Chapter 7: Thwarted Plans
Late afternoon, the phone in Julie's lab rang several times. Afraid to answer it, she speculated that Donovan, or some other Resistance member was on the other end. On the fourth ring, she noticed Nathan glance at her through her office window and realized not answering the phone would draw more suspicion than picking it up.
She pressed the receiver against her cheek and muttered a quick, "Hello."
"Julie, we need your help."
She heard the panic in Elias' voice. Whatever the emergency, a trip to The Club Creole was out of the question. She planned to go straight home after work.
"What's wrong?" she questioned, hoping he would not mention any of her fellow Resistance members by name. Nathan could have tapped her phone. She glanced through the partition again and was relieved to see Nathan had occupied himself with opening a wooden crate of cigars.
"It's Elizabeth," said Elias. "Her skin's flaking off. It's really weird."
Oh God, she's changing again, Julie worried, I can't go. He'll have me followed. "Did you call Joe?" She referenced the other physician who tended to the Resistance when she was not available. She dared not say his last name and hoped Elias would not either.
"Elizabeth trusts you," he said. "Anyway, Kyle said he'd have her back here about a quarter til ten. Can you examine her?"
Glancing at her watch, Julie tried to imagine why, if the matter was so urgent, Kyle would wait so long. But then again, he barely knew Elizabeth (though Julie suspected his feelings ran deeper than she wanted, and she needed to have a talk with him).
"Tell him she needs to be seen by Joe A.S.A.P. And give Joe a call."
"He can't get her out here 'til later."
"Why?" Julie asked. "If it's serious, she needs to be seen sooner." She wanted to advise Elias to have Donovan, or Tyler take Elizabeth in to see Joe Akers, to assure her safety, but hesitated to drop any names.
"She doesn't want to see anyone but you."
"Well, I can't see her tonight. I have things to take care of at home," she said. And please don't say they'll bring her to my place…
"What could be more important than helping your patient, Doc?"
Julie knew Elias was playing the guilt card and she wondered if Elizabeth truly was going through some molting phase again, where should it occur? She envisioned the green glow which had emanated from the cave on Robert Maxwell's property less than two months ago. Something like that would attract attention from spectators if it took place in the city.
"Can I call you when I get home?" Julie decided in spite of the risk, she would phone Elias for more details later, and decide what the proper course of action would be.
Then another scary thought hit her… What if Diana bugged my apartment too?
"Please do," Elias said. "Bye Julie."
"Bye." She placed the phone back in its cradle.
With the waistline of his blue polo shirt soaked from washing dishes, Donovan watched Elias hang up the phone.
"She won't come?" he asked, trying to suppress anxious thoughts.
Elias shook his head. "No. Something's not right. You know, if she thought Elizabeth was going through another metamorphosis, she'd be here in a flash."
Donovan wished Elias had produced a better lie. The way he had summoned Julie within a certain time frame sounded bogus, and perhaps she did not believe him.
"She said to call her later after she's home," Elias added, pulling a wine glass from the bar's rack. He filled it with water.
The only thing that went through Donovan's mind was that his plans for the evening were ruined. He imagined that Bates must have been near Julie during the call, and that's why she did not give the desired response.
"If it's all the same to you, I'd still like that twenty and surprise her at her place."
"You haven't earned enough to pay off what you owe, or another twenty dollars."
"I'll be your dish boy tomorrow, I swear. This damned war is interfering with—"
"—your love life?" Elias finished the sentence for him with a hideous grin.
"Yeah." Donovan felt the warmth surge to his cheeks. "I miss spending time with her. I think she misses me too."
"You're a hopeless fool, you know that?" Elias pulled his wallet from his slack pocket. He removed two twenties instead of one and handed them to Donovan. "Enjoy your evening with your lady friend."
Considering what he could buy to make the evening more memorable, Donovan said, "Thanks, I owe you a lot."
