Case File: Golf Shores Animal Testing Lab

The next morning at school I saw Reba in the halls. Her flyaway brown hair was clinging to her face much to her annoyance. She kept brushing it back with her hand in frustration which of course only made the problem worse.

“Morning!” I said a little too enthusiastically.

“Morning…” Reba mumbled brushing back her hair yet again.

“So listen I was wondering if maybe I could come over this afternoon?” I asked casually, “I’m having some trouble in math and you do way better than me so I was kind of hoping you could give in a hand.”

“No can do.” Reba said in an apologetic voice, “My mom’s out of town so I have to go to work with my dad.”

“Couldn’t we just go to your house together? I mean it’s fine if you’re not alone right?” I asked knowing full well that there was no way her over protective father would let her do that.

“He’d never agree to that. You know how he is.” Reba brushed her hair back more forcibly this time and cursed under her breath.

“Well maybe I could come to the office with you?” I said ignoring Reba’s mini war with her hair. “I don’t mind staying until your dad can take me home. I just really need help with this math.”

“That might work,” She said spitting hair out of her mouth, it was now so staticy that it was creeping on her mouth, “I’ll call him at lunch and see.”

“Let me know how it goes alright?” I said waving to her and walking away, “I got to go to class ok?”

“Ok bye!”

I climbed into the back of Reba’s dad’s small cramped car and buckled up. I always buckle up. Accidents can happen at any moment and I for one don’t want to go through the windshield. In fact most accidents happen with in 20 miles of the home. Keep that in mind and always wear your seatbelt.

Reba’s dad told me that he called my mom and explained everything to her and told her when I would be coming home. That was nice of him but it was a mixed blessing, because I didn’t exactly want my mom to know where I was going. My mother knows me well enough to know what I was up to. However I know better than to ever lie to my mother so at least I didn’t have to talk to her.

It wasn’t long until we arrived at Golf Shores. We drove in and past the curved decorative walls on either side. From there we drove in the opposite direction of the animal testing lab. Golf Shores was more than just an animal lab; it has multiple forms of research that it runs. Reba’s dad, however, is and accountant. He works in the building where no research is done. It’s a small building with only two stories and it’s kind of out of the way and not close to any of the research buildings.

Reba told me all about it once at lunch when we were talking about what our fathers did for a living. Lucky for me I was actually paying attention. You never know when information like that might become useful.

Reba’s dad pulled up to the parking lot by the building and parked the car in his spot. We piled out, walked across the parking lot filled with cars glaring sun light right in my eyes and walked through the automatic doors in to the lobby. The change from the hot parking lot to the cool air conditioned lobby was a shock to my body.

Once in the lobby we walked by the woman at the desk who smiled and nodded at us as we pasted, got into the elevator, rode it to the second floor, then walked down a short hall into a room filled with cubicles. Reba’s father led us to an office in the front left hand corner and let us in.

His office wasn’t much bigger than a cubicle but it did have a nice little window on one of the outer walls. If I had to choose one word to describe the office I would defiantly use cluttered. Papers were anywhere and everywhere. Stacks were on either side of the computer monitor and different manila folders were in various places. I went to sit down in the little chair to the side only to find I couldn’t, for it too was the home to a stack of papers. I sat on the ground.

Reba sat down next to me and dropped her backpack next to her. I kept mine on. Reba’s dad looked at the clock and clapped his hands together.

“Well I have an important meeting I need to go to.” He said looking at Reba and me, “I’ll come check on you guys around 6 o’ clock.” I glanced at the clock 3:45. “Stay in here and keep it down. This is a place of work and I don’t want you bothering anyone. Buy snacks from the vending machine if you get hungry and I see you soon.” He turned around to go.

“Thank you for letting me come!” I told him as he left.

“Its ok,” he said smiling, “I know you’re a good girl Jenna.” and with that he left.

As soon as he was gone Reba pounced. “Ok so what’s up Jenna?” She exclaimed, “I know you’re up to something and I want in on it!”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about!” I said trying to play innocent.

“Come on! You don’t have any trouble in math! I’ve seen your report card remember?” she insisted, “Now come on tell me!”

“All right, I’ll tell you.” I said giving up, “I can’t sneak anything by you can I?”

It took me longer than expected to explain everything to Reba including Chris’ current situation. After I explained my objective and we snuck out of the office down the elevator past the woman at the desk and into the parking lot it was 4:03 according to Reba’s watch. We were short on time and had to move quickly the only problem was we had no idea how to get to the lab.

“The lab is on the other side of Golf Shores.” Reba said remorsefully, “There is no way we could walk there and back and still have time to snoop around.”

I let out a groan of frustration. I bet real detectives never had this problem. Oh well if you’re not big you don’t get people setting everything up for you. I looked around, in the dim hope that I might find a shuttle with a sign that says “To the animal lab” no such luck. How were we gonna get there?

“So how do you suppose we get there?” Reba asked.

“I didn’t exactly plan that far,” I said embarrassed, “I was surprised I got this far.”

Reba laughed, “Lucky for you there’s a truck that drives all around.” She said, “And I happen to know how to get on.”