“What are all those folders?” Carl said.
“Folders?”
“On the kid’s table.”
Warren shrugged. “Dunno. The doc has been bringing them in all day. She’s probably prepping him for another phone call.”
“They’ve never given him intel before.”
“Times change.”
“Has anyone from corporate been here today?”
“Why do you care?”
“If they’re prepping him for another call, someone from corporate would be overseeing it.”
“Not necessarily.”
“They always do.”
“Times change.”
“You seem awfully relaxed,” Carl pointed out.
“You seem awfully stressed.”
“I don’t like change.”
“Clearly.”
“Maybe we should call somebody.”
“I’m not calling anyone,” Warren replied.
Carl reached over and pressed the microphone button. “Hey, Shitface, what are you reading?”
At his words, Subject “D” looked up from the other side of the observation window. His lips moved. Thirty seconds later, the image of Subject “D” looked up on the video monitor, and his reply came through the speakers. “Come on in and find out, Carl. It’s fascinating stuff. A history of sorts. I’d love to discuss it with you. You certainly have a right to hear about it, since your name appears more than once. Not in the most flattering light, I’m afraid. This one particular incident, where you groped the unfortunate Sandy Newman in the cafeteria three years ago, in front of three other coworkers without any regard for the consequences, that says a lot about you as a person, your character. Nothing I didn’t already know, but enlightening nonetheless. I should be shocked they only suspended you for a week, but considering some of the other things I’ve read, I’m not surprised at all.”
Carl turned to Warren. “Are thoseemployeefiles?”
“That’s crazy. Why would someone give him employee files? The kid’s just messing with you.”
“Then how would he know about Sandy Newman?”
“Everybody knows about Sandy Newman.”
“Nobody would have told him.”
“You don’t know that.”
On the monitor, Subject “D” returned to the file spread out on his table.
Warren’s eyes dropped back to the copy ofAlong Came a Spiderby James Patterson in his hands.
- Observer’s Note: Throughout the duration of this conversation, as well as the proceeding forty-eight minutes, Warren Beeson did not turn the page.
—Charter Observation Team – 309
