Into the jungle

Chapter 2

A/N: This one's shorter … so it's not far from the appearance of our two favorite agents. Still alive?

Enjoy!

2. University of Berkeley/ California, United States/ Sunday 1:43PM

Dorothy Chairman unlocked the door to the office of Berkeley universities' head master and stepped inside. Dorothy loved his office, all covered in luxurious wood and dark parquet flooring. What she didn't like where the stuffed animals on every wall, looking down on her as she closed the distance to Mr. Layman's desk. She sat down in front of his computer and turned it on. Dorothy was responsible for the contact between the expedition in Kongo, her own brother wa taking part in it, and managed everything from San Francisco. The head master was on his way to his office and she prepared everything so he could just walk in here and read the new daily report. Her fingers knocking on the wooden desk to bridge the time the computer needed to go online.

And then there was Vincent Layman. He appeared in between the doorframe and entered his office. He was a medium-sized, slightly plumpish man with grey hair and metal-rimmed glasses. "Hello Dorothy! Is the report here yet?"

Dorothy greeted him with a smile and shrugged her shoulders. "I'm not online yet. Sorry!"

Mr. Layman placed his coffee cup on the desk and got himself a chair. "So, this will be the latest report?" He asked and admired how fast Dorothy's fingers flew over the keyboard.

"Yes, Phillip must have written it just today!"

Mr. Layman looked out of his windows and sighed. It had started raining. "Hopefully, the weather is nicer in Africa!"

Dorothy smiled and was finally online. But to her surprise, she had no new e-mail. "Mr. Layman, Sir?"

Vincent Layman replaced his cup back on the desk and swallowed. "What is it? What are they writing?"

"Nothing. They havn't written."

"What do you mean by they haven't written ?" Layman straightened himself up and looked over to the woman in front of his computer.

"Yesterday, they sent the report of Saturday, right?" Dorothy inhaled deeply.

Layman scrutinized Dorothy's face thoroughly. "Yes, and?"

"So today, we should get to report of Sunday."

"Yes!" The tone of his voice was impatient.

Dorothy shook her head in disbelief and confusion and looked over to Layman with a concerned look plastered over her features. "But there's no report in our mailbox."

Vincent Layman stared at the flat screen monitor. "Check it again!"

"OKay!" Dorothy checked her mailbox again, but there was no new e-mail. "No, Sir! No daily report. I have every report of every day of this expedition. Sent to us every day on the exact same time. Today's report is missing, Sir!"

Layman wasn't able to explain that to himself. "That can'T be possible. Maybe the e-mail is just delayed. I'm going to talk to the investors. Maybe they have heard of them, otherwise we'll have to wait until tommorrow."

Dorothy nodded and stared back towards the flat screen.

Some time later

Layman had sent Dorothy home and now he was sitting in front of his phone. The number of the expedition's investor lying just next to the phone. He slowly dialed the number. It took some time before finally someone got the call. "Net Technologies, hello, what can I do for you?"

The friendly voice on the other side of the line caused Layman to smile. "Hello, my name is professor Laymon from Berkeley university. I'd like to talk to Mr. Morgan."

"Just a second, I'm making the connection."

And indeed it only was a second before Layman heard the voice of another man on the other side.

"Morgan."

"Pete? Hey, it's Vincent."

"Vincent! I think I know why you're calling!"

"So, you haven't heard of them either?"

"No." The sighing on the other end showed Layman that Pete Morgan also cared for the expedition party.

"Pete, I'm worried. You can count on Phillip McCarthy. He wouldn't just forget to write. He simply wouldn't."

"You mean, something happened?"

Layman nodded, sighed and swallowed. "Yes. Maybe something went wrong."

Silence.

"Say something, Pete!" Begged Layman.

"The longer we wait, the more money we waste."

Layman nodded in silence. "So what now?" He asked after s short pause. "What are we going to do?"

"Don't worry, Vincent! I think I know somebody. I'll call you in two days!"

Just slightly relieved, Layman hung up.

- End of chapter 2 -

A/N: Your opinion is always welcomed.