16 NoraClosed mini blinds covered the only window, dimming the eight-by-twelve-foot space and hiding the view. Nora inhaled air scented by dusty paper, leather bindings, and pipe tobacco. She felt like she was high up in a real ivory tower. Only the absent-minded professor was missing.
She’d finished her meeting with Wesley Mitchell at noon. When she retrieved her cellphone from the Buick’s trunk, she found an urgent text message from her newly-acquired consultant in comparative linguistics.
Dr. Rajiv Mukherji had completed his preliminary analysis. He wanted to discuss their next step face-to-face. Could she meet him in his Olympia office today?
Astonished by his speed, she’d phoned to set a time. Her call had gone to voice mail and she’d left her own message, promising to arrive by fo
