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Time was running out, and Fiona was aware of it. She called Sophie’s and Phil’s cell phones many times, although she sensed her attempts were fruitless. Her gut was warning her a catastrophe was fast approaching, like a pebble that was thrown to the center of the earth through a man-made gap. She left the CSI team to evaluate Dr. Kaufman’s office while she waited outside, capitulated, and broke. Her mind was an empty space, or she had emptied it intentionally, afraid to accept the feeling that was ebbing again. She elected inactivity because she didn’t know which direction to take, didn’t know which pathway would lead her to the killer. Then, as if she was being instructed by ancient Gods, a pathway emerged.
“Jen, I need you to find Dr. Taylor’s address. He is the doctor who invented the device, and it’s imperative to reach him now!” she shouted without even greeting her. It was easy enough to use her own smart phone and recall the information, but she was longing for Jennifer’s support. Jen was familiar with her disposition, and when she sensed that Fiona was in distress, she came to her rescue. A bit of guilt touched her soul and threatened to take over for using the oldest trick in her book. Yet, they were friends and that what friends supposed to do, support and rescue.
“Where are you?”
“Seventy-ninth and Fifth, at another crime scene.”
“I’m coming over. I’ll bring the address with me. It seems that the situation is spiraling out of control. What time is it?”
“It’s almost nine.”
“I should be there in no more than twenty minutes.” Fiona ended the connection as she looked helplessly at the old building.
* * *
Jennifer hurtled toward Matthew’s office to help Fiona catch the killer before more people were murdered. She knew deep inside that she would always assist Fiona when she was distressed or in need. With a few key strokes, she obtained Dr. Taylor’s address, the doctor who had invented the device. And it was a good thing Fiona mentioned that bit of information because there were tons of Taylors. As she grabbed a piece of paper to write a quick note to Matthew before departing, her gaze fell on a stack of documents titled “THE DEVICE.” That was Matthew’s document, and Fiona had mentioned the device. Jennifer’s gut feeling was telling her everything was related. Could she violate Matthew’s privacy ... his work? It was unthinkable; however, the cop in her was unleashed. Just a quick glance, she promised herself, just to determine if it was all related. Indeed, Dr. Taylor’s name appeared as the inventor. There were also crossed out names ... six crossed out names? Normally, she wouldn’t have paid attention to the list of people, but the red ink made the names pop out. She remembered who they were, and they were all dead. That was Fiona’s case. Her mind was in total disarray, trying to make sense of the document she was holding and the dead victims.
“What are you doing?” Matthew’s voice seemingly came from nowhere. She hadn’t heard the door unlocking.
“You crossed out six names. They were in the FDA’s data. You deleted them, right? When I tried to access the names, they were already gone.” She knew she sounded accusatory. What else could she be? These people were dead, and he was involved in some capacity. “Why?”
“It’s not important. We had to do a few modifications before all the information was recorded officially in the document.”
Jennifer exhaled with relief. He made logical sense. He wasn’t involved ... yet. “Modifications? Wait a minute. These people have died, and someone who is involved with this ... this device ... may be behind it. Did you know?”
“Don’t be silly.”
“I have to go and meet Fiona. Something is terribly wrong. I’m taking this document with me,” she hugged the document as if it was precious.
“No, you are not going anywhere with my document.” He tried to grab it from her.
“Matthew, you have to tell me what’s going on,” she begged.
“Do you really want to know? You betrayed me.”
“Matthew, I don’t understand.”
“You slept with that cop only a week after you accepted my proposal.”
“Matthew, please, that was the only time. I went there to help her with a case and break it off completely. How did you even know? Did you follow me?”
“Oh, Jennifer, you betrayed me.”
“That was not my intention,” she sincerely replied while she thought of his own betrayal by following her.
“Well, you can’t have the document that paves the road to my demise. I glorified the device to the other members, and it’s a fine invention. You must believe me. Nevertheless, something is happening that is beyond our control. Dr. Taylor asked me to erase the names until he finds who is behind the attacks.”
“Matthew, you have to come clean now.”
“I’ll go to jail, and my career will be over. Give me the damn document!” his voice hardened; he no longer sounded like the man she knew. A non-human had been awakened in him.
“I’m going now.” She would test him to see the level of his resistance.
“I’ll kill you before you leave this room,” he said, and he meant it. His mannerisms had changed in just a few minutes, and his anger was tangible.
If it had been someone else in that room with him, the FBI agent probably would have been dead before she took a few steps on her way out. He charged toward her with a determination she had never expected from him, and before he moved closer, she drew her gun and struck him. He fell on her and then slithered to the floor as she moved away from him. It all felt like a slow-motion movie, and she became a participant without giving her consent to be filmed. She appeared undecided for a nanosecond, and then she grabbed the document and left the scene where her life had taken an unexpected turn. If she’d had time to think about it, she would have been relieved that she was free to persuade Fiona of their perfect match.
When she arrived at the location Fiona provided, she was more than ten minutes late. Jennifer walked toward Fiona and saw Gregory approaching as well. Gregory opened the door, and she sat in the front seat. She related the events in chronological order as if the order of the events that caused her delay were important. She talked about the document she had brought with her, and about her fiancé, Matthew Callagan, who was most likely accepting bribes. Why else would he glorify that device? She was certain the people who died and were erased from the document were the victims of an orchestrated attack. She insisted that Matthew couldn’t have done it. He was involved, she agreed, in a very detrimental way since he had withheld information imperative to the investigation.
“I have to go back to make sure he is okay. Then, I’ll try to make him understand how serious his situation is. Perhaps I can persuade him to surrender himself? If he refuses, I’ll call the department.”
“Call me. I want to know that you are okay.” Fiona’s sincerity was real, and Jennifer’s heart danced in her chest. Was Fiona still interested in her or in love with her? She would fold into Fiona’s arms if she was asked. She left as a tiny smile appeared on her lips. Did she get engaged to Matthew to punish Fiona, who refused to commit to their relationship? She looked back as Gregory sat next to Fiona holding the document titled “The Device.” She finally admitted to herself that she had adored Fiona for a thousand years, and she was determined to get her back.