Confabulation (The Department)

by Ronald Thomas

  Another hour passed.

  Simon rocked on the floor in a fetal position. His mind jumped from horrible reason to terrifying solution. He was sure that his time would end. The pain in his head continued to grow. He couldn’t stand due to the disorientation. Worse now than he could have imagined. He could feel tears flowing down his face, though his mind was too busy to know that he was crying.

  Time ceased to have any meaning as the pain and distorted vision continued. His motions slowed as he resigned himself to his fate. He tried to sleep, but the pain and the bright blindness prevented rest.

  Another hour.

  The pain subsided, but Simon kept his eyes closed. Afraid they would be useless. Still, he forced them open. He was surrounded by darkness. His anger and fear grew, but his eyes soon began to adjust. He let out a sigh.

  No lights on. The fingers of moonlight through the clouds provided some light after his eyes adjusted. His head still pounded, and he stumbled more than walked.

  It had been barely noon when it first hit him. Now it was night. At least nine. He struggled to his feet. Groped along the wall for a light switch. Once the light was on, the expected joy was stripped from his mind.

  He looked around and saw the evidence of the intruder. His papers were strewn across counters, tables, and the floor. His books lay on the ground, supporting the toppled bookcases. He’d been out for all of it. Didn’t see or hear anything. They’d been in his house. Stepped ver him. All the while he lay there. Helpless.

  CHAPTER 15

  Henry sank low in his seat. The hostess escorted Kelly and the other partners to an outside table. He shifted his body so he could see just over the door of his car. Felt pretty sure he wouldn’t be spotted. Henry felt like an idiot. He didn’t fancy himself a spy, or anything, but he was doing the best he could.

  He’d been annoyed at himself, but invigorated by the successful lie. She’d wished him a safe trip and gone to work. He drove to her office and waited. It was all working. He’s also found that he was more alert, and less anxious about watching. He knew he had to be more careful, though. Being seen would blow it all to hell.

  Henry sat still for several minutes, watching Kelly eat and laugh. He smiled as she stomped her feet on the ground which was her normal sign of excitement. He had to protect her. He knew he had to watch. Knew it would happen soon. It seemed his memory was coming back more each day.

  He knew her death was planned. He’d heard them plan it. Didn’t know when. He tried to remember, but it was blocked. He guessed that’s what people meant when they said they blocked out a bad memory. But he was hanging on to each piece now. Nothing was more important than remembering it all. Putting the puzzle together.

  That meant Kelly knew the killer. Could be anyone. Even one of the partners. Henry began to panic. He glanced at her again and thought of the time she spent with them. He couldn’t watch her all the time when she was with them. She had meetings in the offices. Lunches, dinners, late night work. He couldn’t be there all the time.

  Henry clinched his teeth until the slight movement of his jaw made a squeaking sound. A partner. A coworker. A friend. Henry couldn’t believe it was possible, but he knew in his gut that he had to stop it from happening. He looked wildly about the car. Hoping something would give him an idea.

  Nothing. He clinched his fists. Wanted to scream.

  Didn’t want to make a scene.

  Henry started the car and eased away from the restaurant. A few blocks down, he let it out. Screamed to the sky and punched the seat next to him. He let it all out until he was spent. He rested his head on the steering wheel. And cried. He took breaths when he could and shouted again until his anger was less than his exhaustion.

  He drove away. Still had no answers. He parked across from her office. Watched her walk through the revolving door when she returned from lunch. Sat and waited for her to leave.

  Hours went by.

  He was sure she was in danger. He tried to think of ways to see her, but found none. He called her to check in. Said he was bored and needed a pick up. They laughed for a few minutes before she went back to work.

  He waited. Saw her leave. Made sure she was alone and left ten minutes later. He drove by the front of the house, saw she was there, and parked a few streets over in an apartment complex.

