Infection - Part I

Chapter 6.

As Valerie made her way out of the bathroom, she was greeted by her Chief once more before they walked and sat back in their seats.

"How are you feeling, Valerie?" he asked.

"I am good, Boss. Still shaken..." she responded.

The silence was expressed between them both again. And now, he was the first one to break it. "I want you to stay at home. I am not suspending you. But I am giving you a few days off, Detective.".

"But... I- I don't need it, Chief. I am fine.".

"You said it yourself," he began. "You are shaken. I want to give you some time off. It'll only do you good.".

She kept her eyes on her boss. "But I am getting paid this week...".

"You know that with me, money is not an issue, Detective," he responded.

She nodded her head, but before anything else could be said, Valerie's phone rang. Pulling it out of her pocket, she saw the caller ID. Nelly. 

She answered the call.

"Nelly...".

"Val, hey," she began. "I tried ringing you up earlier, but you didn't pick up, so I assumed you were busy...".

"Y-yeah... yeah," Valerie responded.

"You don't sound too well, Val...".

"I'm not..." Valerie began. "But I'll be okay.".

"Work stuff?".

Initially, she nodded as if Nelly could see her through her phone. "Yeah...".

"I'm sorry, Val...". She paused for a moment. "I just wanted to call you up to see how you're keeping. I heard more shit on the radio and it scared me...".

Valerie stopped, she looked at the ground as her hand went on her hip, "What did you hear?".

"These... these attacks are happening, Val," Nelly began. "They say it's people who are infected. Their agitation increases.".

Immediately, Valerie's mind went back to the attacks her team and her witnesses. Her heart paused a beat. "The infected tend to be violent?".

"Maybe it's not all of them..." Nelly said. "But be careful. I know you work with people, you're a detective.".

At first, Valerie nodded her head. Her friend's words came as the sort of consolation she needed. But then, she furrowed her brows as she ran over her words. "Nelly?...".

"I am leaving the country, Valerie. James and I are leaving for Arittoria, to go to my parent's place. They said it's safe - safer - there.".

"You're... leaving?" Valerie tried to fathom what Nelly just said.

"I- I figured it would be safer there for us, James and I... We can and we will make a space for one more if you'd like to come along, Val," she said.

"I-... I don't...". Valerie gulped, finding herself on her feet. She looked back at her boss who had his eyes on her. "But what about my job, Nelly?...".

"I don't think you'll have a job for much longer, Val..." Nelly began. "I feel like something is happening, something bad. And I need to get the fuck out of here, Valerie.".

Initially, Valerie responded with silence. "I- I understand...". Her friend's words rang in her head. And after what Valerie saw today, she knew that Nelly was right. Something was happening. "Go, you go and be safe, Nelly. I'll be fine here.".

"Valerie..." Nelly voiced gently. "Are you sure?...".

"Yes..." Valerie responded.

All the while Valerie was on the phone with Nelly, a doctor opened the double door and walked out toward the nurse by the table. She gave him the clipboard she filled out not too long ago. And with him approaching Valerie, who had her back toward him, he spoke up. "My apologies, it was brought to my attention that you're the partner of our latest patient.".