“Hey, Dad.” Mariska’s heart pounded from more than the sprint across the apartment.
“Honey, I did the best I could.” He sounded defeated. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to completely strong-arm Dr. Snyder into letting you come back to work.”
She kicked the bottom cabinet drawer and held the phone away from her hear while she took in a couple deep breaths, letting them out slow and smooth through pursed lips. Swallowing hard, she said, “Thank you for trying.”
“On your behalf, I requested that all personal belongings…including the laptop computer, be returned to you.”
“And?”
“Dr. Snyder was not too happy about it. But after I reminded him there was no proof of your involvement, and he was under legal obligation to return your personal belongings, he agreed.”
Mariska pumped her fist in a silent celebration. “Great. I’ll head over there now and pick it up.”
“Not so fast.” Her dad’s tone suggested there was more to be worried about.
“Yeah?”
“While I didn’t get your job back, I did manage to get your official status changed from terminated to suspended. It’ll depend on the outcome of the investigation.”
“That’s awesome. Pretty much the best outcome I could have hoped for. Thank you so much, Dad. I can’t believe you were able to get him to agree to that.”
“There are conditions to be followed. This isn’t just a get out of jail free card.”
“Go on.”
“You aren’t able to set foot on museum grounds until the investigation is completed. You’re suspended. Dr. Snyder can easily switch your status back to terminated if you break his rules. Understood?” His tone was more serious than she’d ever heard it. He wasn’t asking or requesting her to comply, he was demanding it.
“Understood…but, how am I going to get my stuff back?”
“He said he’d have it delivered to you.”
“When? I mean, I can’t just sit around and do nothing. I’ve—”
“You can and you will.” His voice was angry, and he went silent for a moment. His voice returned to the loving father she’d always known when he continued, “Baby, I want you to have everything you’ve ever wanted. I’m going to do everything I can to protect you and keep you healthy and safe. But I need you to be careful. Follow my suggestions. They’re for your benefit.”
“I know.” Mariska knew he was right, but it all didn’t sit well with her. “I love you too.”
“Keep me in the loop?”
“Of course.” Mariska hoped she’d be able to keep all her promises. She’d do what she could to follow his lead, but there was more at stake than her career, and she needed to get to the bottom of it. “Thank you, again. Please give Mom another hug for me.”
“I will, and you're welcome.” His voice softened back into her loving father’s usual tone. “Oh, one last thing. I’ll be sending Jane over this week. Your mom ordered you some new bedding. You know how she gets when she’s worried.”
Mariska laughed. “Understood. Should I leave out a hide-a-key?”
“No, I had a copy of your key made, and gave it to her after you moved in.”
Mariska wasn’t surprised they’d do something like that without asking, but Jane was family anyway. “Will she need help bringing it all inside? Last time Mom bought me stuff because she was worried about something I nearly filled the spare bedroom with it.” Mariska shook her head. Her mom used any excuse to buy her new things, whether she needed them or not.
“I doubt it. This time it’s just some things for your bedroom. She said she wanted to spruce it up a bit. Said you were letting the room go stale.”
“Nice,” Mariska said. “I look forward to seeing it.”
“Love you.”
“Love you more. Thanks again, Dad.” Mariska made a kiss noise before hanging up.
Mariska wondered how long it’d take to get her things back from her horrible boss. He could theoretically hold them hostage for weeks, and she wasn’t sure she could wait that long.
There was a knock at the door. No way was Jane there already. She would have thought it would be later in the week. Maybe even on the weekend when there was less traffic. Mariska rushed to the front door, unlocked both deadbolts and pulled off the chain. When she opened it, she took a step back.
“Hey, Mariska. It’s good to see you.” Theresa stood on the top landing holding a large cardboard box.
“Oh, hey. What are you doing here?” Mariska said.
“Dr. Snyder sent me.” Theresa sagged a bit under the weight of the box. “Can I come in?”
Mariska pushed the door all the way open. “Oh my, God. Yes, I’m so sorry. What is all this?” She reached out and grabbed the box out of Theresa’s arms and immediately regretted it.
The box was heavier than it looked and fell from her grip, hitting the floor with a thud and the sound of rattling glass.
“Shit,” Mariska said. The box hadn’t opened up when it fell, and she reached down and tried to pick it up. Using her legs to save her back as she learned in school. Some of the fossils she’d dug out of the ground had been quite heavy, and body mechanics was essential.
“Here let me help you.” Theresa stepped around to the opposite side of the box, and together they heaved it off the ground. “Dr. Snyder said I had to bring this to you. I think it’s your personal stuff from the museum.”
“Really?” Mariska had just gotten the phone call from her dad. “I just found out that he was allowing me to have my things like five minutes ago.”
“He had all this packed yesterday. The only thing he added was your laptop before he commanded me to bring it to you.” Theresa never was one to talk badly about anyone, but there weren’t very many people who liked, or even tolerated, Dr. Snyder. “Where do you want to put all this stuff?”
“Might as well leave it on the kitchen table.” Mariska led the way in the doorway and the few feet to the table. “Right, here will be fine.”
