Absolute Liability
Page 28
“You’re a stranger.”
Was this a kid? Pedanski wondered. It spoke like one, but in an older voice. “Uh, this is the Puzzle Center. Where did you get this number?”
“I solved puzzle ninety-nine.”
Pedanski snatched the glasses from his face, his gray eyes bugging. WHAT!? He steadied himself as best he could and swallowed before speaking. “Again, what puzzle?”
“Puzzle ninety-nine.”
No. It could not be. This had to be a razz. It had to...
But it couldn’t be. It was line 2, and if anyone in Z was pulling this as a stunt, the boss would have their ass in a federal pen before they could spit.
It had to be a joke, and it could not be at the same time.
“Who is this?” Pedanski asked seriously.
“You’re a stranger.”
“Listen, I need—” Click. Dial tone. “Hello...dammit!” he swore as he slammed the phone into its cradle. With the hand that held it he covered his mouth. It, like the one holding the pencil, was trembling. Oh, man, this can not be happening. It is im-possible.
But something had definitely happened. Something terrible. He did not know exactly what, yet, but one thing was quite clear: a single phone call had just cost him and his comrades five years of work and Uncle Sam ten billion dollars.
Chicken Little would have been proud.
* * *
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