Devious Origins

CHAPTER 20

Before I could answer, Dee strode toward the exit. I tucked the badge in my pocket and hurried after. We were outside and heading down the sidewalk before I totally caught up.

"Um, so what's with the badge?" I asked.

"Oh come on, Barry, you don't really think the prof is just going to spill her guts to any random schmoes that walk in off the street, do you?"

"She might. Heck, she might welcome the chance to vent about it."

"Or she might be very reluctant to talk considering everything she's already gone through and what it cost her," Dee countered.

"Still... impersonating a federal agent? Isn't that a felony?"

Dee grinned as she looked sidelong at me. "Only if we get caught, and I've got contingencies planned if that happens. Everything is going to be fine."

"I wish I had your confidence."

Dee stopped walking and faced me. "Barry, don't worry. This is what I do. You can keep your badge hidden away. Hell, don't even speak if you don't want to, let me do all the talking. Just nod and look stern. Glower. You can glower right?"

I didn't answer, but my face must have shown my discomfort with the situation.

"Yes, exactly," Dee exclaimed, "THAT is a glower."

"Dee, if I don't need to talk, why did you even bring me?"

"It's more important that you listen. When the professor answers our questions, I need you to really listen to her. But if you do talk, don't call me Dee. I'm Agent Jillian Marston. She pulled out and flipped open her own badge and ID.

"This just seems... risky," I stated.

"Risk can't be avoided," she countered, "not in the hero business. We can reduce it, plan for it, but never completely eliminate it." She continued walking as if this completely addressed my concerns and the matter was settled.

I walked with her, and we soon reached the campus. We entered the Applied Sciences and Technology building, climbed the stairs up to the third floor, and approached Professor Simonson's office. The door was open.

"Just follow my lead," Dee whispered to me as she walked up and rapped on door jamb.

A middle aged woman sat at a desk that occupied most of the small office. She appeared to be grading papers. She didn't stop when Dee knocked but just said, "With you in a minute," and continued marking up the page she was on. Dee and I waited silently until she finally looked up.

"Professor Simonson? I'm agent Marston," Dee introduced herself, "We spoke on the phone last Thursday. This is my partner, Agent Gardner." I nodded my head in greeting but said nothing. "I was hoping we could continue our conversation in person."

A tired look settled over her, but the professor waved us into her office and motioned toward two threadbare chairs on the opposite side of her desk. As we settled down, she reached over and shoved her office door, letting it slam shut with surprising force. Then she sat silently for a moment, staring at the stack of papers on her desk. A muscle in her jaw twitched slightly. The silence stretched awkwardly, and I sensed that Dee was about to speak, but then the professor beat her to it.

"I would really rather just put all this behind me," she said.

"I can certainly understand that," Dee replied, "but as I mentioned on the phone, I think maybe you can help us with a related case."