12 Years Ago (1)

4,695 days until extinction.

Standing in front of the door to a modestly sized but ramshackle building on the far side of the military base a wave of unease flooded through Harper. Closing her eyes she took a slow breath before knocking on the door, two brief raps against the door made of subpar plastic and metal.

“Come in.”

Stepping inside her senses were assaulted by the dust that lingered heavy in the air. What would have at one point been a moderately sized room had become a tiny closet-like cell with countless boxes stacked atop one another blocking out almost all light save for a small sliver of light that sliced through the middle of the room.

There was only a single piece of furniture in the room, a desk at which sat a man whose size was so impressive he made the desk and chair he sat at seem like they were made for children.

She cleared her throat and saluted, “reporting for duty Lieutenant Rainer.”

“At ease. And it’s just Rainer, ranks don’t matter here.” The man gestured to the boxes that lined the walls, and it was then that Harper noticed there actually were other windows in the room but that the boxes in front blocked any light from getting in.

“I’ll look at getting you a chair, but they’re kinda slow with requisition requests,” he once again gestured to the boxes. “Till then you can just stack a few of them on top of one another.”

Harper stood awkwardly in the room, shifting faintly from foot to foot like she was a young kid stuck barefoot at a beach during the scorching heat of summer.

“Speak your peace, Master Sergeant.” He put the pencil and file he was looking at down before giving her his full attention, something that was mildly startling due mainly to the intensity to his gaze.

“I just…I don’t understand what I’m doing here, sir.” She was certain he caught the way her eyes scanned the countless boxes before snapping back to attention.

“I requested help to get through this backlog at…well, a slightly less glacial pace.”

Clearing her throat she stared foreword, “permission to speak freely, sir?”

Rainer nodded, “granted.”

“Please cut the crap… sir.” She continued speaking only after seeing him raise an eyebrow. “I know that you specifically requested me for this position.”

He nodded but said nothing, a silent indication for her to continue.

“Everyone calls this place the haystack because anything, or anyone, put here just disappear. However I did my research, you’ve cleared sixteen cases in the past seven months. So I’m guessing you have no intention of disappearing.”

The way he smiled at her told her that not only had she guessed correctly, but he also had in requesting her. He opened the bottom drawer of his desk pulling out a file that was exceptionally thick and letting it fall to the desk with a heavy thud.

Harper crossed the table to the file and opened it before shaking her head in slight confusion.

“Who’s Krystian Paszek?”

“Standard army grunt. I have reason to believe that he has been using his position to smuggle goods.”

“Drugs?”

Rainer shrugged. “Probably. But I’m pretty sure he’s just a middle man.”

“Why?” Harper pulled a pair of boxes over to the desk and sat down looking at some of the reports assembled as if trying to uncover the answer for herself.

“No real sign of any influx of money. Most people only engage in illegal activities to provide a more comfortable life for themselves, or their families.”

The pair shared a knowing look between each other before turning back to the case at hand.

“So he’s a middle man. I’m still not really seeing a reason that you’d request me specifically.”

“Well then you haven’t gotten that far in the report, keep reading. I’ll go get us both a cup of subpar coffee. Cream and sugar?”

“One and one. But I’d prefer tea if you have it, Jasmine, Hibiscus, and Masala in that order of preference.”

She looked through the file for the time Rainer was out of the room but it did not take her very long to see what he had meant and when he returned she was on her feet turning to face him her face red with anger.

“Seriously? Did you really just bring me in because I happen to be the number one booty call for this guys sister!?” Harper had half a mind to slap the tea from his hand as he offered it but despite what he said about rank she was not about to put hands on a superior officer. She held the tea tightly trying to make sure she didn’t crush the small Styrofoam cup in anger.

“That isn’t the only reason. You’re observant, you scored exceptionally high in marksmanship, and you speak your mind…even in times you shouldn’t.” He let the words linger, both of them knew he was referring to the time she shouted at a Major until she was red in the face.

“But if you’re asking me if I saw an opportunity to potentially close one of the larger cases I’ve been assigned, then yes and I seized upon it.”

“I’m not exactly sure how I feel about that.”

Rainer shrugged and settled back down in his chair. “Take your time, if you want. But I’m pretty sure you’ll take the case.”

She scoffed at the thought she could be read so easily and raised an eyebrow. “Oh yeah? What makes you think that.”

“Never underestimate the power of a positive attitude,” he said with a far too playful smirk for Harper’s liking. “But more because just like me you’re disgusted by people who abuse their power. But I think the thing that’ll really make your decision is the need to know if your girlfriend has wool over her eyes or not.”

Harper was silent for a few moments before saying quietly, “she’s not my girlfriend.”

“Tell yourself what you need to, I’m not your therapist. You in?”

Letting out a deep, resounding sigh Harper shook her head disappointed in herself but turning to settled down on the boxes once more.

“Alright, I’m in.”