by John Zakour
Tammy shrugged. “An hour or two.”
“I suggest you get to the aquarium while she’s asleep!” Computer said.
Tammy and I took off.
When we reached the aquarium, we found a very angry group of people walking away from the entrance. Looking at the angry crowd from Tammy’s car window, I asked. “Do you think this has anything to do with Tony Rose and me?”
Tammy nodded. “I’ll be surprised if it doesn’t.” She pressed her belt buckle and became invisible. “Now get out there and figure this out.”
Stepping onto the pavement, I could hear the crowd. They were mumbling and grumbling things like…
“I can’t believe this!”
“Rich people think they own the world.”
“This stinks!”
I stopped an older granny type of woman. I figured the ruckus had something to do with Tony Rose and me, and I thought an old woman might be nice and give me some answers.
“What’s going on?” I asked the gray-haired lady.
“Some rich jerk has rented the entire aquarium so he can hang out with one of his rich friends and not be around us unwashed masses!” she balked, putting her hands on her hips. “I tell ya, kid, it sucks eggs.”
Okay, maybe she wouldn’t be very understanding. Walking up to the ticket booth, I saw it was closed. A sign in the booth read…SPECIAL EVENT. NO ENTRY. I noticed two large men in expensive looking suits standing by the door. I figured I had nothing to lose by talking to them.
“Hi, I’m Maya!” I said for lack of anything better to say. I added, “I’m here for an appointment….”
“Good for you,” one of the large men said. “But the place is closed.”
“I think I’m the reason it’s closed,” I insisted.
One of the men turned to the other. “Geez, Clyde, somebody thinks a lot of herself!”
“She sure does, Bo,” the other big man said.
I saw a shoe appear under each of the men’s noses. Their eyes rolled to the backs of their heads. Strangely, they smiled as they crumbled to the ground.
“Okay, let’s get in there,” Tammy said to me. It felt weird talking to an invisible person.
Walking into the aquarium, it felt strange but also kind of neat to have the place to myself. I loved the aquarium. There was something about fish that I found calming. Plus, I knew the aquarium staff treated the fish well.
I saw a tall, slim, older gentleman standing next to the jellyfish tank. The man smiled when he spotted me. He held out a hand. “Maya, I’m so glad we can finally meet.” He smiled. “And you too, Tammy.”
Tammy appeared next to me. “How did you know?” she asked.
Tony Rose showed us the video from his phone of Tammy putting the two guards into la-la land. “I’ve been watching.”
“Sorry I didn’t come alone,” I told him.
He laughed. “Nonsense. I really wouldn’t expect you to. I’m glad you’re smart enough not to trust a total stranger.”
“Ah, thanks,” I replied.
Tony Rose turned to the jellyfish. “Aren’t they marvelous creatures! They have no propulsion system of their own. Yet, they still survive and thrive just by literally going with the flow. I’m the same way. I just go with the flow.” He turned to me and frowned. “Except with your grandfather. I went against the flow. We fought over a woman. We should never have done that.”
I pointed at him. “If you felt so wrong about that, why are you hacking his computer systems now?” I asked.
Maya Message: Okay, maybe not the subtlest approach, but I was mad!
Tony Rose smiled. “Right to the point. I like that.” He shook his head. “I’m not hacking your grandfather’s systems. I respected him too much. I never had anything against him. But my wife did. Well, my ex-wife, Diana. She felt as though she got the worst of the deal with me. Sure, I had money and charm and good looks. But I didn’t make her laugh. Your grandpa made her laugh.”
Tammy pulled out her phone and did a quick search. “Doctor Diana Rose has Ph.D.’s in computer science, mechanical engineering, and biology.”
Tony nodded. “She is as smart as she is beautiful. I told her that, at our last monthly lunch get-together, but she still won’t take me back.”
“Wait, you have a monthly lunch get-together with your ex-wife?” Tammy asked.
“Of course, we’re still friends, and she still owns 49% of my company!” Tony told us.
