“Wow, I don’t think I’d ever want to leave this place. Is there a Special Editions section?”
“There is a repository of ancient texts and important books in the back of the library. But it’s off limits to anyone that doesn’t have the right level of clearance or privileges within the university.”
“And, how would someone get that clearance?” Mariska asked.
“You’d need to be a tenured professor, or have written authorization to access the repository. There is a training protocol that goes along with it as well. You know, to ensure that people are wearing gloves when handling the books, and of course, no food or drink allowed.”
Mariska laughed, “Well, duh.”
They shared a moment of laughter, but then Eddie said, “You’d be surprised. I guess rules were made in response to stupid behaviors.”
“You’re probably right. Okay, take me to your leader.”
Eddie pulled her along past the seemingly endless rows of books, out the back door, and then outside onto the street. Without a word, he started down the deserted street, lined by buildings of different colors and materials.
Where was everyone? She glanced behind her. No one. Mariska turned to Eddie, again. He was determined, focused on where they were going. She hesitated ever so slightly, and he must have felt her slow. He smiled.
“Everything, okay?” he asked.
“Yeah.” She looked around. “I have a strange feeling about this place. Or, maybe it’s just me.”
“What do you mean?” He kept walking, and she followed.
“Where is everyone? The front entrance was swarming with people, but it’s like a ghost town here.”
He tightened his hold on her arm, “Nothing to worry about. Class is in session. There’ll be a street full of people within the hour.” He stopped and faced a tall, cement building. There wasn’t a single window to be seen, and only one door. “We’re here…the genetics lab.”
“This is part of the university? You’ve got to be kidding me? Where are the windows? Where’s the sign, for god’s sake?”
“The genetics lab also contains some of the more…how, do I put this? Sensitive materials that bad people would want to get a hold of.”
“Sensitive materials?”
“Plutonium. Or, that’s what I’ve heard, anyway. The building has no windows, is securely fortified by thick concrete walls, and has only one way in, and two ways out.”
“Wow, I had no idea.”
“They don’t advertise this sort of thing. The less the general public knows, the better. The building is a deterrent from theft as well as terrorist attacks. Sadly, this is the era we live in. Terrorism can happen anywhere and usually happens when you least expect it.”
Eddie turned back to the front door and entered a series of numbers into the keypad next to the door. A hiss and the sound of the door unlocking sounded immediately after. Eddie pulled the door open and looked behind him, making sure they were still alone.
“How do you know all this? And, have access?” Mariska asked.
Eddie smiled. “I’m Dr. Tora’s assistant. We should hurry, she’ll be waiting for us.” He motioned for her to come inside. “Are you coming?”
Mariska hesitated, but just for a moment. She stepped through the door and into the unknown. A second later, the door closed and sealed behind her.
Here we go, she thought.
Chapter Forty
The closer Mariska got to Dr. Tora’s office, the more nervous she became. But she hadn’t come all this way to give up now. She absently touched her front pocket where she’d hidden the tooth and bead that needed to be analyzed.
Eddie stopped in front of a frosted glass door and turned to face, Mariska. “We’re here.”
“Is there anything I need to be prepared for?” Mariska asked. “Anything, really. Like, is Dr. Tora mean? Does she have a hideous mole on her face I wouldn’t be able to stop staring at?”
“I’ve got a few freckles, but nothing hideous, I assure you,” Dr. Tora said as she rounded the corner.
Shit. “I’m sorry, Dr. Tora. I’m just a bit nervous. This has been a very long and difficult journey for me…the past few days have been rough.” Mariska extended her hand. “I’m Dr. Mariska Stevenson.”
The two women shook hands.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Mariska added.
“Pleasure is mine.” Tora furrowed her brow and cocked her head ever-so-slightly to one side. “I’ve heard some very interesting things coming out of California.”
Interesting. That’s an understatement.
