Jon found a parking spot that was close to "executive row." Which one of those cars over there belongs to Sarah's dad? he asked himself. I might even see him.
Jon kept his distance from the expensive imports as he walked toward what he assumed to be the entrance. I wish I could just stay home and figure out what to do, he thought. Find the stone. Set things right. Not this. But I have to be here. My ... kids are counting on me. Gotta pay for our house. How'd I know about that? Did I overhear Mom and remember it subconsciously somehow? Not like I ever cared about it before. But I should have. I was just a kid thinking of myself, getting mad when Mom wouldn't buy me new stuff, when she lectured us about economizing. If I ever get back to normal, I'll never argue with her about spending again.
Jon pulled out his company ID to get past the sensor at the front door. I'm like a passenger in my own body, he thought. I just wish I knew where I'm going.
"Hi, Jon," said a receptionist.
Jon waved back. "Uh ... hi." He walked quickly past her, too embarrassed to ask who she was. He greeted several other people on the way to what he assumed to be his office. They all knew him by name but he had no idea what their names were. His mysterious benefactor had only given him a minimum level of knowledge to function in his new environment. He'd look foolish wandering all day through a twenty-floor building, so he somehow knew where to go: eighteenth floor, office next to the one at the end of the hall. His legs hadn't failed him. He saw a sign by what must have been his door: "Jon Jennings."
"Jennings?" he asked himself. That's Mom's name! What happened to her? If I'm the dad, then the girl I saw earlier ... no ...
Jon sat in a chair and leaned back, taking a deep breath and exhaling. What am I gonna do? Besides sit here?
The phone rang. No point in answering it. I wouldn't know who it is.
Jon could hear someone recording a message. "Jon, it's Samantha. Richard wants to see us in his office in five minutes."
It's over, thought Jon. My first day's gonna be my last day. No way am I gonna survive a meeting with Richard McMillan.
