Chapter 6 - The Box in the Cold
Mercer ordered Arthur to open the refrigeration unit.
Arthur did.
Inside were biological samples and sealed medical containers.
At the back sat a small steel box.
Three buttons.
Two buttons.
Three buttons.
Arthur pressed them.
The lock released.
Inside lay a flash drive.
Mercer laughed softly.
"Seventeen years."
Arthur lifted it.
"All this for a flash drive?"
"For what is on it."
"Then take it."
Mercer narrowed his eyes.
"You aren't that generous."
"No."
Arthur threw the drive toward the opposite wall.
Mercer's gaze followed it for half a second.
That was enough.
Arthur lunged.
The gun fired.
The bullet struck the ceiling.
Emily grabbed the infant carrier and dropped behind the desk.
Arthur drove Mercer into the shelves.
Boxes crashed around them.
The second man rushed forward.
Emily kicked a rolling stool into his legs.
He stumbled.
Arthur struck him once.
The man fell.
Mercer swung the pistol.
Arthur caught his wrist.
The gun fired again.
Glass shattered.
Mercer drove a knee into Arthur's ribs.
Arthur grunted but held on.
The scars along his arms stretched white as his muscles tightened.
Mercer hissed, "You're old."
Arthur head-butted him.
"So are you."
Mercer collapsed.
Emily shouted, "Arthur!"
The second man had recovered.
He grabbed the infant carrier.
Emily held the other side.
"Let go!"
The baby cried.
Arthur released Mercer and charged.
The second man fled through the door without the carrier.
Mercer crawled toward the gun.
Arthur kicked it away.
But Mercer smiled through blood.
"Too late."
Arthur looked toward the door.
A red light began flashing above it.
Emily smelled something.
"Smoke."
Arthur looked up.
Mercer had triggered an incendiary system.
Documents began igniting in wall compartments.
Arthur grabbed the steel box.
Emily lifted the carrier.
They ran.
Smoke filled the corridor.
Behind them, Mercer disappeared through another exit.
They reached the side door seconds before flames consumed Room 17.
Outside, Emily placed the baby carrier on the grass.
Arthur dropped beside it.
The infant cried.
He touched her hand.
She instantly quieted.
Emily stared.
Arthur did too.
Something was deeply unnatural about the consistency of that response.
Emily noticed blood on Arthur's shirt.
"You're hit."
"No."
She lifted the fabric.
A bullet had grazed his side.
"Sit."
"I'm fine."
"That statement is universally spoken by men who are not fine."
Despite everything, Arthur almost smiled.
Emily cleaned the wound.
The infant watched him with unfocused newborn eyes.
Arthur opened the steel box.
The flash drive had survived.
There was also a photograph.
Daniel.
Older.
Scarred.
Standing beside a woman Arthur did not recognize.
She appeared pregnant.
On the back was written:
REBECCA, IF I FAIL, TAKE OUR DAUGHTER TO ARTHUR.
Arthur read it twice.
Emily leaned closer.
"Rebecca?"
"Daniel's younger sister."
"The baby's mother?"
Arthur shook his head.
"The woman in the photograph isn't Rebecca."
Emily turned the image over again.
"Then why write Rebecca?"
Arthur looked toward the burning building.
"Maybe this wasn't meant for me."
Sirens appeared in the distance.
Emily exhaled with relief.
Arthur did not.
He stared at the tree line.
Mercer was gone.
Then his phone rang.
Unknown number.
Arthur answered.
A woman's voice whispered.
"You should never have opened the box."
"Who is this?"
"Daniel trusted you."
Arthur stood.
"Where is Daniel?"
Silence.
Then:
May you like
"Ask Richard what he did to Rebecca."
The call ended.
