by Sarah Rubin
The room looked like the study on a space station. The floors and walls and furniture were all silver or white, and smooth as if they’d been designed for speed by a team of engineers. The bookshelves that lined the walls to my left were almost transparent, giving the illusion that the books were floating in mid-air. To my right, three flat-screen TVs embedded into the wall displayed the Delgado Industries logo. A row of trophies sat in a proud line on the cupboard beneath them. Apparently, Delgado Industries had been runners-up for the American Excellence in Scientific Research Award for the past five years. The only things in the room that looked like they came from this century were the folding chairs. There were eighteen of them, three rows of six, all facing the grand white desk at the front of the room.
The reporters forgot about me before the door was even shut and went back to speaking in excited whispers, each trying to get more information from their neighbour than they were giving away themselves. I could feel the excitement building, charging the air like a thunderstorm. Even I was intrigued. It would have to be a pretty big announcement to get reporters this worked up. As long as Sammy and his dressing gown didn’t show up, this might be interesting.
I made my way across the room to a refreshment table moulded out of pearlescent white plastic. It took me a moment to find the coffee in a large metal urn shaped like a rocket. I poured myself a cup and started looking through the books on the shelves. They were all autobiographies and science books. I’d just pulled out Feynman Lectures on Computation when a voice made me jump.
‘What’s a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?’
I spun around, sloshing hot coffee all over my hand. I managed to keep the book safe and put it back quickly.
‘Dad? What are you doing here?’
Dad grabbed a bunch of napkins and began to mop up the coffee dripping down my arm. It was hard to tell where the coffee ended and the rainwater began, but he did his best.
‘I’m covering for Greico from Science and Technology. She’s been going on about this announcement for months. It’s supposed to be a pretty big deal. Look, even Channel 5 came.’ Dad refilled my cup and we found two seats next to each other. ‘The question is, what are you doing here?’
I made myself as comfortable as you can when your clothes are soaked through. Dad sat down. Then he stood up to get his notebook out of his back pocket and sat down again.
‘Mr Delgado’s personal henchmen picked me up from school.’
‘I know. I got your text.’ He flipped through the notebook until he found a blank page, got a pencil out, licked it and began tapping the point against the paper. ‘But why?’ Dad adjusted his glasses and raised his eyebrows at me. ‘Don’t tell me Sammy kidnapped you for a play date.’
I rolled my eyes. ‘No, he wanted me to come to this press conference. He said he helped make the breakthrough. Just let me hang out here until you can give me a ride home.’
Dad made a face like he was impressed.
‘I’m pretty sure he was exaggerating. He probably held a notepad or something.’
‘Maybe you should give the kid a break. You know what your mom says about making new friends.’
‘Dad. It’s Sammy.’
‘Maybe if you gave him a chance he wouldn’t be so bad?’
‘No, Dad, it’s Sammy. He’s over there.’ Sammy stood in the doorway wearing a maroon paisley dressing gown with satin lapels. He looked like he’d walked straight out of a Sherlock Holmes novel. All that was missing was the pipe. He had more maroon paisley draped over his arm. Paisley meant for me. I hunkered down in my chair and tried to make myself invisible.
‘So that’s Sammy?’ Dad whistled softly. ‘You said he helped with some of Dr Learner’s experiments?’
‘Dad, please don’t. Sammy asked me to keep it a secret.’
‘Don’t worry, I’ll be discreet,’ Dad said as he stood up and waved at Sammy.
At first Sammy just looked confused, but then Dad pointed at me and motioned Sammy over, scooting me down a seat so we could all sit together. Dad would talk to anyone for a story. Even if Sammy was just a fly on the wall while Dr Learner was conducting his experiments, he was still a source. Normally I wouldn’t mind, but this time he was getting me involved.
‘Hi Alice. Here’s your dressing gown. I was worried I wouldn’t find you before the press conference started.’ I don’t think Sammy even realized I’d been trying to get away. He glanced round the room and licked his lips, then leant into my personal space and whispered, ‘You are not going to believe your eyes. Dr Learner said his invention could change the world!’
