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“ I don’t know Anton. I know he is suffering and that it is affecting him personally. At best he could become a liability to a field team, at worst?” Matt sipped his coffee slowly. “That’s why I’m asking for an assessment.”
“So you want my professional opinion as to whether or not he’s headed for a breakdown?”
“Basically.”
“Okay this is an off the record hypothesis. I would say all things being equal we cannot discount any situation, no matter how distasteful we find it. His personality dictates that he requires validation and vindication of the situation he was placed in, in the face of the circumstances I would suggest there is an underlying reason, one we are not fully aware of. We’ve lost colleagues before, Peter has lost friends before, this could be the linchpin of a bigger problem or it could simply be the proverbial last straw. Either way he is emotionally fragile. If you want it on the record, I can order him into therapy or tests. But if I do we face the very real possibility of him walking away from us completely and compounding the problems.”
“So what do we do?” Matt rubbed at the back of his neck and waved the waitress away.
“We watch and wait. These strong emotions are generally associated with great personal loss, and whilst we were all traumatized by Connor’s death, I didn’t realise that Peter was so close to him.”
“Are you suggesting there was more to their relationship than people thought?” Matt narrowed his eyes.
“It would appear from Peter’s responses that he and Connor were closer than any of us gave credit to. Or that this was the breaking point, that his own guilt is manifested by what we have done to him.”
“Speaking of which perhaps you could talk to Lindsey, get her to lighten up on him a bit.”
“I’ll do what I can.”
Matt smiled. “In the meantime there are a number of things about that mission that are bugging me. I’m going to take another look and see if I can liberate the sealed files.”
“Sealed files?” Anton frowned.
“Most of the case file is sealed. Since I know Frank a little too well, I’ll put my last dollar on it being a set up, but then you know me Anton, I’m paranoid.”
Anton laughed as he watched Matt’s retreating form and worried over his colleague.
~~~***~~~
Frank Elsinger pounded on the closed office door again, and finally turned the handle.
“Axon?” He squinted into the darkened room and watched Peter turn back from the window.
“Yes sir?” he answered tiredly.
“I was not aware we are having a power shortage.” Frank flicked on the light and took a long look at the young man before him. He didn’t seem any different except tired, but then he also knew of the all nighters he had pulled recently.
“Can I help you with something Sir?” Peter ran his hand over his hair and crossed powerful arms across his lean body.
“Actually you can.” Elsinger sat down at the desk and pushed a large legal envelope across.
Peter ran his fingers across the name and shuddered before sitting down he knew what it was, legal had phoned him only an hour before, what surprised him was Elsinger delivering it personally. “I expected a courier to bring it up.”
“In accordance with the OSIR regulations we expedite all matters in relation to legal protocol for our colleagues whom we loose in the field or who have made a living will. Professor Doyle named you as the only beneficiary to his rather sizeable estate. Would you care to explain why?”
Peter schooled his face to impassivity as he stared across the desk. “No sir, I don’t believe I do.”
“None of my business right?” Elsingers voice held an edge of unmistakable menace.
“Precisely.” Peter’s mercurial temperament may have fled him around the others but Elsinger could still send his blood pressure soaring by his mere presence.
“Actually.” Elsingers voice softened. “It’s not, but I am aware that your colleagues have made life difficult for you lately and for that I am sorry.”
“Why? There’s nothing more you could do.” Peter ran his hand across the envelope again; Connor’s unmistakable scrawl marked his name in thick black pen.
“True. However, when were you going to tell me you’d had another offer?”
“Vetting my mail sir?”
“No, your name came up over dinner the other night with some friends. I understand you’ve been offered a lucrative and prestigious position.”
“I’ve been offered several.”
“I’m impressed, your loyalty won’t go unrewarded Peter.”
“Impressed?” Peter scoffed, “Don’t be sir, I just haven’t decided what I want to do. Your considerations are noted but not necessary.” Peter snapped.
“Indeed.” Elsinger stood. “Be that as it may, you will find our offer equally impressive. I only ask that you consider it as well.”
Cooper flung the door open and took a step back, squinting myopically from behind his thick glasses to peer up at the unusual sight of Elsinger outside his office.
“Sorry, I should have knocked.”
“No its alright LQ, Sir was just leaving.” Peter stood and put his jacket on.
“I suggest you take a few days to consider things Dr. Axon, maybe take some time off.” Elsinger added as pushed passed the smaller man.
“What was that all about?”
“Elsigner doing what he does best.” Peter picked up the envelope and pushed it into his laptop bag and zipped it shut.
“Being a bastard? You still on for giving me a lift to the restaurant?”
“Restaurant? Shit, Lindsey’s birthday.”
“Its okay, we’ve got time for you to swing by and pick her up a gift.” LQ offered cheerfully.
“I still have her gift from last year. I won’t be staying.”
“Peter, I may work with bugs, but I’m not blind. She wouldn’t have invited you if she didn’t want you there.”
“Lindsey is making an effort- I understand and appreciate it. That she has to make the effort tells me I’m really not welcome. Besides I have other things to do.”
“At least stop and have a drink?”
“One drink.” Peter sighed as he turned the light in his office off and locked the door.
“Excellent.”
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