Hostile Takeover by Patrick E. McLean Read Free Book Online Page B

same shaven-headed, gut-bulging model they all seem to be cloned from. As the guard looked at Topper his expression didn't change. Topper didn't like that. He believed it was important to get a reaction out of people. Good, bad, didn't matter. But indifferent was unacceptable.
    Topper walked up and invaded the guard’s personal, bad-touch space. It was an old trick. He learned early on that no matter how big or strong a man might be, he was always protective of his crotch. There was no arguing with such a primal fear. And, at Topper's height, every twitch of the head or hand gesture could be interpreted by the brain stem as a potential attack. In spite of his tough-guy attitude, the security guard took a half-step back.
    Topper said, "Okay, now that I've got your undivided attention, what happened with the little kid?"
    The security guard's eyes crossed a little bit as he tried to figure out the correct response. Topper could almost see his mind turning the carefully memorized pages of a procedure manual. Topper decided to help him out. And mess with him at the same time.
    "So, yer, uh, rulebook there, it makes an exception for me, right?" Topper asked as he took another step forward towards the man's balls. Instinctively, the security guard flinched and took a half step back.
    "Well, it's not in the rules, but my supervisor—"
    Topper advanced again, "So I'm probably pretty important, right?"
    "I, well, uh"
    "Duh, duh, duh," Topper mimicked him. Then he presented his business card. It was an innocuous motion at most times, but the speed and intensity with which he did it, at a very dangerous height, caused the security guard to jump slightly. He took the card and read, "President of Vice."
    "That's right. I'm the Vice-President of this whole shebang. Not exactly a figure anybody looks up to," Topper made another fast motion, just because he liked to see the guy flinch, "but I do outrank you by several thousand percent. So, if you will, Officer Krupke, make your report."
    "My name's not Krupke," said the security guard.
    "Whatever. What happened to Jerry?"
    "He brought a juvenile into the facility. When I informed him that juveniles were not allowed in the facility, he mocked my authority. I warned the perpetrator to stop…"
    Topper's criminal defense lawyer instincts kicked in. "Wait, wait, perp? PERP? The guy didn't commit a crime. He just didn't listen to a rent-a-cop."
    The security guard gave him a blank look.
    "Okay, Magilla, then what happened."
    "My name's not Magilla."
    "I know, ya slow bastard, I'm calling you a gorilla. Which currently seems to be insulting to the intelligence of gorillas! Now, what did you do to Jerry?"
    "When he didn't comply with my instructions, I subdued him using an electro, elect, electromagnetic device to disrupt his control of muscular—"
    "You TAZED the guy? In front of his KID?"
    "Omdemnity Corporate Manual, Section 8: Security. ‘All disturbances will be dealt with quickly, quietly and efficiently.’"
    "Jerry wasn't a disturbance. He's a little bit of an idiot, but he's not a disturbance. He's an employee."
    "I don't make the rules."
    "Yeah, but you don't have to be a dick about the rules, do ya?"
    The security guard noticed looks of alarm on the faces of Omdemnity Employees passing through the lobby. He realized that this unusual situation was covered by the book. It made him feel so much better to have a rule to follow. With joy in his heart, he abdicated responsibility and said, "Sir, I must inform you that you are creating a disturbance."
    "Oh? OH! I'm making a disturbance? Disturbance, HAH! This is nothing. When I make a disturbance, believe me, you'll know it."
    "Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to control yourself." Now sure of himself and his purpose and his position in the great rulebook of life, the security guard felt big and mean. He had nearly three feet and 200 pounds on Topper. It did not look good for the little man. But did Topper care?
    The security guard put a