The Fledge Effect by R.J. Henry Read Free Book Online Page A

just lying around, but his curiosity punched through his integrity when the
drawer slid a half-inch open on its own. “I’m
taking that as a sign,” he said with a smile.
He pulled it open, revealing an empty
space. Recalling from a previous experience, he
popped the fake bottom out. Under the thinned,
wooden, slab was a manila envelope. Standard
size for an office-related work file. However,
typically, they are stamped and addressed. This
envelope had only two words scribbled across
the center: PROJECT FLEDGE, in neat, legible,
print.
He opened it, noticing it wasn’t sealed.
A small stack of papers was stapled together. He
read them, and after a few minutes, the office
door opened. He didn’t waiver in movement as
Brinks walked through the door with such an elegant manner.
She folded her arms across her chest.
She tapped her foot, and realized he wasn’t
planning to speak first.
“Haven’t you ever heard the phrase,
‘ curiosity killed the cat’ ?”
He narrowed his eyes on her. “What the
hell is this?”
“Oh, so you do have interests!” She
grinned with a menace. She smirked, “Nosey
bastard.”
“Answer me!” he demanded.
She stomped towards him, and with a
huff, she threw the papers back into her drawer.
She locked it, placing her keys back into her
pocket. “It is none of your concern.” Her voice
was cold, almost slicing.
“What is the CBH virus? It said it was
only experimental. For what, though?” He could
feel his fists begin to shake. The overwhelming
urge to punch something, set him off further.
“Are you planning on wiping out an entire nation?”
She threw her head back, cackling. “Oh,
don’t be ridiculous! No. It is more like, I’m trying to help people.”
“ Help people with a virus ?” he said,
keeping his tone level, and lowered. He didn’t
know if anyone else knew. He felt his job was already on the line learning this new information.
However, he found it to be a nonsense of lies.
“How else would you describe it? This
is meant to be incurable. It invades a body, thus
allowing them to be cured of their, annoyingly,
basic human needs.”
He shook his head. “I can’t be a part of
this. I just can’t. This is immoral, and not to
mention , illegal !”
She sidestepped in front of him, blocking the only exit. “What is so illegal about curing
and preventing terminal illnesses?”
“Let me leave, Jane!”
“It’s Agent Brinks . And if you walk out
that door, I have twenty more agents standing
by, ready to shoot anyone who is aware of this
information.”
He gulped, angered.
“Well?” she pressed. “It’s your choice.
Leave here, you die. Stay, and, just maybe, I’ll
let you live.”
All he could think about was his daughter. Her fragile state held strong, but not steady
enough to wait any more time than he already
has. Katie needs me . He nodded. “Fine.”
“Good,” she said, and then cleared her
throat.
She took her place back into her chair, flipping
through more papers. She sat with such prose,
as if she were all mighty. In her mind, that is
how she viewed herself. Compared to Carlson,
anyhow.
She raised her eyes towards him, blinking. “Sit. These papers aren’t going to finish on
their own.”
He obeyed, realizing what she meant
when she had said, ‘ Don’t get too involved in
this job.’
“You’re a crazy bitch,” he said in a lowered tone.
“And you’re a dumb nobody,” she said
without looking up.
•••
Christine had woken up early that same morning. She was tending to Katie all morning. Katie
kept coughing up, and sputtering blood all over
her sheets. Christine would rock her, calming
her. She would sing to Katie, a lullaby. But Katie
began getting restless with boredom.
“Mom, when can I go back to school? I miss my
friends.” Her big brown eyes glistened in the
morning sun.
Christine quietly said, “Soon, sweetie. I
hope, very soon.” She knew the likelihood of it
not happening. But, discouraging her daughter,
she felt,