  The next morning, Henry awoke in his car. As sunlight and consciousness returned, he could feel the fuzz in his mouth. As soon as his eyes cleared enough for him to drive, he pulled into a nearby McDonald's and ordered two large cups of coffee.

  He checked the clock. She’d already be at work.

  He headed back to the street that ran in front of Kelly's office.

  Another day of watching and he still needed a way in.

  He cringed as the acidic coffee landed in his hollow stomach. He fought back the urge to vomit, and chocked another few sips down before returning the cup to its holder. Around eleven, he saw her come out of the building. Watched as she eased into the large sedan along with a tall, older man whom he had seen many times.

  "That’s one of the partners. Where are they going?"

  He started his car, and followed.

  He moved behind them as they exited the garage. They drove past the regular restaurants and merged onto the highway. "Where are they going?"

  They exited the highway, and he darted across traffic to follow. Henry waved at the driver behind. The two men in hats and sunglasses didn’t acknowledge him, but they did take the same exit. Henry looked around.

  Nothing but hotels. One. Another. And another.

  The two men were still behind him.

  He tried to ignore them. Just pissed off dudes. They’d get over it.

  He kept following.

  He started to worry that they’d come here for a reason. He’d been a pretty bad husband lately. Spying. Lying. Never being around. He wouldn’t blame her for cheating on him. He tried to think about something else. Focus on saving her, but he couldn’t get the image out of his head.

  His heart jumped when the sedan pulled into the driveway of one of the city’s finer hotels. He didn’t want it to be true, but he felt in his gut that he knew what was happening. He waited several moments, and made his way to the lobby.

  He scanned the interior from the window. He was pretty sure Kelly wouldn’t see him, so he entered the hotel. Made his way to the front desk.

  "Hi."

  "Yes, sir?" The desk clerk was a young man, who reminded Henry of Opie Taylor.

  "Did the couple that just came in here check in?"

  "No one has checked in for over half an hour, sir."

  "No one?" He was sure that the clerk was lying, so he waited until the clerk shook his head. "Okay, thanks." He started back toward the main doors.

  "Sir. A couple did recently enter the restaurant."

  Henry looked over his shoulder to where the boy was pointing. "Thanks."

  Henry walked over and peered into the dining room, searching for Kelly. He soon found her at a table with the other partner and what appeared to be three clients.

  "Would you like me to show you to their table?"

  Henry looked back and saw the clerk standing next to him.

  "They’re speaking with the owner, but I can give her a note if you’d like."

  He shook his head. "No, that’s okay. It’s not who I thought it was. Thanks anyway."

  "No problem, sir."

  A business lunch. He was worried she was having an affair. It was just a stupid business lunch. He felt sick. The stress was getting to him. But he needed to get under control. Needed to focus on what was important.

  Keeping her alive.

  Hell, that partner or the people they’re meeting could be the killers.

  Back out the door, he got in his car.

  Waited for her to come out.

  CHAPTER 16

  Jackson Gray sat behind the large oak desk. It was there when he moved in. Had been since The Founding. Sixty years of dutiful workers had
spent their time behind that desk, evaluating candidate and passing the information on. He’d done the same. For fifteen years, he’d watched assets pass the tests, enter the system, and occupy their peg. Fifteen years was enough.

  It was his choice if he wanted to keep the mammoth piece of furniture when he moved in. The desk seemed reliable. Years of service behind it, and Jackson had a soft spot for tradition. It was the only area where anyone would claim that Jack possessed any sentiment at all.

  He kept the desk, and the walls, clear at all times, except for the item that held his attention at any given time. The papers he looked at that day were transcripts of recent surveillance of subjects in a study that Jackson had initiated. A project he kept close. A project that only a handful of others knew about. One that would probably get someone killed. It’d be him if wasn’t careful.

  He placed the papers down when he heard the knock at his door. "Yes."

  His door opened. His assistant looked in. "It’s Mr. Donaldson."

  "Send him in."

