bordered the left side of the lab, with dozens of different tools: burners, scales, thermometers, scissors, bowls . . . again, so much it was impossible to take it all in.
A closed metal cabinet labeled SAFETY GEAR sat along the back wall with a few sinks and even a shower beside it. I supposed a chemist would need a shower in case something went wrong with all the dangerous chemicals.
A contemporary stainless steel refrigerator occupied each corner of the room. Four long, black, granite-topped tables lined the center, with tall stools underneath. Equipment dotted the back two tables. I recognized the microscopes, but I was clueless about the rest.
I’d never seen anything like this room. The labs in high school and college certainly didn’t compare.
Across the space, Beaker leaned over a machine with spindles. Slowly, she turned a knob, studying it.
“What do you think?” asked TL.
Beaker looked up. “Are you kidding me?” She grinned. Actually grinned. “This place rocks!”
We all laughed.
She pointed to the cabinet with all the liquids. “This is like something straight out of my dreams. A fantasy come true. This is unbelievable.”
My mind jumped back to the mission I’d done with Wirenut and Beaker’s involvement in it. “How did you help out Wirenut and me without this lab?”
Beaker didn’t respond. I doubted she even heard me, too involved in exploring her new room. I’d been the same way when TL first showed me the computer lab.
“She didn’t need all this,” he answered for her. “She already had a lot of the knowledge. Plus her notes and books and, of course, the Internet.” Crossing his arms, TL turned to me. “Do you know what makes Beaker such an extraordinary chemist?”
I glanced across the room to where she stood bent over a microscope. I didn’t.
Sad to say, I didn’t know anything about her. And I hadn’t really had a desire to find out. I’d made no effort with her. Nor had she with me. From the first moment we met, we’d clashed, and it had never gotten any better.
“What makes Beaker so unique,” TL continued, “are her methods. She can walk outside and gather grass, rocks, and a bird feather, break them down, and combine them in an infinite number of ways.” TL pressed the silver disk on the wall, and the lab door whooshed down. “You’re privileged to have such a talented young woman on your team. As she is to have you.”
I trailed behind everyone as we exited the lab and made our way back to the conference room.
Mulling over everything TL had said about Beaker, I began to see another side to her. A side that didn’t surprise me. Every one of us was gifted in our own special way. But I’d been so caught up in disliking her, I hadn’t taken the time to comprehend fully her intelligence.
I glanced at her as we entered the conference room and wondered what her life had been like before the Specialists. What had happened to make her the person she’d become?
TL closed the conference room door, and we resumed our spots around the table. He looked at me expectantly, and David handed me the remote control. “All yours.”
Taking the remote, I rolled my chair back and stood. Not a single nerve danced in my belly. Only confidence flowed through me. “I’ll begin by recapping Eduardo Villanueva’s case file.”
I detailed every single thing about him, tracing his life from childhood to adulthood. From what school he went to, to the women he married, to his children and grandchildren. I described every man and woman he’d ever worked with. I defined every drug, gun, and crime deal he’d been involved with, and, of course, the chemical smuggling ring.
You name it, I gave the information.
The entire time I spoke, I used the remote control to flash pictures up on the flat screen. I
A closed metal cabinet labeled SAFETY GEAR sat along the back wall with a few sinks and even a shower beside it. I supposed a chemist would need a shower in case something went wrong with all the dangerous chemicals.
A contemporary stainless steel refrigerator occupied each corner of the room. Four long, black, granite-topped tables lined the center, with tall stools underneath. Equipment dotted the back two tables. I recognized the microscopes, but I was clueless about the rest.
I’d never seen anything like this room. The labs in high school and college certainly didn’t compare.
Across the space, Beaker leaned over a machine with spindles. Slowly, she turned a knob, studying it.
“What do you think?” asked TL.
Beaker looked up. “Are you kidding me?” She grinned. Actually grinned. “This place rocks!”
We all laughed.
She pointed to the cabinet with all the liquids. “This is like something straight out of my dreams. A fantasy come true. This is unbelievable.”
My mind jumped back to the mission I’d done with Wirenut and Beaker’s involvement in it. “How did you help out Wirenut and me without this lab?”
Beaker didn’t respond. I doubted she even heard me, too involved in exploring her new room. I’d been the same way when TL first showed me the computer lab.
“She didn’t need all this,” he answered for her. “She already had a lot of the knowledge. Plus her notes and books and, of course, the Internet.” Crossing his arms, TL turned to me. “Do you know what makes Beaker such an extraordinary chemist?”
I glanced across the room to where she stood bent over a microscope. I didn’t.
Sad to say, I didn’t know anything about her. And I hadn’t really had a desire to find out. I’d made no effort with her. Nor had she with me. From the first moment we met, we’d clashed, and it had never gotten any better.
“What makes Beaker so unique,” TL continued, “are her methods. She can walk outside and gather grass, rocks, and a bird feather, break them down, and combine them in an infinite number of ways.” TL pressed the silver disk on the wall, and the lab door whooshed down. “You’re privileged to have such a talented young woman on your team. As she is to have you.”
I trailed behind everyone as we exited the lab and made our way back to the conference room.
Mulling over everything TL had said about Beaker, I began to see another side to her. A side that didn’t surprise me. Every one of us was gifted in our own special way. But I’d been so caught up in disliking her, I hadn’t taken the time to comprehend fully her intelligence.
I glanced at her as we entered the conference room and wondered what her life had been like before the Specialists. What had happened to make her the person she’d become?
TL closed the conference room door, and we resumed our spots around the table. He looked at me expectantly, and David handed me the remote control. “All yours.”
Taking the remote, I rolled my chair back and stood. Not a single nerve danced in my belly. Only confidence flowed through me. “I’ll begin by recapping Eduardo Villanueva’s case file.”
I detailed every single thing about him, tracing his life from childhood to adulthood. From what school he went to, to the women he married, to his children and grandchildren. I described every man and woman he’d ever worked with. I defined every drug, gun, and crime deal he’d been involved with, and, of course, the chemical smuggling ring.
You name it, I gave the information.
The entire time I spoke, I used the remote control to flash pictures up on the flat screen. I
Similar Books
