Log:Superkids!, Scene 8

Superkids! 2007/05/26 	 Dr Ravindran Dr Merbecke Amber and Azure|Jennifer Dr. Yolanda Simmons 8

Jennifer looks bleary eyed and fatigued. She greets Yolanda with a welcoming smile however. "Hi. Thanks for meeting me. Did you get the e-mail transcript of my discussion with Dr Virtanen?"

Yolanda nods. "Yes, I did." She asks, "How are you feeling?"

Jennifer covers a yawn. "Fine. Just a bit sleepy, maybe."

Yolanda nods. "When we get back to Colonial Bay, we'll get you excused from a day or two of classes."

Jennifer smiles, "That's all right. This is more important. Anyway, the next step is at Yale, and honestly, me at Yale? I don't think my normal approach of smacking someone's head up against a wall is likely to work out to well there. So I thought, who do I know who would fit right in?"

Yolanda smiles, "Ah... New Haven, Connecticut. I think the last time I was here was one... no two years ago..."

Jennifer grins, "See, I was right, you are the person to ask. I had to look up the location on a map."

Yolanda nods. "Dr. Harbor had been gone for a while by the time I visited for my conference, but his reputation was still lingering about..."

Jennifer perks up, "You've heard about him? I take it his reputation wasn't very good?"

Yolanda says, "He'd developed the image of a sort of bogeyman in the medical community -- a Dr. Morgenstien type. His research was in using genetic engineering to grant superhuman powers to human test subjects..."

Jennifer says, "I'm no doctor or lawyer but isn't that illegal?"

Yolanda nods. "He had lost his position, at least, and he disappeared before he was sent to jail."

Yolanda sighs, "I can understand why Spitball's parents might have kept in touch with him. In essence, their work was along the same lines."

Jennifer says, "Dr Virtanen said he was one of the people who knew Pekka was a meta. And he certainly seems to be the one who has the most connection with criminals from what Elina says. What I'm hoping to find is Auntie's link to Pekka, and Dr Harbor is a good possibility. If was can either trace his connections, or even trace him if he is still alive."

Yolanda nods. "We could start with his old colleagues. Maybe he's tried to keep in touch."

Jennifer nods. "You ask the questions and I'll stand around looking menacing. How's that for a plan?" she grins. She's joking, probably.

Yolanda says, "We could try contacting the police as well, to see what sort of luck they've had in finding him. I'm not sure which agency would be responsible, but you could find out, Jennifer."

Jennifer nods again. "Jess can start working on that. Should have an answer by the time we get to Yale."

Jennifer shakes her head. "According to the map New York City is the closest we can get via TransMat. After that it's a flight."

Scene: The campus of Yale University

Jennifer is way out of her depth now and follows Yolanda's lead.

"... You know there is an officer training program here at Yale." Yolanda says, making small talk as the pair walks across the campus.

Jennifer sighs, "I'll never make the grades needed. I've more or less given up on that dream anyway. I'm borderline for West Point."

The campus seems rather peaceful just at the moment. You reach the main medical school building, and are admitted, after a while, to the office of Dr Rajani Ravindran.

She smiles and gets up to greet you and shakes hands. "How may I be off assistance?"

"Dr. Ravindran. Dr. Yolanda Simmons... Thanks for meeting us." Yolanda says. "This is Jennifer."

Jennifer nods politely

She nods to Jennifer. "My pleasure. I'm afraid I wasn't told exactly what this was about...."

Yolanda says, "Right. I'm sorry I wasn't more clear... this might seem a little odd, but I was hoping to ask you a few questions about Dr. Nathan Harbor."

"Oh." Her manner changes instantly: she stiffens, and her mouth appears straight and thin-lipped.

Yolanda says, "I'm a psychiatrist and I was hoping to talk to people how knew Dr. Harbor, perhaps to learn a little more about the man. Could we chat for a bit?"

"We can. Though I don't think you'll find many here ready to talk about him. Why has this come up now?" She frowns. "He hasn't been found?"

Yolanda says, "No, he hasn't..."

She nods. "Good. The last thing we need is him coming back to haunt us."

Yolanda nods "Yes, I agree. Unfortunately, I think that he is still out there and continuing his research. I'd like your help in trying to locate him."

"I doubt anyone can tell you more than they told the police six years ago. And believe me when I say that personally I'd like to see him brought to justice, despite the damage it would do to us."

Jennifer stands quietly in the background.

Yolanda says, "I'm not familiar with Dr. Harbor in particular, but sometimes is cases like his, there's a need to gain approval from colleagues. I'm wondering if he might have tried contacting any of the members of the department since his disappearance. It might even be in the form of an anonymous communication."

"If he had it would most assuredly have been reported to the police," she says coldly. "Unless you are accusing one of my colleagues of conspiracy?"

Yolanda shakes her head. "No, I'm not accusing anyone..." She looks to Jennifer. "Has your sister had any luck in talking to the authorities?"

Jennifer makes a pretense of phoning with her PDA and than nods. "Should be talking to the FBI agent-in-charge in the next ten minutes, Dr Simmons. Tracking down the police detective right now."

Yolanda nods. She turns back to the doctor, and resumes her questioning. "Did Dr. Harbor work particularly closely with any of the other researchers in the department? how did he relate with his colleagues?"

