Room 9 by Clifford Beck - HTML preview

Chapter 19

Leaving the cafeteria, Kate took the lead and quickly found a security officer. Her words were frantic as she tried to organize her thoughts, but was interrupted by the security officer. “Slow down,” he began. “Now, what’s wrong?”

She hesitated and taking a deep breath explained their situation to the officer. “One of the people in our group is missing and…”

The security officer didn’t need to hear anymore and, interrupting Kate, radioed to the campus security office. They, in turn, contacted Doctors Greer and Stewart. Once in attendance, the teens were asked to return to the cafeteria with the suggestion that they get something to eat. Wanting to help, Kate volunteered the group to help find John, but with so many classified projects being worked on, Doctor Stewart thought it best that they stay behind while a security team was organized to search the building.

However, in order to keep the group closely monitored, Doctor Greer suggested they get their lunch and eat in a more secure room where a guard could be placed outside. This only served to further raise their concerns. “Don’t worry,” Doctor Stewart said. “We’ll find him. These hallways can be like a maze, but the security guards know these buildings very well, okay?”

Kate knew that they had everything under control. But this did nothing to alleviate her mounting concern, feeling that something terrible had happened.

Having been escorted to a secure room, the teens ate nervously, knowing a guard was standing just outside the door. The odds of being able to help in the search for their missing friend were about as good as being able to sneak past the guard. They would simply have to wait, and the security guard wasn’t going anywhere.

Led by Doctor’s Greer and Stewart, the security team combed through the building, but it didn’t take long to find John. The door of room 9 had been blocked shut by an office chair that had been jammed up under the door handle. Removing it, the door was opened to a scene of such horror that one of the security guards was forced to turn away as he vomited violently. By this time, John was dead.

“Jesus Christ,” Doctor Stewart said. “How the fuck did this happen?” Turning to the security guards, he gave an angry order. “I want to know who the fuck did this. Bring them to my office, now!” Doctor Greer spoke up with a question.

“What about the other kids? What do we tell them?”

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Doctor Stewart hesitated. “We can’t let this get out of the building,” he said. “This could be a public relations nightmare. Plus, the director would have my ass. Shit, this could go all the way to the President.” Never having dealt with anything like this, he decided that the CIA should be brought in. If the situation called for extreme measures, they could come up with a solution and with an office nearby, it wouldn’t be long before their arrival.