“Listen—” Olmstead stood up and stuck out his hand.

David took it. “I have a couple other interviews, but I can say that you are the most impressive so far. If this works out, we’ll need you to start right away. The place has been completely shut down for months, but we need someone to evaluate the current situation and advise on next steps. We’d take care of getting you a place to live, as soon as something opens up, and, of course, we’ll pay for it. Salary’s more than fair, but the benefits are fantastic—full health, dental, the works. Not that there are any dentists within a hundred miles of that place.”

Olmstead grinned, and David felt a momentary touch of revulsion—just a touch, but nonetheless it was there. That grin had reminded him of the Cheshire cat in Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

“I’m ready. Thanks for everything, and give me a call if there’s anything else you need to know.”

David thanked him and left. The interview had gone pretty well, he thought. He had liked Olmstead, not counting that quick moment of distaste; nerves really, that was all. He had already dismissed it. His history with EPC was bound to come up, and with all the problems he had run into before, this time was a pleasant surprise. Olmstead didn’t seem to care much about what McDougal had to say, which was lucky. McDougal could be a real son of a bitch.

As he walked out the doors and into the bright sun, he considered Olmstead’s last comment. A hundred miles—a little exaggerated, maybe, but it got the point across. A skilled doctor could be fifty miles away for all he knew. What if someone caught the flu, or worse, broke a leg? Thinking about the possibilities made him nervous. If he got this job, he’d have to make sure Jessie understood the rules. Have fun, kid, but don’t play in the woods.

CHAPTER TWO

He got home an hour later, pulling into their little cul-de-sac street in the suburbs of Rochester, New York, with a lot on his mind. On top of the thoughts of the possible job and the curious, smooth-talking man who would help decide his fate, it was another dull, overcast day. That did little to raise his spirits, though the interview was fine (even if it had seemed a little too easy) and for all intents and purposes he should be thrilled. At least today offered him a chance, which was much more than he could say for yesterday. Yesterday had been another in a growing string of bad luck, where the hours seemed to blend one into another until it was tough to say what time it was, never mind when he might find a break.