I was saved from any more conversation, and from Dad starting to ask questions, by Mr Delgado himself. He made his entrance through the door behind the desk and stood in the doorway, his body almost filling the frame, until he had our attention. He was one of those men who owned a room. Everything about him was designed to impress, from the mirror-shine on his expensive shoes to the perfectly groomed hair parted on one side and brushed across the top of his head, not one strand out of place. Even though he hadn’t said a word, we were all watching him.
Mr Delgado stepped into the room and smoothed his hand over his hair. For just a moment I wondered if he was nervous. I looked at Sammy, but he didn’t seem worried.
Mr Delgado centred himself behind his desk and looked out at the crowd, gathering us up with his eyes. And when he was certain he had our full attention, he started to speak.
‘Ladies and gentlemen, I’m afraid the unveiling of the latest scientific breakthrough which Delgado Industries made in December cannot go ahead as scheduled.’
A dull murmur filled the room as Mr Delgado paused for dramatic effect. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Sammy lick his lips. He suddenly looked nervous. ‘Instead, I have a much more serious announcement to make. Our top scientist, and lead researcher on this project, Dr Adrian Learner, has disappeared.’
The room erupted into a storm of shouted questions, each journalist trying to be heard above the crowd. Pencils scratched, keyboards clicked.
‘What do you mean, Dr Learner’s disappeared?’
‘Are you working with the police?’
‘Do you suspect foul play?’
‘Was there an accident in the lab? Is this some sort of cover-up?’
Dad scribbled shorthand in his notebook so fast his pencil was a blur. He’d already filled three pages when he stood up and asked his first question.
‘Is it true that Dr Learner was experimenting with invisibility?’ he asked, projecting his voice above the crowd.
As soon as my dad said the word ‘invisibility’, the volume in the room tripled. My stomach flipped. I was sure I hadn’t said anything about what kind of research Dr Learner and Sammy were working on. Why would I? I hadn’t believed a word of it. But that didn’t stop me from feeling guilty. I turned toward Sammy, but he wasn’t paying any attention. He was just staring off into the distance, worry lines growing across his face.
Mr Delgado’s eyes darted to the group of chairs at the back of the audience. I turned in my seat to get a better look. In the last row, a group of men and women in plain grey suits sat like statues. They definitely weren’t reporters. I looked closer. The two sitting closest to me – a woman with red hair pulled back in a neat braid and a middle-aged man with a crew cut – had small metal pins fastened to their lapels. But I was too far away to see what they were.
For a moment, it looked like Mr Delgado was going to deny everything, but he didn’t.
‘Yes,’ he said slowly. Then, choosing each word as carefully as you choose a surgeon, he continued, ‘I can confirm that Dr Learner’s research focused on invisibility.’
The sudden silence in the room made my ears ring.
‘Did Dr Learner disappear because he completed his research? Or did his research cause him to disappear?’ Dad asked, his pencil poised to write down whatever Mr Delgado said. I could feel the whole room leaning forward, waiting for the answer.
‘I’m afraid at the moment it’s impossible for me to answer that question. You see, when Dr Learner disappeared all of his research disappeared with him.’
Sammy gasped and grabbed hold of my hand. His fingers were damp with sweat. I slid my palm free and wiped it on my leg. I couldn’t tell if he was just caught up in his dad’s performance, or if he was really worried. Either way, I wasn’t going to hold his hand.
‘And this was no ordinary disappearance.’ Mr Delgado pressed a button on the top of his desk and the large painting behind him slowly rose into the ceiling, revealing the largest TV screen I’d ever seen. Then he stepped to one side and nodded to his assistant to dim the lights.
