Instinct

4. No Turning Back

“No, you’re not understanding me here,” she interrupted. “You’re missing the opportunity of a lifetime- no, now, listen to me… Yes I understand that, sir, but-”

The dial tone blared in Rebecca Powell’s ear, the toll of another funeral bell in her ear. She growled in frustration and yanked the cell phone away from her, jamming her thumb into the end call button. Yet another name to cross off the list- a list too small to survive many more rejections. With every unsuccessful marketing bid, her heart fluttered more erratically in her chest. Her head was light with more than adrenaline and worry, from more than just the breathless rush of words that tumbled out of her mouth as she struggled to be heard on every call.

Tears prickled hotly behind her eyes. She wasn’t sure how many more rejections she could take.

Without sparing a moment, she took a deep calming breath that had no effect on the splash of salty water that landed on her contact sheet, or the quiver of her hands, and dialed the next number.

“Good afternoon, this is the Department of Homeland Security, Colonel West’s office, how may I help you?”

“Hello,” Rebecca breathed, struggling to maintain composure. “This is Rebecca Powell; I need to speak to-”

“Do you have an appointment?”

Dread slammed down like a gate in Rebecca’s mind, her heart beating like an invisible jackhammer in her chest. “No, I don’t but this is really very important-”

“I’m afraid that Mr. West is very busy at the moment. Would it be possible for you to leave a message?”

Damn, Rebecca thought. Damn it all. “I’m sorry but I really have to insist that I speak to him right now, this is a highly sensitive matter and-”

“Again, Ms. Powell,” started the secretary.

“Doctor Powell.”

“Ah, yes, Doctor Powell, then, Tom West is not available at the moment.”

“I don’t know how much you understand about all of this,” Rebecca growled. “But West owes me a favor, and this is something that is of national interest, so I suggest you get him on the phone right now.”

“And I’m not sure how much of this you understand but Colonel West is not currently in office, and I will be happy to take a message for you and he will get back to you within a two working weeks.”

We don’t have two days, let alone two weeks.

“Just…” Rebecca bit back the tears and took a shuddering breath. “Just tell him that Rebecca Powell called and to get back to me as soon as possible, okay?”

“Gladly, you have a good evening, Ms. Powell.”

Before Rebecca could correct her or say anything else, the secretary had disconnected, leaving Rebecca feeling more alone than ever. Tom West. She slashed a line through his name, the ink smudging and blotted on the dampened paper. She dashed a hand angrily across her face and threw the phone onto the table, screaming into her hands, simultaneously sobbing and then laughing.

She scrubbed her hands over her face until she felt it go raw and red.

God, why couldn’t she just let it go? If she were anyone sane she’d leave the city, if not the state or even the country. In fact, they all had, and she was supposed to have gone with them, but she still had her stupid, stupid attachments that she never should have formed.

“Goddammit!” She yelled into her hands.

***

Rebecca slipped off her thermal jacket, dusting the snow off of the fabric and shrugging the cold away from her. Her hair tumbled down from inside her hat as she tugged it off and started down the hallway. It was early, barely six in the morning, which should have meant that it was quiet in the labs, but the Facility was a hive of activity.