“Indeed.” Mariska nodded. “I don’t know all of what you’ve heard, but I doubt I’d be remiss to confirm most of what you’ve heard…unless you’ve heard anything negative about me.”
Mariska offered an awkward laugh, and Dr. Tora simply smiled and arched her brow.
“Please,” Dr. Tora said as she unlocked the door to her office. “After you.”
Mariska, followed by Eddie, and then Dr. Tora filed into the office, and the door closed behind them.
“So, tell me, Dr. Stevenson…what can we help you with? I’m sure they have DNA analysis back in California? Am I right?” Dr. Tora said as she sat behind her desk and clasped her hands together. “Please, have a seat.”
Mariska and Eddie sat in the chairs in front of the desk. She couldn’t help, but notice the décor of the room. Floor to ceiling dark wooden bookshelves. Textbooks and other works of academia filled them. A few framed photos on the walls, desk, and bookshelves seemed to chronicle Dr. Tora’s rise through the ranks at the University. Absent was one of her children or a spouse. No doubt, she was married to her work…much like Mariska had become over the years.
“You’re absolutely correct, Dr. Tora.” Mariska’s words came out quick and to the point. “I need your help for a couple of reasons. One, I need the results quickly. Two, this is the premier genetics lab in the world. The work you did with the Kennewick Man, changed lives. And, I want the same result. I want the truth.” She paused for a half second. “I need the truth.”
“And, your reputation tells me you want it done with the utmost accuracy.”
“That’s absolutely correct. Oh, and without any fanfare.” The last thing she needed was for Dr. Snyder to catch wind of this.
Dr. Tora gave her a quizzical look. “Fanfare?”
“I need to keep the results hush-hush, but just for the time being.” Mariska shifted uncomfortably in the chair before leaning forward toward the desk. “There’s controversy surrounding the missing La Brea Woman remains as well as to the rightful and legal ownership of the remains themselves. So, as you can see, I need to keep this between us…for the time being.”
“Understood.” Dr. Tora sat back in her chair. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I heard rumors that you’re in danger. There was an attack, of sorts. At the Gala?”
“Correct. It’s been a rough couple of days. That’s for sure.” Rumors sure get around quickly within the scientific community.
“If remaining silent is what’s best for the situation, I will do so.” She nodded toward Mariska. “You have my word.”
“Thank you, Doctor.”
Mariska and Dr. Tora shook hands once again, solidifying their pact and bond over the greater good of science, knowledge, and understanding.
Mariska started to reach into her front pocket to retrieve the objects to be tested when Dr. Tora stopped her. “Please, if you are getting ready to show me something you want tested, let’s wait and do this inside the lab. I like to examine things in a controlled setting.”
“Absolutely,” Mariska said, silently chastising herself for making such a rookie move. She had been so excited to get the process started, she’d been willing to dispense with protocols. “Lead, the way.”
Eddie stood and offered his hand to Mariska who accepted it. The three scientists left through the back door to Dr. Tora’s office and entered a stark hallway that lead to the genetics lab.
He nodded, “Yeah, we’re getting VIP access this way. No signing in through the front desk. There won’t be a record of you being here…”
“That’s what you wanted, no?” Dr. Tora asked.
They couldn’t have been more, right. “Yes, thank you so much.”
At the end of the hallway, there was a set of double doors. Metallic, and locked. A keypad next to the doors blinked red as they approached. Dr. Tora flashed her ID badge over it with a beep. She then typed in a series of numbers followed by the sound of the doors unlocking in a clack of metal on metal.
Eddie pushed the doors open and held them while the two women entered first. Inside the lab, everything was white and the intense change in light, momentarily hurt Mariska’s eyes. She held up her hand to shield her eyes.
“Takes a minute at first. The lights are really bright, white, and flat. Helps us to see things under microscopes. And, it helps identify if something becomes contaminated by foreign substances,” Eddie said. “This lab is the greatest thing I’ve ever experienced.” He beamed from ear to ear. He really loved the work he was doing here. Mariska felt a bit envious of the young man. She loved her job too, but it hung in the balance.
