Before Sam even neared Lady Triplet’s room, he could hear Donna’s voice. Boy was she riled. When he heard her call Lady Triplet a spoiled selfish bitch, he thought it might be time to at least see what was going on. Sam didn’t trust Lady Triplet, and if she tried to harm Donna in any way, he would take Donna’s part. It didn’t matter to him, in the slightest that she was Sir Richard’s mother. Out of sight, Sam paused by Lady Triplet’s door, listening.
“How dare you speak to me this way!”
Donna softly chuckled. “I’m sorry, Lady Triplet, but I call them as I see them!”
“I knew you would be trouble. You’re too much like your mother. You’ll never be a proper Triplet. You’re too self-righteous!”
“Leave my mother out… of this conversation, Lady Triplet. I could make things extremely uncomfortable for you.”
Lady Triplet arched an eyebrow. “How do you think you could do that?”
“Because, if I wanted to, I could wrap your grandson around my little finger, so don’t try! If you care anything about your son, or your grandson, you wouldn’t put them through this, Lady Triplet. You’re not even considering what losing you would do to either of them. That is what I call selfish!”
Sam stepped through the doorway. “Ahem!” he grinned and softly chuckled. “Mind if I join the party?”
Donna cut her eyes on Sam and smirked. “Let me guess. Joyce called you?”
“Of course she did, but don’t worry,” Sam leaned his back against the wall and folded his arms across his chest. “I’m just here to observe and make sure you don’t give her royal heininess – I mean her royal highness - a black eye. Although, it would be quite entertaining, I doubt your husband, or your father-in-law would agree.”
Donna narrowed her eyes at Sam. “Do you honestly think I would waste my strength on someone like her?” She turned to leave.
Sam gently held her wrist. “Where are you going?”
“To the genetics lab. She doesn’t want our help. She’s made up her mind. Turn her loose. She wants to die. Why should it bother me? She doesn’t care about her son, or her grandson. She certainly doesn’t care about me, or this baby. I thought I could reason with her, but it’s like talking to the wind.” Donna removed Sam’s hand from her wrist. “She raved about being a great-grandmother, now she’ll be dead before he’s even born!” She turned and headed for the door.
Sam studied Lady Triplet’s eyes. “If I were you, I’d think about what she’s said. Unless you let us help you, or you tell us who your doctor is, so we can talk to him/her, you will be dead before your great-grandson is born.” Sam turned to leave.
“Donna – wait!” Lady Triplet called out.
Donna turned. “I’ll be in the office if you need me,” Sam said and discreetly caressed her wrist.
Donna softly smiled and nodded. “Yes, Lady Triplet?”
------------
Richard finished his meal, cleared away and went to the genetics lab. When Gary told him that Donna had gone to see Lady Triplet and that Joyce had called Sam to the infirmary, he went there himself. Joyce met him in the waiting area. She smiled. It was always pleasant to see Richard. He; however, dismissed her, getting straight to the point. “Where is Sam?”
Sam, who had been monitoring him through VICi, stepped out of his office and approached Joyce and Richard. “Afternoon, Richard,” he spoke cordially. “Is there a problem?”
Richard studied his eyes. “Is Donna in your office?”
“No, she’s in the room with your grandmother.”
“What is she doing in there?”
“Talking to Lady Triplet about being fitted with a pacemaker.”
Richard frowned. “Grandma has already stated her wishes on that matter.”
“Yeah, well, your wife wasn’t happy with Lady Triplet’s answer.”
Richard groaned. “I’d better get in there and….”
Donna came out of Lady Triplet’s room. “Hi Richard,” she softly smiled. “Sam, you need to have a surgical team ready in the morning.”
Sam furrowed his brow. “What for?”
“Lady Triplet’s pacemaker.”
“I thought you wanted to wait until she was stronger.”
“I’ve explained the risks to her, but Lady Triplet doesn’t want to wait. Personally, I don’t think it will make any difference.”
“Something else,” Richard spoke up. “If you don’t do it when Grandma wants to, chances are that she’ll change her mind, or forget.”
Donna chuckled. “That’s kind of what I thought, too. So, Sam, I’ll see you in the morning – provided this baby doesn’t decide otherwise.”
“Are you having trouble with morning sickness, sweetheart?”
“I did this morning, but I think it was nerves.”
Sam grinned and glanced at Richard. “All things considered… it probably was.”
“I’ll let you know if it gets unbearable. Are you coming to the genetics lab?”
“As a matter of fact, I have a date with our newest doctor.”
Donna studied his eyes. “Boy you didn’t waste any time. Did you?”
Richard chuckled. “That’s Sam’s style, pet – conquer and move on to new territory.”
Sam swallowed hard. “That’s normally the case. But even I know when I’ve been defeated. It’s more of a case of licking my wounds.”
Richard grinned. “I’m sure they’re not as deep as you think they are.”
Sam studied Richard’s eyes. Deeper than they’ve ever been. “Oh, I’m sure I’ll survive. Anyway… I will talk to Sheila tonight, Pretty Lady, and I will be at your disposal in the morning.”
Donna softly smiled. “Thank you. Now,” she said in turning. She placed her hand in the crook of Richard’s arm. “Let’s go see if we can get started on that vector.” She followed him to the genetics lab.
