Page 27 of See Me After Class

I hadn't planned to, actually, since my destination didn't really count as out, but I nodded anyway. "Sure. Let me go get dressed."

"Come on," Leon said, setting down his cup and crossing the tiny room in one stride. He loomed large, like a giant in a dollhouse—a thought that irked me more than I cared to admit.

It wasn't just his physical presence. It was him, strutting around Oswald's territory as if he owned the place, oblivious to my real identity.

Playing the newbie was harder than expected, a role I'd worn too often before Oswald's time. My jaw clenched as Leon breezed through a whirlwind tour, but I played along. The closer he felt, the easier he'd be to manipulate later.

"So this is only one section of the residential wing, which actually loops around the whole building," said Leon chattily. "Junior staff tend to fraternize pretty freely, surgeons and specialists as well, but the Research and Development geeks live in a world of their own, literally. The old man built them their own special little quarters, up under the roof of the main house."

"The old man?" I queried, my palms suddenly a touch sweaty as I hurried down the narrow stairs in Leon's wake.

"Oswald F. Gardner himself,eponymous founder of this place," said Leon, turning to give me a quizzical look. "Filthy rich, self-proclaimed philanthropist, and a doctor himself, believe it or not. He's dead now."

I know he's dead.I think about him every night. When I wake up in the morning, it takes me a few seconds to remember he's gone, and then all the dull misery comes rushing back.

No.

Focus,Dessie.

"What was he a doctor of?"I asked, keeping my face expressionless. "It wasn't mentioned anywhere on the institute's website."

"Psychiatry,"snorted Leon, with all the 'practical' medicine man's contempt for matters of the mind. "But he inherited a couple or three billions from his rich dad, so he endowed a research institute so he could play at being a benefactor to random poor people. Which is nice for us, right?"

"Right,"I said in a subdued tone, though I was fuming on the inside. Not only did I have to bite my lip and stay quiet while Oswald's memory was tarnished, but also, Leon seemed to have completely forgotten that I was a practicing psychiatrist myself.

Bastard.Condescending, insufferable bastard.

"But anyway,"continued Leon cheerfully, "the research wing proper takes up the left block of the house. We have only a couple of surgical theaters, but there's a row of small teaching galleries on the right, just under the senior staff suites, and the central block is occupied by old Oswald's pride and joy, the finest labs money can buy outside of Silicon Valley's biotech bubble. We got lucky with that."

"Yeah,"I muttered. "What happened to him?"

We'd reachedthe main hall, which was deserted now. Precious autumn sunlight filtered in through the windows, leaving a golden wash of color across the old wooden floors.

"What happened to who?"said Leon, giving me another of those quizzical looks.

"Dr. Gardner,"I said. "How did he die?"

Leon's gaze drifted upward."He was old. It happens. Except now we're fucked, because nobody knows where the money's going to come from anymore."

I turnedand followed Leon's line of sight. Up on the first floor, John Galbraith stood looking down at us, frowning slightly.

He was formidable,I had to give him that. He had an air of command that I usually associated with the military, combinedwith a keen intelligence uncluttered by any distractions. I was frightened of him during my interview, I remembered.

I shivered slightly now.Leon immediately moved closer.

"Are you cold?Do you want me to get you a jacket?"

I shook my head.Somehow, I had the impression that Leon was putting on a performance for the benefit of the silent figure looking down at us.

"Let's go outside,"he said suddenly, murmuring into my ear. I nodded and followed him out the massive oak doors to the drive.

I looked back only once.John Galbraith was still there, immovable and impassive.

It'slike he knew what was going through my mind. I didn't like the feeling of being observed. I never had.

I turned to Leon.

"Thanks for walking me out,"I said in a low, hurried voice. "I need to go now, but I appreciate the talk."

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