16 CANDIDATE
Peter lifted his head from his hands and stared at the office desk. He’d started the day with a headache and still had it. The pain, worse than the usual one from job pressure, he attributed to his son. Dan needed attention, and Peter considered taking a leave of absence. Cybernetic would let him do it, but the project would go to another senior scientist. He might never get it back and then wouldn’t have a job.
Then there was the other problem: replacing his technician. He knew who he wanted. He just had to get her into the lab. Expediting that process might require calling in a favor, so he picked up the phone and dialed Mark O’Rourke, Chief of Security. They’d worked together many times, and Peter expected to get quick clearance of his technician pick.
O’Rourke’s
