Page 64 of Provocation
‘I’m sorry. I don’t understand.’
‘We’ve met, Marguerite. Many times when you were a child up until… well, you know.’ He looks away. ‘Your dad would even bring you to the lab sometimes.’
I gape at him, remembering the few times my dad had taken me to his workplace if I was off school or sick, and my mom was working. His partner had always smiled at me and given me candies.
‘Werther’s,’ I say. ‘You always had Werther’s Originals in your pocket.’
He grins and nods. ‘You loved those things.’
‘Uncle Fin. I called you Uncle Fin.’
He nods again, giving me a grin.
‘I had forgotten you,’ I admit. ‘You worked with my dad.’
‘I was Mark’s best friend, Daisy.’ he says quietly. ‘Since we were kids. The day of that fire, a part of me died too.’
I frown at him, remembering what Detective Black said to me at the club about it.
‘It wasn’t an accident,’ I whisper.
‘No,’ he says quietly. ‘It was arson. They never did find out who did it, though I had my suspicions.’
‘Who?’ I ask, but he just shakes his head.
‘It was a long time ago,’ he says, giving nothing away. ‘But, in answer to your other question, that’s why I gave you the job. Ididn’t recognize you when you first came into my office. It wasn’t until you gave your name. I saw your dad in your eyes after that and I knew it was you. I could see that same brilliance he had.’
He smiles a little. ‘I have to say, it definitely threw me when you said he was living in the UK that day in my office, but I understand why you lied.’
Applegate half turns away. ‘I knew April remarried, but I didn’t know it was to John until I was offered the position here at Richmond U several years later.’
I frown a little. ‘Wait. You knew John? Before?’
But Applegate doesn't answer my question. He just pats my shoulder gently. ‘I’m glad I was able to help you and before you say you didn’t deserve it, you definitely did. The work you’ve done since you’ve been here has surpassed your predecessor by miles. Your father would have been proud.’
He nods a little absently and walks into the next room. I stare at the spot he was standing in for several minutes, remembering the tall man who used to give me equations to solve while I was waiting for my dad.
‘Ready to go?’ Mav asks and I blink, coming back to the present.
‘Yep,’ I say, cleaning up quickly. ‘What did Applegate say to you?’
‘Just asking about the special project. I gave him an update. He doesn’t know you’re involved though, okay?’
I nod.
‘What were you speaking to him about?’
I let out a long breath. ‘I was just letting him know about the rumor that Bennet mentioned about me sleeping my way to the top and I asked him why he gave the lab spot.’
‘And?’
‘He told me he knew my father.’
Mav’s brows rise. ‘He knew your dad?’
‘Yeah, and I actually remember him now. He came to our house sometimes. I called him Uncle Fin. He said he and my dad grew up together. They were best friends. They worked together in the lab in Pennsylvania. Applegate used to give me problems to solve and candies from his pocket.’
‘No way,’ he chuckles. ‘Wait.Thelab in Pennsylvania? The one that?—’
