Boston, Massachusetts, Monday…

Chris studied his visitor more carefully. She was not a knock-out beauty yet she was pert and pretty. She was prettier than her badge picture too, thus re-establishing the norm. She was dressed in an expensive business attire which was carefully chosen to accentuate her best features. With short, blond hair -- probably natural, he guessed - unblemished complexion, and piercing blue eyes, she would turn heads. Boston, New York, Philadelphia. Almost anywhere except out west or Florida where the smart business suit would have to give way to much skimpier and simpler clothing, thus reducing the synergism between wardrobe and wearer.

"How can I help you, Agent Grogan? What brings you up from DC? I know it's a short hop by shuttle, yet it must be important to make you come in person instead of sending someone from the local office."

"It's important enough for me to come up, yes. I work directly for Hank Johnson, the Assistant Secretary. I fly all over the country, sort of an agent at large, and also representing him sometimes. He's a busy man."

"Yeah, I've seen how busy he's been, in the news." Everyone knew that Hank Johnson had just recently been involved in a sex scandal, an embarrassment to the Fulton administration. "Are you representing him now? Or is this part of your agent-at-large identity?"

She smiled. It was a nice smile, although the eyes became cold and distant. He knew those eyes. He had seen them many times, belonging to several different varieties of sociopaths. They made quite a contrast with the pert little face. He was beginning to get an uneasy feeling.