Sometimes I see scenes and I just have to get them down on paper to connect the dots for myself, but they aren't always completely necessary. As with this scene. Sort of cute- but it doesn't serve a real purpose so I cut it. My beta-ers agreed. (Thanks Kendralynora!)
But as a bonus, here it is. This takes place inbetween Chapters 2 and 3. So- the morning after Artie stayed up all night researching about Einstein's Fiddle and before leaving the Warehouse where he runs into Mrs. F.
Once again, big thanks to everyone who reviewed and read and favorited!
Claudia strode into Artie's office the next morning tentatively. She had a suspicion where her boss was so she purposefully made herself known, throwing her bag on the table noisily and sliding her chair out with as much noise as possible.
After hearing noises from the loft, Claudia started some coffee. Once it was brewing, she leaned over Artie's desk and picked up a pair of briefing folders, clearly intended for Pete and Myka.
Moments later, Artie himself shuffled down the black iron spiral staircase running his fingers through his unruly curls.
"Dr. Robert Meissner?" Claudia said to the office in general. Her feet were on her part of the desk while she perused the open files in her lap.
"What?" responded Artie with half an eye open. He stumbled towards the smell of brewing coffee.
"This guy." Claudia tapped the small picture from what looked to be a trade journal that was clipped to the file in her hands. "New case? Did you get a ping?" Claudia closed the file and dropped her feet to the floor to push her wheeled chair over to Artie's computer. She clicked on one keyboard, then tapped his large, specialized mouse pad to check his other screen.
A grunt and a muffled reply from the front of the office really didn't tell her much.
Claudia tapped a few more times on Artie's computer and frowned. She called out, "Where's the ping?"
Artie shuffled back into the room sipping from a mug. She had a growing suspicion. "Did it come up in the system?"
"No. It hasn't shown up yet." Artie reset his glasses more fully on his nose and blinked a few times to get his computer monitor into focus.
"What hasn't?"
"Hum? Oh, uh… a fiddle." He checked that no major artifact activity was detected on his system during the few hours while he slept. "Einstein's fiddle to be precise." He said to Claudia while still looking at his screen.
"Like… Albert Einstein? Wait- of course, Albert Einstein. I mean is another Einstein?"
"Actually…" Artie began, but he stopped and shook his head. "Yes, Albert Einstein." He shot a look at Claudia quickly before returning his focus to his monitor. "His fiddle is believed to be one of the more powerful artifacts of this century. We haven't had a lead on it for…" He considered briefly. "a good 20 years."
Claudia eyed him suspiciously. "But you have a lead now?" She mentally weighed the folders on her hands. They felt a bit thin to her.
Artie hummed more to himself. He spun his mouse deftly with his left hand and dragged his right across the mouse pad at the same time. "I know where it is." He tapped the pad forcefully then spun in his chair towards Claudia. He grabbed the files from Claudia's hands. "And they're going to get it for me!" He said with a twinkle in his eye right before he jumped up and headed towards the door.