“You don’t have to tell me if you feel uncomfortable,” Edward said when he saw Kim’s hesitancy. “The reason I’m asking is because I’d be willing to let you have some equity in Omni. I haven’t wanted to sell any more of the stock, but you’re different. You’ll get a monumental return on your investment if you are interested.”
“My portfolio is fully invested,” Kim managed to say.
Edward put Buffer down and held up his hands. “Don’t misinterpret me,” he said. “I’m not playing salesman. I’m just trying to do you a favor for what you’ve done for Omni by allowing the lab to be built here.”
“I appreciate the offer,” Kim said.
“Even if you choose not to invest I’m still going to give you some stock as a gift,” Edward said. He gave her leg a pat through the covers and stood up. “Now I’ve got to get to bed. I’m looking forward to four solid hours of sleep. I tell you, ever since I started taking Ultra I’ve been sleeping so soundly that four hours is plenty. I never knew sleep could be so enjoyable.”
With a spring in his step, Edward went back into the bathroom and began brushing his teeth again.
“Aren’t you overdoing that?” Kim called out.
Edward stuck his head back into Kim’s bedroom. “What are you talking about?” he said while keeping his lower lip over his lower teeth.
“You already brushed your teeth,” Kim said.
Edward looked at his toothbrush as if it were to blame. Then he shook his head and laughed. “I’m becoming the absentminded professor,” he said. He went back into the bathroom to rinse his mouth.
Kim looked down at Buffer, who’d stayed behind, positioning himself in front of her night table. He was vigorously begging for some biscotti she’d brought up earlier from the kitchen.
“This dog of yours is acting awfully hungry,” Kim yelled to Edward, who was now in his bedroom. “Did he get fed tonight?”
Edward appeared at the door. “I honestly can’t remember,” he said. Then he disappeared again.
With resignation Kim got up, slipped on her robe, and descended to the kitchen. Buffer followed close at her heels as if he understood what had been said. Kim got out the dog food and scooped a portion onto a plate. Buffer was beside himself with excitement and was both growling and barking. It was obvious that he’d not been fed, maybe even for more than one day.
To avoid being bitten, Kim closed the dog in the bathroom while she put his food on the floor. When she reopened the door, Buffer went past her like a white blur and began wolfing the food down so quickly he sounded as if he were gagging.
When Kim climbed back up the stairs, she saw that Edward’s light was still on. Wanting to tell him about Buffer, she stuck her head into his room only to find he was already fast asleep. He’d seemingly lain down and fallen asleep before he’d even had a chance to turn out the light.
Kim walked over to his bedside and marveled at his stertorous breathing. Knowing the schedule he’d been keeping, she wasn’t surprised at the depth of his sleep. He had to be exhausted. Kim turned out his light then went back to her own room. 14
Monday,September 26, 1994
When Kim finally opened her eyes she was surprised to see it was nearly nine o’clock. That was later than she’d been getting up during the last month. Climbing out of bed, she glanced into Edward’s room, but he had been long gone. His empty room appeared neat and orderly. Edward had the commendable habit of making his bed in the morning.
On her way to the bathroom to shower, Kim placed a call to the plumber, Albert Bruer, who’d worked on both the cottage and the lab. She left her number on his answering machine.
Albert called back within a half hour, and by the time Kim had finished breakfast he was at her door. Together they drove up to the castle in his truck.
“I think I already know the problem,” Albert said. “In fact I knew about it when your grandfather was alive. It’s the soil pipes. They’re cast-iron and some of them have rusted.”