Read The Cypher for Free Online Page B

in his, and he hid it by his leg. Suddenly, he felt that it was him, not them, who was out of place.
    He felt awkward, like the Sunday morning in Fullton a couple of years ago when he let out a loud burp only to turn around and find that behind him were his neighbors all prepped-up and ready to go to church.
    They all sat down. Tasha pulled out two thick binders and placed them in front of Thomas and Morgan.
    “Non-disclosure agreements,” Doctor Franco told them. “Guardians Inc. is a very lucrative company with interests at the forefront of technology throughout the world. We are very protective of our holdings and we like to keep our secrets from falling into the wrong hands.”
    “This is a large contract,” Morgan said leafing through the binder. “I don’t sign things without reading them.”
    “I wouldn’t ask you to. Keep them, read them, and if you approve, sign them. You can return the paperwork when you get your first paycheck in two weeks,” the Doctor offered. “But I still would like both of you to begin working tomorrow, and if you don’t like what you’ve read or anything about your new job, don’t sign them and you still get to keep the first check. We’ll call it a two-week testing run. Win-win for all.”
    “You have a very aggressive hiring policy.” Morgan placed the binder back on the table and crossed his arms.
    “I know what I need,” the Doctor said, “and I like what I see. I mean it when I say that you’re both perfect for the jobs, and I need both positions filled as soon as possible.”
    Meanwhile, Thomas tried to keep his eyes away from Tasha, but he was just so taken by her beauty. His eyes constantly fluttered from the binder to her face, and she didn’t make an effort to avert her gaze when their eyes met. She was wearing makeup that emphasized her high cheekbones and glittery, green eyes, but Thomas figured that she was around his same age or maybe two years older at the most.
    There might be hope for him.
    Morgan placed a hand on Thomas’s arm. “You don’t have to accept if you don’t want to.”
    “And you can quit anytime, Thomas. No strings attached,” the Doctor added. “I just ask that you give it a try.”
    Thomas doubted that he would like to be an Assistant Librarian and the mansion and Doctor Franco just gave him the creeps. It was all just so out of place, so strangely perfect – an amazing mansion two blocks away from home with not one, but two perfect jobs, and a boss who had come out from a wedding to their house, to hire them in person. It was just a little too perfect.
    He was just about to say, “No, thank you,” when he caught a glimpse of Tasha. She was biting her lower lip and interlocked her hands on her lap as if praying for him to accept.
    “It’s a great place to work,” Tasha said with a jolt and immediately sat back down on the sofa. “You’ll love it.” She was too pretty, prettier than any other girl he’d ever seen. He’d always had a thing for blond girls, but Tasha was different, her skin glowed and he could swear her green eyes sparkled.
    She was perfect.
    Morgan gave him a soft nudge with his elbow and a little, almost imperceptible wink of the eye.
    “It’s okay,” Thomas said. “I’ll try it.” He was delighted to see that Tasha smiled.
    “Excellent!” The Doctor stood up with a jolt. “Since you’re out of school, Thomas, we’ll assign your schedules tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. in the mansion. You’ll have a morning shift Morgan, but I’m afraid that Thomas will probably get an afternoon shift. If that’s the case, we’ll let him do his homework in the library so you can have a couple of hours between shifts to eat lunch together.”
    Thomas retrieved the Doctor’s cane, coat, and hat. Tasha gave them a courteous goodnight smile as she left the house, the Doctor staying with them a little longer.
    Thomas lingered at the door and watched Tasha walk down the driveway. Bolswaithe was leaning on a dark