Colder Than Ice by Helen MacPherson Read Free Book Online Page A

you? No, of course you’re not.” Charlotte chuckled.
“I’d like to discuss this further, however, I’m expecting a group of
overseas delegates in my office at any minute. Hold the line will you?”
    Before
Michela could respond her head was again filled with classical music.
    “Dr.
DeGrasse, are you there?”
    “Yes,
ma’am.”
    “Virginia
tells me I have a free couple of hours on Saturday afternoon. Do you think it
would be possible for you to come up and discuss this matter with me? I’ll have
you picked up from the airport if you like.”
    Michela
barely managed to contain a loud whoop of excitement. “Certainly, ma’am.
What time would suit you? So I can book my flights.”
    “I’ll
put you back on with Virginia. She’s so much better at that than me. I’ll see
you Saturday then.”
    After
agreeing on the arrangements with Virginia, Michela checked the net for a
low-cost flight to New York. She would fly out on Saturday morning and return
early the following day. Michela quickly e-mailed Sarah with her news and then
composed an e-mail to Dr. Shaunessy.
    Hello
Dr. Shaunessy,
    We’ve
not met. My name is Dr. Michela DeGrasse and I’m a psychologist working with
the International Space Research Institute in Houston.
    I
read with interest the recent discovery by Sarah Knight of possible evidence of
the Finlayson expedition. I contacted Sarah and she advised me you were
attempting to raise funds to support an expedition, but from the progressive
totals on your website, it would seem that you’re having difficulty in securing
the funding.
    I’m
writing to advise you I’ve managed to secure $100,000 worth of funding out of
my Institute. Understandably this still leaves you $200,000 short, however I
have a meeting this Saturday with the CEO of Finlayson Enterprises and I’m
hoping she’ll be interested in financially supporting the expedition. I’d like
to discuss this with you and I’d be very grateful if you could contact me.
    Regards,
    Dr.
Michela DeGrasse
    Michela
stretched as she read the e-mail. Satisfied, she touched the send icon on the
screen. Now I think it’s time for some breakfast.
    Breakfast
was a quick affair and it wasn’t long before Michela grabbed a progress report
from the Institute off her coffee table and flopped onto one of her living room
chairs. She barely finished the first page when a high pitched sound from her
office heralded incoming mail. She went into her office.
    Good
morning Dr. DeGrasse,
    I’ve
just finished reading your e-mail and am excited and grateful beyond words.
We’d really hit a dead end here with funds. Notwithstanding, we’ve managed to
procure some fairly high tech equipment from interested parties, so at least
that’s something.
    One
of the things I really hate about e-mail is the inability to include a tone of
any sorts in what I’m trying to write. Having said that, I really don’t know
how else to pose this question, so I’ll be blunt. I’m very grateful for your
assistance in securing the additional funds. But why is someone from a space
research institute interested in an archaeological dig?
    Anyway,
I must get back to business. Things to do and not enough time—I look forward to
receiving your reply.
    Regards,
    Dr.
Shaunessy
    Michela
wryly smiled at the straightforwardness of Dr. Shaunessy’s message. Realizing
she’d been less than direct in explaining her interest in the project, she set
about dictating a response.
    Good
afternoon Dr. Shaunessy,
    Thanks
for your reply. I hope you don’t think me too forward but Dr. DeGrasse is my
mother’s name, although she’s a medical doctor, not a psychologist. I’d prefer
it if you’d call me by my first name—Michela.
    This
takes me to the question from your last message. As I’ve mentioned, I’m a
psychologist with the International Space Research Institute. My work involves
the psychological group dynamics of how humans respond to extreme and isolated
environments. This study is primarily