the world. His fingers and toes were actually digging into the hard surfaces.

The skin there had been replaced with a synthetic tissue. That was the reason

the police couldn’t take prints from him. The synthetic looked and felt like the

real thing, but it was far tougher than human skin, which would be bleeding from

the friction with the stone.

 

He began to climb.

 

This was not the first time he had scaled this building, although not as part of

his official training. He had simply done it on a bet.

 

He had won the bet. Ten bucks.

 

He reached the top ledge and vaulted over the edge and onto the flat, pebbled

roof. The heavy HVAC systems that climate-controlled the building were housed up

here. And there was, of course, an access door.

 

He hoped that his memory held up, for this was the critical point.

 

He reached the door. It was padlocked.

 

One pull and the clasp anchoring the lock tore free from the door.

 

He gripped the knob and turned it.