3
Because the newcomer seemed reticent, Janine kept up a lively banter to fill the silence, reciting amusing anecdotes as she walked the teen through the office area, then upstairs to glimpse the dorm-style bedroom, the drab but clean break room, and the more cozy rec room. Amanda's eyes were wide and she nodded distractedly now and then, but she displayed no more than idle curiosity, reacting with a faint smile at best without ever showing any surprise or giggling.
The woman queried, "You've never heard of us?"
"No."
"You're not from New York, are you?"
The girl contemplated before admitting, "Montana."
"Montana? Really? Well you're a long way from home. What brings you to New York?"
Every question took an unusual amount of time to process, accompanied by looks of difficult concentrative efforts. "Looking for…someone."
Janine suggested, "Family? Boyfriend?"
A hesitation. "Boyfriend?"
"Do your parents know you're here? In New York?"
"Mm…no."
Eyes rolling while she fought to remain composed, the receptionist crossed her arms over her chest and sighed. "You're not a runaway, are you?"
"I…yes."
"Oh, Lord. Honey, you can't just go wandering about the city alone! You are alone, aren't you?"
Amanda glanced about. "Yes?"
Janine took her hand and slowed her speech, thinking the girl didn't seem especially bright. "I don't mean right here, right now. Do you have someone in New York that you're staying with? Does someone watch over you?"
The teen looked relieved. "Yes. I…have someone."
"Oh, good! Do they know you're here right now?"
"No."
"What time do they expect you back?"
The girl shrugged. "Whenever."
"Ah. Do you think maybe you should call 'em? Let 'em know you're all right?"
The teen cocked her head back, her lip curled slightly, and one eyebrow rose as if that was the most ridiculous suggestion she had ever heard.
"Well," Janine concluded, hoisting a brow of her own. "Okay, then."
Zeddemore and Stantz crested the stairs and ceased conversation when they spied the ladies. "Enjoying the tour?" asked Ray.
"We've seen just about everything," replied Janine.
"You showed her the containment unit?"
"I wouldn't dream of it."
He held the defective PKE meter aloft. "Wanna see some science in action?"
The girl shrugged.
Winston began, "I don't think-"
"C'mon," Ray insisted, gesturing the way with the device as he turned toward the laboratory.
Winston's eyes rolled heavenward and Janine sighed, shaking her head.
"Egon?" called Stantz as he entered the room.
"Over here, Ray."
"We have a visitor."
"Human?"
"Well, I haven't run any tests on her."
"A pity." The tall, bespectacled man took no notice of their guest as he tinkered with a large contraption that appeared to've been slapped together by a band of teenaged nerds.
Ray set the meter near him. "This malfunctioned."
"What were you doing with it at the time?"
"Trying to get a reading off that statue of Cybele in SoHo."
Egon glanced at Ray as though he considered his off-hours pursuits mere folly.
"Anyway, the arms spiked, the alarm wouldn't shut off, and the lights froze before it died."
"Died?" He set down a tiny screwdriver and regarded the PKE meter without touching it. "What was the last reading before it went kaput?"
Ray shrugged. "It looked like it was picking something up, but failed before I could lock in a reading."
"Did you try whacking it?"
"I always forget that," Dr. Stantz admitted.
The taller man was momentarily distracted. "Oh…hello."
Ray said, "Egon, uh, Dr. Spengler, this is, uh-"
"Amanda," supplied Janine. "I hear a phone. Be right back." She swiftly departed.
Egon stared unabashedly at the teen who studied him warily.
"You want me to whack it, then?"
Winston's brow furrowed. "Egon?" He glanced at Ray.
"Egon?" tried Ray. He poked the other man's bicep.
Winston waved a hand before his blank expression.
Finally, he asked softly, "Was it pointed at her when it malfunctioned?"
Ray blinked. "No. No, it was aimed at Cybele, but when I looked up again, she was right in front of me."
Dr. Spengler turned to pluck another meter from its calibrating/charging station, turned it on and watched the girl beyond it. The arms rose quickly, it uttered a loud, long electronic wail and the lights brightened considerably before it died with a squeal and a sigh. "Where did you find her?"
Winston moved slightly farther from the girl.
"I didn't. I mean, she wasn't there, and then she was…I mean-"
"You didn't notice her before the malfunction."
"Correct."
Egon returned his attention to the newcomer as he set the meter down on the nearest flat surface. "Do you experience bouts of RSPK?"
"Whuh?" asked the girl.
"Poltergeist activity," clarified Dr. Stantz. "Or anything like it."
"Polter…polter…."
He pressed on, "Do electronics behave strangely around you? Are you unable to wear the same wristwatch for any great length of time? Do you sometimes receive phone calls and there's nobody there? Do street lights tend to flicker when you walk beneath them?"
Amanda looked confused.
"Just because she showed up when the PKE meter broke doesn't mean she's a…a…anything special," Winston reminded them.
"True," said Ray.
"Let's test her," Egon said with a grin.