Free The Aegis Solution by John David Krygelski

greeting.
    Johnson and Rogan walked casually at his side, not conveying the sense that he was their prisoner,
or even their charge, but simply that they were helping him find wherever he might be going.
    "I am curious about one thing," Elias addressed them both.
    Rogan chuckled. "Only one thing. I would have thought you'd have lots of questions."
    "I do, I guess, but that is a pretty serious blockade back there."
    Rogan nodded as they walked. "It has to be. There are gangs in Aegis who want to expand their
territory."
    "I get that," Elias responded. "I ran into some of them on my way."
    Johnson faltered for a moment in his gait. "You did?"
    "Uh-huh."
    "And you're here to talk about it?"
    Elias decided to keep the dark, fast-moving apparition to himself and answered, "I guess I got
lucky. I outran them and was able to hide until they gave up. Anyway, you have the solid barrier
blocking the corridor. I'm assuming you have a camera hidden somewhere near the wall."
    "We do," Rogan replied.
    "A microphone and speaker system, a rope ladder, a platform above the ceiling – all pretty
impressive."
    "Thanks."
    "But all I had to do to get in was tell you I was alone?"
    "Yep" was all Rogan said.
    "I don't get it."
    Rogan stopped walking, joined a moment later by Johnson. Elias followed suit and turned to face
him directly. The man responded matter-of-factly, "The Manager can explain if you're curious."
    "The Manager?"
    Rogan just nodded.
    Elias shrugged. "Okay, let's go meet the Manager."
    They resumed the walk and within less than two minutes arrived at an open doorway leading into
what looked like a medium-sized meeting room.
    Johnson gestured toward the table and seats. "Wait here, if you don't mind. The Manager will be
right in."
    Elias decided that it was probably a waste of time to ask the two of them any more questions, so
he thanked them both, parked his suitcase on the carpeted floor, and waited.
    He did not have time to look closely at his surroundings before a door opened at the opposite end
of the room from where he had entered, and a woman walked in. It was difficult for Elias to judge her
age. Her short hair was completely white, yet her face showed few age lines. She wore a turquoise,
loosely fitting dress. He was not sure, but Elias thought some of the girls in his classes had called it a
squaw dress in the more politically incorrect days when he was in elementary school. Instead of shoes,
she had on leather sandals.
    "I'm Mildred Pierce," she announced, extending her hand in greeting as she crossed the room to
Elias.
    "Elias Charon."
    They shook hands. Elias noted the firm yet brief handshake.
    "Welcome to Walden."
    "Walden?"
    Pierce flashed an insincere smile. "That's what we've named our little corner of Aegis."
    "Someone's a Thoreau fan."
    "That's right," Pierce answered, the phony smile returning. "I think there was talk of the name long
before it became an ‘official group.' I'm not totally sure who thought of it, but I'm sure it was a ‘fan.' It
is a nice fit. Please have a seat." She motioned toward the meeting table and chairs, and Elias sat in the
closest one while Pierce chose one which left an empty seat between them.
    "Would you like some herbal tea, or perhaps some wine? We have a fun Cabernet from Napa
Valley."
    "That is very kind, but no thanks."
    Clasping her hands together on the table, Pierce asked, "What, if I may ask, did you do before
coming to Aegis?"
    He and Faulk had discussed what Elias' cover would be, so he answered quickly, "I was a forensic
accountant."
    He noticed her eyes narrow momentarily at his response, but the Manager's voice retained its
lightness and conviviality as she said, "Forensic accountant, huh? For whom did you work? The
government?"
    "At times. I was a freelancer, had my own PC with several clients; the Fed was one of them from
time to time. I spent most of my time working for lawyers who were chasing assets on behalf of their
clients."
    "Your own professional