Disclaimer: Primeval does not belong to me, this is fan fiction, not for profit.
Any references to people, places, businesses etc is entirely fictitious.
"…who would you call…"
3.11 Temporally Displaced (ABCDU)
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Claudia walked down the hallway to her bedroom carrying the borrowed robes and her cell phone. Abby, as well as both Becker and Danny were now back in their own clothes. As Claudia stepped into her bedroom, she heard Abby remind Connor yet again that the hot water was back on. The blonde's voice was followed by the sound of the rear door as Abby took Stella out into the tiny fenced yard. Claudia shut her bedroom door behind her, tossed the robes into the hamper, and pushed the first number on her cell phone's speed dial. A cheerful voice greeted her, Claudia smiled.
"Jess, I need your help," said Claudia. "What can you find out about a man named James Lester… government official of some sort… currently working in Jamaica."
Four and a half minutes later, Jess called her back. There wasn't much information available. James Lester's job title was director, but the title wasn't linked to a job description in any government database Jess could find.
"His CV is encrypted," continued Jess. "I haven't been able to get it open… yet."
Claudia chuckled at Jess's remark. The young computer specialist at the Home Office loved a challenge. Jess rattled off Lester's contact information, business phone, residence phone, cell phone and three different email addresses.
"Still don't know exactly what he does," said Jess "but he reports directly to the minister."
Claudia thanked Jess and then dialed Lester's cell phone number. There was a six hour time difference between London and Jamaica. The irate voice on the other end of the call asked her if she knew the time. Considering what Claudia planned on explaining to James Lester, it was a rather apt question.
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After a half hour, Claudia was tired of talking.
"I don't need you to tell me how junior I am," Claudia snapped impatiently "we need help. And you are one of the few people they thought might be able to do something."
A few more sharp words and the junior civil servant hung up on the more senior official. She walked back into the kitchen. Danny sat the table reading the hard copy report on Cutter's disappearance. Abby and Stella were in the back yard. Becker was putting away the last of the clean dishes. There was just one thing wrong.
"Where's Connor?"
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"How do you not notice when your friend gets up and leaves the room?" asked Claudia again.
"I didn't see him go out," responded Becker "I thought he went to the shower."
"Where would he have gone," asked Danny "by himself?"
Abby was sitting at the computer desk, stroking Stella's head.
"It's not like Connor," said Abby, "he's always telling me when people go off by themselves in the movies… it doesn't end well."
"Think," ordered Claudia as she started pushing buttons on her cell phone "where would he have gone?"
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In a cozy flat near the park, Jess answered her cell phone on the first ring. She listened to Claudia's description of the missing Connor.
"Brown hair, medium build, dressed in red and black," repeated Jess.
Jess typed commands into the laptop in front of her and soon CCTV images from the government traffic camera were showing Claudia's home and street.
"Got him," said Jess in a satisfied tone.
The dark haired beauty watched the imagery, switching from one camera to the next as Connor moved through the streets of London. Claudia listened to Jess' running commentary. Then Jess said Connor boarded the tube.
"He's headed across town," Jess explained "I'll keep checking the CCTV, but we won't know where he's going until he get's off."
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Abby swiveled around in the desk chair to face the computer. Connor had been looking at reports on this monitor. She clicked on the mouse, causing the screen saver to stop spinning. Two files were open on the desktop. Abby shuddered at Stephen's autopsy report and quickly minimized it. The other open file was electronic archives of the Daily Telegraph.
"Guys," said Abby "Connor had the web browser open to this old news article… but I don't know what it means."
Claudia, Danny and Becker joined Abby at the computer monitor. The old article showed a group of teenaged boys. They'd been hiking, and stumbled across the largest bees nest in Great Britain. Their moment of fame was captured in a huge color photograph. Stephen and his friends had welts visible on their arms and faces, and great big grins.
"Stephen wasn't allergic to bees," said Becker "not in our time… nor this time."
