Read Childless: A Novel for Free Online

ending the call.
    Three heads turned in his direction.
    “Sorry. Not you,” he said toward the trio. “I was talking to a stubborn old debit.”
    Each nodded in knowing solidarity. The young, after all, must stick together in a world increasingly plagued by aging parasites.

Chapter Five
    It was late. Jennifer McKay had wanted it that way—to avoid…notice.
    Tyler Cain stood between the massive white pillars of the Byron White United States Courthouse. He’d entered much taller buildings in downtown Denver, but none that evoked such grandeur. An echo of pride accompanied the clack of his heels as they ascended the massive marble stairs that led to the public entrance. Tyler had once been part of the justice system. He had a legitimate claim to the sense of satisfaction he should never have taken for granted or traded away for spite or easy money.
    “Only a few minutes to closing time, sir,” the security guard said as Tyler removed his belt and shoes before entering the body scanner.
    “I’m meeting with—” He stopped himself. Utmost confidentiality . “I have a meeting on the third floor.”
    “You’ll need to sign the register.”
    No paper trail.
    “Could I just leave my wallet instead?”
    “Mr. Cain?”
    “Why, yes. How did you—”
    “Go on through. Ms. McKay said she is expecting a confidential guest.”
    “Great. Thanks. Have a nice evening.”
    The guard nodded. “You too, sir.”
    After slipping into his shoes and fastening his buckle Tyler turned left down a marble hallway. He noticed a large portrait of an impressively dignified face. He didn’t recognize the name of the person who had no doubt played an important role in the 150-year judicial history housed within these walls.
    Tyler continued walking until he noticed a sign marked COURTROOM TWO . He stole a peek inside, letting his eyes adjust to the darkness enough to admire an impressively manicured trinity of judicial benches elevated loftily above a duo of wooden tables and chairs. This room, like four others located throughout the building, was a theater that hosted some of the best and brightest attorneys who had ever practiced law. Each of them received a mere fifteen minutes to make oral arguments that might sway the court. Tyler considered the human drama that took place whenever the trio of shadowy benches held a federal judge who must decide whether to uphold or overturn some lower court’s ruling.
    Moving past the clerk’s office on the right he found a spiraling stairwell that led to the second-floor conference rooms. He took the time to peruse a hallway nearly as long as a football field, where he read dozens of forgotten names on portraits too far down the pecking order of historic significance to warrant main-floor exhibition. He then climbed the final flight of stairs to locate the office of Judge Victor Santiago.
    He pushed through the large doors and was greeted by a series of polished walnut desks, their occupants now missing in action. Even during his days on the force Tyler had never worked in such an opulent environment. He thought of his own “office” back home, a cluttered, secondhand desk that shared a corner of the extra bedroom with a box of old clothes destined for charity. He breathed in the rich aroma of importance he had never attained. Never wanted to attain. At least that’s what he told himself now.
    “Hello?” he called out, glancing at a clock on the wall. Ten minutes later than agreed, part of his plan to appear disinterested. Now he worried the strategy might have backfired. Perhaps Ms. McKay had thought Tyler unprofessional and given up on him.
    “Mr. Cain?” a voice said from behind.
    Tyler spun around to see a thirtysomething woman, her tightly bound hair and crisp clothing working hard to conceal an otherwise natural beauty. She appeared to be the kind of woman bent on achieving success through no-nonsense precision rather than good looks. Tyler made a mental note: Driven, but…insecure