Chapter 66

Friday, August 14, 1987 –Late Afternoon

After Donovan's few failed attempts to contact Julie, he decided to surprise her, by showing up at Friday's gala unannounced. In the wee hours of Friday morning, Donovan accompanied Jaycee on a red-eye bound for Seattle, then checked into the Marriot. With the party scheduled to start at six, Donovan dressed in his business attire, and eagerly waited in his room while Jaycee prepared in hers. Although Donovan didn't expect Julie to be accessible for an on-camera interview tonight, he hoped she'd be available tomorrow. At twenty after four, he escorted Jaycee to the ballroom, camera gear in tow.

Outside the double doors, a doorman stood, clutching a small stack of papers. Donovan and Jaycee flashed their media badges, but the man balked at letting them in.

"You're not on the guest list," he stated.

"We're from L.A.," Donovan explained. "This is big news back home."

"It's big news everywhere, Sir," the young man retorted.

Donovan took a breath. "I'm a personal friend of Dr. Parrish's. She'll vouch for me."

He hoped the doorman wouldn't have to contact her. Don't spoil the surprise…

The man eyed him again. "You're that resistance leader, aren't you?"

"Right."

"Fine. You can go in. Press seating is in the middle section."

Donovan passed through the double doors. Jaycee followed.

"If we're seated, I can't set up my camera," she complained.

"KDHB will grab ABC's feed," Donovan reassured her.

She flashed him a questioning look. "Then what am I here for?"

"To shoot the interview with Dr. Parrish, I hope." Slipping his arm around Jaycee's shoulders, Donovan guided her to the fourth row of chairs from the stage.

Jaycee inched her way into the isle and chose a seat dead center. She laid the tripod on the floor while Donovan stuffed the beta cam under his seat, barely leaving himself enough foot space.

#

Julie stood in front of a long mirror in her hotel suite, adjusting the puffy sleeves of her blue, cocktail dress. She'd selected the taffeta gown during yesterday's trip to the mall with Shelly.

After readying herself, Julie joined Steve in the hotel lobby. The crowd of media, scientists, and doctors gave Steve and Julie a standing ovation as they followed an usher to their seats near Ross and Shelly in the front, center row.

Ross walked from his seat to the podium. The crowd's applause drew to a close as he started to speak.

"A year and a half ago, my wife Shelly and I eagerly hired two of the most intelligent minds within the scientific community to head our research team in the pursuit of a vaccine as a defense against Red Dust side effects. Though we had received several bids for the project, we felt who better to employ than the woman who knows the toxin best, Dr. Juliet Parrish? Julie and her partner, Dr. Steve Maitland have worked diligently these past eighteen months searching for the correct formula."

Ross turned the page of his introduction. "As you know, Dr. Parrish was targeted and shot by biochemist, Dr. William Pico two month's ago. Though there were times when Julie's survival was in doubt, she's made a remarkable recovery. Several weeks ago, she and Dr. Maitland made a major breakthrough in this project, and we now have the treatment we've been looking for." He motioned to Julie. "Dr. Parrish, will you share yours and Dr. Maitland's discovery with the world?"

The audience whistled and clapped as Steve walked Julie to the podium. Ross shook hands with Steve and Julie before leaving the stage with Steve.

Placing her three page speech on the podium, Julie looked out into the audience and saw Donovan smiling at her. Her eyes misted, and she returned the smile.

She glanced at her paper then said into the mic, "It's been a long road to recovery and in the development of the toxin fighting vaccine. We have so many people to thank." She wiped her eyes, and glanced at Donovan again. "Personally, I know I wouldn't be standing here giving you all this news today, if it hadn't been for the individual who took care of me after my release from the hospital. First, I just want to acknowledge Mr. Donovan, reporter from L.A.'s KDHB… Thank you for everything you've done to help me these past couple months."

Donovan nodded back at her. After a few nervous pauses, Julie read her speech, going down a list of Metzgar and Seattle University Staff who'd done their part to assist with the project.

"Here in Seattle, Dr. Maitland and I've worked with babies suffering pulmonary side effects from exposure to the toxin. Our ultimate goal was to develop an immunization, to be administered shortly after birth, before Red Dust based E. Coli can colonize in a baby's respiratory and digestive tract. We've also developed a form of treatment for use in children and adults. A month ago, we started our first in a series of trials with that vaccine as well. All of our test subjects have experienced extraordinary respiratory improvements, many of them no longer depend on the respiratory treatments which they'd needed for everyday survival."

Julie shifted her weight to her left leg and turned the page. "Given these victories, we've been given the green light to open our trials to children and adults from age five to fifty-five, who've struggled with Red Dust related ailments and reside in the state of Washington."

She gave details of the next segment of the project then took questions from press members. Once the questions ceased, chairs were cleared, tables set up, and hors d'oeuvresserved. Audience members were free to mingle. Julie dodged a few media personnel as she headed to the beverage table where Donovan was pouring punch into a glass for the young woman with him.

"You thought you were going to get away with not speaking to me?" Julie asked.

"Oh, I have questions for you, Dr, Parrish." He winked at her, placing the red liquid filled glass in the mystery woman's right hand.

"He wants to interview you," the woman explained, giving Julie a once over. "That's why we came."

She's from KDHB, Julie guessed.

Gawking at Donovan she asked, "Really? I'd thought you came all this way to ask me to tutor Sean."

Donovan chuckled and gestured to Jaycee. "Would you excuse us for a few minutes? Dr. Parrish seems to think she knows everything."

"I do," Julie said, following Donovan toward the lobby.

#

Donovan made his way through the crowd gathered outside the ballroom. When some of his colleagues tried to stop Julie and get her to talk to them, she'd muttered a quick apology and continued to follow Donovan until he found a little space outside the restrooms. He stopped and turned to her.

"Nice to see you again, Doc."

"You too." With an uncertain smile, she stared back at him.

He had it in his mind to grab a hold of her and kiss her, so there wouldn't be any doubt in her mind about why he'd come, but he thought that display of affection would be best reserved for later. Still, one thing bothered him. During her speech, she'd mentioned opening the vaccine trial to residents of Washington. Does she plan to return to California anytime soon?

"You plan to stay here to continue your project?" he asked.

She shook her head. "You seemed pretty adamant that I come home. Steve's leading the trial without me."

Even better, he thought. Does that mean she quit her job?

"You plan to work?"

"From L.A.," she said.

Looking past her shoulder, Donovan saw Steve exit the men's room and wait there, his eyes on Julie.

"We're being watched," Donovan whispered. "If you're free later this evening, or tomorrow morning, I promised my boss an interview with you. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about it sooner. I tried to call several times."

Julie gave his tie a playful tug. "I'm free later, but not for an interview."

Donovan chuckled. Maitland hadn't budged and Julie didn't seem to care he was there.

"Will you come to my room and visit me later?" she asked softly.

He bent down to whisper in her ear, "That might be considered unethical behavior."

"So?" Her lips brushed against his cheek as he drew away. "Come to suite 303 in an hour. I'll tell Ross and Shelly I'm not feeling well."

"And what about the interview?"

"Is tomorrow morning good?"

"Great. Got any place in mind?"

"My suite."

"With or without my co-worker?"

Julie grinned. "It depends on if you really want an interview, or have something else in mind."

Donovan looked again. Maitland was gone.

"We'll discuss the details later," he said.

Stretching up, Julie pecked him on the cheek, and then whispered, "Of that, I have no doubt."