Danny reached over and picked up a piece of paper from the printer tray. It was the toxicology listing from Stephen's autopsy report. He read the short list, his eyes stopping on one word. Penicillin.
"Please keep monitoring the CCTV," said Claudia "and call me to let me know where he get's off."
Claudia closed her cell phone and turned to Abby, Becker and Danny.
"He's on the tube," she said. "Do you have any idea where he would be going?."
"I know where he's gone," declared Danny. "Connor's gone to find Helen."
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Claudia, Abby, Danny, Becker and Stella arrived at CMU. Claudia parked her small compact in the general parking area and they headed towards the campus buildings.
"Helen's publicist said she would be in the science center setting up displays for the upcoming symposium," said Claudia. "If Danny's right… Connor's headed there too."
"Which way is the science center?" asked Danny.
"I don't know," replied Abby "I've only been to the library building."
Abby glanced at the German Shepherd.
"Don't look at Stella like that," said Becker "she's trained for personal security, she's not a bloodhound… this isn't a movie you know. Besides, we don't have anything for Stella to track him with."
"We'll just have to ask directions," said Claudia.
The first students they saw were a tall, thin red-haired man carrying a pizza box, followed by a shorter pudgy man carrying a large container of soda.
"Duncan," breathed Abby "Tom."
Claudia glanced at the blonde, wondering what made her react like that, but decided she didn't have time to deal with any Abby issues now.
"You there," said Claudia pulling out her official government ID, "Home Office… which way is the science center?"
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In the corner of the library, above the highest shelf, the video camera turned. In a cozy flat, a petite brunette adjusted the audio visual feeds to see what was happening. Her eyes opened wide with horror. She reached for her cell phone and pressed the redial button.
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Duncan opened the door of the Science Center, while Tom made a show of rolling his arms and presenting the opening with a flourish. Claudia strode past the two men, inhaling the scent of the nearby roses as she entered the science center. She was closely followed by Abby, while Danny, Becker, Stella, Tom and Duncan entered last.
"Thanks Duncan," said Abby as she passed him.
"How… do you know… my name?" stammered Duncan.
He pushed his glasses up further on his nose and looked at her suspiciously. Abby blinked at his question.
"You look like a Duncan," replied Abby with a shrug.
Duncan glanced nervously at his friend Tom. The tall red-head leaned towards Duncan and put a finger to his lips.
"Government agents," whispered Tom "they know everything."
The science center was huge. The left wing of the building held mechanical exhibits, natural history exhibits were directly in front of them, and the research area filled the wing to the right. The silence was disturbed by a ringing noise. Claudia stopped walking and opened her cell phone.
"Split up," ordered Danny.
Danny pointed Becker and Stella to the left, Abby to the right, and he strode across the polished hardwood floor straight into the main exhibit hall. Duncan and Tom watched the three walk off in different directions leaving Claudia standing in the rotunda.
"Oh splitting up's not good," said Duncan. "Never ends well."
"We'll follow the hot blonde," said Tom. "Keep her safe."
Duncan nodded in agreement and the two students hurried to join Abby as she moved between the tables and rows of bookcases. Light shone through the leaded glass panes of the old Victorian windows.
"So what's your name?" Tom asked.
"Later, yeah," Abby replied.
She didn't stop moving. Small labels identified the shelf contents. Abby continued on past analysis research methodology, analytical chemistry, biodiversity, biomedical engineering, bionanotechnology, career management for scientists, chemical analysis and computational physics.
"Funny name," said Duncan to his friend as they followed after Abby.
Tom gave Duncan a knowing nod.
"Code name," he replied.
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Claudia snapped the cell phone shut. She twisted her head to look around. How had everyone managed to disappear so quickly?
"Danny, Becker, Abby," called Claudia.
When there was no response, Claudia puckered up her lips and blew.
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Abby stopped at cretaceous creatures and climatology. She placed her hand on a nearby brown leather wingback chair. She thought she heard something. At the far end of the library wing, a long stairway led to the upper level. Abby saw Connor. And just beyond Connor stood a woman. Abby started running.
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