Luckily, I was able to keep up with the Director’s pace. During the walk, the woman who’d been following him sidled up to me. She was around my height with short brown hair. Smiling, she extended her hand.
“I’m Giselle Warren, Dr. Dornhoff’s assistant and research analyst. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.”
Smiling, I took her hand awkwardly as we walked. “It’s nice to meet you too. I’m Meghan Forester.”
She let go of my hand and nodded toward the Director. “He’s been gushing about you ever since he heard you were coming. You’ve made quite a name for yourself.”
I ducked my head as my cheeks heated.
Giselle nudged me gently. “I’ve been excited to meet you too. If you need help with anything while you’re here, just let me know. I’d be happy to show you the ropes.”
Smiling genuinely, I nodded. “Thanks.”
Dr. Dornhoff continued to lead us through the maze of corridors and back hallways while Giselle stayed at my side. Compound 3 was like being inside Compound 26—it could have been identical. Wide, bright white halls zigzagged through the maze within the gigantic structure. We passed labs, closed doors, and various other rooms that we didn’t have time to look into.
Similar to the other Compounds, signs for an underground railway appeared at times. However, Dr. Dornhoff didn’t seem in any hurry to reach our destination since we didn’t take the rail system.
Fifteen minutes later, we approached a heavily guarded area. A set of white double doors waited ahead. Four MRRA soldier’s stood at attention with rifles held stiffly in their arms.
The sign above them read Research Bay 13.
Dr. Dornhoff nodded at the double doors. “This is where we’ll be convening every morning. All of you have this area located on your maps. Starting tomorrow, everyone will be working full-time. I hope you’re well rested as it will be a vigorous schedule.”
His eyes fell on me when he said that last part. I tilted my chin up and made sure to stand straighter.
When the large doors finally hissed open, a rush of cool air swept across my cheeks. It held the stale smell of most labs.
I smiled at the bustling activity within.
Rows of benches revealed liquid handlers, centrifuges, sequencers, thermocyclers, and other standard equipment used to study DNA. MRI scientists in white lab coats bustled about. It was such a familiar sight that my remaining anxiety melted away.
“Can I have everybody gather around?” Dr. Dornhoff beckoned our group and the group already working within the lab closer.
Compound 3’s employees made their way toward us.
There were over a dozen of them. Most of them were men, but a few were women. One woman’s eyes fell on me.
She had short black hair, was around my height, and eyed me appraisingly.
“These are the scientists who will be joining Division 5.” Dr. Dornhoff proceeded to introduce us.
When it was my turn, my palms were sweaty, but I managed a tight smile and nodded at each scientist.
The dark-haired woman’s eyes stayed on me. I felt them needle into my back when I turned to shake her colleague’s hand. When I turned to her, her eyes narrowed to slits.
“So . . . you’re Meghan Forester.” She didn’t use the doctor title in front of my name like everybody else had. The woman snuck a peek at the directors. Dr. Dornhoff and Dr. Sadowsky were currently speaking with Vermont’s Director. They were out of earshot and didn’t seem to be paying us any attention.
Nodding politely, I replied, “Yes, that’s me. And you are?”
“I’m Dr. Monica Brown.” She didn’t hold out her hand to shake.
“It’s nice to meet you, Dr. Brown. I look forward to working with you.”
She smirked. “Yeah, I’m sure everyone here is dying to work with you as well.”
With that, Monica turned on her heel and returned to her bench.
Amy bristled and whispered into my ear, “Something tells me that one’s a bit green . . . with envy that is.”
I frowned. “But why is she so hostile? I’ve never done anything to her.”
“No, but with some people, it doesn’t matter. Just the fact that you’ve succeeded or done better than them is enough for them to hate you.”
Amy’s comment swirled in my mind when she left my side to join Dr. Sadowsky. I stood numbly and watch Monica. She’d returned to work, her goggles and gloves in place.
It wouldn’t be the first time others had worked against me, but it would be the first time anyone hated me with such venom simply because I’d achieved something more than them.
