The sun made a half-hearted appearance behind clouds, casting great swaths of shadow on the ground. Saffron and Alexander climbed the winged stairs on either side of the ground-floor entrance to the hall and entered the quiet building.
* * *
They walked down a long corridor of polished wood to the conference room, where about twenty men waited. The noise level matched the restless nature of the assemblage. Some sat around the long table, but most stood around in small groups, and all were talking with enthusiasm and curiosity.
Alexander walked to a group of other researchers. They stood by a window that had been cracked, letting a cool breeze into the stuffy room.
“Robinson,” Alexander said to a burly, dark-haired man in a green bow tie, “what’s all this about? Snyder nearly knocked me over trying to get me to this meeting.” Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Saffron slip into a corner and draw a chair to the side, where she pulled her notebook and pencil out.
Robinson chuckled. “You know how Snyder is. Henry sneezes, and it’s like the whole building is collapsing around him.” Robinson shrugged bulky shoulders. “Adams suspects the old man will turn in his boots since his wife is still in hospital.”
The short man next to him—Adams, Alexander presumed—nodded vigorously and said in a hushed voice, “Can’t very well up and leave his wife in that state. Even if things were … you know.” He raised his eyebrows with exaggerated meaning and looked about as if Dr. Henry would hear him, though he wasn’t in the room.
Crowley, a bespeckled assistant researcher from the history department, sidled over. “Any news, chaps?” His brow was damp and his pale eyes wide. “My professor says that Henry is out. I wonder who they’ll get to replace him.”
The men chattered for another moment, suggesting people who might take over the leadership role. A handful more people joined the group, including Dr. Berking. When Dr. Henry and Harry Snyder walked into the room, a hush fell, and the men quickly took seats around the long table. Alexander thought Saffron was rather determinedly not looking at him. Her blue eyes steadily marked all the people along the table, skipping over him, then rested on Dr. Henry as he sat heavily at the head of the group.
His face was gray and his dark hair greasy. Even his brawny physique seemed diminished from the last time Alexander had seen him. He said a few words to Snyder as the group settled round the table. Berking sat opposite, at the foot of the table, his small eyes narrowed. Alexander sat mid-table, facing Saffron, whose eyes leapt to Berking as he leaned to Blake on his right and murmured something. Probably avidly noting her suspects were conversing.
“Well,” Dr. Henry began, his voice heavy, “our expedition is just a few weeks away, and we have much to do. My prolonged absence, I’m sure you are aware, was due to my wife’s unfortunate illness. You’ll excuse me for being away in the midst of our preparations. Snyder has kept me abreast, so I am aware of what needs to be attended to before we depart. Today, we are meeting to settle some details.”
At this, whispers and sidelong glances erupted all along the table. Alexander locked shocked eyes with Saffron. Dr. Henry still planned to go on the expedition?
Dr. Henry could not have ignored the whispers, nor did he try to. His ice-blue eyes, darkened by deep shadows beneath, glared up and down the table for a good thirty seconds before they abated. Dr. Berking and Richard Blake were still whispering together as he began to speak again. He said rather forcefully, “We are here to review the schedule of the entire expedition, in addition to making some adjustments to the docket of projects and who is responsible for what.”
Many continued looking dubious, and several made the occasional side comment to their neighbor, but the meeting progressed. It was a blur of dates and names for thirty minutes. Alexander listened and wrote some notes, his mind working furiously to figure out why Dr. Henry would go on with the expedition. He must have realized how suspicious it was for him to leave the country in the midst of the investigation. Had Inspector Green already cleared him to go?
“Ashton!” Dr. Henry barked down the table. Alexander was suddenly aware that all faces were turned toward him. “Ashton, what’s the update about Dr. Maxwell?”
Remembering that Dr. Maxwell’s release was not yet common knowledge, Alexander said, “We are still unsure if his study will, uh, need to be completed. We’re continuing to prepare as if it is going forward, so the supplies have been ordered and the preparatory research is nearly complete.”