expensive car, no make that two 'cause who knows when you might need a spare... Just like all those celebrities up to their ass in cash... That'll be me, a regular 'What'd I just buy? Who the hell knows? All I know is i've got money to blow!' guy.

But if it's all so sweet...why am I so nervous? The boy read the message one final time before stuffing it in the pocket of his newly acquired blue jeans.

"$125 for a pair of friggin' jeans?!?" he had gasped when they had been purchased earlier that day,"That amount of dough could go towards something WAY more fun..."

Now as he sat in the reception room of the office, he noted how they were massively uncomfortable; way too tight way down there & so long they covered his shoes and then some. He fidgeted absent-mindedly with the buttons of his shirt, thinking about what he was about to get himself into...

"Mr. John Smith?" the secretary called, smirking at the boy's unoriginal choice of alias,"Ms.Cross will see you now..."

She led him down a long, narrow hallway, opened a door and told him to have a seat. Minutes later, a tall, slender woman entered the room.

"John Smith, I presume?" she asked sarcastically,"You don't have to worry about anyone identifying you around here. Use your real name, we're all in on this."

The boy nodded,"Um, well, my name is Simon Karinsky."

"I'm Cynthia Cross," the woman said, shaking his hand,"Now, what can I do for you?"

"I,uh, was told by a Mr.Clayton Behr that you had some sort of deal to work out with me?"

Cynthia,"I know, I was just testing to see if you'd leak any information. If you are to be a part of this, you MUST be weary of everyone on the outside."

"I see you have been fitted with a new clothing," she continued,"From what I hear, you were quite a mess when my men found you."

I was living on the street... What did she expect-a runway model?! the boy thought witheringly.

"Uh,yes,I-I was..." he said, deciding it was not a good idea to taunt this woman.

"Well, you won't have to worry about that ever again... As long as you agree to go along with the operation outline," Cynthia said, reaching for a folder,"Now, before I give this to you, you must swear you will not tell anyone about this... No friends, no family."

The second part's not a problem, he thought sadly Even if I went back home, no one listen to a word I say...

"Simon, do you agree?"

The boy's mind raced frantically Last chance to back out... You could get your ass hauled to jail for this... And there's no guarantee of any rewards if the plan falls through...

"Yeah, I sure as hell do..."