Trial Run, Take One . .

Meeting with Doyle made me realize how pressing my situation was. I hadn't done anything, and They knew it. They were keeping tabs on my through the implant and there was nothing I could do about that, except make an effort. Show them I was doing something.

I went to the hospital twice that week. Tuesday and Thursday. I took the number 810 bus from Wooodbridge Center on Tuesday, and the number 815 from Amboy Avenue and Main Street on Thursday. I figured that by mixing it up, I wouldn't be easily remembered if something happened, went wrong.

I had to be careful at the hospital. There were a lot of people - doctors, nurses, orderlies, etc. - who would recognize me. I tried to stay away from areas where they might be, but I did need to find Dr. Forrest and she, naturally, would be in those same areas.

Tuesday, I started on the 6th Floor of the Tower, where cardio-surgery patients are kept. I thought I'd know a lot of the staff since I'd spent weeks here, but it has been a year and a half, and they must've had some shift changes or turnovers. I recognized a couple of people, but they paid me no attention. I found Dr. Forrest's office alright, exactly where it was before, but she wasn't there, and it's not private anyway. Staff from the Transplant use it when they're on the floor. Bottom line, the floor is too crowded, with too much going on, to afford me the luxury of a simple Flash.

I went down to the Second Floor, where the Cath Lab is located. This is where the "simple" cardio-surgeries take place - pacemaker adjustments, biopsies, etc. You can't get in without someone buzzing you in, so there was no way I could check it out. Sitting in the waiting area would just be inviting recognition, so I went home.

Thursday, I went back and started in the  hospital cafeteria. This is on the Second Floor, near the Cath Lab, and almost everyone in the hospital - staff and visitors - shows up there at one time or another. I thought I could wait there for Forrest to show up, then follow her, but I got nervous after about an hour worried that someone might ask me why I was there. Paranoia, I know, but what're you gonna do? I went to the Annex.

This is a separate building, but connected to the hospital by a walkway running from the hospital first floor, to the Annex's third (because of how the OR and underground parking at the hospital are situated). I figured on staking  out the cafeteria here, on the Third Floor, and watch the people going to the elevators. I actually did see Dr. Forrest. She came in for coffee while I was there. I even said "Hello", but she just nodded, as if she didn't know me. I was tempted to follow her out, but to what end? No matter where we went, there were just too many people around. This was not going to be easy.

On my way home, I got a text message from "James". It read..."Go back and read the bio. Remember its "AT the hospital, not IN the hospital".

 I did that today. At first, there was nothing I hadn't seen. Stuff I didn't need, stuff I knew already. Where she went to school, where she lived, where she worked, and - then - what kind of car she drove, and where she parked it. A silver, four-door, Honda Civic with MD plates in a parking facility across from the Annex.

Something new has been added.

Turning the Screws.......

I've been stalling. I opened the e-mail from "James" back on the 30th and haven't done anything with the information. The People Upstairs provided me with a lot of personal and biographical information on Dr. Forrest, but I couldn't see how I could use it. Knowing what schools she'd gone to, and where she'd interned, did her residency, etc., doesn't help me at all. Giving me her address was nice, but I didn't know where the town was - probably the far side of the state in an area where my beater would stick out like a sore thumb.

I already know where she works.

In the back of my mind, I knew I should be doing something, but 3 Events in 6 months means 2 months for each, so I haven't been in a rush. I admit, I got involved in some family stuff - which has nothing to do with any of this - and I let things slide. Until now....

Doyle called.

We met this morning at the Woodbridge Memorial Park, alternating marble slabs and benches in a semi-circular area outside of the Public Health Center between the Main Library and the High School. As I walked across the grass I could see him on one of the benches, his back to me.

"No car?" He asked, as I came up to him.
"No. I decided to walk. It's not too hot and I could use the exercise. No Givings?"
"Nah. She's in charge of the Watchers for a week or so."
"Watchers?"
"The people who keep tabs on you, among other things. We told you about them. They follow your signal, though not too closely that they're obvious and sweep in to clean up after you, if necessary. That's how I knew about the car, and the walking."
"OK. Yeah. You did tell me about them. Good for Givings. Gives her something to do."
"You're not kidding, since you haven't been so busy lately." I nodded. Taking the jab. I deserved it.
I had nothing to say, so I just shrugged.
"You know, you're supposed to report in. E-mails to "James", Remember?"
"Yeah." I sat down next to him. "I remember, but I thought it was once a month."
"It is, officially, but unofficially you should report every two weeks. The People Upstairs are a little antsy about this whole program, and they're not too happy that you haven't done anything yet."
"I read the material they sent, but I can't see how it helps me. It's not easy with a real target. It's much easier picking targets at random."
"They know that. I told you they were happy with you results in Phase 1. But nothings happened yet, and the clock is ticking. If you fall behind now, it could be harder later on. They thought a target like Dr. Forrest - someone you knew - would make it easier. Especially knowing that she wasn't as professional with you as she could've been."
"What? How do you know that?"
"We have our ways, you should know that. But that doesn't matter now. What matters is that you get off your butt and do something."
"Is that why you're here? To remind me?"
"Partly. Mostly to let you know that the People Upstairs - unhappy with how things are going - have decided to tighten things up. Make it easier for you."
"How?"
"They've decided to make a decision for you." He took a slip of paper from his inside, jacket pocket and handed it to me. "This is what they want you to do, now. Good Luck."

