‘How long did they say they would be?’ Adam whispered.
Cassandra was pacing up and down and doing her best to ignore Adam’s question. She seemed to be carrying on an internal conversation.
‘Cassandra? How long?’
She waved her hand, dismissively. ‘They said they would get here as soon as possible.’
At the sound of the doorbell, Adam was amazed to find an agitated Murray Leibowitz on the doorstep. ‘Leibowitz! What a surprise.’
‘I was just passing, and I thought I’d drop in to see how things were going.’ He forced a smile while simultaneously trying to peer around Adam.
‘It’s not a good time if I’m honest…’ Adam began as the American pushed past him.
‘Is that Cassy I see back there?’ At his entrance, Cassandra suddenly became animated.
‘Cassandra honey, how’re you?’ He kissed her once on each cheek. ‘Oh Murray, I don’t know what to say, it’s all been such a shock.’
‘What is honey?’ he said pointedly, glancing at Adam.
‘Will… look!’ Cass sobbed into a tissue.
‘He didn’t look well when I met you guys last. We should have seen this coming. Some sort of break down, is it?’
‘You mean the dreams, of course. I know. I blame myself.’ She looked up at Murray, her eyes wet with forced tears.
‘Not at all, honey. It’s not your fault,’ Murray patted her hand.
‘There weren’t dreams, there was A dream that he was a bit concerned about, that’s all!’ Adam said. His brow furrowed. ‘Just a minute, I wasn’t aware the two of you knew each other?’
Cassandra ignored the question, ploughing on with her distress. ‘It’s just he has been working so hard, testing, getting everything ready for production… It is ready, isn’t it?’ she asked.
Adam responded automatically. ‘Yes, it was pretty much completed… so, hang on, when did you meet Leibowitz? Did you call him just now?’
‘As I said, I was just passing.’ Leibowitz snapped.
‘Really!’ He folded his arms.
‘Ok, ok, Cassy called me. She was worried.’
Adam glared at Cassandra. ‘As I said, I didn’t realise you knew each other? By the way, did you call him before or after you called the ambulance?’
‘Of course, I called the ambulance first.’ She lied. ‘Oh, Murray and I met a long time ago, it was just a coincidence that he recently found out I was married to Will.’ She said dismissively.
‘Oh, yes, very recently.’ Leibowitz added, too quickly.
Adam frowned. ‘Since yesterday?’
‘Ha, ha, ha… just my little joke. I didn’t want to put the fella off his game. He’s a skittish one, like a colt I once had.’ The American said with excessive brightness.
‘It’s all been a shock.’ Cassandra interrupted. ‘Anyway, as you were saying, you have finished the prototypes?’
‘We still had a few more tweaks to do, especially after the dream. He was worried that the console was malfunctioning, but he wasn’t wearing it. He was just being over cautious…’ Adam began.
Murray put his arm around Adam’s shoulder, quite forcefully. ‘Shhh, we don’t want to be saying things like that. And we definitely don’t want to be mentioning that this happened while the V10 was in situ, do we?’
‘You don’t mean that it could affect sales?’ Cassandra gasped.
‘It may well do… if it got out.’ Leibowitz and Cassandra looked at each other, then towards the prostrate Will.
‘Do you think we should…?’
Adam realised what was going on. ‘You are not going to remove the V10!’
‘It would just get in the way of the medical people…’ Cassandra began.
‘And it obviously does not have anything to do with his condition.’ Murray continued.
‘You don’t know that! They may be linked. You have to leave it there.’
‘And risk someone at the hospital getting the wrong end of the stick?’
‘You know how gossip starts…’
‘It only takes an idle comment…’
‘These things get out of hand…’
‘There are a few words to the press…’
‘Next thing you know…’
‘It’s what he would have wanted…’
Adam was appalled. ‘What he would have wanted? He’s not dead; he’s still breathing. And if this is connected with the machine, then we are going to want to know surely?’
‘Weren’t you the chief engineer and designer?’ Cassandra fixed Adam with a cold stare.
‘Wasn’t it you who completed those extensive tests to make sure that it was safe? Wasn’t it you that said there were no problems and his dream was just his mind? Are you telling us that you made a mistake and that you have turned your best friend into a vegetable? Is that what you are saying, that this is your fault?’ Adam felt himself wilting under Cassandra’s gaze.
‘No, I…’ He stuttered.
‘Because who do you think they are going to blame?’ Murray had joined in glaring at Adam. They began to close in on him. ‘It won’t be the financier. I didn’t design the thing.’
‘It won’t be the wife.’ Cassandra was saying. Adam watched her lips move. He began to panic.
‘Will is… indisposed. That leaves only one person,’ Murray shrugged, ‘the engineer.’
‘I may even bring criminal charges, loss of income.’ Cassandra said.
They had advanced upon Adam to the point where the corner of the TV was wedged into his back. ‘Ok!’ he cried, ‘Take it off!’
Murray patted his shoulder, ‘You’ve made the right decision. Trust me. It’s what Will would have done. But I think you should do it. You are, after all, the expert.’
Adam carefully removed the console. The offending arm flopped limply by his side as he stared at his friend.
‘Why don’t I pop that into my handbag where it will be safe?’ Cassandra whispered. Sidling up to Adam, she deftly placed her hand in his, the hand holding the console. His full attention on Will, Adam let go.
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