“Miss Grant?” The blue suited man ducked into the office.
Sydney scraped off her goggles, knocking over a row of beakers. White vapor plumed. She lunged for the bucket of water in the corner and doused the spill. The man tiptoed back as streams raced for his shoes. Sydney sighed. “Need something, sir?”
“Was this not the day scheduled for a patent inspection?”
“I think you have the wrong office. Sir.”
“Certainly not. The appointment was mailed to you last week.” He flashed a paper.
She scanned her desk and the tables rimming the room. Sketches and reports and comics plastered every surface. “Nope. No appointment.”
The man eased a thick envelope out of the puddle. “You have not opened it.”
She snatched it. “That’s my mail.” Her sharpened thumbnail worked better than a letter opener. “Dear Miss Grant, it has come to our attention…”
“Note the appointment scheduled. Now, could you please show me the patent? I have other potential clients to see.”
“But…but I haven’t finished—”
“Nonsense.” He marched to a jar filled shelf and tapped the first container. “What is this?”
“Cures amnesia. Look, mister, I’m in the middle of the biggest breakthrough—”
“And this?” The second jar sloshed blue liquid.
“Grows limbs. But you have to put it on immediately after severing—”
“This?”
“Turns you into either a mouse or a badger, depending on—”
“This?”
“Lets you breathe underwater, but only for five minutes. I can’t seem to lengthen—”
“Miss Grant.”
“What?”
“If you speak the truth, you are Spiraldown’s most accomplished chemist. We can help you share your findings with others in need.”
“Sure, whatever. But first let me prep this tray. You wouldn’t believe how close I am to a compound that makes me enjoy my own cooking.”