Chapter 73
When we reached the institute we found Mori waiting for us at the entrance, chatting happily with the receptionist.
“So you’re here, good morning!”, he greeted us as soon he caught sight of us looking around, hesitant about where we should go, still in rough shape from the previous day and having been here only once
Mori noticed our strained faces and red-rimmed eyes, and studied us with a focused expression, his smile fading.
“You looked in better shape yesterday than you do today”, he commented after a moment
I shrugged and raised my palms, attempting a smile
“The hotel wasn’t that great?”, he asked, starting to walk to the elevator
“Long story…”, I replied
“I think you should know”, said Jack to my surprise, because he didn’t reveal facts unless it was necessary or he had complete faith in his interlocutor
“What should I know?”, asked Mori, stopping
“It’s best to talk about it in your office”, Jack said
Mori nodded, and continued walking us to the elevator, his steps a bit faster now. There were other people waiting to go up, and when we stepped in the elevator we were tight. I stood there, my eyes fixed on the digits increasing on the display at each floor, impatient for the ride to end
I wasn’t sure about how Mori would react, and I was worried that he might pull back, tell us he didn’t want to get involved in a turbid saga with an unpredictable ending. But in the calming environment of his office Mori listened to Jack’s account, his charcoal eyes attentive behind the black-rimmed spectacles, nodding every now and then, and I knew he wouldn’t bail out even before he told us.
“Well, if so many people are after you it means that you’ve hit one something big. It means we should get started now and understand what the polymer can do to the body”, he said when Jack finished speaking
Then he got up and walked to the door.
“Let’s go”, he said, smiling with calm confidence and waiting for us to follow.