A picture of a door and a small slice of hallway flickered on to the screen. The muted black-and-white picture was clearly from a security camera. The date and time were displayed in the bottom right corner: 4 p.m. yesterday afternoon. Nothing happened for a moment, then a man in a dull-grey lab coat walked down the hall. He hunched over, clutching a pile of papers tightly to his chest and looking over his shoulder as if someone was close behind him. It was hard to see the details of his face, but the way his hands shook as he tried to unlock the door made me pretty sure he didn’t want to see whoever it was.
I could feel Sammy holding his breath, waiting to see who came next. But no one did.
Mr Delgado stepped forward and pressed another button on his desk, fast-forwarding the video. Two lines of static striped across the screen, but the image didn’t change at all.
‘Yesterday at 4 p.m., Dr Adrian Learner went into his office. He never came back out. We have security camera footage of Dr Learner entering his office, but no footage of him leaving. His office only has one door, and there are no windows.’
The static lines stopped. I checked the timestamp at the bottom of the screen: 7 a.m.
‘When his lab assistant went to find him this morning, Dr Learner was gone.’
Mr Delgado let the tape play for a few more minutes and we all watched as a large man stepped into the frame and knocked on Dr Learner’s door. He knocked again, and then after a few minutes, walked back up the hallway. Mr Delgado motioned for the lights, stepped back behind his desk and pressed a button. The painting slid back down from the ceiling covering the frozen image of Dr Learner’s office door.
As soon as the lights came up, the questions started again. Even louder than before. Mr Delgado did his best to answer the questions he could hear above the rest, but it was like trying to outrun a train. It didn’t take long before Mr Delgado started to run out of steam.
‘Are you sure no one tampered with the tape?’
Mr Delgado was sure.
‘Is this some sort of publicity stunt?’
Sadly, no, this was very real and very serious.
‘Do you think Dr Learner has taken his research to one of your competitors?’
Mr Delgado’s face flushed red. ‘Absolutely not! Dr Learner is not only a valued member of Delgado Industries, he is also a close personal friend. I went to school with Adrian, and I know he would never leave of his own free will. If he or his research is found with another laboratory, I am positive they will have been taken by force.’ Mr Delgado’s voice broke slightly. He took a moment to compose himself before continuing. ‘That is why I am asking for your help. Delgado Industries is offering a ten-thousand dollar reward for any information that leads to Dr Learner’s safe return.’
As if responding to some pre-planned cue, Mr Delgado’s assistant stepped forward and took the floor.
‘That will be all for today,’ he said. His voice was cool and emotionless. ‘Mr Delgado has many urgent matters to attend to and will not be answering any further questions. There are press packs with background information and further details at the back of the room. Thank you for your time.’
All the reporters in the room started talking at once, protesting loudly that they still had questions. My dad perched on the edge of his seat, waving his hand in the air. I could almost see him writing the headline MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF TOP SCIENTIST. It was a sensational story, like something from a movie.
I was curious too, and not just about the scientist. Ever since Mr Delgado announced Dr Learner and his research had gone missing, Sammy had been fidgeting in his chair like it was made of ants. He’d been so excited for me to come to this press conference and see the ‘invisibility breakthrough’ he’d helped discover. I could understand him being disappointed or worried. But he wasn’t acting like that. He was acting guilty and I couldn’t figure out why.
‘Mr Delgado, Mr Delgado,’ the reporters clamoured, but Mr Delgado didn’t say another word. He let his assistant lead him through the private door behind the desk and disappeared.
‘Well, that was interesting,’ I said, standing up. All around me the other reporters were shuffling to the back of the room, collecting their press packs and making for the door, ears pressed to their phones as they called in the story. It was a race now to see which paper could get the story posted first. The four suited statues were nowhere to be seen. I wondered who they were and what they were doing at the press conference, but I didn’t say anything. I didn’t want to stick around any longer than I had to. ‘Come on, Dad. We should head home.’