“So, she’s rich and smart,” I said. “Do you have her address?” Suddenly this all made sense to me. This wasn’t the work of an-ex-partner this was the work of a jealous ex-lover.
“Of course, she lives in the penthouse of the Sweet Towers building!” Tony said.
I shook his hand. “Thanks, Dex’s grandpa! You’ve been a big help!”
“Ah, any time,” he replied.
Chapter XIII
Tammy, Tina and I sat in the lab talking about our next step. I had Diana’s address. I knew I had to talk to her.
“What do you think about all this?” I asked Grandpa.
His image flickered in and out. “I’m not sure,” he said. “She was the first love of my life. On some level, I’d love to see her again. She’s special. But if she has something, anything to do with what’s happening here in the lab, she’s also dangerous. But she should be spoken to.”
“I’ll go with Maya,” Tammy said. “I’ll make sure she’s safe!”
“Wherever my home girl goes, I go!” Tina said.
“Who will stay with me?” Marko asked.
“You should go too!” Grandpa told him.
I frowned. “Wait, why?”
“Because Diana has always liked little kids,” Grandpa answered.
“Great, I’ll drive!” Tammy said.
We arrived at Sweet Towers apartments on the outskirts of town, fifteen minutes later. Truthfully, I had no idea the place existed. The only really distinguishing feature of the building was that it was painted pink and had yellow windows. It kind of looked like a strawberry and banana sundae scrambled into a building.
A big bulky doorman stopped us at the yellow spinning door. “Sorry, kids. Nobody gets in without an appointment.”
Marko ran up to the man and hugged his leg. “But I have to see my grandma…Grandma Diana! I haven’t seen her in so long. I miss her!” He started to weep.
The doorman tried to separate himself from Marko, but Marko clung to him tightly. “Look kid, you’re getting my pants all wet!” the doorman argued.
“Please, Mr. Please!” Marko pleaded, his eyes watering even more.
The big burly doorman held his ground. “I’m sorry, kid, but…” The doorman’s phone rang. He answered it. “Yes, Miss?”
The doorman slid his hand over the lock on the door. The door popped open. “You may go up. Ms. Diana is in the penthouse.”
Marko released the man’s leg. The man’s blue pants were now soaked with Marko’s tears.
“Thank you, my good man,” Marko said, composing himself.
We all walked into the building.
“Just take the elevator from the lobby to the penthouse,” the doorman instructed.
We arrived at the door of the penthouse. I raised my hand to knock on it. The door popped open. A short, red-haired woman greeted us. She looked to be around my mom’s age.
“Hello,” I said in a polite voice. “We are here to talk with Ms. Diana.”
The red-haired lady moved to the side, showing us a massive penthouse living room. “Please come in, Maya, Tammy, Tina, and Marko. I’ve been expecting you.”
“Wait, what?” I said. “Are you Ms. Diana’s aide?”
“Heavens no, child. I am her!” Ms. Diana told me.
My mouth and Tina’s mouth dropped open. Even Marko realized this wasn’t normal. “Wait, aren’t you about a hundred?” he asked.
“I’m eighty-eight dear,” she replied.
“So, you’ve had work done on yourself,” Tammy commented.
&nb
sp; Diana nodded. “Yes, very expensive procedures. Luckily, I am very rich.”
Tina walked up to Diana and got in her face. “So, you were the one behind all those attacks on our lab.”
Diana patted Tina on the head. “Little girl, it’s not your lab. It’s Maya’s lab. Now go to sleep.”
Tina yawned. “I am pretty sleepy…” she sighed. She dropped to the floor and went to sleep.
“What the?” Marko said.
Ms. Diana smiled. “My earrings are thought amplifiers. I can force my thoughts into those who have weak minds.” She pointed at Marko. “I’m guessing it will work on you too! “Go to sleep, Marko!” she ordered.
Marko laughed. “Ha!” he said, pointing at her. “My mind is….” He fell over fast asleep.
Tammy and I both looked at Doctor Diana. “So you’ve been behind this all along?” I asked.
