The Watcher II: The Time of Suppression

by Saxon Robinson

  Robert pressed a button and fought to keep a neutral expression. He pressed a button on the intercom and said, “Mrs. Silver, Gregory has completed his test.”

  Martha’s head went back, and she looked at the wall clock, “I’ll be right there.”

  Martha arrived in the testing lab and immediately knew something was up; Robert’s expression told her volumes. She walked up behind Robert and looked over his shoulder at his monitor. Gregory was staring at them and his eyes narrowed, “Is something wrong?”

  Martha gathered her wits and smiled, “No, not at all. I just hate that I lost my bet!”

  Gregory laughed, “Told you not to bet against me!” Martha nodded and shrugged. Gregory looked at Robert and said, “Hey, Doc. I noticed that the last question on the test didn’t have a list of answers to choose from but required me to work it out. Why was that?”

  “It’s a bonus question and isn’t part of the grade,” Martha interrupted.

  Gregory smiled, “Well, I have to tell you that question made the test worth taking; it was a challenge.”

  Robert looked up at Martha and said, “It took him ten minutes to solve it from the time he started the question.”

  Gregory smiled, “It’s not how long, it’s how much effort is involved in doing something. That problem was really satisfying to do.”

  Martha smiled slightly and lifted her cellphone, “Allison, how long will it take you to come back.”

  “I never left Mom; I’m parked outside the building.”

  Gregory has completed the challenge and I lost the bet. He’ll be out in a moment and will you please take him home and come back and pick me up later.”

  Allison frowned slightly and replied, “Sure. I’m parked just outside the entrance you went in this morning.”

  Martha turned to Gregory and he stood up, “I know the way. Thank you for the challenge Mrs. Silver. I didn’t think it would be worth it, but it was really enjoyable.”

  Gregory walked out of the lab and Robert watched him disappear down the corridor before he turned to Martha, “This just isn’t possible!!”

  “Then how did he do it?”

  “He must have cheated.”

  “How would he do that, Robert?”

  “He must have a cellphone and used it to help him.”

  “Get real Robert!! He doesn’t own a cellphone. We had to go by his apartment to contact him. Besides, searching the internet would take forever and you know it. Try to find the answer to just one question and see how long it takes you.”

  Robert frowned and chose the first question. Ten minutes later, he still hadn’t found the answer. He turned the cellphone off and shook his head, “It’s just not possible.”

  “Robert, did he answer the last question correctly?” Robert stared at her and then nodded. “That should tell you he wasn’t cheating. How do you know he answered it correctly?”

  “I sent his answer to the University’s mainframe and it checked his answer out. It confirmed he solved the equation.”

  “Make sure that information doesn’t get out!”

  Robert nodded, “What are you going to do now?”

  Martha stood up and brew out a breath, “Have a discussion.”

  Robert nodded, “Good luck with that.”

  “Just be ready to get a call.” Robert nodded and punched a button on the intercom.

  Chapter Ten

  Allison moved the car out of the parking lot and saw Gregory was smiling, “Mom tells me she lost the bet.” Gregory’s smile grew larger and he nodded. Allison moved through the Saturday traffic and after a few minutes turned to Gregory, “Do you mind if I take a different route back?”

  Gregory shrugged, “No. I’ve got nothing planned.”

  Allison smiled, “and it is a beautiful day.”

  “It’s a gorgeous day!”

  Allison turned and started driving through downtown Boston. Gregory stared at the tall buildings and watched the people on the street. After about thirty minutes, Allison turned to him, “I have something I want to say to you, but I haven’t been able to work up enough courage to do it.” Gregory turned to her with his head tilted and his brow furrowed. Allison looked out of the windshield and said, “I’ve sort of been stalking you.”

  “You’ve what?”

  “I’ve been following you.”

  “For heaven’s sake why?”

  “I want you to just listen and not interrupt me, will you do that please?” Gregory stared at her and nodded. “That day in court when you were brought out to stand in front of the judge, I saw your expression. You were a defeated man and I felt your devastation at what was happening.” Gregory opened his mouth and Allison held up a hand, “Let me finish, please!” Gregory stared at her and turned in his seat to watch her. “When the judge told us that you were innocent when he sentenced you to a life sentence, I wasn’t surprised. I could see that you have a good heart and there was no doubt about what you thought or felt, it showed in your expressions. I remember the night you saved my father and you threw yourself on Lewis and yelled for us to run. You weren’t worried about yourself…you were worried about us.”

  Allison paused and said, “After the trial, my father got a copy of your file and I looked at the file; my parents weren’t aware I was doing that. But the more I read about you the more you intrigued me. So, I started showing up after my classes each day to follow you as you ran home. I saw more evidence of how special your heart is. You stopped to give that old man two oranges every day and you also stopped in a business to hand an apple to a beautiful black woman every day. I saw in your file that she had gotten you to start taking the college courses at SNU. That apple was your way of thanking her.” Gregory stared at her with his brow furrowed and nodded.

  The more I followed you, the more you impressed me. When I came by that day to tell you about Lewis attacking my father, I intended to tell you about my…stalking you but I just couldn’t work up the courage to do it.”

