Sorry for the late release.
Jimmy, I thought of that, but decided to let it go. Thanks! ;)
Ok folks, still with the scooby gang out in the field.
The trio tracked down Dr. Meissner to the auditorium, just finishing a lecture to a large group of students. They waited patiently until most of the class cleared out and the professor started to gather his things before approaching him.
Pete stepped forward as the professor started to leave. "Dr. Meissner?"
"Yes?" The surprisingly youthful man eyed the visitors suspiciously. His brown hair was so well trimmed in a Ken doll hair cut that HG wondered if he wasn't dating a hairdresser.
Myka stepped up next to her partner and held out her badge. "Sir, we're with the secret service. We'd like to ask you a few questions."
"Secret service?" The man scratched his barely graying beard and adjusted his glasses before he looked at the three outstretched badges. "Questions about what?"
Myka continued, "We'd like to ask you about something that may have come into your possession recently."
"That's pretty broad. 'Something' like what?" He continued packing and grabbed some folders to tuck under his arm.
Pete jumped in, "Anything new in the area." He put on a disarming smile. "We're just looking for information right now."
Myka said, "This might be more comfortable in a more private setting, such as you office perhaps?"
"Oh. Of course! But, I have a question session right now. Can I meet you directly after in say… 20 minutes? I just have a few students to attend to." He motioned to about half a dozen youngsters starting to filing through the door.
"Certainly." Myka responded courteously.
Pete and Myka fell back with HG to the side of the auditorium as students filed out of the room to be replaced by a new set of students.
They took seats to the side of the room with HG behind them. Pete leaned over to Myka. "You think that he knows that he has an artifact?"
Myka thought for a moment as a student squeezed past them. "I think he knows."
HG leaned forward, inserting her head in between them. "Indeed he does. And he may be heading to it as we speak." She pointed to the podium at the front of the auditorium where a woman professor was preparing her notes to teach the new class, instead of Prof. Meissner.
Pete and Myka jumped to their feet. Myka said, "That little-" as she slid sideways out of the row of seats after Pete and HG. They all filed out of the auditorium quickly and headed back to the Department of Astrophysical Sciences at a jog.
Myka, Pete and HG rushed up to the Astrophysical Sciences building. Myka pulled up before they opened the door. "Pete, circle round in case there's a back way out and meet us at the Professor's office?"
"Yeah!" Pete descended the steps and jogged to the side of the building.
"Let go." Myka and HG entered the building.
HG and Myka rushed into the Professor's front office. HG took the hard line stance that she was sure Myka and Pete were planning on. "Professor Meissner. Is he here?"
Taken aback at the women rushing in to her office, the front secretary stuttered out a reply. The women didn't break stride as they brushed by the front desk and stormed into the hallway looking for the professor's office. Myka came upon the teacher just coming out a doorway, closing the door behind him.
"Professor Meissner!" Myka said forcefully.
"Ah- hello again ladies."
"We need to talk to you. Avoiding us won't make us go away." Myka let her irritation be known.
"Indeed, I'll be happy to talk to you. Anything for the government." He smiled with a overly sweet smile that HG knew was forced. He locked the door behind him. Now HG really wanted to get inside his office.
"Can we talk in your office?" Myka motioned to the closed door.
"I'm afraid not. Perhaps the lobby?"
Myka glanced at HG beside her. HG knew that Myka wanted in there as bad as she did.
"Professor Meissner," HG started, "we're investigating something that may be a danger to you or even to the entire campus!"
"And I'm happy to help, but my office is… private." He looked pointedly at HG. Just then Pete joined them in the hallway.
With two agents at her back, Myka leaned forward. "I'm going to have to insist. Open the door." She ordered.
"I'm afraid not." The well trimmed man help his ground against the three agents. "Ah Dr. Monroe!" Meissner directed his attention at a small brunette woman in the hall way.
"I'm glad you got my message. Meet the Secret Service!" He gestured to the three ticked-off agents in the hallway. "Agents, meet Dr. Monroe, legal professor." Meissner paused to let his words settle in on the agents. The lady was efficiently dressed.
The cool Professor continued. "Dr. Monroe, I was just telling the agents how I'm more than happy to talk to them in any public area and they were going to tell me how they would never ask to search any area without permission… or-a - warrant." He over stressed the last three words. The two professors stood against the three agents in the hallway.
Well this is going well. HG thought to herself sarcastically. She looked at Myka and Pete to back up whatever action they decided on. Turned out that Pete took charge.
"Sure, yeah. Well, Meissner, we'd be happy to talk to you wherever you like." His sentence broke a bit of the tension.
Professor Meissner smiled a tight smile. "The lobby. Please."
