Today's Reading

CHAPTER FIVE

It didn't look at all like a research center.

With oversized windows and decades-old red brick and mortar, the large rectangular building in the old downtown area looked like it belonged more to a run-down university than a common city block.

Or maybe an old church.

Which had been a question Rachel Souza wondered many mornings as she approached. Stepping over some windblown trash, she left the oversized sidewalk and climbed the dozen steps leading to the front entrance.

Taking hold of the small badge dangling at the end of her lanyard, she casually pressed it against the dark magnetic plate on the wall. After several seconds, the door buzzed and unlocked with a loud click. Inside, a small lobby greeted her, attended by a familiar uniformed figure behind a window. The security guard looked up and smiled at Souza, scrutinizing her only briefly before reaching down to buzz a second door open. This one wider and painted in a light gray earth tone to match the surrounding and somewhat featureless walls.

The first corridor was as bland and forgettable as the foyer, leading past three sets of permanently locked double doors before ending at a lone elevator. In the upper corner was mounted a single rectangular-shaped security camera.

She pressed her badge against the second plate and glanced at the symbols above the elevator, watching as a red light appeared in the shape of a down arrow.

Casually, she stepped back and waited, adjusting the black leather satchel hanging from her right shoulder.

At five foot six, she was dressed in jeans and a light collared long-sleeved blouse, her dark hair arranged neatly in a French braid hanging just below both shoulders.

When the doors finally parted, she stepped inside and turned, pressing the next button down before catching a reflection of herself in one of the narrow strips of beveled glass and grinning at herself in nervous excitement.

The first floor below ground was the lab. Or at least one of them. The room was lined on each side with long metal shelves and counters, which held several microscopes, both compound and inverted, along with multiple computer monitors. Above them, bottles and containers were neatly shelved and labeled, storing various tissues and cultures. And finally, a chest-high glass refrigerator at the end, filled with bricks of test tubes and dozens of petri dishes.

Without a word, she continued along one of the counters and dropped her satchel with a muted thunk, then proceeded to a nearby monitor.

Noting the time at the bottom corner of the screen, she used the mouse to switch views, bringing up another window that displayed several live video feeds.

One by one, she studied all the feeds, then straightened with a satisfied nod. It was a big day, and she had only a few hours to ensure everything was ready.

Returning to her bag, Rachel retrieved a metal thermos and unscrewed the lid, then took a sip of coffee. Her morning octane.

She was both excited and nervous. Excited for everything leading up to the big event but nervous in the fear they had missed something. Something important. If they had, she couldn't imagine what it was. Of course, she was only one part of the project. A significant part, but the rest was still out of her hands, and she had precious little control over that. She had her specialty, just as the others had theirs. All she could do now was hope everyone had done their job and missed nothing.

"Nervous?"

Startled, she pulled the thermos away from her mouth, catching a few drops in the palm of her hand. Turning, she found her colleague Henry Yamada leaning against the open door.

With a shrug, he stepped inside. "Sorry. Been here since six."

"Why so early?"

"Double-checking everything. Just like you."


This excerpt ends on page 12 of the hardcover edition.

Monday, April 1st, we begin the book Rabbit Hole by Kate Brody.
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