Patent for Death

Frustrated, a bit frightened, Jessica left her office, upset at her boss. She left with him standing with a dumb look on his face, fading from view in the mirror, and squealed out of the lot with her bright red Mini Cooper. Usually, in bed and up early but put her training schedule and career concerns aside for a girl's night with a friend and graduate student at Georgetown University.

Pam worked full-time on weekends and part-time around her studies but free on Thursday night.

Her townhouse located near 35th Ave on O, an easy walk from her place to the action on M Street. 

Jess navigated through rush hour, made two trips around the block to find an open space for her little Cooper, and managed to make Pam’s door before six.

Pam met her with a glass of red wine. “Something to start the night off right.”

“After my day, give me booze.” Jess chugged two big swallows.

“Slow down, girl, it might be five-dollar wine, but it’s all my budget can stand.”

Jess tossed her head, took a deep breath, and blew it out. “Damn, I’m sorry, a crappy time I-- and Jack, ooow.” She shed her coat and scarf.

“Your boss hit on you, and you are pissed.”

“No.”

“He didn’t hit on you, and you are mad.”

“No, no, Jack is a really good guy, but he is a guy and doesn’t listen. Besides, he is too prudish to hit on anyone. I’m surprised Amy married him.”

“Come sit by the fire.” They walked to the tiny living room, and a gas log fireplace took up seats on the carpet and set their glasses on the hearth. “So, how’s he making you crazy?”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

“Psyc Major, my job is going to be listening and pretending I care, it’s great practice.”

Pam crossed her legs and leaned back on her arms to listen.

“I found something on the computer, an invention of some kind, but it intrigued me. I was researching on a government website for something else, so I saved and printed a couple of screenshots for later and put it on a USB drive.

“That was yesterday, and last night someone broke into our office, took my printouts, and wiped my computer history and backups. Only mine. Jack thought he left the door unlocked and didn’t know what happened when he got called in to lock the door by the cops.”

“Way weird. What did you do?”

“I had a break and went to look it up from the info I saved on the USB, and it was gone, not rejected but gone. I didn’t think it could be done. I Googled the inventor and found he died in a house fire on Tuesday, and I totally freaked. When Jack came in from court, I gave him the USB and tried to tell him something bad was going on, and it was no coincidence those people died, the data was erased and me, my computer targeted. He was so worried about sex harassment rules he wouldn’t even listen and I was too spooked to say anything in the open. Who knew I printed anything out about it, but the people in our office? I’m scared.”

Pam scanned the ceiling a moment. “Let me guess he thought you were overreacting.”

Jess polished off the last of her wine. “Yep, he wants me fitted for a straight jacket and a padded room.”

“Can I say you are overreacting and not ruin the rest of the night?”

“Look, I came here to enjoy time with my friend; I will hate you for it later. For now, I am not saying another word to non-believers. I will cover my bed in foil when I get home to feel better.”

“Fabulous idea lets go.”

“Where?”

Pam helped her up from the floor. “I know a place you will love.”

After wine in the apartment, Jessica, a thin, taller, dark-haired woman and her friend a petite blonde, bundled up against fall cold, strolled to a new Afghan Kabob place. The aroma of spices and food on the grill watered her mouth before they entered the door.

With dinner over, they returned to the crowded sidewalks, bumped and jostled by people. Georgetown established in 1751 lots of old architecture but Jess remembered better for where they filmed the movie the Exorcist and scared her as a child. Pam and Jess, when not engrossed in the pre-holiday scenery, gabbed about school and work. Well, after ten, they arrived back at Pam's. An intended short goodbye chat turned into a marathon conversation. After one in the morning, they said goodnight.

Pam said, “Shall I walk with you to your car?”

“No, I will be fine.” She chose to walk alone, not so certain about her choice once the door closed behind her.

Chilled deserted streets, shadowed walkways under bare limbed trees trembling in the wind. Not one soul on the sidewalk and Jess’s shoe heels clicked rhythmically off the concrete and echoed off the buildings. A plastic bag blew across the walk and hung up in a hedge. Her keys gripped tight in one hand and pepper spray in the other and made it safely to her tiny car.

The cedar smell from a blue-green cardboard tree deodorizer and sound of a smooth running engine helped her relax. She drove to M and decided to hit Rock Creek Park Way, navigate DC to I-395, and to her apartment in Alexandria.

M Street, a virtual parking lot earlier, nearly empty when she turned left and pulled out from 33rd. A set of headlights in her mirror and two cars in front of her one, a red, white, and blue DC Police car, turned at the next light toward the waterfront. Lights from the skyline and bridges reflected in the distant Potomac River when Jess turned on 30th to K Street. Tuned in to WMZQ, the country music station played Jesus Take the Wheel, and she hummed along. She waited for a green arrow, swung under the freeway, and on the Parkway.

A truck or SUV fell in behind her. A newer model with the bright blueish lights lit up the inside of her car. She cruised at the speed limit; after a few glasses of wine, she didn't want to talk to any DC officers. The route wound out of the creek bottom to Massachusetts Avenue. The bigger car started to pass in a no-passing zone. It concerned Jess but pleased her to be rid of the glaring lights. Glanced in her mirror, the SUV lurched into the side of her car. A horrendous crunch, a screech of tires, the giant white bumper glimpsed in the side-mirror. Her little car swayed and slid to the right and off the pavement.

Jess snapped her head to the right. "Oh my God!" The guardrail hurled toward her like a spear, the impact threw her against the shoulder harness, pain stabbed her side, twisted metal screeched, a boom as the car flipped and landed roof down, window glass exploded, and shards sliced her face—a flash from the dome light, then darkness. The world spun and jolted around her, unable to hold on she bounced her head off an airbag.

Chapter Two...

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