Chapter Twelve

 

Natasha and Tony got the call when they were heading to the clinic to visit Jiselle Newman—the president of the university requested a meeting with them at ten.

Natasha looked at Tony. "I hope we get some solid information from Jiselle to present at this meeting today, or we will just be sitting there like clueless chumps."

Tony nodded.

When they entered Jiselle's room she was sitting up in bed—a mass of black and blue bruises covered her face, and the portion of both her hands that weren't covered by sheets.

"I feel awful," she said to them weakly before Natasha could ask how she was doing.

Natasha looked at her sympathetically. "Jiselle, do you know a girl named Penelope Harris?"

"Yes," Jiselle said, her face wincing in discomfort and she shifted in the bed.

"Penelope is one of the producers for the new animated show the media center is producing called What Would Jesus Do. I wrote an episode for it," she said proudly. "It's directed at the college market. It makes people think, you know, before they make decisions."

Natasha nodded. "Sounds like a good idea. So where do you guys meet?"

"At the media center, Media Room 3. We even have a meeting scheduled for today. I am going to miss it." Tears seeped at the corner of her eyes.

"What time is this meeting?" Natasha asked.

"At two," Jiselle replied, sniffing. "And the bad part about all of this is that they are using my storyline."

Natasha patted her hand. "You just went through a traumatic experience, give yourself time to heal."

When Natasha and Tony left Jiselle, it was almost two. They drove to the media center and parked at the front of a door, which had bold Media Room 3 in blue lettering at the front.

"The rapist is in there," Natasha said. "I can feel it."

"So, what's the plan?" Tony asked. "Are we just going to go in there and throw our weight around, or are we going under cover?"

"Can't do undercover again," Natasha said contemplatively, "Penelope knows that we are police."

"But if we are to draw out the rapist we have to know what is the common thread with these girls. You have to emulate it and see if he attacks you."

Natasha nodded. "You have a point. Let's go inside…look around…get a job with them, or something and observe."

They got out of the car and headed toward the door. They pressed a buzzer and after a short pause the door made a click indicating that they could push it open.

They entered a big cavern like space with lots of computers lined off in the center.

"Who are you?" asked a guy who was passing the passageway. "I thought you were the guys with the lunch, that's why I let you in." He looked at their empty hands and groaned.

"We are, er... students," Natasha said slowly.

"Sorry no spectators in here today," the guy said rudely. Natasha was about to hold her ground and announce that they were police when Penelope passed by and spotted them.

"Leave them Oral, they are with me." She indicated for Natasha and Tony to follow her. They went into an empty office and she closed the door behind them.

"Hello detectives," she said whispering, "I heard about Jiselle last night."

"Yes," Natasha nodded. "We just found out that she works here and that she knows you."

Penelope nodded. "And you came to the obvious conclusion that this may be where the rapist is hiding?"

"Yes," Natasha said. "Have anything for Tony and me to do while we observe?"

"Well," Penelope said. There are twenty of us working on the project, but we have voice actors and writers, like Jiselle, that stop in from time to time. I was supposed to work with Jiselle today."

She bit her lip. "I look around here and I really don't see anyone who could do this. I am so scared. I am so happy that you guys are here. You could pose as my assistant," Penelope said to Natasha. "I heard Gilbert saying that he needed someone to assist him," she said to Tony. "Do you know anything about computers or animation software?"

Tony nodded eagerly. "I know about computers I have an associates degree from here saying I do. I have some experience with animation software. It's actually a hobby of mine."

"Perfect!" Penelope said. "We are working on two projects simultaneously…the What Would Jesus Do animation, and another one for children, featuring a mystery-solving cat.

Let me introduce you two to Professor Greenwald. He is the executive producer for the animation project and also the supervising professor for my final project."

"So you are graded on this?" Natasha asked.

"Yes." Penelope nodded. "All final year students in Media Communications choose a project that is applicable to their area of study and then they are graded. When we leave Mount Faith University it is easy for us to assimilate into any work environment in the area of media because we basically do it all here."

Natasha and Tony followed her as she headed pass a door marked sound room. "That's where the actors are doing their voice-overs. It is soundproof."

She pointed to a sign that said stop. "When the red light is on you can't enter the room."

They headed to the end of the passageway where a very fat man was sitting around a large desk. He had on a headset and was talking into it.

Penelope paused at the door. "That's Professor Greenwald."

He took off the headset after finishing the conversation and waved them into the room.

Penelope cleared her throat. "Professor, this is my new assistant, Natasha Rowe and Gilbert's assistant director, Tony Beaker."

"Which area of study are you two in?" The professor asked. "I can't recall seeing you two before."

"Law Enforcement," Natasha said quickly, finding her badge and handing it to him. "We want to be as unobtrusive as possible."

"Ah," the professor said. "I see. We were very concerned as a department that two ladies from our own ranks were targeted. I just spoke to the president and he said the police were handling it. I had disbelieved him but now I see my lack of confidence was misplaced. Well, welcome aboard. I hope you catch whoever is doing this."

"Thank you," Natasha said. "I hope you appreciate that I cannot be exposed as a police officer, at least not yet."

Professor Greenwauld nodded. "I understand. As I am sure Penelope does."

"Let me introduce you to Gilbert," Penelope said. "He's the director for What Would Jesus Do."

They headed to Gilbert's workspace, which looked chaotic. He had several storyboards lined across his workspace and two assistants working around computers.

He was in the middle of pointing out something to an assistant. He looked up when they walked in and smiled at Natasha wickedly.

"Wow, a pretty girl! To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"She's my assistant," Penelope said. "Her name is Natasha Rowe. The guy is your assistant. His name is Tony Beaker."

"Oh." Gilbert smiled. "My name is Gilbert Hibbert." He held out his hand to Tony, shook it briskly, and then took Natasha's hand in his tenderly.

"Dinner tonight? I get off at six. You can call me Gil by the way." His voice was husky.

One of his assistants looked around. "Gil, I'm not sure if this character should be male or female."

Gil looked around and snarled. "Follow the storyboard James! That's why I don't like working with sophomores."

Natasha pulled her hand from his and shook her head. "Sorry. I am not available tonight."

Gil smiled again. "I am looking forward to getting to know you better, Natasha." He indicated for Tony to follow him.

When Penelope and Natasha were outside in the common area, Natasha asked curiously, "Is Gilbert always like that?"

Penelope nodded. "Yes, he does it to everybody. He doesn't mean anything by it."

Natasha made a mental note to watch him.