Disclaimer: See #1 for it.
#12
Cover
The day was extremely slow. The oppressive Gotham-in-summer heat made it seem even slower.
With the air conditioner broken, people in all departments were trying to get work done without turning on heat producing machines.
Jervis had removed his lab coat and rolled up his sleeves in an attempt to combat the heat.
Even Alice had tried to fight the heat.
She had unbuttoned a couple buttons of her short-sleeved blouse and made iced tea instead of the kind she usually made.
When it became apparent that Jervis wouldn't get and work done without generating more heat, he joined Alice at her desk for a discussion of whatever topics came to mind.
Ari appeared in the doorway an hour later, looking completely unaffected by the heat. "Dr. Cates is coming! I'd look busy if I were you." She disappeared to spread the word.
Jervis legged it while Alice tried to look busy and harried, coming up with a cover story as Dr. Cates stormed down the hall towards them on a particularly slow day.
Dr. Cates ignored Alice and stuck her head into Jervis' office. She nodded when she saw Jervis going through papers and putting them in boxes, looking for all the world like he was trying to organize his office. She withdrew and headed towards a different department.
Jervis exited his office when he was certain the coast was clear. "Alice?"
She looked at him. "Yes Jervis?"
He smiled sheepishly. "It seems that while I was pretending to be busy trying to organize my office, I missed placed notes I need. Would you be so kind as to help me find them?"
Alice stood up from her desk. "Of course Jervis. And maybe this way we can get your office organized."
Jervis let her enter his office first. "We can only hope my dear."