With his military background in covert operations, Andre Franklin had been the perfect choice when EDL Labs needed a new head of security for its Research and Development Department. The firm needed someone to safeguard its corporate secrets, and he employed a methodical, focused precision to the job.
So, when he discovered that Bryan T. Smith, one of the laboratory's senior researchers, had managed to thwart his elaborate security protocols, the chief took the affront personally.
The large, muscular man moved around Mr. Smith's kitchen with a confident stride and an arrogant indifference to privacy. He didn't really understand scientists, much less their work, but Mr. Smith had apparently been involved with some amazing extracurricular research. If the scientist hadn't bypassed some of the lab's safeguards to smuggle out some of his "personal" research, the suspicions of the security chief would never have been triggered.
Although he saw very little practical use for a "shrinking" formula, the company's CEO saw things differently. His orders had been quite firm and carefully phrased.
"Bring me Smith and his research, and we'll overlook the fact that he developed his personal project with company resources right under your nose, Mr. Franklin," the CEO instructed him.
"I'll get it done, sir," he promised the CEO, who regarded him coldly from behind his huge desk.
"And, Franklin, keep this under wraps. Consider it need-to-know, and I think it best that just you and I know for now. I don't want word getting out before we can analyze how we will market this."
Franklin, still on the defensive, had been firm in his reply. "Sir, you have nothing to worry about."
Now, he waited impatiently in the wayward research scientist's home. He studied the surroundings. Surprisingly, he made notice of the fact that Smith lived quite modestly. If he had set out to swindle the company, no evidence showed that he had yet profited from his actions.
The security chief tried to recall everything he knew about the man. When he had bothered to notice Smith around the lab, the scientist had not made much of an impression. But then the security chief had never cared much for intellectual types. In general, he distrusted what he didn't understand.
A ringing phone interrupted his pacing back and forth in the kitchen.
"Yes? What is it?" Franklin barked impatiently into the phone.
One of his men informed him that they had placed the computer and other equipment under lock and key. "Any sign of Smith, sir?"
The security chief's gaze during his conversation on his phone strayed to the surface of the kitchen table.
"No, he's not showed up," he said. "I will stay here a little longer and then head back to the lab."
As he spoke into his phone, he noticed something pale and tiny near the edge of a napkin holder near the center of the table.
He ended his call as he moved his hand into position to slap the tiny pest crawling over the tabletop...
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