“That’s good to hear,” said Graham. “A man like me—well, let’s just say this dinner is one of my finest accomplishments. I like to think of myself as an artist when it comes to food, but I’m really just an amateur. The passion is there, but the talent is absent. There’s nothing quite like dicing a fresh turnip with a newly sharpened knife. It’s exhilarating. But a man like you—you should be changing the world.”
Lisa decided Graham was insane. It was the only logical explanation for his behavior. She tasted the wine and thought it was disgusting. She couldn’t understand how Graham had managed to drink a whole glass. Strangely enough, the food did not reflect his questionable tastes. The meal was excellent. Graham was clearly an expert in his own way, and Lisa wondered what other talents he was hiding.
“Speaking of changing the world,” said Graham to Lisa’s father after pouring himself a second glass of wine, “I suppose you’re familiar with the story of Peterson.”
“Peterson?” said Lisa’s father. “No, I don’t believe so.”
The lie slipped off his lips with no effort at all. Lisa’s appetite disappeared, and she pushed her plate away, feeling sick to her stomach. Could anything he said be trusted? She glanced at her mother for consolation and found to her horror that her parents were partners in crime, at least when it came to their desire to deny any knowledge of Peterson. Her mother’s eyes were wide with alarm. She seemed even more desperate to maintain the charade of ignorance than Lisa’s father.
“I’m surprised you don’t know about him,” said Graham. “He was a scientist, just like you. He was developing a new drug to treat cancer. He tested it about forty years ago in this very town. Unfortunately, he didn’t follow the rules, and one of his associates ratted him out. He went to prison.”
“That seems a bit extreme,” said Lisa’s father.
“Not really,” said Graham. “It was a terrible scandal. There were quite a few deaths, if I remember correctly, but the real tragedy of the whole thing was that no one picked up where he left off. He was the cleverest man in the world, and the preliminary data he gathered was incredible. I’m not an expert in the field, but I’ve been around the block enough times to know something special when I see it.”
“Considering the circumstances, it’s doubtful anyone will be able to get the necessary funding to look into it further,” said Lisa’s father. “It’s a shame when perfectly good ideas are abandoned because there’s no financial incentive for anyone to care about them.”
Graham wiped his mouth.
“Actually, that’s why I’m here,” he said.
“I thought you were here to see me,” said Molly.
No one paid any attention to her. Graham leaned forward in his chair and stared at Lisa’s father. His eyes sparkled with excitement, and the effect was mesmerizing. In an instant, he transformed from an unassuming creature into a passionate entity that was highly intelligent and determined to succeed. Lisa’s father set down his knife and fork, moving as deliberately as if he were in the presence of a venomous snake that was preparing to strike.
“I’d love to contribute, but my money is already invested,” he said.
“I don’t want your money,” said Graham. “I want your brain. My boss recently obtained a substantial research grant to develop the drug Peterson invented, and I’ve been tasked with the job of putting together a group of experts to make it happen. You’re at the top of my list. As the principal investigator, you’ll be in charge of the project with a salary to match whatever you’re making now—and when it’s all over, you’ll be rich beyond your wildest dreams. Without intending to be overly dramatic, this is the opportunity of a lifetime.”
Lisa’s mother was shaking her head.
“It sounds too good to be true,” said Lisa’s father. He started eating again, but he kept an eye on Graham, as if he didn’t feel comfortable around him anymore. “Just out of curiosity, who is your boss?”
“An individual who prefers to remain anonymous for the time being,” said Graham. He lowered his voice to a whisper. “The unfortunate association between the project and Peterson is enough to attract the attention of the news media, especially now that he’s out of prison, and publicity is not a recipe for productive research.”
“He’s out of prison?” said Lisa’s father.
“That’s right,” said Graham. “He had a stroke a few months ago. By all accounts, he’s more or less unresponsive. He’s not expected to live much longer. I hate to sound heartless, but it’s probably a good thing. He was about to become eligible for parole.”
Lisa saw the relief on her parents’ faces, and for a moment, they were in perfect agreement. She wished they could always be like that. Maybe Graham wasn’t so bad after all. If he could create harmony between her parents, she was prepared to think better of him. She knew her father’s job had taken a toll on him, but if he accepted Graham’s offer, he might revert to the devoted man she remembered from her early childhood, who had always gone out of his way to make her laugh. She waited eagerly for him to speak.
“I’m honored, Graham,” he said. “Really, I am, but I can’t accept. I have too many responsibilities at the hospital right now. If I walked away, there would be no one to take my place. Maybe if you asked me in a year or two—”
“It’s now or never,” said Graham.
“I understand,” said Lisa’s father. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, Graham, but it’s just not the right time for me to get involved in anything new. I wish you the best of luck, though, and I look forward to seeing what you accomplish. If there’s anything there, I’m sure you’ll find it. When you get ready to publish your results, I’d be
