"Really?" Leah stared at her, stunned. "But you seem so . . . confident."
Abby snorted. "I learned to mask it, but I always felt terribly awkward at social events. Once I left the lab, I never knew what to say. Is it like that for you, too?"
"Yes. I've always found science much more reliable than people."
With a nod, Abby smiled. "I felt the same way . . . but then I met my husband." She turned left into the corridor. "Come on, this way."
Leah glanced about as she walked. The left wall was interspersed with doors; the right wall was made entirely of glass and overlooked a basketball court and a well-lit patio furnished with tables and chairs. She spotted a gazebo covered with white twinkling lights in the distance. So pretty. "This looks like a nice place to work."
Abby nodded. "I'm very happy here. I have a fabulous lab."
Leah slanted a curious look at Abigail Holstein. Could she actually become a friend? There'd been plenty of students eager to befriend Leah in college and med school, but they'd only sought her out in hopes of free tutoring from the infamous freak who had started college at the age of fourteen and med school at the age of seventeen. Dr. Freakazoid, they had called her behind her back. And when they'd no longer needed her to pass a course, they'd quickly disappeared.
She'd started off so naïve and trusting. It had been a cruel lesson, realizing that people were often undependable and unpredictable. Mercenary and combustible. You never knew when a seemingly harmless fish would turn out to be a shark. The only way to remain safe was to remain alone.
Science, on the other hand, she could trust. Unlike people, chemicals bonded in a consistent, reliable manner. They could break apart or combust only if she introduced a new variable. In her lab, she was in control, queen of a universe where all her constituents obeyed the rules.
She took a deep breath. "When Dr. Lee hired me, he said I would spend most of my time in a lab. It was my genetics research that interested him the most."
"Yes, we're very excited about that." Abby slowed to a stop. "Don't let the number of patients alarm you. You were right about them being very healthy. They won't need your services unless one of them is injured. Or expecting a child."
Leah noticed that Abby's hand had moved to her stomach. "Are you . . . ?"
With a grin, Abby nodded. "We found out last night."
"Wow. Congratulations."
Her face beaming, Abby leaned toward Leah. "Don't tell anyone, okay? We're going to announce it at the party."
Leah nodded. Would Abby be shocked to know she'd never had a friend confide a secret to her before? "I won't say a word."
Abby clasped her hands together. "Gregori is so excited. And his mother - she'll be ecstatic!"
"I imagine your parents will be thrilled," Leah added.
Abby's smile faded a bit. "I hope so."
Was there a problem there? A chill skittered down Leah's spine, and she peered over her shoulder. Another camera, its red light blinking. "Are we being watched?"
Abby glanced at the camera. "Maybe. We have excellent security."
"Can they hear us?"
"I suppose, if they turn up the volume." Abby shrugged. "I wouldn't worry about it. There hasn't been an incident here since the bombing years ago." She winced. "It wasn't a big deal. No one was seriously hurt."
Leah's mouth dropped open. "This place was bombed?"
"I know it's hard to believe someone would do that when synthetic blood saves so many lives, but I'm afraid there are some strange . . . people out there." Abby patted her on the arm. "I didn't mean to frighten you. I'm sorry."
"It's okay." Leah glanced again at the camera. Were they listening? "I know the world is full of weirdos."
Abby gave her a worried look. "As you say." She walked forward a few steps, then stopped next to a door. "Welcome to my lab."
"Whoa. Are you partying without me?" Gregori asked as he sauntered into the security office. "It smells like Bubbly Blood in here."
"There was a wee accident." Angus motioned to where Dougal was partially hidden beside the desk, picking up shards of glass that were once a bottle and tossing them into the litter bin.
"Hey, dude, long time no see," Gregori greeted him. "How's the bionic hand?"