  Jackson sorted the papers. Put the key information on each subject in front of him. He kept his eyes on the papers as Donaldson entered the room. The footsteps paused. Jackson continued to read the transcripts. Once he heard the chair move he addressed the company agent without raising his eyes. "So, Donaldson, what did your men find?"

  "Nothing, sir. They scoured both addresses and found no evidence that they had been contacted, or that they had obtained any knowledge that threatened the mission. Our assessment is that the study is progressing without interference."

  Jackson read the passages again which outlined the times that contact was lost and out of character movement. A visit to a store connected to the company. A happenstance reading of an old book. Not the kinds of things Jackson normally accepted. Coincidences of that magnitude were not something to be ignored. But he’d been on edge, lately. And accidents did happen. But, when Simon, a man they had relegated to his home, suddenly ventured to a restaurant that was a common location for information transfer, any benefit of doubt was destroyed.

  Someone had contacted the subjects. He knew that meant someone from the company had probably reviewed his recommendations. Compliance would be on them. He looked up, finally, from the papers and stared into the agent’s eyes. "So, your men found nothing. Nothing even suspicious?"

  The agent wasn’t a rookie. He’d been working as a sniffer, someone tracking down mental signatures and residue, for a few years. Jackson had placed him in the program himself. Some others wanted to turn him into fuel. Jackson stood up for him. He’d been an asset.

  Jackson also made sure Donaldson knew the history of his candidacy. Helped him gain loyalty when it was needed. Donaldson was good, but his shaky posture, and pale complexion made him look like a first timer who was waiting to get dressed down by his superior. "That’s correct, sir. After reviewing the information gathered in reconnaissance, I’m recommending continuation of the operation, without reservation."

  "Very well. Proceed with the operation. Keep me informed if your men find anything suspicious. And remember, we’re not to engage these subjects directly."

  "Of course, sir."

  Jackson dismissed the man, and returned to his study of the papers. Someone knew. But they shouldn’t. He was careful. Laid it out to avoid detection. Someone screwed up. He gathered the files and slipped them into a messenger bag. Slung it over his shoulder and headed out of the office.

  Outside his door was a drab office setting. Not typical, but exaggerated. The people at the cubes did nothing. They felt they were working, but the work was useless. Just pushing numbers. They were there for treatment. And fuel. A field of low level psychic ability being siphoned off to fuel to the greater work.

  Jackson used to believe in the goal. Finding those who were dangerous to themselves and society. Training them, or blocking their random ability. Seemed the right thing to do. He didn’t expect to end up qualifying people for subjugation.

  Every day, Jackson would evaluate candidates. They’d be brought in under a variety of excuses, but the tests were designed to determine ability. There were three categories. Trainable, where they were either made agents, or had their ability blocked if they refused. Marginal talent, a category that was sent back into the world. A group of people blessed with better than average intuition, but little else. Not enough to bother training. Not dangerous enough to warrant repressions.

  And not powerful enough to be good fuel. Fuel. The group that drove Jackson to his decision. The poor souls in the middle, who were strong enough to serve a purpose. They were brought in, given a fake job, and subjected to a constant mental bombardment that left them unaware, and drained. Their abilities consumed and transferred to those who had to find others in the world. Jackson was assured it was necessary.

  He believed it. For a few years. Over time, he found he could not repress his own disgust. He raised the issue. Spoke to superiors. Was sent away. Told he could do his job, or choose repression. He’d been trained. His life revolved around his abilities. It would be like both blinding him, and taking away any chance he had to earn a living.

  He kept his position. Kept evaluating others. As he left the office, he was more sure than ever that he’d made the right decision. Not that day when he took the cowards way out. No, he made the right choice when he decided to bring the company down.

  He waved to security as he walked out of the building. Next to security was compliance. The group with the job to make sure all those that were trusted did as they were told. The group responsible for making sure he didn’t do what he was doing.

  The group he knew had noticed something.

  CHAPTER 17

  "Henry. That’s enough. I’m going."

