“No, you’ll be seeing me before then. Remember? I get three days.” He winked.
“Right,” I grumbled to myself. “Run off, then, I have?—”
“Work to do,” he finished for me. “I know.”
28
THE POISONER
Twenty glass test tubes were stacked in the wooden holders scattered around the lab. Some were diluted with water at different rates, some were control samples, and others were extras.
The rats from this morning’s catch dug and scratched at their cages. Each one was separated into its own box.
With clean syringes, I filled one with a control, three with diluted samples, plus one fully concentrated sample. Carefully, each rat was injected between the shoulder blades. Two more repetitions were made, recycling the motions. Fifteen rats in total.
My pen quickly moved in confident loops, detailing the observations and injection times. Later, I would check on their progress.
“What if you added less solution B and tested with a larger blood volume?” Dr. Hayes asked.
“We did that already. It doesn’t seem reliable enough to give the sameoutput. I think both solutions are unstable,” I said, watching half the blood cells burst under the microscope. The past few tests had given no reliable answers aside from the blood becoming damaged.
“And you already added a catalyst?” Viktor asked, leaning over my shoulder.
“Yes, this is the sixty percent solution,” I mumbled, dialing the microscope closer to observe the cells.
Several students started to file into the lab carrying books, equipment, and bags—our cue that our lab time was over.
“How about a break?” Dr. Hayes suggested. “You’ve been at this for hours. It is safe to say we can put it down for a while.”
“You’re probably right.” I sighed, leaning away from the viewfinder and flipping my notebook closed. “I need a drink.”
“Lucky for us, I might be able to help with that.” Dr. Hayes laughed.
“So then Jacekand I told the dean the next day that the lab must have had rodents that knocked it over and nearly set the lab ablaze.” Dr. Hayes laughed, pouring himself more bourbon.
“Please tell me he didn’t believe a word you two fools said.” Viktor cradled his glass between his hands as he drank.
“It is surprisingly easy to ignite things.” I shrugged, sipping the honey-colored liquid from my glass.
Dr. Hayes had some liquor hidden in the bottom drawer of his desk. It was nice to sit around and talk, nowhere to be. It reminded me of when my father would have people over and I got to listen to all their ramblings about work. Many times Dr. Hayes was there, among others. I missed the laid-backatmosphere, just colleagues conversing instead of socialites talking at each other. It was less exhausting knowing I could let my guard down with them. It made me feel warm inside, and that wasn’t just because I was drinking liquor.
“Alina?” Viktor nudged my arm from where he sat next to me. We were in the two chairs in front of the desk, with Dr. Hayes behind it.
“Hmm?” I looked down at his hand on my arm, then at his face.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes, just nostalgic. Sometimes memories can be a little much. I get lost in them.” I finished the liquid in my cup.
“Apologies. I sometimes forget.” Dr. Hayes smiled sheepishly. “Sometimes there will be exciting moments, and I think of writing to him before I remember. . . . ”
“A few months after he passed,” I started, “I would call for him, making breakfast for us before it dawned on me that I’d made too much for one person.”
“He would be so proud of you, Alina,” Dr. Hayes said.
“I am not so sure. You know how he was. Not very generous with his affection.” I laughed before feeling Viktor’s hand smooth over my shoulder in a comforting gesture.
“Excuse me for my boldness, but how did he pass?” Viktor asked.
