Part 90 (1/2)

”You soldhis hands up in surrender

”Just a little high is fine byat the less potent bag ”Thanks for the warn- ing,” he said to the Auess you could call Washi+ngton my home”

”DC?”

”Yeah,” the American nodded ”And you?” He leaned over the back of his chair to face Scott

”Big Apple The 'burbs”

”What brings you here?”

”To Europe?” Scott asked

”Ahed ”News A story broughtScott's purchase on a sensitive digital scale that ram Scott handed Chris 10 in Guilders and pocketed the pot

”Uet solass on the bar with a complete selection of assorted paraphernalia

”Hey, why don't you join me,” the American asked ”I've been to Aht to s around

”Sure, that's what coffee shops are The only other thing you can buy in here is sodas No booze” The American spoke confi- dently as he lit up a joint and passed it to Scott

”Thanks,” Scott coughed as he handed it back ”Oh, I don't think I caught your naht Scott What incredible synchronicity

Scott's body instantly tensed up and he felt the adrenaline rush with an associated rise in pulse rate Was this really the leg- endary Spook?

Is it possible that he fell into a chancewith the hacker that Kirk and his friends refer to as the king of hackers?

Spook? Gotta stay cool Could he be that lucky? Was therehow fifteen years before, in Athens, Greece he had opened a taxi door right into the face a lady who turned out to be an ex-high-school girl friend It is a sht tritely

”Spook? Are you a spy?” Scott couise his real interest

”If I answer that I'll have to kill you,” the Spook laughed out loud in the quiet establishuardedly ”What's yours?”

”Mine? Oh, my handle They call me Repo Man, but it's really Scott Mason Glad to arette

BINGO! Scott Mason in hand without even a search Landing right in his lap Keep your cool Dead pan poker face What unbe- lievable luck Don't blow it, let's play this for all that it's worth Your life just got very simple Give both homosoto and Mason exactly what they ith no output of energy

”You said you're a reporter,” Spook said inhaling deeply again

”What's the story?” At least he gets high, Spook thought Mason could have been a real dip-shi+t nerd Thank God for small fa- vors

”There's a hacker conference that I was invited to,” Scott said unabashedly ”I' to show the hacker's side of the story

Why they do what they do How they legiti out so he ordered a Pepsi ”I assume you're a hacker, too,” Scott broached the issue carefully

Spook smiled widely ”Yup And proud of it”