Apoidea

Back to School

Chapter 5

The following Monday night Mel found herself breaking into Walter Goodman’s lab. Sam had been good on her promise and had gotten her into the main building and then she was left on her own. When she had warned Rowan about the security system, she hadn’t been lying when she had said it was the best money could buy. It took much to long to get through it, but she managed to.

As Mel looked around the lab, she couldn’t help but be impressed. She had no idea what over three quarters of the things in the lab even were, but she knew that they were expensive. As her eyes glanced over the beakers and test tubes, she was taking note of any possible hiding places and looking for the door to the office. She stopped when she spotted what she was looking for. Taking a glance around she made her way towards the door, taking her lock picking set out. Before too long she was busy breaking in.

“You would think that even the security for the lab is top of the line, the office would have more than just a locked door.” Mel scoffed and the lock clicked and she pushed the door open.

She closed the door softly behind her and made a beeline for the desk. A single folder sat next to a laptop and she picked it up with gloved hands. Flipping through it showed her nothing and she set it back where she found it. She moved on to the drawers and still finding nothing went to the filing cabinet. As she searched through the different files she kept glancing to the door. The last thing she needed was to get caught.

As she browsed through the drawer she stopped and began backtracking. Had that been Rowan’s name she had just seen? Pulling the folder out she looked at the label and her eyes widened. Rowan Knight is what it read. Mel glanced at the door and listened. After hearing and seeing nothing she turned her attention back to the folder in her hands and begin reading it.

The subject is completely under the influence of Apoidea. It actually works. Courtesy of this trial run I have finally received the funding I’ve been trying to get for the past four months. I have already started making more of the serum. At this rate I should have enough to begin my work in three months time.

Mel stared in disbelief as she discovered that not only had Rowan actually gotten caught, but she was also being used as a test subject. She had to find out more about whatever this Apoidea serum was. She closed the folder and put it back in the drawer before searching for one labelled Apoidea. She had no luck in the filing cabinet and looked around the office as she closed the drawer. Her eyes landed on the laptop and she quickly made her way to it and turned it on.

Before long she was busy searching through the many files and her eyes lit up with glee as she found what she was looking for. She double clicked the icon and waited for it open. A frown appeared when a box wanting a password appeared instead. Mel cursed before trying a few possibilities. They didn’t work and she glanced around the office for inspiration. Just as she was about to try another password she heard the lab door open and she froze. Quickly she shut down the laptop and made sure it was where she had found before she made her way out the window. She couldn’t risk getting caught, though she was going to be getting that file before the week was over.

***

Les sat on the couch in their hotel room nursing a glass of whiskey. He looked at the TV though he wasn’t actually watching what was playing. Sam, who had arrived before Mel had set out, was now sound asleep on the other couch as it was well past midnight. Les wasn’t planning on sleeping until Mel was back. The last thing he needed was for her to go missing as well as Rowan. As if one of them missing wasn’t enough.

Les whipped out his gun and had it pointed at the door when he heard the knob turn. He lowered when he realized that it was only Mel. She walked over and plopped down next to him, using his shoulder as a pillow. From the way she was acting she hadn’t found out all that she wanted to.

“Rowan was captured…” Mel’s voice was tired as she looked at the TV screen. “She’s being used as a test subject.” Les glanced at her.

“A test subject for what?”

“Some sort of serum called Apoidea. I tried getting the file off of Walter’s laptop but someone showed up before I could crack it. I think I might need to get help with this…” Les saw annoyance flash through her eyes. He knew Mel hated getting help when it came to theft.

“What are you planning on doing?”

“Calling in a favour from him…”

“And if he doesn’t want to help you?” Mel bit her lip as she knew it would be possible for him to refuse.

“He owes me. He’ll help.”

***

“Come on Eugene! You have to help! Think of this as paying me back!” Eugene Osborn was an expert hacker that was still managing to hide from the FBI, and he was doing so hiding right under their noses. He listened as Mel’s voice entered his ear through his Bluetooth.

“Can’t this wait until later, I’m busy.” At the moment he was busy hacking into the stock market and building up his stocks. He was beginning to get low on funds.

“Did you not hear me when I said this was a life or death situation?!”  Eugene though he could hear a couple of familiar voices in the background before he heard Mel yelling at them to shut up. “Rowan’s life is possibly in danger, which means I need your help saving her!” Eugene sighed as he started fiddling with one of his gadgets.

“What exactly do you need my help with?”

“I need you to help me hack into a laptop so I can steal a file.”

“And where am I expected to fly?”

“Boston. I’ll even pay your way here! Just say you’ll help!”

“Say the magic word and I might consider it.” He smirked as he heard the groan from the other line.

“Seriously?!” Eugene didn’t bother replying. “Ugh! Fine then!” He could hear Mel take a deep breath before continuing, “Please help.”

“When am I leaving?”

“Your plane is leaving in three hours and it’s a four hour flight. We’ll meet you at the airport, and you had better be there.” Before he had time to reply, he could already hear the dial tone in his ear.