35 35 - Recklessness

"Julian, I have been calling you the entire day. Did something happen to you?"

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"Eh? You almost ran over an omega on your way here?" The lab assistant gave the young police officer a disapproving look. "You are a police officer after all. Shouldn't you be more careful?"

"I know, I know!" The young alpha put both hands together and begged. "Please don't tell anyone, particularly my bosses! If they know, I am screwed!"

The lab assistant clicked her tongue impatiently.

"First-aid kit, you said? Fine, wait here..."

The lab assistant whisked both samples to the preparation room. After verifying that both collection tubes were sealed neatly, she ripped the seal off and swiftly transferred portions of each into separate test tubes. Specific reagents were carefully measured and then added to the respective tubes.

After she shook the tubes for several seconds with a series of practiced hand movements, she put the tubes inside a water bath to adjust their reaction temperature. The lab assistant then washed her gloved hands and heaved a sigh of relief.

Now that she had a little bit of waiting time, she grabbed a first-aid box and went outside.

"Here!" she held the box in front of the fidgeting police officer. "You better not race across the streets anymore, or I am not going to cover your ass the next time!"

The young alpha thanked her profusely before taking the first-aid box to the lobby area, where Julian was supposedly waiting for him. He was naturally baffled to find the same people crowding the lobby area, except for Julian. 

Just as he was searching around in panic, Julian limped through the doorway, startling him.

"Where did you go?" The police officer exclaimed. "I thought you left!"

Julian shot him a sweet, reassuring smile.

"I am sorry. I went to the restroom outside. Do you have the first-aid kit with you?"

"Yes! Here it is!"

Meanwhile, the lab assistant went back to the preparation room. She hummed a cheerful tune as she took both test tubes out of the water bath and placed them in a safe container to take to the analytical testing room.

At the institute, cleanliness was a religion, and leaving the preparation room spotless after usage was ingrained in their routines.

After wiping the table and returning the reagents to the shelves, she turned toward the rest of the samples, planning to store them in the institute's cold storage.

But when she let her gaze sweep over the counter, she found that the samples were conspicuously absent.

"Eh? Where did they go?"

The lab assistant was baffled.

"I put them here, didn't I?" She murmured to herself, panic creeping into her heart.

Did someone come into the preparation room when she was gone and tidy everything up?

The lab assistant swallowed hard.

That must be it, right?

Why would a thief wander around in this building, stealing samples? This room has a lot of expensive instruments and devices but not a single one had gone missing.

It had to be one of her colleagues.

Yes, for sure.

The lab assistant dismissed her worries and left the preparation room with the safe container in her hands.

An hour later, Julian arrived at home.

As soon as he opened the door, he was greeted by Rex, who was holding his vibrating phone between his teeth.

"Oh, good boy."

Maximillian's name and face flashed across the screen, atop a notification claiming several missed calls throughout the day.

"Hi, Max."

Julian plopped down the couch and scraped socks off his feet.

"Julian, I have been calling you the entire day. Did something happen to you?" Maximillian's voice was brimming with concern.

A corner of Julian's lips ticked up in a smile.

"I forgot my phone at home," Julian said. "I just came back from buying groceries outside."

A sigh was heard from the other end of the line.

"Do not go outside anymore," the alpha warned him. "Bruno Cadwick escaped from the police precinct this morning. We have sent search parties to look for him, but until now we haven't succeeded."

"Mmm, I know," Julian said. Sitting on the couch, he scraped off his socks and laid his satchel on the coffee table.

"I heard the news when I was at the supermarket."

"Lock the door from inside," Maximillian said. "Do not open the door for anyone but me."

"Of course, dear."

Julian took out both samples, squinted at them under the lamp light, and sauntered toward the kitchen.

"I plan to start cooking now. Will I see you at seven?"

"I think so," Maximillian's voice trailed off. "I have to go. See you later."

"Mhm. Bye."

Julian ended the call and placed his phone on the kitchen counter again.

He carefully wrapped both collection tubes in plastic before storing them in his refrigerator.

Now that he finished the surprise agenda of the day, he could finally start cooking dinner.

After unloading a bunch of ingredients onto the kitchen counter, Julian turned to smile at Rex.

The dog wagged his tail, sticking his tongue out at him with eyes full of expectation.

"Now, what should we cook first, Rex?" He asked. In response, Rex stood on his hind legs and put one paw on a pack of minced beef and another paw on lasagna sheets.

Julian's smile grew wider.

"Beef lasagna it is."