Part 14
[What's the matter?] John asks urgently.
[I kind of made something grow a bit.] You tell him nervously.
[Is it causing damage to the building?] John's questions are brisk and efficient.
[Well, no. It's not that big.]
[Did anyone see you?]
[Just Miss Thorne.]
[One person? Listen, Jay, you have to pretend that nothing happened. If you can convince her that she imagined it life's going to be easier for all of us. Come and find me. I'm recording this interview right now and trying to be as boring as possible but I need to concentrate.]
[Okay, John.] You tell him. [I'll give it a try.]
Miss Thorne is still staring still speechless. You wipe the look of surprise off your own face and give her a funny look.
"Are you okay, Miss Thorne?"
"Jay," She gasps and she no longer resembles the calm personal assistant she has been trying to make you believe her. "How did you do that?"
"Do what, Miss Thorne?" You ask innocently.
"That!" She points at the large, bushy plant.
"I was just pointing out how healthy it looks compared to all the others." You lie defensively. "I haven't hurt it!"
She looks at you, confused.
"What are you talking about, Jay? Just look at it!"
"I barely touched it!" You repeat. You frown. "Are you okay, Miss Thorne? You've gone all pale. You were telling me how the cleaners bring new plants like this one in and then you just grabbed me!"
She still has a hand gripping your arm and you shake it free backing away as if she's the one frightening you.
"Have you flipped, Miss Thorne? What's wrong?"
"I saw...." The assistant hesitates looking from you to the plant and back again. "I thought I saw...."
"What, Miss Thorne?" You ask innocently. You hate what you're doing to the poor woman but you know that John's right. For anybody working in the media to see even part of what you are would be a disaster.
"Nothing." She says shortly, shaking her still-pale head.
"Perhaps you'd better go home and lie down, Miss Thorne." You suggest gently. "You'll probably feel better in the morning."
"Perhaps you're right." She agreed faintly, still looking at you in a funny way. "Can you find your way back to Mr. Hendry's office from here, Jay? Your cousin John will come back there as soon as he's finished the interview."
"I'll be fine, Miss Thorne." You assure her as she walks off down the corridor, occasionally looking back at the plant with a puzzled expression. As soon as she is out of sight you send the plant back to the Lab with a thought. The less evidence she has to come back to the better. Perhaps she'll assume that she's imagined the whole affair.
It's not long before John and the presenter rejoin you in Hendry's office. The man looks distinctly disgruntled as he glances around the otherwise empty room.
"Where's Miss Thorne ah..."
"Jay." You supply in a friendly tone. "She wasn't feeling well, Mr. Hendry. She had to go home."
The man pats you absently on the shoulder but through your still delicate mental shields and with the boost of physical contact you can feel his angry thoughts.
[What a total waste of a morning. This chap is as dull as dishwater. Perhaps we can trim the interview down, perhaps drop it altogether. And now Thorne goes and wanders off without so much as a by-your-leave.]
As the physical contact ends, so does the mental but you cant help catching John's eye with a nod of approval. He, on the other hand is looking far from pleased.
"Well, John." Mr. Hendry smiles a false smile. "I know I shouldn't keep you here. You must be a busy man, you know, with so much inventing to do."
"Well, it d..does keep me occupied." John agrees politely. Hendry is propelling him towards the door with an arm around his shoulder so you follow. "D..did you like the s..studios?" John asks you as you head down the corridor so you enthuse about the fascinating camera equipment until the two of you are safely in the lift.
John glances upwards as if looking for something before fixing you with a piercing gaze quite unlike the blank expression he has maintained all day.
[Alright, Jay. What happened?] He demands.
You tell him quickly, aware of his disapproval but aware too that he is more resigned than angry. John has dealt with enough new Tomorrow People to know that mistakes do sometimes happen.
[Well, I think you handled that reasonably well.] He agrees after a few moments. [Did you remember to look for security cameras?] You glance upwards guiltily and he takes that for your answer. [TIM? Can you tell me where the security cameras are on the fourth floor of this building?]
You listen too for TIM's immediate reply.
[Of course, John, but we have other problems.] TIM's voice, to your surprise, is worried and tight. John, too, is instantly alert.
[Where are the others, TIM? What's wrong?]
[In Russia, John. A volcano is erupting unexpectedly, hundreds of people could be killed!]
John looks at you.
[This problem can wait.] He tells you. [Let's go.]
Do you:
a) Go to the Lab first to get equipment and information?
b) Go straight to the USSR?
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