Mindtease

Chapter 28

"I feel like a frickin' mortician," Kirk commented to Josh as they pulled up a long drive.

Josh looked at Kirk, in his black suit, white shirt, black tie, black polished shoes...and how he was similarly attired.

"We're with the 'Bureau ass face," Josh said in sarcastic retort, "here to speak to patient John X. Roe."

"No shit pale face," Kirk retorted in a mock of Tonto to the Lone Ranger, "but we're not federal agents."

"Don't worry Kirk," Josh said. "And yeah, I feel weird out of my basketball shorts and ballcap." Josh jerked a thumb in the direction to the trunk where their usual clothing was stored for the moment.

"Yeah I know," Kirk agreed in tone, "I just..."

Josh stopped at an intersection up the main drive. A large sign on a chain link fence topped with barbed wire read:

"Morris Tzarnoff Institute for Criminally Insane. Staff Left. Visitors Right."

"Here we go," Josh said, gesturing with his head at the fixed surveillance cameras undoubtedly watching the arrival of the pair.

"Well fuck," Kirk commented fumbling around his jacket pocket for his fake wallet.

"Don't worry," Josh said again. "I'll...think it through."

Josh giggled, and Kirk quirked an eyebrow at him, but then realizing Josh would pull a mind tease on any staff and security in the facility.

The car slowly travelled along the road, passing several SUV's with sirens, search lights, and blue-red flashing lights. Some of the SUV's drove inside the fence perimeter, others along the road.

After a few minutes, Josh turned left to a large booth inside of a triple gate system. A security officer allowed the red compact in through the first gate, and waited for the outer gate to close. A screen extended with a readout in text: "Identify surname, organization." At the bottom was a large round microphone.

Josh rolled down the window, and waited for a moment.

A male voice, mechanical so synthesized asked "Please identify by your surname, and organization."

"Number Five, Number Six, Federal government," Josh answered clearly but slowly.

Kirk glanced in surprise at Josh, who signaled with his right hand to keep quiet.

"Authorized. Thank-you for your cooperation."

"Right," Josh said flatly, with a dismissive gesture of his left hand. The inner gate slowly slid open, and the car pulled through to another booth, with an armed guard, and another security officer. The security officer signaled Josh to stop, and put a large decal on the outside windshield at the rearview mirror.

"Keep this decal on your vehicle at all times," the security officer said. "Here, put these identification badges on...and keep them on your person while here. Park in the orange parking garage ahead."

Both Josh and Kirk put on the badges, which were thick, magnetically clipped to their jackets, and had some rectangular barcode.

"Understood," Josh said, and the security officer looked at the guard, and then took out a remote as if to change a television channel. With a click, an ultrasonic signal was sent, and the last gate rolled to one side.

Josh rolled up his window, and drove slowly in, ignoring both men as he pulled the car ahead, finding the orange parking lot...an enclosed, underground parking lot with more security cameras.

"I'm surprised they didn't check for identification badges, retinas..." Kirk mused as they parked.

"Nah," Josh replied. "Typical security thinking, if you get through the main security the rest is...easy. The check was identifying by number and employer. The security guard that let us in the first gate, I read his mind...we reminded him of two covert government agents...so federal government. Also the second security guard I put in his mind we were expected...so no sweat."