------------
Richard started preparing culture medium. Using the simulation of her modified HIV1 template from VICi’s database, Donna interfaced the template, with her electron microscope and started isolating and collecting mRNA, from the active HIV1 virus, to be used for reverse transcription. Gary started setting up for the next step; replicating Donna’s modified HIV1 and inserting it into bacterial plasmids.
Donna’s cell phone vibrated. She made sure Richard’s back was turned and quickly unlocked it. Gary frowned and watched her out of the corner of his eye. Donna read the name; the corners of her mouth turned up. She pressed hold and put her cell phone back in her pocket. “I’ll be right back - bathroom break.”
Richard grinned. “Go for me, as well.”
Donna softly smiled. “Richard, in the future that may very well be possible, but right now, I have enough trouble with my own bladder, than worrying about yours.” She unlocked her cell phone. “What did you need?”
Sam chuckled. “Haven’t I already answered that question? I need you.”
Donna pressed her lips into a tight smile and softly chuckled. “Sam, I was in the middle of something. I don’t have time to make small talk with you. Why did you call?”
“I saw the look in your eyes, when I told you I was seeing Sheila, tonight. I just wanted to make sure you understood.”
“What’s to understand? You’re having dinner with a work colleague. I don’t own you, Sam.”
Sam cleared his throat; his voice became serious. “Yes… you do.”
“Ok – fine!” Donna groaned and shook her head. “If that’s the way you want to look at it. Just tell me what you called for. I have work to do.”
“I wanted to make sure you understood this is part of what we talked about. It’s just for show Donna. I’d much rather be having dinner with you. I’d much rather be with you, full stop.”
“Sam, I’m married to Richard, now. That changes things between us. I’m not going to dictate what you do or who you do it with. I have to go. I’ll see you in the morning after breakfast.” She ended the call. When she was finished, Donna sat back at her electron microscope and started isolating and collecting more mRNA for reverse transcription.
Gary glanced at Richard and leaned close to Donna’s ear. “Was that Sam?”
“Yes, and he’s starting to get on my nerves. Let’s get this done. I want to get some rest tonight.”
Gary grinned and motioned with his head. “Do you think he’s going to let you?”
“Until Richard’s shoulder heals, I’m in control of that department.”
Gary smirked and shook his head.
------------
Richard put the last of the culture dishes in the incubator and took off his bio-suit. Donna’s stomach rumbled. Without looking up, she reached for a wholegrain cracker. Richard took it and put it back in the packet. “No. We’re going home, and you are going to eat a proper meal. We’ve done all we can do tonight. Besides, you have Grandma’s surgery in the morning.”
Donna grinned. “Wouldn’t want to fall asleep and accidentally slit granny’s throat.”
Richard winced. “Pet, whatever you do, don’t ever let her hear you call her granny. Grandma would have a stroke.”
“Hmm. I’ll try to remember that.” If I ever need it.
Richard laced his fingers with Donna’s. “I’ll see you in the morning, Gary.”
“Night, Gary,” Donna said and followed Richard out into the corridor.
------------
Once Liu had compiled all his information on lead mines owned by British Steel, he was looking at about fifty red circles on his map, as possible locations for Sir Richard’s lair. By a process of elimination and information he’d coerced from Mildred, one-by-one, Liu had discounted them.
Assuming Mildred’s information had been accurate; the mine he was looking for had to meet certain criteria. It couldn’t be close to civilisation. It wasn’t in range of a cell phone tower, and it couldn’t currently be in use as a tourist attraction. Carrshield looked promising until he discovered there were houses within sight of the mine.
Now Liu was left with two red circles, about eleven miles apart, on his map. One of these locations had to be the mine they were looking for.
After several attempts, using ‘moor mine lead’ he found a document relating to the purchase of an area of land on Swinhope Moor. At last, he was on the right track. He compared this with his list of mines. There had been a mine at Swinhope. British Steel had purchased an old lead mine to mine fluorspar. The mine had closed in 1960 but, the report said it had been used to dump waste taken from Allenheads Mine.
Liu looked the mine up on his ordinance survey map and found Swinhope Moor, but no label for Swinhope Mine.
By using the map reference he’d found, he was able to get an aerial view using Google Earth. It showed traces of a road, apparently leading to nowhere other than a large area of bare ground. It didn’t look promising. Liu filled his cup with tea and tried again.
Remembering the comment he’d found about the mine at Allenheads, Liu returned to his map and traced the route from Swinhope Moor to Allenheads. He almost missed it! The web page had said that they had taken waste material from Allenheads Mine to Swinhope; yet, the road involved was extremely narrow, steep and had several hairpin bends. With a full load, what sort of truck could have made it up that kind of incline?
He re-examined Swinhope. The area was extremely remote with the nearest residence being on the other side of the hill. More than a mile away, in the other direction, there was a farm, and there were no cell phone towers in the area. He found complaints in the villages of Allenheads, Carrshield and Allendale Town that cell phones were inoperative. It fit!
Liu narrowed his eyes and smiled. “First, Mohope Head, and then Swinhope,” he mused. “Now, maybe we can end this game and I can go home and claim my rewards.”