Chapter 10: The Stairwell

After the tour, the director took the donor to lunch in the executive dining room.

Felix said he needed to lie down.

"Elliot can walk me to the east stairs," he said. "I think I'll feel better in the air."

His father looked pleased that his son had a friend.

"Go on," he said.

I took Felix to the east stairwell, because I wanted to hear what he had to say.

It was a concrete shaft with six flights of steps, a metal rail, and a gray door at each landing.

The door clicked shut behind us.

Felix stood at the top of the stairs and let go of the rail.

Then he straightened up.

His shoulders went back, and his breathing settled, and his whole face went smooth.

"There," he said. "That's better."

"Your heart seems fine," I said.

"My heart's fine."

He said it brightly.

"Which hospital do you go to, Felix?"

"None."

"None of them?"

"Elliot." He tilted his head. "I'm exactly as sick as they need me to be."

I kept my voice flat.

"Why?"

"Because it works."

He sat on a step, folded his hands on his knees, and looked up at me.

"Do you want to know what happened to you? You think you left. You didn't."

"I confirmed the professor's email and got in a car."

"You did what I wanted." He smiled. "I took you off the board, Elliot. You just didn't see me move."

I didn't say anything.

I stood with my back against the cold wall and let him talk.

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