Her feeling of victory was short lived. Like Dr. Aster’s note this morning, she found another tucked into the office door when she returned. She read it through and, her hand holding the paper so tightly it tore in her fingers, she walked slowly to the top of the stairs and down the hall. Full of dread, she entered Pierce’s office.
“Yes?” Pierce said from his desk, not looking up.
“Is Dr. Berking available, Mr. Pierce?” Saffron asked, holding up the torn note. “He wishes to speak with me.”
Pierce looked up and his near-black eyes immediately narrowed. With a sneer, he asked, “Do you have an appointment?”
Frowning at his odd question, she shook her head. Wasn’t he the one who’d left the note in her door?
With an exasperated air, Pierce went to the office door and called in to Berking. A moment later, Saffron stepped into his office, hands shaking and heart pounding. There were several reasons Berking might want to see her, but each one made her want to insist that the door stay open. If he’d found out that she’d broken into his home, or even his office, he wouldn’t confront her now, comfortably sitting behind the same desk she’d hidden under, would he?
Dr. Berking’s vast face stretched into an unctuous smile that revealed nothing of his intentions as she passed through the door. She imagined him as a red-haired spider, waiting for a fly drawing ever closer to his web. Had she really thought she was no longer afraid of him?
“Why, hello,” he said with a leer. “You’re very smart not to leave me waiting today, Miss Everleigh. I’m an impatient man.”
Saffron’s lips trembled as she forced a polite smile on her face.
His grin widened as if he sensed her turmoil. “Why don’t you sit down?”
Saffron took a few steps forward to give the impression of compliance, though each step toward him made her stomach clench.
“Well, this is quite a turn of events, is it not? You must feel triumphant, I’m sure,” Berking said, his voice loud and jolly.
“I’m sorry?” Saffron inched another step forward.
“The study, my dear!” Berking leaned back in his chair, his smile fading slightly as Saffron blinked blankly at him. “Surely you remember. It was not even a month ago, when we had our little misunderstanding.”
Confusion stilled her steps. “My proposal?”
“Yes, my dear, for your study.” He chuckled. “I’m afraid I might have misrepresented it to Dr. Henry at the meeting. But it does include a few poisonous plants, does it not? I looked back over the notes you left behind about comparing pigmentations of tropical plants. Your study will round out our department’s docket nicely.” A sly smile crept across his features. “With Dr. Maxwell being unavailable for the foreseeable future, I thought you might want a chance to take the lead.”
Her mind was numb, shock blanketing all other thoughts. “Take the lead?”
Berking’s booming laugh jolted her. “Yes, my dear—your own study.”
“But sir,” Saffron stammered, her mind fixating on what was really a minor problem, “the expedition leaves in just two weeks. How can I—”
“You’ll have to get to work, Miss Everleigh, in order to make sure Mr. Ashton will be able to carry it out properly. I understand you two have been working closely on Maxwell’s project. I’m sure you won’t mind putting in a few extra hours.” His smile turned malicious. “Come to me tomorrow evening with your final proposal, and be ready to explain it thoroughly. You’ll get your study if I’m pleased with what you have to offer.”
The excitement that had begun to hum in her mind dropped off immediately. Her skin crawled. She forced out the words, “Thank you, Dr. Berking,” before turning around and leaving, practically running back to Dr. Maxwell’s office in a fog of confusion and concern.
Saffron arrived at the door and realized the keys to the office were missing from her bag. Had she dropped them in the stairwell? She dashed across the North Wing and into the Wilkins Building, but when she reached the stairwell where she’d spoken to Blake, they weren’t there. She exhaled slowly, trying to focus when all she could think about was Berking’s last words. “You’ll get your study if I’m pleased with what you have to offer.”
One thing at a time. She didn’t have too long to get the typing done before meeting Dr. Henry—that was the priority. Alexander would probably let her use his typewriter if he was in his office.