Fred turned warily. Keeler and two other gray-clad security men stood there.
"Drug him and take him away," Walton said. "Have him held in custody until I notify Martinez."
Fred's eyes widened. "You're a dictator!" he said hoarsely. "You just move people around like chessmen, Roy. Like chessmen."
"Drug him," Walton repeated.
Keeler stepped forward, a tiny hypodermic spray cupped in his hand. He activated it with a twitch of his thumb and touched it to Fred's forearm. A momentary hum droned in the office as the vibrating spray forced the drug into Fred's arm.
He slumped like an empty sack. "Pick him up," Keeler ordered. "Take him and let's get going."
The story broke in the 1300 edition of Citizen, and from the general tone of the piece Walton could see the fine hand of Lee Percy at work.
The headline was:
GUY TRIES TO KNOCK OFF POPEEK HEAD