PrologueChicago
Switched Power Designs—Power Supply Group
Eighteen months ago
Richard Kerrigan stood nervously in front of the director of his division’s desk for thirty minutes shifting his weight from one foot to the other while Ronald Kitteridge spoke on the phone and read an article in the Chicago Tribune, his desk littered with empty paper coffee cups and piles of newspapers. He did not ask him to sit down in one of the two black vinyl and chrome chairs in front of his desk. Kitteridge largely ignored him.
Finally, Richard, tired of being ignored, spoke up in a gruff voice. “Mr. Kitteridge, I’m sorry to disturb you, but there is something wrong with the power supply for the new Cougar II troop transport.”
“And how does this concern you?” Kitteridge didn’t raise his eyes from his
