Holly sighed as she curled up in an arm chair, her hair still damp from her shower and her back and neck aching from the afternoon's incidents. She had taken a hot shower after Lucas had dropped her home, trying to take some of the ache out, but it hadn't really worked. They had driven back to the colony in silence, and he had only smiled at her upon dropping her at her house. He hadn't needed to ask where it was. She wrapped her fingers around a hot mug of tea, leaning her head on the back of the chair. She hadn't seen this coming. She'd known things weren't going to be straightforward as such, but this was very unexpected. She needed to talk to her employer, but was afraid that he had bugged her house. No-one was supposed to be able to contact the future- Terra Nova was cut off from 2149 except for a select few being able to contact them. Taylor could, that she knew. If anyone found out that she could, she would be in serious trouble. Well, not her personally, but her mission. She looked up at the ceiling, scanning for bugs or technology that Lucas could have placed to keep an eye on her. It was no use- it would be far too dangerous to do it here. But where could she go? She had the device, and all she needed for it to work would be a vague connection. It didn't even have to be strong- as long as it could be picked up. It was like cell phone service, she supposed, back in the future. There was the Eye- she could go there. But that too was dangerous. She didn't know what technology they had in there to keep an eye on people. Her office at work? The infirmary? Sighing with agitation, she closed her eyes. Where could she go? She wished she knew Terra Nova a bit better. There had to be places where no-one would be watching, listening or where there was surveillance. She thought for a moment, and sat forward suddenly. There was somewhere she could go...
Opening the door slowly, she looked around her quickly to check that she was alone. He would never catch her here because it was the last place he would expect her to go, especially after today's events. Stepping into Lucas Taylor's personal lab and office, Holly shivered. She had managed to disarm the security system and sneak in the back way, having made sure she avoided the cameras. She knew where he was- he was at a meeting with the rest of the science division in the control tower, headed by Taylor and Malcolm Wallace. That must be very frustrating for him. She smiled at the thought of it, walking slowly and silently to where his server hub would be in the wall. Standing next to it, she made sure she put the connection on secret so that he would not be able to detect that she had connected to it to make a call. No-one would know- it was all hidden and covered up. Her employer was good like that. Putting the call through, she took a deep breath and pulled the aerial out. After about fifteen seconds, a voice sounded at the other end. From here she could see the control tower, so she would know if Lucas, or anyone for that matter were to make their way back.
"Holly," the voice said, and she could tell it was who she needed to speak to.
"Henry," she breathed, so relieved she could cry.
"You alright my dear?" he said, sounding concerned. "You sound... well, not alright."
"I'm fine," she said, rubbing her back where she had landed on it as Lucas had landed on her. He didn't need to know details. "But we have a problem."
"Ah," he said.
"Why don't you sound surprised?" Holly asked, exasperated.
"Because he's Lucas Taylor, and I didn't expect it to be plain sailing. That's why I sent you. The man is a genius and is as sneaky and sly as they come, but you're just as good, I think."
Holly laughed.
"Well, to a point."
"So what's this problem?" Henry asked, and she could hear him sitting down heavily in his office. Where to start?
"Well, Lucas knows I'm here because of him," she began, perching on the edge of the desk.
"Go on," Henry said calmly, and she heard him take a swig from what was probably his whisky glass. She smiled- if he wasn't English he probably wouldn't sound half as calm. It was the accent. Or maybe it was just him.
"I had to treat him in the infirmary, and he asked me to go outside the gates with him this morning."
"Which you did," Henry guessed.
"Yes. Only, he turned on me. He started asking me questions and accusing me of working for Hope Plaza to spy on him."
There was a moment of silence, and if it were possible to hear someone smile, then she would swear he was doing so.
"I don't know whether to call him paranoid or just plain clever," he said. "What did you say?"
"Well I went along with it, told him Hope Plaza had sent me to hurry him up with the portal. He thinks I am working for them, and we agreed that I won't tell Taylor about him in return for him keeping quiet about me."
Henry chuckled.
"See, I knew you could do it. Not many people can lie to a man like Lucas Taylor and get away with it."
She sighed again.
"But what if he works out that I lied? What if he finds out who I am really working for?"
She heard Henry lean forward in his chair to lean on the desk. A pep talk was coming.
"Hols, it's going to be alright. If he works out what you're really doing there, and that you're nothing to do with Hope Plaza then he might even be pleased. You can do this- I know you can. Now, what did you find out about his work? How's he doing?"
Holly looked around the room.
"I don't know, I haven't had a chance to check. He broke into my house and stole some of mine though, he knows I can read his equations. He's not very happy about it... but then, he kind of is..."
Henry laughed.
"Not many people like Lucas exist. If he finds another like him, he's not likely to just brush them off. You're his new enigma, another mystery to work on."
"Not helping Henry," she said, 'hearing' him smile again. "Anyway. I'm in his office now."
"WHAT?" Henry half shouted. "Why?"
"I needed somewhere to call you and I was fairly sure he would have bugged my place. I thought this would be the last place he'd think I'd go, especially after he threatened me. Plus, I can take a look around and see where he's at with the equations."
"Ah," Henry said, admiration in his voice. "That's my girl. See, you're oh his case just like he's on yours."
"Yeah," she said bitterly. "But I'm dead if he finds me. Henry, there's bloody dinosaurs out there."
"I know, I thought you'd find them rather fascinating."
"Yeah, fascinating. I'm going to take a look around before he comes back, make copies of some things. I'll call you when I know more."
"OK. Take care my dear."
"Henry?" she asked, her voice small.
"Yes?"
"What do I do if he finds out?"
He sighed.
"You put him straight in touch with me. You're just the middle man, or woman, as it were. He'll know that. If he finds out that you're not working for Hope Plaza he'll want to know who you are working for, and why. He won't hurt you if he's curious enough, which being him, he will be. You put him in touch with me, and I will make sure you are safe. But," he added. "You're worrying prematurely. He won't find out if you're careful, which being you, you will be."
"Nice to know you have so much confidence in me," she smiled, missing her grandfather suddenly. "I wish you were here, granddad."
"Henry, my dear. Remember, no-one must know."
"Sorry, Henry."
He sighed again, deeper this time.
"I miss you too, Holly. And I am so proud of you. You're not hurt, are you?"
She looked at the bruises forming on her arms.
"No," she lied. "I'm OK."
"Take care, Hols," her grandfather said, and she knew immediately that he didn't believe her. "I want to see you in one piece when this is all over."
"Yeah, I'd love that too. I'd better go, before he comes back."
"OK. Stay in touch my dear."
"I will, look after yourself."
"Goodbye."
"Bye."
With that he was gone, and she was once again alone, in a strange land 85 million years in the past. Locking down the device and severing the connection, she looked around the room. Now she just had to find what she was looking for and get out of here. She couldn't help feeling this was all a little impossible- Lucas was not going to be easy to crack.