Joel had not slept the entire night. He spent most of the night comforting Janice as best he could. She was still nervous, but at least she did finally fall asleep. When morning came, Joel called the police to report what had happened minus him taking the mugger's gun. They came and took the report. All they could say was they were lucky that no one got hurt. After the police left, Janice went upstairs while Joel went to the kitchen to make some more coffee.
A few minutes later, Janice came downstairs wearing her hospital uniform. Surprised at her appearance. "You can't go to work."
Janice smiled softly placing her hand on his cheek. "I promise, I'll be okay. Melissa is going to pick me up." She kissed him on the cheek. "Besides, it's nice to know I have a shining knight who'll protect me."
With a bit of reluctance, Joel asked, "Okay, lunch today?"
The sound of a car horn blared from outside. "Sure, pick me up around one."
Janice left the house and got into Melissa's car. "Are you okay Jan?"
"I'm fine really but you're not going to believe what else happened."
"What?"
"He proposed." Melissa pulled the car out of the driveway, and the two women talked about some future wedding plans.
"That's impossible!" screamed Sellers, "There is no conceivable way the human body can generate much less store that much energy." His eyes were bloodshot after the all night session processing the data Anna had collected.
Anna Mason stretched her tired body. Trying to stay awake, she took another swig of coffee. Her eyes were bleary and her temper began to flare. "Look, I didn't make up these readings. He's somehow generating the same energy our reactor is capable of doing. The spectral signature confirms it. Look!" She pointed her finger to the monitor where Sellers saw the energy pulse. "It's the same energy and just like our reactor, short, fast and sweet. Like a static discharge. I don't know how he does it, and I won't know until I get a tissue sample."
Sellers was close to slapping her but gave in to his civility. "Very well. How is Mr. Branson?"
Showing her dislike for the thug. "He'll live. Multiple contusions and lesions to the face and throat. A bruised esophagus and three bruised ribs. He's lucky he wasn't killed. If this person can act freely in a still world, he could have snapped your goon's neck without even the slightest idea that he's dead."
Sellers smiled to himself. "Well then they'll have to be more cautious. Where are they anyway?
"How should I know? Maybe they're practicing shooting nuns or something."
Sellers dismissed the flippant remark as he left the room and found the two heavies loitering around. "Gentlemen, I have another job for you. I need you to bring him in."
Branson winced in pain when he tried to talk. "How do you want it done?"
"I don't care how the two of you do it. Just bring him back here alive and preferably unharmed." He Handed Branson a vial and syringe. "Here this will knock him out for hours. Just inject it. And make sure his is totally restrained. Even if he makes the transition he won't be able to move so there will be no point in him doing it."
Branson accepted the items. "What about the girlfriend?"
"That doesn't concern me. Just do the job." Raising a hand to his chin. "On second thought, Mr. Carlton, you'll see to acquiring our test subject. Mr. Branson, I want you to observe the girlfriend. Don't do anything, we may need her as a controlling influence. You have your assignments."
"Hey, Dennis, listen man. Some fucker tried to mug me and Janice last night...... No we're fine. Listen, I need some time off.....Three days tops.... Great, just email the other jobs. I'll head right back out when I get this all settled. Thanks." Joel hung up the phone. Feeling utterly exhausted, he looked at the clock. "Damn, I need some rest, but I got so much shit to do. Wait a minute." Joel pulled himself together and thought. Looking over to the grandfather clock, it's pendulum frozen in mid-swing. "This could be very helpful." Joel went upstairs and went to sleep.
After some time he woke up feeling completely refreshed. He looked over to the clock; the time hadn't change. "Cool."
The house felt the same in the stillness, except of course for the maddening silence. Joel went to the kitchen and discovered that the coffee wouldn't pour out of the carafe. He grabbed a butter knife and cut a slice of coffee. "So this is how Deputy Droop Along made coffee." He bit into the hot liquid noting at the teeth marks left into it. He walked outside and marveled at the absolute stillness of everything. Birds caught in mid-flight, people going about their morning routines frozen like statues. It felt like walking through a 3D portrait. "I thought there would've been some kind of red-shift."
The mailman was nearby. Joel rifled through the bag getting his mail minus the junkmail. "Bill, bill, bill."
Looking down the road. "Hello, what do we have here?" Denise was in mid-stride of her morning routine. Joel went back and got his camera. Without fail, Denise was wearing her traditional cut-off jogging shorts and tank top. Joel snapped a few pictures before carefully removing her top, showing her white sports bra. A few pictures later, Denise was just wearing her black thong. Her exquisitely firm breasts, freed from her bra, were carefully reshaped to not show any bra impressions. Soon afterwards Denise was completely stripped naked. Joel snapped more pictures of her at various angles then whispered in her ear. "Hey why don't you skip the underwear when you jog. Okay?" Joel redressed Denise in her short and top minus her underwear. Joel walked back into his house and concentrated for a moment. Joel looked out the window. Denise stopped in her tracks. She looked about for a moment while she felt for her underwear. Her face flushed red with embarrassment, Denise ran back home in a sprint.
Joel laughed out loud when the phone rang. "Hello, is this Joel Gonzalez?.... Good Morning.... This is Mike Astin from Allstate Insurance. There are a few irregularities with your claim.... No, I'm the field adjuster, I can be there in about an hour. Is that okay with your schedule?....Excellent....No, I have your address.... I'll see you then sir.... Good Morning." Carlton hung up cellphone and turned to Branson. "It's done."
"Good, let's bag this bastard," Branson said rubbing his knuckles in anticipation. The two thugs made it to the house and drove up the driveway. Once there, Carlton grabbed his leather bound organizer and straightened his tie and suit. "How do I look?"
Branson Sneered, "Like someone I'd shoot. You better be ready. I never saw that son of a bitch move."
"I'm ready. This'll be quick, just stay at the ready." Carlton got out of the car, walked up to the door.
Before he could push the button the door swung open. "Hello, Mr. Gonzalez?"
"Hey, saw you drive up. Come on in."
Carlton hand went to his jacket pocket. "Thank you, oh sorry cellphone is on vibrate."
Carlton walked in just inside the doorway. He reached inside his jacket and pulled out a cigarette pack sized box with two protruding metal tips on one end. Joel turned his back to close the door. Carlton placed the tazer on the back of Joel's neck, which sent 25,000 volts through him. Joel dropped to the floor stunned. Carlton quickly gave Joel the tranquilizer, then he zip-tied Joel's hands and feet. Carlton pulled out his pistol and scoped out the house making sure no one else was there. He picked up the car keys from the kitchen counter, dragged Joel to the garage and dumped him in the trunk of the Ford POS. Carlton jumped in the driver's seat and backed out of the garage.
He rolled down the window. "Got him, you owe me twenty bucks."
Branson looked back in disgust. "Fuck you! Take him back to the egghead. I got me a cutie to watch."
A few hours later, Janice stood by the emergency room entrance. She looked at her watch, which now said 1:45pm. Melissa came out "Janice what's wrong."
"I don't know. Joel and I were going out for lunch today. He was supposed to pick me up at one. He's never late, and if he was, he'd call."
"Look I'm sure he's just running late or something. Let's go to Wendys." Janice, feeling reassured, joined Melissa and the two physicians walked across the parking lot for lunch.
Sitting in the parking lot, Branson just sat in the car looking at the two songbirds. "This is going to be fun."