You're going to the library, of course

You set out to go to the library and nothing that just happened changed your intention. Instead, it made you even more intent.

You'd been suspicious before of something weird going on... with the call from Amber and strange job offer. Now, though, you're certain. The extent of the conspiracy, though, remains unknown. And you don't have the skills to uncover the truth.

When you reach the front desk, a clerk you haven't met before screams. "Sir, you can't come in here like that."

"What?"

"You're bleeding. No bleeding in the library."

"Oh. Uh, could you tell Elizabeth that Mike needs to talk to her?"

"Only if you wait outside, please."

After AIDS devastated so much of the bay area, you can understand the paranoia although effective treatments have dramatically cut down on the **** rate. Still, people are justifiably concerned about liquid blood... and you hadn't noticed that you're leaving a trail of blood droplets everywhere you walk.

You find a bench outside the library and sit.

The next thing you know, Elizabeth is shaking your shoulder.

"Huh?"

"I'm going to call an ambulance. What happened to you?"

"No ambulance," you say. "I'm pretty sure I don't have health insurance." You know you were supposed to be given the opportunity to sign up for COBRA and Covered California but nobody mentioned it to you and you haven't thought about it until now. You're pretty sure an ambulance ride will result in a few stiches and a two thousand dollar bill for the five minute ride.

"What happened to you?"

She must see a lot of people without health insurance to so quickly agree... which, now that you think about it, makes sense considering the library's clientelle.

You briefly relate what happened.

"So you think there's some vast conspiracy out there to shut down your stream? That doesn't seem likely," she says when you finish.

"They knew about the job offer. They knew about my stream. And I really got the idea they'd beaten the shit out of people before. So, I don't know how vast it is but there's definitely something organized that's trying to shut me down. And I really doubt they just got organized when I came along. What's that add up to you."

"Either you're paranoid or there's something going on."

"Well, I'm getting paranoid. Getting the shit beat out of me seems to do that. Who knew?"

"And you came to me because you want me to get beat up, too?"

Oh. You hadn't thought about that. This really is your problem, after all, not hers. "You're right and I'm sorry. I started here before the beating and didn't really think about--"

"Shut up." She takes a handkerchief from somewhere... you think it might have been her bra but you're not completely familiar with all the places girls hide things... and dabs at your face.

"I don't think anything's broken."

"That would be a miracle."

"Actually, that would be a skilled beating. Maximum pain with no long-lasting or life-threatening injuries. Anyway, we've got your former company, MicroStuff. Clearly they're involved. And there's your wife--"

"Ex-wife."

"I haven't seen any divorce filings."

"Oh. Yeah, I guess I should do that. I assumed she would and she has money for lawyers that I don't."

"I can help you with that. We get a lot of those requests here."

"Cool." You're surprised how comfortable you are with the idea. A week ago, you would have freaked out if anyone had suggested divorce. Now you're all for it.

"What other organizations does Amber belong to? We need to find the links."

"How about she's fucking my former boss's boss."

"But how'd she meet him?"

"Probably at the company Christmas party."

"You're supposed to say Holiday Party."

"Yeah, well, MicroStuff doesn't believe in all that inclusion thing."

"Interesting. What else?"

"I'm pretty sure the goons who beat me weren't programmers."

"Yeah, that would be a good connection except we don't know who they are. No strings to pull on there."

After a bit more pointless brainstorming, Elizabeth stands. "I'm going to work on this. You need to get yourself cleaned up and figure out how you can keep yourself safe."

"I'm worried about keeping you safe."

"Yeah, me too. But thanks for the concern."

Ignoring the partially dabbed blood, she bends over and kisses you. On the mouth. Shocking the hell out of you.

Then she's gone and you sit there wondering if you should have been quicker to grab her and deepen the kiss.

Shit.

Since you're not allowed in the library, what are you going to do with the rest of your day?