Page 3 of Things We Do for Love and Science
Delia spun around, hands on her hips. “Why don’t I give you his number once he contacts me? Then you can take over and be the one who has to wheedle ancestral DNA out of him two months after his dad died.”
A great idea, really. Sandra would have no problem withstanding the pull of his dark-blue eyes filled with an ocean of sadness. She’d focus on the task at hand and get stuff done.
Sandra grinned. “John tells us you’ve got the touch.”
Delia ground her teeth. “John’s full of shit.”
“Imagine if he heard you say that. I’d pay to see his bluster.” Sandra burst out laughing, and Delia couldn’t help but join her.
Sandra was the only one who brought a little levity into the lab. She managed to combine scientific rigor and hard work with an enviable devil-may-care attitude. Everyone else was merely consumed by ambition and laser-focused on their career.
A few moments later, Delia nearly dropped her pipette at the wail of her mobile. She’d kept the volume on high in case his melancholic lordship rang.
She grabbed the phone from her desk and answered it. “Hello?”
“Dr. Wright, it’s Gabriel Kirwan.”
She briefly closed her eyes and exhaled slowly. He’d kept his word. Downing her tools, she made for the corridor to find a quiet corner. It was a work call, but she didn’t want her dreaded boss or his acolytes to overhear her. “Gabriel, thank you for calling. And please, it’s Delia.”
Sandra, peeking into the corridor, stared at her with wide eyes. She silently mouthed, “the earl,” then collapsed into giggles.
“Well, I’m ringing to find out what you need,” he cleared his throat, “in terms of...ah...bones.”
“Great, yes.” Delia pumped her fist. “Eh...ideally, we’d need some teeth or, failing that, a femur.”
“And that’s...what exactly?” he asked.
“Oh, sorry, that’s the thighbone. And can we assist with the, er, extraction?” She turned her back to Sandra and pressed the phone to her ear. His voice was low—Delia had to strain to make out what he was saying.
“That won’t be necessary. I should have the sample for you on Tuesday afternoon. Would that suit?”
Her shoulders slumped in relief. “Yes, excellent, I’ll be there.” She didn’t need to check her calendar. There were no lectures that day and she’d gladly move every other appointment for him. “Thanks so much for supporting our research.”
“Ah, sure. See you then, Delia.”
“Bye, Gabriel.”
She rung off and slid her mobile into her lab coat pocket. Sandra winked at her as Delia passed her to return to her workstation. Tuesday afternoon, fine. In possession of the DNA sample, John would get off her case for a while. She’d have to do the DNA extraction and the sequencing, though. He never got his hands dirty when monkey work was for subordinates only.
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