Lessons in Chemistry
- Автор: Garmus Bonnie
- Год: 2022
- Язык: английский
- Год: Doubleday Canada
- Жанр: Современная русская и зарубежная проза
Электронная книга - «Lessons in Chemistry». Краткое содержание книги:
“She does,” Wilson agreed. “It’s a sharp axe, too.”
“Exactly,” Donatti said.
“I know,” Wilson said. “Because I’m her lawyer.”
Donatti’s eyes bulged.
“Donatti,” Avery Parker said as she dug in a bag and pulled out a single sheet of paper. “I hate to be rude, but we’re short on time. All we need is a quick signature and then you’re free to go.” She held out a document headed by two simple words: “Termination Notice.”
Donatti, speechless, stared down at the document while Wilson explained that the Parker Foundation had recently acquired a majority share in Hastings. It was Frask’s letter in Life magazine, Wilson said, that had prompted them to take a closer look — blah, blah, blah — malfeasance — blah, blah, blah — decided to take the whole place over — Donatti could barely listen. Wasn’t this Calvin Evans’s old lab? From somewhere far off in the distance, he heard Wilson droning on about “sloppy management,” “faked test results,” “plagiarism.” God, he needed a drink.
“We’re making some cuts,” Frask said.
“What do you mean we?” Donatti said, snapping back.
“I’m making some cuts,” Frask said.
“You’re a secretary,” Donatti exhaled, as if he were tired of this charade. “Fired, remember?”
“Frask is our new head of Personnel,” Wilson informed him. “We’ve asked her to find a new director of Chemistry.”
“But I’m the head of Chemistry,” Donatti reminded him.
“We’ve decided to offer the job to someone else,” Avery Parker said. She nodded at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth, surprised, took a step back.
“Out of the question!” thundered Donatti.
“I wasn’t really asking a question,” Avery Parker said, the termination notice hanging limp in her hand. “But if you’d like, we could leave your employment status up to someone who really knows your work.” For the second time, she tilted her head in Elizabeth’s direction.
All eyes turned to Elizabeth, but she didn’t seem to notice; she was already fixated on the sputtering Donatti. Hands on hips, she leaned forward slightly, her eyes narrowed as if peering into a microscope. There were two beats of silence. Then she leaned back as if she’d seen enough.
“Sorry, Donatti,” she said, handing him a pen. “You’re just not smart enough.”
Chapter 43
Stillborn
“Very few people surprise me, Mrs. Parker,” Elizabeth said as she watched Frask escort Donatti out. “But you have.”
Avery Parker nodded. “Good. The offer’s sincere. We hope you’ll accept. And by the way, it’s Miss Parker. I’m not married. Actually,” she added, “I’ve never been married.”
“Nor have I,” Elizabeth said.
“Yes,” Avery Parker said, her voice dropping an octave. “I’m aware.”
Elizabeth noted the change in timbre and felt an instant prick of irritation. Thanks to Life, the entire world knew Madeline was born out of wedlock, and because of it, she heard that tone all the time.
“I’m not sure how much you know about the Parker Foundation,” Wilson began as he wandered around the lab, pausing briefly to read a description on a file folder.
“I know your focus is scientific research,” Elizabeth said, turning toward him. “But that your roots were Catholic charities. Churches, choirs, orphanages—” She stopped dead, suddenly acutely aware of that last word. She looked at Wilson more closely.
“Yes, our founders were devoted to Catholic causes; however, our mission is entirely secular. What we do is try to find the best people working on the most critical issues of the day.” He set aside the file folder in a way that communicated that it was definitely not one of them. “Seven years ago, when we funded you, you were doing just that — abiogenesis. Whether you know it or not, Miss Zott, you’re the reason we came to Hastings in the first place. You and Calvin Evans.”
At the mention of Calvin’s name, she felt her chest tighten.
“Strange about Evans, isn’t it?” Wilson said. “No one seems to have any idea what became of his work.”
His casual words hit her like a cyclone. She pulled out a stool and sat down, watching as he poked around the lab like an archeologist, examining a tiny corner of this or that as if it might lead to something much bigger below.
“I know you’ve already made your position clear,” he continued, “but I thought you’d be interested to know we plan to upgrade a lot of the equipment.” He pointed to a shelf where an out-of-date distillation apparatus sat unused. As he raised his arm, a shiny cuff link peeked out from under his suit sleeve. “Like that, for instance. That thing looks like it hasn’t been touched in years.”
But Elizabeth had no reaction. She’d turned to stone.
—
When Calvin was ten, he’d written about a tall, rich-looking man with shiny cuff links who’d arrived at the boys home in a fancy limo. He seemed to think it was because of this man that the home was given new science books. But instead of being glad for the reading material, Calvin was devastated. I’m here even though I should not be, he’d scrawled. And I will never ever forgive that man, him. Never. Not as long as I live.
“Mr. Wilson,” she said, her voice wooden. “You say your foundation only funds secular projects. Would that include education?”
“Education? Well yes, of course,” he said. “We support several universities—”
“No, I mean, have you ever supplied a school with textbooks—”
“On occasion, but—”
“What about an orphanage?”
Wilson stopped short, surprised. His eyes darted to Parker.
In her mind, Elizabeth saw Calvin’s letter to Wakely. I HATE MY FATHER. I HOPE HE’S DEAD.
“A Catholic boys home,” she clarified.
Again, Wilson looked to Parker.
“In Sioux City, Iowa.”
A thick silence fell, interrupted only by the sudden whoosh of an exhaust fan.
—
Elizabeth stared at Wilson, her face unfriendly.
It suddenly seemed clear: the job they were offering her was a ruse. They were there for one reason and one reason only: to claim Calvin’s work.
The boxes. They knew about them. Maybe Frask had told them; maybe they’d made an educated guess. In any case, Wilson and Parker had bought Hastings; legally, Calvin’s work belonged to them. They were plying her with compliments and promises, hoping that would be enough to coax the boxes out of the woodwork. But if that didn’t work, they still had one last card left to play.
Calvin Evans had a blood relative.
—
“Wilson,” Parker said, her voice trembling. “Would you mind? I’d like to speak with Miss Zott alone.”
“No,” Elizabeth said sharply. “I have questions; I want the truth—”
Parker looked at Wilson, her face deflated. “It’s all right, Wilson. I’ll join you in a few minutes.”
—
As the door latched closed, Elizabeth turned on Avery Parker. “I know what’s going on here,” she said. “I know why you asked me here today.”