City of Dreams

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     Thomas Bering left Matt studying the computer screen and returned to his office.  He picked up the telephone and pushed a button that had a stored number.  He listened to the sound of the number being dialed.  It rang twice before it was answered.  Just like all of the other times he called the number, no one spoke when the telephone was picked up.

     “He’s here.  I have him settled in,” Thomas said.

     “What do you think now?  Are you still confident that he will fit in?” the voice on the other end of the telephone asked.

     “So far, everything seems to be all right.  But he is still a little suspicious about our generosity.  I think it would be best if we cut back on that a little.”

     “I thought you said he was dirt poor when you hired him.”

     “He was.  Apparently he is not as naïve as I first thought he was.”

     There was a short silence.

     “Does that mean you made another mistake?”

     “Of course not.  I don’t foresee any problems.  I am just keeping you apprised of everything that is happening,” Thomas answered quickly

     Thomas was beginning to wonder if his reports were becoming too detailed.  He decided they weren’t.  He was not going to make the same mistake twice.  He had withheld reporting Joseph Campbell, and it had almost cost him everything...his job, his future, and maybe his life.  He was not going to take any chances.  He would relay every suspicion and every doubt to his superior.  That way all decisions could be made at the top.

     “Are you still there?” Thomas asked after another silence on the line.

     “Yes.  I’m here.”

     “Is there anything else?” Thomas asked.

     “You are not getting paranoid on me are you, Thomas?”

     “Not at all,” Thomas answered.  But he was beginning to wonder if he was becoming paranoid.