The Fledge Effect Read Online Free Page A

neighbors will let you use their
phone.”
“Maybe.”
•••
Agent Brinks sat her desk, talking on the phone
with her old partner, Agent Myers. “Yes. I have
tried to call Doctor Johnston. His phone just
gives me a busy tone.” He left for Japan. Another doctor caught his attention. One that
would not risk exposing them and their plan.
“The CBH virus is not to be tested just
yet. We covered up his last mistake.”
“Well, I’m not even sure if he has even
finished it yet.”
“Have you gotten ahold of Boss, yet?”
“Yes, and there appears to be a situation
in Middletown. I, also, just got done hiring your
replacement.”
“I’ll be back within a year.”
“Well, I need back up. And I prefer to
have someone completely oblivious to this situation. Almost everyone in this office wants a
piece of our plan.”
“Fine.”
His end clicked, signaling he ended the
call. She scoffed, placing her phone back on its
receiver.
Jack knocked on her door.
“Come in,” she said.
He opened the door, walking in. “Why
do you need me? I thought I didn’t start until
morning.”
“Well, this is the life you chose. Now
buck up. I hope you weren’t planning on sleeping tonight.”
“Why?”
“Agent Carlson, I request that you quit
with the insistent questioning, and begin working.”
“Okay,” he said, straightening his back.
To his amazement, she was anything but old.
She appeared young, almost too young to have
been doing this job for over a decade.
“I need you to sift through some paperwork, and determine if I filed them wrong.”
“So, I’m basically your secretary.”
“Snide comments won’t get you anywhere. I just want to test your knowledge.”
“Fine.”
“Use my desk; I have a meeting to go
to.”
“A meeting, at this hour?”
“Yes.”
He relaxed in her chair. The plush cushion of its red velvet eased the tension he felt between them. She left without informing him of
when she would be back. He rocked back into
the chair. “I’m sure she filed them right.”
In curiosity, he rifled through her drawers. One, however, was locked up tight. He
searched the underneath for a key. Her door
opened. He flung back into the chair, feeling his
temperature rise. Another agent looked in.
Agent Kay frowned. “Where is Brinks?”
“Um, not sure. She just left.”
“Damn. Okay.”
“Wait,” he said, raising his hand in the
air.
“What?”
“Where does she usually go at this
time? She didn’t tell me when she would be
back.”
“You’re new?”
“Yeah.”
“Then, you don’t know.”
“That is what I am trying to figure out.”
“No, I mean, nothing. Look, it’s best to
not dig in places you are unaware of.”
He was taken aback by the statement.
Nevertheless, he didn’t press on. “Okay.”
The other agent left the room.
He thought of calling his neighbors, to
let them know to keep an eye on Christine and
Katie. But the clock read one in the morning.
“I’ll call in the morning.”
•••
Boss put out his cigarette, as Brinks pulled her
car into the lot next to him. The park was empty,
which gave him the privacy needed for this conversation. She welcomed herself into his car. He
frowned, but knew it was better than having
someone drive by thinking it was a drug related
meeting. Cops would swarm this place in a
heartbeat.
“Smoking? What for?”
“Old habit.”
“Yeah, a habit that almost killed you.”
“Enough of the past. Now, I think Doctor Johnston may have completed his experiment a little early.”
“Why do you think that?”
“I don’t. I know.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“You better. I gave you a chance in this
life, now don’t blow it.”
“I understand.”
She left his car, heading towards her
own. He sped off, joining traffic. She leaned
against her car, tapping her keys in her palm.
She fiddled with the tiny brass key that went to
her desk drawer. She left the lot, heading back
to her office.
In the office, she saw Carlson napping
with his feet propped up