Diana nodded. “Yes, I needed to get your attention.”
“Well, you have it now!” I said. “What do you want from us?”
A robot that looked like a giant vacuum cleaner rolled into the room. It pulled out its hose and aimed it at us. “I detect hostility from these two!” the robot announced.
“Hoover, stand down,” Diana ordered the robotic vacuum. She looked at us. “Sorry, this one is still in the test stages. It’s a bit overprotective of me.”
“I’m sorry, Ms. Diana but I have concluded that these two beings might be forcing you to comply with them. Therefore, I am going to take them down!” The vacuum aimed its hose at us. “Surrender!” it ordered.
“Or what? You’ll clean us to death?” Tammy scoffed.
The vacuum blasted Tammy with a gray puff of dust. Tammy started coughing and spluttering. “I guess I asked for that!”
The vacuum bot spun towards me. I adjusted the watch and computer interface that I wear on my wrist. I aimed it at the vacuum bot.
The bot started waving its hose at me, taunting. “Whatcha gonna do? Time me to death?”
I pushed a button on my watch. A jolt of electricity flew out and hit the vacuum bot. The bot sizzled and crumpled to the ground.
“Sorry about that,” Diana and I both said to each other. We smiled.
“I’m sorry that I’ve had to put you through so much to get your attention,” Diana told me. “But do you think there’s any way I can talk to your grandpa now?”
“Wait, what do you mean?” I asked.
Diana walked up to me. She put her arm around my shoulders. “Back when we were young, your grandpa used to talk about saving his memories, his personality, into a computer. I’m pretty sure he managed to do that,” she said. “I want to talk to him. But I think I need YOU to make that possible. Will you do that for me?”
“Even if it's true. Why should I help you?”
She sighed. “Because, my dear, I have always loved him…”
I could feel the emotions in her words. “I need time to think…” I told her.
“Don’t take too much time, young lady,” Diana warned. “Believe me; you want me on your side, not against you.”
Chapter XIV
Driving home, Tammy, Marko, Tina and I talked about what had gone down.
“So, I actually believe Diana,” I said. “I think she still truly cares about Grandpa and just wants to meet with him to be with him. This was her way to get our attention…”
“Now that’s love!” Tina said.
“Now that’s scary!” Tammy said.
“Now that’s icky,” Marko said.
“I’ve decided I’m going to invite Diana to the lab. Let her talk to Grandpa!” I announced.
“Are you going to ask Grandpa first?” Marko asked.
“Nope,” I replied. “I don’t want him to say no.”
Tammy shook her head. “What if this is a trick so she can get into the lab?”
“Then you take her down!” I told Tammy.
Maya Message: Sometimes, the best way to solve a problem, or get to the bottom of something that’s stumping you, is to bring in a fresh pair of eyes. You know what they say, “There’s no ‘I’ in ‘team.’”
When we arrived home, I called Diana on the phone. She had given me her telephone number, ‘just in case.’
“Hello,” she answered.
“Hi, Diana. Sorry to bother you. Are you busy?” I asked her.
“No, dear. I have some time.”
“Would you be willing to come to my house? I have someone I’d like you to meet.” I asked, as nicely as possible.
“Well, I suppose I can do that. What’s your address?” she asked.
“634 Moonbeam Lane.”
“Be over in a flash.” I heard her answer then the line went dead.
“You sure this is a good idea?” Tammy asked. “What if your grandpa doesn’t want to meet with her?”
“Truthfully, I don't think Grandpa knows what he wants. Therefore, I’m not giving him a choice. If this works out, Grandpa is happier, and Diana is happier. And that should stop the attacks on our lab.”
Tammy frowned. “And if it doesn’t, you let the woman who caused the attacks on your lab, into your lab!”
“I’m willing to take a chance on love!” I told Tammy.
“That is so sweet!” Tina sighed.
“Gross, gag me,” Marko choked.
Before I knew it, Diana was pulling up to the front curb. I went out to greet her.
“Hi, Diana. Thank you for coming so quickly,” I said, appreciatively.