He stood up and walked away. This was getting to be a routine I didn't like.

The slip of paper said...

DO IT AT THE HOSPITAL.

...A Hard Place...

I'm not a Luddite, but 'm not a Techno-nerd either. Still, I've had this laptop for almost 2 weeks, and there's still some stuff I can't figure out. I remember the first computer I bought, which was for my daughter, and it came with all kinds of manuals explaining how to do everything. That was comforting. This one came with a piece of paper, with illustrations, on how to set it up and get started. All the other Help features are - apparently - built in to the different programs. I have yet to figure them out.

One of the only applications I can access is my e-mails, and I've been pretty good at checking this daily, but there's one message that I haven't touched yet. The one from James, sent to me last Tuesday - the day after I met with Doyle and Givings. The day after they gave me this laptop. The day after I agreed to take the next step in the program. The day after I was given my first assigned target......Dr. Grace Forrest, a member of my Cardiology team.

I haven't opened it, because I'm scared to. By opening it, I take the first step towards staging the Event that will remove her, permanently. But I did agree to do this. I did agree to 3 new Events in 6 months. I knew they'd be giving me names, specifying targets. I didn't know that the first one would be someone I knew.

I haven't slept well, but I've finally decided to get on with it. The Cardiology team has been good to me, God knows. I wouldn't be here without them, literally. To target one of them seems like a betrayal. And yet...........

I remember that one day, lying in the hospital bed, my ex-wife in the room. There had been a lot of tests, and I recall this being a quiet day, with nothing scheduled. We were reading the papers, so it was a Sunday, I think. We were relaxed, comfortable...then Dr. Forrest came to the open door and said...

"We've done everything we can for you."

....and left before we could react. That really put a crimp in things!

The next day, she came back to explain that they would be putting me on the waiting list for a transplant, but the damage was done.

I can also remember that she'd had trouble trying to perform a couple of procedures on me, and having to get the main doctor to finish, and a couple of times doing biopsies on me which should've been through my neck. She couldn't get it, so wound up going through the groin - not a comfortable situation to be in.

Even now, if I were to meet her in the hallway, she passes by as if she doesn't know me. The only one on the team who doesn't even say hello.

This may all seem like nitpicking, but it's a way to goad me into going forward. Of all the people on the team, I owe her the least.

I think I'll be opening that e-mail tomorrow.

ARC 2

Back in the Saddle Again.........

It's been 4 weeks since I got that last message. Those 2 words- Stay Tuned - have kept me going, but I wasn't sure for how much longer until I got the call yesterday. Doyle would be waiting for me at the Woodbridge Mall, around the central atria in the Macy's wing at 9 o'clock. I got there early, but he was there already, sitting at one of the small tables overlooking the atria. Givings was with him.

"Denny! Glad you could make it!" He sounded enthusiastic, as he pushed out the 3rd chair at the table for me. Givings didn't say anything, but she did nod in my direction.

"How's it going? What's up?" I was too anxious to be sociable.

"Well, we've got some good news for you, we think. But first we gotta finish with the original project, so to speak."

I started to question what he was talking about, but he held up his hand.
"Givings has the results, so please let her make her report and then we can get on with things." He turned to Givings. "Fran, if you would..?"

She took a notebook out of a briefcase at her feet, and thumbed through until she'd found what she wanted.

"First, the People Upstairs were pleased with your results. 12 Events in 6 months. They hadn't thought you could do it, originally, but were humoring Doyle. Now, they can see some interesting ways to go with it." She paused, then closed the book.

"That's all? Shouldn't there be at least a 'second'?"
She looked right at me. "Second, is a question, or series of questions. Some things for you to consider."
Doyle said nothing, just indicated with a shrug that I should answer Givings.
"Do you miss the work?"
"Yes." I didn't have to think about it.
"Do you find yourself still looking for new Event situations?"
"Yes. Again." No thinking so far.
"Would you like to continue?"
"Yes."
She stopped, and opened the notebook again. "Did you ever go back to determine if any of your Event subjects might need help? Might still be alive?"
This I thought about. "No. I didn't."
"You took us at our word about the Flasher, and what it would do?"
"Yes."
She looked at Doyle. He nodded, and took over.
"Denny, all of those people are alive." He held up his hand again to stop me. "The Flasher we gave you disrupted the targets' systems, and knocked them out for about a half hour. We know you never went back because we had a team on you at all times - remember the implant? Once you used the Flasher, we'd sweep in disguised as EMT's in an ambulance and pick the"victims" up. We'd treat them, and bring them back to where we'd picked them up. They went on with their lives as if nothing had happened."

