Blood Codex

Chapter 18

Doctor Charles Phelps looked from one printout to the other and frowned. The data all seemed to be in order but the two studies directly contradicted one another. The beauty of science, he thought to himself with a wry smile. They would need to commission more tests and that would require further funds applications, taking more time away from the direct pursuit of research and cataloging. But no matter, that was the job and he couldn’t expect to enjoy every aspect of it.

He tapped his desk intercom, waited for Jaini to respond. When she did, he said, “Can you find me a funding form, please?”

“More paperwork, eh?”

Phelps sighed. “Isn’t it always?”

“I’ll bring you one in a moment… Oh.” Her voice changed, clearly addressing someone else. “Can I help you?”

Phelps heard a man’s voice, but couldn’t make out the words. Then the connection cut as Jaini took her finger off the intercom. She could be easily distracted sometimes, must have forgotten entirely that she had been talking with him.

He rose and went to his office door. In the reception area outside a man stood clutching nervously at a flat cap. Jaini stared up at him from her desk, face a mask of concern.

“…and we can’t find her,” the man was saying. “It’s really very important and now we’re worried about her safety too.”

“Who?” Phelps asked.

Jaini jumped, twisting in her seat to look back at him. The man with the hat moved forward, limping on one clearly injured leg.

“It’s Rose Black,” the man said. “She’s gone missing and we really need to reach her.”

“Missing?” Phelps frowned. That didn’t make a lot of sense, unless Rose simply hadn’t mentioned to this person that she was taking an unplanned break. “Who are you?” he asked the stranger.

“My name’s Yardley, sir, Pete Yardley. I’m Rose’s cousin on her father’s side.”

“And Rose has gone missing you say?”

“Yes, sir, we can’t reach her. She’s not answering her home phone, or her mobile. We went by her place and there’s no one home. Now your secretary here tells me she’s not been into work lately. We’re very worried and we have news she needs to know.”

Phelps looked the man over. He seemed earnest enough, appeared guileless and genuinely concerned. But another man, one far less pleasant, had also come looking for Rose not long ago. Things were awry here, but perhaps this man was telling the truth. Phelps had a duty of care to his employees and was bound by certain confidentialities, but it wasn’t like he was a doctor or therapist. “News she needs to know?” He wondered if it might be to do with the ‘personal stuff’ Rose had been so reluctant to talk about.

“Her grandmother…” The man frowned. “Our grandmother has fallen very sick. She’s had a completely unexpected stroke and she’s really not well at all. I don’t think she’s going to make it, you see, and I know Rose would be so upset if she missed out on that.”

“They’re close are they?”

“Oh, thick as thieves those two, yes.”

Phelps nodded softly, almost to himself. “Well, I’m not at liberty to divulge too much information about employees, Mr. Yardley. But I can tell you that I’ve heard from Rose in the last twenty four hours. Last night, in fact. She’s quite well.”

Visible relief washed over Yardley. “Oh, it makes me so happy to hear that, sir. I can’t understand why she’s not reached out to her family, or why she’s not contactable.”

“Well, Rose rang me and said she needed some time off and she’s taken a short, unplanned holiday, that’s all. I’m sure it didn’t really occur to her to let everyone know. And as for her phone, she might be somewhere without reception, or have roaming turned off to save money.”

Yardley nodded vigorously. “Yes, yes, of course, that all makes sense. Do you have any idea where she is? I really need to let her know about her nan.”

Phelps shook his head. “I can’t tell you where she is right now, but I did help her out by making an introduction for her to an archivist at Prague Castle. She messaged me that she was planning to visit and did I know anyone she could chat to.” Phelps laughed a little ruefully. “Even when she’s supposed to be on vacation, she’s still working. Perhaps you can leave a message for her there?” That didn’t seem to be giving too much away of Rose’s private life, and if this man really did need to get that news to her, he could maybe do it that way.

Yardley smiled broadly. “That’s wonderful, sir, thank you very much. I’ll do exactly that. And when she turns up at that Castle, they can get her to call me right away. I just hope she gets the message soon enough.”

“So do I. Best of luck.”

Yardley nodded his thanks and scurried awkwardly from the office on his injured leg.

Phelps sighed and shook his head. People’s lives were complicated and thankless so often. “Let’s hope she doesn’t miss her grandmother’s passing, eh?” he said to Jaini.

The secretary nodded and handed him a sheet of paper. “Let’s hope. Here’s the funds application you asked for.”

“Ah, you’re a brick. Thank you!”

Patterson limped from the Natural History Museum cursing Rose Black under his breath. He couldn’t wait for an opportunity to pay her back for the injury to his knee. Might never work quite the same again, the doctor had told him. She would pay for that.

As he hobbled down the front steps he pulled out his phone and tapped a name in the Recent Calls list. It was picked up after only two rings.

“Anything?”

Dean grinned. “Pack an overnight bag, Jeffries. Tell Mr. Landvik we’re going to Prague.”