Read The Alberta Connection for Free Online Page A

them. Ryce served with O2
for two years in Afghanistan, so he knows about some of the
insanity we have to deal with around here.
    “We will be having additional personnel join
us as Ryce develops his team. I have given him permission to ask
anyone within reason on the Ranch if they would like to transfer to
the JBTF. There are announcements on all of the bulletin boards.
Let your department members know they can apply. I think Doug has
submitted his own request to transfer, but it has been denied.
Twice.”
    John waited until the laughter had died down,
and then continued, “And now, let’s get this program on the
road.”
    John asked Ryce and Tanya to rise and then
conducted the swearing in. Both were issued badges, ID folders,
keys to an ISP cruiser, keys to the office building, and a folder
with recommendations for temporary personnel.
    Those in attendance were asked to sign the
daily log, and then John turned back to the group.
    “Break time is over. Be safe.”
    John requested Marge, O2, Ramona, Doug,
Karen, Ryce, and Tanya follow him back to his office. After they
had found somewhere to sit, John looked around the room and then at
Ryce and Tanya.
    “I know you have met Marge, and O2, and
Ramona.”
    John pointed at Doug. “The fellow in the
Hawaiian shirt is Doug. He is the computing guru for Pendergast
Holdings. Sitting beside him is Karen, his delightful wife. She is
the human resources guru for Pendergast Holdings.”
    John pointed at a stack of laptops on his
desk.
    “Those are six of the latest and greatest
laptops we could find. They are all exactly the same and loaded
with exactly the same software. As you add people to your group,
Doug will add laptops.
    “We only work with laptops around here,
except for the mainframes. We encourage everyone to take their
laptops home with them and work for free from their living
rooms.”
    John smiled at the polite laughter.
    “Just one small issue. Karen and Marge run
everything around here. If Doug tells you something, check with
Karen first. If Karen says no, go ask Marge. It works for me.”
    John was so pleased with his humor that he
almost tipped over the office chair.
    “Seriously, any personnel questions you have
must be run through Karen. Be safe.”
    Ryce sat for a moment wondering if the
meeting had ended. When Marge stood, Ryce concluded the
pleasantries were over.
    Marge reminded Tanya and Ryce that they had
many gifts in Research 1 to open. They would all meet in Research 1
at noon for the grand opening. Doug stood, offered a hand to Karen
and another to Tanya, pulled them out of their seats, pointed at
Ryce, and the four of them left John’s office.
    It was Doug’s turn to play tour guide on the
way to the elevator. He explained that Ryce and his group would be
in Suites 422 through 425. Suite 425 had five individual offices
and a conference room. The suites all had connecting doors so the
occupants would not be required to use the corridor.
    Ryce noticed when they arrived at Suite 425
that his name and Tanya’s were already on the doors to the offices.
After a quick glance at their new offices, Doug led Ryce and Tanya
into Suite 424.
    “John designed these three suites to be
convertible from a few offices to one gigantic room. We can even
roll the walls back and make a bigger gigantic room. For O2 and
Ramona’s anniversary two years ago, John rolled the walls and hired
a country band. The suites are normally used as training
facilities, but we don’t have any recruit classes going through
right now.”
    As they walked back into Suite 425, Karen
planted a kiss on Doug and walked out of the suite.
    Doug smiled. “Karen’s office is in the Ranch
headquarters building, on the other side of the county road. That
is where Research 1 is located. She only tagged along to meet
Tanya.”
    Doug led Ryce and Tanya to the conference
room.
    “You two will be doing some intense learning
for the remainder of the week. Plan on eating, sleeping, showering,
and