It's My Life

Chapter 31 - An Old Enemy

Andrew Jones, Director of Sugden Laboratories, was upset, and a little angry. He'd had the best scientific find in his hands, and she'd got the better of him. Seeing her on the beach hadn't helped. He had wanted to watch her transform, but he remembered his promise. He was upset because he had seen how weak the girl had been, and he knew that it was partly because of him. Shaking himself out of his reverie he got back to work, but the girl was never far from his thoughts.
Around lunch time his phone rang, and he picked it up.
"Director Jones." He said.
"Director Jones, I have CEO Vance Ashton on the phone for you." His secretary said. Jones sat up straight in his chair. The last time he'd spoken to the owner was when he'd become Director.
"Thank you." Jones said, and the connecting sound was heard as the secretary put the phone down.
"How can I help you, Mr. Ashton?" Jones asked.
"I wanted to discuss some recent reports that crossed my desk, but I don't want to discuss it over the phone. I'll be at the lab tomorrow, and I require yours, Doctor Thompson and Doctor Shields' company. Noon tomorrow , your office. " Ashton said.
"Of course, Sir. I'll tell the others. Tomorrow at noon." Jones replied. The call cut off then, and Jones put the phone down. He called both Brad and Shields, telling them to come to his office immediately. Within a few minutes both men were sitting opposite him.
"I just received a phone call from Vance Ashton, CEO and Owner of this place." Jones said, waving a hand to indicate the building around them. Brad and Shields looked at each other.
"Is something wrong?" Shields asked. Jones sat back.
"I don't think so, but he wants to talk to the three of us tomorrow about some recent reports." Jones said. Brad frowned.
"Those reports were about Cassi? You think he wants to talk to us about her?" Brad asked. Jones ran a hand over his face.
"I don't know. Probably. I saw her this morning, on the beach. I didn't know she was back on land." Jones said.
"I spoke to her this morning. She wanted to get any stories straight before talking to Tabitha." Brad said. Jones looked at him.
"How did she sound to you? The way she walked onto the beach, I swear she should've had a cane or walking frame. We did that to her, I know, but I'm still angry she got away." Jones said.
"She sounded pretty strong, actually. Quite forceful. She doesn't forgive me, and I don't blame her." Brad said. Shields looked from one to the other.
"So Mr. Ashton has read reports. How much does he know? I didn't put much in my reports, but there are other reports too, from Tucker and Warden. We don't know what they wrote, if anything." Shields said. Jones sighed.
"We'll find out tomorrow. At noon in my office." Jones said. Brad and Shields stood up and headed out of the office, heading down the hall. As they parted ways Shields turned to Brad.
"Are you going to tell her? About this meeting? Maybe her and those others should know about the fact that someone may be curious." Shields said. Brad stopped and turned to him.
"Maybe. But I don't want to scare them. If the CEO asks any specific questions, I'll let them know." Brad said.
"I guess. See you." Shields said and walked off. Brad watched him, then went to his office.

"Cassi! I've been so worried about you! I wanted to talk to you after the spelling bee, but you didn't answer, and never returned my calls or answered my texts." Of course gushed. I smiled as she spoke.
"I had some family issues crop up, and personal ones. I don't want to trouble you with the details, but I had to delay my studies. I also fell quite ill so I felt it best to stay out of the school. They didn't know what was wrong, but I'm slowly recovering. " I said. Tabby shifted, the phone rustling against her skin.
"That's not good. I wish you had told me soon, Dad's a scientist, remember? He and his work colleagues might have been able to help you." Tabby said. I nearly snorted, a shiver going through me.
"I'll remember for next time." I said.
"How's your boyfriend? Or haven't you spoken to him either?" Tabby asked. 
"Yeah, I talked to him last night, first time I was able to in nearly a fortnight." I said.
"You must have been very unwell to not talk to him for that long." Tabby said, and I laughed.
"True. So I'll go back to classes next year and finish the marine biology degree." I said.
"I see. So I'll graduate before you. But you were always smart, you might graduate with the higher class. Imagine, you and Tom graduating together." Tabby said, and I smiled. It was a great idea, and it would mean we could spend more time together.
"I bet that would be wonderful. But we'll see what happens. I've got my books, I can keep studying. They may allow it, they may not. Extra money, winning spelling bees." I quipped, and Tabby giggled.
"Indeed. They need one or two more trophies, if I let you." She said. I smiled again.
"Of course you will. You are my best friend." I said.
"With that logic, I should win more often. Why don't I, I wonder?" Tabby asked. I laughed.
"Good question. I'll let the jury decide on that one." I said, then yawned.
"Am I keeping  you up?" She asked. I shook my head.
"No, I'm fine. But I hope to rest well tonight. How's your mum and..." I stopped, not wanting to ask about Brad.
"Oh, Mum's fine, working too hard, asking when you're going to visit again. Cook wonders that too. Dad is good too, asks after you." Tabby said, obviously not noticing my hesitation, and I inwardly flinched. I don't know how he could pretend that everything was normal.
"Cool. Say hi from me please. I'll come and visit soon." I said, hoping it sounded more sincere than I felt.
"I will. Well it was good to talk to you, but I better go, Cook has dinner ready." She said, and after I said goodbye we hung up. I moved over to the window, a blanket around me, and stared out at the ocean. So many emotions ran through me, and I felt disconnected from everything. Only two weeks ago I'd won the spelling bee, but it felt like a lifetime ago. There was a gentle knock on the door and Mum peered in.
"How's Tabby?" She asked, moving over to me and checked my eyes and skin.
"Oh, she's fine. Apparently Jenny, Cook and Brad have been asking her about me." I said, and Mum looked at me in surprise, not from my answer, but from the tone of my voice, for it had sounded as though the words themselves had tasted horrible.
"That shouldn't be a surprise, if he's keeping up the pretense of not knowing anything." Mum said. I looked back at her.
"It would serve him right that I tell them what he did to me." I said. Mum sighed and touched my hair, blowing gently in the breeze coming through the open window.
"What good would that do in the long run? He is the one that will  be burdened forever, long after you forget it, and your grandchildren spread rumours of you being experimented on by horrid monsters on land. Every time Tabby talks about you he'll feel guilt. Isn't that enough?" Mum asked. I looked at my hands clutching the blanket.
"I'll never forget, but you're right. I'm sorry. I'm just...still a bit nettled." I said.
"Naturally, and it'll take a while to get past, but you will. Now, Dad's got dinner ready. Shall we go down?" Mum asked. I nodded.
"Sounds great." I said and put my blanket on the bed, then walked slowly to the stairs, Mum at my side in case I needed her. The stairs were hard to get down, but with the help of the banister I made it. Dad had set the table and was serving up as we entered. He smiled at me.
"I found new items at the supermarket today, and thought you'd like to try some. Tofuna and carrot salmon. Those vegans know what they're doing." Dad said, and the three of us laughed, sitting down to tuna mornay, or "tofuna mornay" as Dad called it, and I couldn't smell one bit of seafood.