We were all quiet for a few minutes. They were waiting for me, and I wasn't sure how to react. The only thing I could think of was...
"Why? Why go through all of this?"
"As a test. We knew you'd do what we asked, but we didn't know how well, and we didn't know if you'd hold together or go to pieces. You did well. Better then we expected." He actually grinned at me.

"Now what? More testing? What more do you want?"

"No. No more testing. The People Upstairs have decided that we should move forward with something more precise. Givings has the details."

Reading from the notebook again. "The People Upstairs have decided to have you do something more specific. They are going to name 3 specific targets and give you 6 months to stage the Events." She reached under the table again, and lifted up a laptop computer.
"We will give you the name of the first target today, if you choose to go forward. This laptop is for you. You will report you progress at least once a month, but preferably every two weeks. You'll have to check your mailbox daily for anything from "James", since the People Upstairs may contact you at any time for an update. Once the first target Event has been staged and confirmed, you'll receive the second name. How or when you stage the Events will be entirely up to you, but you will have only 6 months to complete all 3. Do you understand this? Do you have any questions?"

"I thought this was about reducing the...the drain on our resources, what about that?"
"That was the initial scenario, and to an extent it still applies. At least in the future in will, but now is different. Now the People Upstairs are raising the ante on you. They want to see just how far you're willing to go. How far they can push you. It's their game. They've changed the rules. That's all."

I thought about it, but we all knew that I was going to do it.

"Do the same guarantees exist? Will I be protected if I'm suspected or caught?"

"To an extent. We will continue to monitor LEO traffic and attempt to step in as early as possible to prevent the situation from escalating into an arrest. But there is an element of risk involved."
Doyle spoke. "Same as before, Denny. If I have to, I'll come waltzing in waiving the Patriot Act."
Me - "What the hell is LEO traffic?"
Givings - "LEO is an acronym for Law Enforcement Organizations. We monitor every one that we don't directly control. Anyway, we need to know you answer." Pretty blunt.

Me - "Is this gonna be for real, or will I be shooting blanks again?"
Doyle - "No blanks. This is the real deal. Whatdya say?"
Me - "I'm in." I took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. "What happens now?"

Givings slid the laptop towards me, then rose, nodded, and left. Now it was just Doyle and me.

"She doesn't need to be here for this. She already knows this part." He reached into his inside jacket pocket and took out a small cylinder, and an envelope.

"This is the Flasher you'll use now. It's real. It will "deactivate" a subject completely. This one can be used up to 3 times before it needs to recharge. That's 3 shots, then it can't be used for 24 hours. The envelope contains the name of the first target. Givings is notifying the People Upstairs that you accepted, so there'll be some information about the target emailed to you. The laptop will be monitored remotely as far as any Internet research you do or emails you send or receive , but for all intents and purposes it's yours to use any way you want. Questions?"

I couldn't think of any. He shrugged, stood, and said.."OK. We'll be in touch. Good Luck." And walked away.

I opened the envelope. There was one piece of paper inside, and only three words on it. The name of my target. Dr. Grace Forrest.

She was one of the people on my cardiology team.

Interlude.......

It's been 3 weeks since I last heard from them. 3 weeks, and no calls from Doyle. I'd even settle for a call from Givings. I have no idea how Homeland Security wants to proceed, or if those in charge - the so-called People Upstairs - even want to.

I've looked back on the extracted blog entries that I've used here and notice that there's very little personal information included. That was intentional. My personal life continues, but is not - so far - impacted by this situation.

The time period involved covered the holidays, and I spent them, as usual, with family. And, as usual, there's always drama around Christmas when you spend it with family. That was last year. So far this year, my daughter got engaged, and my former father-in-law passed away. Life goes on. That's all you need to know.

I find myself waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop. I drift along, continuing to do the things I've done, and making the drives, running the errands, and shopping as I've done since the transplant and getting the car. But I also find myself on the hunt. I seem to find people who would make for good Events more frequently then I had. Of course, I don't follow through. I mean that I don't check out the area for other people or cars. Just identify a potential subject.

I miss it. I can admit that. And I don't know what's going to happen. It's making me a little crazy.

Or was making me crazy. This morning my cell went off with a text message. I was in the Metuchen library, and my cell was on vibrate.

When I got outside, I checked it out. It was from James. Two words . . .

