Page 135 - Just Deserts

Telepax

government gave us quite a helping hand, placing the resources of its
not inconsiderable investigative bodies at our disposal. As a matter of
fact, you have had it fairly easy. No, no, don’t object, Forrest; I am
merely bringing your attention to a new set of circumstances. The
country’s new enemy, against which TTI will patriotically be
supplying high-tech means of detection and interdiction is, as I have
mentioned, to be found in the streets of our own cities. But your new
enemy is little harder to identify and destroy. I am speaking of
industrial espionage, carried out by people indistinguishable in most
characteristics from loyal TTI employees, people secretly in the pay
of our competitors.”
“Oh. Of course.” Raynes nodded sagely.
The CEO glared at his subordinate.
“Perhaps the import of my words has not yet sunk into your skull.
Your department must get by on a more modest budget, while at the
same time increasing the sophistication of its surveillance. The future
of TTI depends on our getting our products to market ahead of
General Phobotics and Krankheitdyne. Your own clearance is high
enough for me to tell you that the new hardware will be small,
portable and make use of some cutting-edge technology the
government paid dearly for us to develop. For us to take advantage
of that R-and-D advantage, we must keep knowledge of it from
leaking out of the barbwire confines of our industrial park. I’m
counting on you, Forrest. If your people are as good as you say they
are, they should be able to put in the extra time and effort required to
make this a very tight ship. Do I make myself clear?”
Forrest Raynes pushed and pulled his face into a semblance of
grim determination and buoyant optimism. “Yes, sir. No problem,
Mr. Arkon. We can shift gears as smoothly as a brand-new Cadillac.”

* * * * *

The old Air Force proving ground lay beyond a deserted guard
shack off an unmarked dirt road fifty miles north of Ossuary,
California on I-63. Darryl B. Drubble, chief of police in a sprawling
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