It was a crisp Fall morning, and a smattering of leaves blew into the foyer as Kitty, Michael-Dan, and Gordy hauled their backpacks out the door for eight o\u2019clock classes.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cPerfect weather!\u201d exclaimed Gordy. \u201cTwo degrees cooler than the mean temperature for October 5! Thanks Mervin Frostly!\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tBea was sitting on the front steps, inscribing a fresh set of index cards with her French vocabulary words, and trying to remember that chouette<\/em> meant nifty<\/em> and also little cabbage.<\/em> \u201cWhy do you always say that?\u201d she demanded. \u201cWhy is he so obsessed with Mervin Frostly?\u201d she demanded of Nola who\u2019d come out to join her on the steps.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cYou must be joking my dear!\u201d said Odin to Bea, as he positioned himself two steps below her with a laptop computer and a book entitled Composing for Digital Piano.<\/em> \u201cIf it weren\u2019t for Mervin Frostly not one of us would be here!\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d agreed Nola. \u201cMy scholarship comes from the Mervin Frostly Endowment.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cYeah,\u201d added Kitty, pointing to the hulking white stone Science Building across the street,\u201d and it was money from Mervin Frostly that built that<\/em> building right there, where I\u2019ve got an 8:00 organic chemistry lab.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cThat building,\u201d repeated Bea. \u201cYou mean the humongous one that almost blocks our view of the clock-tower?\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cThe very same,\u201d said Odin, as he triumphantly hit a key on his laptop, launching a bouncy tune of his own creation from the machine, \u201cAnd never forget that it\u2019s the Mervin Frostly Foundation from which your sister received the grant that pays for her research, and<\/em> which subsidizes half of New Stirling University, thus<\/em> providing salaries for both of the parental Professors Flannery.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cI know,\u201d said Bea. \u201cI am aware of all<\/em> that. Mervin Frostly is like the nerd version of Santa Claus. He\u2019s almost a mythological creature whom nobody ever sees. He\u2019s NOT…\u201d she added, addressing this last bit at Gordy who had just hoisted his backpack onto his shoulder, \u201c…like a real person, in the room, who you need to thank every time you sneeze.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cI\u2019m a grateful type of person,\u201d called Gordy over his shoulder as he started down the block. \u201cWhat can I say?\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cAnd now…\u201d said Odin, whose first musical composition had come to an end. He tapped a few keys on his keyboard. \u201c…relax and enjoy a little tune I call the Beatrix Flannery Reel while we talk about…algebra!\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cYou are not such a nice kid Odin,\u201d said Bea even though, despite her determination to resist, her toes felt compelled to tap along. And there was no denying that she had plenty of math to catch up on. So she had all but talked herself into going inside to retrieve her algebra book from the front hall when a sparkling cobalt blue convertible zipped smoothly around the corner, coming to a sudden stop in front of the steps at 107 Crotchett Street.<\/p>\n \n\tThe woman who was driving stepped out of the car and strode purposefully to the sidewalk.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cHello,\u201d she said, with a crisp nod at Bea, Odin, and Nola.<\/p>\n \n\tShe was tall, with cropped spiky hair and she wore glasses which poked out at the corners. Something about her attitude said you\u2019d better pay attention or else.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cMy name is Dierdre Fidelius,\u201d the woman said. \u201cI\u2019m here to see Hortensia Flannery. I represent her research sponsor, Mervin Frostly.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cTold<\/em> you he was a real person,\u201d whispered Odin, nudging Bea.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cI\u2019ll be darned,\u201d said Bea, who was trying to decide whether the woman was someone who should be treated very importantly or not. \u201cHort is across the street,\u201d she said. \u201cIn the lab. I can take you there if you want.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cPlease.\u201d said the woman. She waited at the curb as if immediate service was expected, then primly pulled a Koo-Bar out of her bag and began nibbling.<\/p>\n \n\tBea handed her vocabulary flashcards to Nola and joined the woman on the sidewalk. Traffic was light on Crotchett Street. The woman followed Bea into the crosswalk once an office supply delivery truck had rumbled away.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cSo,\u201d said Bea, sneaking another discreet glance at the woman\u2019s slightly scary glasses. \u201cYou work for the real Mervin Frostly, eh?\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tThe woman gazed down at her with a slightly scandalized flare of the nostrils. \u201cI don\u2019t discuss my work,\u201d she replied. \u201cMr. Frostly\u2019s business is strictly confidential.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cOh,\u201d said Bea, \u201calright then.\u201d It was clear enough that conversation was not open for discussion.<\/p>\n \u2028 \n\t\u201cThis way,\u201d said Bea to the woman, as she headed for a stairwell at the end of the hall. \u201cThe botany lab\u2019s on the third floor.\u201d <\/p>\n \n\tBea sensed that Ms Fidelius was a bit perturbed not to be taken by elevator but Bea opted for stairs as a rule and, two flights up, she led the way into a corridor filled with more plants but by far fewer people than the classroom levels below.