They gently set the box down on top of the heavy wooden table, when Mariska had a sudden revelation. There was no way she was going to have access to all the research equipment she would need to conduct the in-depth analysis of the beads and tooth without some help.
Theresa gave her an awkward smile and said, “Well, I guess that’s it then. I’ll see you…around—”
“Wait.” Mariska stepped over to the door and closed it. “Do you need to rush back to the museum or do you have a few minutes to talk?”
“I guess I can stick around for a bit.” She looked around the entryway to the apartment, before nervously crossing her arms, avoiding eye contact. “There’s something I wanted to talk to you about too.”
“Okay, you first.” Mariska smiled and offered her a chair.
Theresa sat and began wringing her hands.
“What’s wrong? You look nervous.”
“I…I can’t believe this all happened to you,” Theresa blurted out. “I mean…you’re the most dedicated and hardworking person at the museum.”
“Thank you,” Mariska said, patting her on the knee. “That means a lot coming from you. You’ve been a wonderful student and assistant. Someone I’ve grown to rely on…trust.”
Theresa’s eyes lit up, wide and eager. “Do you mean that?”
“I really do. You’ve proven to be smart, resilient, and resourceful. I wish there was some way we could still work together.” Mariska tapped her finger on the tip of her chin and then said, “Maybe there’s a way we could help each other.”
“I wish there was, but I heard you were fired.”
“Actually, I’ve just been suspended. Pending the investigation. And, considering you and I both know I didn’t do what they’re claiming…I fully expect to be reinstated. I should have my job back before summer’s end.”
Theresa stood and clapped her hands together once, grinning from ear to ear. “That would be fantastic. If that were to happen, you could still be my clinical instruct
or. And, you could still be a coauthor on my research paper.”
“Yep, which would also mean you wouldn’t have to start completely over with another mentor from the museum.” Mariska smiled. “It’d be awesome. A win-win.”
“So…now what?” Theresa asked. “How do we make this happen?”
Mariska stood and grabbed a box cutter from the top drawer of the cabinet near the table. She slid the blade out two clicks and slashed the tape open on the top of the box. “I’ll need your help.”
“Anything.”
“I’m glad you said that, because it won’t be easy. But I think we can work together on both clearing my name and finding the La Brea Woman. The quicker we do that, the better…for both of us.”
Theresa thought about it for a moment and then nodded.
Mariska continued, “You have access to equipment and computer systems at the Museum, and I don’t right now. While I’m not technically fired, I have been forbidden from setting foot on the premises.”
“That asshole has it out for you, huh?” Theresa shook her head in disgust.
“Yes, he does. But the good thing is that we can get around him. We don’t need him if we keep this quiet. Just between us. Agreed?”
“Absolutely.” Theresa motioned as if to zipper her mouth shut and threw away the key.
“Perfect.” Mariska smiled and pulled the laptop out of the box. She turned it on and entered her password. “What the hell?”
“What’s wrong?” Theresa stepped closer to look at the computer screen.
“Most of my files have been deleted. How’d he do that? He didn’t have my password.” She frantically searched through the computers trash file and looked for the backup folders.
Nothing. It’d been wiped almost completely clean.
“I saw Kathy in his office earlier today. They had your computer, and they were looking at something on there. But I didn’t know they were deleting stuff.”
“Kathy,” Mariska said. “She knew where I kept my passwords in case of emergency. I guess having a stone cold, power-hungry bitch as an office assistant has its downfalls.”
“What’s left of your files?”
“Just my personal stuff. Nothing work related. None of my files on the La Brea Woman are here. Not even the preliminary research I’d completed while still in school.” Mariska slammed the lid closed. “Dammit. All my backup files are on the server in my office.” She paused for a second before continuing. “Do you think you could go back to my office and bring me the storage drive?”
Theresa shook her head. “There’s nothing there. I was in your office helping to gather up the last of your personal stuff, and the only piece of equipment was the computer. Are you sure you didn’t use the off-site internet storage?”
“I wonder if Dr. Snyder took it?”
“Why would he do that?”
“That’s a very good question. But being the boss has its privileges.”
“I bet he considered it museum property.” Theresa put a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Now, what do we do?”
Mariska turned to her and affixed her with a determined stare. “This is where we work together, in secret. If we can find the La Brea Woman…or at least who took her, we can clear my name, and I can have my job back.”
“And I can finish my internship and graduate,” Theresa added.
“Exactly. I think the best place to start is going to be researching who was at the Fundraising Gala that night. Maybe someone there had motive?”
“I am not familiar with the guest list. I wasn’t even invited to the party.”
“But I could have sworn I saw you there that night?” Mariska said. “Sometime early on in the evening.”
Theresa gave Mariska a coy, innocent look. “I said, I wasn’t invited. I ended up sneaking in the employee back entrance. I wasn’t there long; just wanted to see what all the fuss was about.”
“I knew I liked you for a reason.” Mariska fist-bumped her intern. “Maybe you can find a list of vendors or delivery people who came to the museum that day.”
“Great idea. I know where Kathy keeps the invoices. I’ll start there.” Theresa started for the door but turned back. “I feel like Nancy Drew.”
