Sabotage in the Secret City by Diane Fanning

Author:Diane Fanning [Diane Fanning]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Severn House Publishers
Published: 2018-01-29T16:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-FIVE

As I entered the building the next morning, a flutter of hope beat against my ribcage. But, sadly, not one of the missing were back in the lab.

I checked for any new arrivals in Charlie’s inbox. There were a few items but nothing that was urgent or pressing. I leaned back in the chair pondering whether I should take a chance that I would be remembered and contact General Groves. Before I could decide, Stephen rapped on the doorframe and walked into the room.

‘You need to gather everyone together and tell them what is going on,’ he said.

‘But I don’t know what is going on, Stephen.’

‘Then tell them that. They need someone to acknowledge the upheaval in the lab and to know that someone is doing something more than sweeping it all under the rug. A couple of chemists think we’re being shut down.’

‘Okay,’ I said with a sigh. ‘Gather them up and I’ll fully explain my ignorance.’

‘Libby, please.’

‘Don’t worry, Stephen. Short of lying, I’ll do everything I can to calm their anxieties.’

Within two minutes the staff had crammed into the space making it feel claustrophobic. ‘I don’t know much yet but I will tell you what I do know. As most of you are aware, Charlie, Gregg and Joe from our lab and Teddy and Dennis from Alpha lab were picked up yesterday by the military police. At this moment, I do not know why or who ordered it. I have spoken to Lieutenant Colonel Crenshaw and the military police and they deny any knowledge. I am certain someone – or everyone – is lying. Because of the timing, I feel confident that it is connected to the incident out at the bridge. I have no proof of that but I will not stop seeking answers until our supervisor and our co-workers return.’

The questions rolled by like a river: ‘Are we being shut down?’ ‘Will all of us be sent home?’ ‘Are you sure they are still here in Oak Ridge?’ ‘Will the MPs come for us next?’

‘I do not think they are closing us down. I doubt if the people in this room are scheduled to be sent home since none of you were picked up yesterday. I don’t know if that will change. And, no, I am not sure if our co-workers are here in Oak Ridge but I think they are.’

‘Is that what happened to Tom – did they pick him up first?’

‘That’s a possibility. I just don’t know. But I will tell you when I know more.’

‘What can we do to help?’

‘For now, please, just get back to work – and work harder than before. We all need to apply ourselves to fill in the staffing gaps. Thank you and feel free to come to me with any private concerns you may have.’

I cleared out Charlie’s inbox and went to my workstation. It seemed as if everyone took my last words seriously because no one even looked up as I moved through the room. All

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