Week 4 Chasing the Enemy

Week 4 January 22-28 

Prompt Chasing the Enemy   

  

Chasing the Enemy

(Part Two)   

After a sleepless night, I washed my face, combed my hair, and pulled on a t and sweats. I was making coffee when the phone rang. I reached for an old-fashioned doughnut, my favorite, and sat at the breakfast bar. I wasn’t surprised that it was Macklin checking in early in the morning. 

“I wanted to make sure you were feeling ok after yesterday and tell you how much I appreciated your discretion. It was a matter of lab security. The powers in charge would not be pleased to know through a police investigation that those particular lab research samples had gone missing and were found out of their cages as it were.” He paused and then went on. “It would be awfully bad for the lab and especially for me. I can’t imagine what Joan was thinking about having them out without the proper protection. Definitely not following protocol.”   

“Mr. Cross, Am I in danger from having this test tube?”  

  “Not to worry.” he said, “They aren’t dangerous in this form. You are perfectly safe, but it does need to get back in the lab.”  

  “Do you know what happened to Joan?”  

He cleared his throat. “The police aren’t saying anything.”  

“But” I said, “You have an idea. You think it is related to what’s in this test tube, don’t you?”  

“No, that’s not true. I’m not sure and would not want to guess.”   

I don’t know how, but I knew he was lying.  

“The good news is that they aren’t going to close the lab so you can come back to work next week. You would come work under me.”   

A chill ran up my spine and I blurted, “Are you sure?”   

“Really,” he said, “I insist. I feel responsible that this does not set you back. Joan thought so highly of you and really felt you had a future in microbiology. I feel I have a duty to continue her mentorship. I know that is what she would have wanted.”  

Before I could say anything else he said “Same hours, okay? So, I will see you on Tuesday and bring the tube”  

I hung up thinking about the bio lab. I had done some research of my own before I applied to intern there. I knew they had a variety of contracts both civilian and military. I was left with a bad taste in my mouth that had nothing to do with donuts.  

“I appreciate your discretion, Sonja. Smithfield Labs rewards team players.”   

I replayed Macklan Cross’s words as I drove to work, transcribing notes, filing, and cleaning equipment nothing too difficult but necessary to have someone detail oriented to support daily operations. What had I gotten myself into? 

When I arrived at the lab, I headed to the lockers and greeted the other interns Kathy and Teresa.  

“Where’s Bobbi?” I asked.  

  “She got sacked”, Kathy said, “Something about a missing test tube from Special Projects. The thing is, she swore she never worked on those projects. I thought you and Joan were doing much of the work with them.”  

  My chest throbbed and I felt light-headed.  

  “Sonja?” Teresa said, “Are you alright?”  

I couldn’t utter a sound. 

“I’m sorry. Of course, you aren’t. It must have been horrible finding Joan as you did. I’m surprised you’re back. I wouldn’t have returned. Who are you assigned to anyway, you know, now that Joan is, well, isn’t here anymore?” 

“Mr. Cross said I’d be working with him temporarily.”  

I turned so I didn’t have to make eye contact. “That’s awful about Bobbi. I’ll catch up with you later. I should check my inbox and see what Mr. Cross has for me. I don’t want to keep the big boss waiting”   

I stumbled hitting a corner of the locker in my haste to get away. The test tube, in my pocket now, weighed a ton. I took it out. Turning it over looking at the clear liquid—curious and wary. What did it have to do with Joan’s death? Her words kept going through my head about the project captured in the blue-capped tubes. ‘Slowing and reversing aging in living tissues.’ My mind raced.   

There were assignments in my project box from Macklin Cross. I headed to his office to ask where he wanted the completed work. Moving through the hall I heard angry voices; 

“Everything is going to be fine. If you just keep your cool.” Macklin was on the phone. “It will pay off for us, just like we planned.” he paused, “Yeah, I didn’t count on Joan getting nosy. I hated to do it but there was no choice.” Another pause,” I’ll keep an eye on the intern. Are you crazy? No, not like that. I think she has been really upset by Joan’s death. I have a therapist friend who has just the pill to make her feel better.”  

I had stopped at the sound of his voice and now I backtracked down the hall until I was in my cubicle. My shaking hands struggled to set up beakers as I tried to appear busy on assignments from my new boss. Then, I remembered an experiment I had been working on for Joan. I moved to the rack of Petri dishes on the side counter. 

One of the containers had been moved.   

“Everything alright?”  

I jumped at the voice. Macklin looked at me from the doorway.  

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. I thought I would check and see if you had any questions about your assignments.”   