Dr Ravindran says guardedly, "After the scandal the department went through a full review. A number of people lost their jobs - anyone who had an inkling of his research, certainly, as well as the head of the department. For myself - we weren't on friendly terms. I would describe him as overambitious, both in terms of his career and in his research aims. As became all too clear."

Yolanda says, "Could you provide us with the names of the people who lost their jobs? It might be more likely that he'd try to contact them first."

She nods. "I can arrange that. May I ask what your interest is, however?"

"Yes, of course," Yolanda says. "There have been a string of crimes by superpowered children in Colonial Bay. We think that finding Dr. Harbor is the key to finding the person behind the crimes and ultimately finding the children and returning them to their families.

"You suspect he's been involved in altering these childen's genes? Well, it's possible. I've long suspected he must be working for someone - influential, to have disappeared so so completely."

Yolanda says, "I'm not sure about his exact role, but it seems likely that he assisted in the kidnapping one child, in the very least."

"Kidnapping? That surprises me. But then, perhaps he turned more desperate once on the run."

Yolanda says, "I suppose that once you start to compromise your ethics, it becomes easier and easier."

"It may be," she says.

Yolanda says, "Oh, one more question... was Dr. Harbor seeing anyone socially while he was here?"

"Hm. Not that I know of. He was estranged from his wife, I know. Divorced, I think."

Yolanda nods. "Thank for you help, Doctor..."

"Is there anything else you wish to know?"

Jennifer steps Forward a pace, "With your permission Dr Simmons, I'd like to ask a couple of questions."

Yolanda says, "Yes, please do, Jennifer."

Jennifer says, "Dr. Ravindran, Did you know Dr habour's wife?"

"Not I. We didn't socialise, and in any case I believe they had broken up, or all but, by the time I took up my position here."

Jennifer nods, "Did anyone in the department leave at around that time other then those who were terminated as a result of Dr Habour's exposure?"

"Let me think - yes, Dr Arnolds retired that year, I believe."

Jennifer says, "Dr Arnolds being male or female? Retired on age grounds or early retirement?"

"He'd reached retirement age, I believe."

Jennifer nods, "Thank you, Dr. Ravindran."

She nods. "Now, if there's nothing else, I must get back to my work."

Jennifer asks Yolanda, "Worth talking to any other of his co-workers?"

Another member of staff - a man with white heavy white sideburns - happens to be leaving his office just as Jennifer asks this.

Yolanda says, "I've just thought of one thing, Doctor."

Dr Ravindran looks up again. "Yes?"

"Well, I can't say for certain, but I'm sure they must have known each other - they worked in the same field, after all. They'll have met at conferences, at least."

Yolanda nods. "Again, thank you, Doctor."

She nods. The man with the whiskers pauses outside the open door.

"What's all this?" he says, once you've come out if the office. "Asking questions about old Harbor?"

"Don't tell me they've found the rascal!"

Yolanda nods to the man. "Yes, that's correct. Did you know him? No, he's still missing I'm afraid."

"Well, I've had a drink or two with him, yes, not that I had any idea what he was up to, you understand. Still not been found, hm? The old dog's hiding well!"

Jennifer knocks on Dr. Ravindran's door and puts her head inside the office. "Sorry to bother you, just one final question. Who funded Dr Habour's research?"

Yolanda nods. "Yes, yes..." She extends her hand to the man. "Dr. Yolanda Simmons. Pleased to meet you, Doctor...?"

"I can't say I recall, offhand. There was a corporate sponsor, of course - one of the necessary evils of the present day - I'm sure they could tell you at the office."

Jennifer nods, "Thank you." and leaves closing the door quietly.

"Merbecke," he smiles. "A pleasure. Don't believe a word they say about him being dead, mind, not a word. That FBI bloke didn't know what he was talking about."

Jennifer rejoins Yolanda and Dr. Merbecke.

Yolanda says, "I can't help but notice your attitude is different from the others in department that I've talked to. People seem to draw back when they hear mention of the name."

"Don't want to be tarred with the same brush, that's the trouble. Too much worrying what people think. Don't get me wrong, I'd never condone what old Harbor was up to, not for a minute! But that's not to say I didn't enjoy a pint with him, and I'm not going to pretend I didn't."

Yolanda nods. "I see." Yolanda sighs. "I've been trying to locate him... yes, I know -- 'Who hasn't been looking..'"

"It's a wonder he hasn't been found yet! But it wasn't some hired killer or whatever the FBI thought, you make my words! Not with all his papers and specimens take or destroyed - that took someone who knew what he was doing, a physician or biochemist, not some hired killer.....

"Hmm? Someone stole his research?" Yolanda asks.

Jennifer says, "Dr Merbecke, You obviously knew him quite well. Did you know his wife and the reason why they were estranged?"

"I know *his* side of it. But if you ask me, he was working a bit too hard. And he was a heavy gambler too - I doubt she was happy about that.

He says to Yolanda, "When he went missing, so did his work! But I don't think it counts as stealing when you take it yourself."

Yolanda nods. "Do you know how much money he was losing to gambling?"

"No idea. He wasn't a lucky gambler, though, to judge by how much he complained about it."