8. Frankie
8
FRANKIE
I finished making up several new bacteria cultures. I set the petri dishes on the counter, then checked my test tubes. In my head, I went through the mental checklist of things I needed to do.
Around me, my lab sparkled. It made me happy.
Carefully, I put my specimens in the glass-fronted storage refrigerators. As I spun back to the workbench, my temporary lab pass flapped against my lab coat.
Annoyance hit me. I’d realized this morning that my lab pass was missing. I’d reported it, but I was annoyed at myself. I was sure it had been safely tucked in my handbag. When that asshole attacked me yesterday, I must have dropped it.
The university said they’d cancel it, but it was Saturday, so it wouldn’t get done until Monday. For now, I had a temporary one.
As I moved through the lab, my thoughts turned to Reath. The way he’d raced in to help me. The way he’d made me feel safe.
I shook my head. That wasn’t something I needed. I could make myself feel safe. When my dad had died, it had been so hard for my mom. But she’d found her feet—become strong and independent. She was a great role model.
I moved into the storage room, stared at all the boxes, and pulled a face. I still had some unpacking to do. I wanted everything set up right.
I opened the first box and started pulling out gear.
A noise in the lab caught my ear. I paused and cocked my head. Nothing .
I shook my head. It must’ve been someone in the hall.
Then I heard the noise again.
“Frankie?”
I popped my head out of the storage room. “Over here.”
Dr. Lydia Khan smiled at me. She was in her mid-forties, and had a few strands of gray in her dark hair. She had brown skin, brown eyes, and a sharp mind. “Hi.”
“What are you doing here on a Saturday?”
“I get more work done when there are fewer people around,” Dr. Khan said. “And I give a Saturday lecture once a month.” She looked around. “Settling in all right?”
“Yes. The lab space is perfect, and I’ve already started my first experiments.”
The other woman nodded. “I heard you have military funding.”
I nodded and leaned against the workbench. “DARPA.”
“Lucky you, they have deep pockets.”
“I’ll send them through an update at the end of the week. They’ll stay fairly hands off in these early stages. They fund lots of civilian projects, but not everything pans out. They get involved once projects prove viable.”
“If you need anything from me, let me know,” Dr. Khan said. “I’m off to give my lecture. You have the place to yourself, so enjoy the quiet. I’ll see you later.”
After Dr. Kahn had left, I got back to work in the storage room. I had to admit, organizing things was a job I liked. It fed something in my soul. I liked to have things in their proper places.
I hummed as I worked.
Then I heard another noise in my lab.
I let out a breath. Another visitor?
I set a box down and headed for the door.
A flash of movement in the lab. I spotted someone quietly and stealthily moving past my workbenches.
Frowning, I pressed my back against the wall and watched.
The man pulled off the lab coat he was wearing and tossed it on a stool. That’s when I saw my lost lab pass attached to it, my own smiling photo clearly visible.
What the hell?
He found one of my notebooks and flicked it open. Then, he spotted my laptop and smiled.
My heart started thumping hard. I wanted to charge out there, but he was a big guy, dressed all in black. I stepped back and pulled out my phone.
I didn’t stop to think, I just dialed.
“Frankie?” Reath said.
“ Reath ,” I whispered.
His tone sharpened. “What’s wrong?”
“There’s someone in my lab snooping around.”
“Where are you?”
“In the storage closet. He doesn’t look like the friendly type.” I peered out and my pulse spiked. “Oh, God, he’s got a gun in a holster.”
“Hide.”
“There aren’t many hiding options, Reath.” Then I heard footsteps. “ He’s coming this way .”
“Frankie, hold on, I’m coming.”
“Reath…” Fear tightened my chest. It was hard to breathe.
“I’ll call campus security. I’m coming, Frankie.”
When I ended the call, I felt so alone.
I crouched down behind a large, empty cardboard box. My heartbeat pounded in my ears, deafeningly loud.
The footsteps got closer.
I twisted my hands together.
It would be okay. Reath was coming.
But so was the bad guy.