Chapter 54

Monday, July 20, 1987- Afternoon

Disregarding her friends' concerns, Julie reported into work each day, even through the weekend. Steve brought blood samples from a dozen more Lone Pine volunteers. When additional laboratory animals came down with stomach ailments related to experimentation with the cactus-derived enzyme, Julie and Steve ceased to use it. The cranberry extract derived enzyme didn't exhibit any adverse effects. With nine out of fifteen Human subjects eligible for the trial, Steve drove a minibus to Lone Pine on Monday then returned to Metzgar with the volunteers.

The group of volunteers waited patiently as Julie took the pulse of a young teenage boy. His stare made her uncomfortable.

She smiled at him, hoping he'd get the hint.

"You're that woman from TV, aren't you?" he questioned.

Not wanting to draw unnecessary attention, Julie had purposely not introduced herself to the subjects.

"Yes," she said.

The thirty-something-year-old woman sitting on a cot across from the boy looked at Julie. "I'm glad you're well, Dr. Parrish. My cousin, Mark, fought with your group during the first war."

"I remember him. He was a brave man." Once engaged to Maggie, Mark had died during a raid on the Visitor controlled water pumping station.

"You were all brave," the woman said. "Do you know where they buried him?"

Mark wasn't buried, but left behind in the flooding pumping station. Julie didn't share that information. With a shake of the head, she listened to the boy's chest with her stethoscope.

"Deep breath," she said. The boy's respirations were raspy.

"Dr. Parrish, You're moving too slow," Steve teased, as he carried over a tray of syringes

"Can it." She smiled.

Steve shot her a scathing glance. "Nice vocabulary. I see you've been corrupted."

Julie giggled, knowing Donovan used that line on Steve. She hadn't heard from Donovan since last Wednesday.

Steve rolled his eyes, shook his head, and selected a syringe from the tray.

"Is this one ready?" He nodded at the boy.

"Yes," Julie replied. She felt sorry for the youngster, who couldn't be more than fifteen. "Close your eyes, Sweetie."

"It's okay, I can take it," said the teen.

Steve picked up the vial and stuck the needle in, but Julie snatched them both from him.

"Why don't you let me do this part and you do the other? I'm gentler."

"Julie, there's a call for you on line three," said Shelly from the doorway.

"Help him," she instructed Shelly, then gave her the vial and syringe. She walked to her lab, and picked up the phone.

"Metzgar Laboratories. Dr. Parrish speaking."

"Hi, Julie," Maggie said.

"Hi."

"I'm leaving for my job. Apparently you're spending the whole day at yours."

Julie ignored the derogatory remark. "What's going on?"

"Oh, nothing. I was just wondering when you're coming to see your favorite nephew."

"Do you need a sitter?"

"No. Chris and I thought we'd have you over for lunch on Saturday. Are you busy?"

Julie considered the possibility of Steve working through the weekend again. If so, she planned to stay at the lab. "Maybe I can sneak away for an hour or two."

"Around noon?"

"Perfect."

"Do you have any special requests?"

"Yes. You could persuade Donovan to join us," she joked.

"You still miss him?"

Feeling warmth surge to her cheeks, Julie said, "Only, a little."

Maggie chuckled. "Do you have any special, edible, requests?"

"Oh, I'm sure whatever you serve will be fine."

"What about wine?"

Julie giggled, remembering how she couldn't recall what happened the last time she drank. "I don't know about that. I may not be able to drive back to work afterward."

"Then I'll tell Chris to pick us up something. See you Saturday."

"Bye, Maggie."

#

Donovan had carried out his KDHB tasks for the past four evenings without receiving a phone call from the police concerning Sean. Sean had stayed home alone each night, probably practicing on his guitar, Donovan hoped… though not as loud as before.

Donovan sat at his desk around ten, Monday evening, reviewing his late-show package on L.A.'s expanding Visitor population. He'd wanted to interview Willie, Thelma and their son for the feature, but Willie had declined the interview, fearing for Elias William's safety. Instead, Resistance sympathizer's Glenda and Robert allowed Donovan a short interview with their family.

Donovan's report included a detailed piece on how Human pseudo-skins were designed to accommodate growing Visitor children so they might assimilate into society easier, and not face ostracization from their human counterparts. As Donovan skimmed through the raw Beta footage, his phone rang. He snatched up the receiver.

"KDHB News, Mike Donovan speaking."

"Don't I get an R.S.V.P.?" Maggie complained.

"Oh, hey there." He frowned at Jaycee, who'd transferred the personal call. She smiled back at him.

"Have you thought about it?" Maggie asked.

"Thought about what?" He feigned ignorance.

"Saturday?"

"A party for Madam?"

"Yes. Willie and Thelma are coming. Ham's coming. Kyle's coming."

She continued to rattle off her guest list.

"Okay, okay. I get the picture," Donovan said, pulling a yellow pencil from the top of his earlobe. "I'll come."

"You know your kid's welcome too."

He sighed. "Yeah. I'll bring Sean."

"Can you come early? So far, I have fifty-two confirmations and five maybes. We'll need help setting up."

Donovan tried to imagine a party in her small bungalow.

"How early?" he asked.

"Maybe an hour."

"Eleven o'clock it is then." He reached for his briefcase, snapped it open then pulled out his appointment calendar. "Did you tell her about it?"

"She thinks she's coming over to have lunch with Chris, CJ and I."

"Where do you plan to stash the vehicles?"

"We don't know yet. Maybe you guys can park at the church on the next block. I'll call and ask."

"Sounds like a plan," he said, ignoring Melissa who pointed to her watch, reminding him to hurry up with his package.

"Can you recommend a wine for Julie?" Maggie asked.

"I don't advise letting her drink."

"Is that what the doctor said? I told Julie Chris would pick us up some wine to have with our lunch. No offense, I'm sure our resident Julie expert knows what she likes."

Julie expert? He chuckled. "As a matter of fact I do."

"Well?" Maggie questioned.

"Shirley Temples." He snickered. A virgin cocktail oughtta keep her roving lips in check…

"A Shirley Temple?"

He chuckled, watching Melissa glare at him and motion to her watch again.

"Let Chris choose the wine, Maggie. I've got to go. If you can, catch the news at eleven. You might find it interesting."

"I'm at work too. I'm on my break," she said.

"I'll see you Saturday."