Free The Codex File (2012) by Miles Etherton

went as well. I can put up with a lot of things, but the one thing I can’t stand is secrecy. I think I could have almost forgiven the affair. At least that’s what I told myself in more charitable moments. It was the secrets I couldn’t stand. I’ve always felt like that about things.”
    Michael nodded, slightly worried that the conversation had veered onto failed relationships. At least they seemed on a similar footing emotionally he thought, looking into her deep brown eyes. Tracing an imaginary line down her pale skin from her eyes to her mouth he watched her lips as she spoke, wondering whether he’d ever kiss them.
    Snapping himself out of his silent appreciation he quickly moved the subject onto something else.
    “ So, tell me a bit more about your job. I remember from the party you said it was something to do with computers. I must be honest, I can’t remember too much more than that.”
    Colette laughed, fiddling with her hair as she leant in towards him again.
    “ That’s OK. Not even my oldest friends really understand what I do. I’m a project manager for a company called SW Technologies, or Semantic Web Technologies if you want it in full. Basically, we develop software and hardware that uses semantic web technologies.”
    Michael nodded, although his expression soon gave away his lack of understanding.
    Colette smiled, holding his gaze for a few moments.
    “ OK, the simple version is that the semantic web applies an intelligence to information that you can read and share, for example via social networking tools on the internet. Long term this means things like web pages, applications and databases will be able to be more intuitively linked, allowing for better and more useful and personalised information to be made available to web users. It’s an exciting area. One I think’s going to change a lot in the coming years. And if this new guy, Marcus McCoy, ever becomes Prime Minister then things are really going to change. We can probably all say goodbye to the internet as we know it, as he’ll probably ban it if you believe what you read.”
    Michael nodded, reaching for his pint of bitter. The election of the new leader of the opposition, Dr Marcus McCoy, had been all over the news for weeks. Since his victory in his party’s leadership contest he’d started hinting at what his manifesto pledges were likely to be. Top of the list was banning access to the internet because of the increasing level of illegal sites still popping up everywhere, and the surge of terrorist cells using the web as a means to recruit members. Tomorrow’s suicide bombers.
    There was some logic in the pledge, but still no detail on what might replace it. Just the preliminary findings of an independent political think tank recommending an overhaul of online access in the UK.
    “ It makes insurance broking sound very dull in comparison,” he said, sipping from his glass.
    Colette laughed, pushing her hair back behind her ears again.
    “ Well, maybe. But we all need insurance, don’t we?”
    “ Yes, I suppose so,” Michael said, smiling back. “At least I understand the world of insurance. I’m ashamed to say computers and the internet are a bit of mystery to me.”
    “ I’ll have to teach you then,” Colette replied quickly, and for a lingering moment they held each other’s gaze, both processing the commitment beyond the first date she’d just made.
    “ Would you like another drink?” Michael finally asked, breaking the moment.
    “ Just a tonic water,” Colette replied, reaching for her handbag. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
    Rising from his seat and approaching the bar, Michael watched as Colette headed for the toilet. His gaze traced a line up her legs as he took in her full figure. Smiling he turned to face the barman, confident this wouldn’t be their last date.

CHAPTER SEVEN

    The screen flickered for a moment and snapped into life. Michael sat back in his chair, the instruction manual in his lap.