“No sweat. So, show me what I came here for,” she replied hastily.
“Alright, follow me!”
As I led her through the house, I could feel my heart beating a little faster and my palms getting sweaty. Was I doing the right thing showing the lab and Grandpa to Grandpa’s ex? The woman who had been hacking the lab! I figured Diana was rich, smart and had a lot of resources at her disposal. This was the best way…to trust love.
We went upstairs and into my room where I opened up the closet.
“What I’m about to show you is a little weird. Please just trust me, okay?” I said, calmly.
“Alright, I’m ready for whatever this is,” she told me.
“Okay,” I told her. “Follow me.”
We walked into the closet, and I tapped on the floor. The elevator started going down. The door opened revealing the lab.
“Wow, I was not ready for this.” Diana stared in disbelief, her eyes growing wide.
I could tell something was fishy. It seemed to me that Diana wasn’t as shocked as she wanted me to think.
Maya Message: I always try to tell when people are overdoing it. If they seem like they’re acting, they probably are.
Diana turned to me. “You know what, let’s stop playing the game, kid. You know why I am here! I know why I am here. I’m pretty certain there is a version of your grandpa, my Jack, alive, and I want to talk to him!”
As soon as we stepped into the lab, all the lights, lasers, and alarms started blaring, “INTRUDER ALERT, INTRUDER ALERT, INTRUDER ALERT!!!!”
“Get out of here!” Polly yelled, swooping in.
Diana used her command voice on Polly. “Sleep, bird!” she ordered.
Polly dropped peacefully to the floor.
“Man, I wish I could do that!” I said.
K9 came rushing over to Diana, his stun ray aimed at her.
“Play dead dog!” Diana ordered.
K9 rolled over.
Diana smiled at me. “My command voice has been modified to work on machines and living beings!” she said proudly. “Your grandpa and my ex were not the only genius creators around!” she bragged.
Grandpa’s hologram appeared. He frowned. “Maya, why would you bring that woman here! She’s the one who broke my heart!”
“Say, what…” I frowned. “But I thought she regretted losing you…” Grandpa stomped his foot. “Yeah, but not until after she left me for Tony Rose. She thought he had more earning potential. We were both brilliant, but Tony had better marketing
skills. At the time, I didn’t really know Cousin Earl. I was just a silly brilliant but poor scientist.”
“Is that true?” I asked, shaking my fist at Diana.
She lowered her head. “It’s true; I left your grandpa for Tony.”
Grandpa snickered and looked at me. “I didn’t tell you the real story. But it turns out that her leaving me was the best thing that ever happened. Your Grandma Maya and I consoled each other and discovered we were soul mates.” He smiled just thinking of her.
Grandpa turned to Diana and crossed his arms. “So I guess I should thank you for dumping me. Thank you, Diana.” He waved her away with a hand. “Now go, before I reactivate the laser defense system. I remember why I made it now! I made it in case you showed up.”
Diana started to weep.
“Grandpa, please just talk to her!” I said.
“No, thank you. I have said my piece; now I want her to leave!” Grandpa exclaimed.
“Oh, come on! Are you going to be chicken again?” Diana asked.
Suddenly her weeping stopped, and she became much more determined. “Maybe I did make a mistake by coming here!” She looked at me. “I’m sorry I messed around with your lab. I just wanted to meet the first man I loved. The man who I made the mistake of my life with by leaving him. I just wanted to try to make things right…” She looked down at her very expensive heels. “But I’ll leave. Since he’s still a coward.”
“Wait, why are you calling him the coward?” I asked. “You’re the one who left him.”
“But he didn’t fight for her,” Tammy said. I finally noticed that Tina and Tammy and Marko had come into the room.
“Say what now?” I asked.
“He didn’t fight for her,” Tammy explained. “He just gave her up!”
Grandpa crossed his arms and looked away. “Now what could I have offered a girl who preferred Tony Rose? The man was almost as smart as me, better looking than me and richer than me. I had nothing to give her. So I let her go.”
