Читать книгу Ten Days - John Sheppard - Страница 12

Sam gently rapped on Dr. Spencer’s office door. A gruff-sounding “Come in” was the response. While Dr. Spencer always sounded as if he was ready to disembowel someone, he was, in fact, one of the gentlest men Sam knew. He was at least fifteen years older than her father, maybe in his mid-eighties, but he reminded Sam of him in so many ways. It wasn’t in physical characteristics, but in mannerisms and personality. She had been amazed how often her childhood friends had been frightened of her dad, just because of the tone of his voice. Dr. Spencer’s voice had the same effect on adults.

“Well, Ms. Samantha, what can I do for you? Please come, sit down.” Dr. Spencer offered her a comfortable chair directly across from his. His office had stacks of papers, and just plain stuff, everywhere. In that regards, he was nothing like her father. Her dad had been neat to a fault.

“Today’s session really got to you, didn’t it?” he asked before she could even say anything. Without waiting for a reply, he said, in a very caring tone, “I could see it in your face during the meeting.” Dr Spencer could read her emotions at a glance, just like her father.

“I know I shouldn’t let King Richard get to me like that.”

“But he’s right, you know.” A look of surprise must have registered on Sam’s face, for Dr. Spencer went on. “At least, on a level. Your defense was weak. A poor-quality photograph and a questionable witness just won’t make it, Ms. Samantha.”

“What will?” she pleaded.

“Come on, now, you weren’t one of my top students at university asking questions like that. You know the answer.”

Yes, she knew the answer: hours of mind-numbing research. It wasn’t like they had all the time in the world. It was just like Dr. Spencer to demand excellence, even in these difficult days. He had been a stickler for detail in college, and was even more so now. If anyone should find the vault a millennium from now, he couldn’t stand the thought that they might question his choices. Dr. Spencer also liked to quote that, “The winners write the history books.” While he didn’t know the source of the quote, he was hoping that some of his country’s history would survive, as told by the people of his country.

“Do you have any suggestions, Dr. Spencer?”

“Actually, I’ve been giving it a lot of thought. From what you’ve presented, it sounds as if you’ve spent much of your time in the public records, using research from others.”

“Well, yes, I have,” responded Sam. “Where do you suggest I look?”

He took a moment to reply, and then said, “I’d look at Mrs. Daniels’s letters, myself, and not rely on the research of others. Also, I’d see what I could find in terms of correspondence from foreign embassies or maybe purchases made by the official residence.”

“So, you’d have me spend what could be the last days of my life getting papercuts from sales receipts?” asked Sam, smiling as she replied.

The gallows humor wasn’t lost on Dr. Spencer and he responded with some of his own. “It’s not like you’ve got major travel plans.”