Maybe the events of the last few days have hardened her to her loss? Perhaps it hasn’t come as such a shock to her? These are not normal times and so maybe he shouldn’t expect her to be affected as normal? She has seen the world in a different light now—everybody has, and that can’t be undone. She has seen Stacey lose both of her parents and seen how strong she has been, so maybe some of her strength has transferred to Emily?
Whatever it is, Josh knows he has to keep a close eye on her, and that she is hurting, even if she is hiding--or worse, burying--it.
The Lance Corporal, their escort, is keeping his distance whilst keeping a close eye on them. He has finished his food and is sits at the table adjacent to them. Catherine had invited him over to join them, but he politely refused, preferring to stay where he was. That was probably a good idea for him, as Catherine had only wanted to try and get him onside.
“There is nothing keeping us here now, so we should get out of the city,” Catherine suddenly says.
“I agree,” Josh says after a small pause. “Have you any ideas where we could go and how to get there?”
“I have friends in Devon. They have a farm, it’s beautiful down there. I have spoken to them and they have said we can go there. They have a holiday home on the farm that they rent out which we can use. What do you think?”
“It sounds too good to be true! Did you tell them there are four or five of us?” Josh asks, glancing at Alice.
“Yes, I explained the situation and they are more than happy for us to use the holiday home. I’ve known them for a long time, and they would say if it was a problem. They have had quite a few cancellations. Well, actually, everybody has cancelled.”
“What do you think, Emily, it sounds nice don’t you think, countryside and beaches?” Josh asks.
“I suppose.” Emily shrugs, without looking up.
“What about you, Stacey, what do you think?” Josh asks, looking over to her.
“It sounds fine. I will have to speak to my grandparents again though. They have asked me if I want to go to theirs?” Stacey says, confused by the whole situation--and who can blame her?
“Alice?” Josh finally asks.
“I don’t know what I am going to do. I guess I will have to speak to my superiors. I am sure they will want to reassign me.”
“No way,” Josh says. “My Dad made a deal that if we completed the mission we would be out.”
“Are you sure that included me, Josh? I’m not,” Alice says, looking worried.
“I will speak to Lieutenant Winters and get him to clear it,” Josh says, sounding more confident than he is.
“Well if that is the case, then yes, I’m definitely up for some sea air. Me and my parents aren’t close, and they are back in the U.S. anyway.”
“How are we going to get to Devon?” Stacey asks.
“I will see if Lieutenant Winters can help us, see if he can get us a car or something?” Josh says.
“I think you are putting a lot of stock in the Lieutenant,” Alice says.
“When we got back, he said to contact him if I needed anything. I think he was feeling guilty, so I’ll try.”
“He should feel guilty, but not as much as bloody Colonel Reed, I think I’ll wring his neck if I see him again,” Catherine seethes and a silence falls over the table.
“Okay, we are all agreed,” Josh says, breaking the silence. “I’ll see if I can get hold of Lieutenant Winters.”
“You tell me if you need to me talk to him, Josh. We have some history and might be able to put some pressure on him,” Catherine insists.
“Okay, thanks; I will,” Josh says and gets up from the table, reaching for his phone in his front pocket. He finds Lieutenant Winters’ number and presses call.
Winters has been reassigned by Major Rees into helping go through the growing piles of paperwork constantly coming fresh off the printer. There seems to be no end to them. He had forgotten how much data the old 3 ½” floppy disks could actually hold. By today’s standards, the memory of a floppy disk is tiny, but they can still store a mass of information, especially when it’s simple forms and data.
Winters had tried to insist that he didn’t know what he would be looking for. That didn’t work with the Major, though. The Major used flattery to get him onboard, telling him he was an intelligent man and that all he needed to do was look for any information pertaining to viruses, chemicals or anything that sounded medical. If he found anything, he was to put it in a certain pile for further investigation. Winters’ job basically was to root out the information that was definitely not what they were looking for.
The loudest sound in the conference room is the repetitive sound of the printer working. All of the analysts are silent, using all of their concentration to study the information in front of them. The military personnel follow suit, not wanting to break that concentration. Winters hopes that at any moment, somebody will speak up, saying they have found something he waits on.
A vibration buzzes against Winters’ thigh and he pulls his phone out to see who is calling him.
“That had better be important, Lieutenant,” Major Rees states.
“No Sir, it can wait,” Winters replies as he presses the reject button on his phone's screen. He will call