I’m probably making a bigger deal out of this than it is. Pushing my worries aside, I stood straighter when Dr. Dornhoff approached.
“Dr. Forester, we’d like to get everyone up to speed on our research.” Compound 3’s Director ushered me and the other new scientists to an adjoining room. Since Amy and Dr. Sadowsky had already been seated, I took a chair beside a middle-aged man with a full beard. A twinge of anxiety followed when he nodded hello.
The room fell silent when the lights dimmed. A slide-presentation glowed to life on the wall as a projector above hummed to life. Sitting forward in my chair, I listened intently as Dr. Dornhoff began explaining the research that had been conducted over the past year.
But even though my focus was on the slides that flashed in front of me, I couldn’t help but feel a pair of eyes needling into my back. The few times I turned, Monica Brown watched me with slit-like eyes. She reminded me of a snake that wanted to strike its prey.
I shuddered. I had a feeling Division 5 had just become more complicated.
16 – NEW HOME
It was close to 7 o’clock in the evening by the time we wrapped up—much longer than my approved six-hour shifts, but Dr. Sadowsky had been so busy he’d never seemed to notice that I’d stayed on. And the pain meds I’d taken were doing their job. I only felt a little sore.
Davin had texted a few times to let me know that his plane had landed and he’d viewed a few rentals. He’d decided the third rental home was the best, so he’d signed the lease and sent me the address. He’d also asked if I’d eaten and taken my meds.
Sighing, I fished another two pain pills from my purse and dry swallowed them before tapping in a reply.
When the van arrived to take everyone to town, the California sun hung low in the sky. The temperature had cooled, but it was still vastly warmer than South Dakota.
Behind us, the giant Compound loomed as warm air flowed through the breeze. Desert plants and sand filled the open areas around the various parking lots within the perimeter walls. Excited chatter filled the air. Everyone stood in line to step aboard the van. They slowly filed past me one-by-one as I stood by the main doors.
When almost everyone had boarded, Dr. Sadowsky and Amy looked at me expectantly.
A breeze lifted the hair around my shoulders. “I’ve . . . uh . . . actually found separate accommodation so I won’t be joining you.”
A scuffle sounded behind me. I turned to see Monica standing in the shadows by the door.
Amy stepped closer to my side, pulling my attention back to her. She raised her eyebrows. “What? You’re not staying at the hotel?”
Dr. Sadowsky also cocked his head. “If you’re not staying at the hotel, then where are you staying?”
I reminded myself that I hadn’t broken policy by dating Davin. Standing up straighter, I replied, “Since I anticipated we’d be here for a while I actually rented a small home I found online.”
Amy laughed. “Well, someone was certainly thinking ahead. Wish I’d thought of that. But if it’s a house, there’s probably room for me, right?”
I resisted the urge to tug at my shirt collar. Crap. I should have said a studio apartment. While I wouldn’t mind living with Amy, Davin was another story entirely. He still carried a grudge against other MRI scientists, but since I couldn’t very well turn her away without revealing why I was hesitant, I fin
ally nodded. “Of course, there’s room.”
“Perfect! I’ll just grab my bag from the van.” Amy hurried to the vehicle.
When it was only me and Dr. Sadowsky, he stepped closer. “Perhaps it’s best you have separate accommodation so you can rest as needed. Did everything go all right today?” He checked his watch. “It’s been almost a twelve-hour day.”
I nodded my head vigorously. “Yes, it all went well. It was a lot to take in, but I’m feeling fine and not at all tired.” I forced a bright smile.
“Hmm.” I could tell he wanted to probe me with more questions about my injury.
Luckily, Amy saved the day. “All right, I’ve got my things. Now, how are we getting to this house you rented?” She grinned as she shouldered her purse.
“I called for a cab an hour ago. It should be arriving any minute outside of the main gates.”
“Should we walk up there?” Amy glanced in the distance toward them.
Dr. Sadowsky tightened his grip on his briefcase. “Just make sure you’re back here by seven o’clock tomorrow morning. We still have a lot of work to catch up on.” His questioning gaze alighted upon me, and I once again got the impression he wanted to ask more questions about my condition.
