The Mind Virus

Chapter 2 - Part 1

Harriett sat in the waiting area outside the office. The building she was in was stunningly beautiful. Exotic plants dotted the shining tile floor and lined up against the pearly-white walls, while ornate desks were arranged near every path to help herd visitors and staff to wherever they need to be and nowhere else. The entire exterior of the building was glass. How ironic, thought Harriet. Such a transparent building for an organization so opaque. She felt like a bit of a hypocrite thinking this, though. After all, she was going to be paid handsomely for the job they were hiring her for.

"Miss Gardner?" a secretary called from the other side of the waiting area. "Go on in."

Harriett smiled at her, stood up, and walked in through the large double oak doors. The room she entered was giant, yet very basically decorated. The décor that was present was incredibly tacky, Harriet thought. There were marble busts along the side walls. At least, they looked like marble. For all she knew, they could have been cheap knock-offs made of plaster. Between the busts were bookcases full of what Harriett could swear were identical, unlabeled books. It was like being on a cheap movie set.

At the far end of the office sat a dark wooden desk with an older bespectacled man behind it. He had thinning white hair and sagging jowls like a bulldog. "Sit down," he said – ordered, almost.

Harriett walked up to his desk and stretched an arm out to shake his hand. "You have me at a disadvantage, Mr..."

"There's no need for that, Miss Gardner. You're better off knowing as little as possible."

Harriett sat down in the remarkably comfortable leather seat.

"Military intelligence, CIA, private investigator," the old man droned. "You've accomplished a lot in such a short life, and that's not even mentioning your... extra-curricular activities."

Harriett forced a smile. She supposed it was a compliment, although her past wasn't something she was particularly proud of. Things just sort of happened.

"You came very highly recommended by one of our partners that you did a job for recently. I can't say the name, as I'm sure you understand."

"Sure, of course," Harriett said politely.

"Anyway, that's enough pleasantries. Miss Gardner, you're here because something very sensitive has gone missing, and it's causing a bit of a stir in a little city across the state. More than that, it's the only item of its type we've produced, and we can't create another one or expand the program without the original."

"Why is –"

"Let's just say we've been the victim of some 'industrial sabotage' and leave it at that." The old man seemed annoyed at her attempt at a question, though to his credit, he hid it rather well.

"OK, what do I need to know about it, then?" Harriett asked hesitantly.

The old man reached under his desk and pulled out a large yellow manila envelope. He examined it for a moment before sliding it across the desk to Harriett. "Everything you need to know is in there, but I'll give you a quick run-down."

Harriett took the envelope and locked eyes with the old man.

"The item is very dangerous. Without going into technical detail, if exposed to it, it damages the mind irreparably. The first person outside of the organization exposed to it ended up committing suicide, but sadly not before they passed the item on."

"Ah, so then how do I –"

"Please don't interrupt, Miss Gardner. The safe handling procedures are described in detail in the envelope you're holding. Where was I – oh, right – the item was passed on. The city of Cedar Grove has recently experienced a large number of suicides which we're quite sure are linked to the item."

"How are you –"

"Don't interrupt, Miss Gardner," the old man repeated. "The first suicide was the young lady that ended up in possession of the item, and she was a student at Cedar Grove State University. Most of the other suicides in the city were students in the same school. We believe the item has been changing hands. It doesn't kill you immediately, you see, so it has time to move around. This is also the reason our last operative wasn't able to find it. It can be weeks from exposure to death, so the item won't necessarily be waiting for you at the 'scene of the crime,' if you will." The old man looked at Harriett with intense eyes. "But that won't be a problem for you, will it?"

"Time will tell," Harriett replied coyly.

"Miss Gardner," the old man took off his glasses, "if you don't feel that you're up to the task, now would be a good time to –"

"I'll be up to it. For the money that you're paying..." Harriett let out a friendly laugh.

The old man only stared at her. "Yes, well, our last operative was a bit of a let-down, so we're hoping you will fare better than he did."

"Did he resign or did you let him go?"

"We killed him."