The Adamas Blueprint Read Free Page B

very often. I didn’t take any classes this summer and I work off-campus.”

    MORRISON/THE ADAMAS BLUEPRINT
    15
    “Off campus?” She flipped to another page in the folder. “It says here that you were offered a research assistantship with Michael Ward and that you accepted.”
    “I did have one with Dr. Ward. Until four months ago. He fired me.”
    “Why?”
    “There was an accident in the lab. Some equipment got destroyed. Some expensive equipment. He thought it was my fault.”
    “Was it?”
    “I can’t say for sure. Both of us were in the lab at the time, but I was the one who set up the equipment, so I got the blame. He fired me right after the accident. I didn’t get a chance to inspect the equipment closely.”
    “Would you like me to speak to Dr. Ward for you?”
    Kevin shook his head. Even if she could do it, he wouldn’t go back to work for the Arrogant Asshole. “No, thanks. After I was fired, I checked with all of the other chemistry professors.
    None of them had any open positions until the fall semester, so I found a job at Hermann Hospital in the biochemistry lab.”
    “You like the job?”
    Kevin shrugged. “It’s good experience. And it pays the rent.”
    “But not your tuition.”
    “I’d need a lot better job to pay $15,000 a year in tuition. That’s why I need those school loans.”
    “And that’s why you lied on your financial aid forms about your father?”

    MORRISON/THE ADAMAS BLUEPRINT
    16
    The reason for her letter. The reason Kevin had raced over to justify his actions. He shifted uncomfortably in the chair. “No, I didn’t lie to get more money. I did it for personal reasons.”
    “Kevin, giving false information about your financial aid status is a serious offense. I could have rescinded your student loans and required you to pay them back immediately. I sent that letter to give you a chance to explain before I acted, which should have been by the end of today.”
    Kevin began to speak, but Dean Baker held up her hand. “Unfortunately, I have to finish preparing for a speech I’m to give at 5:30. We’ll have to discuss this further on Monday.”
    “But without those loans...”
    “Kevin, you’re an outstanding student. I haven’t heard your story, but I don’t think kicking you out of South Texas is the answer. As I said, we’ll talk about this on Monday. The office opens at eight. Now, please close my door on your way out.” She went back to reading the papers on her desk.
    Kevin tried not to let her see him sigh with relief. “Thank you,” he said, gently closing the door behind him.
    Teri was waiting by the door as he entered the main office. She was talking to a huge body-builder type, no doubt her boyfriend. When she saw Kevin, the disgusted look returned to her face, accompanied by a scowl from the body builder. She nodded in his direction and whispered
    “Finally.”
    Kevin pretended to ignore them. He smiled, pushed the door open, and strolled down the hall, feeling much better than when he had run through it ten minutes before.
    His life wasn’t over after all. He had just dodged a bullet.

    * * *

    MORRISON/THE ADAMAS BLUEPRINT
    17
    David Lobec closed the bedroom curtains in case someone happened to drive by on the otherwise deserted suburban street outside. Their car was on the other side of the house where it couldn’t be seen from the street.
    Richard Bern spoke from behind him. “So did Ward say anything important?”
    He turned to see Bern carefully place Michael Ward on the bed next to his wife. Ward had already been stripped and put into his pajamas. Irene Ward, dressed in a negligee, looked as if she were sleeping peacefully next to him, belying the fact that Lobec had smothered her with a pillow.
    “What do you mean?” he said.
    “When he was whispering right before he died, it looked like he was telling you something.”
    Lobec’s expression didn’t change. “No, he was babbling.” He took an unopened switchblade out of his pocket