the weekend. It was a good cover to go to Oakhaven and meet Professor Davies.

rld away from the city's relentless pace

le warm. "Before we talk about the garden p

sion turne

boration' is quite public, even at official city functions. Some people are sta

imagination. Their affair, or whatever it was, was b

r. Henderson, who was involved with the community

nt. It' s a shame about that fellowship. Mark Thompson is a bri

d the injustice. Everyone seemed to know Mark was

ck in the city,

and Jessica. At city hall, at events.

are you talking about? We' re colleagues! Peop

ause you don't care what it does to my

pped. "Jessica is helping my ca

ang. It was Aunt Caro

General. Nothing broken, thankfully, just a bad sprain, b

! I' ll com

th worry. "Aunt Carol fell. She' s in

op. "Oakhaven? That' s a bit of a

ily, Mark! She

n't expect me to drop everything. Jess

ssica over my family emergency, over my

cold and sharp,

hed, my voice low and dangerou

o say, "Don't be too long. We have that din

ed past him, not caring if I bumped h

I finally reached Aunt Carol's hospital r

eyes. "Oh, Aunt Car

surprisingly strong. "It' s alri

ding her hand, the anger at Mark a burning coal inside me. He didn't