<\/p>\n \n\tAn open door to the left was labeled \u201cBotany Lab: Exotics.\u201d Bea stood aside as the woman she had escorted breezed through the doorway leaving a vague odor of cloves lingering in the air behind her.<\/p>\n \n\tA countertop running along the two windowed walls was almost overrun with green leafy vegetation of every shape and kind. All along the length of the room grow-lights, suspended from the ceiling, cast a warm glow on long tables full of potted plants and flowers.<\/p>\n \n\tHortensia, her hair messily clumped in a knot on top of her head, was seated on a stool holding a tape measure to one of her five koohoo plants\u2014each of which now had its own black pot\u2014then tapping her findings into a scuffed laptop computer on the work desk.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cThey\u2019re enormous Hort!\u201d said Bea. The twelve-inch plants with their shiny jade heart-shaped leaves barely resembled the tiny sprouts Bea had stashed in her backpack at the Koohoo ceremony merely last week.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cThey are flourishing,\u201d replied Hortensia. She smiled without looking up, and moved her tape measure to the next plant. \u201cI\u2019m quite astonished.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cHortensia Flannery?\u201d interjected the spiky-haired woman.<\/p>\n \n\tNow Hortensia looked up.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cOh, Hort?\u201d said Bea. \u201cThis is…\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cDierdre Fidelius,\u201d interrupted the visitor. \u201cPersonal Assistant to Mervin Frostly.\u201d She extended her hand, which Hortensia stared at for a second before taking it in an uncertain handshake.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cSo sorry to interrupt your work,\u201d continued Ms. Fidelius, \u201cbut Mr. Frostly insisted on my checking to see that the plant samples you needed for the study did in fact make it back safely.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cQuite safely,\u201d replied Hortensia. \u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cAnd you had no trouble at the airport?\u201d continued Ms. Fidelius. \u201cNo suspicious activity? Nothing out of the ordinary?\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cNo,\u201d said Hortensia. \u201cShould there have been?\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tBea immediately thought of her missing backpack, but said nothing.<\/p>\n \n\tMs. Fidelius ignored Hortensia\u2019s question and began scrutinizing the room, and especially the door, with great interest. \u201cIs this laboratory secured when no one is present?\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cWe lock it at night,\u201d replied Hortensia.<\/p>\n \n\tMs. Fidelius\u2019 eyebrows arched dramatically.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cI\u2019ve never heard of graduate work being tampered with here,\u201d said Hortensia. \u201cI know the other students and faculty quite well.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cYes, of course…\u201d murmured Ms. Fidelius, giving one of the third floor laboratory windows a firm rattle. \u201cBut one can never be complacent. There have been traitors in Mr. Frostly\u2019s ranks before.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tBea supposed that anyone with enough money to build a gigantic building might be the target of crooks and scammers…but she could not imagine why Hortensia\u2019s research would interest a traitor.<\/p>\n \n\tOut of the corner of her eye Bea caught a glimpse of something tiny, yellow, and drifting.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cLook at that Hort!\u201d she said. \u201cA fuzzy flying thing!\u201d She scrambled around Hortensia\u2019s worktable and caught the airborne feathery yellow wisp as it wafted toward the doorway. A tiny, bean-like seed was suspended from its parachute of yellow fluff.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cNow that\u2019s odd,\u201d said Hortensia, scrutinizing the object in Bea\u2019s grip. \u201cIt\u2019s sending seeds through the air!\u201d She took the flying seed, and scrutinized the koohoo plant at the end of the row on the table. A miniscule, barely detectable fluffy yellow blossom had developed at the end of a stem. \u201cI\u2019ve never heard of koohoo dispersing its seeds by any method other than pods,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m afraid if I don\u2019t isolate these right away they\u2019ll be germinating in every planter in the room.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tMola Peggi\u2019s words popped uninvited into Bea\u2019s head. Nurture the koohoo Miss Flannery. But make no hasty assumptions about its nature.<\/em><\/p>\n \n\t\u201cHort,\u201d said Bea, \u201cMaybe you were making hasty assumptions.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cHello?\u201d called a man\u2019s voice from the hallway, drawing everyone\u2019s attention to the door. \u201cHello?\u201d repeated the voice. \u201cI\u2019m looking for Hortensia Flannery.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tHortensia looked surprised. Diedre Fidelius looked perturbed. Bea wondered what now?<\/em><\/p>\n \n\tThe man to whom the voice belonged walked into the lab, awkwardly knocking a venus flytrap off the table edge on his way in. He was youthful and gangly, but by the look of his proper suit and name badge, he was here on some sort of official business.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cWhoops, I\u2019ll get that,\u201d said Bea, hurrying over to rescue the fallen plant.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cMiss Flannery?