It takes him half a week to work up the
courage to call the number on the card. He dials it from work,
waiting until the office empties out at lunchtime to pick up the
phone. The first try, he hits a six instead of a two and has to
start again. The second try rings once, twice, three times before
Stefan thinks he hears someone in another cubicle and lets the
phone slip back into the cradle. He stands, stretches, looks around
but he’s just hearing things—he’s alone. This time he dials quickly
before he can lose his nerve, but someone answers on the first ring
and startles him speechless. “What is it?” a gruff voice asks. If
Stefan had to give a sound to the nameless stranger from the Code,
this would be it.
Beneath his desk, Stefan shuffles his feet
together like a nervous teen
