Free The Code of Happiness by David J. Margolis

answer. “I
have seen and can see those who have the ability.” Ray follows it
with one of his all knowing smiles. “Portable scanners. Finding you
was random. Hard to believe, isn't it?”
    “Hard to believe anything you say.”
    “But you've come back, not once, but twice.” He pats
Jamie, understanding he's said enough and stretches his limbs. “The
scanners aren't accurate, so we had to bring you in.”
    “So you wanted me to believe... in something you
can't do?”
    “Tough job when you think about it.”
    They're on an even keel. Ray seems content to let his
persuasion of Jamie to slide.
    The man's a phenomenal liar, Jamie thinks. He's even
more detached and objective about the group. Still, focus must be
maintained. He has to find out why they're snooping on him.
    “ I'm curious Jamie. It's obvious
there's no connection between us, and even you and Po. You see,
it's quite hard to believe you as well. You're the one working for
unpronounceable, the big bad corporation in the sky. And yet here
you are, fiddling on our machines, and doing what
exactly?”
    It's funny, a tease, all very cat and mouse, an old
movie.
    “ Then if that's the case,” Jamie
responds, “I should be scared. Do I look scared?”
    “You know how deceptive looks can be in our
world.”
    And with that both men adjourn.
     
    An hour later. A moth flickers in the ceiling lights.
Jamie finds himself looking forward to the next cup of tea—and
interaction—when he notices the anomaly, a piece of code hidden and
encrypted in an innocuous directory. It looks like it’s been there
for years, collecting data and sending it onward. To where, he has
yet to discover. It's not the reason why their system is failing,
but is nonetheless alarming. The language is similar to what he saw
at home but frustrates him by re-encrypting. His heart drops. If
it's the same, or related, and nothing to do with The Source
Foundation, then it must be the Feds.
     
    “Someone's watching you.”
    “Who?”
    “I don't know. Don't know the language. It'll take a
while to solve the encryption but for now I can do this.”
    Jamie's lightning at the keyboard. The code
disappears.
    “Glad you dropped by.”
    “It's temporary. I'll run a program to loop the
disabling. No guarantee it'll work if they run auto roaches to undo
my work, but if someone's watching, they'll know.”
    “Lets flush them out.”
    “You're not bothered? It could be the Feds.”
    “There's nothing I can do about it. Better to know
who it is.”
    Jamie needs air, his head malfunctioning, his
certainty of Ray and Po's guilt collapsing before him. Not that
they're exonerated. No, he can't let them off. But there's another
player here. He sickens to a new realization; one so obvious he
wants to throw up.
    “Is my information on there?”
    “It's encrypted.”
    “It can be decoded.”
    “It'll be okay.”
    “I like to know who's got my information.”
    “Why? Someone after you?”
    “Oh fuck off Ray.” Jamie takes a breath, needing a
second. “My dreams are on there—sorry desires. How the fuck do you
think I feel about that!”
    Jamie's made his point but there's nothing Ray can
do. Jamie's desires have been pinched to be used against him in the
public sphere. A bargaining chip, humiliation waiting around the
corner, a life sentence dictating how he can behave and what he can
do. And he's had enough of it.
    “There is another way,” says Ray, “think positive,
they may not have it yet.”
    “Ray. They have it.”
    “If they don't...”
    “I can delete it?”
    “Well, not quite short of destroying everything we
have. But there is a way.”
    It's like going back in time. Hearing his
psychobabble again. Jamie knows he's going to hear this no matter
what. It's enough to make him hyperventilate. “Go on,” he says.
    “Face the monster you created,” says Ray, “beat it
and it auto erases your first ionizer experience.”
    “You're still big on that.”
    “What else are you going