  Allison sighed and pulled over into a parking lot. She turned the car off and turned to him, “I’ve been asked out by many men and I’ve never found one of them to measure up to what I needed in a man.” Gregory’s eyes narrowed and Allison raised a hand, “I decided as a little girl that whoever I fell in love with would have to at least be as good as my parents. He would have to be as smart as my mother and have a heart as big as my father.” Allison shrugged, “Good looks would be a plus but wasn’t required; I was more interested in the man.”

  Gregory was staring at her and Allison looked down and said softly, “I guess it doesn’t take much to figure out from what I’ve been telling you that I am very much attracted to you. I know what you’re thinking.” She raised her eyes and looked at him, “You’re thinking that a psychologist would say I’m attracted to you because you saved me. He’d say my feelings weren’t real and were the product of a delusion believing you are more than you really are. I really considered whether or not that could be true. And it’s not. All I ask is that you simply agree to spend some time with me to see if there’s any possibility that you and I might be a good match for each other. If you find I’m not what you want, then I’ll disappear and not bother you again.” Gregory stared at her in silence and Allison said, “You can speak now.”

  “You might also find I’m not what you think I am,” Gregory remarked.

  “That is certainly a possibility but I’m pretty certain about my feelings,” Allison responded.

  Gregory blew out a breath and shook his head, “It just won’t work.”

  “Why not?!”

  Gregory shrugged, “I don’t know how to act or behave around a woman. I’d be terrible at it and you’d be miserable spending time with me.” Allison’s head tilted and Gregory shook his head again, “Allison, I’ve never spent any time around a female. I was sent to the docks when I was fourteen and I was barely out of the phase of thinking girls were just ugh. I grew up on the docks and there were no women present during my life there. Hel
l, I’ve never been kissed by a girl; even my mother never kissed me. I just can’t do this; it’s too frightening!”

  Allison stared into his eyes and saw he was being honest. She suddenly leaned over and kissed him. Gregory’s eyes flew wide open and he tensed up. Allison held the kiss and after a moment, Gregory’s tension faded. She broke the kiss and leaned back slightly staring into his eyes, “Was that so horrible?” Gregory shook his head slowly. “And that’s how we’ll learn about each other; slowly and gently.” Allison cranked the car and drove Gregory to his apartment. He started to get out and Allison said, “I’ll be by to pick you up at seven this evening. We’ll go out and discuss this further.” Gregory’s mouth opened and Allison held up a hand, “You can tell me tonight if you change your mind.” Allison reached over and closed the passenger’s door and drove away. Gregory watched the car disappear and was completely speechless. But one thing he was certain of was that he would not be going out with her. He turned and walked into his apartment.

  • • •

  Martha walked into the large office and the secretary motioned her toward the closed door. Martha opened the door and saw the occupant was on the phone. He motioned her to a chair and rolled his eyes. Martha sat down and listened to the conversation.

  “Sir, your daughter didn’t meet the standards to be accepted into our graduate school in Mathematics. The class has been filled and there is not another space for anyone.” The President looked up and rolled his eyes, “Your offer of building a new science building is gracious, however, it will not change the decision.” The President listened and his expression turned angry, “Sir, I don’t care if you offer a hundred million dollars to build a new library, it will not change the decision. We have standards that we follow, and money won’t change them! Good day, Sir!” The President hung up and shook his head, “I always hate the Saturday before fall semester; I have to tell disappointed parents that their little darlings didn’t make the cut.” He turned to Martha, “What’s so important that you requested an emergency meeting?”

  Martha shook her head slightly and sighed, “I want to make a request, Sir.”

  The President’s eyes narrowed, and his head lowered, “And what is the request?”

  “You’ve probably already figured it out; I want you to allow someone to be given a scholarship to enter graduate school in my department.”

  “Has this person applied for entry?”

  “No Sir, he has not.” The President of the University glared at Martha and she raised her shoulders, “There are extenuating circumstances.”

  “Such as?”

  “Dr. Ridgeland has just administered the entry exam to this person and the results were rather remarkable.”

  “Are you talking about the Graduate Exam?”

  “No Sir. It was the undergraduate exam.” The President scowled at Martha and she quickly said, “He answered every question on all five parts of the exam correctly.” The President stared at her and blinked. “He also completed the exam in two hours and forty-eight minutes.” The President continued to stare at her, and Martha added, “No one has ever done that before Sir.”

  The President sat back and asked, “Where did he get his undergraduate degree?” Martha stared at him and the President saw something in her eyes. “Where?”

  “Wellll, he hasn’t graduated with a degree Sir.” The President sat forward with an angry expression and Martha rushed ahead, “He’s completed his freshman year at SNU and has a perfect score on two advanced mathematic courses.”

  “Then admit him to the undergraduate program and have him apply to graduate school when he graduates. This suggestion is ridiculous; were you not listening to the man I turned down in accepting his daughter. She was a graduate with good grades, and he offered twenty million dollars to admit her!”

  “Sir, if we don’t admit him to our graduate program, he will be offered a place at any number of other technical colleges.”

  “And just why would they do that?”

  “Sir, you’re familiar with the undergraduate exam, are you not”

  “Of course I’m familiar with it!!”

