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Chapters (63)
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  63. Acknowledgements

‘That’s all right then.’ She flushed. ‘I thought maybe you were one of those, you know,’ she twirled her finger by her ear, ‘and here I am saying that Professor Kiraly is not right in the head.’ As she talked, she set the tea things on the table. ‘You do not mind if we sit here? Or maybe in the garden, if it’s not too cold? When Professor Kiraly isn’t here…’ her voice trailed off. ‘He is fussy about his things, so when I finish cleaning, I have my tea in the kitchen.’

She sat heavily in the chair and poured out two cups. He hadn’t noticed before, but the kitchen was spotless. The counters, cooker, and fridge all gleamed as if new. Not a smudge or a fingerprint.

‘This is a lovely home.’ Gessen stirred sugar in his tea. ‘To be honest, I was expecting the charming but chaotic household of a man who spends all his time in the lab, or with his nose in a book. Forgive me for prying, but do you live in?’

She clattered her cup in the saucer. ‘I am not a live-in housekeeper, no. But I come every day after Professor Kiraly leaves for the college. I clear the breakfast dishes and tidy up. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I am here all day to do the whole house. Top to bottom. He likes a clean house. Everything in its place. Not so strange in someone like him, no?’ She leaned in and whispered. ‘A brain scientist. Very organised, very neat.’ She smiled shyly. ‘Not that I understand what he does.’ She lowered her voice again. ‘But I hear he is like… genius, you know? Such an honour, his prize.’ Her face clouded over. ‘A shame what happened. Poor man. Too much excitement, maybe? Too many people. Cameras flashing. Bright light gives him headache. Did he tell you?’

Bright light, headaches. Gessen made a mental note to look more closely at possible epilepsy. When he’d finished his tea, he pushed back his chair and moved to the window. ‘Lovely garden. Is that your handiwork, as well?’

‘Oh, no. I know nothing about flowers… except… to look at them. A man comes once a week to tidy the garden and fix anything broken. I think maybe Professor Kiraly’s mind is too much on his work to think about the business of living.’ She gestured at the room. ‘He does know you are here?’ A frown creased her forehead. ‘A very private man. I do not like to think you come here without his permission.’