Author's Note: I've finally gotten around to writing a new chapter for this story and hopefully the next one won't be far behind. Hope you enjoy.
"Hey Kat, got a sec," Will asked as he approached her desk.
"Sure, I was just going over these files that my father sent me on Reed's case," Kat informed him.
"Well, I'm sorry to say you're going to have to put that on hold for awhile," he replied.
"Ok, what's up?" Kat asked.
"I managed to get us a meeting with Anton Mercer for later this evening," Will replied.
"That's great, I was wondering when I was going to meet him, after all he is the reason I came to Reefside in the first place," Kat said.
"Maybe it'd be a good idea if you contacted your friend Dr. Oliver, maybe he could give you some insight into Mr. Mercer's character before you meet him," Will told her.
"Actually, I'm meeting with Tommy today, we're going out for lunch," Kat informed him.
"That's good, I'll speak with Glenn and see if I can get you some kind of device so we can record your conversation," Will said about to walk away.
"Hold it, this lunch today is just two old friends getting a bite to eat, I'm not going to record anything, besides I can't just come right out and ask him about his involvement with Anton," Kat replied.
"Listen Kat, if this is going to be too hard for you then I can get another agent to do this," Will told her.
"I can do the job I came here to do but I will do it my way, Tommy and I have barely had a chance to talk but if it'll make you feel better, I'll figure out a way to get him to talk about Anton but no recordings, you just have to trust that I will tell you anything that I think pertains to this case," Kat replied.
"I'm sorry, I do trust that you will do your job just make sure you're back in time for our meeting with Mercer," Will said.
A few hours later, Kat had returned home from the office to get ready for her lunch date with Tommy. She had spent an hour trying to decide what to wear before finally deciding on a pink tee with lace trim and a pair of blue jeans. She was now headed out to Tommy's home with the directions that Hayley had given her. It figures that Tommy would live miles out of town. Kat thought as she finally arrived to the house in the middle of nowhere with no neighbors around. She pulled her car up to the house in between a black jeep and a red sports car. Just relax Kat; it's just lunch with an old friend, that's all. She took a deep breath, walked up to the front door and then she rang the doorbell.
"Hello, can I help?" a girl in yellow asked as she opened the door.
"I'm here to see Tommy," Kat told her.
"Oh I remember now, you're the one from the cyberspace the other day," the girl said as she stepped aside to let Kat in.
"My name's Katherine Hillard," Kat said extending her hand out to the girl.
"I'm Kira Ford, Dr. Oliver is downstairs in his lab but I'm sure he'll be right up," Kira told her as she led Kat into the living room.
"You know, I recognize you from some of the pictures Dr. O has placed around here," Kira said pointing out the pictures that were on the coffee table and fireplace that were of Kat and the others in high school.
"That seems like a lifetime ago," Kat said as she walked over to a picture that was the last one she, Tommy, Tanya, Rocky and Adam had taken after graduation.
"Hey Kira, Dr. O wants to know if there was anyone at the door, I think he's expecting someone he seems like he's in a rush to get rid of us," a boy in red said coming up the stairs and Kat recognized him from the day at the cyberspace.
"Ms. Hillard, meet nosy Conner McKnight," Kira said as he joined them.
"It's nice to meet you Conner and please call me Kat, Ms. Hillard makes me feel old," Kat replied.
"So Kat, are you and Dr. O going out on a date or what?" Conner asked.
"That's really none of your business," Tommy said as he came into the room.
"Then that definitely means it's a date," Conner said as Tommy made a stern face and Kat just laughed.
"Who has a date?" a young man in blue said as he too joined the group.
"Dr. O has a date with Katherine here," Conner said before Tommy could get a word out.
"Ethan James, meet Katherine Hillard, an old friend of mine who I'm having lunch with today, it's not a date and even if it was, it's none of your business," Tommy said.
"Alright you guys, I think we'd better go before Tommy has a meltdown," Hayley said entering the room.
"I'm not having a meltdown," Tommy said clearly frustrated with the situation.
"It was nice seeing you again Kat," Hayley said as she led the teens out of the door.
"Sorry about that," Tommy told Kat once they were alone.
"I think it's cute, they obviously care a lot about you," Kat told him.
"Sometimes I think they care a little too much, you ready to go," he said.
"Sure, I'm starving," Kat told him.
Fifteen minutes later, Kat and Tommy arrived at the Italian restaurant that Tommy had picked for their lunch date.
"Man, I can't believe we're actually here together Kat, you look great," Tommy said once they were seated at a table.
"You don't look half bad yourself, I'm still surprised at the haircut though," Kat told him.
"I guess it was just my way of becoming more of an adult, plus I was tired of being mistaken for a woman," Tommy told her.
"Oh come on, that never happened," Kat said.
"No but I was afraid if my hair got any longer that it might," Tommy replied.
"So tell me, how's teaching working out for you?" Kat asked.
"I know I'm the last person you'd expect to be teaching science but you'd be surprised at how much I really know about the subject," Tommy told her.
"Oh I don't doubt that you're a great science teacher, Dr. O," Kat said calling him by the nickname his students used.
"What about you, I mean environmental science is a long way from teaching or ballet for that matter," Tommy told her.
"I had some great years in the London ballet company but after my mom got sick and my parents moved back to Australia my heart just wasn't in it anymore, I decided to go to college and my passion for the environment made environmental science a logical choice and by the way you're not the only person around here who has doctor in front of their name," Kat informed him.
"I heard about your mom, I'm really sorry, she was a great lady, I wish I could have been there to help you through it but I spent a lot of time away on digs and by the time I heard it was a little late for condolences," Tommy replied.
"It's ok, I mean I miss her like crazy but I know she's always with me, I didn't mean to lose touch with you Tommy but after my mom died my life just kinda took an unexpected turn," Kat told him.
"I know what you mean by that, I lost touch with a lot of people when I decided to pursue paleontology," Tommy said.
"Speaking of that, you never did say why you chose that as a profession I mean the last time we talked you were all set on becoming the world's greatest racecar driver," Kat replied.
"Racing was great, I mean I was becoming the best rookie the sport had seen in years, at least that's what my uncle told me, but after hearing about the accident that took Trini's life I just decided that racing wasn't worth me risking my life, so I headed to college where I heard the renowned scientist and paleontologist Dr. Anton Mercer speak about the experiments he was working on and I became fascinated by the subject so I decided that I would pursue a career in paleontology myself not knowing that years later I would be working with Anton on those very projects," Tommy told her.
"That's interesting, is Anton Mercer the reason you chose Reefside to live in," Kat wondered.
"Actually I had no idea Anton would be coming here at all, years ago the experiment we were working on failed and I thought that Anton hadn't survived so I just packed up and decided to get a job as a teacher," Tommy explained.
"Wait so you mean you're no longer working with him?" Kat questioned.
"No, actually I've been wanting to talk to Anton since he came to town but he just seems so busy with Mercer Industries that we haven't had the chance, his son is a student of mine though," Tommy answered.
"Strange that someone who once worked so closely with you suddenly can't find the time to explain what happened to him all those years that you thought he was dead," Kat mused.
"Kat, not that I mind or anything but what's with all these questions about Anton Mercer," Tommy said growing curious about Kat's interest in Anton.
"Well it's just that my job with the E.P.A. requires me to check out all the companies in Reefside to make sure that they're in compliance with environmental standards and Mercer Industries just happens to be at the top of the list," Kat told him.
"Oh, that makes sense, but trust me Anton's the most honest person I know, I'm sure you won't find any problems with his company," Tommy told her.
"I hope for Mr. Mercer's sake that's true," Kat replied.