I hurriedly grabbed Amy and pulled her away before he could.
As the van drove off, Amy and I walked toward the gates. Our footsteps tapped on the asphalt as the sun dipped lower. Red blazed across the horizon, setting the desert aglow.
“It’s so beautiful out here. And I absolutely love that I’m not wearing a jacket in winter,” Amy declared. “So what’s the deal with you getting a house anyway? And why didn’t you tell me? I would have been happy to pay my half.”
“I . . .” Sweat erupted across my brow.
Amy raised her eyebrows.
I knew I could trust Amy. I should have just told her right away. “The reason I rented a house was to hide something from the MRI.” I had the ridiculous urge to look around, as if secret cameras and microphones were stationed throughout the grounds. “Davin and I . . . we’re . . . uh . . .”
Her eyebrows rose even higher.
“We’re in a relationship.” I blurted. “He’s actually moved out here to be with me while I’m working.”
If it was possible for somebody’s eyebrows to reach their hairline, Amy’s would have fit the bill. “Holy shit! Are you kidding me? You and Davin, as in our former Kazzie, are in a relationship? But I thought he was in Rapid City?”
“Well . . . he was, but now he’s here. I’m sorry I lied.”
She shook her head. “Oh my God, Meghan. I had no idea! I mean, I knew you were really close with Davin and the other Kazzies, but I never . . .” Her eyes grew wider. “So all of this time when we’ve been doing research on him, you’ve—”
“No, not all of the time. We didn’t officially become a couple until recently. However, things weren’t always innocent between us when he lived in the Compound.”
“I had no idea.”
I breathed a sigh of relief as the gates grew closer. “Well, that’s good to hear. The reason I kept it a secret is because I don’t know what the MRI will do if they find out. What if they kick me out of Division 5?” I lowered my voice as the MRRA soldiers grew closer. “I hope I don’t need to say this, but please keep Davin’s and my relationship between you and me. I’m in enough hot water with Dr. Sadowsky right now. I don’t need to add this complication on top of it.”
Amy gave me a scolding look. “Of course I won’t tell anybody, Meg. It’s not like you’re the first person to date someone they met at the Compound. Remember how I was dating a certain someone before it was even allowed?”
I remembered all right. The first time I’d met Ben had been when he and Amy showed up unexpectedly at my doorstep following my firing from Compound 26. That had been a long time ago, but back then, it had been against the rules for MRI employees to date one another.
It hadn’t stopped Amy and Ben. They were still in love and very happy together, and since that policy had changed they no longer had to hide their relationship.
When we neared the gates, we stopped talking as we went through security. Similar to Compound 26, the security measures had lessened here. It only took ten minutes before the giant gates opened to let us exit.
A taxi cab waited outside. It would be the first time I’d ever taken a cab.
“Where to, ladies?” The taxi driver sat in the front and looked over his shoulder at us.
I rattled off the address of the home Davin and I had rented. “Do you know how far away it is?”
The driver nodded. “About half an hour.”
I sat back and bit my lip as I tried to figure out the logistics of traveling to and from Compound 3 every day from our temporary home. The MRI provided transportation to and from the hotel for the employees via the van, but I wasn’t sure what Amy and I would do.
“Don’t worry, Meg.” Amy patted my hand. “I can see the wheels turning in your mind right now. We can either rent a car or invest in bicycles.”
A laugh bubbled out of me. “I can just see it, two prestigious MRI scientists arriving every day to work on bikes.”
Amy’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “It would be worth it just to see the shocked look on Dr. Sadowsky’s face.”
We both started laughing.
WHEN WE REACHED the house that Davin and I had rented, I took in the surrounding neighborhood. Large palm trees lined the road. The houses sat closely together. Browning grass filled our rental home’s front yard. Desert plants and shrubs surrounded the perimeter. It seemed that most of the houses in this neighborhood were occupied. Only a few had boarded-up windows and neglected yards.
