It's Monday, January 12th, 10am.

"Hello Sevro"

"Hello Mr. Ford."

"So Michael still has yet to be found huh. No luck searching Toronto?"

"Well we know for sure he isn't within our radius. He's definitely with James. James knows all our procedures. He's worked a few escaped convict cases."

"I see. So anyway about this James guy. I was informed that there is something you want to tell me that is unique to the case."

"Yes. I guess I will just get to the point. James has stolen a very destructive technology from his precinct. This technology has the potential to be used in many ways. The technology is called the I.D. Tech. It can control a person's body with the simple use of a keyboard and mouse."

"I find it hard to believe this. When you say control, like in what way?"

"For instance the primary function of the I.D. Tech is to implant thoughts into a person's head. These thoughts can be used to communicate with the suspects. However the tech can be used to do other things such as raise or lower a person's feeling of the temperature. The tech can also give weird skin sensations as if an insect is crawling on your skin."

"That sounds like something out of a horror story. This tech… how long has it been around?"

"For only several months. It was first conceived in a lab in our country a few years ago but only has been used in interrogations for several months."

"Sounds like we have to catch James or else we have a much larger issue at hand than an escaped convict."

"Precisely. Also we have reason to believe James has used the I.D.Tech on Michael and is torturing him or maybe even manipulating him to do things."

"This tech. Can it kill someone… as in the person who is being controlled?"

"Yes but it requires a specific code that is given by the prime minister. James doesn't know this yet."

"Well that's a relief."

"Don't be relieved just yet. We are investigating Thomas Moore, a friend of James."

"And in what way is he involved with the case?"

"We believe he has been reproducing the I.D.Tech."

"You can't be serious."

"We searched his house and even showed up to his workplace. He's nowhere to be found."

*Back at the hotel in Montreal*

Thomas knocks on the door to the room where James and Michael are staying.

James opens the door. "Well look who it is. Man, glad to see you."

"Likewise."

"Have a seat Tom."

"Who is that guy with you?"

"That would be Michael."

"Are you freaking serious."

"Yeah I'd love to kill him actually but I have plans for him. He's not going anywhere. I mean he can't anyway because I can stop him in his tracks with the I.D.Tech."

"Smart man."

"So Tom did you bring the syringes?"

"I hoped to make more but I have 20 of them full of the liquid. Hopefully that works?"

"Yes that's probably more than I need anyway. Listen, I called you last night because I knew the police were going to question you. They would have certainly used the I.D.Tech on you."

"Yeah well I knew I was getting into a heap of trouble the moment you wanted to ask a favor from me." Thomas laughs.

*16 years ago a month before James and Eric fish Lake Temagami*

(Also to clarify. At the start of the book James is 27 years old. He's 27 when he first joins the special police unit he's currently in. So he would have been 16 years old in the fishing lake Temagami flashback. When it says 'the present day' in the first chapter he is 32 years old and has been in the unit for 5 years. Just thought I would write this because a friend was a little confused.)

James and Thomas are smoking weed at the skate park. It's a cool summer's night and there is nothing making a sound.

"Hey pass it over. You've taken enough puffs," James says to Thomas.

Thomas is clearly very high. He passes the joint to James. James takes a few puffs and in minutes he is in the same state.

"Hey James do you see that alien ship in the sky?"

"Yeah Tom. I hope it's not gonna abduct us."

Both of the boys are actually staring at a street light.

"Hey James. Have you asked yourself, can pigs fly?"

"Maybe if they drink red bulls."

Tom asks all sorts of silly questions in his high state.

"Hey Tom do you think we could grab a beer at the corner store?"

"We're not 18 yet though."

"I mean we could steal it."

"I'm listening."

"All you gotta do is distract the guy behind the counter. I'll just take a beer and put it in my coat pocket.

"Sounds good."

Both of them walk a couple blocks away to Murray's convenience. Tom is talking with the store owner. He's asking all sorts of weird questions.

James sneaks to the back of the store. He sees the individual cans. He grabs a Coors and puts it into his coat pocket.

James walks by the counter but the owner sees the bulge in his pocket. "Hey where do you think you're going? Let me check your pocket."

That's when James runs out of the store and down the block. Tom is running with him.

The 2 boys get to the skatepark. James whips out the can of beer. "I've never had a beer before. I wonder what it tastes like."

James cracks open the beer and takes a sip. "Ewww." He makes a cringey face.

"Hey let me try it."

Thomas takes a sip. "Damn it's hard to believe adults drink this stuff."

Both of them continue to drink and are unaware an unmarked police car pulls into the parking lot. The officer gets out and walks towards the boys.

"Hey what is that you're drinking?"

"Damn James what do we do?" Thomas whispers.

"I received a call that a couple of kids robbed a corner store just down the street. You wouldn't happen to be those 2 kids?"

The officer is close enough to see Coors written on the can.

"You know you guys aren't old enough to be drinking."

Eventually the officer puts both boys in the back of his car.

"I'm going to take both of you back to the store so you can apologize to the owner."

"We're really sorry…"

"Yeah well tell that to the owner."

They get back to the store. The owner sees both boys in the back. He walks around the counter and stands at the doorway.

"They were drinking a beer," the officer says.

"I kind of thought so."

"So guys. What is it you want to say to him?"

"We're really sorry Mark. Won't happen again."

"Listen both of you are regular customers of mine. You guys give me business every weekend… I forgive both of you. Just know this. It's really bad to steal. When I was your age I did stupid things too so I really do understand. But when you grow up you have to be responsible for your actions."

"Listen to him," the officer says. "Alright well it's getting late. How about I drive you both back to your homes?"

"Sounds good."

The officer drops off Thomas and now it's just James and the officer.

"So James I'm going to speak to your parents since you're the one who came up with this idea of stealing the beer."

"Actually it's just me and my dad. My mom passed away 6 years ago."

"I'm sorry to hear that… Okay well I'll talk to your dad."

The 2 of them arrive at Morley's Variety.

"Hey Eric, I've got your son."

"Oh man the police. Son what the hell did you do?"

"Well he was caught with his buddy. Both of them stole from Mark's convenience store."

"What did he steal?"

"A beer."

"Son. What did I tell you? Never to steal. And the underage drinking in itself is very bad too. Son your eyes. They're very red."

For some reason the officer never noticed this in the dark.

"Let me look at your eyes James," the officer says. "Did you smoke weed?"

"Yes…"

"Damn it James what are you guys getting yourselves into?"

The 3 of them continue to talk for 10 minutes. The officer walks away.

"Son. Please tell me you won't steal again… and never smoke weed. Do you know how harsh weed can be on a youth's brain?"

"Sorry Dad. I promise I won't steal again."

"As punishment no comics for you for a full month."

"But dad!"

"No 'buts'… young man."