***** Vol.4 Chap.39 Surprise visit *****
After the presentation, JB mingled with the crowd receiving excellent accolades from the workshop attendees. In her ecstatic state, she was too busy to notice that a couple of gentlemen with workshop badges were tailing her.
It was still a bit early to meet Johan for their appointed lunch, so she walked back to her room to freshen up and let the tension of the presentation ebb away.
As she turned the corner of the corridor on the top floor of the hotel, she heard her name.
“Dr. Smith?” Two gentlemen who were tailing her called.
“Yes?”
“I am Dr. Rehoton from the University of Reetting and this is Dr. Subrahim from the Southern Indian University.”
They handed her their university business cards.
“A pleasure to meet you.”
“We were very impressed with your speech and we wondered if we can have a chat with you regarding some consulting possibilities?”
JB’s eyes lit up.
“Of course.”
“Instead of the hotel cafe, which is very busy right now, how about a quiet coffee house across the street where we can chat more freely?”
“Sure, lead the way.”
They slipped out of the hotel from the back instead of the front lobby where lots of attendees were milling around.
The coffee house was a short walk around the corner. They settled down towards the back in a hidden alcove and ordered their drinks.
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“Let me come to the point.” Dr. Rehoton began. “Dr. Subrahim and I are the chief scientists from PPTSB…”
“What?” That caught JB by surprise., snapping her head to stare at the two gentlemen.
“We knew you would be surprised.”
“To say the least!” Her eyes widened and she flipped over their business cards trying to determine if they were genuine or fake.
They handed her a second set of business cards with their names and titles associated with PPTSB.
She looked at them unbelievingly, still fumbling over their cards.
“Dr. Schmidtiz worked for us up till a few years ago when he went rogue. The last we’ve heard; he was working with the Global Liberators. We had been monitoring their activities the last few years and were working secretly to develop antidotes to what they were developing…”
“How do I know you were not the real Global Liberators?”
“We understand your doubts. Our showing up must come as quite a shock to you since Dr. Schmidtiz had impersonated us all this time that he was working with you.”
She sat silent for a minute. Silently, she recalled she had her doubts.
“Now that you have met us, you must decide who are the real PPTSB and who are the real Global Liberators.”
She kept her mouth shut, not knowing what to say.
“We know you were working with the mass spec of different samples and were told that they were ingredients to calm a person down. Were you ever told what those ingredients were?”
“No.”
“I think not. If you knew, you would think otherwise. I do believe you remember what some of those spectra looked like.”
“Of course.”
“Have you ever seen a spectrum of chamomile extract?”
“No.”
“Have you ever seen a spectrum of caffeine?”
“No.”
“Have you ever seen a spectrum of chili?”
“No.”
“I do believe you know the opposing effects of chamomile versus caffeine or chili.”
“Of course.”
“Do me a favor. Look up the mass spec of chamomile and caffeine or chili and decide for yourself if the ingredients you worked with to ‘calm’ a person resembles chamomile or caffeine.”
“I will.”
“We have reasons to believe that Dr. Schmidtiz had deliberately reversed aggression and calmness in all the datasets given to you.”
“No way.”
“Don’t take our word for it. Do an independent verification. You had data from the Penitentiary. Compare the genomic data for aggressive subjects.”
“We contacted you because we do need your help in securing ingredients to make the real blue pill. You have helped them make the red pill. Now rectify the situation and help us make the real blue pill.”
JB sat stunned. Her stomach was churning. Her mind had become untrustworthy. Her work had gone from most noble to most base.
“When you are ready, call us at the numbers of our business cards.”
“We know you have an appointment with Dr. Schmidtiz. Please be discrete about this meeting. We will see you around.”
With that said, the two stood up, left the tab on the table, and disappeared quickly.
JB sat for a long time in the coffee shop, confused and astonished.