and… well isn’t that interesting… and for Mr. Hancock here, and if you could scare up some bourbon and dump it over some ice for me that would be wonderful.” Batter checked his watch. “I think it is way past time for a cocktail.”
“Scratch one of those teas and make mine bourbon as well , please, Corporal, straight up.” Alex’s gaze did not waiver from Batter. The Corporal remained silent and looked at Batter as if awaiting approval.
Batter was amused. Intelligent, beautiful, and she has balls. Here is living proof that Tom is the incompetent fool I have always suspected him of being. He laughed. “Absolutely. Yes, please, Corporal. You heard the lady. And, make mine the same. Tom? Last chance,” he added, looking across the table.
Tom shook his head, looking dazed.
“Now, where were we? You were saying , Dr. Moss…,” Batter said, turning his attention back to Alex.
Alex watched as the Corporal quietly left the room. “I was saying that your mining activity has just cost me the most significant paleontological find of my career, and almost killed me in the process. What is going on here? I have been just over the hill for almost a week, and I haven’t heard a thing until today. And, what is with all the military? What exactly are you mining?”
“Well, that is a long story , Doctor, but, in short, due to a small problem this operation was virtually shut down for a short period and has only recently resumed.”
“No one completely shuts down a mining operation this big without a big problem,” Alex argued, sensing that Batter was lying.
“Did I say anything about mining , Doctor?” Batter looked at Tom. “Anyway, your unexpected visit may end up being quite fortuitous for you.”
“Honestly , Mr. Batter,” Alex said, finally exhausted with the game play, “can you get to the point? It’s been a long day.”
“Ah yes, my apologies , Doctor.” Batter paused, and then leaned forward. “What if I were to tell you that we could show you something so incredible that you would forget all about your little dinosaur fossil?”
Alex looked at Tom, confused , then back at Batter. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, Doctor, that the reason we ceased operations was due to a cavern we accidentally opened up during excavation . Well, there was that and some bureaucrats who….” Batter stopped. “Anyhow, the cave contains some things that a paleontologist such as yourself might find very interesting, far more than interesting, actually. In fact, I don’t think I would be going way out on a limb to say ‘astonishing.’ Wouldn’t you agree, Tom?”
Tom remained silent, completely surprised by Batter’s behavior. Alex had always had a pretty impressive impact on men , but this was… well….
There was another knock at the door , and the Corporal returned, placed the drinks and left.
“Why are there so many military personnel here?” Alex asked again, nodding toward the Corporal as he exited.
“All in good time, Doctor Moss, all in good time. Salut e,” Batter said, lifting his glass. “I do love a stiff one in the late afternoon, don’t you, Doctor?” he said, eyeballing her suggestively. He leaned back in his chair and took a long drink. “Tom, why don’t you explain what I am referring to?”
Tom looked dumbfounded. He had never known Batter to be so out of character.
“Well, Tom, I am assuming you can vouch for Dr. Moss and our ability to get full security clearance for her?” Batter asked, as if Tom were now the mystery.
“Yes, of course, but….”
“Go ahead Tom.” Batter said, waving his hand impatiently. “You can probably tell the story much better than I.” Batter already knew that Alex would clear security. Fir st, her file would have been completely reviewed by the agency years ago before Tom was ever hired and second, because he himself had just checked it again, noting the latest intelligence on her. He was nothing if not thorough. “Don’t expect
“Scratch one of those teas and make mine bourbon as well , please, Corporal, straight up.” Alex’s gaze did not waiver from Batter. The Corporal remained silent and looked at Batter as if awaiting approval.
Batter was amused. Intelligent, beautiful, and she has balls. Here is living proof that Tom is the incompetent fool I have always suspected him of being. He laughed. “Absolutely. Yes, please, Corporal. You heard the lady. And, make mine the same. Tom? Last chance,” he added, looking across the table.
Tom shook his head, looking dazed.
“Now, where were we? You were saying , Dr. Moss…,” Batter said, turning his attention back to Alex.
Alex watched as the Corporal quietly left the room. “I was saying that your mining activity has just cost me the most significant paleontological find of my career, and almost killed me in the process. What is going on here? I have been just over the hill for almost a week, and I haven’t heard a thing until today. And, what is with all the military? What exactly are you mining?”
“Well, that is a long story , Doctor, but, in short, due to a small problem this operation was virtually shut down for a short period and has only recently resumed.”
“No one completely shuts down a mining operation this big without a big problem,” Alex argued, sensing that Batter was lying.
“Did I say anything about mining , Doctor?” Batter looked at Tom. “Anyway, your unexpected visit may end up being quite fortuitous for you.”
“Honestly , Mr. Batter,” Alex said, finally exhausted with the game play, “can you get to the point? It’s been a long day.”
“Ah yes, my apologies , Doctor.” Batter paused, and then leaned forward. “What if I were to tell you that we could show you something so incredible that you would forget all about your little dinosaur fossil?”
Alex looked at Tom, confused , then back at Batter. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, Doctor, that the reason we ceased operations was due to a cavern we accidentally opened up during excavation . Well, there was that and some bureaucrats who….” Batter stopped. “Anyhow, the cave contains some things that a paleontologist such as yourself might find very interesting, far more than interesting, actually. In fact, I don’t think I would be going way out on a limb to say ‘astonishing.’ Wouldn’t you agree, Tom?”
Tom remained silent, completely surprised by Batter’s behavior. Alex had always had a pretty impressive impact on men , but this was… well….
There was another knock at the door , and the Corporal returned, placed the drinks and left.
“Why are there so many military personnel here?” Alex asked again, nodding toward the Corporal as he exited.
“All in good time, Doctor Moss, all in good time. Salut e,” Batter said, lifting his glass. “I do love a stiff one in the late afternoon, don’t you, Doctor?” he said, eyeballing her suggestively. He leaned back in his chair and took a long drink. “Tom, why don’t you explain what I am referring to?”
Tom looked dumbfounded. He had never known Batter to be so out of character.
“Well, Tom, I am assuming you can vouch for Dr. Moss and our ability to get full security clearance for her?” Batter asked, as if Tom were now the mystery.
“Yes, of course, but….”
“Go ahead Tom.” Batter said, waving his hand impatiently. “You can probably tell the story much better than I.” Batter already knew that Alex would clear security. Fir st, her file would have been completely reviewed by the agency years ago before Tom was ever hired and second, because he himself had just checked it again, noting the latest intelligence on her. He was nothing if not thorough. “Don’t expect
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