By H. Copella
Danby McMillan and his twenty-three year old daughter, Jessie, walked past the dinosaur exhibit. "All I'm saying is-be nice to him," Danby said gently.
Jessie rolled her eyes and folded her arms across her chest. "I don't care for him, even if he is your business partner."
"I'm not asking you to marry him, Darling," Danby continued.
"No, but you want me to go out with him-sort of the same difference," Jessie replied simply.
Danby sighed and looked at her with a smile. "All I'm asking, is that you try and get along with him. One little date won't hurt-just think about it, okay?"
Jessie slowly nodded her head. "I'm going downstairs and see what Collin's up to."
Danby groaned. "I wish you'd stop hanging out with him. Collin isn't altogether there-even for a scientist."
"He's entertaining," Jessie replied then smiled. "I'll be back by ten to leave." Jessie turned and walked back across the lobby past the skeletal replica.
Jessie sat on the edge of the desk while a man in his early thirties, Collin Rucker, looked through a microscope at some crushed stone.
"My dad's been pushing Brian on me ever since he hired him," Jessie said.
Collin looked up from his microscope. "Why don't you simply tell your father that you aren't interested in dating that pompous ass?"
Jessie frowned. "Because he doesn't want to hear that. He wants to make sure I'm dating the right kind of person. It would break his heart."
Collin shrugged. "Then I guess you're going out with him."
"There has to be some other way," Jessie announced with a depressed sigh.
"Tell him you're already seeing someone," Collin replied and looked back into the microscope.
"Like he'd ever believe that," Jessie snorted. "He knows I don't go anywhere."
Collin looked up from his microscope and leaned back in his chair. "Tell him you're dating me." Collin smiled deviously. "That's sure to unhinge the old man."
Jessie looked at Collin with a surprised look. She blushed then looked across the room. "He'd kill me if I told him that."
"At least you wouldn't have to date Brian," Collin announced simply.
Jessie looked at Collin and attempted to hide her smile. Her feelings for him were rather obvious. "But how would I convince my father we were actually dating?"
Collin stood up from his chair and leaned across the desk toward her. "I suppose I could pick you up around six o'clock tomorrow night. That should be enough to prove it to dad."
Jessie blushed gently and looked down to the floor. "I think that would work nicely."
The security guards drank coffee near the front desk just outside of the security office corridor. The five men laughed and talked quietly among themselves. Dack Rusher glanced at his watch then walked toward the main doors to the museum. Fred looked up from the desk and watched Dack.
"Where're you going, Dack?" Fred asked curiously.
"Just going to check outside," Dack replied simply. "I though I heard a car in the parking lot. Save me a cream filled." Dack paused before the door and unlocked it. The door was suddenly thrown open. Six men dressed completely in black with black hooded masks barged into the lobby. Fred jumped up from behind the lobby desk. The men raised their automatic weapons and open fire at the unsuspecting guards. Fred fell to the floor, riddled with bullet holes. The weapons made little sound as they dispensed bullet cases from the chamber. The guards scattered and two others fell to the ground after taking several bullets. Dack shut the door as the six men scattered and chased after the two remaining guards.
Danby and Brian sat in the back office having brandy and smoking cigars. They laughed about something that was just said.
"Seriously though, do you think Jessie will go out with me," Brian asked in a more serious tone.
"I think she's coming around," Danby replied. "You know Jessie, she has her mother's spirit." Dandy puffed on his cigar then smiled brightly. "So where's this new stone idol that we've been making such a fuss about to the media? It's supposed to be on display for tomorrow."
"Collin should've put it out earlier after the museum closed for the night," Brian replied. "Would you like to see it?"
"For all the hype over it, I should think I should have been shown it right away," Danby remarked with a soft laugh.
"You know Collin, everything has to be perfect before he presents it to an audience," Brian announced then stood. "I'll show you the display."
Danby stood and set his empty glass down. "A cup of coffee is an order as well. Jessie gives me that standard lecture whenever I smell of brandy."
Four men in black carried their weapons and followed Dack across the back portion of the museum. They approached a marble display stand and glass case. All five suddenly stopped and stared at the empty glass.
"You said it was here," the first man lashed out in anger.
Dack appeared equally surprised. "It's supposed to be on display for opening tomorrow. I was assured Collin was putting it out tonight!" Dack turned with a hardened look upon his face. "We have to find that statue."
Collin locked his latest research stones in a cabinet behind his desk then turned to face Jessie with a tiny smile upon his face.
"I can hardly wait to see the look on dad's face when you tell him I'm taking you out tomorrow night," Collin announced with a soft chuckle.
Jessie stood and watched Collin as he walked toward the office door. "I'm sure you'll be able to hear him screaming from your place."
"Are you sure you'll be able to deal with his reaction? He could make life miserable for you," Collin said simply.
Jessie smiled lightly. "He could make life pretty miserable for you as well."
Collin took a step toward her. "I'm confident it'll be worth his wraith."
Jessie stared into his eyes. Neither looked away. Jessie blushed lightly but continued to stare into his eyes. "Just to upset my father?"
"No," Collin replied gently and touched her cheek, "for the opportunity to take you out on a date."
Jessie stared at him a long moment. Collin slowly leaned toward her and lowered his mouth to hers. The sounds of someone walking in the hallway could be heard. Collin pulled away before he could kiss her. Jessie looked away with an embarrassed smile.
