PART SIX
"So, you think the Mancour smuggling ring has been running the drugs into the country disguised as Easter egg dye tablets?"
"That's our present theory, yes," Brian nodded. "Which is why we needed to know what's involved in mass producing these tablets. The information you shared with us today, Ms. Saltzman, has been invaluable to our investigation."
"Well, we at Saltzman Chemicals are always more than willing to help out," the short-haired woman said, but it was more an automatic response than a real reply. Her mind was obviously distracted by the way Captain Britain's well-developed biceps bulged under his skin-tight suit.
"Especially when Excalibur's on the case," she finished with an oddly transfixed smile.
Meggan shot the woman a dirty look, and fired an even worse one at Brian when he returned Ms. Saltzman's smile.
Brian felt her burning gaze and turned to her, confused.
"What?" he asked.
Meggan continued to glare.
"No seriously, Meggs," Brian said. "What?"
His wife just turned away with a childish stamp of her foot and a scowling, "Ooohhh!"
Brian shrugged, turning back to Ms. Saltzman with his most charmingly apologetic expression.
The thirty-something businesswoman actually swayed on her feet at the sight.
"Erm, excuse me," Alice broke in pointedly, "but is this the last step of the tour?"
The normally shrewd businesswoman snapped out of whatever fangirl-like daze she had fallen into with an embarrassed cough.
"Oh, erm, ah, no, actually. The last room is just through here. If you'll all follow me, please."
The moment the flustered woman turned to lead the way, Meggan attached herself firmly to her husband's arm.
Brian grunted uncomfortably at the strength of her grip.
"Meggan, what has gotten into you?" he hissed.
"Hmm," Meggan snorted possessively, squeezing even tighter.
Alice shared a look with Kurt and Kitty that nearly sent all three into very unprofessional giggles. Luckily, they had all managed to force their expressions under control by the time they reached the final machine.
"Well, this last machine isn't really relevant to your investigation, but I thought it would be a fun way to end the tour," Ms. Saltzman said in a professional tone, although her cheeks were still flushed slightly after the humiliating scene in the last room. "This is where we make our gummy bear vitamins. They're targeted at kids, but you'd be surprised how many adults use them."
"What's in all those bags?" Kurt asked, gesturing to the neatly stacked white paper parcels that lined the far wall of the large room.
"Irradiated cornstarch," Ms. Saltzman explained, waving them over to a nearby conveyor belt. "The impression of each gummy bear is stamped into the cornstarch first, creating what is essentially a mold. Then those machines over there fill the tiny molds with the heated liquid. Once the jell sets, the belt drops off and the gummy bears are poured into a spinning sifter. The cornstarch falls through the holes, but the gummy bears remain behind to be packaged."
She grinned proudly.
"Brilliant, isn't it."
"Fascinating," Kitty agreed, her eyes bright with enthusiasm under the brim of the cap that was concealing her platinum blonde hair from the public eye. "And these gummy bears can take the place of a complete multivitamin?"
"Well, not quite," Saltzman admitted. "People mainly take them for Vitamin C and A right now, but we're working on developing a new formula that would be targeted at adults. We hope those will be able to take the place of your tablet vitamin."
"That would be awesome," Kitty said. "I hate pills. Do you give out free samples, by any chance?"
Ms. Saltzman laughed.
"Not usually. But for you, Shadowcat, I believe we could make an exception. Just remind me before you leave."
"Will do," Kitty assured her. "Thanks."
"Chimera?" Ms. Saltzman said, turning to Alice. "You look like you have a question."
"Yes, I do," she said. "I was wondering…why do you-"
Something on Kurt's belt beeped. Glancing down, he favored their guide with an apologetic grimace.
"Sorry," he said, "I'm getting a call from Scotland Yard. Do you mind if I step out for a moment?"
"No, of course not," she assured him. "The exit is just there."
Kurt nodded his thanks and hurried from the room.
Ms. Saltzman watched him go, then turned back to Chimera.
"You were saying?" she asked.
