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Monday - September 13

I stop at the guard house, along with other CDC employees, and ritually show my identification card, and also, raise my right hand to be scanned. After approval, I nod and say, "Have a good day," and stroll off to spend the next ten hours on whatever lies ahead.

The sidewalk to the main building door is crowded, and everyone must use a voice command to order the door open. Before I've even step ten feet into the building, I hear someone yelling my name.

"John! John! Up here, man!" I look up and see my friend and co-worker Jim Boyle. I start to take the stairs when Jim bellows out, "Use the elevator, John!" Reluctantly, I step backwards to the floor and head over to the elevator. I press the up button, and without waiting for the elevator door to open, I enter and push the button for the third floor.

When the elevator reaches the third floor, I begin to exit, when without warning, Jim pops himself right in front of my face shouting, "Hey, John, I was worried about you. It's not like you to be late for work, you know."

"Yeah, Jim, I'm sorry about that. I just didn't have any energy to get out of bed today. You know how it is?"

"Yeah, I know how it is, John," he says, as he nudges my arm. I give him a smile he would understand.

As Jim and I walk towards our offices, all I can think about is the bomb Claire dropped on me this morning. Pregnant! Pregnant! I still can't believe it. I'm not sure how I'm going to deal with this dilemma she's brought into our lives. How could so many people, especially my own father, be involved in this conspiracy? I must find out the truth. Somehow, I must find a way to get into my dad's old files. Since the bombing of the CDC in 2021, security was tightened so that no one could find out anything without permission from the CDC director. The acting director, Julie Nguyen, whom I am not a huge fan of, is a real do-it-by-the-book person. I realize I'm going to have to secretly open a lot of doors to find out the truth.

"So, John, what do you think?" Jim asks.

Not listening to Jim's conversation, I turn around, and quickly say, "Um... let me think about it, Jim. I'll get back to you."

"Okay, buddy," he says, as he continues to walk towards his office, but then turns around saying, "But don't take too long, buddy. Time's a ticking!" Jim waves as he disappears around the corner.

I arrive at my office door, ready to enter my dungeon for the day. I order the door to open, when immediately, the phone starts to ring. Being reluctant to answer it, I slowly bring it to my ear, and as tired as I am, I reply in a professional manner, "Hello, Dr. John Bennett speaking."

"John, it's Julie Nguyen. Are you busy?" she asks.

Clutching the phone to my ear, I'm thinking what great timing this is. Clearing my throat, I respond, "No, not at all. What can I help you with, Julie?"

"You can help me by coming to my office. There's something you need to see," she replies.

"Sure, I'll be right there," as I curiously respond. As soon as I heard the familiar click, I knew she hung up.

With my arms on my desk, and with my head hanging low, I can't stop thinking about the unbelievable news Claire told me.

What should we do? We! Claire should be dealing with this problem, not me! I shut my eyes, quickly inhale and exhale a few breaths so I can compose myself before I go see why Julie is all of a sudden summoning me. As if we have a crisis on our hands.

As I exit my office heading towards the elevator, I notice a man leaning against the wall. When I pass him, he nods his head at me, and I reply likewise. Arriving at the elevator, I press the up button. That's when I notice the stranger walking towards me. Who is this guy? Tautly, I'm wondering if he'll be joining me in the elevator or not. The elevator door opens, so I quickly enter, and immediately press the button for the sixth floor. The door starts to close, but my fear escalates when a hand appears, signaling the door to reopen. The mysterious man enters and pushes button number seven, and then steps to the back of the elevator as the door closes.