  "But, I just wanted to spend the day with you."

  "Look, Henry. This is a very important case. I need to go to the office and meet with Danny about our strategy. End of discussion."

  Henry gritted his teeth. More plans out the window. Work intervened again. Made his job tougher. Put her in imminent danger. Threatened to take her where Henry couldn’t get to her in time. He pictured Kelly, alone in the office. Surrounded only by people who might want to kill her. One of them who certainly did. If only he could remember which one.

  Maybe it’d be Danny. They worked together all the time. He could see Danny attack Kelly for no reason. He knew no one would be there, and that he could hardly be inconspicuous on Labor Day, when no one was at work.

  "Kelly, please."

  Kelly shut her car door and rolled down the window as she backed out. "Why don’t you just go to a bar, get drunk, pass out, and I’ll wake you up when I get back."

  Henry stood with his mouth agape as she drove off. He’d been drinking, that much was true. He needed something to take the edge off. He hadn’t gotten any rest in a week without passing out. Sleep was just an excuse for his brain to think up even worse shit that could happen to Kelly.

  He didn’t mind the insult. He’d called himself worse things. But, he knew that if she began to mistrust his motives, he’d be unable to stay close enough. She’d begin to plan time away from him. End up getting herself killed.

  Henry knew the risks, but he couldn’t leave her alone.

  He waited a few minutes, and headed out. Drove to his usual spot outside the building that housed Kelly’s office. He didn’t have a plan. He couldn’t just wait outside. She was inside, and he knew what had to be done.

  He exited the car. Entered the building and pressed for the elevator.

  Headed up to her office.

  The door opened and Henry stepped out and turned left to Kelly’s office. The door was locked, but Henry stooped down and looked under the doors. He could see Kelly’s skirt flash by in one of the offices. "There she is."

  He stood there for several moments. Watching her walk back and forth. Her motions seemed casual, not indicating any type of struggle. "Everything seems okay." He kept watching as Kelly dropped a pen to the floor. "Hah, she’s
always been a bit clumsy." Henry closed his eyes for a moment to enjoy the pleasant memories.

  When he opened them, he could see Kelly’s eyes. "Shit."

  He spun around and headed for the stairs.

  Ran down the hall.

  Shoved the doors open to the stairwell.

  Squeezed between two men at the landing.

  Didn’t recognize them. He hoped they didn’t know him.

  He listened for sounds of being followed while trying to slow his heart. Once he felt sure that he wasn’t followed, he quickly descended the steps. He hoped he wasn’t seen. Though he peered into her eyes.

  He wondered why she didn’t follow him.

  Maybe she didn’t need to. She had all the answers she needed when she saw him there. No, he was sure she didn’t see him. He must have imagined it. She didn’t even call his name.

  Still, she was in there. Alone with someone. .

  Henry stopped and started back up the stairs.

  Something wasn’t right. He’d forgotten something. Something about what he’d heard. Something about the office. No, not the office. They didn’t plan on killing her in the office. Someplace else. Was he sure? Yes. Yes, he remembered.

  He went back to his car. Stayed there. He was sure she was safe inside, but he still felt certain the time was soon. Maybe today. Maybe Danny. He had to keep watch.

  He watched for hours. No sight of Kelly. He waited. The sun rose to its noon height with no sight of her. It had fallen back again over the horizon before he saw her pull out of the garage. With a heavy sigh, and a yawn, he started his car. Followed her home from a safe distance. Watched her pull into their development.

  Turned around.

  He needed to have an excuse for not being home. Figured a cake was good enough reason so he headed to the bakery. Hoped they were still open.

  CHAPTER 18

  “What’s the big deal, Jackson?”

  Jackson Gray walked past the short man, eyed the man behind him, in the corner. The loudmouth was useless. A runner they converted to their cause. Jackson didn’t care much for runners. Sure, he was sick of the abuses by the organization, but that didn’t mean he supported a group of people who selfishly put others in danger.