“I guess I am still a little jumpy. No questions, they’re similar to what Joan had me doing. I did wonder where you wanted me to put completed assignment notes…and … the test tube for you?”  

“Just put them in my office inbox arranged by project.” He gazed at me appraisingly, “I’ll take the test tube, thank you. You are sure you’re okay?”  

My heart pounded as I swiveled on the stool trying to appear calm. I had never realized how much he towered over me. 

“Ah,” he said. Looking over my shoulder he pasted me with a nod of understanding. “These were projects you were working on for Joan.”   

“I’m fine.” I moved to my cluttered desk and watched him. “Or, I will be fine, I need a little time is all.”  

I needed him to go away. Without him asking, I handed him the blue-capped test tube. He gave a furtive glance to make sure we were alone, and he slipped it into his lab coat. He turned to leave and then said, “It’s okay to be upset. This company prides itself on its benefits. Would you like to speak with someone about Joan’s death? I know an exceptionally good therapist. If you want, I can give you his name.”  

“That’s kind of you. I’ll think about it.” I looked down as if overcome in my grief.  

“I think work is the best remedy.”  

Finally! He was gone. I heard his steps retreat down the hall, then I counted to 10 and moved over to the petri containers on the counter. Joan and I joked about the fact that she was obsessively compulsive. Those dishes would never have been left this way. At first glance, they looked ok, but something was off.  

Checking the petri dishes would have to wait until later. Having lost weeks of work once before I usually kept a backup copy of test results, but they were at home. Totally against policy but Joan was the one who had suggested it. In addition to being OCD, she was also paranoid. Not about someone taking the results of our work but of fire, water, or computers making work disappear.  

I continued with the day’s work and only saw Macklin one more time as I stuck my head in his office on my way out the door. I wanted to assure him I was feeling okay. 

“No need to contact your shrink friend for me.’  

He smiled. “Okay but let me know if that changes.”   

I walked in my door and at once looked over the backup documents.  My blood ran cold. If this was right, I knew why Joan had the test tube and what she was checking. My test dishes didn’t look right because they weren’t mine any longer. Joan had taken advantage of where my project was in its development to do an experiment of her own. I was just lucky no one else had looked too closely at those dishes and destroyed their contents.   

I was in way over my head. I needed help but who could I trust with what I knew, well, thought I knew. I no longer had access to the serum in the blue-topped test tube. Plus, I had overheard Macklin’s conversation and I was fairly sure he was counting on my having a convenient depression.   

Well, I would protect what I still did have. I put the backup documents into an envelope and addressed them to Detective Percy Conway, Danver County PD, who I heard, was investigating Joan’s death. I was up most of the night trying to clear my head and calm my nerves. Bleary-eyed, on my way to work I went to the police department and asked for Detective Percy but was told he wasn’t in but would be coming in later in the day. I left the packet and drove on to work.   

At work, I went straight to the lab and looked at the Petri dishes. Yes, one of them was definitely changing and changing fast. If memory served from what Joan had told me, whatever was in this dish had extremely addictive properties. I had just swiped two of these containers for two others that were among Macklin’s projects. I was working at my desk when he arrived. 

“Good morning, Sonja. Would you help me move Joan’s experiments to another area?”  

“No problem,” I said. 

Macklin watched as I set up the experiments in their new location. Moments later Detective Conway entered the room, introduced himself and another officer to me. He turned to Macklin.  

“Mr. Cross, I have a few more questions.”  

Macklin looked surprised and annoyed at being interrupted but said, “Of course. Sonja, we can finish these later. My office, Gentlemen.”   

“No”, Detective Conway said,” I think this time we should visit my office. It shouldn’t take long.”   

“Is this necessary? I am terribly busy right now.” Macklin said. I heard his protestations as they left the building.   

Interns were standing around with technicians when a man who I have only seen pictures of strode through the doors with several men in military uniforms in his wake. Paul Smithfield, CEO, and head stockholder had called a meeting of project chiefs. 

In short order, all the interns were told to go home. Except for me. I was speaking with Mr. Smithfield and the police. I explained about having backup documents and how I came to have them. Joan had concerns about the side effects of the new pet project. Apparently, in addition to having the nasty tendency to induce an autoimmune condition, it was also wildly addictive.   

I later found out that Macklin had realized this and was aware of the potential of the serum for biological warfare and had already contacted a buyer. When Joan came to him with her concerns, he had to make sure the project wasn’t scrapped before he could make the sale. That’s as much as the media grapevine would reveal.   

I think Joan was right. I do have an aptitude for solving lab mysteries. I can see myself carving out a niche here in my future.