"Mr. Evangrassi?"

"Yes?" Reed answered from his office inside the Ducal Compound.

"Dr. Danna is on the line. The land line, not the super Skype line." Velia, his principal aide informed. Reed chuckled.

"Got it. Thanks Velia!" Reed picked up his desk phone. "Hey Abby! Calling the cheap way?"

"Hey Reed!" Abby greeted. "Yeah, we still need to use both methods, so I have a tendency to default to the old school way."

"Who would have thought our way would be considered old school."

"Well, I'll be glad when this whole business of our petition will be done so we can have one method of communication."

"Preferably the super Skype method."

"Huh?"

"A joke."

"Am I catching you at a bad moment? I need to make you aware of something."

"What's up?"

"Dr. Gallo received a visit from a Dr. Austine Bromley from the Plato Foundation. She's looking for Lauren."

"When did this happen?"

"This morning. According to Dr. Gallo, Dr. Bromley plans to remain in town until she speaks with Lauren."

"Gotcha. I'll take it from here."

"Thanks!"


"Regent Tamsin?"

"Yes, Nicola?" Tamsin prompted one of her newest principal aides.

"Mr. Evangrassi is on the line. He wanted me to tell you the he's on the land line, not the super Skype."

"We have got to come up with a better name for that." Tamsin replied as she picked up her desk phone. "Thanks." Nicola nodded and closed the door behind her. "Hey Reed! What's up?"

"Got a call from Dr. Danna. She said Dr. Gallo received a visit from a Dr. Austine Bromley at Ash Pharmaceuticals about Dr. Lewis."

"And?"

"This Dr. Bromley is from the Plato Foundation."

"And she was in Delaware?"

"Yepper."

"When?"

"This morning, and Dr. Gallo says she's not leaving until she speaks with Dr. Lewis."

"And here I thought it was going to be a quiet evening. Thanks Reed." Tamsin then hung up the phone.

"Nicola!" Tamsin yelled. A couple seconds later Nicola opened the door.

"Yes, Regent?"

"I need to talk to Lauren."

"On it. Oh, and Bruce wanted me to remind you of your Pool Tournament at the Dal tonight. You're up against Amanda and Casey and he emphasized he did not want to be left alone with them." Nicola informed. Tamsin laughed.

"I won't forget." Tamsin replied then hiked up her eyebrows. "Provided this next call doesn't turn into suddenly saving the world again." Nicola smiled and closed the door behind her.

When Nicola returned five minutes later she reported that Lauren's staff said she was at dinner with Bo and Their Majesties. Tamsin let out a sigh.

"I wish this could wait but it can't. I need to speak with her." Tamsin said.

"I will press forward." Nicola said and then closed the door behind her. A few minutes later she reopened the door.

"Dr. Lewis is on the Skype comms."

"Thanks, and I like that name for it." Tamsin replied. Nicola smiled and closed the door behind her.

"Call on!" Tamsin called into the air, and Lauren shimmered into view.

"Hey Tamsin! What's up?" Lauren greeted.

"Sorry to disturb your dinner."

"No worries. Bo and I are out with Their Majesties and the senior aristocracy."

"Sounds intense."

"Pretty much. What's up?"

"Your parents' bloodhounds are here, and they're looking for you."

"Here? Where, here?"

"Ash Pharmaceuticals." Tamsin answered.

"What? How?" Lauren asked incredulous, but then Tamsin made a face. Lauren let out a sigh. "You know what I mean. I know they know I work for Ash Pharmaceuticals, but why now?"

"You think the whole deal with Zandri might have left some clues?"

"Who knows. We've shaken a lot of trees lately." Lauren said while deep in thought. "Who's specifically looking for me?"

"A Dr. Austine Bromley. Says she's not leaving Delaware until she speaks with you first." Tamsin replied.

"I cannot have this going on right now. There's too much being decided."

"You're telling me. What do you want me to do?" Tamsin asked.

Lauren fell back into her chair.