The Bovine Connection

by Kimberly Thomas

  Angelica lowered her arms and stared at it in utter disbelief. She pushed it and the object moved. She pulled her hand back in shock. Quickly, she pushed it again and it moved again before it bounced back to its original spot. “What the hell?” she blurted out.

  Angelica ran into the bathroom and looked through her vanity bag. It was an impulse response and she wasn’t really sure what she was looking for. She just instinctively knew that whatever was under her skin, she wanted it out. She searched her bag and produced a razor from the bottom.

  Angelica held the edges of the razor carefully and bent it trying to loosen the blades inside. She looked over and saw a can of shaving cream so she placed the razor in a small white towel and began hitting it with the can. When she opened the towel, the razor was broken apart and the tiny blades were lying loosely inside. She used the towel to hold one end of the blade and began cutting into her arm. She let out a cry, gritting her teeth against the pain, but carefully and methodically continued to cut into the skin around the object. The object continued to move slightly against any pressure on it.

  Crimson blood rushed down her arm, darkening as it hit the countertop in splatters and dripped into the sink and on the floor. Angelica then heard a slight metallic dinging sound as the object fell out from under her skin and was lying on the countertop in her blood. She looked stupefied, clearly trying to figure out how it got there. She pressed the towel into her arm and held it tightly, trying to stop the bleeding. She was panting fast and hard.

  Angelica picked it up and observed it. “What the hell is it?” she asked out loud.

  She went back out into the room and opened the curtain to let in daylight. Angelica held the object up in the light and examined it more closely. She had never seen anything like it before. Was it some type of computer chip or tracking device? she wondered. It seemed to have some form of artificial intelligence because it moved on its own when she pressed it. It wasn’t organic matter -- that was for sure. And then, like a wave rushing onto a beach, the reality of the moment set in… Someone had somehow surgically placed it under her skin with no obvious sign of incision. She wondered how long it had been there. Like with the cattle, it was a complete mystery to her.

  Angelica heard the street sounds outside of the window; it all felt surreal. She turned and walked over to the dresser where she grabbed an empty glass and dropped it inside. Frightened, alone, and desperate for comfort, she picked up her cell phone and called Michael.

  “Hello,” Michael answered.

  “Michael, it’s Angelica!” Before she could say another word, Michael interrupted…

  “Angelica, Sammy just returned from town! Matthew’s dead!” There was silence. Angelica looked away from the tiny metal device. Her mouth fell open.

  “Angelica, did you hear what I said?”

  Trying with all her will to get a sound to come out of her mouth, Angelica finally whispered with her voice cracking, “Oh… my… God! How?”

  “I don’t know yet, but I think it happened the night you stayed with me. Sammy said he thought he heard someone say it was a possible suicide. I just can’t believe it, Matthew of all people… Angelica are you there?”

  Angelica recoiled, startled by the news and the pain in Michael’s voice. She stood there silently with her fingers over her mouth, shaking.

  Michael continued, “I’m getting ready to head into town. I’ll call you as soon as I know more.”

  “Okay, please let me know as soon as you find out anything. I’m speechless. I don’t know what to say… please be careful, Michael.”

  “I will. I promise.” Michael hung up. Angelica suddenly heard the street sounds from outside. She kept the phone to her ear for a few more seconds, listening in a trance-like state to the familiar sounds that now resonated ominous and frightening. The earth seemed to stop moving for those brief seconds. Every sinew of her body was now in full-on sensory overload, and she felt as if she might be going into shock. She felt the intense and sharp pain in her arm and she began to get dizzy as she sensed the pressure of her heartbeat in her throat.

  Angelica stumbled back and dropped down onto the end of the bed. She sat motionless, looking into open space. She put her index finger to her mouth and chewed on the tip of her fingernail, as tears welled up in her eyes. She looked at the glass with the metal band, and then at the bloody towel wrapped around her arm. She thought about the voicemail, her satchel. There were so many disturbing events in such a short timeframe. Was Matthew’s death connected? Did she possibly bring death to the quiet town of Elberton because of her investigation? She dropped her head at the thought.

  After a minute, she instinctively jumped up, letting the blood-soaked towel fall to the floor. She went over to her purse and looked for Dr. Goolrick’s business card. Once she found it, she stood there staring at it with her cell phone still in the palm of her hand. Abruptly, Angelica changed her mind. She put her phone and the business card down on the dresser and went back into the bathroom. She turned on the sink and ran cold water over the open flesh, rinsing off the blood. The small piece of hanging skin fluttered under the pressure of the water and the wound started to bleed again. She quickly covered it with the towel and found the Band-Aids in her wallet. She always kept a couple in case a new pair of heels gave her a blister. After she covered the wound with the two Band-Aids, she looked into the mirror and froze. Angelica noticed dried blood along and under her earlobe. She leaned in and examined it closely. As soon as she realized she was holding her breath, she exhaled and closed her eyes. What is going on? she wondered.

  Angelica went back into the room and started packing. All she wanted to do at that moment was to get the hell out of her room.

