Pia kept the car horn pressed. She had planned on doing it for five minutes, and it was now approaching that point. Coming to Berman’s house had been a sudden, impulsive decision born out of desperation and frustration. She had tried the same trick four days earlier without success, after failing in her attempt to get into her lab, but she thought things might be different tonight. She had no idea whether he was in Boulder or not, as he hadn’t returned any of her calls, texts, or emails, just like Mariel, but Paul had said that he thought he was in town, thanks to a tip from a friend who worked in general aviation at the airport. The report was that at least the Nano jet had returned. Whether Berman had been on it was anybody’s guess.
When she had first arrived at the gate at the base of his driveway, she’d been encouraged seeing lights in the distant house, even though that was no guarantee he was there, and even if there, that he’d be willing to see her. Nonetheless, she was going to be persistent, as Berman was her last shot. She knew it was unrealistic to hope to solve both her problems — her lack of access to her lab and her need for answers about what was going on behind the scenes at Nano. And Pia was realistic enough to understand that continuing her employment at Nano might well be an untenable proposition. But her desire to find out more still burned, and Berman was her only hope.
Pia had debated a long time about what to wear for this occasion, in case she actually got to see the missing CEO. Her black dress seemed inappropriate for an impromptu visit, even though it might be what Berman wanted to see. She thought it better to look casual, as if she were just dropping by. In the end, from her hardly extensive wardrobe, she picked a pair of skinny jeans and an embroidered, tailored black shirt that she thought flattered her athletic figure. Her hair looked reasonable pulled back in a ponytail that masked the six-week-old shaved spot. More bothersome were the gauntlet cast for her distal radial fracture and the sling for the break in her humerus, but there was nothing to be done about them until the following Wednesday, when they were scheduled to come off.
Suddenly the massive wrought-iron gate shuddered, and then with a screech of metal on metal it began to swing open. Pia let up on the horn, allowing the nightscape to return in a rush to its previous silence. Pia’s ears were ringing from the harsh clamor. For a second she hesitated. Not fully recuperated from her accident, she knew she wasn’t in fighting form and therefore felt more vulnerable. But her determination trumped any reservations. She put the car in gear, passed through the gate, and motored up the long serpentine drive.
Pia parked in the cobblestone turnaround at the base of the stairs leading up to the house, as she had done on both her previous visits. She put the camera strap over her shoulder and let the camera rest in the small of her back. She started up the stairs. As she topped the last step, the door opened, and Berman stood at the threshold. He was dressed surprisingly similar to her in jeans and a dark cowboy-style shirt with snaps instead of buttons. His feet were bare. His lips were pressed together in a self-satisfied smile.
“Well, well. Hello, stranger.”
“Hi.” Pia winced but gave Berman a coy wave with her free hand. She realized she was very nervous.
“You’re waving, that’s nice. It’s a different gesture from the one you gave me a few days ago.”
“What?” said Pia before she remembered that on her previous, unsuccessful visit she had flipped off the camera.
“Oh, yes. Sorry. I was frustrated. I was gesturing at the world in general rather than you in particular.”
“You were frustrated that I wasn’t here?”
“Well, yes,” said Pia. Berman was making it all about him, as usual, and Pia played along.
“There was a lot I wanted to talk to you about, and no one at Nano was returning my calls or emails, including you.”
“Whitney and Mariel thought it best,” said Berman. “But now you are here. Do you want to come in? As you said, we have unfinished business together.” He laughed before stepping aside to give Pia room. Pia sensed he winked at her, but it was out of the corner of her eye as he moved to the side. Was he that brazen?
“Yes, I would like to come in,” Pia said. “Thank you.” It was all she could do to keep from rolling her eyes at the possible wink, knowing he had a completely different take on what she meant by unfinished business. Did his BS actually work on women? “I know it’s late but I was up in the foothills taking photos of wildflowers.” She hefted the camera and stepped past him. “I was driving by and I just thought I’d see if your lights were on. Hope you don’t mind. I wanted to ask you why I can’t get into my lab.”
“Mind? I’m thrilled.” Berman closed the door behind Pia before he strode into the depths of his home.
Pia followed into the living room. She noticed that the door to the den was closed when she passed. Otherwise the place looked as it did the last time she’d been there. As it was with her own apartment and despite all the home’s accoutrements, in general it had a decidedly impersonal atmosphere except for the den.
“First, let me get you a drink,” said Berman, smiling. “I should be a good host.”
“Maybe a single glass of wine, thank you. I don’t want a repeat of what happened last time I was here.”
“Yes, you’re right. But I will have a proper drink just the same. I have a lot to celebrate, but believe me, there’s not going to be a repeat.”
“What are you celebrating?” said Pia, but Berman had retreated into the kitchen to fix the drinks. Pia breathed deeply in and out. She needed to keep her nerve. Berman returned with a glass of what looked liked neat scotch and a glass of white wine. Tucked under his arm was the white wine bottle wrapped in a cloth napkin.
“This okay? It’s a Pinot Grigio. I rather like it, although I don’t drink a lot of wine, except with meals. Will it do?”
Pia nodded and took the glass. She intended to drink very little, so it didn’t matter what it was.
Berman directed Pia to one of the living room’s oversized couches. He took a neighboring matching club chair.
Pia shifted the camera around so that it was by her side. The strap was still over her shoulder. She wondered how she was going to get around to taking pictures of the man.
“So you say you can’t get into your lab. Well, I understood you were asked to wait for a medical evaluation.”
“Mariel called me while I was still in the hospital and told me not to come back to Nano until I was fully recuperated, which I believe, for all intents and purposes, I am even if I still have a cast and a sling. By the way, I heard you came to visit me in the hospital, and Jason Rodriguez came one time as well. Thank you. But you didn’t return, and nor did Jason.”
“I’ve been doing a lot of business travel lately. Funding issues are coming to a head, and I’ve been away far more than I’ve been here. I checked that you were doing well. If there had been any complications, I would have been there.”
“As far as my medical bills are concerned, they have all been paid, or so I’ve been told, and I have to assume that is Nano’s doing. This past Wednesday I tried to go back to my lab just to check things out, but I couldn’t get in. My clearance had been ‘revoked,’ according to security. It was after that incident that I came looking for you here. I was a good employee. I am a good employee, and I think I deserve better treatment.”
“I’m sure you do, Pia,” said Berman. His face was noncommittal.
“You’re sure I deserve better treatment, or you’re sure I think I do? Which is it, because there’s a big difference.”