Icy assignment - Reaper # 2

Chapter 3

I rise early to make a visit to the Human Resources office to obtain the current personnel manifest and the one from a month ago. Closing my coat, I step outside and search for my vehicle before heading towards the power plant. The road is marked, driving in Antarctica is interesting, although speed is not a priority here. We move so slowly that it feels like I could walk faster.

Even though the mini nuclear power plant was dismantled fifty years ago, Istill feel a sense of apprehension walking around in a radioactive environment without protection. I wish I could shield my uterus with a lead casing; I would like to have children someday. Well, that's getting a bit technical, I must admit. I need to stabilize my professional situation first, find a partner, and consider artificial insemination since I'm not interested in men at all. But I remain positive and focused on the long term.

"Hello, I'm looking for Adriana Sanchez," I inquire upon entering the power plant, noticing a man putting on his boots. He points me towards a woman with long, curly black hair and a yellow hard hat accentuating its beauty even more. I approach her and extend my hand.

"Hello, Adriana."

She doesn't respond, doesn't even hear me, until I touch her shoulder.

"Who are you?" she says, startled.

"Hello, my name is Elizabeth. I wanted to talk to you about Sean."

"Do you know where he is?" she asks abruptly.

"That's the reason I'm here. Can we discuss in a quiet corner?"

Adriana leads me to an office and waits for me to sit down.

"So? I have to finish up here and then go to my other job."

"The desalination plant."

"Yes. I'm covering Sean's work until he returns."

This woman impresses me. She is strong, intelligent, and taking on two shifts to fill in for Sean's absence.

"Sean called me and asked me to come. In his message, he seemed to be having some problems."

"Elizabeth... He never mentioned you. How long have you known him?"

"From the army."

"Why did he ask you to come? He didn't tell me anything."

"I had told him to call me if he ever had trouble. I thought he would have talked to you about it."

Adriana looks at me in silence.

"Oh my God! So you're Reaper?" she asks, lowering her voice and approaching as if she's sharing a secret with me.

"Yes."

"Is Sean in trouble?"

"He's missing. Talk to me, Adriana."

She doesn't have much to tell me except that we're in Sean's office. Adriana gives me her seat so I can search in case he left a note forme. I check every drawer in case there's a hidden compartment, but I find nothing.

"Do you want to look in our room?"

"What do you mean?" The room where he was taken was shared with another scientist, not with Adriana.

"Yes, we live together."

"Do you like blue?"

"Um, not more than any other color. Why?"

"Do you have a blue curtain or sheet as a partition in your room?"

"Not at all, why?"

"The room where he was taken had a blue curtain on one of the beds. Could I see your room?"