Missing Things - FIRST DRAFT

covert operations

Carl wandered past the desk with the post-it notes that afternoon. He checked that no one was around before opening the drawer.

There was an answer to his message.

"I am the person who replied to your first message," it said. "It's nice to know you're the same person, too."

There was a little arrow at the bottom of the note. Carl took this to mean that the message continued on the next note.

Carl removed the top note. The next note said, "I put some notes in the bottom drawer of the farthest gender-neutral bathroom. It's safer to have a conversation there."

There was another arrow at the bottom of this note. Carl removed it, and read the next note.

"Answer there."

Carl stared at the note. Then he looked around the office. He wondered if anyone else had found this note, and whether they had already written a note in the bathroom.

There was never anyone in this area, which meant it was unlikely that anyone had found the post-it notes, but he still decided to head to the bathroom right away.

The gender-neutral bathrooms had drawers in them that were meant for "any-gender supplies". By this the company meant pads, tampons, wipes, deodorant, hand sanitizer, and air spray.

These supplies, much like the wipes, hand sanitizer, and air spray in the men's rooms, hadn't been restocked since the office had reopened. The company said this was for hygienic reasons.

Carl opened the bottom drawer, but all there was in it was a box of discount 1-ply facial tissue.

He lifted the box of tissue and found no notepad.

He scratched his head. Maybe he had misunderstood what the note meant by "farthest".

The box of tissue felt heavy. Carl looked inside it and found a pink ruled notepad and a purple gel pen.

He took them out.

"You found me!" said the topmost note. "Now we can talk in peace! How are you liking the empty office?"