‘What a story!’ Dad wasn’t listening to me. ‘A scientist working on invisibility technology goes missing. This has “front page” written all over it.’ He looked up at the ceiling, waiting for inspiration to strike. ‘TOP INVISIBILITY SCIENTIST DISAPPEARS . . . OR DOES HE?’ He frowned. ‘Oh, oh, I’ve got it! NOW YOU SEE HIM, NOW YOU DON’T: LEADING INVISIBILITY EXPERT DISAPPEARS.’ He quickly scribbled the two headlines in his Moleskine notebook, dotting the last line with enough force to make a sound. ‘I’m going to go see if I can get Mr Delgado to answer a few more questions, off the record.’
I sighed. Dad had the story bug. It looked like I’d be cooking dinner tonight. When Dad’s on the scent of a good story, he doesn’t even know I exist. He doesn’t know anyone exists. It’s just him and the words, and a bottle of water he chugs from like he’s running a marathon. When my mom left, he was in the middle of an article about police corruption. He didn’t even notice she’d gone until two days later when he ran out of clean socks.
While Dad worked his way to the front of the room I moved to the back and poured myself another cup of coffee. Most of my first one had ended up on me, not in me, and on a day like this, one coffee just wasn’t enough. Sammy tagged along behind me, but he didn’t say a word. It was the longest I’d ever seen him be quiet, which was typical. People always clam up when you want answers.
‘So, Sammy, I know you wanted it to be a surprise, but what exactly was this breakthrough you and Dr Learner made?’ I asked.
It took Sammy a moment to realize I’d asked him a question. He started slightly. ‘I’m not supposed to say, not until Dad makes an official announcement.’ He scrunched up his face like keeping the secret physically hurt. ‘But it’s really amazing. Dr Learner is super smart.’
I watched Dad trying to get past Mr Delgado’s assistant. My dad was usually pretty good at getting what he wanted, but the assistant was better. Dad’s charm didn’t even make a dent. I wondered what Mr Delgado’s lab worked on besides invisibility. The real science, not the sensational stuff designed to get headlines. Maybe they developed androids. If someone told me Dad was talking to the prototype, I’d almost believe them.
‘Do you know Dr Learner well?’ I asked.
‘Oh, yeah, we hang out all the time. And he helps me with my science fair projects. He’s great!’ Sammy’s voice trailed off. ‘I hope he’s OK.’
Most people would just say ‘I’m sure he’s fine,’ but I had no idea what had happened to Dr Learner, and I don’t like ly
ing to people. So I said nothing and took a sip of coffee. Sammy stared up at me. I didn’t like the hopeful sheen in his eye.
‘Maybe you could find him, Alice? You’re great at solving mysteries.’
I nearly choked. Sammy’s eyes went from hopeful glow to full-on blaze. I looked around, hoping my dad was well out of earshot, but it was too late. He was already right behind me, listening to the words fall out of Sammy’s mouth. ‘I can help you. We’ll be a team. It’ll be great!’
‘Sammy, I don’t think . . .’ I started, but Dad cut me off.
‘I don’t know, Alice, maybe you should give it a try. You are very good at figuring things out.’ He grinned at me. There was no escape. ‘But,’ Dad said to Sammy, ‘we should really talk with your father first.’
‘Good idea.’ Sammy nodded vigorously. ‘Let’s go.’
I was going to put my foot down. I did not want to spend my summer playing detective with Sammy Delgado.
‘Dad . . .’ I started.
‘Oh, come on, Alice,’ he said. ‘It won’t hurt to talk to the guy.’ Dad wiggled his eyebrows at me, and I knew I’d lost.
I was being managed and I didn’t like it. But they were right. There was no real reason to say no, just a gut feeling that I’d regret it.
‘Fine,’ I said. ‘I’ll talk to Mr Delgado. It’s not like he’s going to want me to help anyway.’
‘Follow me,’ Sammy said, and led us out of the study and back into the entrance hall.
‘Uh, Sammy, didn’t your father go the other way?’ Dad asked.
‘Oh, there’s another door out of that room. Dad uses it to avoid the reporters. This way.’
‘Why doesn’t your dad just hold press conferences at his lab?’ I asked as we followed him through a small doorway.