bruce banner, LIFELINE

ii

"Hey Parker what's-"

"Have you seen Bruce?"

"Um... not recently. Why? Something the matter?"

"I can't find him anywhere. Jesus -"

"Look Parker it's going to be fine, let me finish here and I'll come-"

"If he just answered his goddamn phone-"

"Language! Remember the reason-"

"We should have given him a better damn phone."

"Parker relax! He's fine, it's Bruce we're talking about."

"That's my point. I'm worried."

"You always worry."

"It's been over five days, he has never missed one day off work, let alone five."

"It's Banner, he can handle himself."

"It's my job to worry."

"No. It's your job to help people."

"How can I help without my partner? Half of Calcutta is breaking down my door and I can't do shit to help them!"

"Calm down, you don't have to shout."

"Just - Jesus - I don't know."

"Look, I'll try and find him. He probably just stuck somewhere with bad phone signal, this is Calcutta for goodness sake."

"Thanks."

"Just don't worry, nothing's happened to Bruce."

"Yeah, you're probably right. Look - I'm sorry about-"

"You don't need to explain it to me. I'll call you when I find Banner."

"United States Embassy India, how can I help?"

"It's Parker Miller, I'm an aid worker in Calcutta and-"

"Ah, Parker. Nice to hear from you How can I help?"

"You already asked me that. If you let me finish I would have said-"

"I'm sorry for being so rude Parker, do excuse-"

"Do you make it a habit of interrupting-"

"I'm dreadfully sorry Ms -"

"Again. And who do I have the pleasure of speaking with?"

"Hale."

"Mr Hale. Nice to meet you but I didn't call for a chat, I-"

"It's nice to hear from you as well, Ms Miller. How are things in your clinic? I have heard many a-"

"Are you ever going to let me finish Mr Hale."

"Please continue. My apologies."

"Stop apologising, I've had enough of apologises."

"I'm- do continue."

"I'm calling about my colleague Dr Bruce Banner. It's probably nothing, just, I can't seem to, well - he's gone..."

"Mr Hale? You still there?"

"Hello?"

"Dr Bruce Banner was never in Calcutta-"

"Where's Mr Hale?"

"Dr Banner-"

"Wait, what do you mean never in Calcutta? Dr Banner has been here for well over a year with me."

"US Immigration has no data that explicitly states that a Bruce -"

"What do you mean no data? Bruce has been missing for a week now and I was calling you so you could sort it out. As an American citizen he has the right-"

"Mrs-"

"Ms."

"Ms Parker-"

"It's Ms Miller. Thank you very much."

"Ms Miller, US Immigration has no information regarding the arriviste -"

"I want to talk to Mr Hale if you please."

"Dr Banner, is none of your concern."

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