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."Joseph sighed and looked back down at the computer."Well, that's okay, I guess.Ican search first names too.What is it?""Daniel."Looking relieved, probably because there were only so many variations on thename, Joseph nodded and typed something into the computer."Do you know whenhe would have come in?""Not exactly," Boyd said with a heavy sigh."This is so irritating.I'm sorry I don't havebetter information, but I was lucky to even get what I did.""Do you have a range at least?"Boyd gave him longer than the years Danny Cruz's history listed him as beingpresent at the institute.Joseph frowned and was silent for a few minutes, alternatingbetween typing something into the computer and flicking his gaze along the screen."There are a few possibilities.""Real y?" Boyd asked in surprise.He straightened and looked at Joseph in relief."No one else had that.What are the names?"Joseph hesitated, frowning down at the computer before looking up at Boyd."I'm notsupposed to release private information."Boyd deflated against the desk, bracing his hands on the edge and dropping hishead between his arms."You're kil ing me, man.I really need to know this.Please.Ineed to find him."There was a pause that made Boyd look up.Joseph was watching him with acalculating quality."How much is it worth to you?"Boyd watched him a moment and then glanced around for cameras.He didn't seeany and returned his gaze to Joseph, who shook his head minutely as if to verifythey weren't being watched.Boyd casual y put his hands in his pockets and shiftedhis weight."A lot."He palmed a wad of cash from his wal et and hid it in his hand as he rested his armson the desk again.Joseph discreetly took the money and quickly counted it underthe desk where it wouldn't be seen.Boyd hadn't paid attention to how much hegrabbed and noted as Joseph counted that it was over $300.That seemed to pleaseJoseph immensely, who likely wasn't paid much in this position.He wrote somethingdown on a sheet of paper and slid it over to Boyd.He skimmed the names Joseph gave him, noting that there were five Daniels, Dansand Dannys who had been admitted during that time.Including Danny Cruz.Boydread them over and then sighed and shook his head."It could be any of them.I can't tell with that alone." He straightened and slipped thepaper into his pocket."Are there any orderlies who have been around that long I canspeak to? Maybe who'd remember him if I described him?""Hmm." Joseph shoved the money in his pocket and leaned back in the chair."Richhas been, I guess.""Where can I find him?""Go out front," Joseph said easily."I'll get him out there for you.""Thanks," Boyd said grateful y.He discreetly slid more money across the desk.Joseph took it immediately.He was already counting the additional money as Boydleft the room.Boyd walked out front and sat down on one of the benches that would be partiallyblocked from the cameras by the landscaping.To make identifying him even moredifficult, he casually kept his face tilted away from the cameras.He didn't have towait long until an older man came out and hovered near the smoking area.Hepulled a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket and hit it to get one out.He glancedsidelong at Boyd, put the pack back in his pocket, and pulled out a lighter."I hear you're looking for someone," he mumbled around the cigarette he placedbetween his lips.Boyd nodded."If I describe him can you tell me if you've seen him here?""Sure," Rich said unconcernedly.Flame erupted from the lighter and turned the endof the cigarette a deep orange-red."I've been here long enough, I know just abouteveryone.""He's tall.Dark hair, green eyes, tanned skin.Early thirties but looks late twenties.He would have gone by Danny or Daniel."Rich frowned, his entire face folding in on itself as he considered that.He was silenta moment, drawing in deep breaths from the cigarette and puffing it out in plumes ofsmoke.After a moment he shook his head decisively."Nope.Sounds like I'dremember him and there's been no one here like that."Boyd sighed heavily and heaved himself to his feet."Thanks anyway," he saidresignedly.Rich shrugged."Sorry kid." Despite his words he didn't sound particularlysympathetic.Boyd nodded and turned, walking away with his shoulders slumped indisappointment.In truth, he was thinking intently.It was as he'd expected.The Agency hacked the database or bribed someone at theinstitute to add Danny's name onto the roster so a cursory glance would confirmDanny's publicly available history.But Sin was never actually there.It made sense,since he would have had to have been there very recently if they'd actual yinstitutionalized him.Still, it only begged the question even more of why the Agency had included that inhis history.Why bother going to the extra effort of doctoring fake records at aninstitution when they more easily could have given Danny a clean history?Were they afraid he would somehow remember parts of his true memories? Was itpossible Sin's memories hadn't been completely destroyed but rather were hiddensomehow?Could he regain them in the future?It made him wonder even more what Sin's memories were right now.Did he remember being institutionalized in the Agency and misconstrued them in hismind to have been at the mental institute? And if so, why would Sin remember thatbut nothing of Boyd? Maybe it was harder to cover traumatic memories.Or maybe itwas a question of timing-- perhaps more recent memories were easier to subvertthan older memories? After al , Sin had been stuck on Fourth multiple times over thecourse of his life but he'd only known Boyd more recently.That was something he wouldn't be able to determine until he had the chance to talkto Sin more.Whatever the case, he was glad he'd stopped at the institute.He got back into thecar and checked his rear view mirror.Rich was still smoking in the corner andseemed to have forgotten his existence the second he'd walked away.Even if the Agency had flags on Danny Cruz's file at the institute, Boyd doubted theywould be alerted.He had purposefully given only the first name and a larger expanse of years soDanny's individual file wouldn't be accessed.There was no reason to flag everysearch that would be run on the computer, especial y since Boyd doubted theAgency expected anyone to bother tracking down his information.And even if they did find out someone looked into him, Joseph's information wouldlead to an alias that didn't connect to him, a description that would be misleading,and no good shots on the cameras for a positive ID.They could determine it washim eventually but it would take some time.The last place he had to check was the apartment where Danny had al egedly lived.This was the place he was most curious about, because it was where Danny wasmost likely to have actually been.Boyd's work phone suddenly buzzed from his pocket
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