STAY TUNED.

That was it. And suddenly, I felt better. It was the proverbial great weight lifted from my shoulders. I don't know what will happen, but at least something will. All I have to do now is ..............

STAY TUNED.

The Time Has Come............

It took a while, but Doyle called. We met at the Burger King in the Woodbridge Center Mall. He brought Givings with him.

"Well, Denny Boy, you did it. 12 Events in 6 months. Frankly, I don't think the People Upstairs thought you could do it."
"It's done, though. So what happens next?"
""First, we get back the Flasher. Givings will take charge of it."

I took it from my back pocket and handed it to he. It's such an innocuous looking thing that there was no need to conceal it. Giving took it, puled out a small notebook from somewhere, and made some sort of notation. She put the notebook and the Flasher in her side pocket.

"Anything else?" I wanted this whole thing over.

Nothing like that. The People Upstairs are grateful that you were able to carry out this assignment..I mean complete the project. There's just a few things more that they want you to understand."
"Then get on with it."
"OK. They thank you, I've said that. They want you to know that your family is no longer in danger of whatever it is you thought might happen to them. And they want me to remind you that you're still carrying around the tracer and they haven't decided what to do with it yet."
"What does that mean? Are they gonna leave it, or try to have it removed? For Christ's sake, Its implanted in my heart!"
"Technically, it's implanted in James' heart. You just happen to get it as a transplant. But that's neither here nor thee. What matters is that you still have it, and it belongs to us. The People Upstairs are still deciding how to proceed."

At that point, Givings stood up.

"It was a pleasure working with you." She said. "You did what you were told."

She walked out into the mall. Doyle looked after her for a while then turned to me.

"It's not over, Denny. I don't know what's gonna happen, but I don't think that the People Upstairs are just gonna let it end this way. They still have a hold on you, and they ere pleased with how you handled things."
"What do you mean? What am I supposed to do?"
"I don't know. If I did, I'd tell you. I like you, Denny. You seem like nice guy. If I can help you, I will, but the People Upstairs aren't to be fooled with. I may be part of the Department, but I'm as expendable a the next guy."
"So, you're telling me that I'm stuck? I'm still in it?"
"For now, yeah. You'll just have to wait and see. They may let you go, but that tracker is an expensive piece of equipment. They'll want to do something about that. My advice is o just wait and see."

He stood up and offered me his hand. I stared at him, and didn't take it.

"Good luck, Denny. Somehow, I'll be in touch."

He walked out into the mall, following Givings.

What the hell happens now?

High Noon is 12 O'Clock High....

Yesterday, I was on the hunt. I know that the People Upstairs gave me until the end of the month, but I realized that that would just be dragging it out. Since yesterday, the 18th, would be the end of the 6 month original trial period I decided to go out and try to finish this whole Events thing off.

My intent was to go to the WalMart on Rt.e 27 in Edison, and wait in the parking lot until a likely target should up. I didn't get that far. Following one of my usual routines, I went to the Target on Parsonage Road, where I would just do some browsing. Then I went to the Barnes and Noble across the street which was attached to the Menlo Park Mall. I was browsing through Barnes and Noble when I decided to go into the mall and see what I could get for breakfast in the Food Court.

As went in the direction of the doorway to the mall I noticed that there were a few people sitting around in the Starbuck's area, by the store windows, reading, drinking, and whatever. I had an idea. I strolled back to the magazine racks, and noticed an older gentleman sitting on a bench beside the main entrance. He was in the sunlight, a magazine in his lap, and appeared to be dozing.

I turned, and went out the doorway by the mall, walking around inside for a few minutes. I'd completely forgotten about breakfast. Leaving the mall, I walk up the side of Barnes and Nobles and turned towards the main entrance. The sun was reflecting off the windows, making looking inside difficult.

I stopped short of the main entrance, taking the Flasher from my back pocket, and carrying it in my coat. I haven't tried doing this through a window since my second Event back in September or October of last year. It worked then, so there was no reason that it wouldn't work now. Moving up closer to the window, I could just make out the older gentleman, still sitting as I'd left him. I stopped where I was, turning to face the parking lot, and looked around. I waited for a car or two to pass, and a couple of people to enter the store, but it was pretty early on a weekday, so the traffic wasn't too heavy.

There was no one else around. I pulled the Flasher from my pocket as I was turning, then point, press, Flash, and I turned back to the lot. Heading for my car, I replace the Flasher in my back pocket. Getting in my car, I had no idea if the Event had taken place, but I knew that I was now hungry, so I left and went looking for a Dunkin Donuts. My cell phone went off with my text beep, but I ignored it. I found out later that they'd confirmed my 12th Event.

12 Events in 6 months. I'd met my obligation. It was now up to the People Upstairs.