Dr. Ethan Meyer
Yes. I made an error.
Dr. Erin Monaghan
You did.
He could imagine her eye flashing in triumph—
Dr. Erin Monaghan
Which is unexpected and annoying. But gratifying. And it was just a first draft hypothesis for the project. Did Dr. Kramer have feedback?
The image faded from his brain, replaced by a pixelated buzz of confusion. Was that all she had to say?
Dr. Ethan Meyer
No feedback.
A check mark appeared beneath his reply.
Dr. Ethan Meyer
But we should review your materials analysis tomorrow before we meet with the MEC hutch engineers.
He sent an invitation for a work block the next afternoon at three o’clock, tapping on his phone while he elbowed through the Modern Physics doors, into a slap of heat, and out to his car. While he inspected his wheel wells for rattlesnakes dozing on the tires’ hot rubber, Erin declined his time and sent a new invitation for five minutes after the hour.
He shook his head, and stepped into a lump of turkey feces.
Bunsen would be happy. He switched to his texts with Forster and shared the golden retriever’s good news.
He watched his step better on Friday when he pulled into the parking lot—and he watched himself in the kitchenette when he retrieved his daily dose of caffeine, too, glancing over his shoulder, listening for Erin’s steel-toed work boots. A fresh carton of oat milk was open in the refrigerator, but she wasn’t using it. Since she wasn’t in the bullpen, either, he bypassed his usual email routine and opened Thursday’s messages.
Dr. Ethan Meyer
3:05 p.m. for the materials analysis?
Dr. Erin Monaghan
Scheduled yesterday.
He rapped a pen against his sudoku grid.
Dr. Ethan Meyer
You’re not at your desk.
Dr. Erin Monaghan
No. With Leah in the media room.
Dr. Ethan Meyer
Why?
Dr. Erin Monaghan
I’m printing out a MEC hutch blueprint. Since we’ve gotten approval to use the space while it’s waiting on upgrades to the laser enclosure, we should have a copy to diagram our cable and optics layout. And Leah was trying to replace the laminator cartridges.
