Saturday, June 6, 1987- Morning
Angered that Pico had tricked him into doing an interview that might destroy Julie's reputation; Donovan intended to conduct a full investigation into Pico's career and life.
In spite of Julie's initial annoyance toward him last night, Donovan's attraction toward her was instant. Noticing the absence of a ring on her wedding finger, he'd wondered if she was seeing anyone. Given the way she'd warmed up to him during their meeting, and subsequent conversation on the phone, he suspected she was still single.
Donovan's last attempt to date a woman, News Anchor Melissa Foxx, ended in disaster. It was the evening of the KDHB Christmas party when Melissa had waited in Donovan's kitchen quarreling with Sean. Sean punched her, breaking her nose. Melissa sued Donovan for pain, suffering and lost wages. Sean was taken into state custody.
Donovan worried his semi-weekly visits with Sean weren't often enough to maintain a healthy father-son relationship. Instead of taking responsibility for his behavior, Sean blamed Donovan for allowing him to be put away. Their meetings were often filled with arguments over whose fault the arrangement was. Meanwhile, Donovan struggled with his fees to O'Brien Center for Sean's care, payments to Melissa Foxx and not letting his mortgage and utilities fall behind.
Why would Julie want any part of this mess with Sean? He questioned. Why would she want me back after she ended us?
Seated behind the wheel of his blue Toyota Camry, Donovan pulled into the Science Frontiers parking lot mid Saturday morning. Surrounded by dead grass and overgrown weeds, the building appeared abandoned. No wonder Kyle can't sell it,Donovan thought. He doesn't take care of the place.
Donovan stepped out of his vehicle dressed in dark jeans, a bullet-proof-vest and a black T-shirt, Julie arrived next in a red Camaro Sport Coupe, the same model depicted in a poster above Sean's bed at home.
She must be loaded. Donovan was amused.
Julie climbed out of her snazzy vehicle wearing a tank top and a pair of jean cutoffs. Donovan noticed the outline of a one-piece bathing suit under her snug-fitting shirt. A pair of cheap flip-flops detracted from the daintiness of her eloquently painted toenails.
"Got plans for the day, Doc?"
"I have a hot date with a one-year-old after this." She gawked at him. "You look like you're ready for a raid."
You should've dressed more appropriately yourself, he wanted to say, but settled for, "Babysitting again?" instead.
"I'm meeting Maggie and Chris at Venice Beach. They said you could tag along if you wanted to."
He wondered if it was more her idea than theirs. If that was the case, he regretted having to decline.
"I'm meeting with Sean when we're through here." He scrutinized her again. Apparently, in her haste to dress appropriately for a day of frolicking in the sun, she'd forgotten to bring the one thing he'd told her to bring. "Where's your gun?"
She flashed him a dirty look, opened the car door, then pulled out a leather holster and fastened it around her waist. "Are you happy now, Mr. Donovan?"
"No." He grinned, drawing the HK P9S pistol from her side and inspected it. The barrel's inscription still read: Gra Dilseacht Cardeas, which simply meant "Love, Loyalty and Friendship." He'd paid an extra fifty dollars for the engraving.
He counted nine bullets in the magazine. "Have you used it in a while?"
"No. Should I have?"
"You clean it?"
"I keep it in its case. It's fine, Mike." She took the gun from him and placed it back in its holster.
A black pickup truck hummed into the lot. Julie hurried over to meet Kyle as he stepped down from the vehicle. With shoulder-length brown hair, a mustache and scruffy beard, Donovan realized this wasn't the same clean, cut kid they'd once known.
Hugging Kyle, Julie asked, "How are you?"
Kyle backed away, as if offended by the gesture. "What do you care? You just want to clear your good name."
"Oh, c'mon. You know that's not true," Julie argued.
Donovan moved forward to break the tension. Kyle shoved a set of keys in his hand.
"Hon, I'm sorry about Elizabeth," Julie went on. "But it's been over two years."
Disregarding her, Kyle explained to Donovan which key was used for what lock.
Donovan didn't miss the look of annoyance on Julie's face. "Not coming?" he asked as Kyle turned toward the pickup.
"I have some things to take care of. I'll be back in an hour. Meet me here," Kyle replied, sauntering away.
Donovan turned to Julie. "Looks like it's just you and me then."
They started for the building's main entry.
#
The familiar Science Frontiers logo greeted Julie as she walked into the dimly lit foyer with Donovan not far behind. He stopped at the security desk, retrieved a pair of black flashlights, and handed one to Julie. She clicked it on. The pair passed under a white archway, which led to a musty smelling corridor.
Ignoring the gritty feeling of a cobweb as it brushed across her face, Julie passed by Nathan Bates' former office, walking over to the doorway leading to her laboratory. Julie recalled how Nathan had kept her at close range with her office adjacent to his. The only sense of privacy she'd had was a set of electric-powered mini-blinds covering her large office window which Nathan could raise and lower at his leisure. He'd often displayed a certain level of distrust towards her, aware of her past position as Resistance leader. Working close to Nathan, the self-appointed Mayor of L.A., Julie was privy to top-secret information as he dealt politically with Visitor Commander, Diana. Julie had led a double life as a biochemical researcher and spy for the L.A. Resistance.
She studied the empty room.
"Downstairs?" She guessed Kyle had everything moved as he prepared to sell the place.
"Let's look," Donovan agreed.
Julie snatched the set of keys from him then made her way back down the narrow hallway, and reached a door which led to a flight of stairs. She sprinted down them.
"It's a wonder you can walk so fast with those shoes on," Donovan said.
"Well maybe if you weren't such an old man, you could keep up with me."
"Old man?" He chuckled. "I have plenty of vitality left in me, Sweetheart."
"I'll bet you do," she murmured, unlocking another door not far from the stair landing. She opened the door, illuminating the interior with her flashlight. The closet contained small cages once used for laboratory animals.
Julie continued to the next door. Finding it locked, she tried several keys before choosing the correct one then shone her flashlight into the darkness. Lab tables and boxes were stacked to the ceiling.
"Do you think they're in here?" Donovan asked, raising his own light to read box labels. "Microscopes…"
"…vials, Petri dishes," Julie read off the others. "No. Not here."
As Julie and Donovan moved down the hallway, a scent of charred materials filled the atmosphere.
"What's that smell?" Julie asked.
"It's coming from in here." Donovan slowly walked toward a steel door.
Placing her hands on the door, Julie felt for warmth.
"Careful," Donovan said as she turned her key in the deadbolt.
Julie stepped into the room. With her flashlight, she could make out a faint trail of smoke rising up from a metal barrel. Filing cabinets were stacked upon one another.
"Research records," said Donovan, confirming Julie's fear.
She walked over to the barrel, carefully picked out the charred remains of a piece of paper then silently read the phrase, TOXIN SAMPLE A, July 23rd, 1984.
The Catalina Island Kelp Project, she remembered. So many important researchers died after Diana learned about the experiments in which Julie and her colleagues tried to develop a toxin that wouldn't be harmful to the ocean food chain. Julie sifted through more charred remnants to find another document, which revealed her laboratory room number and names of animals she'd experimented on.
She felt her eyes cloud over with tears. We're too damned late…
As she took another step toward the barrel, something crunched under her shoe. She moved back, stepping out of the flip flop. A sharp object pierced her heel.
She shrieked, and passed the flashlight's beam over the bottom of her foot. Blood leaked from the cut.
"What is it?" As Donovan stepped in, the steel door, which he'd been propping open, slammed shut startling Julie. She watched him try to open the door. It didn't budge. The keys were on the outside.