AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She’d have to find a way to convince Chris to put an end to this. It was humiliating and she would struggle to focus knowing Aaron was sitting around, protecting her from nothing. She didn’t like wasting anyone’s time.
A computer dinged with a new email, pulling her from her thoughts. When she saw who it was from, she looked at the small window in the door to make sure no one was there, then brought up the message.
Syd,
Just checking in to see how things are progressing. We have most things in place to receive your instructions. The delay is helpful on our end as it’s been harder to get resources than we anticipated.
She quickly responded, checking the window again as she typed:
Continuing with the research, but I will have everything for you soon. The FBI has assigned agents to me, which may slow things down a little.
She flicked at her fingernail, waiting for a reply. Her contact was usually online for a while this time of the day.
FBI?? Should I be concerned? Call me.
No need. They don’t know anything about what we’re doing. It has nothing to do with my research. Not directly. My supervisor is worried I’m going to be attacked because of what I’ve found. But he’s being paranoid. Everything is still moving forward. The data is secure and the research continuing. What I’ve found is continuing to surprise.
Let me know if there is anything I can do.
All I need from your end is for you to be patient.
She closed her email and brought up the latest results, highlighting a row and setting to work. She took one last look out the little window, then put Aaron out of her mind.
* * *
Aaron strolled across the room still exploring entry and exit points even though it was pointless, but if he didn’t keep himself busy, his boredom would kill him in the end. He had to suck it up and get through to the end of this job. He could do at least that much for Syd. Then he could move on from his punishment and they could both get on with their lives.
“So, what do we do now? What’s the next step?” Lewis said.
“What?” Aaron was distracted, thinking about saying goodbye to Sydney.
“I asked what our next step is. Do we need to secure the building? Or do we stay here?”
“You bring a book?”
“No. Should I? I mean, no, I wouldn’t read while I’m working. Is that a trick question?”
“You might change your mind after a day or two of this.” He pressed his hands into one of the tables. The cold from the steel soaked into his skin.
An older man knocked a knuckle on the doorframe and Aaron straightened as the man walked in.
“You two must be the FBI agents who were sent over?” His eyes shifted to Syd’s office, then back to Aaron.
“Yes, sir. Special Agent Pritchard and my colleague Special Agent Lewis,” Aaron said. “You must be Dr. Christopher Pallon?”
“Call me Chris, please. Thank you for coming.”
“I do the assignment I’m given. There’s no need for gratitude. We’re here to do our job.”
Chris closed in on Aaron, lowering his voice. “Has Syd mentioned that she’d rather you went home?”
“She did, yes. But she didn’t think you would agree.”
“Sydney is a brilliant scientist, and I want to make sure she’s safe. The work she’s doing can’t be replicated as far as I’m concerned.”
“So we’re here as a precaution. I understand.”
“It may seem like a waste of your time, but after the article — You saw the article?”