“Should we be in here without lab coats?” Mariska asked.
“Oh, this isn’t the clean testing area of the lab. This is where students start working with the equipment, getting the hang of things. Hands-on, training. Once they start actually doing research and testing things, they will do it over there.” He pointed to the far side of the lab. It was labeled CLEAN LAB, in more languages than Mariska could even identify.
“Follow me, please.” Dr. Tora hurried on her way toward the clean-lab. She took a moment to look at Mariska’s shoes. “Thank goodness you wore something sensible. I can’t tell you how many times, women come in here wearing three-inch heels.”
Mariska cringed on the inside; she would have too had it not been for the simple fact she hadn’t brought a pair that went with her slacks. “Of course not. I know how to dress for work.”
She gave Eddie a look to convey she was totally bullshitting his boss. He acknowledged it with a smile but said nothing. Dr. Tora brought them over to a changing room of sorts. It reminded Mariska of a decontamination chamber where someone would strip down and be scrubbed free of nuclear fallout. There were clean-suits hanging from each locker. The light-blue suits were covered in plastic indicating they’d been cleaned. Dr. Tora indicated to Mariska and Eddie she wanted to have them sit on the bench in front of the lockers. They complied without a word.
“Eddie, I know you already understand the importance of keeping the Clean Lab, clean.” She turned to address Mariska. “But from what I know, you’re used to digging around in the dirt and tar, less focused on preventing cross contamination. Is that correct?”
“That’d be correct, yes.”
“Very well, I trust you’re professional enough to receive my instructions, one time, and follow them precisely.” Dr. Tora paused and waited for acknowledgment from Mariska.
Mariska nodded.
“Before entering the Clean-Lab, you will don one of the suits hanging up behind you. You will also wear a head covering, which is basically a hairnet on steroids. In the lockers, you will find the hairnet, shoe-booties, gloves, facemasks, and goggles. If you need help getting into any of the equipment, let myself or Eddie know. We will help you.”
Marisa raised her hand.
Dr. Tora acknowledged her with arched eyebrows.
“Once we put the suits on, aren’t the suits going to be contaminated by our DNA and anyone else that may have been in this room?”
“That’s a great observation. And true. After donning the suits and equipment, we will go into the negative pressure entryway. The doors will close, and a heavy burst of hair will blow contaminated materials from the suit and collect them into a specially designed air filter in the floor of the room. It will be at this point, the door to the Clean Lab will automatically unlock and slide open allowing us to enter the lab.”
Eddie turned to Mariska. “It’s really cool. Reminds me of a science fiction movie the first time I went in.”
“Great, let’s get started.” Mariska jumped up from the bench and opened the locker behind her.
Dr. Tora stepped over to her. “I like your enthusiasm. It’ll be a pleasure to work with you.”
Mariska watched as Dr. Tora pulled on a pair of dark blue latex gloves. She opened a plastic bag the size of a standard manila envelope. “Place your artifacts in here. Once the suit is on, we won’t be able to access anything in our pockets until we leave the Clean Lab.”
Mariska dug into her pocket and pulled out the old woven pouch. In this light, it was easy to see how worn it was. Dirty, from years of use and from being hidden inside a skull which continued to seep tar from its porous bones. She took a deep breath and placed the pouch into the clear plastic specimen bag. Her trepidation was not lost on Dr. Tora.
“Here, Dr. Stevenson.” She handed the bag back to Mariska. “You can hold on to this until we are ready to examine the items.
“Thank you.” Mariska took the bag and held it to her chest for a moment. It felt good to have the items back under her control.
The two women exchanged an unsaid acknowledgment of respect and appreciation for the other’s lifetime of efforts and struggles in a male-dominated profession. Mariska took the bag and placed it on the bench while she put on the suit and other necessary equipment. The suits were extremely light but didn’t breathe, at all. She became thankful of the steady air conditioning, no doubt, to help keep those in the suits comfortable.
