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Monday - September 13

As we ascend, I vigilantly watch the panel lights showing which floor we're on. I eagerly want to know who this person is. Never noticing him at the CDC before, I wonder if paranoia of the news that Claire told me about is beginning to invade me. I want to turn around and say something to him, but I decide instead to just wait until I reach my floor, get off, and forget about him. Finally, we stop on the sixth floor, and before the door fully opens, I leap out leaving the stranger to his solitude.

I walk towards the huge glass doors with gold lettering on them, which displays, Director of the Center for Disease Control, Dr. Julie Nguyen. Feeling uneasy about that man in the elevator, I look over my shoulder to make sure he wasn't following me. When I reach the doors, I push one open and am immediately greeted by her administrative assistant, Jeff Hollister, who has been with the CDC for as long as I have.

"Hello, Dr. Bennett," says Jeff, "Dr. Nguyen is expecting you. Please, go on in."

"Thanks, Jeff." I walk to Julie's door and knock twice.

On the other side, a distinct Asiatic voice says, "Come on in, John."

I enter Julie's office and head towards her desk when she jumps from her chair and says, "John, please, walk with me. I need to show you something." Of course, being courteous and attentive to my boss takes precedence, as well as my curiosity to know what the hell she's so anxious to show me.

We exit her office through the back door and walk down a dimly, lit hallway. I've only been in this hallway twice. The first time was when I was promoted to Director of Viral Diseases. The second was when a new strain of the swine flu had surfaced. Lead doctors could only use this hallway to enter and exit, so as not to have contact with other personnel who may have been careless, or could possibly contaminate others. I hope nothing serious such as that is the reason for us being here.

We arrive at the anteroom of the lab where Julie and I get into our hazmat suits. As I fumble with the awkward suit, I notice a few faces inside the lab that I've never seen at the CDC before. Then to my surprise, I spot a face I do recognize. I glance over to Julie, and when I start to ask, "Is that...," she presses the door buzzer, permitting us to enter the lab.

Julie heads over to the familiar face, stops, and says, "Welcome, Madame President. It is an honor to have you here. Allow me to introduce to you Dr. John Bennett, the Director of Viral Diseases of the Center for Disease Control."

Unsure if I should extend my suited hand to greet the president, the president extends hers, and I customarily accept saying, "Hello, Madame President, and welcome."

The president releases her loose grip from mine, and then turns to Julie asking, "How much does he know, Dr. Nguyen?"

Realizing they're talking about me, I interrupt saying, "Know what?"

Knowing I spoke out of turn, the president and Julie start walking towards four men, fully suited with rifles in arms, guarding the door opening to a restricted area, where only high officials and head directors of the CDC can enter. They look like Secret Service; but who else can they be protecting besides the president?

Julie nods to one of the men; his cue to enter the security code on the keypad. When the order is executed, the door slides open, and simultaneously, the president and Julie enter the restricted area. Waiting to see if I should enter, Julie turns around, and with a direct voice she says, "John, enter, quickly." She then nods to the guard to close the door.

Standing along with Julie and the president in the restricted area, I notice three tables with distinct outlines of bodies lying under cover. Julie waves me to come over to table one. Walking cautiously, I'm hesitant as to why I'm being so careful. I stop and stand in front of table one, when Julie says, "John, these bodies were flown in by the Air Force last night."