"Oh, yes," Alice said. "I was wondering why you use irradiated cornstarch. Why not regular cornstarch?"
Ms. Saltzman laughed.
"You can't know how many times I've had to answer that question. Regular cornstarch can have all types of organic impurities in it, and we don't want any transfer into our product. What we do is we subject the cornstarch to an intense purification process under ultraviolet light, which helps us identify and sift out those impurities. So you see, 'irradiated' in this case just means clean. It's just that word 'irradiated' sometimes makes people nervous."
"I understand," Alice said. "Thank you."
Ms. Saltzman looked like she was about to say something else, but then she caught Alice's subtly raised eyebrows. Quickly switching gears, her smile took on a somewhat amused twist.
"Actually," she continued, bending down to pick up a bag from one of the small stacks beside the conveyor belt, "it's for that very reason that security has to be extra vigilant today. Many of our employees like to steal a bag of cornstarch on April Fools Day because it's 'irradiated.' They get their friends to use it, then try to convince them it's dangerous or radioactive-which it isn't! It's perfectly safe-better even than the regular kind. Here," she said, handing her bag to Moira. "Take this back with you and see for yourself."
Dr. MacTaggert looked the non-descript white bag over, then tucked it under her arm.
"All right," she said. "But it's really not necessary. I believe you."
"No, I insist," Ms. Saltzman said, smiling slightly when she spotted Brian and Kitty sharing a deviously thoughtful look.
Moira shrugged, seemingly oblivious.
"OK. But I-"
BAMF!
Ms. Saltzman gasped as Kurt appeared in a dramatic flash of sulfurous smoke.
"Wow!" she exclaimed, pressing her hand over her heart. "That is so amazing! Well, I mean, I've seen it on telly, but it's so much more…explosive in real life!"
Kurt grinned delightedly and took a sweeping bow, his tail lashing behind him.
"Dankeschön," he said.
Alice rolled her eyes.
"Oh, knock it off," she said. But she was smiling.
"So," Kurt said, clapping his fuzzy hands together as he got back down to business. "What did I miss?"
"Nothing much," Kitty told him, moving subtly to block his view of Moira's bag of irradiated cornstarch. "We were just waiting for you."
"What did Inspector Thomas have to say?" Brian asked.
"He just wanted to know how the tour was going. We're scheduled to meet with him tomorrow morning to go over what we've learned."
"Sounds good," Brian nodded. "So is this the end, then?"
"I'm afraid so," Ms. Saltzman said with a sigh. "It's been wonderful having you all here."
"Thank you for taking the time to show us around yourself," Kurt smiled.
"Well, it is my factory after all, Mr. Nightcrawler," she said. "If something underhanded is going on in the chemical business, I want it stopped before people get hurt and the lawsuits begin. For a chemical company, reputation is everything. If the consumers don't trust the safety and purity of our products, we're all of us out of a job."
"Right," Kitty nodded her agreement. "Now, about those gummy bears…?"
Ms. Saltzman smiled.
"Of course. Hang on a second."
While Ms. Saltzman hurried off to snatch a package from the conveyor belt, Kitty sidled up next to Moira and, keeping one eye on Kurt, leaned over to speak surreptitiously in her ear.
"Kate," Moira frowned, backing away slightly before Kitty had a chance to say anything. "What are ye-"
"Shhh!" Kitty hushed her furtively. "Brian and I have a plan to get back at Kurt for this morning. But we'll need your cornstarch to do it."
Moira raised an eyebrow.
"Well, you're welcome to it," she said. "So long as you let me in on this little scheme of yours."
"Deal," Kitty smiled, darting another glance over to Kurt. He and Alice were talking with Ms. Saltzman now and his back was turned to her. Even so, Kitty lowered her voice and leaned even closer.
"Meet us in the control room at 3:45," she whispered through the side of her mouth, like a conspirator in an old gangster movie. "And bring the cornstarch. We strike at tea time."
Moira nodded slyly, cradling the paper parcel as though it were a suspicious violin case.
"Got it," she winked.
To Be Continued…