The Second Sphere

I had one last shot to bring Cody in. After that, I couldn’t speak with him freely. I was in his apartment to convince him to come into the Laslow Corporation before things got out of hand.

I sat on the stained red seat he offered. Cody’s face was tense, his eyes serious. A few throwaways lay out on his bed in the corner of the room. The place felt open, less cluttered. Business must’ve been good.

“It’s about Newberry?” he asked. He rubbed his hands together nervously.

“What happened?” I asked.

“What do you mean what happened?”

“I mean, what was the shit on the throwaway that you gave him? I don’t know whether you’ve watched any news in the last day or so, but your guy Newberry is dead.”

“I know, Orion,” he said. “

“Newberry attacked me like some kind of goddamned wild animal.”

Cody put his elbows on his knees, then rested his chin in his hands. He twitched nervously. “And you think I had something to do with that?”

“What am I supposed to think?” I asked. “I know there’s more to this story then you, though. I need to find out who you got those throwaways from,” I said. “The Laslow Corporation wants you to come in to make a statement.”

Cody puffed his cheeks. “I can’t do that.” He leaned back, his chin raised. His voice trembled. “I’m not going to give you my supplier.”

“You give me Newberry, but you can’t give me your throwaway supplier?” I asked.

“I can’t do it.”

“Why?”

“Because if I do something like that, then I’m completely fucked.”

“You sure?”

“I can’t do it, Orion. Things are complicated.”

I didn’t have time for Cody’s fear of what may or may not happen because of his work with the Laslow Corporation. Before I realized it, I stood, stepped forward until Cody and I were nose to nose.

“You need to make a commitment,” I said. “If you say you’re fucked if you help us, imagine what the Laslow Corporation is going to do to you if you don’t agree to what I’m asking. The least you can do is to help yourself out. One way or another, this is going to happen. Laslow people are out there now, watching you from a distance. They’ve known about you since last night.”

“I’ve done everything you’ve ever asked,” he said as a chirping cry erupted from his mouth.

“And I need this,” I said as I took a step back. “This is getting bigger than just a little tit for tat between Laslow and the GR,” I said.

“If I agree and don’t get shipped to Mars, if I make it out alive? I’m a dead man anyway. Everyone standing outside this building knows who you are, Orion. They know where you work. They know that you come to see me. Only so long I can pass that shit off as you being an addict.”

“Then I can’t tell you what’s going to happen tomorrow or the next day, Cody. You’re on your own,” I said.

“I’ve always been on my own,” he said.

I stared at him, scowling. Cody didn’t speak for several moments. My patience was nearly worn through.

“What’s your play?” I stood, walked to his bed, put my foot on it, and rested my elbow on my knee. He looked at me with sad eyes. He didn’t want to choose. That made things easier. I would choose for him.

“We’re getting a trace on you,” I said. “It’s either the easy way or else.” I took the small trace out of my pocket and held out to him. Cody looked at me expectantly and then nodded. I placed it carefully on the side of his head, underneath his hair.

“It’ll start soon,” I said.

“Soon?” he asked.

I nodded. “Picking up your shipment.”

He gave me an incredulous look.

“You can’t just leave me out here after that,” Cody said. “You can’t leave me dangling.”

“What do you want?” I asked.

“New identity. I’ll go anywhere. Doesn’t matter.” He appeared sincere. And scared.

“I’ll see what I can do,” I said.

Cody didn’t understand the rules. I didn’t owe him. And sure, I’d do what I could to help him. But the important thing was that I got Cody to do what was best for me. For a moment, I wondered whether he knew what was best for his future.