Quarantine
3:50 A.M.
The woman stood behind the hospital, cradling a steaming cup of coffee in her hands. She was trembling, either from the chill in the air, or her nerves. She heard footsteps approach as the warm liquid slid down her throat.
“You’re late,” she said in a thick, country drawl.
“My apologies,” her companion said, huddled in a long, dark coat. The hood was pulled up, but the face was partially visible. “Are we set?”
The woman took another sip of her coffee and nodded. “There were complications, but we’re set.”
"Complications?"
“Don’t worry; they’ve been dealt with.”
The figure looked around. “You have the money?”
The woman nodded. “It’s in a safe place.”
They heard a noise around the corner, but several moments passed in silence. Finally, the figure spoke.
“Why do we have to wait?”
The woman sighed and tossed the empty cup in a nearby trashcan. “We’re sticking to the plan. This illness has already caused unexpected problems. People have been hospitalized, and the Health Department is snooping around.” She stared in the distance, toward the small administrative building across the parking lot. “We don’t need to risk it by disappearing too early. Be patient. It’s Friday. We’ll have the weekend to get away.”
“Do we have any time to spare if the Health Department is involved?”
“We’ll be fine.” The woman smiled. “Relax. Everything is on schedule. I have the money and tonight we’ll be on a plane to anywhere we want. Don’t do anything to stir up suspicion. In fact, it might be best if you were seen as little as possible.”
The figure nodded. “We should meet again to finalize our plans.”
An alarm sounded from the Nurses Station inside the door. The woman stiffened. “I better get in there.”
“Then we’re set?”
The woman nodded, exasperated.“We’re set. I’ll meet you this afternoon. Don’t be late. And try to get some sleep.”
The figure chuckled. “Who can sleep? We’re about to have an exciting day.”
Neither of them saw the man pressed against the side of the building as they parted ways.
The woman stood behind the hospital, cradling a steaming cup of coffee in her hands. She was trembling, either from the chill in the air, or her nerves. She heard footsteps approach as the warm liquid slid down her throat.
“You’re late,” she said in a thick, country drawl.
“My apologies,” her companion said, huddled in a long, dark coat. The hood was pulled up, but the face was partially visible. “Are we set?”
The woman took another sip of her coffee and nodded. “There were complications, but we’re set.”
"Complications?"
“Don’t worry; they’ve been dealt with.”
The figure looked around. “You have the money?”
The woman nodded. “It’s in a safe place.”
They heard a noise around the corner, but several moments passed in silence. Finally, the figure spoke.
“Why do we have to wait?”
The woman sighed and tossed the empty cup in a nearby trashcan. “We’re sticking to the plan. This illness has already caused unexpected problems. People have been hospitalized, and the Health Department is snooping around.” She stared in the distance, toward the small administrative building across the parking lot. “We don’t need to risk it by disappearing too early. Be patient. It’s Friday. We’ll have the weekend to get away.”
“Do we have any time to spare if the Health Department is involved?”
“We’ll be fine.” The woman smiled. “Relax. Everything is on schedule. I have the money and tonight we’ll be on a plane to anywhere we want. Don’t do anything to stir up suspicion. In fact, it might be best if you were seen as little as possible.”
The figure nodded. “We should meet again to finalize our plans.”
An alarm sounded from the Nurses Station inside the door. The woman stiffened. “I better get in there.”
“Then we’re set?”
The woman nodded, exasperated.“We’re set. I’ll meet you this afternoon. Don’t be late. And try to get some sleep.”
The figure chuckled. “Who can sleep? We’re about to have an exciting day.”
Neither of them saw the man pressed against the side of the building as they parted ways.
