Peeking through the peephole, Glenn Cross waited. Wyl opened the door. “Come in, Glenn.”
“Sorry for the interruption, gents.” Glenn stepped inside and handed Wyl an envelope. “O’Brien sent it.”
“Any idea what's inside?” Rod asked.
Glenn shook his head. “I’m only the messenger. I wanted to catch you before you left for the day. I’ll let you two finish your breakfast.”
Wyl showed Glenn out. “Thanks. Best to James.”
Wyl opened the envelope. He pulled out the papers and glanced through the pages. “This is the course project of one of the students,” he said.
“Is it helpful?”
Wyl shook his head as he slid the papers back into the envelope. “I’ll need time to review the information in detail before I discover what it means.”
“Grab your coat, and let’s go.” Rod tugged open the door and grinned. “You can’t be late for class.”
* * *
The students crowded into Dr. MacGowan’s class.
"Morning, lads,” Ailbe spoke as he strolled into the classroom.
"Morning, professor,” the students responded, almost in unison. Ailbe liked the students honoring him. Woe be the student who questioned him or failed to show respect.
“I asked Mr. Wyl Sterling to come and speak to you today. He is a world-renowned cybersecurity expert who is in Ireland for his honeymoon. He spoke at the Technology Symposium on Wednesday. You lads are in for a treat when a man of Wyl Sterling’s caliber visits my classroom.”
“I bet his wife doesn’t like him working on the honeymoon,” one student said. The other lads chuckled.
“He doesn’t have a wife. He and his husband married earlier this year. I met them both and never came across a happier married couple.”
Stunned expressions crossed the faces of several students, but a few sported smiles. Ailbe glanced around the room and spotted the few either gay or potential trouble.
Garrett Burke raised his hand.
“Yes, Mr. Burke?”
“What is Mr. Sterling’s husband’s name?” Garrett asked. A few of the lads chuckled at the question.
“His name is nothing of your concern, Mr. Burke, but it’s Rod. Rod Sterling.”
“Oh…like the Twilight Zone guy on those ancient television shows,” one student smarted off. The rest of the students laughed.
“If you bothered to do your homework before opening your mouth, Mr. Cassidy, you would remember the Twilight Zone guy is Rod Serling, without a T.”
The room quieted.
Wyl poked his head in the door of the classroom. “Am I in the right place?”
Ailbe turned to greet Wyl and Rod. “Yes, Misters Sterling. Please come in.” He shook hands and guided them to the front and center.
“Lads, may I introduce Mr. Wyl Sterling, the renowned cybersecurity expert.” He squeezed Wyl’s shoulder. “And the gentleman accompanying him is Dr. Rod Bonner Sterling, who is not only a musicologist and an expert on opera, but he is also Wyl Sterling’s husband.” He placed his hand on Rod’s shoulder. “Let’s welcome them.” He began applauding, and the lads joined in. Rod moved to the back row to sit while Wyl took a position at the front of the classroom. Ailbe sat by Rod.
“Dr. MacGowan asked me to give you a shortened version of my presentation for the symposium. Afterward, I’ll be glad to answer questions from you lads,” Wyl began.
Again, Wyl demonstrated his extreme comfort in front of an audience. He walked back and forth across the front of the lecture hall, using his hands to emphasize points or pausing for a particular item to soak in.
Rod peered at the lads, who focused on Wyl and his topic. After twenty minutes, Wyl stopped and slid his hands into his pants pockets, gazing at the lads seated in the classroom. “All right…any questions?”
Hands shot into the air and lads squirmed in their seats to be first.
Wyl pointed to a student in the back of the room, frantic to ask his question. “You. Give your name and state your question.”
“Seamus MacAuley, sir.”
“Yes, Mr. MacAuley?”
“Cybersecurity sounds like a fascinating career. How did you start?”
“I got into security about when home computers became widespread, Mr. MacAuley. While in the Marines, I worked with the government to keep our military and all Americans safe. As computers infiltrated society, I studied coding each year to keep up with not only changes in technology but changes in criminal activity as well.”
Students waved hands in the air again. Wyl pointed to a student in the front row. “You. Give your name and state your question.”
“Bradan Cooney, sir.”
“Yes, Mr. Cooney?” Wyl said.
“Did your work involve any criminals?”