Mariska couldn’t help, but giggle at the thought of them creeping through the museum at night, flashlights in hand, and searching out clues.
“Do you think that the protestors outside the museum the night of the Gala are suspects?” Theresa asked.
“I hate to think so, but considering I’m a suspect, I guess they are too.”
Theresa drew silent for a moment and then said, “I bet there’s a way to recover the files from the computer. You know, like through forensic means.”
Mariska hadn’t thought about that. “I wouldn’t have any idea how to do that, or even who to ask.”
“Hmm, I’d say there’s a few places to check first—like a computer repair shop.” Theresa crossed her arms. “Or, as a last resort, I had a friend recover a forever-lost term paper from an ad online. There’s a ton of people offering services, and some of them are freaking geniuses. Here.” Theresa took out her phone and scrolled through her contacts. “Do you have a pen?”
Mariska retrieved one from the kitchen drawer and handed it to her.
After jotting down a web address, she handed it back to Mariska. “That’s the guy my friend used…in case you don’t find someone else.”
“Really?” She thought about it for a moment after taking the paper and put it into her pocket. Weighing the pros and cons. “I guess as long as I don’t try to hire a serial killer, I’ll be fine.”
Theresa shrugged. “It’s up to you. So, when should we meet again?”
Mariska thought about it for a few seconds. If they were being watched or followed, meeting regularly would be a red flag. “I think it’d be safest to keep in contact via phone. No text messages, unless you disguise what you’re talking about. Vaguer the better. If we need to meet, we should try and change the location each time.”
“Okay, sounds good. I’ll start with the vendor list. What will you be doing?” Theresa asked.
“There aren’t that many people who even know about the La Brea Woman. She’d been taken off display years ago. Step one will be to figure out which guests did know about her. My research would have brought attention to her, maybe making her more valuable to them.”
Theresa pulled her keys from her pocket and stepped toward the door. “So, you think someone did this out of greed?”
“I think someone might have had a lot to lose and it either pissed them off or scared them. Self-preservation can be a great motivator.”
“Kind of like us,” Theresa said. “We’re trying to preserve our jobs, careers, and future.”
“I’ve got it. If we need to meet in person and we can’t text why, because it could give something important away, we will use a code word. And every time we use this code word, we meet at the same place each time. Are you familiar with the Marie Calendar’s across the street from the Museum?”
“Of course. I love their cornbread. How very Nancy Drew of you. Okay, what’s the code word?”
Mariska took a step toward her and with dead seriousness said, “Preservation.”
Chapter Nine
Mariska’s instructions had been to park a block away from the meet-up location. At midnight, she was to enter the building at the address provided. The man she spoke with seemed like he was disguising his voice as it sounded almost metallic—electronic. His instructions had been conveyed without emotion and either rehearsed or at least read to her. All she knew was she was supposed to ask for Badger when she got there. What kind of name was Badger? The conversation had ended abruptly, leaving her with many more questions than answers. After she realized all her computer files pertaining to the La Brea Woman were gone, her on-site storage at the museum had been taken, and she’d been left with nothing, she knew she had to take matters into her own hands. If she didn’t act fast, it might r
esult in her reaching the end of the road with her research, and that was unacceptable.
But then an advertisement had come on the television offering hope through computer file recovery at one of the large box stores in the neighborhood. They touted having an entire group dedicated to solving electronics and computer related issues. After contacting them, it became clear they wouldn’t be able to help her. Not only was the computer so out of date it was considered obsolete, but when she’d asked the guy about hacking into a mainframe computer system, she thought she heard his voice crack. She was going to need professional help—maybe the kind that didn’t work at the neighborhood chain-store.
After hours of scouring the internet for other options, Mariska decided to take Theresa’s suggestion and check out some of the online ads and social network sites. There were hundreds of advertisements with pretty outrageous claims, but she had no idea who she could trust. She took the paper Theresa had given her and typed in the web address. The screen changed to black with an email symbol in the center of the page. She’d clicked it and left her cell number and computer problem. Less than ten minutes later her cell phone rang. The unknown number belonged to the man she was here to meet. Their brief but bizarre conversation resulted in uneasy feelings mixed with hope. If this is what it took to get her files back, to get La Brea Woman back, then she was willing to do it.
Mariska checked the time on her watch. Five more minutes to go. Plenty of time to walk down the block, turn right, and cross the street. The address was in Santa Monica. After Google mapping the exact location, she discovered it was in an older section of town. The street view on the computer made it look like it was in a commercial district, although the address itself was for a long-since closed fire station. Did the man have his office in there? Or was it where he lured his unsuspecting victims?
Mariska shivered in the cool night air. The dull streetlights did little to push away the sketchiness of the situation. After a deep breath, she set off down the street. All the businesses were closed for the night, dim light shone through the display windows, but did little to illuminate her path. Mariska managed half the block before her imagination started running wild. Behind her, the sound of a shoe scuffing on the concrete set the little hairs on the back of her neck on end. She glanced over her shoulder.
Preservation Page 7
