Free Albatross by J. M. Erickson Page B

remember my team continued with the mission without me, but there was so much more. Do you remember your colleague who provided the first record?”
    David was caught off guard by a questioned being fired at him. “Yes,” was the short answer.
    “She may know more than she thinks, and they might think she knows more than she does. Either way, it’s unsafe for her, and you should let he know that she should not return to work.”
    Burns quietly turned toward the door and left. It was a full minute before it was clear that Burns had just walked out of treatment. David had had patients “storm out” of his office. They had wept when they had left. David had even had some patients wheeled out of his office in full restraints to be hospitalized before. But this was a first. No good-byes or good lucks.
    “No … thank you. It was nice working with you,” David said to no one.
    “Michele!” David bellowed.
    “My God! What are you yelling about now?” she responded as she came through the same open doors that Burns had just exited.
    “Don’t buy the leather couches just yet. Our cash cow just left without so much as a ‘thank you.’”
    Michele frowned. Her eyes narrowed as she peered at her boss. It was easy for David to figure out what was on her mind.
    “And for the record, I did not make him go either. It’s as much a shock for me as it is for you,” David added. “Call the hospital and let them and whoever brought him today know that he just walked out.”
    David got up and walked to the doors and closed each as Michele exited. He found the cell phone Littleton had given him in his desk drawer, and now he planned to use it. He dialed the only number in the contacts section and waited.
    Samantha’s voice came on, though it was very different. “This is Danielle. How are you, honey?”
    It took David a minute to remember Samantha’s primary career. The voice was light and seductive. It made you feel like you were the only one she knew. She does that well , David thought.
    “Sam, it’s David. Our mutual client wanted me to let you know that you should not return to work and that your safety is of concern.”
    The alter ego on the other end of the line suddenly changed to a familiar voice. “Okay, memorize the number and address and get rid of the phone. It’s been nice knowing you, David. Take care.”
    “Samantha, whatever is going on, you need to be careful. This thing seems a lot bigger than anything I have ever imagined,” David pressed.
    “Will do,” Samantha added briefly. Then the line clicked off.
    All right. David closed the cell phone and remained standing for a moment, looking at it. Now how do you get rid of a cell phone? Throw it in a river? David mused. “I’m not a spy,” he finally said, exasperated. Should I take the SIM card out of the cell and flush it down the toilet before I toss the phone itself? David thought. Then he smiled. Well, I got something done right with originality . He did plan to drop the cell, but in pieces on his ride home after he had flushed the SIM in the toilet. For now, the cell was in his coat pocket. Well, at least Burns was his last patient of the day. Time to go home , David thought. It was amazing that no more than ten minutes ago, there were two people in his life, and then they both just walked out, never to be heard from again. Surreal , David reflected as he collected his briefcase. Part of finishing work for the day meant that as David would get ready to leave his office, he would reflect on his patients. While Burns and Samantha were the last two people he had to deal with clinically, he started his evening ritual by going over the cases he had had earlier.
    David’s car was right next to his building in an open parking lot. The sun was setting, but it was beautiful and warm. With patients running through his head, David thought he would call Jenny to meet for dinner rather than just head home. Suddenly, his happy thoughts vanished. Two men