“I don’t know who that bit…”
“Easy Lance, we have ladies present.”
“I don’t know who she thinks she is. Not ready to release the information. Make sure the University of Arizona is mentioned to the President. I don’t think she knows who she is dealing with,” Weldon said.
“Well, from my perspective, right now she is in the driver’s seat. Let’s face it, they did find the object and they should get full credit.”
“Oh bull. Who cares who discovered it?”
“Obviously she does. I don’t think I would try to bulldoze this lady. I’ve seen her give a few seminars and she knows what she is talking about. Her books are used in Universities all across the country. You would be smart to try and stay on her good side,” the Secretary of the Navy said.
“Fine. They want the credit, big deal. I want the information. She is stalling to show me she is not going to cave into the JPL. I have a problem with that,” Weldon replied.
“I suggest you get over it. They have discovered something big. I’m guessing it's something earthshaking and we are going to need them on board every step of the way,” the secretary replied.
“It just rankles the heck out of me that she is acting like this. Like we would even consider doing such a thing as taking the credit.”
“I doubt Spain would agree with you.”
“That was an oversight. It wasn’t intended. It just never came up so it wasn’t addressed.”
“Really? Lance, you can bull anyone else you want but don't try that with me. I know what goes on inside the JPL. Save that rhetoric for someone with less insider knowledge,” the Secretary of Navy told him.
“It was an oversight,” he insisted.
“Just like the one when N232 was credited for the discovery. I doubt Russia has forgotten that as well.”
“Those things happen,” was his defense.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Fame is one of those double edged swords. Sudden celebrity status places new demands on those involved and, unless handled correctly, has a tendency to alienate others.
“Doctor Montgomery,” CNN is on line two.
“Alright,” Abby said and picked up the phone.
This was the sixth call she had received since she had arrived at her office less than two hours ago. Already the Today Show, CBS, NBC, and the Discovery Channel had talked with her about doing an interview along with the local stations.
“Doctor Montgomery. Bill Sims from CNN, how are you today?” the smooth voice asked.
“Very busy, as you may imagine.”
“Yes, I should think so. Doctor I’ll get right to the point. CNN would like to interview you about your discovery. People have a lot of questions and we would like to have the opportunity to talk about that while on the air.”
“Mr. Sims, I would love to do whatever I can but I am simply swamped at the moment. I have a meeting with the JPL this afternoon and a myriad of other obligations. I just don’t see how I will have the time to accommodate everyone,” she told him.
“Doctor, we will come to you and hold the interview right on campus. It would be good publicity for both the program you head up and the University,” he told her.
“I’ll tell you what. Let me get this JPL meeting out of the way and I’ll be more than happy to try to find the time to sit down with your people.”
“Fair enough,” he said and gave her his direct line and cell phone number.
When she hung up James came over and stood beside her.
“So. CNN as well?”
“Yes. You know, I guess I didn’t think about this part. I mean I knew the JPL would be a bit of a time consumption but I didn’t realize how many reporters would crawl out from under the rocks.”
“Well you’re famous now. People want to know who Doctor Abigail Montgomery is,” he said.
“But I’m the same person I was before,” she protested.
“No. That’s not quite true. You may think you are but you have already started to change some,” James said, looking her in the eye.
She frowned and cocked her head to one side.
“What are you saying really James.”
“Nothing. It’s no big deal.”
“No. It is a big deal. What did you mean by that exactly?” Abby insisted placing her hand on his arm, “Come on spill it. You never say anything you don’t mean. Just put it out on the table and we can talk about it.”
“Abby, you have started to change in small ways. As time goes on I honestly think you will change a great deal more than you realize.”
“James. I just don’t see that happening.”
“Of course not. You can’t. You only see things from your perspective. It’s the rest of us that see the changes.”
“Rest of whom?”
“All of us on the team,” James said.
“Give me an example,” she insisted.
“Alright. When you were talking to NBC and ABC you said not once but three times that you had discovered the body after returning from Chili.”
“And?”
“You, is the key word. Ruth and I both told you about what we had seen. You weren’t even here when I logged the first occurrence. Your team, which you are head of, actually found the object. We brought it to your attention but you didn’t mention that with either of them,” James replied.
She stood there, her mouth closed tight, jaws clenched.
“I see. So you’re saying I’m forgetting how this all came about. Right?”
“I’m just saying that this has become all about Doctor Abigail Montgomery not the team effort.”
She walked over to her desk and sat down. She closed her eyes and put her head back. Something she often did when struggling with a problem. She finally stood up, walked over to James and put her arms around him and gave him a big hug.
“You’re right. James I’m sorry I was such a blockhead. It never even entered my mind that I was making this all about me. I am ashamed to admit I got caught up in the moment and wasn’t really thinking about how you all felt. Do the others feel the same way?” Abby asked.
“Pretty much. Lewis hasn’t said anything but the rest have talked about it.”
“Geez. I need to apologize to all of you. Thank you for telling me James,” she said and gave him another hug.
“Sorry to dump it on you.”
“You did the right thing,” Abby assured him, “I guess it’s the old can’s see the forest for the trees..
Twelve people were seated around a large conference table. Pitchers of ice water, pads of paper and pens were placed in front of the people present. Abby was the only one standing. Each person had a name plaque in front of him or her to help Abby identify the person. She seemed totally cool and collected but inside she was a bundle of raw nerves.
Along with the JPL director, was the deputy director, several associate directors, the director of NASA, and a few department heads as well. Sitting in the very back of the group was the Secretary of Navy.
She smiled at them and began her presentation.
“My team at Arizona State University has put together a booklet that will help you to understand what all the fuss is about,” she said and smiled quickly.
A couple of people chuckled, a few smiled. Lance Weldon sat unsmiling, just looking at her. After she had passed the booklets out, she began again.
“I know you want to jump ahead and that’s fine but I think if you just listen to the overview you will have a better understanding of what is in front of you.”
“We are all pretty bright here. I think we can understand what’s in this,” Lance said holding up the booklet.