Seven men have already opened their brochures about the vital secrets of Solomon. They include Michael Dixon, Kristopher Hanson, Bertram Coxwell, and Tiger. But Tiger is the first one to make direct contact with Dr. Ling's Wellness Center intending to register for the event. At this moment his interest is not the Solomon's Seven Secrets. Tiger is ready for high-blood action.

He arrives at his impeccably shine sixth floor art-deco apartment, studies his brochure, and realizes he must attend this event. "This should be an interesting twist on two themes," he chortles and dials the listed 800 number. The Operator's soft southern twang is misty pleasant.

"Dr. Duong Ling's seminars. How may I direct your call?"

"I'm looking for information on 'Holy men have great sex too."

"One moment please. I'll transfer you," the operator says as she nervously activates both record and transfer functions while noting from the caller ID box that Tiger's telephone number is unavailable.

Damn!The operator is still trembling from the previous call. While other men were simultaneously discovering their brochures, deep in the foothills of Travis County where the Wellness Center is, the operator had been receiving a more chilling message.

"Dr. Duong Ling's Seminars. How may I direct your call?"

"Is this where holy men have great sex too?"

"Absolutely, sir. This is the place. How may I…"

"You perverts. Perverting the Holy Bible. Corrupting God's chosen nation. Get ready for Armageddon, you perverts. Boom!"

Click.

"Hello. Hello."

Before she could recover from the chill up her spine the caller was gone. She depressed the security button, and in no time security in the person of Teedee arrived like a Gestapo. The Chief Seminar Planner Dr. Beverly Carter and her logistics assistant, Alfred Silva, had already scampered over to discover why the security alert.

Dr. Carter spoke first. "Did you get his caller ID?"

"Yes, ma'am. He used a mobile phone."

"Fool."

Teedee took the yellow sticky-sheet with the number from the operator and studied the ten digits. "Pull the tapes."

"I already did. Here, sir." Her trembling lips could barely manage the words.

"When he calls again, immediately, e-me-diately, press the alert. And keep him talking. Don't panic. Keep him talking. He can't harm you over the phone. Hold him."

"Yes, sir," the skinny operator said but her guts were in knots. Gestapo Teedee led Dr. Carter and Alfred Silva into the security room. While he was issuing an advisory alert to his staff supervisors, Dr. Carter was inviting Chief Psychologist Pham for his expert opinion of the call. Pham arrived. The four listened repeatedly to the caller's voice: to every nuance, accent, and background sound, trying to decipher his motivation and intent.

"This is not a crank call." Dr. Pham concluded.

Dr. Carter agreed. "He sounds pretty nuts to me."

"I'll get the FBI and the Chief of Police." Teedee decided.

"The FBI. But leave out the Chief of Police. For now." Dr. Carter advised. When Teedee raised his brows, Dr. Carter said: "We don't want it all over the news. Alfred, put a trace on the mobile phone."

"Good."

"This guy can't be that smart." Dr. Carter wanted the whole issue to go away quickly.

"This guy is a fool"

"Maybe they are very smart." Dr. Pham interjected. "These kinds want their victims to believe they are lurking behind every shadow. They feed off of victim's fears. They control through fear."

"But we know better. Don't we?"

"I know it best not to play their game. Only make them think we play their game. Best that way. They want us to think they're smarter. We keep them thinking that and we stay ahead."

"Fools. Degenerate fools."

"Not necessarily, Dr. Carter. Not necessarily."

"Why would you say, 'they'?"

"He is not working alone. No. This one has a larger purpose. Yes. I'll alert Dr. Ling."

"No!" Dr. Carter interjected. "No. I'll handle Dr. Ling."

"We must put this seminar off until we're sure everything is safe." Pham insisted.

"We're not going to run. Not on a whim. Not even on a threat. Fear feeds the bully. We're not running. No."

"Dangerous game, Doctor."

"It's a complex road to civility, isn't it?" Dr. Carter smiled. "We can't let bullies run our lives for us. That's what Dr. Ling will say. We can't lose these foolish games if we're going to achieve the kind of goals we've set for our organization. For God's sake, we're in the business of training people to overcome fear. This is a good test. Yes. This is a mighty good test."

"One dangerous game, I say." Pham opined.

"One billion dollars, Dr. Pham. We have to be sure of our moves when we make a move. Or this nitwit wins by default." She turned to Teedee. "We've come too far to give up now. Grab this nut and shut him up before the seminar begins."

"Less than two weeks!"

"We have his number. And we have his voice. Clear and distinct." "That's true."

"Get him. Put him out of business. And don't let the media in on this. Or the nitwit wins again. We run; he wins. We get people thinking of him; he wins. No. We have to keep a tight lip. Until we pull him out of the shadows."

Now that Tiger is on the phone, the operator manages to do everything right as she transfers the call to Dr. Carter.

In the next episode starting 3/25 see what happens when Tiger tries to register over the phone. In the meantime, discover what your favorite character is doing. Can you guess who has the clues to Solomon's secrets?

ENTER_____SPACE
PRIZES AWARDED!