image link (from ACLU on domestic drones)

The Word Challenge of the Day is secretive and FOWC is denounce.

My co-worker slipped me a note in a secretive manner while making an offhand gesture to indicate “shhhh”. There was no way the office cameras or microphones would pick up on it.

I headed to the rest room off of the main hall and made sure I was in the locked stall before reading the note. It said, “meet me at Louie’s at 6.” Louie’s was one of the few places in town that didn’t have surveillance cameras on the premises, either outside or inside, so it became our favorite roundevous location.

At this time of year, it was dark by 6 p.m. All the better to approach the building unseen. I pulled up and noticed all the lights were out in the place. I walked up to the entrance. “Closed for renovation” written in childish script on an 8.5 x 11 turned sideways. Hmmmm. My head started to swivel to survey the parking lot when I heard a, “pssssst!” to my right, coming from the corner of the building. I could make out the silhouette of a head with a hat on, which quickly disappeared. I walked over and stepped around the corner. Everything went black.

I woke up sitting inside Louie’s, back in the owner’s office, door shut. My head was pounding and my sight was blurry.

Louie sat at his desk, the smell of cigar smoke and whisky wafting over to me.  I was slumped on the couch, wrists duct-taped together and leg irons attaching me to the old accordian heater unit next to it. In a chair to Louie’s right sat Billy ,my co-worker, whose focus was on his phone.

“OK, Lee, it’s time to have a little talk. Billy tells me you were going to meet him here tonight, to finalize the plans for kidnapping your boss’ wife in order to get him to denounce The Administrator to the media and to coerce him to give you the dirt on The Administrator. Unfortunately your administrator got wind of it through his personal surveillance drone, who was looking through the window as Billy passed you the note and was able to read it.”

My heart sank to learn The Administrator knew Billy and I were agents of AX. I was going to lose my job, as would Billy, and The Administrator would stay in power. There may even be formal charges of Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping. What I didn’t understand is why I was duct-taped and shackled to the heater.

As if reading my mind, Billy said, “You’re probably wondering why you’re duct-taped and shackled to the heater.”

“A little, yes,” I said.

“Sorry to disappoint you, mate, but I work for The Administrator. She doesn’t want to take any chances with you spilling your guts to the media. You’ve been sold, wholesale, to an elderly gentleman in Hong Kong who has various body parts that have worn themselves out. Blood type match has been confirmed. You’re going to make someone very happy.”