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FRAGMENTATION

By Gregg Cameron

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2012 Gregg Cameron
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4685-1032-4

Chapter One

Philadelphia, PA, Farrell Laboratories: Friday, June 1, 6:10 PM Present day.

Metallurgist David Albright sat glued to the screen of his electron microscope on a hot Friday night in June. Much of what he viewed at Farrell Labs was mundane. However, this was different.

As a droplet of sweat traced its way down his forehead and lodged in his left eyebrow, he mumbled to himself then suddenly blurted out, "George."

"What?" George Quinn, senior metallurgist and the only other person still in the lab answered.

"Where did this sample come from?"

"Jesus, David, it came from the DeCosta Scrap Yard; an old ship being scrapped by the Navy. "Why?"

"I think I have a situation here. Take a look at this."

"David, you always have a situation. Do you have any idea what time it is? It's after six David, time to go home."

"I know, I know, but there are some peculiar molecules in this sample; things that just don't belong in metal. It's as though they are locked in some sort of bond with the iron and nickel molecules. No, no wait; they are more like stuck in between them, kind of jammed into the lattice. That can't be, can it?"

"Let me have a look. George walked over to David's desk and studied the screen. "Okay. Organic molecules and – possibly a DNA helix." He looked up at David. "I'm no expert when it comes to organic chemistry. Maybe a rat fell into the crucible when they were making the alloy. Anyway, it's Friday night, it's late and I'm going home."

"But George, a rat would have been incinerated and completely vaporized, if it fell into the molten metal."

"Vaporized it is then. Our job is to report on what we find, not to decide how it happened. I'm leaving and you should too." As George locked up his desk, David returned his attention to the screen.

"David, you've got to get a life," said George as he headed for the door. "Don't forget to lock up. I'll see you on Monday."

David continued to study the sample. The strange molecular structure of the sample made no sense. How could organic molecules be intertwined with the steel molecules of an old ship?

After twenty minutes of rubbing his eyes and looking at the sample, David began to tire. Maybe George was right. Maybe he should get a life.

Reluctantly, he gathered up his things, closed up the lab and walked out the door. The sultry Philadelphia evening hit him in the face. A layer of still humid air covered the entire town like a blanket. His car stood like a lonely sentinel in an otherwise empty parking lot. He stared at it for a moment, slid inside, started the motor and turned the air conditioning on full blast

"Get a life." That's what George said. The words weighed on him as he put the car in gear. At thirty years of age, work had become David's mistress. Although not as exciting as the opposite sex, it satisfied him in other ways. Not quite six feet tall, with his sandy brown hair, many women had found David attractive. He remained oblivious to it. A self-described nerd, he graduated in the top ten percent of his class from Georgia Tech. After a brief stint at Ford Motor Company in Atlanta, he moved on to Philadelphia and Farrell Labs.

As he flowed with the evening traffic, George's "Get a life" brought his thoughts to Colleen Gilmore. Colleen, who worked in the Biology Department at Farrell, was twenty-eight, single and as Irish as they come with red hair and freckles. David smiled thinking of her. They met over drinks at the office Christmas party six months ago and hit it off well. He thought about calling her, but every time he worked up the courage, something came up. Then, too, he worried she might turn him down.

Driving along the Delaware River he thought once again of the puzzling sample. Maybe Colleen would know something about it. Just the reason he needed to give her a call.

Now, after sipping a Coke and staring at the walls in his apartment for another twenty minutes, he finally sweated up the nerve and dialed her number.

"Hello."

"Colleen, this is David, I mean David Albright. I work in the Metals Lab at Farrell." Pause. "We met at the Christmas party."

"Oh yes, David Albright. Hello."

"I was wondering if you had some time to look at a very interesting sample of metal I have."

"A sample of metal? Is this a joke, David? It's Friday night."

"Well no," he stammered, "it's not a joke."

"Well David, I'm a biologist. I know nothing about metals."

"This sample is very interesting Colleen and it is not just metal." This is not going very well, thought David.

"What did you have in mind?"

Tentatively he replied, "Have you eaten dinner yet?"

"No I haven't. David, are you asking me out to dinner?" "Well no, not really, I mean - I yes, yes I am. You see, I have this piece of metal."

"You already mentioned the metal David."

"Yes, but I believe it has some organic molecules in it and they are trapped between the inorganic ones kind of in the lattice and I thought you might be able to help me out on this." fumbled David.

Colleen rolled her eyes and said, "Lets back up a bit, did you or did you not just ask me out to dinner?"

"Yes, yes I did."

"Good, that sounds nice. Now, where and what time?"

"Well, I, that is, if you like Italian food, I thought we might try Florintino's. Would that be okay?"

"I love Italian food. What time do you want me to meet you there?" "Would eight o'clock be okay?"

"Yes David, I'll see you at Florintino's at eight tonight. It is tonight isn't it?"

"Yes, tonight, I'll see you later, thank you."

"Yes!" whooped David when he hung up the phone. For months, he had agonized about asking Colleen out. Now they were going to have dinner and it was all because of a curious piece of metal. Maybe he could "get a life".

Chapter Two

The restaurant was about eight miles from David's apartment and with a little speeding; he was able to make it there with a few minutes to spare. Florintino's was a typical Italian restaurant found in the northeast. As you enter, the sweet smell of garlic and soft mandolin music teased your senses. A small bar with a half dozen stools catered to those waiting for tables. Hand painted murals of Italian scenery covered the walls while red linen tablecloths and white napkins complimented the plates and silverware. Lighting was subdued, with a soft orange hue giving the room a Mediterranean ambiance.

Florintino's was always busy on Friday nights and they did not take reservations, so David put his name in with the host and found a seat at the bar.

Within ten minutes, Colleen entered the restaurant and scanned the crowd for David. His skin flushed with excitement when their eyes met and he waved her over to the bar. As she walked toward him in heels and a light blue knee length summer dress her hips gently swayed while her red hair bounced softly off her shoulders. Somehow, she seemed even more attractive than he remembered.

"David, I'm sorry I'm late, but there was some kind of utility work going on in the middle of Ben Franklin Boulevard and it was closed. With all the one-way streets over there, I think I wound up going around the same block at least three times before finding my way here. Anyway, I'm glad that you asked me."

"You are?" sputtered David, "I mean I'm glad you could come. Would you like a drink?"

"Yes, a...