  “Sir, do you remember the last question on the exam?” The President glared at her and then his expression changed. He stared at her and Martha nodded, “He solved Fulmer’s Axiom.” The President stared at Martha and she leaned forward, “Sir, he brings something to MIT that’s more important than money.”

  “What is that?”

  “Pride, Sir. It would be a real feather in our prestige to have the one who solved Fulmer’s Axiom attending school here. Once it becomes known he’s solved the Axiom, you know he’ll be recruited by every university in the Nation. Offering him entrance into an undergraduate program wouldn’t work.”

  The President leaned back and laced his fingers on his stomach. He was still frowning, and Martha said, “You can cover yourself on those you rejected, Sir.”

  “And how would I do that?”

  “Simple, contact them and tell them that we have an open invitation to graduate school to anyone that can solve Fulmer’s Axiom. Send a copy of the Axiom to all those you rejected and tell them that the first one to solve it will be immediately accepted. We won’t reveal that it’s been solved and keep the solution under wraps until after the fall semester starts.”

  “And what happens if someone else solves it?”

  “Sir trust me on this; that won’t happen. That Axiom has not been solved in more than forty years and there is a million-dollar prize for the first one to do it.”

  “Is this person that smart?” Martha hesitated and blew out a breath. The President stared into her face and said, “You’re not telling me something.”

  “Sir, the man I’m recommending is the one that killed the attacker that went after my family.”

  The President’s eyes narrowed, “Martha, it appears you are requesting this for personal reasons. I understand the man is a criminal.”

  “HE IS NO CRIMINAL!!” Martha snapped. She paused and said, “I’m sorry. The judge in his trial revealed that he was an innocent man and never should have been sentenced to the port. His sentence was expunged from his record and the State awarded him restitution for his false imprisonment. The Appeals court upheld the verdict. The State issued an apology for what happened and quite frankly, after his story came out, most of the citizens see him as a hero.”

  “Then why did you bring it up that he was the one that saved you? You know it would hurt your position on this.”

  Martha stared at the President and said in a soft tone, “For more than ten years, Lou Kessler was his roommate at the port.”

  The President stared at Martha and blew out a breath. He shook his head and asked, “Did you know Lou?”

  “No Sir. He was gone before I joined the faculty.”

  “He was an incredible loss.” Martha stared at the President and saw him take a deep breath and blow it out, “I’ll let you know.”

  “Sir, fall semester starts…”

  “I’LL LET YOU KNOW!” Martha nodded, stood up, and left the office.

  • • •

  Martha walked out of the building and wondered if she made a mistake, but it was too late now. She called Allison and found her waiting in the parking lot when she arrived. Allison looked at her and smiled, “How did he do on the test?”

  “He aced it.”

  “Really?”

  “He not only aced it; he didn’t miss a question.”

  “Where have you been?”

  Martha shrugged, “Trying to convince the President of the University to admit him into graduate school.” Allison’s head went back, and Martha’s shook her head, “I don’t think I managed to persuade him.”

  “That’s a rather big jump from being a freshman, isn’t it?”

  Martha sighed, “Allison, I have absolutely no doubt that Gregory Jennings possesses a mind that only happens in several generations.” She looked at Allison, “Did he ask about his grade on the test?”
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  “He mentioned it, but I knew nothing about it. He was happy Dad won the bet. I’ll tell him tonight that he made a good grade.”

  Martha turned to her, “Tonight?”

  “Yes, we’re going out to dinner.” Martha stared at her and Allison said, “I asked him out. If I waited on him to do it, it would never happen.”

  “Why did you do that?”

  “I’ve been stalking him for the last month or so.”

  You’ve what?!”

  “I’d drive to the factory after class and follow him on his run home.”

  “Why on earth would you do that?”

  “Because I found him fascinating. Let me tell you what I learned. Every day since the first week he started working at that factory, he stops at a fruit stand and purchases two oranges. He stops and gives them to an old man that lives on the route he takes home. I stopped one day and asked the old man about the oranges. He said that he was sick, very sick but refused to go to the doctor. Gregory ran by one day when he was having a coughing fit. Gregory looked at him and told him he was suffering from scurvy and asked when the last time was he had eaten some fruit. The old man said he laughed at Gregory and replied, ‘Who can afford fruit.’”

  From that day forward, Gregory brought him two oranges every day. I mentioned that he appeared to be in good health; why did he keep accepting the oranges? He told me that talking with Gregory was the highlight of his day. He told me he even fakes a cough occasionally to insure he keeps coming by.” Martha stared at Allison and she said, “It’s true with everyone he encounters Mom; Gregory has a special place in their hearts.” Allison turned to her, “It didn’t take long for me to find that he had a special place in my heart as well. He is truly a wonderful remarkable man.”

  “Do you love him?”

  Allison shrugged, “I’m fighting that.”

  “Why?”

  “Because what happens if he doesn’t love me? I’m not certain he’ll go out with me tonight, but I intend to make the effort.”

  “And if I advise against this?” Allison looked at her and Martha shrugged, “I didn’t think so.” Allison nodded and turned back to the road.