The cab driver unloaded our bags from the trunk and set them on the curb. Pulling cash from my purse, I stuffed the bills in his outstretched hand and thanked him for the ride.
“So this is home sweet home?” Amy put her hands on her hips as an evening breeze ruffled the long red curls around her shoulders.
I nodded. “This is it. It looked decent enough in the pictures. As long as there are no snakes in the toilets or cockroaches under the sheets, I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
A horrified look crossed Amy’s features. “Snakes and cockroaches? You’re joking, right?”
I laughed. “Your face looks almost as terrified as Mitch’s would.”
She rolled her eyes but chuckled anyway. It was no secret that our co-worker back in South Dakota hated all forms of nature.
The front door opened as we climbed the steps up to the small porch. Davin’s eyes narrowed when he saw Amy.
Amy swallowed tightly and gripped her bag harder. Her knuckles turned white. “Hi, Davin. It’s good to see you again.”
“Um, yeah, you too.” He ran a hand through his midnight hair and opened the door wider to let us in. His shoulders were so broad, they filled the doorframe.
The tension between Davin and Amy was so thick I could have cut it, but it still didn’t stop my tingle of excitement at seeing him here, in California. However, that excitement would have to wait.
“So, Davin . . .” I wrung my hands. “I may have invited Amy to live with us.”
Silence followed.
Davin glanced between me and Amy.
Crap, I should have talked to him first.
“I mean, I don’t . . . you know . . . have to stay here . . .” Amy stammered. “You know, come to think of it, it’s probably best if I join the rest of the scientists at the hotel.” She picked her bag back up from where she’d dropped it by the door. “I think the cab’s still out there. I’ll just go check.”
She bolted out the door before I could stop her.
When it was just me and Davin in the entryway, he crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. “Really? A woman who did experiments on me for years is now going to be my roommate?”
I wrung my hands more. “I know. I know. I should have talked to you first, but Dr. Sadowsky was right there, and I couldn’t ve
ry well give a reason for refusing her without bringing you into it.”
A muscle ticked in his jaw.
“She’s my friend, Davin.” I stepped closer to him and said more quietly, “And she’s not bad, really, I promise. She actually sticks up for me and has my back every time I need her. And I know she did some awful things to you under Dr. Roberts’ rule, but she hated doing it. Please believe me. She really didn’t want to.”
Some of the tension eased from his shoulders, but the dark expression on his face remained. With a scowl, he finally shook his head. “Fine. She can stay, but don’t expect me to like her.”
I nodded. I knew it was the best I could hope for right now.
Hurrying back outside, I was relieved to see that Amy hadn’t left. She currently stood on the curb while tapping a text furiously into her phone. The cab was nowhere to be seen. A warm evening breeze blew hair into my eyes as I rushed to her side.
“Amy!”
Her wide gaze met mine. “Shit, Meghan. That was a mess. I’m so sorry. I should have never asked to live with you. If I had known Davin—”
“You couldn’t have known because I never told you.” I picked up her suitcase, wincing slightly at the strain. “It’s fine. Come back in. Davin’s okay with it now.”
She eyed me skeptically. “What did you do? Hold a gun to his head and force him to accept me as a roommate?”
I grinned at her sarcastic tone. “Nothing that dramatic. Just . . . uh . . . don’t expect him to be all friendly right away, okay? He still doesn’t know you in the way I do.”
Amy rolled her eyes but still followed me back to the porch. “What have I gotten myself into?”
Back inside, Amy and Davin once again faced each other like gentlemen dueling at dawn. Both eyed the other warily yet none seemed committed to making the first move.
I grabbed his hand. His warm fingers closed around mine like a glove that fit perfectly. I squeezed him tightly.
Amy set her suitcase down. “Are there really two bedrooms here?”
Davin clenched his jaw. “Yeah, there are two. Plenty of room for you.”
Amy coiled a finger around her curls nervously. “In that case, just let me know which room is mine. I’ll get out of your way so you two can get settled.”
The Complete Makanza Series: Books 0-4 Page 103