\u201d said the bespectacled man.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cThat\u2019s me,\u201d said Bea.<\/p>\n \n\tThe man looked at her in slight puzzlement until she smiled wryly and said \u201cI\u2019m her sister.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cOh,\u201d he chuckled slightly. \u201cOf course!\u201d He stood up straight and turned toward Dierdre Fidelius. \u201cMiss Flannery?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \n\tMs. Fidelius shook her head with a slightly annoyed smile and nodded toward Hortensia.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cMiss Flannery,\u201d said the man, this time with more certainty.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cYes?\u201d answered Hortensia. For several seconds she continued to inspect her plants for more unexpected developments. Then she looked up.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cI\u2019m…\u201d said the man, pausing for several awkward seconds while he seemed to collect his thoughts. \u201cI\u2019m Miles Oakenshaw…Miss…um…Miss Flannery.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tBea stifled a snort. The man clearly liked the looks of Hortensia, and had completely forgotten what he was going to say.<\/p>\n \n\tInstead, he said nothing for a few seconds and fumbled through his coat pocket, finally pulling out a business card, which he handed to Hortensia. \u201cI\u2019m an inspector with the State Department of Biological Research,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cI see,\u201d said Hortensia simply.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cIt\u2019s my job to ensure that any pertinent data you collect is reported…um…promptly,\u201d Miles Oakenshaw said. \u201c…Even though I\u2019m…um…sure it would be…\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cOh my, such a bother,\u201d interjected Ms. Fidelius. \u201cThese government interferences can be such a hindrance to meaningful research! And wouldn\u2019t it be intolerable,\u201d she continued, directing an accusatory glare at Miles Oakenshaw, \u201cif imprudent use of the koohoo plant had negative consequences that weren\u2019t discovered in a timely manner because the researcher was so bogged down<\/em> by government rules and procedures?\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tMiles Oakenshaw recoiled at Ms. Fidelius\u2019 outburst, then he backed up a few steps with a nod first at her, then at Hortensia. \u201cMy office will be in touch Miss Flannery,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ll…be in…er…touch.\u201d And with that he hastily exited.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cGracious, the time,\u201d said Dierdre Fidelius, scowling at her cell phone. \u201cI must be going as well.\u201d She straightened up and nodded at Hortensia with a professionally polished smile. \u201cI will report to Mr. Frostly that everything seems to be running smoothly. So nice to meet you both.\u201d And out the door she went.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cHow very odd,\u201d said Hortensia, staring at the now empty doorway. \u201cBea? Didn\u2019t you find that odd?\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tBea did find it odd. Odd that someone rich and important like Mervin Frostly would take a particular interest in Hortensia\u2019s research. Odd that the plants could be at any risk. It gave her plenty to think about as she headed down the stairs of the Science building and into the lobby.<\/p>\n \n\tStudents were still clustering and chatting. A handful stood near the first floor vending machines. But there was one machine which Bea had not noticed until just now. It was vivid green, with a very familiar bean smiling enticingly on the front panel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It was a crisp Fall morning, and a smattering of leaves blew into the foyer as Kitty, Michael-Dan, and Gordy hauled their backpacks out the door for eight o\u2019clock classes. \u201cPerfect weather!\u201d exclaimed Gordy. \u201cTwo degrees cooler than the mean temperature for October 5! Thanks Mervin Frostly!\u201d Bea was sitting on the front steps, inscribing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.emilygillespieclement.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/332"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.emilygillespieclement.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.emilygillespieclement.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.emilygillespieclement.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.emilygillespieclement.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=332"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/www.emilygillespieclement.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/332\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":386,"href":"http:\/\/www.emilygillespieclement.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/332\/revisions\/386"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.emilygillespieclement.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=332"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.emilygillespieclement.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=332"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.emilygillespieclement.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=332"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n\tThe lobby of the Mervin Frostly Science Building was cluttered with flyers and posters pinned or taped to every available surface, all surrounding an indoor garden in which a waterfall trickled gently into a fish pond. Bea, with Ms Fidelius stepping quickly to keep up, zig-zagged between throngs of college students who were clustering with take-out coffee cups, or hustling down the corridor toward lecture halls.<\/p>\n