She recognized him at once as Joseph Grant, Lyra Grant's father.
Near the end of her workday, her phone rang, but the caller ID displayed an unfamiliar number.
"You must be Mabel Quinn, I have something I'd like to discuss with you," the voice on the other end declared, carrying the authoritative tone of a superior meeting a subordinate.
Mabel replied, "I don't think there's anything we have to talk about." She recalled how hard it had been in high school to get the phone number of Lyra Grant's family. She called, hoping to discuss the plagiarism of her novel with Lyra's parents to seek fair and just treatment, only to receive a servant's response, "Our mister and madam are too busy to see you."
"Can I say it over the phone then? Just give me five minutes!" Back then, she clung to it like a lifeline.
"Not even for a minute. The mister said if you continue to spread nonsense at school, he will sue you in court, and you won't even be able to finish your education."