  Angelica’s flight wasn’t until mid-afternoon. She needed to prioritize and concentrate or she knew she was going to turn into a basket-case. She decided logically that her first task was to go find an Apple store and purchase a new laptop.

  Angelica showered and left her suitcase in the room.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Angelica put her hand over the blood-soaked Band-Aids and forced a smile. “Where can I possibly find an Apple store in the downtown area?”

  The polite and overly eager concierge quickly responded… “It’s in the shopping center around the corner from here. Just take a right out the front entrance and it’s a block down on the left.” The concierge briskly opened the door as Angelica hurried past, outside. Even in one of the most beautiful hotels in the country, she felt as if she were walking out of prison.

  “Thank you,” she said, as she stepped out to the noise of traffic.

  Angelica looked ahead as she walked the sidewalk, along the perimeter walls of the Brown Palace, nestled between the high-rise buildings. How did they get into my room and in my arm? Or had it already been there? she wondered. She took her cell phone out of her purse and found a missed text from Gail sent earlier that morning. She realized she must have been in the shower when it came through.

  “How did the interview go with the doc?”

  Angelica responded… “My interview with Dr. Goolrick was very interesting. Matthew Tillman is dead! I will text you again tomorrow with a time I’ll be back in my office.” Angelica hit the send button and put her phone back in her purse.

  After a short walk, she easily found the Apple sign on the mall directory. The concierge had given perfect directions. There was a long line waiting at the counter. Apprehensive about the long wait, she almost walked back out but dropped her shoulders and stepped into the line.

  People were milling around looking at devices attached to the tables around the store. There were several high-tech young men and woman with Apple t-shirts assisting customers. Angelica felt flustered at the thought of a long wait.

  She started to turn and walk out just as a representative walked up. “How can I help you?”

  “I need a new laptop… like that one there,” Angelica pointed to the lady’s laptop beside her. He took her name and sai
d it would be a few minutes, so she found a tall stool at one of the device tables and waited patiently for her name to be called.

  Out of her peripheral vision, Angelica noticed a man with tan pants and a black collared shirt walk in. She nonchalantly turned her head towards him to get a better view and immediately felt a tingling sensation on her scalp. The man looked at Angelica and she gave him an odd look before he turned and scanned the room.

  Angelica was sure she had seen him before, and there was something about his body language that set off alarm bells in her head. He was trying too hard to not be noticed, she thought.

  The man walked over to the case covers on the wall. After a few minutes, he left and walked back into the mall. Her heart pounded against her chest and her legs trembled as she watched him leave. Something didn’t feel right about him, she thought.

  Angelica was startled to see a young man standing beside her. “Miss, did you want to purchase a laptop?”

  “Yes, mine was stolen. That one right there.” She nervously pointed to a laptop a customer was using. Her finger was trembling.

  The man looked at her curiously. “Okay, you seem to know exactly which model you want. I’ll pull one from stock and meet you at the counter.”

  After purchasing the laptop, Angelica left the store and walked back toward the front entrance. She looked around and took inventory of the people as they walked by. There he was again, staring blankly in the window of a men’s clothing store. Was he following her or was she just being paranoid? After the disturbing and macabre events of the past twenty four hours, it was a natural response, she thought.

  She felt anxious and disoriented. She watched as the people rushed by with their shopping bags. She looked at the entrance and started quickly toward it, struck with a most curious thought… “Did others have the implant?”

  Angelica looked at the forearm of a young woman with her daughter for any evidence of a rectangular shaped object under the skin. Maybe a strange object was under her daughter’s skin or the boy walking behind them holding a skateboard, texting… the grandmother holding her grandson’s hand while looking through his diaper bag. Maybe they all had the device.” For a split second, she considered grabbing someone’s arm.

  Angelica squeezed her purse and Apple bag and pushed through the crowd. Suddenly, she found herself face-to-face with the familiar man. She ran right into him as if he were a wall suddenly erected in the middle of the mall. She gasped. Her eyes were wide. His eyes penetrated hers. They were evil and punishing, she thought. His face straight and grave.

  “What do you want?” she demanded.

  The man stepped aside so she could pass. Angelica ran through the crowd. At the mall entrance she grabbed the door handle and slung the door open as she rushed outside. She stood on the sidewalk panting, trying to catch her breath. The air smelled heavy of exhaust from the city bus parked at the curb. She needed to get back to the room, and quickly. Catching her breath, she picked up her pace and briskly walked down the sidewalk toward the Brown Palace.

  It felt as if her feet had lifted from the ground as she rushed down the sidewalk. Her mind raced. The fearful thoughts were driving her to delirium. She looked back over her shoulder and she saw the man was now walking at the same pace as she, but about fifteen feet directly behind her. They made eye contact.

  Angelica picked up her pace. As she made it to the entrance of the Brown Palace, she glanced back and he was gone. When she turned around, she ran right into a distinguished, middle-aged man in business attire, stepping out of the door. “Are you all right, Miss?”

  “Yes, I’m sorry!” Angelica pushed past him and vigorously picked up her pace. Her singular focus at that moment was to get to her room as quickly as possible.

