Philip Rossberg wondered what made him agree to follow agent Wlodarczyk. Maybe curiosity. It would certainly make him fall someday.
The SOD agent kept his promise: Rossberg called Bankston before entering the SOD's headquarters, in Washington D.C. The agency was keen on being discreet: there was no apparent sign on the building to let people know they were at the SOD's office.
Rossberg was now seated in an interrogation room. Although he wasn't handcuffed, he felt like a suspect in a criminal investigation. This situation was stressful.
Wlodarczyk came in the room, holding a document folder, and sat in front of the lieutenant, at the opposite side of the table. The lieutenant looked better than the first time they met: Wlodarczyk had given the officer time to wash his face and drink a glass of water, and now, the only traces of the explosion remained on his shirt.
The SOD agent started the interrogation:
"About three months ago, agent Bankston called you to study the items that had been discovered in Samuel Wyle's property, the man being a suspect on a sex trafficking case."
The agent took a photo from his document folder and put it on the table, under Rossberg's eyes, while finishing his introduction:
"This object was part of the package."
The officer immediately recognized the item.
It was the box with the strange symbols he couldn't open the first time he saw it.
It was the box that made two people abduct him.
This modest object was definitely triggering an intense attention. Rossberg wondered what would happen to him. Certainly nothing good from an agency he had never heard of until this day and an agency that purposely didn't display its name on its own building. Would he disappear in mysterious circumstances? Would he be able to go back to a normal life? Would he be put in some sort of witness protection scheme? All this turmoil because of a small box? He should have focused on that painting, on that shelf.
What agent Wlodarczyk said after surprised Rossberg.
"I must admit I admire your determination, lieutenant. You've been busy. Research, contact with different experts, and theory elaboration and testing. Your theory about the box coming from outer space is particularly interesting. Is this what you wished to confirm with doctor Jackson?"
"What do you all guys have with this doctor Jackson?" Rossberg asked in a reflex action.
"Based on your reaction, I guess your abductors were also interested in this person."
Philip hated himself for giving so easily the clue to the agent. He quickly realized there was actually nothing to regret as this SOD agent had certainly investigated him. There was probably nothing the agent didn't already know about Philip. The young man was stuck. He decided to attempt to learn more. If he was about to vanish under mysterious circumstances, he had nothing to lose.
"They were interested in the chest, like you." Philip confessed. "I thought the SOD's mission was to control the military programs with high stakes. Why making a big deal out of an ordinary criminal investigation?"
The SOD man chose not to answer the question.
"You gathered information about doctor Jackson. Do you agree with his theories?"
"I think they deserve being considered. The experts I contacted didn't recognize the symbols on the box. There was no record on databases, too. I had the same result with the content of the box once I could open it."
Philip paused, then, continued:
"Well, there was someone who had an idea, but I couldn't learn more because he suddenly disappeared."
"It turns out we found his body." the SOD man revealed. "We think your abductors murdered him."
The news deeply saddened Philip. An innocent person died because of him. Wlodarczyk tried to cheer him up.
"You couldn't guess what was going to happen, lieutenant."
"If I hadn't contact..."
"Don't blame yourself." Wlodarczyk kindly cut in. "Anyone could have been attracted enough by this box to start digging. You were just the first to do it."
Wlodarczyk gave Rossberg a supporting smile and went back to the subject:
"Let's go back to your theory and doctor Jackson, please."
Philip, despite his feeling of guilt, strived to continue his story:
"Well... I thought I shouldn't put any theory aside, even the weirdest. I'm persuaded the symbols do mean something even if the rest of the design is simple. The symbols are too subtle to be shapes randomly drawn. The doctor Jackson's concepts I read and my abductors confirmed my feeling. So do you."
Rossberg abruptly became excited.
"And what about the slats in the box? I tested them, they're an extraordinary energy source... What if they come from somewhere else in space? Maybe from the Kuiper belt? Maybe further away? It would be awesome if we find out..."
Rossberg stopped in the middle of his enthusiasm, seeing Wlodarczyk's face. The agent was staring at him as if he was a crazy man who had just escaped an asylum or a man who knew too much. All of a sudden, Wlodarczyk exited the room with his document folder.
The agent came back minutes later, with the same document folder and a leather folder. He looked like he was going to share good news, which disturbed Rossberg.
"I think you'll like your new assignment, lieutenant."
Wlodarczyk opened the leather folder and put it on the table.
Rossberg couldn't believe what he saw. The day was definitely bizarre.