Metafire

"It's an interesting name," she noted. "'Meta' means 'changed' or something, right?"

"I guess so." Jack did not have the foggiest idea what 'meta' meant and didn't care to know. There were too many odd names on Internet.

Back at the FBI intelligence center the Major was still at work. He had now interviewed all forty people and felt confident that the center was in capable hands with Ferguson. Jack and twelve other people did not have the security clearance required, but Jack was the person he was most concerned about. Jill had a concrete, if circumstantial, lead on the case. He felt bad having to keep Jack away until he could get a security clearance jammed through the system, but it was better to be safe than sorry. Reports on Jack were fine. He was born in New York City, went to Columbia as an undergraduate in Business Administration. His family was in the restaurant business. A recommendation from a previous employer had also noted his uncanny mastery for finding things on the net. Everybody has a talent, and Jack's was that of being able to explore the net and find things that nobody else could find. Nothing else spectacular. Other than this, he just seemed like a nice kid.

Ferguson at Major Henderson's request had arranged, through the main FBI office, to have two agents on the street in Houston and one in Austin tracking down Jack's acquaintances. The Major was hopeful that by expediting the process they could get a simple secret clearance done in just a few days. Jill would continue with her magic, but she would need somebody to brainstorm with her.