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“Sonofabitch.” Peter breathed quietly.
“I told you before I would not let you go so easily. In the interim, your leave has been cancelled and you’ve been assigned to Rollins’ team in Ontario. You leave on Monday.”
“Expect to hear from my attorneys Frank.” Peter narrowed his eyes, an arctic frostiness overcame him and inadvertently Elsinger shivered in his seat. “If you compromise my new tenure I will take punitive actions and we’ll see how far you get in open court.”
“I doubt it will come to that. I spoke to the President of the University and the board of trustees; John is fully aware of my need to retain you and assures me that your position shall not be compromised in any way.”
“You told him you considered me a security risk?” Peter clenched his hands but otherwise remained impassive.
“No, not at all, only that while we will release you from your contract, we did need to retain your services for no more than three months. You will be available for tenure in the new academic year. He was very solicitous.”
“I’m sure he was, however, you won’t mind if I check?”
“By all means, we are having dinner tonight at the club, perhaps you’d like to join us?”
“I would think, in all likelihood, it would be more realistic to assume hell would freeze over.”
“As you wish. Now, you have your assignment. The interview is over.”
Peter knew that Elsinger would pull a stunt, he had no idea what he hoped to gain by tying him up for the next three months, nor did he care. It was only a matter of time before he left them all behind and after all it would keep him busy. He shrugged his broad shoulders, the thin cotton T-Shirt accentuating the play and ripple of muscles across his back and down his arms.
Praeger smiled to himself, Peter had obviously spent a great deal of time in the gym and buffed up considerably in the last few months. That fact alone gave him hope at least he had found something to be inspired over.
“Hey Pete wait up.” His cultured voice echoed down the corridors and Peter slowed his step.
“Hi Matt.” He said without any enthusiasm and Praeger’s short-lived hope died barren as he saw only anger in the expressive eyes.
“Haven’t seen you around in a while, thought you’d left without saying goodbye.”
Peter stopped, “And just precisely who is there left to say goodbye too Matt? You perhaps? Or Lindsey?”
Praeger put his hand on Peter’s shoulder and stopped him in mid stride. “I am fully aware that you could knock me on my arse without raising a sweat Peter, but I think you and I are overdue for a talk.”
“There is nothing to say.”
“There’s plenty to say and I doubt it should be said in public. My office, now.” It was a command and despite himself Axon found it oddly intriguing and followed silently brooding into Praeger’s domain.
“Look Matt we are not confidants, nor do we have anything to discuss, so I fail to see the point of this little t?te-?-t?te.”
“Elsinger tear strips off you?” Matt enquired as he closed the door and ignored the disgruntled man who flopped in the chair.
“Not so you would notice.” Peter ran a hand over his face and sagged as Matt put a mug of coffee on the table for him and poured himself one.
“So inquiring minds would like to know what’s going on.”
“I’ve resigned.” Peter sighed heavily, “However, Elsinger won’t give in without a fight and has invoked a small clause within the contract to keep me here.”
“For how long?” Matt silently thanked the devious bastard.
“No less than a month no more than three. After that I’m gone.”
“Which university?”
“Harvard.” Peter sipped the coffee and visibly relaxed. Despite his objections to the belated attempt at reconciliation, he was feeling more comfortable as each minute passed. Unconsciously he guessed it was because he no longer had to hide his relationship with Connor and the burden of keeping the best years of his life a secret was gone.
“So why did you keep it a secret?” Matt sat down and crossed his feet on the desk.
“The offer was only formally made two weeks ago, I was still considering it.”
“No Peter, I mean you and Doyle?”
Peter’s face crumpled and for a moment Matt wasn’t sure if he’d get a response or the back of a hand across his face. “Connor thought it better if we kept our relationship discreet.”
“Why?”
“Contrary to popular belief Connor was not ashamed of me, nor I of him. He knew Elsigner would use it against us, to keep one or both of us in line, so we stayed quiet. When we socialized with the team it was always out, never at each other’s homes so it wasn’t that difficult.” Peter stretched his neck.
“If being in a relationship with you made him ashamed then he was a fool, I’m glad that he wasn’t. I can’t help but thinking it bothered you though, didn’t it?”
Peter shot a sharp glance at his colleague the obvious compliment startled him. “So what’s this? Taking lessons from Anton?”
“Not at all, I don’t have the patience for the psycho-babble and bullshit.” Matt laughed softly remembering the psych classes he’d taken. “And you still haven’t answered the question.”
“Yes it bothered me. I despise secrecy but saw the validity of what Connor wanted. It was the only condition on my relationship so it was worth the compromise. Most of the time.”
“It would have made things easier to deal with for you if the others had of known.”
“Would it? In case you missed the mark Matt, Lindsey was in love with Connor, I doubt she even realized herself what she was doing. Besides Elsinger and his cronies would have labelled me as unstable and ordered me into therapy after his death nullifying any chance I would have had to become case manager.”
“Lindsey is definitely a type A, I’ll give you that, and you’re probably right.”
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