  She nervously fumbled for her room card. She placed it in the slot and the tiny light above turned red. Her hands were trembling as she tried the card again, this time more slowly. She heard the familiar click of the lock as the light turned green. “Thank God,” she thought aloud. The last thing she needed right now was to go back down to the lobby and get the front desk to re-key her card. She closed the door behind her and made sure it was locked securely.

  Angelica walked over and sat on the edge of the bed softly dropping her purse and Apple bag to her feet. She was panting and her face was red. She put her hands to her face and cried. Silently she sat and listened for sounds. Angelica looked over at the door, wondering if he was behind it, then turned and stared at the desk until the chaos faded away and her mind cleared.

  Angelica leaned down and took the laptop from the package. She stood up and went over to the desk and set the laptop down. She entered the internet access code, then checked her email. There were only a few Liberator Magazine employee announcements unopened in the inbox. Angelica dropped her shoulders and leaned back in the chair. The delirium had subsided. Her eyes were dry. Since she still had a little time before her flight she typed “Implants found in arm” into the Google search engine. Several links came up and she scrolled down looking for any that stood out. Down the list, she noticed a blog titled “Experiencers.”

  “Human abductions and animal mutilation have been reported around the world. The most commonly reported ETs are the grey beings. Experiencers of abductions usually report: Waking up in the middle of the night feeling paralyzed while hearing a humming, buzzing sound. Being taken from their bed in the middle of the night. Waking up in the middle of an examination. Odd cuts or bruises. Insertion of implants into the abductee’s skin, which some believe to be tracking devices. They are most commonly reported as a small triangular shaped metal object.” Angelica looked over at the glass with the rectangular object and pursed her lips.

  “These advanced beings have the technology to slow down the vibrational rate of energy; thereby, moving the subject through objects such as walls, ceilings, floors, mattresses…”

  Angelica’s cell phone rang, causing her to jerk dramatically. She rose up from the desk and found it in her purse. “Angelica Bradley!” she answered.

  “Angelica, How are you?” His tone was flat.

  “Hello, Michael, I’ve been better. Did you find out anything?” She sighed.

  “Yes, it was suicide!” He took a deep breath.

  Angelica was quiet for a moment before responding as her jaw dropped… “Really?” She gasped.

  “That’s what Sheriff Taylor said. I overheard one of the deputies say his house was a mess, like he went crazy and ransacked it before he killed himself.” He paused. “Kind of odd.”

  Angelica thought for a moment. “How… how did he do it, Michael?”

  “He hung himself from his upstairs banister,” he said softly.

  The image of Matthew hanging from the banister infiltrated her mind. “No!” Angelica starting pacing back and forth as she always did whenever she was trying to process something. Angelica started to speak and then hesitated. After a few seconds, she continued. “I don’t think he killed himself.”

  “What?” Michael sounded confused. “They found him hanging from a rope. He’s gone, Angelica!”

  Angelica, frustrated, interrupted him, “No, I mean I think someone else did it! Listen, I didn’t want to worry you but my satchel was stolen on the plane. Dr. Goolrick thinks I’m probably being followed and I think so, as well. Actually, I’m certain of it.

  And there was this strange voicemail from a man while I was still in Elberton telling me I may be in danger. And Michael, do you really think that Matthew was in any frame of mind that could have caused him to kill himself?”

  Michael paused for a second then gently spoke, “I’m coming to you. When do you get back to D.C.?”

  Angelica was still pacing the floor. “Not yet, I need you to do something first. I need you to go to Matthew’s house and look around. Search around for files -- anything connected to the mutilations -- and bring them to me. But please… be very careful.”

  Michael hesitated, “Okay, I’ll go there tonight. But then I’m co
ming to you!”

  Angelica nodded to herself still anxiously pacing. She caught her reflection in the large window. “Michael, wait until tomorrow evening to come to D.C.”

  Michael’s voice did not hide the fact that he was clearly worried. “If you’re in danger, I need to be there! I’m not losing another person I care about… Do you understand?”

  “Yes, you won’t lose me, I promise. Just be careful, too. They probably know about you if they are watching me. I’ll see you soon.” Angelica waited for Michael to say good-bye, and then she hung up.

  Feeling disorientated, she put her palm on the top of her head while continuing to pace back and forth in the room. “Poor Matthew!” she thought aloud.

  Angelica put her cell phone back in her purse and went over to the glass containing the metal band on the dresser. She took it out and found a Brown Palace cocktail napkin with the brown mythological guardian griffins’ logo. She placed it inside the napkin and tightly folded the edges around it before putting the napkin in her wallet. She gathered her laptop and suitcase and left the “Mile High City.”

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  He crossed over the yellow police tape and pushed the old door open. The house was dark and uninviting, and smelled faintly of moth balls. Michael turned on a small craftsman’s style lamp on a side table in the foyer. He was shocked to see the house was a mess, ransacked, as the officers had said. It was much worse than he had expected. There were tables knocked over, paper’s scattered about and broken glass everywhere. Matthew’s body had been removed earlier that day and apparently the medical examiner had cut the rope somewhere between the banister railing and his neck since he could see the other end still hanging above him on the railing.