Chapter 2: Ella Enters the Lab

“Can you let me pass, please?” asked Ella politely but with a slight edge to her voice. She looked at the man in black suit who was blocking her. He was wearing a black coat over a crisp white shirt that made him look like he was attending a business meeting.

“Sorry, miss. The building is off limits for now,” said the man, not moving from where he stood.

“What do you mean off limits? I just came here barely an hour ago,” said Ella, the tone of her voice rising slightly.

“You’ll have to wait, Ma’am, like the other visitors.” The guard then pointed to a man and a woman, standing patiently at the side of the driveway under the shade of the trees. Ella did not recognize them and assumed that they have transactions with one of the offices in the building.

Ella returned her gaze to the man who was still blocking her way. “But I work here,” she said.

The uniformed man did not flinch and just looked at Ella. “May I see your ID badge, Ma’am?” he asked, holding his palm up to get Ella’s badge.

“It’s in my bag inside the laboratory,” replied Ella, growing impatient. “Why are you asking for my ID badge? Just let me pass. The guard will confirm my identity.”

The uniformed man took a quick glance behind him to confirm if the guard was there, but there was none. He returned his gaze at Ella. “Sorry, miss. You will have to wait with the others. I’m just following security protocols.” He then waved at two men standing nearby who immediately walked towards Ella.

“Whose security protocols? I’m telling you. I work here!” Ella said, her anger at not being let inside the building where she worked evident in her voice.

The two men in black suits flanked Ella and one of them said, “Please come with us, Ma’am. We’ll let you in as soon as it is permitted.”

Ella wrested her arms free from the two men who started holding her. “No! I work here. I need to get in,” she said firmly.

“Oh, it’s Dr. Garcia!” came a shout from the entrance door. Ella recognized the voice as coming from the day shift guard.

“Primo!” Ella called to the middle-aged guard and waved her hand frantically.

“Are you going inside, Ma’am?” Primo asked Ella as she approached her and the men in black suits.

“I was going to,” said Ella. “Except these men are preventing me from entering the building.” Ella gave an exasperated sigh as she looked at each of the men who were stopping her from going through the entrance.

“She doesn’t have an ID badge,” explained the man who first stopped Ella from entering.

“Dr. Ella always comes to work early to leave her bag while she takes her morning run. I can vouch for her,” said Primo. “She works at the Biotech Lab.”

The man in black suit stared up and down Ella’s body as if she were a sculpture being carefully appraised. Ella felt uncomfortable as the man moved his eyes to look at her. Finally, the man said, “I don’t think she poses a security risk.”

I don’t even have a pocket to carry my phone in this outfit, Ella thought, how can I even carry a gun or a bomb.

“Can I get inside my own workplace now?” asked Ella with a sarcastic tone. In the corner of her eye, she saw Primo raising his hand to his mouth to stifle a laugh.

The man in black suit did not speak but stepped to one side to allow Ella to continue walking to the entrance door. The other men stood motionlessly and acted like they were unaware of what was happening a few feet away from them. They ignored Ella as she passed them on her way to the building’s entrance.

Primo opened the entrance door to Ella and made a slight bow as she entered. Ella walked briskly along the corridors and then ran down a flight of stairs to reach the lower level. The light in the stairwell was dim but just enough for Ella to see the steps. Upon reaching the lower level, Ella continued to walk along the corridor. She passed by the inner courtyard and was glad of the sunlight that lit the way towards her laboratory. The building had been using natural light as much as possible which was also a way to lower the electricity bill.

Upon reaching the end of the corridor, Ella saw that there were two men in black suits standing guard at the entrance of the laboratory. She sighed heavily and wondered if she would be asked again to present her ID badge which she had left inside. Suddenly, she heard quick footsteps behind her and saw that Primo had followed her.

Primo was still panting when he said, “Y-You can let her in. She’s Dr. Garcia.” He then leaned on the wall to catch his breath.

“Thanks, Primo,” said Ella, smiling at the old guard.

The two men guarding the door to the laboratory stepped to one side. Ella then raised her forefinger and used the biometrics scanner to open the door. In a moment, the door opened as the magnetic lock was released.

Ella pulled the door and let herself in. She smiled again at Primo and gave him a wink as she slowly closed the door behind her. The guard nodded and forced a smile.

Ella entered the office which she shared with the other research scientists. It was adjoining the laboratory and where they kept books, old records as well as personal belongings. It had always been part of her routine to take a quick shower before the other researchers arrived, so she went to the office to collect her clothes. As she did so, she saw that Matt was already there. He already had his laboratory coat on and was standing up with his back to the door, both hands on his hips.

“Hey, Matt!” called Ella. “Just had a face-off with one of those rude security men outside. Whoever they’re guarding must be such a show-off. I didn’t see that kind of security when the mayor came here to visit.”

Matt turned his head to look at Ella but did not speak. His eyes opened wide and his jaw dropped as he looked at Ella.

“What? You look surprised to see me,” remarked Ella as she removed her arm band and her ponytail.

“He’s right…” started Matt.

Suddenly, the swivel chair that was blocked by Matt’s body rolled to one side and Ella saw a man sitting there. The man bent his head to one side to look at Ella and spoke. “Sorry, if my security caused you some inconvenience, Dr. Garcia. I’ll have a talk with them later,” the man said.

“…over here,” Matt finished his sentence as he pointed his two fingers hesitatingly at the man sitting in the swivel chair.