“I’ve been trying to do that,” Steve said. “Now, can you let me do my job?”

        “By all means. I’ll be in touch.”

        The line went silent. Steve was trying to understand how he had been pulled in so deep that his very freedom was now being threatened. Well, Steve thought, that’s better than a threat to my family. I can live with this. He knew Ketchum would not stop there. If he discovered Steve worried more about his family than his own safety and freedom Ketchum would quickly change his strategy. It looks like I’ve found a better reason to dethrone a king, he thought.

~

        As Director of the CIA Steve was privy to information others in government were not. He was aware of a program underway in the Research and Development Area that dealt with nanotechnology and several recent breakthroughs. The latest research had all been directed at using the technology as a weapon, something undetectable. This was just what he needed.

        Early the next morning Steve parked outside a small, unassuming warehouse near Baltimore. He was to meet Professor Peter Clark. The front office was the home of a small trucking company. He was directed to enter what appeared to be a closet, which actually turned out to be an elevator that took him down several hundred feet. The doors opened to reveal a stainless steel receiving room with six armed guards. He then had to swipe his ID badge, place the palm of his right hand in the palm reader and was then subjected to a retina scan. Security overkill, he thought. Steve was then permitted to pass through to the next room.

        Inside a man in a white lab coat waited. His head was hairless and reflected the lights of the room, his skin ebony.

        “Professor Clark,” Steve said, extending his hand.

        “Director Ford,” Professor Clark said, taking his hand, “Please call me Peter.”

        “Only if you call me Steve.”