Now, standing in the negative pressure room, Dr. Tora said, “Are we all ready?”
“Yes,” Mariska and Eddie said in unison.
Dr. Tora pushed the red button on the wall. The door between them and the locker room closed with a hiss. Two seconds passed before a suction from the grated floor turned on. Then, without warning, a blast of wind hit her in the face, followed by one in the back and then from the ceiling. The entire process took a minute to complete. They turned to face the door leading to the clean room. A series of beeps and then the red indicator light on the right side of the door turned green. The door unlocked with a click and it slid open with a hiss of air.
Mariska followed Dr. Tora and Eddie over to the back corner of the Clean Lab. The bright white light, white walls, and floor stood in stark contrast to the metallic tables and bright flashing lights on the electronic equipment within the lab. A stainless steel, examination table, surrounded by some electronic equipment that Mariska couldn’t identify sat open for their use. Mariska stood alone on one side with the other two facing her from the opposite side of the table.
“Okay, Dr. Stevenson. Show us what you have.” Dr. Tora’s tone grew even more serious than before.
Mariska placed the plastic bag on the examination table and removed the pouch, placing it on top of the plastic. With a nervous hand, she opened the pouch. This would be the first time she’d shown anyone else the items she’d taken from the museum. She poured the contents into her gloved hand and placed the pouch back down on the table.
“What do we have here?” Dr. Tora was immediately intrigued. Her enthusiasm made Mariska’s heart happy. Someone else saw the significance of the find.
“I found eight beads and this tooth.”
“What happened to the other seven?” Eddie asked.
“My apartment was broken into, and this is all I have left.” Mariska put the tooth down and held the bead under a lighted magnifying glass for the other two to see it more clearly. “Do you see the series of tiny holes bored into the bead? I’ve identified it as a constellation. The other beads had already gone missing this point, so I wasn’t able to investigate them further. But I suspect they all contained images of the night sky.”
“What’s the significance of that?” Dr. Tora asked. “I’m not an
anthropologist so please forgive my ignorance.”
“Understandable,” Mariska said. “I feel that the more information we have regarding whoever made them might help identify who they belong to. For instance, in the United States, certain Native tribes were known their study of the night sky. One, the Chumash tribe in California. Another, the Hopi, in Arizona. Pawnee, in the Midwest. Just to name a few. I was unable to find any definitive link between this one constellation and a legend or story that would identify the Chumash tribe.”
“Ah, I see. So, you’re hoping that the tooth might yield some more answers.” Dr. Tora reached for the tooth. She held it up to the magnifying glass. “The root is intact, I have a feeling we will be able to gather enough material to run a DNA test. I need your permission to drill a small pin-sized hole into the side of the tooth to extract the needed material for testing. We can use the hole that is already there as a starting point to minimize further damage.”
“You’ve got it,” Mariska said, knowing this was the only way to extract the DNA material. “I know you’ll do it with the utmost care.”
Dr. Tora nodded in agreement.
“Can I take a look?” Eddie asked, motioning at the tooth.
Mariska said, “Yeah, sure.”
Dr. Tora handed him the tooth and reached for the pouch. Mariska walked around to the other side of the table and pointed at the small hole in the tooth and went all the way through. “See that?” Mariska said. “I think this was used as jewelry.”
“Looks like it to me as well,” Eddie said. “I can’t imagine this is a human tooth? I mean unless it came from a giant.”
“You’re right. I have yet to identify what creature it came from. I’m hoping that the DNA test here will help me to classify it.”
Eddie looked confused. “What will that help you find?”
“If I can get a positive identification on the tooth. Knowing where that creature came from would help me narrow down the tribes in that area. Maybe, just maybe, between that and the constellation information, I can narrow it down even further.”
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