Blurred Lines

Chapter 8: Infiltration

I could barely remember the last time I'd been in an interview.

Actually, now that I think about it, the only time I'd ever been interviewed was during my application process for mentoring at Webster High School. And that was a piece of cake—no prior experience, recommendations, or resume needed. I had literally just shown up and sat down in a chair for fifteen minutes answering questions about how passionate I was about public education.

I had no idea what an undergraduate research intern was, yet here I was sitting in front of two grey haired old men, enthusing about my ardent love for neuroscience.

To be perfectly honest, I hated neuroscience. I was more of a molecular biology kind of gal.

In fact, I almost considered skipping the interview altogether and finding some other way to infiltrate Pearce Research Institute, but Aaron would have done something reckless and gotten himself hurt. Or worse, Taylor would have been involved and all hell would break loose.

Hence the stiff grey pantsuit and four inch heels that were squeezing the life out of my feet as I continued ranting about why I should be hired as an intern for PRI's neuroscience division.

One of the old men looked slightly thoughtful as he mulled over my fabricated resume, courtesy of Google. It was actually pretty impressive...if I do say so myself.

"Well, Miss Ross," he finally said, "What do you find most interesting about neuro-developmental research?"

"Everything," I answered instantly. Hopefully I sounded more confident than I felt. "I think it's so fascinating how much humans have evolved over the centuries, yet there is still so much potential we have yet to unlock. And the way I see it, every day is a learning experience."

Okay, so I was never good at selling myself.

Still, the old geezer nodded and smiled, turning to his partner. The other one cleared his throat and scratched his goatee while he scribbled some notes on his clipboard.

At last, he glanced up and extended his hand for a shake. "I think we have everything we need. It has been a pleasure, Miss Ross," he said. "You'll hear back from us by the end of the week."

"Thank you sir," I said, shaking his hand. "Um, also, Becky at the front desk said to ask you for a tour of the building, if that's okay?"

He looked pleased. "Of course." He stood and looked at his watch, then at his partner. "Unfortunately we still have a few more interviews to conduct, but I'm sure Becky would be more than happy to show you around."

I nodded. "That'd be great."

He walked me to the front desk and handed Becky my application. "Would you be so kind, Miss Becky, as to give our young friend here a tour of the facility?"

Becky nodded and offered me a warm smile. "Of course." She pulled out a small blank card the size of a key tag. "What's your name, sweetie? You'll need a visitor's identification pass."

"It's Lisa," I lied. "Lisa Ross."

She quickly scrawled the name on the tiny card and pinned it to my shirt. "Alright, Lisa." She reached over and pulled my application from her desk. "We can drop this off in Miss Pearce's office and start our tour. You ready to go?"

Who was Miss Pearce? I was willing to bet that she was somehow related to Alan Pearce.

I nodded. "Yup."

"Awesome." She walked around the desk and placed a hand over my shoulder, leading me out into the main laboratory.

I had never been in a research lab before, but this place certainly fit my preconceived notions of a laboratory—it was a massive room lined with microscopes and computers along the walls, and a single island countertop in the middle. It was actually much bigger than I'd expected, and there were people dressed in white lab coats everywhere we turned. They looked up at us and waved as we walked by, and Becky introduced me to some of them. I smiled and shook hands with like ten people whose names I forgot as soon as they'd spoken them.