BULLET-CITY

Part-21

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"When commanding an operative in the field, trust is the most invaluable tool you have in your arsenal. That operative is relying solely on your direction and expertise of the situation. Knowing the area of infiltration like the back of your hand is a must. All exits, light sources, and locations, even down to the nearest trash barrel, need to be burned into your brain. All it takes is one false direction or move and you lose your influence. That operative will either get his head blown off and you will have no one left to command, or, the agent will sever his communication with you and rely on his own instincts. Either way, you have lost the command of your agent."

Johnny's bangs stuck to his face as he wiped the sweat from his forehead and glasses. A one-foot high and two-foot wide robot wheeled in and handed Johnny a soda with its navy blue, metallic, cylindrical arm. It tilted its large spherical head and focused its double-lens eyes as it waited for its master's next move.

Johnny took a big sip and wiped his face with his forearm. He walked carefully towards Bruce's office. The door creaked as it opened and a single sleeping computer hummed softly. Claymore shined an LED light in Johnny's path to keep him from tripping. Johnny walked towards the desk and sat down. He slid the mouse a few times to wake the computer.

"Okay, I'm in," said Johnny confidently.

"What am I looking for again?" he continued less confidently.

"No, you won't be able to get anything out of the computer; Bruce has it double and triple secured. What you're looking for is a flash drive and some photos hidden under the desk," replied Laura.

Johnny knelt down under the desk.    This was the coolest thing he had ever done, he thought to himself.  He felt blindly with his hand for a latch. When he found it he un-clicked the hidden compartment. Out fell the flash drive and photos. Johnny shook the compartment and out fell the bloody brass knuckles. Johnny swallowed hard at the sight of the evidence lying there in front of him.
Suddenly, this didn't seem like a game anymore. He looked at Claymore who gave several disapproving beeps.

"Okay, I've got the evidence," he squeaked.
Johnny had just extended his arm to get a closer look at the photos when he heard a distant click, like the sound of a door closing. Johnny's heart palpated and he quickly sat up to take a look around. Claymore rolled into the shadows and shut off its light. When Johnny felt the coast was clear he sat up on the seat. He was breathing heavily now.

"What's taking that nerd so long?" complained Vince.

Laura, who had switched the phone to speaker, gave him a stern look and put up an index finger to shush him.

"Okay, you're doing great, Johnny," she encouraged.

Johnny slipped the flash-drive into the USB and the computer immediately began beeping and buzzing. A box with over 100 Manila files appeared. The files were not named anything. Rather, they were each numbered with a numerical code. The task seemed simple enough, however, each file had a little gray picture of a master lock.

"Johnny, what do you see?" inquired Laura.

"I see a bunch of files, but each one is locked."

Laura gave a low, short growl of dismay. On the other side of the phone Johnny grinned, gaining more false confidence by the minute.

"But don't you worry your pretty little head. There is no file I can't crack." Johnny winked at Claymore, "who do you think created all those patches for Policenautes?"

Laura was trying her hardest to play along.

"Wow, that was you? You really are my hero."