Ann Marie's Asylum (Master and Apprentice Book 1) Read Online Free Page B
Author: Christopher Rankin
me to take it down?”
“Of course not. I like it. Besides, it’s your wall to do with what you like.” He changed the subject, asking, “Have you finished with your online security training?”
“Almost done,” she answered. “I only have another four hours to go. The corporation seems to be preparing us for a full-on-assault by super advanced Martians or something.” Ann Marie was smiling and nearly rolling her eyes as though she found the training excessive and perhaps silly.
“Take it seriously,” Harkenrider told her. “Don’t listen to anyone who tells you it isn’t important.”
For just a split second, Ann Marie glanced back at the poster on her office wall before responding. “I promise,” she said just as she realized he was gone.
He had left a piece of paper on her desk. She was puzzled because she couldn’t recall him being anywhere near that area of her lab. When she looked at it, she realized that he wanted her to cook up another complex organic chemical compound. He had drawn the structure out for her by hand. She wondered how he had conceived of such a bizarre chemical and couldn’t even imagine what it could be for. One thing was certainly clear to her as a chemist. This stuff wasn’t being used for drones.
...
That evening, Ann Marie’s mom had agreed to meet her after work at the Pink Pelican Bar & Restaurant just down the hill from the lab. In her mom’s typical fashion, when she finally showed up, it was over an hour late.
“Sorry I’m late, baby! I have crazy big news!” shouted Lori Bandini on the way to the table.
Ann Marie had been sitting for quite a while, reading an article in a cell biology journal and nursing a diet soda. She had gotten very good over the years at entertaining herself.
“Is there ever a time when you don’t have crazy big news?” She asked. When her mom hugged her, Ann Marie detected a faint whiff of alcohol. She went back to reading her article after giving her mom a judgmental glance. “I can see you already started celebrating.”
“Don’t be such a bitch,” said Lori, dropping her purse on the table and picking up a menu. “What the hell did I ever do to you?”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry for being late,” her mom told her in a way that seemed totally genuine. “I think I may have met the love of my life today. This could end up being one of the most important days of my entire life.”
“Did you meet Lancelot at the bar or the racetrack?” asked Ann Marie with a roll of her eyes.
“What the hell did I ever do to you besides bring you into this god-damned world, feed you from my own damned tit and make you into the genius that you are!” She seemed determined not to be dismayed by her daughter’s attitude. “I just wanted to tell my only daughter, my best friend in the world, about the man I’m falling in love with.”
“OK.”
“Well, he’s a talent agent. I met him while I was walking to the drug store to get a pack of cigarettes. He was driving the nicest red Jaguar.”
“Right out of a fairy tale.”
“He asked me if I was Kyra Vanderpump, you know, that international model from TV. I think I do kind of look like her.” She took out her compact from her purse and stared at her reflection. “I don’t know,” she said, looking doubtful for a moment. “Do you think I do?”
“I guess.”
“Anyway, he gave me a ride to get cigarettes and we had a drink together and totally hit it off.”
Ann Marie had stopped paying attention because she had spotted something out the restaurant window. Up the hill in the distance, two bright emerald-green headlights beamed down from the Asylum Laboratory. As the headlights descended the hill, Ann Marie started to recognize the vehicle. The truck looked like a six-wheeled tank. Apparently, Dade Harkenrider was on the move.
“What are you staring at?” Her mom asked her.
“I think it’s my boss. People hardly ever see him.” Ann Marie struggled to get
“Of course not. I like it. Besides, it’s your wall to do with what you like.” He changed the subject, asking, “Have you finished with your online security training?”
“Almost done,” she answered. “I only have another four hours to go. The corporation seems to be preparing us for a full-on-assault by super advanced Martians or something.” Ann Marie was smiling and nearly rolling her eyes as though she found the training excessive and perhaps silly.
“Take it seriously,” Harkenrider told her. “Don’t listen to anyone who tells you it isn’t important.”
For just a split second, Ann Marie glanced back at the poster on her office wall before responding. “I promise,” she said just as she realized he was gone.
He had left a piece of paper on her desk. She was puzzled because she couldn’t recall him being anywhere near that area of her lab. When she looked at it, she realized that he wanted her to cook up another complex organic chemical compound. He had drawn the structure out for her by hand. She wondered how he had conceived of such a bizarre chemical and couldn’t even imagine what it could be for. One thing was certainly clear to her as a chemist. This stuff wasn’t being used for drones.
...
That evening, Ann Marie’s mom had agreed to meet her after work at the Pink Pelican Bar & Restaurant just down the hill from the lab. In her mom’s typical fashion, when she finally showed up, it was over an hour late.
“Sorry I’m late, baby! I have crazy big news!” shouted Lori Bandini on the way to the table.
Ann Marie had been sitting for quite a while, reading an article in a cell biology journal and nursing a diet soda. She had gotten very good over the years at entertaining herself.
“Is there ever a time when you don’t have crazy big news?” She asked. When her mom hugged her, Ann Marie detected a faint whiff of alcohol. She went back to reading her article after giving her mom a judgmental glance. “I can see you already started celebrating.”
“Don’t be such a bitch,” said Lori, dropping her purse on the table and picking up a menu. “What the hell did I ever do to you?”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry for being late,” her mom told her in a way that seemed totally genuine. “I think I may have met the love of my life today. This could end up being one of the most important days of my entire life.”
“Did you meet Lancelot at the bar or the racetrack?” asked Ann Marie with a roll of her eyes.
“What the hell did I ever do to you besides bring you into this god-damned world, feed you from my own damned tit and make you into the genius that you are!” She seemed determined not to be dismayed by her daughter’s attitude. “I just wanted to tell my only daughter, my best friend in the world, about the man I’m falling in love with.”
“OK.”
“Well, he’s a talent agent. I met him while I was walking to the drug store to get a pack of cigarettes. He was driving the nicest red Jaguar.”
“Right out of a fairy tale.”
“He asked me if I was Kyra Vanderpump, you know, that international model from TV. I think I do kind of look like her.” She took out her compact from her purse and stared at her reflection. “I don’t know,” she said, looking doubtful for a moment. “Do you think I do?”
“I guess.”
“Anyway, he gave me a ride to get cigarettes and we had a drink together and totally hit it off.”
Ann Marie had stopped paying attention because she had spotted something out the restaurant window. Up the hill in the distance, two bright emerald-green headlights beamed down from the Asylum Laboratory. As the headlights descended the hill, Ann Marie started to recognize the vehicle. The truck looked like a six-wheeled tank. Apparently, Dade Harkenrider was on the move.
“What are you staring at?” Her mom asked her.
“I think it’s my boss. People hardly ever see him.” Ann Marie struggled to get
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